September 2015 Westchester Village Newsletter by Village of Westchester, IL

Village of

Westchester September 2015 Newsletter

From the Desk of The President FIRE DEPARTMENT

POLICE DEPARTMENT

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CALENDAR

PARK DISTRICT

SCHOOL DISTRICT

LIBRARY

Congressman Danny Davis hosted a Town Hall meeting on August 18th at Village Hall to update residents on issues such as the Affordable Care Act, Jobs and the Economy and Flooding Issues. MWRD President Mariyana Spyropoulos and Executive Director David St. Pierre provided updates on ďŹ&#x201A;ood remediation programs in progress. Pictured from left: Village Trustee Carl Celestino, Mariyana Spyropoulos, Village President Sam Pulia, Congressman Davis, Village Clerk Sherby Miller and David St. Pierre. I usually start out each month commenting about the weather or the lack of what we used to consider the 4 seasons. I am pleased to comment that the Hot weather in August is just what the doctor ordered. August is supposed to be a Hot month and it has not disappointed this year.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AUGUST 4, 2015 Two events were held in August; the first being the National Night Out sponsored by the Westchester Police Department. This was our 4th year of joining in the National Night Out Program (NNO). Participation in the event highlights our law enforcement professionals and what having committed men and women means to a community. All of which cannot be taken for granted, and cannot be successful without your assistance.

Since the Villageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inception, we have had dedicated personnel serving Westchester as law enforcement officers. Our interaction with the residents and citizens, both children and adults alike, usually occurs when a call for service is made or during enforcement of traffic infractions. This NNO community event spotlights police officers as regular people whose duty to protect lives and property is becoming increasingly difficult. Our goal is to highlight the positive interactions between police and the community and build relationships that will assist the police in doing their job effectively and efficiently. Our patrol officers and school resource officer as well as Chief John Carpino and his staff are to be recognized for their leadership in this annual event. I would like to thank all of our participants and

See PRESIDENT, page 4

Fire Department September 2015

Police Department 3

September 2014

Teen Dating Violence Are you going out with someone who... ]-is jealous and possessive, won’t let you have friends, checks up on you or won’t accept breaking up? -tries to control you by being bossy, giving orders, making all the decisions or not taking your opinion seriously? -puts you down in front of friends or tells you that you would be nothing without him or her? -scares you? Makes you worry about reactions to things you say or do? Threatens you? -is violent? Has a history of fighting, loses his or her temper quickly. Grabs, pushes, shoves, or hits you? -abuses alcohol or other drugs and pressures you to use them? -believes that he or she should be in control of the relationship? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could be a victim of dating abuse. Both males and females can be victims of dating violence. What if Your Partner is Abusing You and You Want Out? *Don’t put up with abuse. You deserve better. *Know that you are not alone. Teens from all different backgrounds across the country are involved in or have been involved in a violent

relationship. *Understand that you have done nothing wrong. It is not your fault. *Know that the longer you stay in the abusive relationship, the more intense the violence will become. *Recognize that being drunk is not an excuse for someone to become abusive. *Talk with your parents, a friend, a counselor, a faith leader or spiritual leader, or someone else you trust. The more isolated you are from friends and family, the more control the abuser has over you. *Know that you can get help from professionals at rape crisis centers, health services, counseling centers, or your family’s health care provider. *Alert school counselor or police resource officer about the abuse. Call local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction when necessary. *Keep a daily log of the abuse for evidence. *Remember that no one is justified in attacking you just because he or she is angry.

Police blotter 1) At 1:09am on July 16, 2015 a Theft of Bicycles was reported at the B.P. Amoco located at 825 Mannheim Road. The owners of two bicycles were taken from the front of the store. 2) At 3:14pm on July 16, 2015 a Criminal Damage to Property was reported on the 1800 block of Stratford. The resident reported that unknown person(s) cut a 6 inch hold in their basement window. 3) At 2:34pm on July 21, 2015 a Criminal Damage report was completed at the Westchester Intermediate School located 10900 Canterbury. Unknown person(s) attempted to gain access to an industrial A/C unit and removed the copper fittings. No entry was gained but the A/C unit was damaged. 4) At 10:17am on July 26, 2015 a Motor Vehicle Theft was reported on the 600 block of Westchester Blvd. The vehicle owner reported that unknown

person(s) stole their vehicle which was parked in front with the key fob inside. 5) At 9:18am on July 30, 2015 a Criminal Damage to Auto was reported on the 10700 block of 31st Street. The owner of a vehicle reported that unknown person(s) had broken out the rear glass of their tailgate overnight. 6) At 3:01pm on August 4, 2015 a Burglary to Vehicle was reported on the 11100 block of Kingston. The vehicle owner reported that unknown person(s) broke into their vehicle and removed a printer and other items valued at $2800. 7) At 7:12pm on August 11, 2015 a Burglary to Auto was reported on the 1600 block of Balmoral. The vehicle owner reported that unknown person(s) entered their unlocked vehicle and took a wallet and money.

*Do not meet him or her alone. Do not let him or her in your home or car when you are alone. *Avoid being alone at school, your job, or on the way to and from places. *Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return. *Plan and rehearse what you will do if he or she becomes abusive. How To Be a Friend to a Victim of Dating Violence Most teens talk to other teens about their problems. If a friend tells you things that sound like his or her relationships are abusive, here are

some suggestions on ways to help. -Don’t ignore signs of abuse. Talk to your friend. -Express your concerns. Tell your friend you’re worried. Support, don’t judge. -Point out your friend’s strengths. -Encourage your friend to confide in a trusted adult. -Never put yourself in a dangerous situation with the victim’s partner. -Call the police if you witness an assault. Tell an adult-school principal, parent, guidance counselor, or school resource officer-if you suspect the abuse but don’t witness it. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

September 2015

PRESIDENT Continued from page 1 venders who provided handouts, tips, and giveaways to the people in attendance. The Westchester Park District opened the swimming pool for a FREE hour long swim, followed by the showing of the movie GREASE. The weather cooperated for the event and I hope all had a great time. I did spend a great deal of time speaking to Ms. Berenice Martinez who is the Community Outreach Liaison-Latino Affairs for Government and Community Relations for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. I obtained a copy of a Resource Directory that contained contact information for state and federal agencies and other organizations to help you handle a wide range of issues, unfortunately too many to attach to this article. The Directory contains both telephone and web site contacts for many contacts that you may find helpful. Paper copies are available at the village hall. For individual resources please visit the Illinois Attorney General’s website at www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov.

