Village branch collection is the week of November 14th – 18th
Please note that this collection will be the last one until April 2023.
Waste Management’s final yard waste collection for this year will be November 29, 2022.
Collection will resume April 3, 2023.
The Public Works Department will collect branches the first full working week of every month, starting in April and ending in November.
All brush must be put out on the front parkway by 7am on your designated pickup day. Branches can be up to 7 feet in length and are to be stacked with the butt ends facing the street in the same direction. If not stacked properly, a “restack” notice will be left.
Again, please put ALL brush out on your designated pickup day and Public Works crews will determine what constitutes an open load, which will be picked up later in the week, usually Friday.
An open load would include any brush that will not fit through the chipper such as logs, stumps, and larger limbs. These all must be cut down to size for one person to lift. Dirt must also be removed from any root balls for collection.
Public Works Crews will only pass
through a designated pickup area once due to time schedule and other workload responsibilities.
Landscapers & tree services are responsible for their own debris disposal.
Please note the following schedule for branch pickup:
MONDAY: From Mannheim Road west to Wolf Road and from Canterbury south to Windsor-including both sides of Windsor Drive. Also Waterford, Waverly, Camelot and Concord.
TUESDAY: Roosevelt Road south to Cermak Road-from Gardner Road west to Mannheim Road.
WEDNESDAY: From Roosevelt Road north to the expressway and from Gardner Road west to Mannheim Road. Also, Roosevelt Road south to Canterbury from Haase west to Heidorn.
THURSDAY: From Belleview west to Wolf Road, Martindale Drive south to 31st Street.
Remember… Waste Management will also pick up your branches if they are bundled & no more than 4 feet in length. These will be picked up on your regular garbage day through Nov.
There will be no garbage collection on Thursday, November 24 -Thanksgiving Day.
Thursday’s collection will be Friday, November 25.
Friday’s collection will be Saturday, November 26.
Waste Management – 1-800-796-9696
• If your garbage or recycling was not picked up on your regular day, please call Waste Management directly.
• If you would like to request a new garbage or recycling receptacle, please call Waste Management directly.
• If you have large items that will not fit in you receptacle (i.e. couch, chairs, tables, etc.,) please call Waste Management directly to schedule a large item collection. Bulk collections incur a fee.
The Waste Management’s “At Your Door Special Collection” service will pick up unwanted-potentially hazardous and hard-to-recycle items from your home, including electronics.
That number is 1-800-449-7587.
The full list of items may be found at www.wmatyourdoor.com/residential.
As leaf season arrives, Public Works will be out clearing Village streets and curbs. Do not rake your leaves into the street as this causes storm sewer problems, which leads to street ponding/ flooding. This can result in dangerous driving conditions for all motorists. Leaf bags will be collected until the end of November by Waste Management on your collection day.
Please try to keep the drains in the street free of debris so that the rain doesn’t wash the debris into the storm sewers.
Refer to the street maintenance signs on your block for parking restrictions during leaf pickup season. We appreciate your cooperation!
The vac and jet machine will be cleaning out storm sewer inlets, as weather and scheduling permits. Please help us to keep the storm drains clear of debris, little by little, so they don’t become a huge issue and result in flooding.
As always, residents are asked to call Public Works at 708.345.0041 or the Police (after 3:30pm M-F & on weekends) if an unusual amount of water is visible in the street or parkway. This could be a main break or water leak that requires our immediate attention.
Fall is in full swing for the WPTC! Our Walk-a-thon was enjoyed by all. It was quite an amazing sight to see as students, staff and volunteers from WPS and WIS were escorted by the Westchester Police and Fire Departments during the walk. Their support is truly appreciated!
In October, we had successful book fairs at WPS and WIS. Reading night was great! Also, a lovely morning was enjoyed by all at the WIS Parents and Pastries. We were excited and happy that we were able to bring back our Fall Family Dance, which was so fun! And we cannot forget our fun fall classroom parties at WPS and WIS. We are happy to announce that the WMS School Store has returned and will be open once a month!! Dates will be announced on our Facebook page and announcements are made during school to remind the students.
Last month’s Chickie’s Fundrasier night was delicious! Thank you for your support! Our restaurant fundraiser this month will be at Portillo’s in Forest Park on Wednesday, November 16th from 5 pm to 8 pm.
