The 80-year-old Central Pavilion in Reed-Keppler Park is one of the most popular ones, rented for various family and organization activities and events, plus used for casual get togethers by family and friends. Although it was maintained, little restoration or renovation work was done. One Boy Scout troop previously undertook the task of restoration of archways and other wood trims. Ben Bungo, a member of Boy Scout Troop 33, saw a definite need for the improvement and restoration of the patio area and stair sections leading to the pavilion. He chose this for his Eagle Scout project. West Chicago Executive Director Gary Major said, “The Park District is very excited to partner with the Boy Scouts in a cooperative community effort. Certainly, the improvements to the Reed-Keppler pavilion will be excellent and very much enjoyed by everyone.”
This is definitely a labor intensive project. “It was in poor condition,” said Bungo. They spent four hours power washing the area. “We removed the cobblestones took out the stairs and placed the limestone blocks to one side.” They used three different layers, including gravel for the base of each stair. The young men and assistants are in the process of finishing up the project. Assisting on the project were members of Troop 33, friends and family. They are Michael Bugno, Noah Wirth, Jake Wirth, Mia Wirth, Steve Demma, Kellen Klaypatch, Nathan Klaypatch, Mike Wagner, Les Peto, John Peto, Duane Gill, Seth Kiel, Tom Warkins and Spencer Usedom.
Boy Scout Troop 33 is known for their service to the community with its participation in many activities such as planting the flowers in the historic downtown district, presenting the colors at Blooming Fest and at some City Council meetings, assisting the West Chicago Lions Club at its pancake breakfasts, doing flag retirement ceremonies at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6791, helping at special events and more.
More than 83 acres were purchased for the City’s first park in 1933. Mayor Christian Keppler had the foresight to levy a park tax, so funds were available. Since the land was part of a defaulted trust deed the Melrose Park State Bank was holding, it was eager to get rid of it for the purchase price of $12,500. In 1934 it was dedicated as City Park. Many projects were completed in the park as a result of the Works Park Administration in 1935 through 1937. The pavilion, called a shelter house then, was one of the projects. Built of flag and limestone with flagstone walks, it had a fireplace and picnic table for visitors. Other park projects included a lagoon, a baseball diamond and bleachers, and major landscaping. After the death of West Chicago resident, Congressman Chauncey W. Reed, the park was named Reed Park. It was changed to Reed-Keppler Park in 1972 to honor Mayor Keppler’s role in acquiring the park land for the City. (The West Chicago City Museum provided the historical information)
Eagle Scout rank is the highest advancement rank in Scouting. To earn this, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirement in the areas of leadership, service and outdoor skills. Of the more than 130 merit badges available, 21 must be earned to qualify for Eagle Scout with 13 being required. One of the Scout’s last steps to Eagle is the planning, developing and serving as a leader to others in project helpful to his religious institution, school or community. (www.merleburl.com)
AROUND AND ABOUT
As part of its Business Round Table, the West Chicago Public Library District holds Score: General Business Discussion Round Table at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, 2017 in the meeting room, 118 West Washington Street. Score Mentor George Safford, a West Chicago resident, is the moderator. It is geared for those starting a new business or owners of existing small businesses. To make a reservation, call the adult services department at (630) 231-1552, extension 4.
Monthly brush pick up begins Monday, July 3, 2017.
Wayne/Winfield Area Youth/Family Services offers hour-long computer classes for senior citizens at Wayne Township, 27W031 North Avenue. Not only do seniors learn basic skills, but also have the opportunity to socialize. The fee is $2. Reservations are required and may be made by calling (630) 231-7166.
“Downloading Games on iPad or iPhone” class is at 1:00 p.m. Monday, July 3, 2017. For classes that involve a technology device, persons need to bring their personal items with them.
At the Monday, June 26, 2017 meeting, the West Chicago Public Affairs Committee recommended the approval of an amendment to adopt an ordinance to allow video gambling at a licensed liquor establishment, licensed fraternal establishment and local veteran’s establishment with a vote of 4-1. Voting for were Aldermen Lori Chassee, Melissa Birch Ferguson, Kurt Meissner and Heather Brown. Voting against it was Alderman Al Hallett. Alderman George Garcia arrived at the meeting after the vote. Alderman Bonnie Gagliardi was absent. The ordinance will go before the full Council for approval at the Monday, July 3rd City Council meeting. Since it was not a unanimous vote, the item will not be under the Consent Agenda.
At the Public Affairs Committee meeting on Monday, May 22, 2017, representatives from Twin Eagles Restaurant, MidCity Cocktail & Supper Club, Augustino’s Rock and Roll Deli and Hawthorne’s Backyard asked the Committee if the City would reconsider reversing the ban on Video Gambling. The Committee directed staff to prepare an ordinance for discussion at the June 26th meeting.