MUSIC FESTIVAL AUGUST 10, 2015 OursecondAugusteventwastheMusic Fest held Saturday, August 8th at High Ridge Park. American English started off the day at 3pm with their musical tribute to the BEATLES. American English is no stranger to Westchester as they appeared at the Westchester Fest many years ago. Denny Diamond wooed the crowd singing songs in tribute to Neil Diamond and kept the entertainment going until 7:30pm when the Jenny Rockis Band took over to finish the night. Elio and Maria Lovera celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary at the Music Fest! Congratulations and best wishes for many more years of wedded bliss! Unfortunately, I was unable to attend but Village Manager Janet Matthys and Event Coordinator Katy Finn kept me in the loop throughout the day with many photographs of the attendees that filled the park. Again, the weather could have not been more cooperative and everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves on that Saturday afternoon and evening. Thanks again go out to Ms. Katy Finn and the Special Events Group who work very hard to bring such quality entertainment to our back door.

As most of you can imagine, I hate to miss any of the Special Events the Special Events Group puts together. I know the hard work that is put into every event in order to make sure it is a positive outing for all. I believe it is very important for all the elected officials attend these events. Unfortunately, I do understand that officials have lives and commitments outside their roles as elected official that make attendance difficult. Such was my absence from the Music Fest. Back in March, my father in law John Masterson turned 90. From someone that is hovering near 62, it seems like a far way off and a milestone that should be celebrated. The Masterson Clan decided to treat dear old Dad to something that was really special for him. The Cub vs San Francisco Baseball Game at Wrigley Field. Some, even a diehard New York Yankee Fan, are probably saying “what’s the big deal”. The big deal was this. John attended his first Cub Game in 1931. He tried out for the Cubs in 1941. He was hired as an Andy Frain Usher in 1943 and was working as an usher in 1945 when the Cubs were in the World Series. In fact, he turned down a $100 payout from a guy who wanted him to sneak him in. (I’m not so sure I would have passed up the C-Note back in 1945). He took his son Mike the “VERMINATOR” to his 1st game in 1967, his girls Mary Beth, Maureen, and Laura in 1968. In 1997, he took Mike’s son Sean to his first game. And NOW in 2015 he is still waiting for the Cubs to WIN the WORLD SERIES in his lifetime. As John, and I’m sure other diehard CUB Fans have been saying, HURRY-UP, I’m 90 and I don’t know how much longer I’ll be around! Hopefully, for many, many, more years!

MARIANO’S “STUFF THE SQUAD” EVENT Mariano’s is hosting a “Stuff the Squad” event to benefit the Westchester Food Pantry! Mariano’s prepacks $5 and $10 valued food bags that customers can purchase for donation. Once purchased, these bags are set aside for pickup by the Westchester Police Department to “stuff” their squad cars and take over to the Westchester Food Pantry on Saturday, September 19th. You can purchase the prepackaged donations from September 5th through September 19th at Mariano’s located at 31st and Wolf. Thank you for helping those less fortunate. The Westchester Food Pantry is very grateful for your donations!

ALLEY CLEAN UP IS PROCEEDING PW crews have been focusing a great amount of attention on the alley ways on the N/E section of the Village. The

condition of the alleys have been a bone of contention ever since I can remember. I can recall vividly the board discussions back in the mid to late 1980’s about getting them paved and constructing storm sewers to convey storm water to our separate storm water system. If it was not for the grant we received from then Representative James Durkin, now House Minority Leader Durkin, and then State Senator Thomas Walsh and the financial participation of the residents adjoining either side of the alleys, they would all probably still be gravel with the same issues we are facing today.

rain event that seem to be happening with increased frequency. Street closures will occur as construction continues westward from Sunnyside to Mayfair Avenue as the project continues. In speaking with Mr. Lamplota, I am told he is regularly informing area residents as well as answering questions that arise. Please make sure he is informed about any special needs that could impact the health and safety of you or your family as a result of accessibility, etc. His email is glamplota@v3co.com. Please include our Public Works Director Robert Lewis as well with concerns at rlewis@westchester-il.org.

I have asked Village Trustee Carl Celestino and Angelo Calcagno to meet and formulate some type of plan to see if we can come up with a road map to make these improvements. As you are well aware, MONEY is the primary hang-up. We were awarded a $384K Green Alley Grant that has been suspended for now and probably until the state budget is approved. Construction costs have sky rocketed over the past 10-20 years, so $384K will provide limited funding considering the amount of money it would take to address all of the alleys. Our infrastructure bond money from our General Obligation Bonds, Series 2015 will be exhausted after 2016. Although we have done 25+ streets over the past 7 years, our 49 miles of streets appear to be an endless challenge let alone the 54 miles of sanitary sewers, 51 miles of storm drains, 65 miles of water mains and 2100 catch basins.

WHAT IS A 100 YEAR FLOOD EVENT?

PW crews have been removing brush and grading the alleys as best we can. If you have suggestions to contribute please email Carl and Angelo on their village emails at ccelestino@ westchester-il.org and acalcagno@ westchester-il.org.

CARLISLE STORM SEWER UPDATE Through the month of August, Berger Construction has been installing the additional “overflow” pipe along the north parkway of Carlisle from Mayfair to Sunnyside. During our first week of construction homes along Sunnyside from Wakefield to Carlisle were issued a boil order as the relocation of the North/South water line was done. A boil order was issued as the water pipe was altered to accommodate the large pipe that I am sure you have all seen along the north parkway. Berger Construction and George Lampoda, resident engineer from our engineering firm V3 Companies, have been working methodically and carefully to make this project go as smooth as possible. Make no mistake, I believe this project to be huge but essential to minimize and hopefully prevent as much pain and suffering associated with a 100 year

A common misunderstanding exists that a 100-year flood is likely to occur only once in a 100-year period. In fact, there is approximately a 63.4% chance of one or more 100-year floods occurring in any 100-year period. A one-hundred-year flood is a flood event that has a 1% probability of occurring in any given year. The 100year flood is also referred to as the 1% flood, since its annual exceedance probability is 1%. The 100-year flood is generally expressed as a flow rate. Based on the expected 100-year flood flow rate in a given creek, river or surface water system, the flood water level can be mapped as an area of inundation. The resulting floodplain map is referred to as the 100-year floodplain, which may figure very importantly in building permits, environmental regulations, and flood insurance. Estimates of the 100-year flood flow rate and other streamflow statistics for any stream in the United States are available.(source Wikipedia)

