Village of Westchester March 2015 Newsletter

Village of

Westchester MARCH 2015 Newsletter

From the Desk of The President POLICE DEPARTMENT

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FIRE DEPARTMENT

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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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CALENDAR

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PROPERTY TAX NEWS

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PARK DISTRICT

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New Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin (first district) hosted a meeting on flood control funding available through Cook County at the Westchester Village Hall on Friday, February 13th. Pictured from left: Anan Abu-Taleb, Mayor of Oak Park; Anthony Calderone, Mayor of Forest Park; Liz Gorman, Cook County Commissioner, Jeff Tobolski, Cook County Commissioner; Richard Boykin, Cook County Commissioner; Peter Silvestri, Cook County Commissioner; Cherita Logan, District Director for Congressman Danny Davis; Sherman Jones, Mayor of Broadview; Sam Pulia, Village President; Jeff Sherwin, Mayor of Northlake.

Here we are beginning the 3rd month of the year. February hit us pretty hard but not as bad as the east coast, especially the Boston area. I’m sure we all saw pictures of snow piles in excess of 15 feet high and as high as the outfield wall at Fenway Park. Dealing with these kinds of emergency weather situations appears to becoming the norm and not the exception. With the formula of 12 inches of snow equaling about 1 inch of rain I’m sure the worst (hopefully not) is yet to come for the Boston area. Melting snow always creates the potential of area flooding that we can relate to all too well.

WESTCHESTER’S SNOW EVENT

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As you are well aware, we were all alerted by the weather broadcasters several days in advance of the February 1st snow event that Chicagoland and the Midwest area were going to be hit by a huge snowstorm with

over a foot of snow accumulation.

In Westchester, our crews were put on alert and were called in at 9pm on Saturday, January 31st. From 9pm Saturday to 2am Tuesday, Westchester Public Works crews worked tirelessly to plow snow throughout the Village’s 49 miles of streets and alleys.

14 PW crew members arrived and worked throughout the night with allowable rest periods in compliance with their CDL driving and work requirements. A crew of 6 members stayed after their 3:30pm shift and continued to remove accumulated snow from cul-de-sacs, alleys and corners well into Tuesday morning. Personnel costs alone exceeded $25K for this snow event.

Snow Routes, side streets, and alleys were plowed multiple times in an attempt to clear the streets as we have been doing for safe

See PRESIDENT, page 5

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Pictures

Police Department MARCH 2015

Fire safety in the home

We’ve all heard horrible stories about accidents that have happened inside the home that involve firearms. Unfortunately, many of these scenarios involve the death of someone. More often than not, the victim is a child.

Many people want to rush and blame the firearm industry. Others want to blame the adults of the home.

Some even blame the children.

One of the most important issues that involve firearms in the home is safety. If gun owners can learn how to properly store their weapons, many of these tragic accidents can be avoided.

There are a few simple ways that you can eliminate the potential for an accident in your home.

Safes: You can purchase a safe in which to store your weapons.

Safes come in basically two different types. You can get a large, free-standing safe. These are fairly big and heavy and act as a storage “locker.” Large safes are very useful in the storing of long guns.

Or, you can get a smaller hideaway safe. These safes are much smaller and therefore can only hold a

small amount of firearms. These hideaway safes can be hidden in a closet or such and then mounted onto the floor. Safes can be costly and some of them take up some space.

Trigger Locks: These are devices that you physically put onto the trigger and trigger guard. They then render the trigger unable to be pulled back. You can get these in either a key format or a combination. Trigger locks are relatively inexpensive.

Cable Locks: These are devices

Police blotter 1) At 8:58am on January 21, 2015 a Criminal Damage to Property was reported at Oxford and Sunnyside.

It was reported that unknown person(s) damaged 7 signs and a utility box with spray paint.

2) At 5:00pm on January 23, 2015 a Burglary to Auto was reported on the 700 block of Portsmouth.

A vehicle owner reported that unknown person(s) gained entry to their vehicle and removed a paint sprayer.

3) At 6:23pm on January 24, 2015 a Retail Theft was reported at the Goodwill store located at 3054 Wolf Road. A 19 year old female was arrested for concealing merchandise and exiting the store.

4) At 9:14am on January 26, 2015 a Criminal Damage to Property at High Ridge Park.

Sometime between January 23 and January 26 2015, unknown person(s) damaged the fence

around the ice rink by the park by cutting the fence.

5) At 9:23pm on January 29, 2015 a Residential Burglary was reported on the 800 block of Newcastle.

A vacant house was reportedly burglarized and copper pipe was removed by unknown person(s).

6) At 6:16am on February 3, 2015 a Burglary to Auto was reported on the 1800 block of Manchester.

Unknown person(s) forced entry into a vehicle by breaking a window and removed tools and wire.

7) At 6:53pm on February 12, 2015 a Residential Burglary was reported on the 10500 block of Canterbury.

The resident reported that unknown person(s) had gained entry through a rear door of the house.

Unknown items were removed from the residence.

that you also physically put onto your weapon. While you have the slide locked back in the open position, you run the steel cable through the chamber. This effectively prevents the slide from being moved all the way into the locked position and thus disabling the firearm. Cable locks are also relatively inexpensive.

Cable Locks are available for FREE by contacting Officer Rob Verber of the Westchester Police Department.

Email: rverber@ westchesterpolice.com.

Phone:

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(708) 345-0060 Ext. 440.

We do what we can to make sure that our children are protected and safe. But, we fail to talk to our children about firearm safety and how potentially dangerous firearms can be when mishandled.

Children have a natural curiosity.

They like to explore around the house and often find things that they aren’t supposed to find. If you think that your child will not find the hidden key and end up opening your hidden safe, you’re wrong. It will happen!

If you plan to have and/or store a firearm in your home, it is your responsibility, morally and legally, to make sure that it is kept in a safe manner. The use of a safe or locking mechanism is a necessity.

But your responsibility doesn’t end there. Teach your children about firearm safety.

John M. Carpino Chief of Police If you have any specific question(s) concerning our community and related police services please feel free to send me an email at: chief@ westchesterpolice.com.

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Weather patterns over the past few years have created hardships for everyone; seniors and nonseniors alike. We all have to shovel the same amount of snow off our driveways, as believe it or not, all of the elected officials live here too.

heart conditions like myself that should not be shoveling anything.

If you have an emergency, our Fire and Police departments will get there in a timely manner and transport you safely to the hospital without question.

We received 20 inches of snow; the 5th largest snowfall in Chicago My wife Maureen and I went history. outside 7 times beginning at 7am Sunday morning to clear our The Village received over 60 property as well as help several complaints about snow being neighbors dig out in the spirit of placed on driveway aprons, helping. This is what I thought sidewalks not being shoveled Westchester was all about. and alley issues as a result of the plowing, in addition to a No one likes to shovel snow perceived lackluster enforcement multiple times, however, we are of the snow bans by the police. living in a state and area where the amount of snow has been on Residents in some cases the rise. Remember the Blizzard requested we reduce the number of 2011, Blizzard of 1979, and the of times the plows go down Snowfall of 1967. the block, request we lift the plow blades at driveways and Again, look at the City of Boston questioned our procedure to do and the east coast today that curb to curb clearing. We also could be us and just by the grace were asked to plow snow to the of GOD he decided to spare us at middle of the street to keep it off least for now. driveway aprons.

