POLICE DEPARTMENT

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For the first 15 or 20 years after the Declaration was written, people didn’t celebrate it much on any date. It was too new and too much else was happening in the young nation. By the 1790s, a time of bitter partisan conflicts, the Declaration had become controversial. One party, the Democratic-Republicans, admired Jefferson and the Declaration. But the other party, the Federalists, thought the Declaration was too French and too anti-British, which went against their current policies. By 1817, John Adams complained in a letter that America seemed uninterested in its past. But that would soon change. After the War of 1812, the Federalist party began to come apart and the new parties of the 1820s and 1830s all considered themselves inheritors of Jefferson and the DemocraticRepublicans. Printed copies of the Declaration began to circulate again, all with the date July 4, 1776, listed at the top. The deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4, 1826, may even have helped to promote the idea of July 4 as an important date to be celebrated. July 4 wasn’t deemed a federal holiday until 1870, nearly 100 years after the nation was founded. Source//www.constitutionfacts. com/us-declaration-ofindependence/fourth-of-july/ Fun Facts About the Fourth of July: Three of the first five U.S. presidents died on July 4. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died in 1826, the 50th anniversary of the country’s birth. Adams’ last words were “Thomas Jefferson still survives.” James Monroe, the fifth president, died five years later in 1831. The only American president to have been born on the 4th of July is Calvin Coolidge. The 30th president of the United States was born on July 4, 1872 in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on a “laptop,” which was a writing desk that could fit on one’s lap. The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men from 13 colonies. Only two people actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4: John Hancock and Charles Thomson, secretary of Congress. Most of the others signed on August 2. The only two signers of the Declaration of Independence who later served as President of the United States were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. The stars on the original American flag were in a circle so all the Colonies would appear equal. Every 4th of July the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is tapped (not actually rung) thirteen times in honor of the original thirteen colonies. Congress made Independence day a legal holiday in1941. It is one of only four holiday’s that are celebrated on the same day each year. The others are New Year’s Day, Veteran’s Day and Christmas Day. Barbecue is also big on Independence Day. Americans consume around 155 million hot dogs on the Fourth of July each year. They also spend $92 million on chips, $167.5 million on watermelon, and $341.4 million on beer. Congress first authorized the use of pyrotechnics for celebrating Independence Day in 1777. More than 14,000 fireworks displays go off in the Nation each year on the Fourth of July. The largest is the Macy’s Fourth of July Spectacular which is attended by approximately 2 million people. 75,000 pounds of fireworks go off in the Macy’s show in approximately ½ hour. Sources: http://biography. yourdictionary.com/articles/; http://www.businessinsider. com/10-unusual-fourth-ofjuly-facts-2016-7/; http://list25. com/25-fun-facts-about-4th-ofjuly-that-will-make-you-want-tocelebrate/5/.

FOURTH OF JULY PARADE

Come out and celebrate the Fourth of July with your friends and neighbors at the annual Fourth of July Parade. The Parade will step off at 9:30AM on Tuesday, July 4th. Lineup for participants begins at 8:30 am along Mayfair from Dorchester to Canterbury. The parade will travel down Dorchester across Mannheim Road where it winds around Balmoral to Canterbury. It will travel east on Canterbury to Newcastle where it will travel south to Bond Street and will end up at the Westchester Park District Community Park. FREE Popsicles and soft drinks will be available at the park.

VILLAGE BLOCK PARTY TO BE HELD JULY 14TH AND 15th

On Friday, July 14th from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and again on Saturday, July 15th from 3pm to 10:00pm, we will be hosting our Village Block Party at Community Park. The bands on Friday night will be Shout Out and Infinity, a “Classic to Current: Ultimate Rock Experience”. Infinity is one of the top drawing cover bands in the Midwest. The headliner on Saturday Night will be Lance Lipinsky and the Lovers. Entertainer and songwriter Lance Lipinsky delivers an explosive pumping piano performance showcasing his influences of the 1950’s and 60s in his original music. He and his Chicago based group “the Lovers,” take on a modern evolution of a timeless throwback style combining such sounds as Rockabilly, classic Country, and 60’s pop in an unforgettable live concert. Lance made his national television debut at the original Ryman Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. He currently portrays his hero piano pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis in the Tony Award winning musical Million Dollar Quartet. Other featured bands are West End and Kickin’ Jimmy. There will be a variety of food vendors and activities for the kids. Hope to see you there!

