It was so uplifting to see the blue skies and sun on Sunday, February 2, 2020. I did not care if the groundhog saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. After 11 days of clouds and gray skies, the sunshine added a brightness to the day. In fact, the weathermen were saying this was the longest length of cloudiness in 22 years; there only were two sunny days in January. Although the winter temperatures have been the warmest in eight years, the drabness of gray became depressing.
Adding to the upbeat mood is the thought that it is only 45 more days until Spring. Of course the days are becoming longer, giving us more daylight hours. I feel more lightheaded now and, am certain, you do too. This is good as there are quite a few and varied events happening in February.
AROUND AND ABOUT
Early voting for the Tuesday, March 17, 2020, Primary Election begins Thursday, February 6, and ends Monday, March 16, at the Election Division office, 421 North County Farm Road in Wheaton. Voting at other permanent locations and temporary locations begin Monday, March 2.
St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 155 North Prince Crossing Road, hosts a Life Line Screening Thursday, February 6, 2020. The five-test package tests for risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions. The tests are Carotid Artery Plaque, Atrial Fibrillation, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Peripheral Arterial Disease. The charge for a Wellness Package with Heart Rhythm is $149. All screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. To register, call 888-653-6441 or online www.lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle.
We-Go Community Theater Production of West Chicago Park District presents “Jungle Book Kids.” Performances are at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 8, 2020, in Room 105 at the ARC, 201 West National Street. The charge is $2 in advance, $5 at the door. Deadline for advance tickets is Thursday, February 6, and may be purchased on line at we-go parks.org or in person at the ARC.
Adding some warmth and fun to the cold temperatures is the Chilly Games event at First United Methodist Church of West Chicago, 643 East Washington Street. It takes place Saturday, February 8, 2020. Games for all ages to play are from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The chili supper is at 5:00 p.m. The cost is $5 per person, $20 for a family of five or more. Proceeds go toward mission projects. (www.merleburl.com)
Blue Star Mothers host the Second Annual Battle of the Branches Chili Cook-Off Sunday, February 9, 2020, at American Legion Post 76, 570 South Gary Avenue in Carol Stream. Doors open at 1:00 p.m.; tasting from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and awards at 5:00 p.m. Representatives from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard have entered the competition. Also there are door prizes, a silent auction and bake sale. Proceeds benefit K9’s for Veterans and The Big Dipper Scholarship Foundation. K9’s for Veterans is committed to helping veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder with the help of trained service dogs. The Big Dipper Scholarship is a part of Blue Star Mothers of America and provides scholarship opportunities for Veterans and their families to pursue their educational advancement.
Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. is a non-partisan, non-political, non-sectarian organization. Members are mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers and female legal guardians who have children serving in the military, guard or reserves, or children who are veterans. Some examples of their programs include Christmas care packages to deployed troops, working with groups to provide service animals and PTSD support to returning heroes, homeless veteran programs and hospice visits.
Wayne/Winfield Area Youth/Family Services offers hour-long computer classes for senior citizens, 27W031 North Avenue. Not only do seniors learn basic skills, but also have the opportunity to socialize. The fee is $2. Reservations are required and may be made by calling (630) 231-7166. Beginner classes are at 1:00 p.m. Tuesdays. “Texting on Smart Phones” class is at 4:00 p.m. Monday, February 10, 2020.
The West Chicago Park District monthly social for senior citizens is Thursday, February, 13, 2020, at the ARC, 201 Main Street. The event is the Annual Lasagna Cook-off between park district board president Frank Lenertz, commissioner Courtney Voelz and a surprise chef. The menu is lasagna, salad, garlic bread and cannolis. The meal is sponsored by John Cahill, an Edward Jones financial advisor in West Chicago. Following lunch is a time to play Valentine-themed games. Reservations are due by Friday, February 7, 2020, and may be made in person at the ARC or on line at we-goparks.org.
The Winter Orchestra Concert of West Chicago Community High School is at 7:00 Thursday, February 13, 2020, in Weyrauch Auditorium, 326 Joliet Street. Alexandra Wojciechowski is the director.
