Spring sightings of adult coyotes and their pups will no doubt cause concern, if not raise fear, in residents who may feel a threat by their presence. Because they are predators and depend on small rodents for their survival, coyotes occasionally kill livestock, poultry, and domestic pets, especially when they live in large numbers or in close association with people. 

The best way to allay fear and put concerns in perspective, is to educate the public about the nature, habits and behavior of these valuable members of the wildlife community, and to alter our own habits and behavior in response.

*The following information is provided courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County: 

Coyotes prefer to be as far from humans as possible, but as with other species, a loss of habitat has left them few choices. To prevent problems in your yard, you must eliminate two main attractants: food and shelter.

• Do not encourage coyotes by feeding them. The majority of cases of bold or aggressive coyotes occur when people feed wildlife. 
• Keep pet food and water dishes inside.
• Do not allow spills to accumulate below bird feeders.
• Keep grills and barbecues clean. Even small food scraps may attract animals.
• If possible, do not keep garbage cans outside.
• Use enclosed compost bins, not exposed piles. Do not add pet waste, meat, milk or eggs.
• Keep ground clear of fruit from trees.
• Protect vegetable gardens with heavy-duty fences.
• Use welded wire to prevent animals from accessing openings under decks, elevated sheds, concrete slabs and porches.
• Use frightening devices, such as sirens, sensor lights, or motion-activated sprinkler systems or lights to discourage animals from approaching your house at night.
• Clear all bushes and dense weeds near the home, where coyotes may find cover and small animals to feed upon.
• Encourage neighbors to follow these steps to further prevent problems.

Coyotes are extremely adaptable and opportunistic, skills that enable them to survive in different habitats, including suburban neighborhoods. They travel along trails, ridges and waterways, defecating or urinating to mark their territories along the way. They are considered nocturnal, but it is normal for them to be active during the day.

Survival for coyotes is difficult, and they are known to kill foxes to remove territorial competition. Individual coyotes may view domestic dogs in the same manner, especially small dogs that tend to be aggressive toward larger canines. Male coyotes may also be drawn to domestic dogs in heat, as well as male dogs to female coyotes.

While encounters are rare, especially for larger dogs, and many are initiated by the dog and not the coyote, owners should always take a few simple precautions.

• Walk your dog on a leash and keep your dog on a leash even when in your yard. Nearly all dog attacks by coyotes have been on dogs that are off-leash in their yard.
• Never leave dogs unattended in your yard, and always keep them inside at night. Your yard is likely part of a coyote's territory.
• Keep your yard well-illuminated when outdoors at night with your pet.
• Keep cats indoors.
• Coyotes can be creatures of habit. If you encounter one at the same place and time while walking your pet, change your route or the time that you walk.
• To keep coyotes out of your yard, install 6-foot-high wire-mesh fencing extended at least 6 inches underground. Install a "roller" system at the top so animals cannot pull themselves over.

Further Resources From the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County: 

Watch the presentation by District staff on living with coyotes.

Learn about living with coyotes in DuPage County.

Watch "Being Coyote Wise: Living with Urban Coyotes". (Produced by the Colorado Division of Wildlife)

Read more about teenage coyotes here.

For more information about the District's volunteer monitoring programs, see the Natural Resource Management Volunteer Program page.

Mayor Ruben Pineda

The new construction of AutoZone that is taking place on the southwest corner of Main Street and Neltnor Blvd. has sparked residents' interest, and many have called the City to ask, "Why are we allowing another auto parts store in West Chicago?" I would like to take this opportunity to explain the City's role in the process leading up to a new business opening its doors in our community from several perspectives: the property owner entering into an agreement to sell or lease a parcel to an interested party and a new business' decision to locate within the community, including a little background about what goes into the decision of a business to locate within proximity of a similar business.

The City of West Chicago does not own the property in question and has no right to dictate the terms of the land sale. Other than making sure that correct usage per the zoning code is followed, it is the right of a property owner to decide what to do with her or his property. Because municipal Zoning Codes are very general, they do not control the kinds of stores or businesses that can locate in an area. A city's role in this new business development is limited to making sure that the business follows all local laws, which includes the building construction, parking lot paving and any other site improvements. In this way, the City provides a safe environment for local residents and visitors that shop and work in West Chicago.  

With a few exceptions, cities also do not control the total number of similar businesses in an area.  A Zoning Code provides only general rules, such as allowing retail stores to go into commercial areas like the Route 59 and Main Street area.  A retail store can sell shoes, auto parts, furniture, or other kinds of merchandise. 

