Village of Westchester March 2015 Newsletter

Village of

POLICE DEPARTMENT

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 f looding that we can relate to all too well.

WESTCHESTER’S SNOW EVENT

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

From the Desk of The President

FIRE DEPARTMENT

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CALENDAR

PROPERTY TAX NEWS

PARK DISTRICT

SCHOOL DISTRICT 92.5

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See PRESIDENT, page 5

New Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin (fi rst district) hosted a meeting on fl ood 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 North-lake.

WestchesterMARCH 2015 Newsletter

Westchester in Pictures2 MARCH 2015

Police DePartmentMARCH 2015 3

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.

Police blotter

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

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: [email protected]. Phone:

(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. CarpinoChief 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: [email protected].

Fire safety in the home

Fire DePartment4 APRIL 2014

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travel for as long as we have been in existence.

We received 20 inches of snow; the 5th largest snowfall in Chicago history.

The Village received over 60 complaints about snow being placed on driveway aprons, sidewalks not being shoveled and alley issues as a result of the plowing, in addition to a perceived lackluster enforcement of the snow bans by the police.

Residents in some cases requested we reduce the number of times the plows go down the block, request we lift the plow blades at driveways and questioned our procedure to do curb to curb clearing. We also were asked to plow snow to the middle of the street to keep it off driveway aprons.

ANSWERS AND COMMENTS

The plows cannot lift their blades while passing the driveways. They might as well just drive through the snow on the streets without plowing anything.

The plows cannot drive down the opposite way or tilt their blades to the center of the street. How are we to get the pile of snow out of the middle? Our 2 big yellow bulldozers and backhoes would be taking many of the same PW employees plowing off their routes to sit and wait for the trucks to be loaded and not plowing with the same trucks not to mention the time it would take to remove the huge pile of snow from the middle of the roadway and finding a place to pile it up.

Clearing snow from curb to curb, is called “edging”, and allows cars to park close as possible to the curb without sticking out into the street. Leaving a foot or so off the curb on both sides would reduce the roadway down from 16 feet to less than 14. That snow would freeze and be like concrete to remove at a later time.

Based on what I have seen in other communities, I personally like the curb to curb clearance. The 20 inches of snow is not something we are accustomed too.

Weather patterns over the past few years have created hardships for everyone; seniors and non-seniors 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.

My wife Maureen and I went

outside 7 times beginning at 7am Sunday morning to clear our property as well as help several neighbors dig out in the spirit of helping. This is what I thought Westchester was all about.

No one likes to shovel snow multiple times, however, we are living in a state and area where the amount of snow has been on the rise. Remember the Blizzard of 2011, Blizzard of 1979, and the Snowfall of 1967.

Again, look at the City of Boston and the east coast today that could be us and just by the grace of GOD he decided to spare us at least for now.

It is true that there are some communities that do shovel sidewalks. People refer to the Town of Cicero who cleans their sidewalks in residential areas for their senior residents. I would love to do that as well, but there is not enough revenue in our village coffers/budget to do so. The Town of Cicero, based on their population of over 25K, is a Home-Rule Community, and by virtue of that status their village board has the authority to raise property taxes and other fees that Non-Home Rule Communities like Westchester cannot due without going to referendum. In a recent conversation with a family who lives in Cicero, I asked how the town funds snow shoveling and grass cutting for their senior residents. I asked what their property taxes were. I was told over 6K for a Cicero bungalow with no driveway and alley with lot size about 35-40 feet wide. I do not believe the residents of Westchester, nor do I or any board member want any further increase in our property taxes. Taxes increase enough even though property values have gone down over the past several years.

In a snow fall such as we had, the plows were barely able to keep up. By the time they plowed an area, it was time to hit it again.

I realize that there are many senior citizens, and those with

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.

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.

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 RE-STRICTIONS

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 snow fall on the side streets or snow routes is unacceptable. Putting a ticket on the car does

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.

Westchester is our community. We all live here. I am of the opinion

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that we should be helping each other in times of emergencies to the best of our ability.