Gallery Theater, 129 Main Street, presents “Skylight” by David Hare. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, February 14, 15, 21, and 22, and at 3:00 p.m. Sundays, February 16 and 23, 2020. The ticket price is $18, $16 for senior citizens. To make a reservation, email GalleryTickets@gmail.com. visit the website www.gallerytheaterstudio.com or call (630) 234-5919.
This is a play about one who got away, and, perhaps, a relationship gone astray. On a chilly, fall evening in London, a restaurateur, Tom Sergeant, visits an old flame, Kyra Hollis, after having lost his wife to cancer. While Tom wished Kyra would teach at a university instead of in a high school in East Ham, he hopes that he can rekindle the affair they had ended three years ago after they were discovered by his then wife. This play explores the challenges and enlightenments of bringing two polarized worlds together.
Members of the cast are Heidi Swarhout, Mike Speller and Matt Hellyer. The director is Justin Schaller. (www.merleburl.com)
Hawthorne’s Backyard Bar & Grill, 1200 West Hawthorne Lane; John & Tony’s Restaurant, 27W371 North Avenue; and Prairie Landing Golf Club, 2325 Longest Drive, are having special dinners for Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14, 2020. Check out some of the other dining places in the community for specials.
The West Chicago Community High School Dance Team hosts a Winter Dance Camp for boys and girls ages 3 to 14 Sunday, February 23, 2020, in the Dance Studio, 326 Joliet Street, Entrance C. For children ages three to eight the camp is from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and the camp for youths ages 8 to 14 is from noon to 2:00 p.m. The camp includes a performance Wednesday, February 26. The cost is $25 for those registering in advance on line, https://westchicago.8to18,com, and $30 for those registering at the event. For further information email Laura Heavey at lheavey@d94.org. (www.merleburl.com)
Floral Market, 183 West Washington Street, holds a Valentine’s Workshop to celebrate with a special someone or friend at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2020. The cost is $85 per arrangement to create a fresh air succulent terrarium; this includes supplies and plants. Also the evening includes appetizers, wine, desserts and a photo booth. To make a reservation, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/valentines-floral-workshop-tic…or call (331) 240-2954.
Healthy West Chicago offers free Cooking Matters Family Cook Classes. They take place from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, February 17, to March 9, 2020, in the Rockwell building of St. Michael’s Church, 108 Sherman Street. There are raffle prizes.The instructor is bilingual. Children age 7 and up are encouraged to participate. To make a reservation, call/text Carly Smitherman at 9530) 230-6370 or email carlys@healthywestchicago.org. (www.merleburl.com)
Wayne/Winfield Area Youth/Family Services has an Eat Out 2 Help Out fundraiser from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at Village Tavern, 291 South Schmale Road in Carol Stream. Twenty percent of one’s purchase is donated to WAYS for support of its services. Copy of the flyer is available on WAYS website, http://www.ways4change.org/fundraising_activities. Persons unable to attend the event, can purchase a gift card on the day of the event at the website of Village Tavern, https://www.villagetavernandgrill.com, and 20 percent of gift card purchase is donated to WAYS.
WAYS is a community not-for-profit Social Service Agency that provides family counseling, case management, addictions counseling, prevention programs for youths and adults, professional development and cultural diversity training for the residents and professionals of West Chicago, Winfield, Warrenville, Wayne Carol Stream, Bartlett and Hanover Park.
West Chicago Police Department hosts an informational Neighborhood Watch Patrol meeting at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at West Chicago Fire Protection District Regional Firefighter Training Academy, 320 Kress Road. This is for persons interested in doing a Neighborhood Watch group, starting one or finding out more about the program. Neighborhood Watch is about neighbors helping neighbors, extra eyes and ears for reporting crime and suspicious activity. It is a proven and effective way to reduce crime.
“Fraud and Identify Theft Education” is the one-hour program Wednesday, February 19, 2020, in the main meeting room at the West Chicago Public Library, 118 West Washington Street. The English session is at 6:30 p.m. and the Spanish session is at 7:30 p.m. Attendees learn how to identify potential scams and fraud, to protect themselves against identity theft and understanding the importance of securing personal information. The program also addresses some concerns about being the victim of identity theft. To make a reservation, call the adult services department at (630) 231-1552, extension 4.