It is true that there are some communities that do shovel ANSWERS AND COMMENTS sidewalks. People refer to the Town of Cicero who cleans their The plows cannot lift their blades sidewalks in residential areas for while passing the driveways. They their senior residents. I would might as well just drive through love to do that as well, but there the snow on the streets without is not enough revenue in our plowing anything. village coffers/budget to do so.

The Town of Cicero, based on The plows cannot drive down their population of over 25K, is the opposite way or tilt their a Home-Rule Community, and by blades to the center of the street. virtue of that status their village How are we to get the pile of board has the authority to raise snow out of the middle? Our 2 big property taxes and other fees that yellow bulldozers and backhoes Non-Home Rule Communities like would be taking many of the Westchester cannot due without same PW employees plowing off going to referendum. In a recent their routes to sit and wait for conversation with a family who the trucks to be loaded and not lives in Cicero, I asked how the plowing with the same trucks not town funds snow shoveling and to mention the time it would take grass cutting for their senior to remove the huge pile of snow residents. I asked what their from the middle of the roadway property taxes were. I was told and finding a place to pile it up. over 6K for a Cicero bungalow with no driveway and alley with Clearing snow from curb to curb, lot size about 35-40 feet wide. I is called “edging”, and allows cars do not believe the residents of to park close as possible to the Westchester, nor do I or any board curb without sticking out into member want any further increase the street. Leaving a foot or so in our property taxes. Taxes off the curb on both sides would increase enough even though reduce the roadway down from property values have gone down 16 feet to less than 14. That snow over the past several years. would freeze and be like concrete to remove at a later time.

In a snow fall such as we had, the plows were barely able to keep Based on what I have seen in up. By the time they plowed an other communities, I personally area, it was time to hit it again. like the curb to curb clearance.

The 20 inches of snow is not I realize that there are many something we are accustomed too. senior citizens, and those with

In this last event, the Illinois State Police issued a non- travel advisory at 9:40am on Sunday February 1st telling everyone to stay off the streets as no matter where you went it was unsafe. In most cases the places you were going were not open due to the weather factors.

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travel for as long as we have been in existence.

At our board meeting of February 10th, based on some of the complaints received, I asked the board if they wanted to consider extending the snow parking bans on Saturday and Sunday for the side streets. There did not seem to be any wholesale support for this consideration. The Saturday and Sunday parking allowance was put in place with the thought that residents would be at home and would be out moving their cars anyway.

The amount of times week end plowing would occur vs the cost of replacing the snow ban signs (which would be several thousand dollars) results in a cost that, quite frankly, we do not have to spend.

We do realize that having cars parked on both sides of the street really hampers the plows ability to drive down the street. For every car that is parked on the street, the plow truck misses at least 3 spots or approximately 60 feet or more. Plow drivers take extra care not to damage parked cars.

If the damage is over $1K, drivers are required to go for testing to determine if there is any chance of drug/ alcohol impairment. The plowing is especially difficult on the north east side of town where there is difficulty driving a village truck without a plow attached on a sunny day let alone on a blustery winter day as we have experienced.

ENFORCEMENT OF PARKING RESTRICTIONS

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not get it moved. The plows have to go around it and actually buries the car in making it that much harder for you to dig out. As I have asked you before, PLEASE make every attempt to get your car off the street after a 2 inch snow fall.

For those who called stating police were not ticketing the violators of the snow route and alternate parking restrictions, Chief Carpino reported a total of 103 parking citations were issued between Sunday and Tuesday (2/1/15 – 2/3/15).

58 citations for Code Section 11.32.160 (Parking on alternate sides between eight-thirty a.m. and four-thirty p.m. after 2” snowfall) 34 citations for Code Section 11.30.010 (Parked in Violation of designated Snow Route) 1 citation for Code Section 11.32.090 (No Parking –All Streets Overnight 2am-6am [Westchester Place Subdivision]) 10 citations for non snow related parking violations.

In addition to the 93 citations issued by Tuesday for snow route violations, 22 vehicles were tagged as abandoned (snow-bound). No vehicles have been determined to be an imminent danger to life and property and directed to be towed/impounded for snow violations at this time.

Crews have viewed residents throwing snow back into the street after the plows come through. Doing so, regardless of the fact that it is against our ordinance, creates safety issues, as well as the plows coming back down and pushing the snow back on aprons all over again.

SIDEWALK SHOVELING I also brought up the issue of requiring residents to shovel their sidewalks as was requested by some of the callers. Some municipalities have an ordinance on their books. I have not heard of any of them enforcing it. If it is not going to be enforced, I am of the opinion of not having it at all.

Again, I did not get any indication from the Board of Trustees that this was something they wanted to enact.

Our Police Department issued tickets for cars that were not moved during the Monday-Friday PARKING restrictions and for Snow Route violations.

Not moving your car after a 2 inch Westchester is our community. snow fall on the side streets or We all live here. I am of the opinion snow routes is unacceptable.

See PRESIDENT, page 6 Putting a ticket on the car does

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Impacts the association of communities in west suburban Continued from page 5 Cook and Eastern Du Page Counties. that we should be helping each Impose unfunded mandates upon other in times of emergencies to municipalities and townships. the best of our ability.

Restrict Local Control.

I was discouraged to receive Enhance transportation and an email from a resident saying infrastructure needs. they were not going to help a Place municipal revenues at neighbor with their sidewalk, and risk. furthermore was not going to do Limit municipal tort immunity, his because they did not do theirs. and Fortunately, I have heard from Expand the powers of home rule many people that they went the authority. extra mile and helped others who needed the help in this emergency Illinois citizens receive many snow event. I know on my block essential services from local all of the neighbors helped each governments. Many of the services other Without Question, Without are funded from revenues that are Payment, and Without Fanfare. collected through the State of A BIG THANK YOU to all who Illinois. The local portion of state helped out. I really appreciate it. collection income tax (LGDF) is essential to basic municipal services and needs in each of WCMC LEGISLATIVE AGENDA the WCMC Communities. The State must refrain from freezing, On February 7th, I, along with diverting, delaying, or reducing Trustees Angelo Calcagno,Thomas Local Government Distributive Yurkovich, Nick Steker, and Village Fund (LGDF) revenue.

It is Manager Janet Matthys attended imperative that these funds are the West Central Municipal not used to address the current Conference (WCMC) Annual financial condition of the state.

Legislative Breakfast.

The WCMC : The purpose of the annual Supports the prompt breakfast is to have our WCMC disbursement and protection of Legislative Committee present LGDF to municipalities. major issues that will be presented Opposes any Diversions of in Springfield at this Spring’s revenue that is collected by Legislative session.WCMC consists the state on behalf of local of 51 participating communities. governments.

Supports the restoration of a Those legislative guests in FULL 10% share of state income attendance were. U.S.Congressmen tax collections; Danny Davis, Michael Quigley and Supports legislation that creates Dan Lipinski. Illinois State Senators the Water Rate Protection Act Steven Landek, John Mulroe, Don sponsored by State Representative Harmon and Assistant Majority Emanuel “Chris” Welch and State Leader Kim Lightford were Senator and Mayor of Bridgeview present. State Representatives in Stephen Landek; attendance were Minority Leader Supports legislation that would Jim Durkin, Emanuel “Chris”Welch, increase Non-Home Rule Sales Mike McAuliffe, Mike Zalewski, Tax Limit; Camille Lilly, Robert Martwick, Supports the restoration of Silvana Tabares and Kathy Willis. previously –diverted Corporate Commissioners Richard Boykin, Personal Property Replacement Jeff Tobolski, and Peter Silvestri Tax and Local Government Tax represented Cook County.

