December 2016 Village of Westchester Illinois Newsletter

Village of

Westchester

DECEMBER 2016 Newsletter

From the Desk of The President FIRE DEPARTMENT

3

POLICE DEPARTMENT

4

CALENDAR

7 CSO Sarah Hribal and Sgt Vince Lamanna are joined by Deputy Chief, Mike O’Hagan’s daughter, Jenn, at Dunkin Donuts on May 20th, raising money for the Special Olympics.

PARK DISTRICT

13

SCHOOL DISTRICT

18

NEWS AND NOTES

22

PUBLIC WORKS

26

The Presidential Election of 2016 is history. No matter how we may feel individually regarding whether the popular vote or Electoral College results should determine the winner, the laws of the United States dictates that the Electoral College number determines the winner. Donald J. Trump and Michael Pence will be sworn in on January 20, 2017.

The United States Electoral College is established by Article Two of the United States Constitution to select the President of the United States and Vice President. Citizens of the United States vote in each state at a general election to choose a slate of “electors” pledged to vote for a party’s candidate. The candidates who receive an absolute majority of electoral votes among the states are elected President and Vice President of the United States when the Electoral College vote is certified by Congress.

As you can imagine, the tasks ahead of the President-Elect, his cabinet, the Senate and House of Representatives will be very difficult on many fronts. Policies affecting both the international community and our nation concerning topics too numerous to mention are all being examined and may change. Hopefully these changes will

affect the population of the world and here at home in a positive manner. Time will tell. I’m anxious to see Presidents-Elect Trump’s first 100 days in office.

Here is the list of the “Contract with the American Voter” policies detailed by PresidentElect Trump during his campaign stop in Pennsylvania: I am following with interest these campaign comments and what will occur come January 20, when President-Elect Trump will become our 45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump.

1.

Propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress 2.

Institute a hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce federal workforce through attrition (exempting military, public safety, and public health) 3.

Require for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated.

4.

Institute a five year-ban on White House and Congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service 5.

Create a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign

See PRESIDENT, page 5

WESTCHESTER: A YEAR 2

DECEMBER 2016

IN

PICTURES

FIRE DEPARTMENT DECEMBER 2016

3

POLICE DEPARTMENT

A Message from the Police Chief

4

DECEMBER 2016

I cannot believe we are getting ready to wrap up another year as we head into the month of December.

I want to remind everyone that on December 1st the snow parking regulations went into effect. Please pay attention to the signs posted on your blocks concerning snow removal and the restrictions involved.

Check the Village website for the full Village ordinance concerning snow removal. The ordinance numbers are: 11.32.160 & 11.30.

Winter Driving Safety Tips The best advice for driving during bad snow/ice storms I can recommend is not to drive at all, if possible. Try not to go out until the slat trucks have been out and had a chance to salt the streets. Allow yourself extra time when going somewhere, knowing it will take longer than normal. If you must drive in the stormy conditions, make sure your vehicle is prepared and you are comfortable with how your car handles in the stormy conditions.

Here are a few tips for driving safely on icy roads: ➢Decrease your speed and leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you, so you can stop in time. ➢Brake gently to avoid skidding, if you wheel start to lock up, ease off the brake. ➢Do not pass snow plows. The plow

drivers have limited vision and you are likely to find the road in bad shape in front of the plow.

Remember that overpasses, bridges and less travelled roads are prime spots for black ice. Be extra careful

POLICE BLOTTER 1) At 2:16pm on October 11, 2016 a Burglary to Auto was reported in the parking lot of 1 Westbrook Corporate Center.

Unknown persons made forced entry into the vehicle.

2) At 2:37pm on October 11, 2016 a Burglary to Auto was reported on the 9800 Block of Roosevelt. The owner of a cargo box truck reported that unknown person(s) broke into the truck and took tools valued at $5,000.

3) At 2:49pm on October 25, 2016 a Theft was reported in the area of Crestwood & Mannheim. A landscaping vehicle reported that leafblower valued at $500 was removed from their vehicle while doing work in the area.

4) At 10:24am on October 29, 2016 a Burglary to Auto was reported on the 2800 block of Mayfair. The vehicle owner reported that two male subjects entered an unlocked vehicle and removed property. The homeowners

video surveillance system with video of the incident is being reviewed .

5) At 10:52am on November 7, 2016 a Criminal Damage to Property was reported on the 10400 block of Cermak. A vehicle owner reported that unknown person(s) damaged the rear passenger tire using a sharp object.

6) At 2:07pm on November 13, 2016 a Theft from Vehicle was reported on the 1900 block of Newcastle.

Unknown person(s) had removed the catalytic converter from their vehicle.

NOTE: Investigations arrested and charged a 26 year old male with robbery and aggravated battery in connection with an incident that occurred on November 6, 2016 at JD’s Liquor Mart located at 10147 Roosevelt.

Investigations arrested and charged a 22 year old male in connection with an armed robbery at the Sprint Store located at 10356 Roosevelt that occurred on September 30, 2015.

as you drive on these.

I wish to recognize the following members of the police department for their work anniversaries during the month of December:

December 30th – Sgt. Dominic Luciano 22 years December 30th – Officer Neal Bojkovski 22 years Lastly the members of the Westchester Police Department want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

DECEMBER 2016

PRESIDENT Continued from page 1 government.

6.

Institute a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for American elections.

7.

Announce intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205.

8.

Announce withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

9.

Direct Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator.

10.

Direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately.

11.

Lift the restrictions on the production of $50 trillion dollars’ worth of job-producing American energy reserves, including shale, oil, natural gas and clean coal.

12.

Lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward.

13.

Cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America’s water and environmental infrastructure.

14.

Cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama.

15.

Begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Scalia from one of the 20 judges on my list, who will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.

16.

Cancel all federal funding to Sanctuary Cities.

17.

Begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won’t take them back.

18.

Suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. All vetting of people coming into our country will be considered extreme vetting.

19.