CONGRESSMAN DANNY DAVIS HOSTS TOWN HALL MEETING On Tuesday August 18th at 7pm, Congressman Danny Davis hosted a Town Hall Meeting at the Westchester Village Hall. The Congressman invited all his constituents to discuss the following issues: Affordable Care Act, Jobs, Education, Immigration Issues, International Issues, Flooding and any other issues of concern. Congressman Davis is one of 3 U.S. Congressmen that represent Westchester. Congressman Davis invited Ms. Mariyana Spyropoulos, the President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, and Mr. David St. Pierre, the Executive Director of MWRD, to answer any flood related questions which the Congressman knows is the most pressing topic for Westchester. Director St. Pierre informed us that the Addison Creek Reservoir Project that we all have been patiently waiting for is alive and well. Although the original site

See PRESIDENT, page 5

September 2015

PRESIDENT Continued from page 4 of the reservoir has changed from Lake Street east of Mannheim Road to an alternate site at Washington Blvd and 25th Avenue in the Village of Bellwood. MWRD has made an offer to purchase land to construct a 600 foot acre storm water reservoir at that location. The first question I’m sure you are asking is “what the heck is an acre foot”? An acre foot is the amount of water needed to cover an acre, one foot deep in water. The second question is what is this in terms of gallons? One acre foot = 325,851 gallons. Multiply that by 600 acre feet and we have a reservoir that holds 195.5 million gallons. Bellwood Mayor Frank Pasquale has been intimately involved in putting the property owners and MWRD together to get this project off the ground. The project is identified as ADCR-6B. When the reservoir is completed with the additional channel improvements, 1679 structures will be protected. The project will benefit Northlake, Melrose Park, Stone Park, Westchester, Broadview, and Bellwood. The tentative time-table is to award the contract in 2017 with a tentative complete contract in 2019. Channel Improvements timetable to award the contract is 2019 with a tentative complete contract in 2023. Poster boards produced by MWRD were displayed for all to view. Copies of the poster boards are available on Village website under MWRD. The engineering firm of Christopher Burke has been awarded the contract. Christopher B. Burke Engineering, as you may well know, is the engineering firm for the Village of Westchester. Mr. Burke is well aware of the issues affecting Westchester and the other communities and has been present at several of our and other communities flood meetings. The firm and its principals are experts in storm water management. I have all the faith in the world in their ability to manage this project. I asked Director St. Pierre, when the project is complete, is there a possibility that the property owners who are now in the flood plain and pay mandatory flood insurance could be given a LOMA (Letter of Map Revision) and removed from the flood plain and not pay flood insurance. He indicated that is one of the goals of the project. The price tag for this project is projected to be $150 million dollars. Congressman Davis has been instrumental in securing federal dollars to fund these and other projects in the 7th Congressional District. Director St. Pierre told us a story that last year when he and his senior staff went

to Washington D.C. to lobby for $28 million dollars for funding, through Congressman Davis’ help they walked away with $40 million. Also present at our Town Hall Meeting was our 1st District Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin. Commissioner Boykin, who has been attending many of the flood related meetings held in Westchester and other communities, indicated that Cook County would also be assisting in the financial commitment to fund projects in his district in which the Addison Creek Project is located. Although the timetable of getting it done yesterday is not going to happen, I am extremely pleased that the project is actually on the map and going to be done. It has gone from a concept to a reality. Director St. Pierre did mention that the Village of Westchester’s Mayfair Reservoir Expansion Project was the 1st project approved after the State Legislature allowed MWRD to fund municipal projects and just not regional ones in Cook County. Presently, MWRD has 72 Storm Water Projects in various phases throughout Cook County. I asked Congressman Davis if Congress was prepared to authorize a JOBS BILL as it is my belief that with all of the crumbling infrastructure needs throughout the country and the need for people to be employed, a jobs bill would possibly prevent some of the social issues the country is facing. He agreed with me but indicated that different factions within Congress are not letting that happen. How unfortunate for us.

PADDINGTON APPEARS On Thursday, August 20th, the Special Events Group hosted the rescheduled movie in the park PADDINGTON. The movie was shown at dusk at the Westchester Community Park located at Bond and Westchester Blvd. After a deadly earthquake destroys his home in the Peruvian rainforest, a young bear makes his way to England in search of a new home. The bear, dubbed “Paddington” for the London train station he arrives at, begins a new adventure that I’m sure all enjoyed. Ms. Katy Finn, our special event coordinator, was able to lure our special guest from London, England with a great big jar of Marmalade and her infectious smile……

REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 Each and every day since I received my wrist bracelet with my cousin’s, FDNY Firefighter Thomas A. Casoria, name on it back in 2002 I am reminded of the September 11th Tragedy. I’m sure there are those who would tell me to “get over it and move on”, but quite frankly I don’t want to, and neither should

you. I guess driving to NYC Ground Zero and volunteering as a rescue/ recovery first responder on September 22, 2001 and several times thereafter gives me a different perspective than others living here in Westchester some 802 miles away. Seeing the devastation 11 days after that fateful day up close and personal will be forever etched in my mind. Watching the cranes drop tons of steel and debris into the trucks that spanned from an area equivalent approximately to Roosevelt Rd to Cermak here, working 24/7, was like no other construction demolition project anyone has ever seen. Watching rescue workers erecting our American Flag at locations where bodies were located in the debris, and the day or night time stoppage of all work as a Firefighter/ Police Officer’s body was removed in a body bag riding on the back of a small golf cart with the revolving red light on top. Along with the ceremonial lining of both sides of the metal ramp leading down to the bottom, and the hand salute and cadence of the sound of the firefighters boots along the metal ramp in an eerie synchronization as they carried their fallen, now recovered, comrade to a waiting ambulance parked at the top of the ramp. Attending every anniversary for the past 13, now 14 years, as a reader of names on two occasions and attending the May 15, 2014 opening of the 9/11 Memorial Museum gives me pause that I will NEVER FORGET those 3000 innocent souls who left this earth not by choice but by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and by doing their sworn duty to protect and serve the rest of us that were lucky enough not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. A 9/11 Ceremony will be held at the Westchester Memorial Fountain at 8am on Friday, September 11th in remembrance of those innocent souls and dedicated first responders whose memory we honor. All are invited to attend.