Fund revenues; Supports full flexibility for The WCMC, of which I am municipal officials to spend on the Executive Committee, municipal revenues to benefit serves an important advocacy communities.

This includes role by representing municipal broader discretion for expanding interests at the county, state and Motor Fuel Tax revenues; federal levels of government. The Supports the repeal of the Legislative Committee is led by Property Tax Extension Limitation Mayor Chris Getty from the Village Law (PTELL); of Lyons.The following Statement Opposes modifications to PTELL of Legislative Principles has been that result in further restrictions adopted for 2015. Emphasis is on local taxing authority; placed on those issues which: Opposes any reduction in existing

municipal taxing authority; Opposes restrictions to municipal finance and development tools such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Special Service Areas, and Special Assessments Areas, and various debt instruments when restrictions undermine the benefits that these tools provide to local communities; Support the continued federal tax exemption for municipal bonds.

Home Rule and Non-Home Rule communities, such as we are in Westchester, share in the revenue of the state through Local Government Distributive Funds (LGDF). With each cost increase or revenue diversion, services are endangered and sometimes terminated.

Fiscal stability is critical for every local government; that is why the WCMC opposes any attempt to balance the State or Federal government budgets through local government revenue seizures and unfunded mandates.

Local Governments stand committed to providing necessary basic services such as Police, Fire, Paramedics, Street Cleaning, Snowplowing, etc, but those may be in jeopardy if local government dollars are used to balance the state’s budget.

PUBLIC SAFETY PENSION REFORMS The WCMC supports legislation that will bring forth additional reforms of the public safety pension systems. The long term goal is to develop a comprehensive solution that protects local taxpayers and secure sustainable retirement benefits for all public safety employees. WCMC supports the idea of having everyone at the table to develop a comprehensive approach to Public Safety Pension Reform.

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION WCMC is actively participating in efforts to help us achieve our common goal of increased mobility. We will be addressing roads, transit, traffic enhancing measures, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and planning and feasibility studies of regional importance.

Investment in transportation is essential to the continued prosperity of the region and the state of Illinois.

A comprehensive transportation improvement program for roads, commuter and freight transit, and regional planning is necessary for

2015 and beyond.

FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM WCMC supports a long term transportation bill that will outline federal transportation funding for the next several years.

The next transportation bill needs to streamline the project delivery process, delegating more decision making authority to States and local officials and setting hard deadlines for Federal agencies to approve projects.

The next transportation bill also needs to address how we fund transportation projects as a nation and how to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent.

ROADS The maintenance of local roads has become an increasingly difficult task for communities who are faced with restricted budgets.

We must continue to plan and design road improvements so that as a region we are able to fully utilize all funding sources as they become available. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has initiated a Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study (Phase 1) of the I-290 corridor. The study is taking an in-depth look at current and future transportation needs along the I-290 corridor through an extensive public involvement process. The study extends from west of Mannheim Road to east of Cicero Avenue. Not only is this study important for improving congestion but it will also have an impact on our future land use and economy. We can also ensure that important concerns such as Storm Water management are part of the overall I-290 corridor improvements.

TRANSIT WCMC supports the Pace Vision 2020 Plan, CMAP’s Go To 2040 Plan and is included as Partners for Transit with RTA’s Moving Beyond Congestion initiative.

Most importantly, an extension of the CTA BLUE LINE would serve our regional commuter rail transit needs with more access to and from Chicago.

BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN See PRESIDENT, page 9

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from the municipal water provider for delivery to consumers.

Contains provisions regarding: Continued from page 6 appointment of board members and election of board officers; employment of hearing examiners Our existing transportation and staff by the board; mailings; infrastructure must be prohibited acts; conflicts of complemented by a strong bike interest; records; water rates and and pedestrian plan which allows rate schedules; judicial review; for access to transit as well as FEDERAL ISSUES costs; expenses; construction; inter connectivity amongst our liability; and other matters.

Illinois municipalities lose member municipalities and the Limits home rule powers. The greater Chicago Region. WCMC millions of dollars every year in The Village of Westchester will bill will be under discussion this will actively seek funding sales tax revenue uncollected from be submitting projects to Cook legislative session and hopefully opportunities to make these plans online purchases. Although online County for consideration of will become law to regulate future a reality. WCMC adopted a region sales taxes are legally required to funding approval. The meeting, water rates passed on to us by the wide bike plan which identifies be paid, the process is confusing, which was held in Westchester City of Chicago. WCMC members current and future routes to difficult to enforce and in many on February 13th, was attended including Forest Park Mayor provide bicyclists and pedestrians cases simply ignored. WCMC by 32 participants including Anthony Calderone and Melrose a safe way to travel our region. supports the implementation of many members from Cook Park Mayor Ronald Serpico, were The plan will also identify an a Federal Streamlined Sales Tax County Government, surrounding appointed by Executive Director implementation strategy to assist Rules that will preserve intra- mayors and managers as well as Richard Pellegrino to represent communities in executing this state sourcing rules and require Cook County Commissioners the WCMC in addressing this the state to treat the resulting Richard Boykin, Jeff Tobolski and pressing issue. plan and securing funding. funds a pass through revenue to Liz Gorman, all who represent local governments. the Village of Westchester, and Commissioner Peter Silvestri GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER AMEND THE PUBLIC SAFETY EMAs you can see from reading the who has always been a friend of PART 1 PLOYEES BENEFITS ACT ( PSEBA) excerpts above the WCMC and all Westchester on the Cook County On Sunday February 8th, Trustee of the members have requested Board.

Metropolitan Water PSEBA was enacted in 1997 and a robust number of legislative Reclamation District (MWRD) Nick Steker and I attended a meet provides that municipal public initiatives both Federal and President Mariyana Spyropoulos and greet with Governor Rauner as safety employees who have been Statewide. and MWRD Engineer Holly Sauter the invited guests of State Senator killed or sustain a “catastrophic were in attendance to address Chris Nybo and Lombard Mayor injury” in the line of duty receive questions. Commissioner Boykin Keith Giagnorio. The meet and health insurance benefits for life NEW COOK COUNTY COMMISrequested that MWRD make greet was held at the Westin Hotel from the municipality. These SIONER RICHARD BOYKIN HOSTS available whatever projects that in Lombard. Governor Rauner and benefits include the employee’s FLOOD MEETING are in the works or planned in our Lt. Governor Sanguinetti, along family. WCMC supports legislation area be submitted to his office for with Senator Nybo, Representative For those of you who live north review. that would address the Act as Peter Breen, and Congressman of Canterbury Street to the I290 in follows: Peter Roskam, addressed the Westchester, you have a new Cook Being the host, I was able to crowd of approximately 100 Define catastrophic injury in a County Commissioner named portray all of the poster size interested persons from the manner consistent with the federal Richard Boykin. Commissioner photographs we had taken in Lombard Chamber of Commerce Public Safety Officer’s Benefits Act Boykin represents the 1st Cook our flood event of 2010. One by and Business group. of 1976. Federal law considers County District since the County one I explained to Commissioner Governor Rauner expressed injuries “catastrophic” when they redistricting occurred a year ago. Boykin what Westchester faced extreme concern about the are defined as “ consequences of a Before Commissioner Boykin was not only in 2010 but also in the State of Illinois finances stating injury that permanently prevents elected, he and I met regarding 2013 flood event. Pictures are that they were worse than he an individual from performing the most pressing issue facing our worth a thousand words. thought during his run for office. residents. I informed him that our any gainful work.