Work with Congress on a Middle Class Tax Relief And Simplification Act. An economic plan designed to grow the economy 4% per year and create at least 25 million new jobs through massive tax reduction and simplification, in combination with trade reform, regulatory relief, and lifting the restrictions on American energy.

The largest tax reductions are for the middle class. A middle-class family with 2 children will get a 35% tax cut.

The current number of brackets will be reduced from 7 to 3, and tax forms will likewise be greatly simplified. The

business rate will be lowered from 35 to 15 percent, and the trillions of dollars of American corporate money overseas can now be brought back at a 10 percent rate.

20.

Work with Congress on End The Off shoring Act Establishes tariffs to discourage companies from laying off their workers in order to relocate in other countries and ship their products back to the U.S. tax-free.

21.

Work with Congress on a American Energy & Infrastructure Act Leverages public-private partnerships, and private investments through tax incentives, to spur $1 trillion in infrastructure investment over 10 years. It is revenue neutral.

22.

Work with Congress on a School Choice and Education Opportunity Act Redirects education dollars to gives parents the right to send their kid to the public, private, charter, and magnet, religious or home school of their choice. Ends common core, brings education supervision to local communities.

It expands vocational and technical education, and makes 2 and 4-year college more affordable.

23.

Work with Congress to Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act Fully repeals Obamacare and replaces it with Health Savings Accounts, the ability to purchase health insurance across state lines, and lets states manage Medicaid funds. Reforms will also include cutting the red tape at the FDA: there are over 4,000 drugs awaiting approval, and we especially want to speed the approval of lifesaving medications.

24.

Work with Congress on the Affordable Childcare and Eldercare Act. Allows Americans to deduct childcare and elder care from their taxes, incentivizes employers to provide on-side childcare services, and creates tax-free Dependent Care Savings Accounts for both young and elderly dependents, with matching contributions for low-income families.

25.

Work with Congress on an End Illegal Immigration Act Fullyfunds the construction of a wall on our southern border with the full understanding that the country Mexico will be reimbursing the United States for the full cost of such wall; establishes a 2-year mandatory minimum federal prison sentence for illegally re-entering the U.S. after a previous deportation, and a 5-year mandatory minimum for illegally re-entering for those with felony convictions, multiple misdemeanor convictions or two or more prior deportations; also reforms visa rules to enhance penalties for overstaying and to ensure open jobs are offered to American workers first.

26.

Work with Congress on a Restoring Community Safety Act.

Reduces surging crime, drugs and violence by creating a Task Force on Violent Crime and increasing funding for programs that train and assist local police; increases resources for federal law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors to dismantle criminal gangs and put violent offenders behind bars.

27.

Work with Congress on a Restoring National Security Act. Rebuilds our military by eliminating the defense sequester and expanding military investment; provides Veterans with the ability to receive public VA treatment or attend the private doctor of their choice; protects our vital infrastructure from cyber-attack; establishes new screening procedures for immigration to ensure those who are admitted to our country support our people and our values 28.

Work with Congress on the Clean up Corruption in Washington Act. Enacts new ethics reforms to Drain the Swamp and reduce the corrupting influence of special interests on our politics.

VILLAGE REFERENDUM FAILS On November 8, voters right here in Westchester had an opportunity to not only vote for our next president of the United States but also to vote whether or not they approve an additional tax rate to support the hiring of additional Police and Fire Personnel.

The results were 60% against and 40% in favor of the referendum. Thank you to all who voted regardless of the result. As I mentioned before, we are a democratic society where the majority generally dictates the path.

We at the Village respect the results and will again work tirelessly to offer and provide the best service we can for all of our residents and those visiting our community. During the month of February 2017 we will be holding budget meetings in preparation of our 2017-2018 budget year. All departments will be examined for expenditures versus revenues. The public is welcome to attend and offer commentary on the financial health of the Village.

BOND PAYMENTS MADE At our November 22 Board Meeting the board authorized payment of several bond payments due in December. Our first payment was for $247,769.64 from our Motor Fuel Tax (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2010A Bonds, against a General Obligation Bond of $3,500,000.

The Village receives over $400,000 annually from the State of Illinois from the state gasoline tax. The amount received is based on population of the Village and NOT where you purchased gasoline. Our second authorized payment of $189,090.50 for General

5

Obligation Bonds (Water and Sewer Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2010B against a debt of a $1,610,000 Bond. Our third authorized payment of $409,320.00 for General Obligation Bonds (Sales Tax Alternate Revenue Source) Series 2013 against a debt of a $5,800,000 Bond. The purpose of this bond was for the financing certain public infrastructure projects, including but not limited to, acquiring and constructing improvements to municipal roads and streets, access roads, bridges, and sidewalks; waste disposal systems; and water and sewer line extensions, water distribution and purification facilities, within the Village. Our fourth payment of $150,892.50 was for General Obligation Bonds (Sales Tax Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2015 against a debt of a $2,200,000 Bond. The purpose of this bond was for the purpose of financing certain public infrastructure projects, including but not limited to, acquiring and constructing improvements to municipal roads and streets, access roads, bridges, and sidewalks; waste disposal systems; and water and sewer line extensions, water distribution and purification facilities, storm water drainage and retention facilities, and sewerage treatment facilities within the Village.

STORM WATER PUBLIC MEETING – NOVEMBER 15th As part of our participation in the Community Rating System (CRS), the Village hosted its annual Storm Water Meeting on Tuesday, November 15th at 6:30 pm. at the Village Hall.

Melissa Headley, the Community Development Director, and Robert Lewis, the Public Works Director, presented information about the CRS as well as recently learned information regarding the MWRD Addison Creek Channel improvements and the FEMA approval of a map amendment of the 2008 FEMA Map in the Mayfair AO Flood zone effective March 16,2017.

Close to 1000 letters were mailed out to residents currently living in areas affected by that have been flooded. In case you may have missed the letter I have included a copy of the letter I signed for your review.