I was discouraged to receive an email from a resident saying they were not going to help a neighbor with their sidewalk, and furthermore was not going to do his because they did not do theirs. Fortunately, I have heard from many people that they went the extra mile and helped others who needed the help in this emergency snow event. I know on my block all of the neighbors helped each other Without Question, Without Payment, and Without Fanfare. A BIG THANK YOU to all who helped out. I really appreciate it.

WCMC LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

On February 7th, I, along with Trustees Angelo Calcagno, Thomas Yurkovich, Nick Steker, and Village Manager Janet Matthys attended the West Central Municipal Conference (WCMC) Annual Legislative Breakfast.

The purpose of the annual breakfast is to have our WCMC Legislative Committee present major issues that will be presented in Springfield at this Spring’s Legislative session. WCMC consists of 51 participating communities.

Those legislative guests in attendance were. U.S. Congressmen Danny Davis, Michael Quigley and Dan Lipinski. Illinois State Senators Steven Landek, John Mulroe, Don Harmon and Assistant Majority Leader Kim Lightford were present. State Representatives in attendance were Minority Leader Jim Durkin, Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Mike McAuliffe, Mike Zalewski, Camille Lilly, Robert Martwick, Silvana Tabares and Kathy Willis. Commissioners Richard Boykin, Jeff Tobolski, and Peter Silvestri represented Cook County.

The WCMC, of which I am on the Executive Committee, serves an important advocacy role by representing municipal interests at the county, state and federal levels of government. The Legislative Committee is led by Mayor Chris Getty from the Village of Lyons.The following Statement of Legislative Principles has been adopted for 2015. Emphasis is placed on those issues which:

Impacts the association of communities in west suburban Cook and Eastern Du Page Counties.

Impose unfunded mandates upon municipalities and townships.

Restrict Local Control.Enhance transportation and

infrastructure needs.Place municipal revenues at

risk.Limit municipal tort immunity,

and Expand the powers of home rule

authority.

Illinois citizens receive many essential services from local governments. Many of the services are funded from revenues that are collected through the State of Illinois. The local portion of state collection income tax (LGDF) is essential to basic municipal services and needs in each of the WCMC Communities. The State must refrain from freezing, diverting, delaying, or reducing Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) revenue. It is imperative that these funds are not used to address the current financial condition of the state.

The WCMC :Supports the prompt

disbursement and protection of LGDF to municipalities.

Opposes any Diversions of revenue that is collected by the state on behalf of local governments.

Supports the restoration of a FULL 10% share of state income tax collections;

Supports legislation that creates the Water Rate Protection Act sponsored by State Representative Emanuel “Chris” Welch and State Senator and Mayor of Bridgeview Stephen Landek;

Supports legislation that would increase Non-Home Rule Sales Tax Limit;

Supports the restoration of previously –diverted Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax and Local Government Tax Fund revenues;

Supports full f lexibility for municipal officials to spend municipal revenues to benefit communities. This includes broader discretion for expanding Motor Fuel Tax revenues;

Supports the repeal of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL);

Opposes modifications to PTELL that result in further restrictions on local taxing authority;

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 RE-FORMS

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.

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Our existing transportation infrastructure must be complemented by a strong bike and pedestrian plan which allows for access to transit as well as inter connectivity amongst our member municipalities and the greater Chicago Region. WCMC will actively seek funding opportunities to make these plans a reality. WCMC adopted a region wide bike plan which identifies current and future routes to provide bicyclists and pedestrians a safe way to travel our region. The plan will also identify an implementation strategy to assist communities in executing this plan and securing funding.

AMEND THE PUBLIC SAFETY EM-PLOYEES BENEFITS ACT ( PSEBA)

PSEBA was enacted in 1997 and provides that municipal public safety employees who have been killed or sustain a “catastrophic injury” in the line of duty receive health insurance benefits for life from the municipality. These benefits include the employee’s family. WCMC supports legislation that would address the Act as follows:

Define catastrophic injury in a manner consistent with the federal Public Safety Officer’s Benefits Act of 1976. Federal law considers injuries “catastrophic” when they are defined as “ consequences of a injury that permanently prevents an individual from performing any gainful work.

Require the employee to give notice of new employment to the municipality.

Require the employee to give notice if insurance benefits are available at subsequent employment.

Require employees to give notice if insurance benefits are available through a spouse’s employment.