Governor Rauner expressed a Require the employee to give experience with flooding and the desire to work with all members of notice of new employment to the associated devastation associated WATER RATE PROTECTION ACT the legislature regardless of party with it has to be the most pressing municipality. affiliation. He told us that as he State Senator and Bridgeview visited various state departments, Require the employee to give issue for our residents. Due to the notice if insurance benefits flooding that occurred between Mayor Steven Landek along with the employees were shocked to are available at subsequent April 16th and May 5th in 2013 State Representative Emanuel see the Governor stop by, as many our region was declared a Federal Chris Welch have co-sponsored of his predecessors had not done employment.

Require employees to give notice Disaster Area. As a result of the House Bill HB1556 – WATER RATE so. The Governor was very candid if insurance benefits are available declaration, the U.S. Dept. of PROTECTION ACT about allowing individual areas Housing and Urban Development through a spouse’s employment. of the state to decide whether to SYNOPSIS OF BILL: When coverage from the (HUD) has allocated 2 grants to be “right to work zones.” He did Creates the Water Rate not offer any specifics, however, subsequent employer or spouse Cook County for disaster recovery is comparable ( or greater) to the in housing, community and Protection Act. Creates the Water if you read below and have been municipal coverage, require the economic development. A third Rate Protection Board to exercise reading the newspapers and employee to accept this coverage grant was formally announced in specified powers and duties, watching television, it will be put if no unreasonable hardship is January 2015 and will become including holding hearings and in perspective without delving available later this year. Following regulating water rates that a into his proposed changes in faced, and When coverage from the Commissioner Boykin’s election, municipal water provider with pension, transportation, Medicaid, subsequent employer or spouse is he asked me to host and organize a population over 500,000 may and human services cuts. less favorable than the municipal a meeting of all the Proviso impose upon units of local See PRESIDENT, page 14 coverage, seek to require the Township Mayors to discuss how government that purchase water disabled employee to accept this coverage if the municipality provides separate additional coverage or compensation so that the total benefits received by the employee are comparable (or greater) that the municipal coverage.

the Cook County funding could be used to remediate flooding in our area. The total funding awarded is currently $68.8 million. It will be allocated in 2 phases. Phase 1 is funded at $13.9 Million and Phase 2is funded at $54.9 Million.

Phase 3 funding later this year is expected to be $14.8 Million resulting in total available funding of $83.6 Million Dollars for Cook County.

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trust, estate, and corporation.

Continued from page 9 What are the rates?

The rate as of January 1, 2015 for individuals, trusts, and estates is 3.75 percent of net income. The GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER current rate for corporations is BUDGET ADDRESS PART 2 5.25 percent of net income.

What share does local government For the past several weeks since receive?

Governor Rauner’s February Beginning February 1, 2011, local 18th Budget Address, municipal governments receive 6 percent of officials across the state and the net collections of all income region are scratching their tax received from individuals, heads wondering “What’s Going trusts, and estates, and 6.86 To Happen IF LGDF Gets Cut.” percent of the net collections LGDF is the acronym for the of all income tax received from Local Government Distributive corporations. (Prior to February Fund. The fund was set up many 2011, local governments received years ago. Local municipalities one-tenth of the net collections receive an allocable share of of all income tax received.) state income and use taxes Net collections are the total based on population. Governor collections minus deposits that Rauner, in his Budget Address, has are made into the refund fund. proposed a 50% decrease in the The amount that each distribution of LGDF revenues municipality or county receives to local municipalities. What is based on its population in that means is Westchester, if our proportion to the total state computations are correct, stands population.

The population to lose approximately $850K in figures are determined based on the allocation of state income and the latest census conducted by use tax revenue. OUCH!! The the United States Bureau of the number is staggering.

Census and certified by the Office of the Secretary of State.

The local share has been an Approximately the third week important revenue stream for of each month, the Illinois municipalities since the income Department of Revenue certifies tax was first instituted in Illinois to the state comptroller the in 1969. Local communities have amounts to be allocated based counted on it for 45 years to on net collections from the prior help fund key public services month. This money is distributed like police, fire, water and sewer through the Local Government treatment,infrastructure repair and Distributive Fund (LGDF). construction and snow removal. A 50 percent sweep of these funds will reduce the revenues for these VEHICLE STICKERS ON SALE needed local services by nearly NOW $50 per resident.

Vehicle stickers go on sale Finance Director Maureen beginning Monday, March 2nd Potempa and Village Manager Janet at Village Hall. Stickers must be Matthys, who both have a stellar purchased and displayed by May background in municipal finance 1st. The fee for a vehicle sticker are sweating and scratching their on a passenger car is $35. The fee heads wondering how we will be doubles on May 1, 2015. Fees vary able to fund basic services while for motorcycles and trucks. Please trying to continue to make the see the Municipal Code 11.56.030 improvements this administration for a full list of applicable fees. has embarked upon for the past If your car was registered in the prior year, you will receive an 6 years. application for renewal by mail.

INCOME TAX Please bring this application with What is Illinois Income Tax? Illinois Income Tax is a tax that you when you stop in to purchase is imposed on the privilege of your 2015 vehicle sticker. Vehicle earning or receiving income in stickers may also be purchased by or as a resident of the state of mail or on-line. Any person who Illinois. This tax applies to income fails to obtain a vehicle license from the village, or who fails for each taxable year.

Who is liable for Illinois income to keep his/her vehicle license plainly visible at all times, or who tax? operates a duly licensed motor This tax is imposed on every vehicle upon the streets or alleys individual,

TX 1-312-603-5788. of the village without a village vehicle license attached to such vehicle as required herein shall be in violation of the Municipal Code, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS and shall be issued a compliance ABOUT THE MILITARY AND VETwarning citation in the amount of ERANS DISCOUNT PROGRAM seventy-five dollars.

What is the Cook County Military and Veterans Discount VILLAGE STAFF TO HOST ANNUAL Program? The MVDP is authorized SENIOR BREAKFAST by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, and jointly Village staff will host the annual administered by the Cook County Senior Breakfast on Friday, March Recorder of Deeds and the County 13th from 8:30 to 11:00am. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The breakfast will be held at St. The purpose is to create a network Joseph High School in the Globe of businesses across Cook County Resource Center. Join us for a who offer military and veterans light breakfast and listen to all discounts, and provide a Countyof the Village Department Heads issued ID card to identify eligible discuss the services provided to residents to those vendors. This our residents and let you know public-private partnership is a what projects we have in the small way to honor those who works! Hope to see you there! have served, by helping them keep more of their hard-earned money.

CALLING ALL VETERANS

RECORD YOUR DD 214 DISCHARGE PAPERS At a recent meeting hosted

by Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski, we were again introduced by an important program authored by Cook County Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarbrough. The program allows veterans the ability to record your DD214 Discharge papers for FREE with the recorder’s office. The program apples to all discharged veterans who received a DD-214, and their dependents or designees only. DD-214’s are not public records and your identity is protected.

