Grab your Bike

Head to Blooming Fest                             

A new "spin" on an old favorite will bring added energy to West Chicago's annual downtown garden festival, Blooming Fest, on Saturday, May 17, 2014. Capitalizing on the theme of cycling which is the focus of a current City Museum exhibit, The (Bi)Cycle of Life, and the Cultural Arts Commission's annual Community Banner Art Project of the same name, organizers have added a number of new activities this year that will complement the exhibit and public art display and enhance the event experience for festival-goers. The following lists some highlights:

• A display of antique bicycles      will be available for viewing at the City Museum.
• Children are invited to bring their bicycles for decorating prior to a bike parade on Fremont Street.
• Members of the Police Department will be on hand to offer safety tips and promote the Bicycle Registration Program.
• ABD Cycling Club will provide information on racing and training criteriums and will sponsor the appearance of U.S. Paralympics cyclist and 2012 Gold Medal Winner Joe Berenyi.
• The DuPage County Forest Preserve District's Department of Law Enforcement will be represented through volunteers from its Trail Patrol Program.

Blooming Fest's 14-year history as a popular destination for garden enthusiasts remains at the center of the event, with the widely acclaimed plant sale presented by the West Chicago Garden Club on Galena Street, and guest horticultural speakers at 122 Main Street. Plus, family-friendly activities include children's games, an inflatable jump house, a car show, music, food and a community art show. For those looking to buy that one-of-a-kind item for their garden or as a gift, a craft sale will offer everything from birdhouses and ornamental garden art to hand-cut gemstone jewelry and home décor.

The one-day, outdoor event is free and open to the public between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and will take place rain or shine on Main Street in the historic downtown district of West Chicago. For further information, call (630) 293-2200 ext. 135 or visit www.westchicago.org for a complete schedule of events.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR ADULTS   May 2 .....................Gallery 200 Reception May  2 ................... Late Night at the Museum Week of May 5.......Citywide Collection Event May 10....................RR Safety @ Historic Depot May 10....................Spring Highway Cleanup May 16....................Local Music Night May 17....................Blooming Fest May 17 ...................Coffee with the Mayor @                                    Blooming Fest June 6.....................Gallery 200 Reception June 6.....................Late Night at the Museum June 7.................... Paper Shredding Event June 7.....................Touch-a-Truck June 20...................Local Music Night June 28...................Coffee with the Mayor

IMPORTANT DATES FOR KIDS   May 1................. Kentucky Derby Party May 3..................Free Comic Book Day May 10................A "Hole" Lot of Fun Mini-Golf                             Event June 7.................Suzette the Balloon Lady June 11...............Cha Cha Chicos Storytime June 14...............Woodworking with Dad June 17...............Hello Kitty Summer Fun June 18...............Area 51 Amazing Animal                             Show June 19...............Bedtime Math June 20...............Boredom Blaster Friday June 24...............Movie Makers Club June 25...............Sew a Pet June 26...............Reading to Rover June 27...............Boredom Blaster Friday   For details visit www.westchicago.lib.il.us, or call (630) 231-1552 ............................................................................   May 10..........Rock This Town June 7...........Touch-a-Truck June 15.........Dad's Day Out June 20.........Flick and Float June 27.........Teen Night   *Entire month of June is "Leave No Child Inside Month". More information is available at www.kidsoutside.info For details visit www.we-goparks.org, or call (630) 231-9474

Local businesses, not-for-profit organizations and others wishing to participate in the Mexican Independence Day parade are invited to submit an application for consideration. Visit www.westchicago.org, under Forms. Volunteers are needed. Please call Valeria Lopez at

(630) 293-2200 x 170 or vlopez@westchicago.org.