WESTCHESTER PATRIOT’S DAY RUN/ BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATION On Sunday, September 13th the Westchester Park District, in cooperation with the Village of Westchester, is hosting two events in one day. At 9am at MAYFAIR PARK, a 5k Red, White, and Blue Color Run will be held. At 9:05 am a 1 mile Health Walk will step off and will be followed by an 11am Kids Color Run. Mayfair Park is located at 10835 Wakefield. What is a Color Run?? The Color Run, also known as the Happiest 5K on the Planet, was founded by Utah native and event producer Travis Snyder in March 2011, in an effort to encourage professionals and novices to run together for fun and to promote healthiness and happiness. The Color Run is a five-kilometer, un-timed race in which thousands of

participants, or “Color Runners”, are doused from head to toe in different colors at each mile. With only two rules, the idea is easy to follow: Wear white at the starting line Finish plastered in color! To register for the event, contact the Westchester Park District at 708865-8200 or register on-line at www. signmeup.com/109680. The 5K Registration fee is $30; The Health Walk is $30; and the Kids Run is $10. Proceeds from this race will go towards raising funds to support the WOUNDED HERO FOUNDATION. This event will take the place of the Veteran’s Run that was normally run in early November. After the morning run/walk events, the Park District will be hosting its annual Back to School Event from 12pm – 3pm at Mayfair Park. Planned is free entertainment, activities, giveaways, face painting, Bouncy Houses, raffles and much, much, more. The Reptile Man will be making an appearance and there will be a magic show. This event is an interactive hands-on fun event for the whole family. So stick around after the Color Run and enjoy a great day at the park with your friends and family.

BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY School is back in session for both the Public School District 92.5, Divine Infant, Divine Providence, St. Joseph, Immanuel Lutheran, and several day care facilities. Making sure our children are safe and secure is everyone’s responsibility. Police Chief John Carpino has mentioned on many occasions that kids and seniors safety is a priority. Each and every day children are being either dropped off at school by bus or being taken to school by parents. Our crossing guards and school officials have worked out what they feel is the safest way to enter and exit school safely. Drop off points have been well established over the years and need to be followed to avoid any incident or injury to the children, guards, and staff. At the Westchester Primary School (Kennedy School) the drop off point at Fleet and Kensington has new signage prohibiting entry at certain times to avoid the close calls that had occurred last year and in the past. Although the pattern may be different and may cause some additional time management, the goal is the same; to Have Our Kids Arrive Safely to School.

See PRESIDENT, page 12

September 2015

Chamber 9

September 2015

Commerce

Calendar September 2015

Calendar 11

September 2015

PRESIDENT Continued from page 5 Last year Chief Carpino instituted police riding on school buses to catch cars passing school buses. This will continue this year. If you are convicted of passing a stopped school bus that has the lights and stop arm functioning ,the penalty you face is an automatic SUSPENSION of your driving privileges. That’s right, case law has established that driving is a privilege and not a right. Traveling through school zones at a SPEED in excess of 20 MPH, on school days from 7am-4pm when children are present and talking or texting on your phone are also violations that our officers will be writing citations for. Signs have been in place for years regarding where school zones are located. Since January 2014 Illinois law prohibits the use of cell phones while driving with the exception of using hands-free or Blue Tooth technology. Drivers under age 19, however, are prohibited from any cell phone usage, including hands free devices. As a parent and grandparent myself, I know there are many things that occur inside the car where distractions can occur in a blink of an eye. Please make safety your primary objective. Buckle-up, use age appropriate fitting car seats, have a great safe year. School resource Officer Rob Verber has placed “SCHOOLS”OPEN” signs near several intersections around our schools as a reminder to be careful.

SCHOOL TIPS FOR PARENTS I found some tips I found online that I thought I would share; please take a few minutes to read them as you may find them helpful. They are from www. scholastic.com/parents/resources. 6 Rules for School Safety Back-to-school does not have to mean back-to-worrying. Though safety inside school is ultimately the responsibility of the principal and school staff, parents can take a few basic steps to ensure a safe school experience. These are recommended by the National Association of Elementary School Principals: Learn the school’s emergency procedures. Emergency plans and phone numbers are usually included in school handbooks and posted in classrooms. Taking a few extra minutes to familiarize yourself and your child with emergency information can give him the confidence he needs to act quickly in emergency situations. Know travel routes to and from the school. Make sure you and your child

know both primary and alternate routes. In an emergency, roads can be blocked and it’s important to have a backup plan. Know and follow school security and safety measures. These might include signing in when visiting the school, being escorted when walking through the building, or wearing a visitor pass. Following these procedures also sets a great example for your kids. Talk with your child about safety. Be specific. Talk about instinct and paying attention to funny feelings of fear. Explain what to do if she doesn’t feel safe (find a teacher, call 911, etc.). Make sure she knows how to contact you or a trusted neighbor who is likely to be at home. Inform school staff about health and emotionalconcerns. Whetheryourchild has a food allergy, a physical disability, or has been subject to bullying, make sure to keep your child’s teachers and principal in the loop. Get involved. Talk with the principal about what you can do to increase school safety, such as organizing parents to form a neighborhood watch before and after school. Sometimes parent groups are highly successful in making improvements in traffic safety during drop off and pick up times.

KNOW THE RULES: For Going To and From School More Safely: Every day millions of children take to the streets and roadways to get to and from school. They walk, ride their bicycles, take buses, and arrive in vehicles with one purpose — getting to and from school safely. Every year approximately 440,000 public school buses travel more than 4 billion miles and daily transport 24 million children to and from school and school-related activities.1 For many children this experience is a new one, and they may not understand the safety rules. Young children do not have the same frame of reference for safety as adults do. They may not “look before they leap,” which is why it is so important for families to supervise young children and practice safety skills with their older children. The tips noted below will help prepare your children for a safer journey. 1. Instruct your child to always TAKE A FRIEND when walking or riding his or her bike to and from school. It’s safer and more fun to be with your friends. Walk and ride in well-lit areas, and never take shortcuts. When walking and biking stay aware of your surroundings and observe all traffic rules in place to more safely share the roads and sidewalks with others. 2. Even though there is safety in numbers, it is still not safe for young children to walk to and from school especially if they must take isolated