Your recording is free, along with a free certified copy. DD-214’s are not automatically recorded upon your discharge, and losing this document can mean a delay in services or loss of military funeral honors. Recording it at the Cook County Recorder of Deeds office means you and your loved ones will always be able to quickly retrieve a copy. For more information Contact Karen Yarbrough’s office at 118 N. Clark Street Room 120, Chicago, Illinois at 1-312-603-5788 or www.

CookRecorder.com.

MILITARY AND VETERANS DISCOUNT PROGRAM Also available is a Military and Veterans Discount Card at www.CookRecorder.com/ MilitaryDiscount

Who is eligible? All active-duty military, guard/reservists, and veterans with an honorable or general discharge. Identification will be checked prior to processing.

What do I need to get the discount card? During the initial rollout of the program, Discount Program ID Cards will be available at the Cook County Recorder’s Veterans Service Office, located in Room 120 at 118 N. Clark, in Downtown Chicago – from 9am to 5pm.

Please bring a government-issued photo or military ID, and if you are a veteran, please bring a copy of your DD-214 or other separation papers indicating discharge status.

If you have previously recorded your DD-214 with our office, we can retrieve a copy for free. If you have not, please ask about FREE safeguarding of this document with CCRD (we will provide you a free certified copy and protect the document from public view, meaning it is not considered a public record). In the future, we will explore the feasibility of issuing these cards through our 5 Satellite Offices.

How does it work? Once you are enrolled, you will receive a MVDP Discount Card with your photo.

You will also receive informational fliers showing which companies are participating. Due to new businesses being added, this website will serve as the most current list of participating vendors/companies.

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School District News and Notes  Summer Construction Brings New Boilers and Air Conditioning to Schools The plans for the replacement of the heating systems at Intermediate and Middle Schools are on track for this summer. The architect and engineer have finalized the work that needs to be completed to replace the old and outdated steam heating systems with a new hot water heating and air conditioning system in both schools.

The old systems are the original systems that were in place when the schools were first built.Over the years,the boilers have undergone numerous breakdowns and repairs. The replacement systems are new energy-efficient systems that are less costly to run. The planning for this project started in October with the School Board giving approval to go out for bids in December after the passing of the referendum.Final approval of bids for this project is scheduled for the March 3, 2015, Board of Education Meeting.

If the construction is approved work will begin as soon as school is out for the summer with completion scheduled for mid-August. During this time, there will be no admittance to the schools, as the entire building will have work being performed during the summer.

All summer programs will be moved to the Primary building during this period.

With the project completed,the students will be returning to buildings that are air-conditioned and have new heating systems.

encouraged to talk to their child’s teacher or principal, the district’s Director of Curriculum or visit the PARCC website, www.parcconline.org Westchester Primary School

KINDERGARTEN PRE-REGISTRATION FOR THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. and registration will begin immediately in the gym at Westchester Primary School,2400 South Downing Avenue, Westchester, Illinois. Registration will end at 7:00 p.m.

Packets will be available for pick up in the WPS School Office beginning Tuesday, February 17, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. If another language is spoken in the home, please call our office ahead of time to schedule an appointment for your child to take part in mandatory English proficiency screening that will occur when you pick up your packet.

If you are unable to pick up a packet in the School Office, one will be available for you to complete on March 10, 2015.

To register, please have the following: 1.

Completed Registration Packet 2.

Official Birth Certificate - A child must be five (5) years old on or before September 1, 2015.

3.

Required Residency Documents The forms for the required school physical, dental, and vision examinations will be included in the kindergarten registration packets.

These forms must be completed and turned in by registration in August. Days and times for State Assessments this registration and fee payment will be Westchester School District 92½ announced at a later date. will administer the Partnership for If further information is needed, please Assessment of Readiness for College and call the School Office at 708-562-1509.

Careers (PARCC) Assessment between PLEASE SHARE THIS March 9th and March 27, 2015, replacing INFORMATIONWITH FRIENDS AND the ISAT Test. Students in grades third FAMILY. through eighth will be tested in English,  On Thursday January 29th, Language Arts, and Mathematics.

Westchester Primary School held its PARCC is a computer-based assessment inaugural “Dads and Kids” Pizza Night. that was designed to determine student At the event, all fathers and father figures college and career readiness. It assesses listened to a presentation about the the Common Core State Standards. Its Watch DOGS® (Dads Of Great Students) goal is to measure the full range of student Program.Watch DOGS® is an innovative performance and provide timely data program being used by schools across throughout the academic year to teachers America which helps them to be to help guide instruction, interventions positively impacted by the committed and professional development. involvement of fathers and father-figures There are five components of the in their children’s lives. The program’s PARCC assessment system. Districts are goal is to have fathers and father-figures required to administer the Performance- spend at least one day per year at the Based Assessment for ELA (English school to be a positive male role model Language Arts) and Mathematics and the and to provide an extra set of eyes and EOY (End-of-Year) Assessment for ELA ears. Dads, granddads, uncles, step-dads and Mathematics. The EOY Assessment and adult brothers all attended this fun will be administered during May 2015 event. to all students in grades third through eighth.

Congratulations to our talented young For more information parents are poets from Westchester! Four of Mr.

Kang’s ELL students at WPS won first and second places for a poetry contest,hosted

by Illinois TESOL-BE, an organization of Teachers for ESL and Bilingual Education.

The poems they submitted for the contest included haiku, diamante, acrostic, and bio poems as well as open poems. The following are the students that won: Eileen Lopez- 1st place for Diamante, Jariely Guiracocha – 2nd place for Diamante, Maria Sakowicz – 1st place for Haiku, Crystal Zarco – 2nd place for Haiku They were honored along with other winners at the award ceremony at Chicago Marriott Naperville on Friday, Feb. 27th. Great job second graders!

Westchester Intermediate School The Westchester Intermediate School finished another successful round of MAP testing in January. Approximately 380 students took the math and reading tests over the course of two weeks.

Overall, students saw some nice gains from the fall testing session.Teachers and administration sat together and examined the data to see which students may require some extra interventions and which students may be able to transition from interventions.

In late January WIS had their inaugural Watch DOGS (Dad of Great Students) kickoff. It was attended by over 60 dads and current WIS students. The school community hopes the momentum continues to build with more fathers and father-figures being able to come into school lending a helping hand throughout the day.

ACCESS testing began in late January for WIS. Students who qualify as English Learners are given an annual assessment consisting of reading, speaking, listening, and writing. Scores are received toward the end of the school year.

Looking ahead, one of the biggest challenges facing WIS and every public school in the state will be the PARCC assessment. This year PARCC takes the place of ISAT.The first day of testing will be March 9th.Students are tested in math and reading. As this is the first year of PARCC assessment, most schools will be looking to gather baseline data.

As always, administrators have completed year-end evaluations,teachers and administrators alike continue to study the practices of Inquiry-Based Learning, and the school continues to celebrate all the wonderful things it is able to provide its students.

Spring Break begins after school Friday, March 27th and runs through Monday, April 6th.

Westchester Middle School Westchester Middle School students participated in the West 40 Speech and

Drama contest at Elmwood Park High School on February 28th. Students were required to memorize monologues or skits and perform them in front of judges.

Starting March 10th, all students will be taking the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test. This assessment replaces the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT).WMS is helping prepare students for this test by teaching a vocab “Word of the Day.” Some teachers are offering extra incentives such as behavior bucks for students who use the word of the day in class. A list of words is available on the WMS website.