When coverage from the subsequent employer or spouse is comparable ( or greater) to the municipal coverage, require the employee to accept this coverage if no unreasonable hardship is faced, and

When coverage from the subsequent employer or spouse is less favorable than the municipal coverage, seek to require the

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.

FEDERAL ISSUES

Illinois municipalities lose millions of dollars every year in sales tax revenue uncollected from online purchases. Although online sales taxes are legally required to be paid, the process is confusing, difficult to enforce and in many cases simply ignored. WCMC supports the implementation of a Federal Streamlined Sales Tax Rules that will preserve intra-state sourcing rules and require the state to treat the resulting funds a pass through revenue to local governments.

As you can see from reading the excerpts above the WCMC and all of the members have requested a robust number of legislative initiatives both Federal and Statewide.

NEW COOK COUNTY COMMIS-SIONER RICHARD BOYKIN HOSTS FLOOD MEETING

For those of you who live north of Canterbury Street to the I290 in Westchester, you have a new Cook County Commissioner named Richard Boykin. Commissioner Boykin represents the 1st Cook County District since the County redistricting occurred a year ago. Before Commissioner Boykin was elected, he and I met regarding the most pressing issue facing our residents. I informed him that our experience with f looding and the associated devastation associated with it has to be the most pressing issue for our residents. Due to the f looding that occurred between April 16th and May 5th in 2013 our region was declared a Federal Disaster Area. As a result of the declaration, the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has allocated 2 grants to Cook County for disaster recovery in housing, community and economic development. A third grant was formally announced in January 2015 and will become available later this year. Following Commissioner Boykin’s election, he asked me to host and organize a meeting of all the Proviso Township Mayors to discuss how

the Cook County funding could be used to remediate f looding 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.

The Village of Westchester will be submitting projects to Cook County for consideration of funding approval. The meeting, which was held in Westchester on February 13th, was attended by 32 participants including many members from Cook County Government, surrounding mayors and managers as well as Cook County Commissioners Richard Boykin, Jeff Tobolski and Liz Gorman, all who represent the Village of Westchester, and Commissioner Peter Silvestri who has always been a friend of Westchester on the Cook County Board. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) President Mariyana Spyropoulos and MWRD Engineer Holly Sauter were in attendance to address questions. Commissioner Boykin requested that MWRD make available whatever projects that are in the works or planned in our area be submitted to his office for review.

Being the host, I was able to portray all of the poster size photographs we had taken in our f lood event of 2010. One by one I explained to Commissioner Boykin what Westchester faced not only in 2010 but also in the 2013 f lood event. Pictures are worth a thousand words.

WATER RATE PROTECTION ACT

State Senator and Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek along with State Representative Emanuel Chris Welch have co-sponsored House Bill HB1556 – WATER RATE PROTECTION ACT

SYNOPSIS OF BILL:Creates the Water Rate

Protection Act. Creates the Water Rate Protection Board to exercise specified powers and duties, including holding hearings and regulating water rates that a municipal water provider with a population over 500,000 may impose upon units of local government that purchase water

from the municipal water provider for delivery to consumers. Contains provisions regarding: appointment of board members and election of board officers; employment of hearing examiners and staff by the board; mailings; prohibited acts; conflicts of interest; records; water rates and rate schedules; judicial review; costs; expenses; construction; liability; and other matters. Limits home rule powers. The bill will be under discussion this legislative session and hopefully will become law to regulate future water rates passed on to us by the City of Chicago. WCMC members including Forest Park Mayor Anthony Calderone and Melrose Park Mayor Ronald Serpico, were appointed by Executive Director Richard Pellegrino to represent the WCMC in addressing this pressing issue.

GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER PART 1

On Sunday February 8th, Trustee Nick Steker and I attended a meet and greet with Governor Rauner as the invited guests of State Senator Chris Nybo and Lombard Mayor Keith Giagnorio. The meet and greet was held at the Westin Hotel in Lombard. Governor Rauner and Lt. Governor Sanguinetti, along with Senator Nybo, Representative Peter Breen, and Congressman Peter Roskam, addressed the crowd of approximately 100 interested persons from the Lombard Chamber of Commerce and Business group.