West Chicago City Museum Historiography program, a non-fiction book reading group, is at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 20, 2020, in the museum, 132 Main Street. Guests can bring a lunch; dessert and a beverage are provided. The book to be discussed is “The Pioneers” by David McCullough. Copies of the book are available at the museum and library.
The book relates the settling of the Northwest Territory by dauntless pioneers who overcame hardship to build a community based on ideals that would become to define America. In the Northwest Ordinance there were three conditions of freedom of religion, free universal education and the prohibition of slavery.
McCullough is an American author, narrator, popular historian, and lecturer. He is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian award.
In partnership with Cantigny Park, the League of Women Voters of Wheaton hosts a Civics Awareness program Thursday, February 20, 2020, in the McCormick House at Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road in Wheaton. Parking is free; tram service is available. To register, visit, League of Women Voters
To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the League of Women Voters, cake is served at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program, “Alice Paul: Living History.” Actress and scholar Leslie Goddard gives a portrayal of Alice Paul, an American suffragist, feminist, and women’s rights activist, and one of the main leaders and strategists of the campaign for the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibits sex discrimination in the right to vote. An innovative and tireless worker, Paul arranged parades, organized the first picketing demonstrations outside the White House, lobbied politicians and endured imprisonment for women’s suffrage.After the ratification of the 19th Amendment, Paul authored the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923, which has yet to be adopted.
Goddard makes history come alive in a fun, inspiring and educational way through her presentations of lectures and performances of first-person programs. She holds a PhD specializing in American studies and United States history, as well as a master’s degree in theater and in museum studies. In addition to performing at schools, museums, libraries, businesses and conferences, she presented programs an Illinois Humanities Council sites, Questers International, WBEZ-Chicago Amplified and the Victorian Society in America.
League of Women Voters of Wheaton includes West Chicago, Warrenville, Winfield, Wheaton and Carol Stream. The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization that does not support or oppose any political party or candidate, but whose purpose is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. (www.merleburl.com)
Again the frigid temperatures are not going to deter West Chicago Police Detective Robbi Peterson from participating in the 2020 Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge Friday and Saturday, February 21 and 22. This is the third year he has committed to “be bold and cold” for 24 hours taking a plunge every hour into Lake Michigan. Peterson said, “While I’m getting cold just thinking about it, I’m excited to join this elite group of SUPER Plungers. To jump into the frigid waters, I have set a personal fundraising goal of $5,000 and I need your help to reach it! Any amount is greatly appreciated — it all goes to one “cool” cause and gets me that much closer to my icy dip. Best of all, your donation helps provide athletes with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate in Special Olympics programs and reveal their inner champion.” To help him meet this goal, persons can make donations at Special Olympics Illinois.
Donations also can be made by check made payable to Special Olympics Illinois. In order for him to receive credit for donations, put the name Robbi Peterson in the memo portion of the check. Persons can either drop off the check or mail it to West Chicago Police Department, 325 Spencer Street, West Chicago, IL 60185. (www.merleburl.com)
We Grow Dreams Greenhouse and Garden Center, a not-for-profit organization, hosts its 15th Annual Bowl-A-Thon from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, February 23, 2020, at Parkside Lanes, 34W185 Montgomery Road in Aurora. Persons bowl three games; there are prizes for various levels of achievement. Additionally, there is food, raffles and auction items. For further information, to register for the Bowl-A-Thon or make a donation, persons may drop by the greenhouse, 1055 West Washington Street, call (630) 293-0100, or visit the website http://www.bowlathon.net/event/we-grow-dreams-2020/. The green house provides job training and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The greenhouse mission is to provide people with disabilities the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives and to train and work in a supportive, safe and caring environment while producing and providing products and services to the community. In this pursuit, we honor the concepts of human dignity, respect, hard work, fellowship and friendship. For further information, call (630) 293-0100. (www.merleburl.com)
Both of the veterans organizations hold fundraisers, with some of the monies going toward community projects. Bingo games at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6791, 431 North Neltnor Boulevard, are on Wednesdays. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., games start at 7:00 p.m. The Auxiliary games are Sundays. Doors open at noon, games start at 3:00 p.m.American Legion Post 300 has a fish fry Wednesdays and Fridays, plus special meals on Thursdays.