Auditions for the spring musical, “Hairspray,Jr.”begin this month. AnyWMS student in grades 6-8 may audition. Show dates are May 7, 8 and 9 with all shows beginning at 7:00 PM. Information on tickets will be available in next month’s newsletter.

WMS 8th graders attended their annual field trip to the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, IL. One highlight of the trip was a discussion with a Holocaust survivor.

This is always a very memorable trip for staff and students.

Seventh graders visited the Museum of Science and Industry. Students visited the Coal Mine,U-505 Submarine,Numbers in Nature and Science Storm exhibits.

Congratulations to our band students who participated in the Band Solo and Ensemble Contest at Westchester Intermediate School!

Students performed chosen pieces in front of a panel of judges.

The second biennial Fine Arts Festival will be held Saturday, March 21st at Westchester Middle School. The festival runs from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM and will feature performances by the Concert, Symphonic and Jazz bands, Chamber Ensemble, Chorus and Show Choir groups. The halls will be filled with student artwork.

West 40 Speech and Drama and Spanish students will be performing selected pieces. The computer lab and media center will be open to showcase digital artwork.

Refreshments will be available for purchase. Admission is free.

Please check the WMS website for more detailed information on the Fine Arts Festival.

The WMS Student Council will host a Charity Games on Thursday, March 26th from 4:00 - 6:00 PM. Watch students take on staff members and parents in volleyball and basketball games. Admission is a suggested donation of $5. Concessions will be available.

All funds raised will be donated to fund

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How can my business participate?

The first thing you can do is fill out the Registration Form, making sure to enter all details including your contact info, company name, details about your offer, locations, etc.At that point you will be added to our master list of participants.

If you ever need to update or change your offer, you can do so through the same Registration form (please indicate in the comment box that it is a change order.) Once available, you may display any available promotional materials or signage, and promote your support to raise awareness.

The fine print. Cook County, CCRD, and the Department of Veterans Affairs offer no guarantees associated with the card to users. Acceptance of the card, and discounts and incentives offered, are the sole discretion of the participating merchants.

Further, issuance of the card is for the program only, and is not considered proof of military or veterans status.

COOK COUNTRY RECORDER OF DEEDS PROPERTY FRAUD ALERT On March ?? at??pm, the Village of Westchester will be hosting a FREE Property Fraud Alert Sign-Up at the Westchester Village Hall.

Cook County Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarbrough and her staff will be present to explain how you can protect your most valuable asset, your home, from property thieves.

Because County Recorders are not authorized by law to validate legal claims made in recording documents, scammers are filing forged deed transfers to steal your property. Once recorded, these documents mean you no longer own your home, even though you have paid it off.

If you plan to attend this informational meeting and signup please bring in your Property Index Number (PIN) from your tax bill. Signup is easy and FREE. If you cannot attend the meeting and sign up you can Sign up by phone at 1-800-728-3858 or go to the Recorders Web Site www.

CookRecorder.com You can decide to receive any alerts by phone or email. The Recorders Office has a Fraud Unit Hotline that can be contacted at

Cook County Board of Review, spoke about the impact of how As Village President and property shopping locally can help with owner after hearing the accounts holding down our property tax of what the true owners of bills. Dan, who has presented property had to go through to information from the Board of get their house back, I encourage Appeals to Westchester residents, you to sign up like I did when the has authored a document that I program was first initiated by Mrs. would like to share. His article said “Every community has their own Yarbrough last year. collection of small businesses, many of them family owned and HOW TO CHECK YOUR DEED operated. We consider them as fixtures in our neighborhoods We can all check our deeds and it is painful to see them from home. Find Your Property struggle in this tough economy.

Index Number (PIN). It is a They face relentless competition unique 14 digit number assigned from big box stores and on-line to your property.

It can be shopping. Shoppers are always found on your tax bill, at the looking for bargains and local County Assessor’s website www. merchants find it difficult to CookCountyAssessor.com, or at fight a pricing war. Loyalty to www.cookcountyproper tyinfo. community and friendly service com/Pages/pin-search.aspx seem to be the most important Once there , locate the “SEARCH characteristics of the successful OUR RECORDS” page. The search local business, however, you have portal will default to a PIN based another important reason to shop search. To proceed, enter your locally: SUPPORTING YOUR PIN number.

LOCAL BUSINESS WILL KEEP YOR PROPERTY TAXES DOWN. The online search shows all recordings against your property, It’s easy to understand that in reverse chronological order, sales taxes collected locally will since 1985. Summaries of these help your local governments, documents, and their images, can but property tax help is more be viewed for FREE. Additional, complicated.

Residential the documents may be purchased property owners and businesses to be printed at your home or share the property tax burden. office for a small fee. BE WARY OF The higher the assessed value, the DEEDS RECORDED AFTER YOURS, more you pay in property taxes.

OR LIENS YOU KNOW NOTHING Commercial property owners ABOUT. have a higher level of assessment than residential and will pay two DOCUMENT RESELLER WARNING and a half times as much for the BEWARE of companies offering same market value of property. you a copy of your home’s deed This variation in assessment is a for large fees, sometimes $100 Cook County phenomenon and or $200. The Recorder’s office puts tremendous pressure on offers the same documents for Cook County businesses that are about $10 bucks. You can obtain a close to a bordering county. That copy of your home’s deed online is why the effort of Cook County at www.CookRecorder.com (non- Board President Toni Preckwinkle certified, $2.50 per document, to bring down the sales tax rate is plus credit card processing fee) or so important. in person at any of the recorder’s 6 locations ($10.00 for the first Commercial property is valued 2 pages, non-certified; $20.00 for according to the income they the first 2 pages certified. The fee produce, so when struggling for each additional page is $2.00. businesses in Cook County close, At this time, certified copies and they reduce the property value records dated prior to 1985 are and the amount of taxes paid only available at the Downtown for that property. The assessed Chicago location of 118 N. Clark value of a commercial property Street Room 120 Chicago, IL. is determined by the rent that is 60602 hours 8Am to 5Pm M-F collected by the property owner.

TX #1-312-603-5050.

When a store front is vacant, the rent revenue stream is SHOPPING LOCALLY: KEEPING diminished. Since taxing bodies PROPERTY TAX LOW are not lowering their levies, all Recently I attended a WCMC the property owners that are left board meeting where Dan pay the lost revenue.

Patlak, Commissioner from the For example: if a five store 1-312-603-4000

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strip mall that has five businesses paying an equal amount of rent then loses two businesses, the property owner can lose 40% of his income and be entitled to a 40% reduction in his assessed valuation for that property.

Pay attention to those empty storefronts in your community.

We are all paying that share of property taxes.

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

WHY DO PROPERTY TAXES GO UP WHEN VALUES GO DOWN??

Many times we are asked the above question by residents; especially over the past few years when home prices have fallen.

Commissioner Dan Patlak provided a U-Tube link that explains in simple terms why this occurs.

The link is https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=Q-rA2IoFsKQ. We have included an article in this newsletter that explains where your property taxes go.