It is important to understand the rationale of a business in selecting a location. When a business approaches a city with a commercial permit request, whether it involves an existing building or the construction of a new building, it is after extensive research about the location, traffic counts, ingress and egress, "rooftop count" (the number of households that would potentially support the business), and a city's reputation as a place in which to do business. These factors must justify the investment required in the effort to grow a business and make a profit. AutoZone's decision to locate in West Chicago is a free market choice, and it shows that they believe in the strength of the local economy.

Even when there is another similar establishment in proximity to the business, a business owner's research often supports the concept of "concentrated mass", which represents that there is a pool of customers for that type of business, and in fact enough to go around. More to the point, this concentrated mass works to bring more of these customers to an area where they will feel sure to have their needs met.

New stores such as AutoZone can also help other local businesses by bringing in more shoppers.  So, if someone comes to AutoZone, they might also pick up a sandwich at a nearby restaurant, buy something at the local hardware store, or make a purchase at the grocery store. Residual benefits to the community at large include the creation of jobs, more choices for the consumer based on price and service, and increased tax income.

Make sure to support local businesses; they are the backbone of the local economy!

Respectfully,

Ruben Pineda

P.S. Please join me on Monday, April 7, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall for the 2014 Annual State of the City Address. The Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring the event and providing refreshments. This is an opportunity to learn more about the past year and what is being planned for the future of our City. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. I hope to see you there!

LEAF COLLECTION

Residents may dispose of an unlimited quantity of leaves during the week of April 21 - April 25, 2014 on their regularly scheduled garbage pickup day.  No stickers are required for leaves during this week; however, no other yard waste may be mixed in with them.  All leaves must be placed in a biodegradable "Kraft" yard waste bag or a 95-gallon yard waste cart.  Leaves will not be accepted in plastic bags or cardboard boxes. 

YARD WASTE

Yard waste collection will resume April 1 - November 30, 2014.  All yard waste that is not placed in a 95-gallon yard waste cart must be placed in a biodegradable "Kraft" yard waste bag with a universal sticker attached. 

BRUSH

The City's monthly brush pickup program, which runs May through November of each year, is scheduled to begin on May 5, 2013.  Brush must be placed at the curb no earlier than two days prior to the first Monday of each month. Limbs should be no larger than eight inches in diameter (length is unimportant), and neatly stacked with all butt ends in the same direction facing the curb line.  Limbs should not be bundled. This program is not designed for pickup of whole tree removals. For more information, please visit the City's website at www.westchicago.org.

CITYWIDE COLLECTION EVENT  

The annual Citywide Collection Event will be offered to residents on their regularly scheduled garbage collection day during the period of May 5 - 9, 2014.  If you live in a single or two-family residence, you must affix a total of eight "Refuse" stickers on your pile of ACCEPTABLE items (see examples below). 

Examples of "Acceptable Items" include, but are not limited to: garage and attic clean-out debris; barbeque grills; bicycles; carpeting, if rolled into sections not exceeding four feet in length and not weighing more than 50 pounds per roll; household construction materials (e.g., lumber, drywall, plywood, doors) if bundled or placed within 33-gallon refuse containers and/or not weighing more than 50 pounds; furniture; box springs and mattresses; and household fixtures excluding electronics (as described below).

Examples of "Unacceptable Items" include, but are not limited to: hazardous waste; tires; automotive parts, fluids and batteries (e.g., oil, transmission fluid, windshield washing fluid, starters, brake shoes, etc.); household batteries; oil based paint; pesticides; propane tanks; and large household appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers).  Small household appliances (e.g., toasters, televisions, microwaves, computers, monitors, speakers, stereo equipment) are no longer acceptable items as they are now banned from Illinois landfills from all sources under penalty of law.   You may visit www.dupageco.org/recycling for more information on recycling the materials listed above. 

The City of West Chicago encourages all residents to do some spring cleaning and take advantage of this Program.  If you would like more information about this annual community improvement event, or if you have questions on acceptability of an item for pickup, please feel free to contact the event coordinator, Michelle Baldino, at (630) 293-2255.  

HYDRANT FLUSHING

Public Safety Matters

Spray and Pay Reward Program: This anti-graffiti program is designed to arrest and punish the offenders while at the same time rewarding citizens who help the police to combat it. The City's "Spray and Pay Reward Program" will give citizens up to $200 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals. To be eligible for a reward through the program, simply call the hotline at (630) 231-1711 and follow the instructions. After submitting a claim form, notification of the status of the claim will be made. Claim forms are available at the West Chicago Police Station or by contacting the Graffiti Control Program hotline at (630) 231-1711. You may also complete and submit the form on the City's website under Forms.