routes before or during daylight. Always provide supervision for your young children to help ensure their safe arrival to and from school. 3. Your child should stay with a group while waiting at the bus stop. If anyone bothers your child while going to or from school, you should teach him or her to get away from that person, and TELL you or another trusted adult. If an adult approaches your child for help or directions, remember grownups needing help should not ask children for help; they should ask other adults. 4. You should visit the bus stop with your children and learn the bus number. This will avoid confusion for your children about knowing which bus to ride. 5. Instruct your children if anyone they don’t know or a person who confuses, scares, or makes them feel uncomfortable offers a ride, say NO. Children should never hitchhike. Also children should never accept a ride from anyone unless you have told them it is OK to do so in each instance. 6. Tell your children that if anyone follows them on foot to get away from him or her as quickly as possible. If anyone follows them in a vehicle they should turn around, go in the other direction, and try to quickly get to a spot where a trusted adult may help them. Advise them to be sure to TELL you or another trusted adult what happened. 7. Teach your children if anyone tries to take them somewhere they should quickly get away and yell, “This person is trying to take me away” or “This person is not my father/mother/ guardian.” If anyone tries to grab them, teach them to make a scene and every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting. 8. Children should be taught to never leave school with anyone they don’t know. They should always CHECK FIRST with you or another trusted adult. If anyone tells them there is an emergency and they want your child to go with them, your children should always CHECK FIRST before doing anything. Make sure your children understand to TELL a trusted adult if they notice anyone they don’t know hanging around the school. 9. Walk the route to and from school with your children pointing out landmarks and safe places to go if they’re being followed or need help. Make a map with your children showing acceptable routes to school, using main roads, and avoiding shortcuts and isolated areas. The map will be a good guide if your children ever need help finding their way. 10. Remember to practice these safety rules with your children to make certain they really know and understand them. Make the walk to and from school a “teachable moment” and chance to

put their skills to the test. For more information about school safety or other child-safety topics, visit NCMEC’s web site at ww.missingkids. com or call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800843-5678). For additional information about specific modes of transportation to and from school visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

LIBRARY TRUSTEE SWEARING IN Sandra Trojak-Laszkiewicz was sworn in as a Trustee of the Westchester Public Library Board on August 10, 2015. Congratulations, Sandra! LOOKING FOR A JOB At a recent meeting of Mayors hosted by the Proviso Municipal League, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Joseph Costigan, the Executive Director of CFL Workers Assistance Committee, and his Program Manager Ms. Eileen Vesey. Mr. Costigan presented information to our working group regarding FREE resources that are available for job seekers. CFL Workers Assistance Committee connects job seekers to employers throughout Chicagoland. CFL offers programs to give job seekers the tools and training they need to be successful. Employers tap into CFL’s pool of skilled and screened workers who have the work experience to contribute to a company’s growth. They help match companies with funding to ensure their workers have competitive skills. As active partners in workforce development, CFL identifies issues, develops solutions and share best practices from what they learn from job seekers and employers. They advocate for strengthening worker training and for creating long lasting relationships with employers. The following are descriptions of available programs provided by CFL: Dislocated Worker Program If you’ve been laid off and want to reenter the workforce, we can help. We can connect you to training, develop a job search plan and guide you throughout the process. Our experienced career planners will assess your skills and work one-on-one with you to create a realistic, personal action plan based on your short- and long-term career goals. Through our Dislocated Worker Program, we will work with you to update your resume, provide tips for interviews and support you in your search, every step of the way. We know that looking for employment takes energy, preparation and confidence. You will be assigned to one

See PRESIDENT, page 22

September 2015

St. Joseph 15

September 2015

St. Joseph

September 2015

School District

September 2015

School District 21

September 2015

PRESIDENT Continued from page 12 of our staff who will support and guide you, giving you the encouragement and insights you need to succeed. Download the below guide to get your job search started. Funded by the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA), our Dislocated Worker Program provides: Career counseling Basic Skills courses in reading, math and computers Job readiness workshops: resume writing, interviewing skills, job search strategies, and career planning Bridge programs into the health care (See the Health Care Career Bridge Program description below.) and manufacturing industries Access to skills training and educational opportunities Access to supportive services, such as public transit passes, child care and mental health services Transitional job opportunities and internships Job search assistance, job leads and direct placement To be eligible for the Dislocated Worker Program, you must be residents of Chicago or west or south suburban Cook County or previously employed by a business in that area and laid off within the past two years. To attend CFL’s weekly orientation, call 708.344.3539 (west or south suburban Cook County) or 312.565.9431 (Chicago). All the services indicated above are available right here in Westchester. The Westchester Office is located at 9930 Derby Lane Westchester, Illinois 60154 TX 708-344-3539 or email veseye@ cflwac.org or costiganj@cflwac.org. For more information visit CFL’s website at www.cflwac.org.

PROVISO IDOL IS BACK Proviso Township is hosting open auditions for those interested in competing for the title of PROVISO IDOL. There are 4 age divisions for competition. Division 1: 8-10 years old; Division 2: 11-13 years old; Division 3: 14-17 years old and Division 4: 18-21 years old. Cash Prizes for each Division are: 1st place $700, 2nd Place $400 and 3rd Place $150. For more information and a list of rules please contact Regina Rivers at Proviso Youth Services at 708449-4307 or rrivers@provisotownship. com. Audition/ Dates and Times: Sat September 19th, 2015: First Round - Open Auditions held at Bulger Park Community Center, from 9:00 a.m.

1601 Hirsch St. Melrose Park, IL 60160. Sat., October 17th, 2015: Second Round - Semi-Finals held at Proviso West High School – Little Theatre 4701 Harrison St. Hillside, IL 60162 9:00 am – 2:00 p.m. A total of 40 contestants will compete for advancement to the final round. Sat., November 7th, 2015: Third Round - Finals held at Proviso West High School – Little Theatre 4701 Harrison St. Hillside, IL 60162 12:00 noon – 3:00 p.m.

FREE RAIN BARREL PROGRAM As reported in our August Newsletter, the MWRD is offering a FREE Rain Barrel Program for the residents of Westchester. Since being a part of the program, PW Secretary Gayle Golz has emailed close to 200 requests for up to 4 rain barrels for each private residence. Westchester is not the only municipality who joined in the MWRD program and MWRD is working tirelessly to deliver the 15K Rain Barrels all over the Cook County region. Deliveries started the week of August 17th for our initial order. We have been informed by MWRD that a 4-6 week delivery time has been the time frame for delivery. Please be patient as they are working as hard as they can to deliver the barrels as quickly as possible. For more information, please contact Ms. Gayle Golz at ggolz@westchester-il. org or 708-345-0041. There is a sample rain barrel in the lobby of Village Hall if you would like to see the product and its size.