Military Appreciation Day is Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at Turtle Splash Water Park, 129 West National Street. Military personnel receive free admission with a military ID card.
West Chicago Public Library District offers a two-hour computer class at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, 2017 in Study Room 3, 118 West Washington Street. The class covers opening a Facebook account and how to use it. This includes posting updates and photos, friending and unfriending, liking posts and pages and privacy settings.
West Chicago Railroad Days runs from Thursday, July 6, through Sunday, July 9, 2017.The event includes entertainment, food, beer garden, carnival and parade.
Glen Arbor Community Church, 204 Church Street, hosts a Teen Conference 2017-“Prayer, Care, Share” from Thursday, July 6 through Sunday, July 9, 2017. This is a working mission trip for youth ages 14 through 19. Some of the planned activities include serving local families through work projects at their homes, running a Bible and Sports Camp for neighborhood children, helping coordinate Railroad Days parade, being part of a Drama Camp for teens, and worshiping and learning together. Saturday evening Turtle Splash Water Park is reserved exclusively for the teen conference members. To register and more information, call the church office at (630) 293-5989.
During the summer, West Chicago City Museum, 132 Main Street, hosts Fun Fridays for youths age seven and up from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. Registration is required and may be made by calling (630) 231-3376.
In July, there is one event in which participants take part in creative and hands-on history lesson. “Crazy for Quilts” takes place July 7. Participants learn how quilts tell the story of pioneer days. Youths use scraps of fabric to make their own quilt block design.
“Science of Steam,” a free workshop for youths ages 7 to 14, is from 10:00 a.m. to noon July 14. The invention of the steam engine propelled the growth of the United States. The youths learn about West Chicago’s tie to this technology and work as a team to create a working model of a steam engine. Class size is limited. The class is sponsored by a grant from the Margolis family.
The exhibit at Gallery 200, 103 West Washington Street, for the month of July is “Trees” by First Star Art. The artists’ reception is from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday, July 7, 2017. In addition to refreshment, there are door prizes.
The artworks of the two artists, jammer and jrr, are simultaneously dramatic and whimsical, dark and intensely colored in several mediums of acrylic, watercolor, oil pastel, chalk, ink, photography and digital paint. Their works are in private collections internationally, featured in magazines, on event posters, used for community events and statewide conferences, plus are studied in educational programs and used as illustrations for children’s books.
West Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 85 and West Chicago Park District co-host the Michael Browning Memorial Run to Remember 5K Run/Walk Saturday, July 8, 2017, starting and ending at the ARC in Reed-Keppler Park. Medals will be awarded to the top two finishers (male and female) in each of six age categories. Runners’ times will be taken at the mile markers and results will be posted after the race. Age categories are 19 and under, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and 60 and over.
The race fee is $30 for each runner/walker and $20 for each additional runner/walker in the same household. Day of race registration increases $5 for each participant. To register visit the website https://raceroster.com/events/2017/12125/michael-browning-memorial-run-to-remember. Race day registration opens at 6:00 a.m. with the race beginning at 7:30 a.m. The Awards Ceremony is at 8:45 a.m.
All proceeds benefit the Michael Browning Memorial Scholarship Fund to assist students pursuing a career in law enforcement or criminal justice. For more information, call the West Chicago Park District at (630) 231-9474, email Detective Robbi Peterson of the West Chicago Police Department at michaelbrowningmemorialfund@gmail.com or visit the Michael Browning Memorial Run to Remember Facebook page.
Browning grew up in West Chicago, graduating from West Chicago Community High School in 1987. He attended College of DuPage, majoring in criminal justice. His dream was to be a police officer in his hometown. After joining the West Chicago Police Department as a cadet in 1988, his dream came true when he took the oath of office August 25, 1991.
Responding to the scene of a crime in progress, Browning was killed in the line of duty April 20, 1992. The car that was being stolen from a local car dealership struck him.
Persons who wish to make a donation only should make the check payable and mail to Michael Browning Memorial Fund, DuPage Credit Union, 625 E. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL 60185 or on the registration website.
The Mexican Culture Center of DuPage hosts a Benefit Concert and Dinner in a special tent during Railroad Days Saturday, July 8, 2017 at Pioneer Park, 479 Forest Avenue. The doors open at 5:00 p.m.; dinner is served at 6:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Miss Mexican Heritage Scholarship Program. Musical entertainment is by Latin Grammy Nominee Trio Ellas, who combine the essence of traditional Mariachi intertwined with modern sounds. For further information or tickets call (630) 666-2507 or email mccdupage@gmail.com.
In its fifth year, the program focuses on giving young Latina women the tools they need to lead a successful life. The qualified coaches provide workshops on leadership, speech, writing and personal growth. Attending and participating in various events, the candidates develop social and networking skills, plus volunteer their services for different organizations. The MMH program ends with a pageant night, where the three top candidates are crowned and receive scholarships at the end of their reign.
