JULY 2017
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The movie night will be held at Community Park at dusk. The Westchester Park District will host a concession stand selling popcorn and soda. Bring your blanket or lawn chairs and come join the fun!
SAVE THE DATE FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT ON AUGUST 1, 2017 Contributed by Officer Rob Verber On Tuesday, August 1st, the Westchester Police Department will host the annual National Night Out campaign. What is National Night Out? It’s America’s Night Out Against Crime! The “33rd Annual National Night Out” (NNO), a unique crime/ drug prevention event, has been scheduled for that evening. The night will start with a Community Walk stepping off at 6:30 pm from the Faith Lutheran Church campus, 1124 Westchester Blvd The walk will head south to the Westchester Community Park, 10201 Bond, where residents will have an hour of free swim in the community pool while listening to local musical entertainment. Additional activities planned at the park include, but are not limited to, an area for residents to gather information from various business and organizations, refreshments, a ‘Meet & Greet’ with Ronald McDonald, giveaways, entertainment, etc. We will then have a screening of The LEGO Batman Movie in the park at sunset on an outdoor screen. The purpose of NNO is to develop relationships between the residents and community in a partnership to further reduce crime in our neighborhoods.
MUSIC FESTIVAL TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 12TH The 2017 Music Fest will take place at High Ridge Park, 10900 Canterbury on Saturday, August 12, 2017. We will be featuring Jam Band from 3:30PM – 5:00PM, High Noon from 6:00PM to 7:30PM and ARRA from 8:30PM to 10:00PM. ARRA is one of the best and largest drawing classic rock cover bands in the Chicagoland area, and has been for the past 2 decades! They were also voted BEST CLASSIC ROCK BAND in the Nitelife Best of the Burbs Contest for the 5th year in a row! Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets and enjoy a great day of music in the park. Liquid refreshments and limited food offerings will be available for purchase.
FORMER VILLAGE PRESIDENT SAM PULIA RECOGNIZED On June 1, 2017, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)
passed Resolution 17-0607, sponsored by the MWRD Board of Commissioners, recognizing Sam D. Pulia’s 20 years of service to the Village of Westchester and congratulating him on his wellearned retirement. The resolution read as follows: WHEREAS, Sam D. Pulia has over 20 years of administrative leadership as President of the Village of Westchester and Westchester School District 92.5, Deputy Chief of the Westchester Police Department and Chief of the Willow Springs Police Department; and WHEREAS, in these positions, he accomplished many things, including but not limited to: creating and implementing short and long term strategic plans; creating and implementing fiscally responsible budgets; securing various grant monies; and service on a multijurisdictional civil disturbance/mobile field force team; and WHEREAS, Sam’s leadership success is attributed in some part to his academic success, having obtained his Associates Degree from Triton College, both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science Degrees from Lewis University and attendance at the prestigious Northwestern Staff and Command School, where he was elected and served as class president; and WHEREAS, his service to the community extends past the village limits and includes his work as an Adjunct Faculty Member at the College of DuPage and his voluntary assignment as first responder to Ground Zero in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; and WHEREAS, his loving and loved family, including his wife Maureen Masterson-Pulia, his sons Joe and Steve, his daughters-in-law Melissa and Gianna, and his grandchildren Caprice, Sammy, Brooklyn, Gia, Milania and Romey have graciously shared Sam with the community for long enough, and WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners and staff of the District extend their heartfelt wishes for as much success in his retirement as Sam has enjoyed throughout his career and express our sincere gratitude to his family for allowing Sam to share his outstanding commitment and unparalleled talents; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, do hereby recognize Sam D. Pulia’s dedicated service to the residents of Westchester and express
our gratitude and appreciation for his work on behalf of the taxpayers of the District; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and that a copy of same, suitably embossed, be presented to Sam D. Pulia. Former Village President Sam Pulia was also recognized and presented with the 2017 Donald E. Stephens Award of Excellence by the West Central Municipal Conference (WCMC) on Friday, June 9th for his contributions to local government over the past 20 years. Congratulations, Sam!
WESTCHESTER FOOD PANTRY NEWS Contributed by Trustee Carl Celestino The Westchester Food Pantry has been going through changes that will be more beneficial to the residents. In addition to becoming certified with the Greater Chicago Food Depository the organization is now an incorporated Illinois NonProfit Corporation which now allows for tax deductible donations. The organization held its first meeting to formally to elect its Officers and Board Members. Kathleen Franzwa and Amanda Grant are the Organization’s Co-Directors. Carol Kratky is Pantry Manager. Kathleen White will be serving as President, James Gabel as Treasurer and Ellen Alamilla as Secretary. Members of the Board are Lee and Don Bence, Carl Celestino and Claudia Gabel. Many items were discussed that included client services and outreach, public events, fundraising and corporate sponsorship. For more information or to donate/ volunteer please check their Facebook Page or www.westchesterfoodpantry.org.
SPRING CLEANING OF THE VILLAGE GATEWAY SIGNS Contributed by Trustee Carl Celestino On the hottest weekend of the Summer so far, the members of the Grassroots Garden Club of Westchester volunteered their time and their backs to spruce up the Village Gateway Signs. Last Spring, the members donated plants from their own gardens and planted them in the Gateways areas around the Village as well as around the Village Memorial Fountain. These items will continue to flourish and provide a lasting benefit with no cost to the Village. In the Fall, one thousand Daffodils were planted at these locations, as well as Village Hall, to welcome the Spring and will bloom year after year. This volunteer group
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of residents has made it their goal to help promote the Village and show the invaluable benefits of landscaping. WESTCHESTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Contributed by Trustee Frank Perry The Westchester Economic Development Committee (EDC) consists of resident and non-resident business owner/managers that meet bi-monthly to talk, discuss, plan, and execute events designed to support, build, develop, and inform in town commerce. Our mission statement is to “Provide the Village Board with viable economic development strategies to promote responsible, sustainable development, resulting in business retention and growth, as well as a desirable quality of life”. The Economic Development Committee will focus on business retention, business development and civic pride. The committee members are Pastor Joe Mills (Chairman), Lori-Jo Fergle (Vice-Chairwoman), Krista Brazel, Doug Hilton and Darlene Barber (Secretary). Immediate past members Brian Doruff and Allison Muzal still contribute actively. We are currently looking for two additional members. Frank Perry is active liaison to the Village Board for the EDC. Some recent lunch and learn topics that have been offered to the business community are “Quick Books – Get it right from the Start”; “Breaking Bad – Book Keeping Habits that can sink your Business. On July 18Th we will feature “Sticky Fingers – YES, Fraud can happen to You” at the Westchester Library Community Room from 11:30am -1:00pm. Lunch is provided. For reservations, contact Melissa Headley at 708-3450199 or by e-mail at mheadley@ westchester-il.org. All meetings are open to the public and attendance is strongly encouraged. EDC meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7:30am at Village Hall in the Community Room. Anyone interested in joining the Economic Development Committee should contact Frank Perry at fperry@ westchester-il.org.
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE There are municipal code in place designed to keep the Village looking well kept and manicured; something that we can all be proud of. The Police Department is responsible for documenting violations for long grass/weeds complaints. B&F Technical Code Enforcement (B&F) inspectors concentrate on other
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