WESTCHESTER STREET PROGRAM TO BEGIN K-Five Construction was the successful bidder for the 2015 Street Improvement Program. Westchester will be spending $1,420,073.25 to reconstruct and or grind/overlay 5 streets this year. The streets to be reconstructed are Gladstone from Gladstone Park to Mannheim Rd, and Devonshire from Mannheim to Cromwell. Grind and asphalt overlay work will be done on Hawthorne and Sunnyside from Windsor drive to Cermak Rd, and on Norfolk from Canterbury to Dickens. Residents residing along the affected streets will be notified by the contractor. Construction began on August 26, 2015 and is scheduled to be completed in November.

PUBLIC WORKS Although this is summertime, our public works crews have had to deal with eight (8) water main breaks this past month. One day in early August there were three breaks in one day. The breaks that the crews have been

repairing have been major blow-outs of our ductile iron pipes, many of which were installed some 50 years ago. Crews have been continuing the vacuuming and jetting of storm sewers along Roosevelt and Cermak Roads. We are finding a great deal of debris and are removing it to allow the greatest possible flow of storm water to the Addison or Salt Creeks. We are stepping up the maintenance to prevent as much flood related damage as possible. The Village Manager and I have scheduled a meeting with IDOT officials to address the lack of maintenance on state right of ways throughout our Village.

COMED NEWS I recently received some information from our ComEd Representative regarding rebates that are available. Rebates on appliances, heating and cooling equipment, thermostats, and weatherization (insulation) is available. Saving money, especially now a days, is always a good thing. With the cooler weather coming soon, now is probably a great time to check out how you can save. ComEd’s energy audit is FREE. The web site contains several pages of Frequently Asked Questions that can answer a host of questions about their money saving program. For more information and eligibility requirements please visit www.comed. com/home-savings/rebates or call 1-855-433-2700. I recently heard a news report of a SCAM involving calls from a person posing as a representative from Com Ed calling about a delinquent account. The caller asks you to purchase a gift card in that amount and return a call to what appears to be a legitimate ComEd telephone number. The caller requests the card number and security code on the back of the card. THIS IS A SCAM. ComEd will not make such calls and ask for this type of information. If you get a call like this JUST HANG UP, and report the incident to the police.

HOME FLOOD PROOFING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM For those residents looking for financial assistance in flood prevention, the Village of Westchester has offered a financial assistance program for the past 2 years to assist with installing an overhead sewer system, a lift station with an inside or outside underground vault ,or a backflow prevention valve and bypass pump on the house lateral, also in an underground vault. The maximum amount of reimbursement was $1500 per residence. In reviewing our program, the Village Board opted to add glass

September 2015

block windows and what is referred to as a “Clean Check” check valve to the program. We also increased the amount per household depending on what work is being done to a maximum of $2K. Applications are available at the Village Hall and on our web site. $30K has been allocated for the program this year on a first come first served basis. Community Development Director Melissa Headley is administering the program. Specific questions and details can be answered by Ms. Headley at mheadley@westchester-il.org or by calling 708-345-0199.

ELECTRONIC RECYCLING The Next Electronic recycling event will be held on Saturday September 12, 2015. The event will take place at the Westchester Water Tower at the west end of the village limits. Entry to the event is through the paved driveway directly in front of the Westchester Water Tower displaying our village crest just before entering the Prescott Square Subdivision. In conjunction with our last electronic recycling event of the season scheduled to be held on Saturday, October 10, 2015, we will be hosting a Paper Shredding Event as well. If you would like to get rid of electronics as well as old documents you are cordially invited to attend this event. The gate will be opened at 8:30 am and close promptly at 11:30 am. Please do not arrive before or after the start and end time, as you will have to wait until we are set up or told to come back on another date. Leaving items at the site is considered Illegal Dumping and the site is under 24 hour video surveillance. Citations will be issued. As always, if you would like to donate non perishable items for our food pantry please feel free. There are many families in Westchester who receive items from the food pantry. Thank you in advance. The event is supported by volunteers. If you would like to help out please contact Ms. Jessica Spencer at 708-3450020 or jspencer@westchester-il.org.

AARP DRIVER SAFETY COURSE On Wednesday September 16, and Thursday September 17, 2015, AARP is hosting a two day Driver Safety Course intended to help drivers live more independently as they age and remain safe of today’s roads. Since the program’s inception in 1979, more than 14 million participants have completed the course. More than 6,000 AARP-trained volunteers conduct our classroom course each year. The AARP Smart Driver Course covers defensive driving techniques and the normal changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time associated

See PRESIDENT, page 23

September 2015

PRESIDENT Continued from page 22 with aging. The course also provides practical techniques for adjusting to these changes to ensure the driver’s own safety and that of others on the road. During the course, participants learn about current rules of the road and how to operate their vehicles more safely in today’s increasingly challenging driving environment. Topics include: Maintaining proper following distances Minimizing dangerous blind spots Limiting driver distractions such as eating, drinking, conversation Properly using modern car features Maintaining physical flexibility Monitoring the driving skills and capabilities of yourself and others The cost to participants is $15 if you are an AARP member and $20 for Non-Members of AARP. Classes will be held in the Village Hall Community Room from 9am to 1pm both days. If interested please contact Ms. Jessica Spencer, Management Assistant at 708-345-0020.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS WELCH HOSTS SHRED EVENT For those of you who cannot wait for our October 10th Shred Day event, please join our State Representative Chris Welch for a Community Shred Day. Chris is hosting his event at the village of River Forest Community Center parking lot on Saturday, September 12th. The event will be held from 1-4 pm. Bring documents that contain personal information to be safely shredded, such as old bank statements, outdated medical records, old tax returns, pay stubs, old bills, receipts, and credit card applications. Remember to remove all paper clips, staples and other bindings. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Rep. Welch’s Constituent Service Office at 708-450-1000 or repwelch@ emanuelchriswelch.com.

SAVE THE PRAIRIE SOCIETY CELEBRATES 40 YEARS You are cordially invited to attend the PRAIRIE HERITAGE CELEBRATION on Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 10 am -2pm. The event will be held at the historic prairie house located at 11225 Constitution Drive Westchester. Activities include prairie tours, genealogy display, face painting, quilt display, raffle baskets and brats and hot dogs. For further information email info@theprairiesociety. org of 708-562-3280 or www. franzosenbuschheritageproject.org.