As part of the countywide Voices of DuPage, the West Chicago City Museum, 132 Main Street, hosts its third Town Hall Share from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12, 2017. The topic is trains, highlighting West Chicago as the first community in Illinois created by a railroad junction. Persons attending are encouraged to bring photographs of trains in town and share memories about using the railroad, working for the railroad, family members who worked for the railroad or waiting for trains at crossings. Refreshments are served.
Voices of DuPage is a collection of cultural institutions that serve DuPage County residents that seek to preserve and promote our historical legacy. The members, primarily museums and libraries, focus on oral history programs.
The West Chicago Park District monthly social gathering for senior citizens is at noon, Thursday, July 13, 2017 at the ARC, 201 West National Street. “Let’s Play Games” is the theme. The park district supplies the grilled hamburgers and cheese burgers with all the trimmings. Guests bring a dish to share and a complete place setting. After lunch, persons play board games. There is no charge, but reservations are required and may be made in person at the ARC or on line at www.we-goparks.org.
West Chicago City Museum continues its Historiography program, a non-fiction book reading group. The discussion group meets at noon, Thursday, July 20, 2017 at the museum, 132 Main Street. Guests can bring a sack lunch; dessert and drinks are provided. The book under discussion is “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped with the Space Race” by Margot Lee Shetterly. Copies of the book are available at the museum and West Chicago Public Library District, 118 West Washington Street. Call the museum at (630) 231-3376 for further information.
Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Roy P. Kautz, who at the age of 65 passed away Thursday, June 8, 2017.
Deepest Sympathy is expressed to the family of Joyce Moreen Ryan, who at the age of 92 passed away Saturday, June 24, 2017.
Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Brenda-Urbieta-Aguilar, who at the age of 31 passed away Wednesday, June 21, 2017.
Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Alberto Monroy, who at the age of 80 passed away Thursday, June 22, 2017.
At the Monday, June 19, 2017 meeting, City Council approved a Downtown Facade grant in the amount of $13,300 to H&H Specialty LLC for the building at 146-148 West Washington Street. The funding is for the replacement of 25 windows and tuck pointing on the two-story building. The West Chicago Historical Commission approved both the window replacement and tuck pointing.
At the Tuesday, June 22, 2017 meeting, Community High School District 94 Board of Education approved a parameters resolution authorizing the sale of up to $9.9 million of bank qualified school construction bonds, as a part of the $37.5 million authorized by the April 4 referendum. Board president Gary Saake said, “It sets the parameters for the sale of the bonds, and allows for the district to go to market at any point over the next six months when the bond market is judged to be the most advantageous.” The timing of the sales is dependent on a number of factors such as the construction schedule and bond market conditions. The resolution also gives authorization to District Superintendent Doug Domeracki and District Treasurer Kevin Kotche to designate the date of the sale upon the advice of the bond writer. The $9.9M will fund Phase 1 of the renovation projects that will take place during the summer of 2018. The timing of the sale of the remaining $27.6M of bonds will be determined at a later date, but no sooner than January 1, 2018. “By breaking the sales up into multiple series, it’s anticipated that over $2M in interest cost savings will be realized over a single $37.5M issue.”
The board also approved the employment of Cheryl Moore as Director of Human Resources. Prior to this she was an employee of Naperville School District 203. She replaces Dave Blatchley, who becomes Director Building Operations effective July 1. Gordon Cole then moves to the position of Director of Building Operations to oversee the building renovation over the next three to four years.
The West Suburban Fire & Rescue Alliance, comprised of the fire departments/districts of West Chicago, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Roselle, Wheaton and Winfield, conduct monthly drills at The Crusher, 651 West Washington Street. There are three sessions per day. The focus of the drill session is patient entrapment from a vehicle accident with personnel being required to rescue any victims they find and transfer the victims care to the ambulances for simulated transport. “We use three to four vehicles per session. The Crusher donated more than 27 vehicles to the training sessions, and the training involved about 195 firefighters/paramedics per day. The training was very successful each day and could not have been done without our partnership with the Crusher’s Staff. We truly value their cooperation.”
Republic Bank, 101 Main Street, hosted an After Hours mixer for Western DuPage Chamber members Thursday, June 22, 2017. Dave Sabathne, Chamber CEO/President, said since Republic Bank came to this community, they have been involved and giving back to the community by supporting various events, being a major sponsor of the chamber, and Omar Espinosa, President of the branch here, has not only joined the Lions and Rotary clubs, but is an active member. Some of the guests had not been in the historic bank building before and were quite impressed with the old vault and its size. (www.merleburl.com)
Reverend David Lawrence is the new vicar at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He becomes the new pastor in June 2018 when Reverend John Baluff leaves to become Vicar for Clergy serving Bishop Conlon.
My email address is merleburl@earthlink.net.