The WPTC board would like to thank all of the teachers that ‘worked’ at our WPS/WIS McTeacher night last month. This is always
a fun night for the kids!
Our events can only take place with the help of our volunteers. Thank you to those who have taken the time to help out at our past events. We have many more coming up and will need help. There are plenty more opportunities to volunteer!
Keep an eye out for upcoming events!
1) At 8:19am on September 23, 2022 a Theft from Vehicle was reported on the 9800 block of Roosevelt Road. The vehicle owner parked in the parking lot of 1220 Bristol advised that sometime during the previous evening their catalytic con verter was taken from their vehicle.
2) At 10:45am on September 28, 2022 a Residential Burglary was reported on the 1600 block of Belleview. The resident reported that sometime during the past half hour someone entered the home by breaking a door window to gain entry. Various items were taken from the home.
3) At 06:10am on October 2, 2022 an Attempted Burglary occurred at George’s Auto Service located at 1835 Mannheim Road. Officers re sponded to a reported burglar alarm and discovered the garage door open upon arrival. Other than damage to the lock, nothing appears to have been taken.
4) At 10:49am on October 7, 2022 a Retail Theft was reported at the Jew el Foods located at 2128 Mannheim Road. Two subjects were stopped and arrested for attempting to exit the store with $191 in merchandise.
5) At 9:53pm on October 8, 2022 a Motor Vehicle Theft was reported on the 1600 block of Mannheim. The resident reported that their Kia Forte was taken some time during the previous 2 days.
6) At 8:19am on October 9, 2022 an Attempted Motor Vehicle Theft was reported on the 1200 block of Bal moral. A resident reported damage to the rear driver’s side window but nothing appears to have been taken.
7) At 7:18am on October 12, 2022 a Theft from Motor Vehicle was re ported on the 1100 block of Bristol. The resident reported that during the previous evening, unknown person(s) entered their unlocked vehicle removing their purse, credit cards and money.
Thanksgiving is fast approaching as Halloween and late-October’s Indian summer are both now fond memories. I hope our residents all stay healthy and safe while celebrating the Holidays with friends and family. Embracing our digital age, some of the items in this month’s letter include the electronic location(s) to the resource on the Village’s website – www.westchesteril.org. Alternatively, you can also give us a call (708) 345-0020 or stop by in-person – 10300 W. Roosevelt Rd. Monday through Fridays from 8:00a to 4:30p.
Vacation Watch - If your Holiday plans include out-of-town travel, please remember that you can request a vacation watch by Westchester’s Police Department. Visit the Village’s website (www. westchester-il.org) from your computer or smartphone. In the top menu bar, click “How Do I” then select “Request a Vacation Watch.” An electronic form page will open. Complete this form and click the “Submit” button (at bottom of this page, also remember to check the box “I’m not a robot”). In addition to routine patrol duties, our Police Officers will check regularly on your property during the dates you specify. For any questions, please contact the Westchester Police Department’s Non-Emergency line at (708) 3450060.
Code Red Program - has continued to grow and be utilized by residents as a resource for emergency information and upcoming events. To register for this free notification service, visit the Village’s website. In the top menu bar, click “I’m Looking For” – “Forms and Permits” – “Police Department” -- “CodeRED.” An electronic form page will open. Complete this form and click
“Submit.”
Yard Waste Pickup - runs through November. Village branch pickup will also take place on the first full week of the month through November. The branch pickup schedule and map can be found on the Village’s website under “Departments” –“Public Works” – “Yard Waste/Branch Pickup.” Residents 65 years and older are eligible for a discount off standard garbage, recycling, and yard waste rates. To register for the discount, visit the Village’s website. In the top menu bar, click “I’m Looking For” – “Forms and Permits” – “Village Clerk” – “Residential Waste Collection Senior Discount Form.”
Fire Hydrants - Residents on the north end of town may notice that many of the fire hydrants have been painted. Our Public Works Department is working on painting fire hydrants moving south as weather permits. Keeping fire hydrants visible and clear of rust and debris is essential when the Fire Department needs them.
Fire Department Open Housespeaking of the fire department, Chief Mavrogeorge and crew held a fantastic open house event during fire prevention week in October. Fantastic weather and a crowd of well over 100 residents made this event a huge success. The new Lucas CPR Device was on display, complete with a live demonstration. In-person demonstrations of an automobile extrication and bedroom fire simulation were also provided.