NEW TRAINING LAW FOR COOK COUNTY ALCOHOL SERVERS We have been informed by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) that a new Alcohol Serving Training Law takes effect on July 1, 2015. The new law requires all alcohol servers and “bouncers” (i.e. those whose job description entails checking of identification for entry into a liquor-licensed premise) in Cook County bars and restaurants to complete a 4 hour Beverage Alcohol Sellers/Servers Education and Training (BASSETT) class by July 1, 2015, or within 120 days of the date of employment if employed after July 1, 2015. If a person has already been trained between the dates of July 1, 2012 and July 1, 2015 then they do not have to be re-trained until 3 years after their previous certification date.

The Village of Westchester will be hosting Bassett Training certification classes on May 21, 2015. Further information can be found at www.illinois.gov/ILCC/ basset.

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Westchester News and Notes

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important moment for the Forest Preserves. On February 11, 1915, the first board meeting Continued from page 21 of the Forest Preserves of Cook County was held. We have a rare opportunity to mark this occasion 100 years later, on the very same NEW WAYFINDING SIGNS INday.

STALLED In the lobby of the 5th floor of the Cook County Building, As you travel along the main just before entering the board thoroughfares of the Village, room chambers, members of the you have probably seen several public and invited guests will see Westchester wayfinding signs historical photo displays and live pointing out several different animals that live at our nature areas of the Village. The signs centers.

Large photographic were the brain child of the posters will be displayed with Village’s Economic Development photos representing all seasons of Committee consisting of Pastor nature in the Forest Preserves.”

Joseph Mills (Chair), Ms. Lori “The Village of Westchester is Jo Fergle (Vice Chair), Darlene lucky to have immediate access to Barber (Secretary), Bruce Horek the Brezina Woods, Bemis Woods, (Chamber Liaison), Kandice Westchester Woods, Possum Jacobs, Allison Muzal, Trustee Hollow Forest Preserves as well Frank Perry (Village Board Liaison), as the 9 Hole Meadowlark Golf and Melissa Headley (Community Course right in our backyard. For Development Director).

The More detailed forest preserve signs point the way to the 4 information contact www.Fpdcc.

Districts the EDC has established. com.”

The Districts represented are DUELING PIANOS A BLAST! the Municipal District, Fountain For those of you who attended District, Prairie District and High the Dueling Pianos event at Ridge District. The EDC needs Divine Infant on February 7th, I to be complimented as their think you would all agree that it final design and obtaining IDOT was a wonderful ly entertaining approval for placement on their event for $15 bucks. This “Bring right of ways took a great amount Your Own” food and beverage of time. event, the brain child of D.I. Men’s Club member Neil Boyle was a blast. Both pianists were COOK COUNTY FOREST PREexcellent and played everything SERVE 100 YEARS LATER and anything requested and then some. Hopefully this will become Cook County President Toni an annual event, especially for Preckwinkle wrote the following those who could not attend. article marking an important milestone for those of us in Westchester that use the Forest NIU ANNOUNCES FORWARD, Preserves that touch our borders. TOGETHER FORWARD SCHOLAR “February is here and with it SHIP WINNERS Samantha Garbacz, daughter of comes the snow I hope many of you have been waiting for. Though Village Accountant Argelia Garbacz we in Cook County often endure is one of five scholars recognized some tough winters, we are so at a March 1st Northern Illinois lucky to be able to escape into University scholarship event.

The five recipients of the the Forest Preserves to peacefully Together Forward enjoy the season’s beauty or be Forward, adventuresome by trying out Scholars will receive a $4,000 ice fishing or sledding at one non-renewable scholarship for of our many hills. We also offer the coming academic year.

The 2015 scholarship recipients cross-country skiing at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in are: · Courtney Crutchfield of Lemont.

If you have never been cross- Manchester, Mo., a sophomore country skiing, we’ve developed majoring in nursing · Samantha Garbacz of a fun video for you available at http://fpdcc.com/cross-country- Westchester, a senior majoring in skiing-lessons-sagawau/. The short nursing · Elizabeth Garcia of DeKalb, video is shot from a beginner’s perspective and gives you an idea a junior majoring in community of a typical experience on the leadership and civic engagement · Tara Lenardi of Lisle, a trails at Sagawau Nordic.

This month also marks an senior majoring in public health

· Anthony Roberts of Chicago, a senior majoring in biomedical engineering “Students who receive this prestigious award are leaders who are truly working to make a difference in our community,” said Kelly Wesener Michael, associate vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students. “Recipients are those that exemplify the spirit of giving and strength of character of those we lost on Feb. 14, 2008.”

Over the past seven years, NIU students, faculty, staff, alumni and community supporters have banded together to honor the spirit of Gayle Dubowski, Catalina Garcia, Juliana Gehant, Ryanne Mace and Daniel Parmenter through the Forward, Together Forward Scholarship program.

“Each of those outstanding individuals was involved in the campus community, had taken on leadership roles, and demonstrated their commitment to service,” Wesener Michael said.

“Not only is it important that we honor their memory, we also must acknowledge and celebrate their contributions.”

First awarded in 2009, the Forward, Together Forward Scholarship recognizes Huskie students who demonstrate integrity, motivation, a strong work ethic, a high regard for others and intellectual curiosity.

Thanks to the generosity of more than 1,770 donors, 30 students have been recognized as Forward, Together Forward scholars, receiving $120,000 in scholarship awards so far.

Congratulations to Samantha and all of the scholarship award recipients. We are all proud of you!!! 

READ ACROSS AMERICA Mark Your Calendars! Read Across America Day is March 2, 2015 Oh, the Places You’ll Go when you read! March 2, 2015 is NEA’s Read Across America Day and this year, the book is the Seuss classic, Oh, The Places You’ll Go. The day is celebrated on Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) was born on March 2, 1904. (Source: Apples 4 the teacher)

MARCH 3RD IS NATIONAL ANTHEM DAY Francis Scott Key (1780-1843), a native of Maryland, was a lawyer and poet. His patriotic poem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which has become a national song, made

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him famous. The song officially became our national anthem on March 3, 1931.

The incidents referred to in this poem occurred during the War of 1812. In August 1814, a strong force of British soldiers entered Washington and burned the Capitol, the White House and many other public buildings.

On September 13th, the British admiral moved his fleet into position to attack Fort McHenry, near Baltimore. The bombardment of the fort lasted all night, but the fort was so bravely defended that the flag was still floating over it when morning came.

Just before the bombardment began, Francis Scott Key was sent to the admiral’s frigate to arrange for an exchange of prisoners, and was told to wait until the bombardment was over. All night he watched the fort, and by the first rays of morning light he saw the Stars and Stripes still waving.

Then, in his joy and pride, he wrote the stirring words of the song which is now known and loved by all Americans--”The StarSpangled Banner.” (Source: Apples 4 the teacher)

SPRING FORWARD: FALL BACK All are reminded that early Sunday morning on March 8th at 2AM we need to change all of our clocks one hour ahead. That’s right, we lose an hour of sleep as we transition to Day Light Savings time or SUMMERTIME!!

MARCH 17TH IS ST. PATRICK’S DAY Tuesday March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and the Irish. He was born about 389 A.D. in Northern Wales, which at that time may have been part of England or Scotland.

Saint Patrick had an adventurous life. He was captured by pirates at the age of 16. The Irish pirates brought him to Ireland to tend the flocks of a chieftain in Ulster.

Six years of slavery made him a devoted Christian. He escaped to France and became a monk. In 432 A.D., a vision led him to return to Ireland as a missionary bishop. He brought Christianity to Ireland and taught there for 29 years.