Dear Resident: You have received this letter because your property is in an area that has been flooded several times, and a property (not necessarily yours) had more than one claim to the National Flood Insurance Program in your area. Major flood events occurred in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2013. The 2010 & 2013 storms caused the Addison Creek and Salt Creek banks

See PRESIDENT, page 6

6

DECEMBER 2016

PRESIDENT Continued from page 5 to overflow resulting in record flood on July 24, 2010 and April 18, 2013.

Most of the floods were the result of severe thunderstorms and micro bursts. Here are some things that you can do to protect yourself and your neighborhood from flood damage.

Prepare for flooding by doing the following: o Know the flood safety guidance on the last page of this letter. o Know how to shut off the electricity and gas to your house when a flood comes. o Make a list of emergency numbers and identify a safe place to go. o Make a household inventory, especially of basement contents. o Put insurance policies, valuable papers, medicine, etc. in a safe place. o Collect and put cleaning supplies, camera, waterproof boots, etc. in a handy place. o Develop a disaster response plan-See the Red Cross website for a copy of the brochure” your Family Disaster Plan” (www.redcross.org/ services/disaster) o Get a copy of Repairing Your Flooded Home from the Red Cross website.

Consider some permanent flood protection measures: o Mark your fuse or breaker box to show circuits to the floodable areas.

Turning off the power to the basement can reduce property damage and save lives. o Consider elevating your hose above flood levels. Contact the Community Development Department for more information. o Check your building for water entry points. These can be basement windows, the basement stairwell, doors and dryer vents. These can be protected with low walls or temporary shields. o Install a flood drain plug, standpipe, overhead sewer, or sewer backup valve to prevent sewer backup flooding. o More information can be found in Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting. Six ways to protect Your House from Flooding at https:// www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/ documents/480. o Note that some flood protection measures may need a building permit and others may not be safe for your type of building, so be sure to talk to the Community Development Department.

Get a flood insurance policy: o Get a flood insurance policy-

it will help pay for repairs after a flood and, in some cases, it will help pay the costs of elevating a substantially damaged building. o Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. However, because the Village participates in the4 National Flood Insurance Program, you can purchase a separate flood insurance policy. This insurance is backed by the Federal government and is available for everyone, even properties that have been flooded. Because the Village participates in the Community Rating System, you will receive a reduction in the insurance premium. o Some people have purchased flood insurance because it was required by the bank when they got a mortgage or home improvement loan.

Usually these policies just cover the building’s structure and not the contents. There is often more damage to the furniture and contents then there is to the structure. Be sure you have contents coverage. o Don’t wait for the next flood to buy insurance protection. In most cases, there is a 30 day waiting period before National Flood Insurance Program coverage takes effect. o Contact your insurance agent for more information on rates and coverage.

A complete copy of the information received from FEMA is available on our website www.westchester-il.org and in the lobby of the Village Hall.

For those residing in the Mayfair area, I have typed out the letter I received from FEMA with the Letter of Map Revision (LOMA).

Dear Mr. Pulia: The Flood Insurance Study Report and Flood Insurance Rate Map for your community have been revised by this Letter of Map Revision (LOMR).

Please use the enclosed annotated map panel(s) revised by this LOMR for floodplain management purposes and for all flood insurance policies and renewals issued by your community.

Additional documents are enclosed which provide information regarding this LOMR. Please see the List of Enclosures below to determine which documents are included.

Other attachments specific to this request may be included as referenced in the Determiniation Document. If you have any questions regarding floodplain managemment regulations for your community or the National Flood Insrance Program (NFIP) in general, please contact the Consultation Coordination Officer for your community. If you have any technical questions regarding this LOMR, please contact the Director, Mitigation Division of the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emegency Management

Agency (FEMA) in Chicago, Illinois at (312)408-5500, or the FEMA Map Information eXchange (FMIX) toll free at 1-877-336-2627 (I-877-FEMA MAP). Additional information about the NFIP is available on our website at http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip.

Sincerely, Patrick “Rick” F. Sacbibit, P.E., Branch Chief Engineering and Modeling Division Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration

ADDISON CREEK IMPROVEMENTS Regarding the improvements in Addison Creek, there are 2 projects underway: A 600 acre-foot reservoir with a 200 million gallon capacity is in the early planning stages in the Village of Bellwood. The reservoir, to give you a perspective, will be 5 times larger than the Mayfair Reservoir. The cost of the construction is $109 million, being paid for by monies received from appropriations from the Federal Government and monies collected

by MWRD. The construction time line is for the design to be completed mid-2017; the project hopefully will be bid in 2018, with construction taking 2 years to complete, bringing us to a 2020 (projected) completion date. The channel improvements will start at 25th Ave. in Bellwood and continue through Westchester and Broadview ending at Cermak Road.

The plan as presented will include a lowering of Addison Creek by one foot in the vicinity of Roosevelt Rd. 2200 homes are affected in Bellwood and Westchester. MWRD Civil Engineer Michael Cosme is the project engineer and can be reached at 1-312-7513092 or at email michael.cosme@ mwrd.org if you have more specific questions.

YARD WASTE PROGRAM ENDED FRIDAY DECEMBER 2, 2016 As mentioned in the October & November newsletters, on Electronic Sign, and on the web site, Friday, December 2 was the last pickup date for yard waste per or contract with Waste Management. Hopefully you were able to remove all of the leaves before December 2nd. Waste Management will start picking up yard waste and bundled branches 4 foot in length again in April 2017.

PROVISO TOWNSHIP TOWN HALL MEETING: TONIGHT A Town Hall Meeting has been scheduled for tonight Monday, December 5, at the Westchester Public Library 10700 Canterbury. The meeting will begin at 6:30pm and is

scheduled to end by 8:30pm. The New Proviso District 209 Superintendent, Dr. Jesse Rodriguez and staff, will be available for comments and questions.

Please mark your calendars.