COOKCOUNTY FOREST PRESERVE OPENS DOG PARK Over the past few years I have been asked about the possibility of having a dog park in the Village. Unfortunately, the Village does not own any vacant tracts of land that can be used for a dog park. Similar requests have been made in surrounding communities with similar obstacles. I am pleased to announce that on Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 10am-2pm that the Forest Preserve of Cook County will be opening a 3rd dog park not to far from Westchester. The dog park will be located at 2175 S. 1st Avenue in Forest Park, formally known as Miller Meadow. Miller Meadow is located at Roosevelt Road and 1st Avenue across from Loyola Hospital. The dog park is the 3rd such facility the Forest Preserve District operated, with one in Tinley Park, and the other in Des Plaines, IL. All of the locations are off-leash areas. Registration and vaccination applications are required with an annual fee. Miller Meadow OffLeash Dog Area (OLDA)will be under construction until September 18, 2015. This is a new OLDA that is going to be added into the FPDCC portfolio that has amenities such as seven (7) acre fenced in area along with a large outdoor shelter to provide shade to patrons. Starting August 12, 2015, you will be able to apply online, in-person, by mail or fax to obtain your 2015-2016 OLDA membership. Individual dog owners will receive a membership card (with lanyard) and a key in order to grant access to the three (3) OLDA’s. OLDA memberships may be purchased on-line through the website www.fpdcc.com. New members must first set up an account before making a purchase. Completed applications which includes a submitted completed veterinarian form will be processed and mailed to your home address within 10-14 business days .

WESTCHESTER CIVIC THEATER SAVE THE DATE Please save the date and plan to attend the Westchester Civic Theater production of “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up” which will be held October 31 - November 15, 2015 at the St. Joseph H.S Sirus Theater located at 10900 Cermak Rd. As with all of the WCT Productions, this funny and touching musical will certainly bring back memories about the funniest aspects of growing up in a Catholic school; nuns, rulers, and the like.

WCMC SUPPORTS COMCAST PROGRAM Westchester and a majority of the western Cook County municipalities

belong to the West Central Municipal Conference (WCMC). Comcast is an avid supporter of our conference and has a program that I would like to share with the family of school aged children. The program is called Internet Essentials. Internet access at home through Internet Essentials helps families succeed at work, in school, and in life- and gives them the ability to do things online that many of us take for granted, such as apply for a job, research a health condition, pay a bill. Or do homework. To be eligible for the program, at least one child in the household must be receiving free-or reduced-price lunches via the National School Lunch Program (NSLP); be in a location which Comcast offers Internet service; and the family may not have subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the last 90 days and can’t have an overdue Comcast Bill or unreturned equipment. Program Details. Fast home Internet for just $9.95 a month + tax No activation fees and no equipment rental fees Optional computer available at initial enrollment for just $149.99 + tax Access to free Internet training – online, in print and in person Internet Essentials is available in all areas where Comcast offers Internet service. For additional information about Internet Essentials, including program eligibility criteria, please visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-765-6995.

poor condition and you would like to replace it, the Village will split the cost with you 50/50. You can call Gayle at the Public Works Department at 708-3450041 or email ggolz@westchester-il.org to register for the program and put in your request. A contract outlining the number of squares requested and the cost to you will be sent to you before the work begins. At that time you can sign the contract and send in your payment.

WESTCHESTER 50/50 PARKWAY TREE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM

STELLA’S IS OPEN IN WESTCHESTER

The Village is happy to announce the continuation of our 50/50 cost sharing program for residential parkway tree replacement. The program was developed to assist the homeowners of Westchester with the expense of replacing their parkway tree(s) when the tree(s) has been removed due to damage, insect infestation, disease or death. Funds available for the program vary annually with budget approval, are on a first come first served basis and will be approved based on funds remaining for the program. If you are interested is the Parkway Tree Replacement Program, please contact Gayle at Public Works to sign up for the program. Several species may be available for our fall planting season. Email ggoltz@westchester-il.org or call 708-345-0041 for information.

WESTCHESTER 50/50 SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT PROGRAM The Village offers a shared cost sidewalk replacement program. If the sidewalk in front of your residence is in

CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES In conversations with our Code Inspector from B & F Construction Codes (our contract code enforcement company), B&F has been sending out a number of violation notices and citations regarding violations of our property maintenance code. Broken dilapidated fences, garages with rotted wood, broken gutters, excessive peeling paint, and a host of other violations are being cited. Please make property maintenance a priority. This office is continually receiving complaints regarding garbage / recycling/landscape waste cans and bags being put out days before you actual pick-up dates, and not being removed even days later. Do not be surprised if you receive a citation from B&F for these and other ordinance violations. The Waste Management Pick-up Schedule is available on the Village’s website at www.westchesteril.org.

Stella’s Place had a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, August 26th. Stella’s Place is located at 10348 W. Roosevelt Rd. Stella’s Place is an upscale video gaming cafe that also serves beer, wine and light fare.

SKIN CANCER ON THE RISE Throughout the summer I have seen and talked to a number of persons who have had a bandage on their face covering some type of skin abnormality that was removed. I have had several of these skin abnormalities removed myself last year. While reading the insert from the Des Plaines Valley News Community Health Section it tweaked my interest enough causing me to do some more research that I thought was worth talking about. I checked out the Center For Disease Control (CDC) web site for the Surgeon Generals “Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer” study that was mentioned in the news article and copied the findings that I would like to share.