Service Line Replacement, Alleys - The Village is applying for a grant through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for lead service line replacement. The grant is for up to $50,000. The Village is already
taking measures to identify lead service lines while we begin our water meter replacement program. We recently met with Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson’s office regarding funding for the paving of the alleyways just north of Roosevelt Rd. The Commissioner’s office was thoroughly impressed by our staff’s knowledge, presentation materials, and explanation of our needs. We hope to receive funding through his Office.
Cook County Districts - For those of you not aware, the Village of Westchester encompasses (3) Cook County Districts within its boundaries. Commissioner Brandon Johnson (1st District) covers east of Mannheim to the Village boundary, and north of Canterbury to the Village boundary. Commissioner Frank Aguilar of the (16th District) extends through the middle of Westchester, from southeast to northwest corners. Finally, Commissioner Sean Morrison (17th District) represents the southwest corner of our community. To view a map of all Cook County Commissioner Districts Online, visit www.maps.cookcountyil.gov. Rest assured that myself, our Village management, and elected Trustees, are figuratively “shaking the trees” of all three offices for funding when we can.
Potential Bike Path Expansion - The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), along with the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) hosted a call for communities to apply for assistance for a West Cook pedestrian/bike plan that will hopefully link the Salt Creek Trail with the Illinois Prairie Path. This is an exciting project that could link these (2) paths together and improve safe passage through our communities for all bicyclists and
pedestrians. The communities of Berkeley, Bellwood, Hillside, and Broadview are also part of this project. There was a total of (70) applications from several communities in this region. Project selections will be announced in January - February 2023.
Tour De Proviso – Annual bicycle ride event was held in Riverside, IL on Saturday October 1, 2022. This event was well attended by Westchester residents and other bicycle enthusiasts from the area. The torch has been passed! Next year, the Village of Westchester will be hosting the Tour de Proviso right here in town. The event is scheduled for Saturday October 7, 2023. Our newly appointed members of the Westchester Citizens Advisory Board will help plan this great event. Stay tuned for updates!
Police Officer Appointments - I had the honor of swearing in (2) new Police Sergeants and (1) new Patrolman at the Village Board Meeting on Tuesday October 25th. Sergeant Kristina Tountas and Sergeant David Mode were promoted following recent retirements. We welcome Westchester Police Patrolman Brian Cantwell, our newest recruit into our amazing community.
Congratulations - Westchester resident Lee Milano was named IHSA Baseball Coach of the Year after his historic state championship run with the Nazareth Roadrunners. Not to put an age on “Mr. Milano” (as I call him), but he was my gym teacher back at Divine Infant Grammar School back in the early 1990’s. Terrific to see Mr. Milano still having a profound impact on our student athletes after all these years.
The Westchester Brownie Girl Scout Troop began their scout year in midSeptember. The girls revisited ideas on how to make friends, listen to others and try to resolve conflicts. At the following meeting the girls took advantage of a crisp fall day and took a hike at the Wolf Road Prairie. Wyatt, from the Save the Prairie Society, led the girls on an hour-long educational hike. The girls learned about the ecosystem of the prairie and its role in keeping us healthy and the importance of all of us keeping the prairie healthy. The girls learned about invasive species of plants and what they can do to help prevent the spread of these species. The girls are looking forward to forging a partnership with the prairie and participating in future volunteer opportunities at the prairie. In October, the girls participated in a Girl Scout Pumpkin Farm night at Johanssen’s Farm in Bolingbrook. The girls took part in a scout traditionS’mores! Later in October some of our Girl Scouts will be helping Boy Scout Pack 73 with food drive flyers and food pick-up. In November the girls will be decorating the Service Unit 411 Holiday Tree at Brookfield Zoo. Stop by our tree to learn more about the world of Girl Scouts.
Autumn yard work definitely appeals to some folks. For the rest of us, it’s drudgery. Spending cold, damp hours cutting down spent perennials, raking leaves into piles only to have them blown around by the wind, buying yard waste bags just to stuff them with debris and throw them away… I’d rather be hiking or picking apples, myself.
There’s good news for those of us who would rather not spend precious daylight hours toiling away in the yard- you can confidently put off your heavy-duty yard cleanup until spring. In fact, it’s the ecologically sound thing to do!