BOY SCOUT TROOP 73 NEWS On Saturday, November 19 Boy Scout Troop 73 held their “2016 Scouting for Food” Drive. THANKS to all the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, WPS, WIS and WMS students, WMS grads and dads and moms who helped with the food drive this year. Once again Westchester residents were generous with their donations. The Troop collected 12,000 pounds of food, 710+ pairs of shoes for the Famous Fido fundraiser and more than 100 pairs of eyeglasses for Lions Clubs International. The flags collected will be respectfully retired in the spring.

Great job everyone!

WESTCHESTER FOOD PANTRY During the latter part of the week of November 14, Food Pantry Directors Amanda Grant and Kathleen Franzwa, as well as a host of volunteers were very busy collecting food to distribute to the needy of our area.

The Community Room was completely full of food items. There were close to 75 paper boxes full of canned goods as well as pastry items donated from Mariano’s, Panera, and other venues.

On Friday morning a delivery of over 42 boxes arrived from the Westchester Public Schools just in time for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

On the whiteboard was written the amount and various types of food being given to each needy family. Coach Sarah O’Malley Fisher, a Westchester resident, brought her children, nieces and nephews to help. Girls from the Concordia University Softball Team in River Forest, IL. also assisted in this year’s efforts. At the time of this writing I do not have a list of people and organizations involved however, a BIG THANK YOU is in order for all of the volunteers.

PREPARING FOR SNOWFALL THIS SEASON As of the time of this writing, the Chicago area has yet to have been hit with any snow. Hopefully, by the time this newsletter is delivered on Monday, December 5th we have been lucky enough to be bypassed

by Mother Nature as we were in December 2014, the lowest snowfall in 102 years. Our PW crews and trucks are ready to go again this winter season and we feel our supply of salt and calcium chloride on hand

See PRESIDENT, page 11

CALENDAR DECEMBER 2016

7

CALENDAR 8

DECEMBER 2016

DECEMBER 2016

9

10

DECEMBER 2016

PRESIDENT Continued from page 6 will see us through another winter.

Last winter was considered very mild; however, I remember the Friday and Saturday, November 20-21, 2015 when the Chicago land area was hit with not only the first snowfall of the season but a record snow. 11.2 inches of the white stuff fell at O’Hare Airport.

Midway Airport had 5.8. If you add them up and divide by 2 because we are located between the 2 airports we had about 8.5 or more inches fall here in Westchester.

The weather service said this was the 2nd heaviest snowfall behind a 12 inch snowfall November 25-26, 1895; 120 years ago.

For you history buffs and those who can remember but would wish to forget: the snowiest Novembers are in 1940 with 14.8 inches, 1895 with 14.5 inches and 1951 with 14.3 inches.

Now, I wonder what this month will bring us.

The city’s biggest blizzard happened in 1967 when 23 inches of snow fell on Jan. 26 to 27. The second-biggest blizzard happened in 1999 when 21.6 inches fell. The third-largest storm was in February 2011, when the weather service recorded 21.2 inches of snow and the fourth-biggest storm was in January 1979 when there was 20.3 inches of snow.

VILLAGE SNOW RESTRICTIONS IN-PLACE: IMPORTANT PLEASE READ Please be mindful of the snow restrictions that have been CHANGED this past year and go into effect on DECEMBER 1st. There are two restrictions in place. If you reside on a designated SNOW ROUTE, after 2 inches of snow-fall you must REMOVE all of the cars and trucks from the SNOW ROUTE. The cars and trucks must stay off the street until the streets are cleaned thoroughly by the PLOWS by Public Works. If the snowfall is continuing the restriction is in place until PW ceases the plowing for the day.

The second restriction that has actually CHANGED is the alternate side street parking on side-streets.

These are all the streets that are not snow routes. The Public Works personnel requested the Village Board add Saturday and Sunday to the Monday through Friday restrictions now in place. Emergency vehicles including police, fire, and ambulance service, in addition to plowing, has been hampered with the amount of vehicles parked on both sides of the street. Please observe what the sign

DECEMBER 2016 says near your vehicle and call the Police Department non-emergency number or Public Works Department with any questions.

As mentioned in past newsletters, the Village did not have the monies to re-sign the entire Village. The streets with the old red/white signage will be upgraded next budget year.

TO REITERATE: THIS IS A CHANGE FOR ONLY THOSE SIDE STREETS WHERE THE NEW BLUE AND WHITE PARKING SIGNS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. AFTER 2 INCHES OF SNOW, there is NO Parking Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday on the even house numbered side, and No Parking Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday on the Odd house numbered side.

Please check the signs at the corners and center of you block for guidance.

A better suggestion if you do have a side driveway would be to park your car in the driveway when the weather report predicts a snowfall in excess of 2 inches. This way you won’t have to worry about getting a ticket form the police, interfere with plowing or salting activities and the streets can be cleaned curb to curb to accommodate a response for emergency services.

Pictures of the NEW blue/white signs are pictured on the Public Works page of this newsletter.

The lower white portion of the sign, with the exception of the 7am3pm timeframe, deals with street maintenance. Street Maintenance has been introduced to designate specific days for PW to perform street sweeping in a consistent manner beginning in the spring.

Street maintenance has nothing to do with snow removal activities.

REMEMBER: DO NOT TO PUT SNOW INTO THE STREET. This practice is against our Village Code and creates a dangerous situation for vehicles and plows that would strike a pile of snow left in the street. I found it just as effective clearing driveway aprons side to side.

PLOWS CANNOT lift their blades to avoid putting snow back on the driveway aprons.

PLOWS CANNOT drive down the street the opposite way if they did a huge pile of snow would be put into the middle of the street. Snow removal would require an end loader to go up and down each street, loading snow into a dump truck which is not effective by time or cost.

DO NOT put your garbage cans in the street. It becomes very difficult for the plows to drive around them and it prevents the curb to curb removal of snow that PW makes every attempt to do. Shoveling or clearing a small area on the parkway where the cans can fit works best.

Unfortunately, we all will be shoveling or snow blowing the snow more often than we like.

HEALTH ISSUES WITH SNOW REMOVAL Be smart when shoveling snow.