Governor Rauner expressed extreme concern about the State of Illinois finances stating that they were worse than he thought during his run for office. Governor Rauner expressed a desire to work with all members of the legislature regardless of party affiliation. He told us that as he visited various state departments, the employees were shocked to see the Governor stop by, as many of his predecessors had not done so. The Governor was very candid about allowing individual areas of the state to decide whether to be “right to work zones.” He did not offer any specifics, however, if you read below and have been reading the newspapers and watching television, it will be put in perspective without delving into his proposed changes in pension, transportation, Medicaid, and human services cuts.



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GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER BUDGET ADDRESS PART 2

For the past several weeks since Governor Rauner’s February 18th Budget Address, municipal officials across the state and region are scratching their heads wondering “What’s Going To Happen IF LGDF Gets Cut.” LGDF is the acronym for the Local Government Distributive Fund. The fund was set up many years ago. Local municipalities receive an allocable share of state income and use taxes based on population. Governor Rauner, in his Budget Address, has proposed a 50% decrease in the distribution of LGDF revenues to local municipalities. What that means is Westchester, if our computations are correct, stands to lose approximately $850K in the allocation of state income and use tax revenue. OUCH!! The number is staggering.

The local share has been an important revenue stream for municipalities since the income tax was first instituted in Illinois in 1969. Local communities have counted on it for 45 years to help fund key public services like police, fire, water and sewer treatment, infrastructure repair and construction and snow removal. A 50 percent sweep of these funds will reduce the revenues for these needed local services by nearly $50 per resident.

Finance Director Maureen Potempa and Village Manager Janet Matthys, who both have a stellar background in municipal finance are sweating and scratching their heads wondering how we will be able to fund basic services while trying to continue to make the improvements this administration has embarked upon for the past 6 years.

INCOME TAXWhat is Illinois Income Tax? Illinois Income Tax is a tax that

is imposed on the privilege of earning or receiving income in or as a resident of the state of Illinois. This tax applies to income for each taxable year.

Who is liable for Illinois income tax?

This tax is imposed on everyindividual,

trust,estate, andcorporation.What are the rates?The rate as of January 1, 2015

for individuals, trusts, and estates is 3.75 percent of net income. The current rate for corporations is 5.25 percent of net income.

What share does local government receive?

Beginning February 1, 2011, local governments receive 6 percent of the net collections of all income tax received from individuals, trusts, and estates, and 6.86 percent of the net collections of all income tax received from corporations. (Prior to February 2011, local governments received one-tenth of the net collections of all income tax received.)

Net collections are the total collections minus deposits that are made into the refund fund.

The amount that each municipality or county receives is based on its population in proportion to the total state population. The population figures are determined based on the latest census conducted by the United States Bureau of the Census and certified by the Office of the Secretary of State.

Approximately the third week of each month, the Illinois Department of Revenue certifies to the state comptroller the amounts to be allocated based on net collections from the prior month. This money is distributed through the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF).

VEHICLE STICKERS ON SALE NOW

Vehicle stickers go on sale beginning Monday, March 2nd at Village Hall. Stickers must be purchased and displayed by May 1st. The fee for a vehicle sticker on a passenger car is $35. The fee doubles on May 1, 2015. Fees vary for motorcycles and trucks. Please see the Municipal Code 11.56.030 for a full list of applicable fees. If your car was registered in the prior year, you will receive an application for renewal by mail. Please bring this application with you when you stop in to purchase your 2015 vehicle sticker. Vehicle stickers may also be purchased by mail or on-line. Any person who fails to obtain a vehicle license from the village, or who fails to keep his/her vehicle license plainly visible at all times, or who operates a duly licensed motor vehicle upon the streets or alleys

of the village without a village vehicle license attached to such vehicle as required herein shall be in violation of the Municipal Code, and shall be issued a compliance warning citation in the amount of seventy-five dollars.

VILLAGE STAFF TO HOST ANNUAL SENIOR BREAKFAST

Village staff will host the annual Senior Breakfast on Friday, March 13th from 8:30 to 11:00am. The breakfast will be held at St. Joseph High School in the Globe Resource Center. Join us for a light breakfast and listen to all of the Village Department Heads discuss the services provided to our residents and let you know what projects we have in the works! Hope to see you there!