He used the shamrock, a 3 leaf clover, (Ireland’s national flower) to explain the Blessed Trinity. St. Patrick founded 365 churches, baptized over 120,000 people and consecrated 450 bishops.

Many tales sprung up about

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this popular saint. One of the most popular legends was how he charmed all the snakes of Ireland down to the seashore to be drowned by the water.

The only certain writings of St. Patrick are his Confessions and a letter written to a man named Coroticus (See Tripartite Life of St. Patrick by Stokes and Lives by Todd, Healy, Bury and Lusack.).

His Confessions are written in crude Latin.

According to some Irish writings, St. Patrick died on March 17, 461 A.D. The anniversary of his death is celebrated as St. Patrick’s Day. It’s interesting to note that the shamrock clover flowers around that time of year.

The first official celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in the United States occurred in Morristown, New Jersey in 1780. It was authorized

by George Washington. Today St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by the Irish, as well as many Americans, with parades, parties, wearing of green, Irish songs and jigs.

People wear green on this day to represent the lushness of Ireland - The Emerald Isle.

(Source: Wikipedia) NOTE: The DI Men’s Club is having their Annual Harrington’s Corned Beef and Cabbage St. Patrick Dinner Dance on Saturday March 14th. Reservations are due

by March 8th. Contact Dr. Tom Sullivan 708-512-4510 for details.

MARCH 19th IS THE FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH Friday March 19th is the Feast of St. Joseph. In Western Christianity, it is the principal feast day of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He is the step-father of Jesus of Nazareth/Jesus Christ.

It has the rank of a solemnity in the Roman Catholic Church.

There are also parades in honor of St. Joseph and the Italian population of New Orleans which are similar to the many marching clubs and truck parades of Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day.Tradition in New Orleans also holds that by burying a small statue of St. Joseph upside down in the front yard of a house, that house will sell more promptly. In addition to the above traditions, some groups of Mardi Gras Indians stage their last procession of the season on the Sunday nearest to St.

Joseph’s Day otherwise known as “Super Sunday,” after which their costumes are dismantled.

Saint Joseph’s Day is also celebrated in other American communities with high proportions of Italians such as New York City; Utica/Rome, NY; Syracuse, NY; Buffalo, NY; Hawthorne, NJ; Hoboken, NJ; Jersey City, NJ; Kansas City, MO; Gloucester, MS; Providence, RI, and Chicago where observance (which takes place just after Saint Patrick’s Day) often is expressed through “the wearing of the red”, i.e., wearing red clothing or accessories similar to the wearing of green on Saint Patrick’s Day. St. Joseph’s Day tables may also be found in Rockford and Elmwood Park, Illinois. (Source: Wikipedia)

SPRING ARRIVES MARCH 20TH Thursday March 20th begins the first day of spring. Spring is the season between winter and summer. It’s the time of year when life begins again in nature.

In the Northern Hemisphere, spring begins on the day the center of the sun is directly over the equator. Usually, on March 20th, the sun crosses the equator and starts northward. As it travels north, its rays strike the northern countries more directly each day.

Spring lasts until June 20th or 21st when Summer officially begins.

SORROW IN OUR MIDST On Sunday February 15th, the Village of Westchester lost one of a few remaining First Ladies of the Village with the passing of Mrs. Elaine Wedinger, wife of former Village President Frederick Wedinger.

Mrs. Wedinger was Fred’s wife for 69 years. In a conversation I had with Fred soon after Elaine’s passing, I was reminded of how my dad doted on my mother while she was ill.

President Wedinger cared for Elaine for quite a few years while she was sick. I could tell from our conversation that he did so with the love, tenderness and affection he had for her from their first meeting. Fred affectionately referred to her as “A Woman of the World” as beautiful as she was when they met when she was 17 years old. Fred and Elaine liked to listen to the old time radio programs on tapes and CD’s. Fred would always bring her red roses on their wedding anniversary. I know “Elaine M” is free from the pain and suffering she endured down here on earth.

She is welcomed into God’s arm’s and looking down from heaven

smiling at her “Frederick C” and your family. Rest in Peace.

Approval of the Record of Bills ending 02-05-2015 in the amount not to exceed $871,556.54 FROM THE BOARD Approval of Minutes of the January 27, 2015 Village Board At the January 27th Village Board Meeting and Minutes of the Meeting, the following items were January 27, 2015 Committee of approved under the Consent the Whole Meeting Agenda: Approval of Departmental Approval of the Record of Bills Monthly Reports: Community ending 01-22-2015 in the amount Development Department, Fire not to exceed $1,607,644.01 (pg Department, Police Department, 2) and Public Works Department Approval of Minutes the January A Resolution Authorizing the 13, 2015 Village Board Meeting Execution of an Agreement and minutes of the January 13, Between the Village of Westchester 2015 Committee of the Whole and Credential Wholesalers, INC. Meeting for the Provision of Electronic Ordinance Amending Chapter Recycling Services 5.36, entitled “Liquor Sale,” of Title An Ordinance Waiving the 5, entitled “Business Licenses and Requirements of the Village of Regulations,” of the Westchester Westchester Purchasing Policies Municipal Code and Procedures Manual and Ordinance Amending Portions Accepting a Proposal from of Chapter 11.12, entitled “Rules Meade Electric Company, INC. for Driving,” and Chapter 11.60, to Conduct an Evaluation of LED entitled “Do Not Enter Streets,” Street Lighting Components in of Title 11, entitled “Vehicles the amount of $4,450 and Traffic,” of the Westchester Municipal Code At the February 10th Village Ordinance Amending Section Committee of the Whole Meeting, 8.04.200, entitled “Restrictions,” the following items discussed of Chapter 8.04, entitled “Garbage under New Business: and Waste,” of Title 8, entitled Roosevelt Road Water Main “Health and Sanitation,” of the Replacement Westchester Municipal Code Intergovernmental Agreement – Resolution Amending the Westchester Park District Newsletter Advertising Policy Engineering Services Agreement for the Village of Westchester with Christopher B. Burke in order to Prohibit Political Engineering, LLC – Municipal Advertisements and to add a Drive Paving Project Disclaimer Regarding Advertising Revision to Ordinance 97-1474 Resolution Authorizing the regarding Tree Maintenance and Execution of an Agreement with Care within the Village Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Declaration of Surplus LTD. For Construction Observation Equipment Engineering Services Related to the 2015 Street Improvement At the February 10th Village Project Committee of the Whole Meeting, Resolution Authorizing the the following items discussed Acceptance of a Proposal from under Old Business: Rubino Engineering, INC. for Adoption of the 2012 Geotechnical Services Related International Building Codes with to the 2015 Street Improvement Local Amendments Project A Special Board Meeting was At the January 27th Village held on Tuesday, February 17th to Committee of the Whole Meeting, discuss the draft budget for the the following items discussed Public Works Department of the under New Business: Village’s General Fund, the Utility IDOT Funding Request - Fund, the Motor Fuel Tax Fund Gladstone Bridge and the Capital Projects Fund.

Residential Handicapped Parking Program Melissa Headley, Director of Educational Seminar Series for Community Development, spoke Businesses to 3rd graders at Westchester Electronic Recycling for April- Intermediate School on February October 2015 10th.

She talked about what she does At the February 10th Village for Westchester and discussed Board Meeting, the following important things that planners items were approved under the need to keep in mind when Consent Agenda: developing a new community.

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