I can recall vividly the day after Thanksgiving 2004 when I was shoveling a wet snow off my driveway.

I was pushing and not really lifting and felt out of shape. I finished the driveway thinking I better get to the health club as I had been feeling sedentary and not as active as I could be. Low and behold a visit to the doctor for a dry cough that would not go away detected that I had a Heart Attack that day. I was 49 years old and thought they were crazy. Medical tests and stent surgery don’t lie. I’m the lucky one. I am including some helpful hints to remind us all that this silent killer can be prevented.

The American Heart Association says that for most people, shoveling snow may not lead to any health problems.

However, the association warns that the risk of a heart attack during snow shoveling may increase for some, stating that the combination of colder temperatures and physical exertion increases the workload on the heart. People who are outdoors in cold weather should avoid sudden exertion, like lifting a heavy shovel full of snow. Even walking through heavy, wet snow or snow drifts can strain a person’s heart.

To help make snow removal safer, the American Heart Association has compiled a list of practical tips.

Give yourself a break. Take frequent rest breaks during shoveling so you don’t overstress your heart.

Pay attention to how your body feels during those breaks.

Don’t eat a heavy meal prior or soon after shoveling. Eating a large meal can put an extra load on your heart.

Use a small shovel or consider a snow thrower. The act of lifting heavy snow can raise blood pressure acutely during the lift. It is safer to lift smaller amounts more times, than to lug a few huge shovelfuls of snow. When possible, simply push the snow.

Learn the heart attack warning signs and listen to your body, but remember this: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out

11

(tell a doctor about your symptoms).

Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1 Don’t drink alcoholic beverages before or immediately after shoveling.

Alcohol may increase a person’s sensation of warmth and may cause them to underestimate the extra strain their body is under in the cold.

Consult a doctor. If you have a medical condition, don’t exercise on a regular basis or are middle aged or older, meet with your doctor prior to the first anticipated snowfall.

Be aware of the dangers of hypothermia. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia. To prevent hypothermia, dress in layers of warm clothing, which traps air between layers forming a protective insulation. Wear a hat because much of your body’s heat can be lost through your head.

Heart Attack Warning Signs Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening: Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment.

Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff is also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped.

Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster

See PRESIDENT, page 12

12

DECEMBER 2016

PRESIDENT Continued from page 11 treatment at the hospital, too. It is best to call EMS for rapid transport to the emergency room. If you can’t access EMS, have someone drive you to the hospital right away. If you’re the one having symptoms, don’t drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option.

The Westchester Fire Department has Fully Trained Paramedics that are trained to handle medical emergencies. Every Police unit is equipped with an AED with all police officers trained in their use. DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL 9-1-1. WE ARE AT YOUR SERVICE 24/7

WEATHERING WINTER I came upon a booklet written by the State of Illinois Department of Public Health that I believe anyone with a computer should download, read, and most of all refer to for information.

The Booklet can be found at http:// www.idph.state.il.us/public/books/ WeathWinter10.pdf The 33 page booklet contains a wealth of information. I have copied some for the newsletter; however, I recommend you read all of the pages to keep informed.

Weather Terms Winter storms may bring freezing rain or sleet, ice or heavy snow. Learn weather terms, and use the radio and television to keep updated on the latest weather conditions.

• Freezing Rain and Freezing Drizzle — Rain that freezes as it strikes the ground and other surfaces, forming a coating of ice.

• Sleet — Small particles of ice, usually mixed with rain.

• Snow Flurries — Periods of snow falling on and off again for short amounts of time. Accumulation is generally limited.

• Winter Storm Watch — A possibility of severe winter conditions exists.

Expect freezing rain, sleet or heavy snow, together or separately.

• Winter Storm Warning — Severe winter weather conditions with snowfall of 4 or more inches in a 24-hour period can be expected. Sleet or freezing rain may accompany the snow.

• Travelers’ Advisory — Issued when falling, blowing or drifting snow, freezing rain or drizzle, sleet or strong winds may make driving difficult, but conditions are not yet serious enough to issue a winter storm

warning.

Frostbite Frostbite is the freezing of skin and extremities of the body. The parts of the body most affected by frostbite are exposed areas of the face (cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead), the ears, wrists, hands and feet. When spending time outdoors during cold weather, be alert for signs of frostbite.

In superficial frostbite burning, numbness, tingling, itching, or cold sensations in the affected areas. The regions appear white and frozen, are cold to the touch, or is discolored (flushed, white or gray, yellow or blue). In deep frostbite, there is an initial decrease in sensation that is eventually completely lost. Swelling and blood filled blisters are noted over white or yellowish skin that looks waxy and turns a purplish blue as it re-warms. The area is hard, has no resistance when pressed on, and may even appear blackened and dead. If you notice these signs, take immediate action. To treat frostbite, warm the affected part of the body gradually. Wrap the frostbitten area in blankets, sweaters, coats, etc. If no warm wrappings are available, place frostbitten hands under your armpits or use your body to cover the affected area. Then seek medical attention immediately. Do not rub frostbitten areas. The friction can damage the tissue. Do not apply snow to frostbitten areas. Because its temperature is below freezing, snow will aggravate the condition.

If frostbite occurs, take emergency action to begin warming the affected body part; then seek medical attention immediately. Everyone is susceptible, even people who have been living in cold climates for most of their lives.

Holiday Cooking Most food poisonings are preventable if you follow these very important rules: Keep hot food hot and cold food cold, keep everything in the kitchen clean, and wash hands often during food preparation and service. Refrain from eating certain foods, such as raw oysters, egg drinks, mousse or bread pudding (unless made with pasteurized eggs or an egg substitute); soft boiled eggs; steak tartar; and rare or medium hamburger. These foods can harbor bacteria that cause food poisoning. It is particularly important that young children, the elderly, pregnant women and those who are ill or whose immune systems are compromised not eat raw or undercooked animal products or raw oysters unless they have consulted a physician. Most bacteria get into food through careless handling. Hands should always be washed before handling food, and towels and wash

cloths should be kept clean as bacteria can linger in those used repeatedly between launderings. Countertops and utensils should be washed with hot, soapy water between each step in food preparation. Bacteria from raw meat and poultry can get into other foods if they touch the same surfaces.