CALLING ALL VETERANS

RECORD YOUR DD 214 DIS-CHARGE 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 DIS-COUNT PROGRAM

Also available is a Military and Veterans Discount Card at www.CookRecorder.com/MilitaryDiscount

TX 1-312-603-5788.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MILITARY AND VET-ERANS DISCOUNT PROGRAM

What is the Cook County Military and Veterans Discount Program? The MVDP is authorized by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, and jointly administered by the Cook County Recorder of Deeds and the County Department of Veterans Affairs. The purpose is to create a network of businesses across Cook County who offer military and veterans discounts, and provide a County-issued ID card to identify eligible residents to those vendors. This public-private partnership is a small way to honor those who have served, by helping them keep more of their hard-earned money.

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 f liers 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 92.520 MARCH 2015

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.

State Assessments Westchester School District 92½

will administer the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) Assessment between March 9th and March 27, 2015, replacing the ISAT Test. Students in grades third through eighth will be tested in English, Language Arts, and Mathematics.

PARCC is a computer-based assessment that was designed to determine student college and career readiness. It assesses the Common Core State Standards. Its goal is to measure the full range of student performance and provide timely data throughout the academic year to teachers to help guide instruction, interventions and professional development.

There are five components of the PARCC assessment system. Districts are required to administer the Performance-Based Assessment for ELA (English Language Arts) and Mathematics and the EOY (End-of-Year) Assessment for ELA and Mathematics. The EOY Assessment will be administered during May 2015 to all students in grades third through eighth.

For more information parents are

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 this registration and fee payment will be announced at a later date.

If further information is needed, please call the School Office at 708-562-1509.

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

On Thursday January 29th, Westchester Primary School held its inaugural “Dads and Kids” Pizza Night. At the event, all fathers and father figures listened to a presentation about the Watch DOGS® (Dads Of Great Students) Program. Watch DOGS® is an innovative program being used by schools across America which helps them to be positively impacted by the committed involvement of fathers and father-figures in their children’s lives. The program’s goal is to have fathers and father-figures spend at least one day per year at the school to be a positive male role model and to provide an extra set of eyes and ears. Dads, granddads, uncles, step-dads and adult brothers all attended this fun event.

Congratulations to our talented young 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. Any WMS 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

School District News and Notes

MARCH 2015 21

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 sign-up 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

1-312-603-4000

As Village President and property owner after hearing the accounts of what the true owners of property had to go through to get their house back, I encourage you to sign up like I did when the program was first initiated by Mrs. Yarbrough last year.

HOW TO CHECK YOUR DEED

We can all check our deeds from home. Find Your Property Index Number (PIN). It is a unique 14 digit number assigned to your property. It can be found on your tax bill, at the County Assessor’s website www.CookCountyAssessor.com, or at www.cookcountypropertyinfo.com/Pages/pin-search.aspx

Once there , locate the “SEARCH OUR RECORDS” page. The search portal will default to a PIN based search. To proceed, enter your PIN number.

The online search shows all recordings against your property, in reverse chronological order, since 1985. Summaries of these documents, and their images, can be viewed for FREE. Additional, the documents may be purchased to be printed at your home or office for a small fee. BE WARY OF DEEDS RECORDED AFTER YOURS, OR LIENS YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

DOCUMENT RESELLER WARNINGBEWARE of companies offering

you a copy of your home’s deed for large fees, sometimes $100 or $200. The Recorder’s office offers the same documents for about $10 bucks. You can obtain a copy of your home’s deed online at www.CookRecorder.com (non-certified, $2.50 per document, plus credit card processing fee) or in person at any of the recorder’s 6 locations ($10.00 for the first 2 pages, non-certified; $20.00 for the first 2 pages certified. The fee for each additional page is $2.00. At this time, certified copies and records dated prior to 1985 are only available at the Downtown Chicago location of 118 N. Clark Street Room 120 Chicago, IL. 60602 hours 8Am to 5Pm M-F

TX #1-312-603-5050.