VILLAGE BOARD APPROVES WATER

AND SEWER RATE INCREASE

Contributed by Robert Lewis, Public Works Director An ordinance amending the village municipal code regarding the water and sewer rates was passed on June 13th. The rate change was recommended by the Public Works Department after an independent analysis of the existing rates. New rates will begin on July 1 of this year. The water rate is moving from $8.35 per 1,000 gallons to $9.02. The Water Infrastructure Fee (IF) is moving from $4 per month to $5. For an average user of 3,000 gallons this is an increase of $3.01 per month. The sewer rate increases from $1.22 to $1.26 with a $1 sewer IF increase. This is an increase of $1.12 per month. These increase amount are estimated at a total annual increase of $49.56 for the average 3,000 gallon per month user (about $50 per year). The main reasons for the necessary rate increase are: 1) increased water cost of water purchased from the City of Chicago, 2) funding of several critical infrastructure renewal projects and 3) increases in personnel costs negotiated in labor union agreements. The facts are that the cost of maintaining our infrastructure are increasing every year. Some additional facts to consider are: A) More than half (55%) of your current water bill is to pay the City of Chicago to get water, B) Labor costs have risen 2.5%, health benefits are up 6%, commodities 4% and construction cost are up 5%, C) 40% of the water & sewer mains are more than 90 years old and are at the end of their useful service life. We need to renew infrastructure before it fails. Planned infrastructure renewal projects include the Sunnyside Sewer relocation at a projected cost of $4 million. This is a 92 year old sewer main that services 33% of the village, servicing most homes south of Cermak Road. Another planned project is the rehabilitation of sewer basin 243 at an estimated cost of $1 million which services 12 % of the village bounded by Dorchester to Windsor and Mayfair to Mannheim. The water main along Roosevelt Road needs replacement to continue to serve this business district. The utilities on Balmoral Avenue need replacing to go along with the new roadway; which will be partially funded with a 70% federal grant funded from federal gasoline tax. Several smaller projects are needed to improve fire flow throughout the village. This year the purchase cost of our water from Chicago increased 1.87%. The percentage increase is tied directly to the cost of living adjustment requirement in the Chicago City Council’s ordinance, and was passed on to the Village of Westchester and other customers by the Broadview Westchester Joint Water Agency (BWJWA) .The increase translates to 7 cents per thousand gallons and is included in the proposed water rate increase. Our job is to ensure clean, drinkable water is available where and when you need it 365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Your monthly utility payments are working to provide high quality, reliable and safe water in a manner that values the environment, community and economic interest and sustains the resources entrusted to our care. For more information on the scheduled utility projects, please contact Public Works Director Robert Lewis at (708) 345-0041.

VILLAGE DROP BOX

For your convenience, the Village has installed a new drop box for after hours deposit of Village payments. The box is located in front of Village Hall. Please do not deposit cash payments in this dropbox. DO NOT DEPOSIT U.S. MAIL IN THIS DROPBOX. The dropbox will be emptied and payments applied on a daily basis Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). If you have any questions, please contact the Village offices at (708) 345-0020.

BOARD TO BEGIN SEARCH FOR A NEW VILLAGE MANAGER

At a Special Board Meeting held on Tuesday, June 6th, the Village Board made a decision not to renew the contract of Village Manager Janet Matthys. Ms. Matthys has been the Village Manager since October 2011. She stated that “It has been my pleasure to work for the residents of the Village for these past six years. I

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have been committed to making the Village of Westchester the best it can be. I have been fortunate to work with a dedicated professional staff who give their all for this Village. I believe that there have been many positive changes in the operation of the Village during my tenure and would personally like to thank Former Village President Sam Pulia for being a great mentor. I wish you all the best!” Police Chief Steven Stelter was appointed as Acting Village Manager at the Village Board meeting on June 13, 2017, in order to perform the duties of Village Manager during the position vacancy.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN JULY 24TH

Construction is expected to begin on July 24, 2017 for the 2017 Road Rehabilitation Program. The Village will be rehabilitating four roadways this year. The Village has allocated approximately $750,000 in bond funds and $150,000 in Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds for rehabilitation of the four (4) roadways, including the professional engineering services related to the work. This work will be done as two projects. The first project will be the milling and resurfacing of Stratford Avenue, Belleview Drive, and Crestwood Lane officially known as the 2017 Street Resurfacing Program. The second project will consist of the reconstruction of Bristol Avenue and will be officially known as the Bristol Avenue Reconstruction Project. The improvements will generally consist of: Rehabilitation (Reconstruction) • Bristol Avenue (Roosevelt Road to Devonshire Avenue, approximately 600’) Rehabilitation (Resurfacing): • Stratford Avenue (Cermak Avenue to Windsor Drive, approximately 1,300’) • Belleview Drive (Cermak Avenue to Windsor Drive, approximately 1,300’) • CrestwoodLane(Mannheim Road to Westchester Boulevard, approximately 1,000’) Please call Public Works Director Robert Lewis at 708-345-0041 with any questions regarding the project. Construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of September. We appreciate your patience during construction.

FIRE DEPARTMENT WELCOMES NEW FIREFIGHTER

Firefighter Matthew Rouleau has been working as a contract paramedic in North Riverside since 2014 and has been a paid on call firefighter with the Stickney Fire Dept. since 2011. Previously, he worked as a Police Service Aide and a Park Manager with the Village of North Riverside. FF Rouleau earned his Associate’s Degree in fire science at Triton College in 2009 and received his paramedic license through the Vista Health System in Waukegan in 2013. He is certifications include: Basic Fire Operator, Hazardous Materials Awareness, Technical Rescue Awareness, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and LEADS.