Also, be cautious not to use wooden utensils or cutting boards for raw meat and poultry. These surfaces are not smooth and can harbor bacteria in the ridges. Any time you use wooden utensils or cutting boards, they should be scrubbed thoroughly with soapy water and rinsed well before and after each use. Do not use them at all if the utensil or board is scored or cut.

Cooking food thoroughly kills most bacteria that cause food poisoning.

Refrigerate cooked food you do not serve immediately. Do not leave food unrefrigerated longer than two hours or the chances of bacterial growth increase. Because any warm-blooded creatures, including turkeys and other poultry, often harbor Salmonella organisms; proper thawing and cooking are important in order to avoid food borne illness.

Follow these guidelines to prepare and to serve meat and poultry: • Cook meat and poultry to the temperature indicated in the chart to make sure it is cooked thoroughly.

Use a meat thermometer, inserting the tip into the thickest part of the meat and avoiding fat or bone. For poultry, insert the tip into the breast or the thick part of the thigh next to the body.

• Partial cooking may allow bacteria to grow, so cook meat and poultry completely at one time.

• If meat or poultry is frozen, thaw before cooking. Turkey should always be completely thawed before cooking.

• Cover leftovers to reheat. This helps maintain moisture and ensures meat is heated all the way through.

• Do not cool leftovers on the kitchen counter. Divide them into smaller portions to cool more quickly and put them in the refrigerator as soon as possible.

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING Our annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, December 7th. I have sent an email and SAVE THE DATE letter to Santa and Mrs. Clause in hopes that they will be available for a visit. As in the past, our Public Works arborists reviewed and selected an evergreen tree donated from the Vattomo Family on Shelly Street. The tree was removed from the front of the home on Monday, November 21st by Winkler Tree Service and transported under police escort to its perch in front of Fire Station 1 on Roosevelt Rd. All

of the trees erected by the Westchester Park District staff and the Westchester Public Works personnel will be lighted at the same time. The ceremony for both lightings will be on Wednesday, December 7th at 6:30pm. This year we had a handful of submissions. We added the new submissions to the ones we received over the past few years before selecting the Shelly Street tree. Staff indicated the removal and transportation came off without any issues. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand both Wednesday, December 7th & Thursday, December 8th. Our Special Events coordinator, Ms. Katy Noffsinger, has been communicating with Santa and his helpers for the past few months. Santa is scheduled to make his appearance from 6:30pm until 8:30pm both nights. Mrs. Claus will be serving hot chocolate and cookies at her kitchen along the Westchester Park District pathway.

You are all invited to make this year’s Holiday Season the best yet.

WESTCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE “We Mean Business!”

Speaking of economic viability for our Village, I would like to encourage all residents to “Shop Locally.” We have many businesses located in Westchester.

The Westchester Chamber of Commerce hosts many events designed to network those business offerings and services right at our fingertips. The Chamber of Commerce has its own web site www. westchesterchamber.org.

Mission Statement Westchester Chamber of Commerce (WCC) exists to promote the growth and health of businesses in Westchester and generate future economic development. We foster partnerships among Village governmental and civic groups, and create and support community-wide events and programs. WCC’s mission is to provide a means through which business professionals can grow and thrive in their communities.

WCC promotes: • Growth and health of businesses • Economic development • Community-wide events and programs • Unique opportunities for citizens to network, exchange ideas, and express areas of interest or concern SHOPPING LOCALLY CAN HOLD DOWN PROPERTY TAX BILLS Every community has their own collection of small businesses, many of them family owned and operated.

We consider them as fixtures in our

See PRESIDENT, page 19

PARK DISTRICT DECEMBER 2016

13

ST. JOSEPH 14

DECEMBER 2016

ST. JOSEPH DECEMBER 2016

15

16

DECEMBER 2016

DECEMBER 2016

17

SCHOOL DISTRICT 18

DECEMBER 2016

SCHOOL DISTRICT DECEMBER 2016

PRESIDENT Continued from page 12 neighbourhoods and it is painful to see them struggle in this tough economy.

They face relentless competition from big box stores and on-line shopping.

Shoppers are always looking for bargains and local merchants find it difficult to fight a pricing war. Loyalty to community and friendly service are important characteristics of the successful local business, however, you have another important reason to shop locally: supporting your local businesses will keep your property taxes down.

It’s easy to understand that sales taxes collected locally will help your local government, but property tax help is more complicated. Residential property owners and businesses share the property tax burden. The higher the assessed value, the more you pay in property taxes. Commercial property owners have a higher level of assessment than residential and will pay two and a half times as much for the same market value of property.

This variation in assessment is a Cook County phenomenon and puts tremendous pressure on our Cook County businesses that are close to a bordering county.

Commercial property is valued according to the income that it produces, so when struggling businesses in Cook County close, the property value and the amount of taxes paid for that property could be reduced. The assessed

value of a commercial property is largely determined by the rent that is collected by the property owner.

When a storefront is vacant, the rent revenue stream is diminished. Since the taxing bodies are not lowering their levies, all the property owners that are left pay the lost tax revenue.

For example: if a five-store strip mall that has five businesses paying an equal amount of rent then loses two businesses, the property owner can lose 40 percent of his income and be eligible to apply for a 40 percent reduction in his assessed valuation for that property. Pay attention to those empty storefronts in your community.

We are all paying their taxes.

So when your local Chamber of Commerce encourages you to buy locally, remember that driving out of town to save a little money now may cost you later in your property tax bill. Save your local stores and save yourself some property tax costs.