SHOPPING LOCALLY: KEEPING PROPERTY TAX LOW

Recently I attended a WCMC board meeting where Dan Patlak, Commissioner from the

Cook County Board of Review, spoke about the impact of how shopping locally can help with holding down our property tax bills. Dan, who has presented information from the Board of Appeals to Westchester residents, has authored a document that I would like to share. His article said “Every community has their own collection of small businesses, many of them family owned and operated. We consider them as fixtures in our neighborhoods and it is painful to see them struggle in this tough economy. They face relentless competition from big box stores and on-line shopping. Shoppers are always looking for bargains and local merchants find it difficult to fight a pricing war. Loyalty to community and friendly service seem to be the most important characteristics of the successful local business, however, you have another important reason to shop locally: SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS WILL KEEP YOR PROPERTY TAXES DOWN.

It’s easy to understand that sales taxes collected locally will help your local governments, but property tax help is more complicated. Residential property owners and businesses share the property tax burden. The higher the assessed value, the more you pay in property taxes. Commercial property owners have a higher level of assessment than residential and will pay two and a half times as much for the same market value of property. This variation in assessment is a Cook County phenomenon and puts tremendous pressure on Cook County businesses that are close to a bordering county. That is why the effort of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to bring down the sales tax rate is so important.

Commercial property is valued according to the income they produce, so when struggling businesses in Cook County close, they reduce the property value and the amount of taxes paid for that property. The assessed value of a commercial property is determined by the rent that is collected by the property owner.

When a store front is vacant,

the rent revenue stream is diminished. Since taxing bodies are not lowering their levies, all the property owners that are left pay the lost revenue.

For example: if a five store

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

MARCH 2015 23

NEW WAYFINDING SIGNS IN-STALLED

As you travel along the main thoroughfares of the Village, you have probably seen several Westchester wayfinding signs pointing out several different areas of the Village. The signs were the brain child of the Village’s Economic Development Committee consisting of Pastor Joseph Mills (Chair), Ms. Lori Jo Fergle (Vice Chair), Darlene Barber (Secretary), Bruce Horek (Chamber Liaison), Kandice Jacobs, Allison Muzal, Trustee Frank Perry (Village Board Liaison), and Melissa Headley (Community Development Director). The signs point the way to the 4 Districts the EDC has established. The Districts represented are the Municipal District, Fountain District, Prairie District and High Ridge District. The EDC needs to be complimented as their final design and obtaining IDOT approval for placement on their right of ways took a great amount of time.

COOK COUNTY FOREST PRE-SERVE 100 YEARS LATER

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle wrote the following article marking an important milestone for those of us in Westchester that use the Forest Preserves that touch our borders.

“February is here and with it comes the snow I hope many of you have been waiting for. Though we in Cook County often endure some tough winters, we are so lucky to be able to escape into the Forest Preserves to peacefully enjoy the season’s beauty or be adventuresome by trying out ice fishing or sledding at one of our many hills. We also offer cross-country skiing at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in Lemont.

If you have never been cross-country skiing, we’ve developed a fun video for you available at http://fpdcc.com/cross-country-skiing-lessons-sagawau/. The short video is shot from a beginner’s perspective and gives you an idea of a typical experience on the trails at Sagawau Nordic.

This month also marks an

important moment for the Forest Preserves. On February 11, 1915, the first board meeting 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 day.

In the lobby of the 5th f loor of the Cook County Building, just before entering the board room chambers, members of the public and invited guests will see historical photo displays and live animals that live at our nature centers. Large photographic posters will be displayed with photos representing all seasons of nature in the Forest Preserves.”

“The Village of Westchester is lucky to have immediate access to the Brezina Woods, Bemis Woods, Westchester Woods, Possum Hollow Forest Preserves as well as the 9 Hole Meadowlark Golf Course right in our backyard. For More detailed forest preserve information contact www.Fpdcc.com.”

DUELING PIANOS A BLAST!For those of you who attended

the Dueling Pianos event at Divine Infant on February 7th, I think you would all agree that it was a wonderful ly entertaining event for $15 bucks. This “Bring Your Own” food and beverage event, the brain child of D.I. Men’s Club member Neil Boyle was a blast. Both pianists were excellent and played everything and anything requested and then some. Hopefully this will become an annual event, especially for those who could not attend.