Code Enforcement Reminders:

• All Christmas lights must be removed from your residence no later than March 25.
• With spring fast approaching, it's time to start thinking about that peeling paint on your property. Be a good neighbor and don't wait until you get a violation notice from the City.
• April showers bring May flowers - and tall grass. Be sure to keep your grass cut to less than 8 inches.
• The City strives to be diligent in identifying code violations and may send out notices to obtain compliance. However, while deadlines may be imposed, the issuance of a citation is generally considered the last resort. If you receive a violation notice and are unable to meet the deadline for any reason (financial, illness, etc.), contact the Community Development Department (CDD) at (630) 293-2200, x141 as soon as possible. Extensions to a deadline can be granted. Resources for obtaining assistance are also available depending on the circumstances.

Gallery Theater presents Neil Simon's classic play, Barefoot in the Park, which follows newlyweds Paul and Corie Bratter as they adjust to married life in a tiny Greenwich Village apartment. Paul is a straight-arrow lawyer who's wound a little too tight, while Corie is a free spirit who eagerly pursues fun. Aside from the five-flight climb and the hole in their skylight, the Bratters must also contend with eccentric neighbor Victor Velasco, who must go through their apartment to get to his. Corie hatches a plot to get her mother together with Mr. Velasco, but the evening goes awry and even casts doubt on the viability of the Bratters' new marriage, as Corie tries to loosen Paul up. A good start to that would be running "Barefoot in the Park". The cast includes West Chicago residents Gail Cannata and Mark Fortman. For details on dates and tickets reservations, contact Gallery Theater at gallerytickets@aol.com.

The DuPage Airport Authority (DAA) has completed two key projects designed to enhance the operational capabilities of the Airport. First, after nearly 2 1/2 years of construction, the renovations to the passenger and crew facilities at the DuPage Flight Center have been completed. The renovations included upgraded passenger and crew areas, a new design for the Kitty Hawk Restaurant, and energy efficient lighting. The DuPage Flight Center operates in a very competitive environment in the Chicagoland area, and these renovations to the public areas of the building allow the facility to remain one of the best in country.

The second major project completed is the construction of a new Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Station immediately north of the Flight Center Building. The DAA partners with the West Chicago Fire Protection District through an intergovernmental agreement to provide emergency response for the Airport. This new station enhances the response capability because it is in a more centralized location and replaces a building that had become functionally obsolete. 

Both of these projects contribute to a higher level of customer service and assist in marketing the airport to its users.

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West Chicago's Changarro Cocina, a Mexican and Brazilian fusion restaurant located at 1400 South Neltnor Blvd., caught the attention of WGN-TV's Chicago's Best thanks to enthusiastic fan postings about the eatery on the show's Facebook page. The raves resulted in a shout-out on Chicago's Best Belly Warmer segment, where the restaurant's chicken tortilla soup was featured as a delicious winter warm-up on the February 2, 2014 show.

Chicago's Best host, Elliott Bambrough took the advice of the loyal followers who posted "The chicken tortilla soup at Changarro Cocina is AMAZING! and so is everything else on the menu!", and another that read, "Changarro's on Roosevelt Road in West Chicago has THE BEST Chicken Tortilla soup. While you're at it, also ask for the "Ensalada de Jicama" and a "Lomo con Pina" torta. You won't be disappointed, just full."

Bambrough visited the suburban restaurant and took viewers behind the scenes into the kitchen of Executive Chef Rigo Zamora for some light banter and a look at the ingredients and method behind the soup; followed by a sit down with restaurant owner Shawn Patel and a taste of the steamy bowl that has diners inspired.

The West Chicago restaurant has developed a strong following since opening and offers a unique approach to Latino cuisine. Changarro Cocina offers an inventive menu that includes memelitas, which are homemade corn "flat breads" paired with assorted topping ingredients like pork belly braised in roasted tomatillo salsa or Brazilian chopped beef with carrots, green beans and bacon; amazing tortas, or sandwiches, served with beans, cheese, spicy onion, avocado and mayo. The Lomo con Pina that is mentioned in one of the Facebook postings contains adobo marinated pork loin, grilled pineapple and lettuce.

While Patel admits to staying out of the kitchen, he tells Bambrough that he is quite capable behind the bar, where he mixes up such specialties as Caipirinhas, Brazil's national cocktail, in several varieties as well as fresh fruit margaritas and more.

Those who missed the broadcast featuring Changarro Cocina, may view it here:

Chicago's Best: Changarro Cocina