See PRESIDENT, page 29

September 2015

Library 25

September 2015

Library 21

September 2015

News 27

September 2015

and

Notes

September 2015

PRESIDENT Continued from page 23 Indoor Tanning Is Not Safe Using a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp to get tan is called indoor tanning. Indoor tanning can cause skin cancers including melanoma (the deadliest type of skin cancer), basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation also can cause cataracts and cancers of the eye (ocular melanoma). Dangers of Indoor Tanning Indoor tanning exposes users to two types of UV rays, UVA and UVB, which damage the skin and can lead to cancer. Indoor tanning is particularly dangerous for younger users; people who begin indoor tanning during adolescence or early adulthood have a higher risk of getting melanoma. This may be due to greater use of indoor tanning among those who begin tanning at earlier ages. Every time you tan you increase your risk of getting skin cancer, including melanoma. Indoor tanning also— Causes premature skin aging, like wrinkles and age spots. Changes your skin texture. Increases the risk of potentially blinding eye diseases, if eye protection is not used. Facts About Indoor Tanning Tanning indoors is not safer than tanning in the sun. Indoor tanning and tanning outside are both dangerous. Although indoor tanning devices operate on a timer, the exposure to UV rays can vary based on the age and type of light bulbs. Indoor tanning is designed to give you high levels of UV radiation in a short time. You can get a burn from tanning indoors, and even a tan indicates damage to your skin. A base tan is not a safe tan. A tan is the body’s response to injury from UV rays. A base tan does little to protect you from future damage to your skin caused by UV exposure. In fact, people who indoor tan are more likely to report getting sunburned. The best way to protect your skin from the sun is by using these tips for skin cancer prevention. Indoor tanning is not a safe way to get vitamin D. Although it is important to get enough vitamin D, the safest way to do so is through what you eat. Tanning harms your skin, and the amount of UV exposure you need to get enough vitamin D is hard to measure because it is different for every person and also varies with the weather, latitude, altitude, and more.

Statistics Studies have shown consistently that indoor tanning increases a person’s risk of getting skin cancer, including melanoma. There is a host of important information and statistics on this topic that can be found on the CDC website www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin and on the web site www.skincancer.org.

FROM THE BOARD At the July 28th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Consent Agenda: Approval of the Record of Bills ending 07-23-2015 in the amount not to exceed $1,018,470.68 Approval of Minutes of the July 14, 2015 Village Board Meeting, minutes of the July 14, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting and Minutes of the July 14, 2015 Executive Session Meeting An Ordinance to Accept a Grant of Easement and Approve the Plat of Easement for the Property Commonly Known as 1137 Mannheim Road, Westchester, Illinois An Ordinance Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement Between the Village of Westchester and HD Supply Waterworks, Ltd. for the Supply and Installation of a Sensus FlexNet Vehicle Drive-By Meter Reading System in the Amount of $1,230,000.00 An Ordinance Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement Between the Village of Westchester and Esposito Plumbing, Inc. for Plumbing Replacement at the Village Hall in the Amount of $36,200.00 An Ordinance Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement Between the Village of Westchester and R&J Heating and Cooling for the Purchase and Installation of Rooftop HVAC Units in the Amount of $20,5800.00 A Resolution of the Governing Body of the Village of Westchester Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of a Master Equipment Lease-Purchase Agreement with PNC Equipment Finance, LLC, as Lessor, and Separate Lease Scheduled Thereto for the Acquisition, Purchase, Financing and Leasing of Certain Equipment within the Terms Herein Provided; Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of Other Documents Required in Connection Therewith; and Authorizing All Other Actions Necessary to the Consummation of the Transactions Contemplated by this Resolution A Resolution Approving an Amendment to the Village of Westchester Home Flood-Proofing Assistance Program A Resolution Amending Section 2-4, entitled “Employment Status” of Article 2, entitled “Employment Practices” and Section 5-4, entitled “Vacations” of Article 5, entitled “Employee Benefits”

of the Village of Westchester Personnel Policy Manual At the July 28th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Active Agenda: A Resolution Advising and Consenting to Appointments of Certain Officers Motion to receive and file the “Comprehensive Fire/EMS Service Appraisal for the Village of Westchester, IL and theWestchester Fire Department, conducted by McGrath Consulting Group, Inc., June 2015” At the July 28th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following items discussed under New Business: License Agreement with STPS Disposition of Surplus Equipment – Fire Hoses Public Works Staffing 2015 Street Improvement Program Bid Results AARP Age-Friendly Cities Program Surplus Property 2015 Utility Rate Study At the July 28th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following items discussed under Old Business: Emergency Repairs – Concrete Street Poles At the July 28th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following item was discussed under Information Only: USPS Parking Lot Improvements At the August 11th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Consent Agenda: Approval of the Record of Bills ending 08-06-2015 in the amount not to exceed $859,545.36 Approval of Minutes of the July 14, 2015 Village Board Meeting; Minutes of the July 14, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting; Minutes of the July 14, 2015 Executive Session Meeting; Minutes of the July 28, 2015 Village Board Meeting; Minutes of the July 28, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting; and Minutes of the July 28, 2015 Executive Session Meeting; Approval of Departmental Monthly Reports: Community Development Department; Fire Department; Police Department; and Public Works Department An Ordinance Authorizing the Sale or Disposal of Surplus Property Owned by the Village of Westchester An Ordinance Accepting a Proposal from Lyons & Pinner Electric Companies for the Removal and Replacement of Three Concrete Street Light Poles in an Amount not to Exceed $15,100.00 A Ordinance Authorizing the

Execution of a Contract between the Village of Westchester and Municipal & Financial Services Group for the Performance of a Water and Sewer Rate Study in an Amount not to Exceed $37,510.00 A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with K-Five Construction Corporation for Services Related to the 2015 Street Improvement Project in the Amount of $1,420,073.25 A Resolution to Support Initiatives and Opportunities to Engage in World Health Organization Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Network A Resolution Advising and Consent to Appointments of Certain Officers At the August 11th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Active Agenda: A Resolution Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act At the August 11th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following items discussed under New Business: Real Estate Inspections Inland Bank Money Market Account At the August 25th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Consent Agenda: Approval of the Record of Bills ending 08-20-2015 in the amount not to exceed $741,584.05 Approval of Minutes of the July 7, 2015 Executive Session; Minutes of the August 11, 2015 Village Board Meeting; and Minutes of the August 11, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting An Ordinance Waiving the Requirements of the Village of Westchester Purchasing Policies and Procedures Manual and Authorizing the Purchase of a Sensus AccuMag Water Meter and Accessories from HD Supply Waterworks, Ltd. for an Amount of $13,865.00 A Resolution Authorizing the Closure of the Inland Bank Money Market Account Maintained by the Village of Westchester At the August 25th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Active Agenda: An Ordinance Approving Change Order No. 1 to a Contract Between the Village of Westchester and Berger Excavating Contractors, Inc. for Services Related to the Mayfair Reservoir Expansion Phase II Project in the Amount of $87,837.00 A Resolution Approving an Amendment to the Village of Westchester Home Flood-Proofing Assistance Program

September 2015

Westchester 31

September 2015

Pictures

Westchester 32

September 2015

Pictures: Farewell

Summer