Not all of our wildlife migrates south for the winter. Many animals and insects tough it out right here in our backyards. Their survival depends upon the availability of resources that will help them to weather the harsh winters of northern Illinois, including shelter/ nesting materials and a food supply.
Leaving leaves and vegetation in place mimics conditions on the forest floor, creating habitat for beneficial insects and larvae to nest as they await warmer weather. But the benefits of fallen leaves aren’t just for overwintering bees, beetles, and butterflies- the insects that are supported by the leaf litter also ensure a ready food supply for hungry frogs, birds, and other animals come springtime. Leaf litter is also a free source of mulch that helps to insulate plants from freeze/thaw cycles, and a free source of natural fertilizer. By leaving seed heads and grasses intact until springtime, we can ensure that birds, squirrels, and other animals can find food in a time of scarcity.
Our pollinators contribute billions of dollars to the economy, but many of them are facing decline. We can give them a helping hand by being a bit lazy with our yard work this fall!
To help our pollinators this fall, you can: ●• Keep a thin layer of leaves on the lawn. The decomposing litter will help
to fertilize while creating nesting habitat.
●• Leave the leaves in place until springtime after bees have emerged!
●• Insulate vegetable and garden beds, trees, and perennials with a thick layer of leaves, which will create habitat, provide insulation, and help build the soil.
•Leave seed heads and grasses intact until early spring.
Start small and GROW into a dynamic and easy to maintain lawn and garden.
• First, don’t get overwhelmed. Even a small 1’ by 1’ bed with 3 plants is a great start! Then learn more with resources at Westchester Public Library and find your kind of wild on your residential land.
●• Stage 1: Build and prepare the bed. Cover bed in compost soil and mulch with leaves and local wood chips when possible. Starting a bed in fall without planting will naturally fertilize the area for spring planting. When planting consider a tree and companion shrubs in odd numbers. (Ex: 1 tree, 3 shrubs)
• Pro Tip: Remove sod in pieces and place upside down in center of bed, kills grass and adds center height!
●• Stage 2: Expand the bed size and plant perennials. This is where you can have fun with color, shape, height and diversity!
Leave diameter space for perennials to grow filling in with smaller annuals as a way to make bed appear fuller when growing.
• Pro Tip: Add another 2-3 in layer of mulch to suppress weeds in a donut shape away from any woody base to prevent base decay!
For more information, see xerces.org Nesting & Overwintering Habitathttps://xerces.org/publications/factsheets/nesting-overwintering-habitat
Bring Back the Pollinators - www. bringbackthepollinators.org Conservation@Home - https://fpdcc. com/nature/conservationathome/
Garden Gate Garden Plans: https://www.gardengatemagazine. com/articles/garden-plans/all/
Nazareth Academy Head Baseball Coach Lee Milano has been selected by the Administrative Staff at the Illinois High School Association to receive the 2021-2022 Baseball Coach of the Year Award. The selection to receive this prestigious honor is based upon the positive work Coach Milano has done with the student-athletes in the program. The IHSA has also submitted Coach Milano’s name to the National Federation of State High School Associations who sponsors the award for further consideration at the regional and national levels.
“The entire Nazareth Academy community is enormously proud of Coach Milano,” said Principal Therese Hawkins. “The success of our baseball program is directly linked to Coach Milano’s philosophy of coaching. His incredible work in helping our student-athletes develop skills and characteristics not only as outstanding baseball players, but also of exceptionally kind, caring, inclusive young men is invaluable and very much appreciated!”
Coach Lee Milano is entering his 23rd season as head baseball coach at Nazareth Academy and led the program to the school’s first IHSA State Title in 2022. Coach Milano was inducted to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2018. He was named Area Coach of the Year in 2018, 2015, 2012 & 2011 and the East Suburban Catholic Conference Coach of the Year in 2011. 135 of Coach Milano’s former players have gone on to play at the college level.
“This is a tremendous honor and extremely humbling,” said Coach Milano. “The success of our program is a reflection of tremendous support from
the Nazareth administration, the work of many dedicated coaches, incredible families, and student-athletes over two decades. And none of it would be possible without the unwavering
support from my own family.”
Nazareth Academy, a Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory high school serving families from 65 communities and 110 grade schools
in Chicago and the western suburbs, established in 1900 and sponsored by the Congregation of St. Joseph, values scholarship, service, spirit and unity.