GET OUT AND PLAY DAY

Contributed by Trustee Tom Yurkovich Thank you to all who came out to the 4th Annual Get Out and Play Day hosted on June 17th. It was another great event and luckily the weather cooperated with the event. The Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) did an excellent job in getting community organizations and other providers to participate in this annual event. Chaired by Abigail Martin, the board members are Stephanie Pederson, Mary Roberts, Dawn Belluomini, and Mike Peterson. These members did an excellent job in making this event another great success for Westchester. We were honored to have a very special guest, Ronald McDonald, who kept everyone entertained. A special thank you goes out to St Joseph High School for always being gracious enough to host our annual event. Without their generosity this event would never be what it is today. Another thank you goes out to our local Jewel and Mariano’s grocery stores for donating all the water and other treats that were on hand for all to enjoy throughout the day. This is just a friendly reminder for anyone who would like to get involved with the Citizens Advisory Board; we are currently looking for members. CAB typically meets the second Wednesday of every month in the Village Hall at 7pm. If you are interested in joining the CAB please contact Trustee Yurkovich at tyurkovich@westchester-il.org .

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION UPDATE

Contributed by Trustee Carl Celestino The Village of Westchester’s Environmental Sustainability Commission’s monthly Electronic Recycling Events, a free service provided to the residents has come to a close and at this time and there are a great number of people who are deserving of thanks. To all past and present members of the Village Board who gave of their time as well as the Village staff of Westchester for their logistical as well as physical assistance makes these events possible. Another reason why these events are successful is because of the dedicated group of volunteers. Over the years we have had everyday residents, parents and children, students from the various schools who took time out of their day to assist us. As Chairperson of the Commission I would like to give special recognition to our Village’s Boy Scout Troops, they have been the backbone of our volunteer corps. Besides all the other great things Troop 1 and Troop 73 do for the Village, their members have been at all of the ESC events providing a valuable service to our community. Lastly, I wish to personally thank all the past and present members of the Environmental Sustainability Commission who have given much more than just their time to all of the residents. As I stated, the monthly Electronic Recycling Collection Events has ended but electronic collection has not stopped. As of July 1st, residents now will be to call Waste Management directly at (800) 449-7587 to schedule collection of electronic and other unwanted materials that cannot be disposed of into the regular waste streams. Just because this program has ended it doesn’t mean the job of the ESC is concluded. I wish to invite anyone who is interested in not only developing new programs or with ideas and environmental topics that should be looked into to please attend our monthly meetings. Our monthly meetings are held at Village Hall in the Community Room at 7pm on the 2nd Thursday of the month. If you have any questions please contact me @ccelestino@ westchester-il.org. Once again my sincere thanks to everyone who has been involved, participated, and supported these events.

WASTE MANAGEMENT LAUNCHES “AT YOUR DOOR” RECYCLING PROGRAM

Do you have old electronics in your home? Used motor oil? Old cans of paint? Used batteries? Effective July 1, 2017, Waste Management’s At Your Door service is providing Village residents with a safe and easy alternative for removing electronics and unwanted household materials that are potentially hazardous to people, pets, and the environment. There is no additional fee to residents to participate in this program; it has been negotiated into our contract refuse rates with Waste Management. Residents can schedule an appointment to have the materials conveniently and safely collected from their home. Acceptable Materials: Automotive Products: antifreeze, batteries, brake fluid, motor oil and filters, fuels, and more Electronics: computers, laptops, printers, microwaves, TVs, DVD/ CD/tape players, cell phones, and monitors Garden Chemicals: fertilizers, insect sprays, herbicides, pesticides, and weed killers Household Cleaners: ammonia, heavy-duty cleansers, tile/shower cleaners, upholstery cleaner, and rust remover Mercury Containing Items: compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), thermometers, thermostats, and fluorescent tubes Paint Products: latex and oil-based paint, stain, caulk, and sealer Swimming Pool Chemicals: pool acid, stabilizer, and chlorine Other: batteries, hobby glue, and sharps/needles (in a sealed rigid container) Prohibited items include ammunition, asbestos, commercial/ business supplies, constructionrelated materials, explosives, medicine, tires, or any materials in unlabeled or leaking containers. Residents with questions should contact the At Your Door service center at (800) 449-7587. How To Schedule A Collection: Residents can schedule collection of their unwanted materials by contacting At Your Door at (800) 449-7587 during the hours7:00 am to 7:00pm, by visiting www. wmatyourdoor.com, or e-mailing atyourdoor@wm.com. Residents then receive a collection kit and detailed instructions in the mail on how to prepare materials for pickup. Information on the Waste Management Refuse/Recycling services is posted on the Village website. If you have any questions for Village staff, please do not hesitate to contact our Public Works Department at 708/345-0041. Please note that with the inception of the At Your Door program on July 1, 2017, the Village has discontinued its’ monthly recycling events.

MOVIE IN THE PARK FEATURES DIS-

NEY’S MOANA ON JULY 22ND

The Village will be hosting a movie in the park on July 20th featuring the blockbuster Disney hit Moana.