NIU ANNOUNCES FORWARD, TOGETHER FORWARD SCHOLAR-SHIP WINNERS

Samantha Garbacz, daughter of Village Accountant Argelia Garbacz is one of five scholars recognized at a March 1st Northern Illinois University scholarship event.

The five recipients of the Forward, Together Forward Scholars will receive a $4,000 non-renewable scholarship for the coming academic year.

The 2015 scholarship recipients are:

· Courtney Crutchfield of Manchester, Mo., a sophomore majoring in nursing

· Samantha Garbacz of Westchester, a senior majoring in nursing

· Elizabeth Garcia of DeKalb, a junior majoring in community leadership and civic engagement

· Tara Lenardi of Lisle, a 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 AMERICAMark 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 AN-THEM 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

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 f leet 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 f lag was still f loating 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 Star-Spangled 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 f locks 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 f lower) 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 f lowers 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 MIDSTOn 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.

FROM THE BOARD

At the January 27th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Consent Agenda:

Approval of the Record of Bills ending 01-22-2015 in the amount not to exceed $1,607,644.01 (pg 2)

Approval of Minutes the January 13, 2015 Village Board Meeting and minutes of the January 13, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting

Ordinance Amending Chapter 5.36, entitled “Liquor Sale,” of Title 5, entitled “Business Licenses and Regulations,” of the Westchester Municipal Code

Ordinance Amending Portions of Chapter 11.12, entitled “Rules for Driving,” and Chapter 11.60, entitled “Do Not Enter Streets,” of Title 11, entitled “Vehicles and Traffic,” of the Westchester Municipal Code

Ordinance Amending Section 8.04.200, entitled “Restrictions,” of Chapter 8.04, entitled “Garbage and Waste,” of Title 8, entitled “Health and Sanitation,” of the Westchester Municipal Code

Resolution Amending the Newsletter Advertising Policy for the Village of Westchester in order to Prohibit Political Advertisements and to add a Disclaimer Regarding Advertising

Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD. For Construction Observation Engineering Services Related to the 2015 Street Improvement Project

Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of a Proposal from Rubino Engineering, INC. for Geotechnical Services Related to the 2015 Street Improvement Project

At the January 27th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following items discussed under New Business:

IDOT Funding Request - Gladstone Bridge

Residential Handicapped Parking Program

Educational Seminar Series for Businesses

Electronic Recycling for April-October 2015

At the February 10th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Consent Agenda:

Approval of the Record of Bills ending 02-05-2015 in the amount not to exceed $871,556.54

Approval of Minutes of the January 27, 2015 Village Board Meeting and Minutes of the January 27, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting

Approval of Departmental Monthly Reports: Community Development Department, Fire Department, Police Department, and Public Works Department

A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement Between the Village of Westchester and Credential Wholesalers, INC. for the Provision of Electronic Recycling Services

An Ordinance Waiving the Requirements of the Village of Westchester Purchasing Policies and Procedures Manual and Accepting a Proposal from Meade Electric Company, INC. to Conduct an Evaluation of LED Street Lighting Components in the amount of $4,450

At the February 10th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following items discussed under New Business:

Roosevelt Road Water Main Replacement

Intergovernmental Agreement – Westchester Park District

Engineering Services Agreement with Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LLC – Municipal Drive Paving Project

Revision to Ordinance 97-1474 regarding Tree Maintenance and Care within the Village

Declaration of Surplus Equipment

At the February 10th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following items discussed under Old Business:

Adoption of the 2012 International Building Codes with Local Amendments

A Special Board Meeting was held on Tuesday, February 17th to discuss the draft budget for the Public Works Department of the Village’s General Fund, the Utility Fund, the Motor Fuel Tax Fund and the Capital Projects Fund.

Melissa Headley, Director of Community Development, spoke to 3rd graders at Westchester Intermediate School on February 10th.

She talked about what she does for Westchester and discussed important things that planners need to keep in mind when developing a new community.


MARCH 2015 27

community DeveloPment28 MARCH 2015

GooD neiGhborsMARCH 2015 29

30 MARCH 2015

Public Works

MARCH 2015 31

32 MARCH 2015