The artwork of Gallery 200 member artist Kathi Kuchler is on display at West Chicago City Hall, 475 Main Street. The exhibit features her botanical watercolor paintings. Her work has been featured at various art shows and exhibits, which include Natures Artist Guild, DuPage Art League, Norris Cultural Arts Center, St. Charles Arts Council, Fine Line Art Center and Gallery, Batavia Public Library, Greater Geneva Studio Tour, West Chicago Public Library, Water Street Studio, and the Fermilab Employees’ Art Show. Kuchler also was the recipient of the People”s Choice Award of the 2019 Art Banner Exhibit. (www.merleburl.com)
Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Milton A. Price, who at the age 87 passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2020.
Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Guanencio Nava Reyes, who at the age of 86 passed away, Tuesday, January 28, 2020.
Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Shirley H. (Kozlow) Roseth, who at the age of 78 passed away, Monday, January 27,2020.
Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Gonzolo Pinedo, who at the age of 94 passed away Thursday, January 30, 2020.
At the Tuesday, January 28, 2020, boys basketball games, West Chicago Community High School beat Kaneland High School with a score of 55-45, and Wheaton Academy beat Addison Trail High School with a score of 59-26. At the Wednesday, January 29, 2020, basketball games, WCCHS lost to Bartlett High School with a score of 45-42.
The City’s Holiday Lights and Extension Cord Recycling program ended January 17, 2020. Collected this year were 688 pounds. The West Chicago Environmental Commission coordinates the program with Elgin Recycling, which collects these items to strip and recycle for their copper and plastic parts.
The West Chicago Police Department responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle report at 1:42 p.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2020, at Wheaton Academy. A 17-year-old female reported that at approximately 1:25 p.m. while walking on Rosewood Drive, she was approached by a male in a van. She said the male subject waved her over and told her to get in the van. She did not comply and walked away unharmed. The male subject is described as Caucasian, in his 40’s and wearing a blue baseball cap. The vehicle was described as a white cargo van with no windows. The responding officer checked area cameras and at this time was not able to locate any footage of the vehicle. Additional cameras are being reviewed. If anyone has any footage of this incident, they are asked to contact the police department at 630-293-2222.
Governor J.B. Pritzker appointed Sarah Toney, Managing Partner, Toney Law Firm, LLC, to the Governor’s Task Force on Forensic Science. She is the daughter of West Chicago residents Barb and Rand Toney. She is the only private attorney appointed to the commission, which will take a systematic and proactive approach to further reducing backlogs and support public safety and first responders, according to the press release. In the past two years, the backlog of DNA tests in Illinois has doubled and as of June there were roughly 7,000 samples waiting to be tested. According to the Illinois State Police, about 2,700 of those samples involved potential sexual assault.
After winning the state title, the West Chicago Community High School Boys Soccer team were recognized by United Soccer Coaches as a top 25 team in the country. The team is in the 18th spot.(www.merleburl.com)
Mayor Ruben Pineda and We Grow Dreams Greenhouse Executive Director Gregg Bettcher were pictured on the cover of the 16th Annual Giving DuPage Guide, a publication listing more than 200 local not-for-profit organizations..Giving DuPage is a not-for-profit organization, whose mission is to promote giving and volunteering in DuPage County. As a public-private partner of DuPage County, Giving DuPage connects residents, students, community groups and businesses with local volunteer opportunities.
Treasures of the Caribbean, 960 East Roosevelt Road, is closed.
During the month of December, members of Faith Community collected household items for World Relief, who uses them to help refugees furnish their living quarters. The donations, delivered Friday, January 31, 2020, to the Carol Stream location, filled three large carts. World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian nongovernmental organization.
The new Learning Resource Center at West Chicago Community High School opened its doors to students and classes Monday, January 27, 2020. It gives students a comfortable space where they can work as an individual, small group or class. The new shelving allows students to easily browse the book collection to find something they like or identify resources for a project. (www.merleburl.com)
My email address is merleburl@earthlink.net.
My weekly blog for this week appears on this website as the City of West Chicago is having some technical problems with its email.