Emergency Text to 9-1-1 deployed in Westchester Effective November 1st, a new service in Westchester was made available for those who cannot safely call 9-1-1 in an emergency, or those individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability. The NORCOMM 9-1-1 center, in conjunction with the Village of Westchester, has completed testing and will begin accepting texts to 9-1-1. Customers with text plans from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon can now send a text message to 9-1-1 in an emergency. Customers unsure whether their carrier offers the ability to text to 911 should contact the carrier directly. They should

not send “test” messages to 9-1-1.

NORCOMM telecommunicators have done extensive testing, and are continuing to train on this new technology. We don’t have control over text delivery from the carriers or handsets, but we are working with the cellular providers to deliver this enhancement to the community.

Dialing 9-1-1 in an emergency is still the preferred way to request help, and the public is reminded to “Call if you can, text if you can’t.” For most people, sending a text to 9-1-1 will not replace making a call. Appropriate scenarios for texting 9-1-1 could include: •Deaf, hard of hearing callers or individuals with a speech disability.

•The caller is unable to speak due to a medical issue or other condition.

•When speaking out loud would put the caller in danger such as a home invasion, an abduction, a domestic violence incident or an active-shooter scenario.

If you have questions about the new service, please contact NORCOMM 911 Executive Director Donald Nielsen at 630-903-2481 or email dnielsen@norcomm911.com.

INVESTIGATE BEFORE YOU DONATE During the holiday season my home like yours gets inundated with information on a host of topics all having to do with donations. I have located a guide authored by our Attorney General Lisa Madigan that may prove helpful. Every day, charities throughout Illinois work tirelessly to serve the less fortunate.

Unfortunately, there are also fraudulent charities that prey upon

19

the generosity of Illinois citizens.

Fraudulent charities may make misleading solicitations or solicit for phony causes. These con artists take advantage of citizens and harm legitimate charities.

To ensure that your donation goes to a legitimate charity, give wisely. Ask questions, gather information and donate only when you are satisfied that your money will be used in ways you consider appropriate. Today, more than 25,000 legitimate charitable organizations are registered with my office. These organizations regularly provide my office with information about their income, expenditures, programs and administrators. If you are interested in learning more about a particular organization, or want to know if a charity that has solicited you for a donation is registered, please contact the Charitable Trust Bureau at 312-814-2595 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013).

Tips for Donating Find out if the solicitor is a paid fund-raiser. If the solicitor is paid, a portion of your contribution will pay the salary. Illinois law requires paid fund-raisers to identify themselves as such and to name the charity for which they’re soliciting. Ask how much of your contribution will go to the charity. Illinois law requires professional fund-raisers to disclose this information if asked.

Request written information. A legitimate charity will provide you with information outlining its mission, how your donation will be distributed, and proof that your contribution

See PRESIDENT, page 24

LIBRARY 20

DECEMBER 2016

LIBRARY DECEMBER 2016

21

NEWS 22

AND

NOTES

DECEMBER 2016

NEWS

AND

NOTES

DECEMBER 2016

23

24

DECEMBER 2016

PRESIDENT Continued from page 19 is tax deductible. Pay attention to names. Some phony charities intentionally use names that sound or look like those of respected, legitimate organizations to mislead you. Contact the charity. Find out of the organization has authorized the use of its name. If it is not aware of the solicitation, you may be dealing with a sham solicitor. Be skeptical if a solicitor thanks you for a pledge you don’t remember making. Check your records and don’t pay for a pledge you didn’t make. Refuse high pressure solicitations. Legitimate charities won’t push you to give on the spot. Be wary of charities that offer to pick up your donation. Don’t feel obligated. If charities send you unsolicited goods such as labels and note cards in the mail, you are under no obligation to contribute and may keep any unsolicited merchandise without donating. Consider fundraising costs. When you buy merchandise or receive free goods as part of your donation, these items are paid for out of your contribution.

That means less of your donation may go to the charity. Be wary if you are promised sweepstakes winnings

in exchange for your contribution.

You never have to donate to be eligible to win. Never pay in cash.

For security and tax record purposes, pay by check. Write the official name of the charity on your check–do not use initials.

Top Rated Charities h t t p : / / w w w. c h a r i t y w a t c h . o rg / toprated.html The American Institutes of Philanthropy (AIP) rates more than 400 charitable organizations using a variety of criteria, including percentage of revenue spent on administrative costs. The AIP website lists those charities which have received their highest rating, grouped by topic.

GuideStar National Database of U.S. Charities www.guidestar.org GuideStar provides detailed profiles of more than 640,000 nonprofit organizations in the United States.

Search the database by organization name, keyword, city, state, zip code, and organization type or revenue size.

How to Report Charity Fraud You can help combat charity fraud in Illinois by reporting suspicious solicitations. Whenever possible, keep notes detailing the date and time of the call, the organization’s

See PRESIDENT, page 25

PRESIDENT Continued from page 24 name, and the name of the solicitor.

Try to remember their “pitch” as well as any other pertinent information.

Please note that if a charity is not registered with this Office or has not timely filed its financial reports as required by Illinois law, information on that charity will not be available using this Charitable Database.

However, the Illinois Attorney General does maintain a record of every charity ever registered with this Office. If you cannot find information on a particular charity using the Charitable Database, email us or you can call 312-8142595 (TTY: 312-814- 3374) to find out if that charity was ever registered with this Office.

NICOR METER READERS Our goal is to make every experience with Nicor Gas an outstanding one, and that includes your utility bill. A meter reader regularly visits homes or businesses to inspect natural gas meters and obtain accurate readings of natural gas used for billing purposes. This manual meter reading practice ensures customers are paying for the actual amount of natural gas used. If we are unable to read the meter, we may leave a note on a customer’s door to schedule a reading at a later date. Nicor Gas is working diligently with local law enforcement to provide greater awareness about utility scams.

Unfortunately, there is concern that scammers are impersonating meter readers and using this as a way to gain entry into customer homes and businesses. With utility scams on the rise, customers’ personal safety and financial security are important to us. Whenever a Nicor Gas employee or contractor visits a customer’s home or business, they will provide Nicor Gas identification. When in doubt, check it out! Call us at 888.

Nicor4U (888.642.6748). You can always call the police department to assist in verification.

REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR AND THE ROAD TO WAR - DECEMBER 7, 1941 Every year I try to honor the men and women who participated whether on active duty or here at home that were involved in keeping our county safe and secure following the attack at Pearl Harbor. As the son of a father who served in the United States Army in the Pacific Theater following the attack, I am very appreciative of what he and many others did to shape our future.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a

DECEMBER 2016 surprise, but Japan and the United States had been edging toward war for decades. The United States was particularly unhappy with Japan’s increasingly belligerent attitude toward China. The Japanese government believed that the only way to solve its economic and demographic problems was to expand into its neighbor’s territory and take over its import market; to this end, Japan had declared war on China in 1937. American officials responded to this aggression with a battery of economic sanctions and trade embargoes. They reasoned that without access to money and goods, and especially essential supplies like oil, Japan would have to rein in its expansionism. Instead, the sanctions made the Japanese more determined to stand their ground.

During months of negotiations between Tokyo and Washington, D.C., neither side would budge. It seemed that war was inevitable.

The single vote against Congress’s declaration of war against Japan came from Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana. Rankin was a pacifist who had also voted against the American entrance into World War I. “As a woman,” she said, “I can’t go to war, and I refuse to send anyone else.” But no one believed that the Japanese would start that war with an attack on American territory. For one thing, it would be terribly inconvenient: Hawaii and Japan were about 4,000 miles apart.

For another, American intelligence officials were confident that any Japanese attack would take place in one of the (relatively) nearby European colonies in the South Pacific: the Dutch East Indies, for instance, or Singapore or Indochina.

Because American military leaders were not expecting an attack so close to home, the naval facilities at Pearl Harbor were relatively undefended.

Almost the entire Pacific Fleet was moored around Ford Island in the harbor, and hundreds of airplanes were squeezed onto adjacent airfields. To the Japanese, Pearl Harbor was an irresistible target.

The Japanese plan was simple: Destroy the Pacific Fleet. That way, the Americans would not be able to fight back as Japan’s armed forces spread across the South Pacific.

On December 7, after months of planning and practice, the Japanese launched their attack. At about 8 a.m., Japanese planes filled the sky over Pearl Harbor. Bombs and bullets rained onto the vessels moored below. At 8:10, a 1,800-pound bomb smashed through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona and landed in her forward ammunition magazine.

The ship exploded and sank with more than 1,000 men trapped inside.

Next, torpedoes pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma. With 400 sailors aboard, the Oklahoma lost her balance, rolled onto her side and slipped underwater. By the time the attack was over, every battleship in Pearl Harbor–USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS California, USS West Virginia, USS Utah, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee and USS Nevada–had sustained significant damage. (All but USS Arizona and USS Utah were eventually salvaged and repaired.)

In all, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor crippled or destroyed 18 American ships and nearly 300 airplanes. Dry docks and airfields were likewise destroyed. Most important, almost 2,500 men were killed and another 1,000 were wounded. But the Japanese had failed to cripple the Pacific Fleet.

By the 1940s, battleships were no longer the most important naval vessel: Aircraft carriers were, and as it happened, all of the Pacific Fleet’s carriers were away from the base on December 7. (Some had returned to the mainland and others were delivering planes to troops on Midway and Wake Islands.)

Moreover, the Pearl Harbor assault had left the base’s most vital onshore facilities–oil storage depots, repair shops, shipyards and submarine docks–intact. As a result, the U.S. Navy was able to rebound relatively quickly from the attack.

“Yesterday,” President Roosevelt said on December 8, “the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked.” He went on to say, “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.” After the Pearl Harbor attack, and for the first time after years of discussion and debate, the American people were united in their determination to go to war. The Japanese had wanted to goad the United States into an agreement to lift the economic sanctions against them; instead, they had pushed their adversary into a global conflict that ultimately resulted in Japan’s first occupation by a foreign power. On December 8, Congress approved Roosevelt’s declaration of war. Three days later, on December 11, 1941, Japanese allies Germany and Italy declared war against the United States. For the

25

second time, Congress reciprocated.

More than two years after the start of the conflict, the United States had entered World War II.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS 20 days from today will be December 25th. For as long as I can remember it has always been called Christmas Day. A day the Christian religious world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. What I had not known was that there were may other cultures throughout the world that celebrate not only Christmas Day but other religious holidays throughout the month. I would like to educate and recognize some of those dates and holidays that many in our diverse county celebrate. The United States is a melting pot of people from all cultures, creeds, religious beliefs, or not. We all have apart to play on this earth please make the best of it. At the end of the day look at the back of every piece of paper money you have in your wallet. The four words say it all - IN GOD WE TRUST! November 27 – First Sunday of Advent (Christian) December 6 – Saint Nicholas Day (Christian) December 8 – Bodhi Day (Buddhist) & Immaculate Conception of Mary (Catholic Christian) December 12 – Profits Birthday (Muslim) & Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe (Catholic Christian) & Mawlid an Nabe (Islam) December 16-25 – Posadas Navidenas (Hispanic Christian) December 21 (Solstice) – YuleWicca/Pagan (northern/southern hemisphere) & Yule – Christian December 24 – Christmas Eve (Christian) December 25 – Christmas (Christian) & Feast of the Nativity (Orthodox Christian) December 26 – Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroastrian)) & St. Stephen’s Day (Christian) December 28 – Holy Innocents (Christian) December 30 – Holy Family (Catholic Christian) & First Sunday of Advent (Christian) December 31 – Watch Night (Christian) All of us here at the Village of Westchester want to wish everyone, regardless of any religious affiliations or lack of affiliation, a Happy Holiday Season filled with family, friends, and happiness. During this time we celebrate the lives of those who we love and care for, those who have passed on, and those we have yet to meet but whose acquaintance will make us a better person.

PUBLIC WORKS 26

DECEMBER 2016

PUBLIC WORKS DECEMBER 2016

27

28

DECEMBER 2016