Mayor Ruben Pineda

More than 100 people gathered at City Hall on April 7, 2014 for the annual State of the City Address. For those who could not be there, the following will list some of the highlights of the past year and what is being planned for the future of West Chicago:

• A balanced budget which realizes an impressive decrease of 5.21% as compared to the 2013 Budget. No tax hikes for the City's customers, and no increase in water and sewer rates.
• For the second year in a row, the City is on the list of top 100 Safest Cities in America, a designation given by NeighborhoodScout.
• Two new Ordinances, (licensing of pawn shops and precious metals dealers and licensing of junk peddlers) have shown early success.
• Major IDOT roadway projects including the North Avenue Reconstruction and Widening Project which is near completion, the overpass at Kautz Road and Route 38 which is expected to be completed this year, and design work for the reconstruction of the Fabyan Road/Route 38/Washington Street intersection which has begun, will all benefit the City.
• Public Works crews did a commendable job of keeping up with a brutal winter by keeping roads clean and safe.
• A major retailer, Old Time Pottery, chose West Chicago as its first west suburban location last year.
• Five Brilliant Businesses were recognized and honored by the City's annual business awards program.
• Absorption rates for the City's vacant industrial spaces have been increasing at great rates, and those for vacant retail spaces are showing signs of improvement.
• A new operating structure for the West Chicago City Museum is saving the taxpayers over $50,000 a year through the hiring of a private company to handle operations, and is enjoying great programming success.
• The City has received a Constant Contact All Star Award for the second year in a row for the effectiveness of its electronic news communications for residents and businesses.
• The monthly Coffee with the Mayor program is growing in leaps and bounds, fueling citizen engagement and community-building.
• All City Commissions are active and thriving.

• Planned in partnership with the College of DuPage, two independent studies were authorized to determine the feasibility of locating the Midwest Regional Training Center, a tactical training facility for law enforcement and fire service personnel, in the Roosevelt Road corridor.
• Downtown environmental studies for the West Washington Street Redevelopment Area have been completed and the City's contractors have begun the necessary remediation, bringing the City that much closer to realizing its vision for a Municipal Campus.
• A unique partnership with United Way through WeGo Together for Kids to add an additional layer of investment and expertise that will benefit the education, income, and health for all of West Chicago.
• The development of a 10-year strategic plan for a citywide wellness program called Healthy West Chicago, funded through Cadence Health and supplemented by United Way and WeGo Together for Kids.

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 "Universal" 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.  

NEW GARBAGE RATES

WAYNE TOWNSHIP REUSE/RECYCLE EVENT & DOCUMENT SHREDDING

This event takes place on Saturday, May 31, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (document shredding begins at 10:00 a.m.) at 27W031 North Avenue. It is a rain or shine event and is free and open to the public. Items that will be collected include:

car and sump batteries, bicycles in any condition, electronics, cell phones, inkjet and laser jet cartridges, tattered American flags, and textiles for reuse or recycling (shoes, boots, clothing, gloves, hats, bags, purses, belts, sheets, blankets, drapes, towels, etc.)

Please call Cindy at (630) 231-7140  with questions or visit our website at

http://www.waynetwp-il.org/home. 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION PAPER SHREDDING EVENT

The West Chicago Environmental Commission will be sponsoring a paper shredding event on Saturday, June 7, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the West Chicago City Hall parking lot, 475 Main Street. Ensure that your personal and financial documents are destroyed in a safe, secure and environmentally responsible manner. On-site paper shredding ensures that all confidential materials are destroyed on premises by trained professionals while you watch. During this event, your documents will be shred in a matter of minutes and you don't have to worry about dust, noise or waste disposal. Local residents and businesses may bring up to 10 boxes for onsite document shredding.

LATEX PAINT RECYCLING 

Free Recycled Latex Paint will be available starting June 16, 2014.

WATERING RESTRICTIONS

Purchasing deduction meters can lower the cost of your water bill because sewer charges for outside watering will not be incurred.  These meters can be used for filling swimming pools, gardening, washing cars and other outside water usage.  The fees are as follows:  3/4" Deduct Meter = $312.64 or 1" deduct meter = $375.94 (these fees  include the inspection charge).  A homeowner would also be responsible for hiring his/her own plumber to install the meter.

POOL SAFETY

With the warmer weather, residents should be aware that there are life-safety concerns regarding the installation and use of blue inflatable-type swimming pools.  While a permit is not required for these types of pools, several code requirements do apply for pools that are more than 24 inches deep. The pool must be protected by a barrier of at least 48 inches high above surrounding grade. This barrier may consist of a fence, the walls of the residence, or, the pool walls itself provided that any access to the pool can be secured.  If a re-circulating pump is provided, there must be a grounded, GFCI-protected electrical outlet between 5 and 10 feet from the exterior wall of the pool. Extension cords are not permitted.  The edge of the pool must be at least 10 feet horizontally from overhead electrical wires.

MOSQUITO SAFETY

According to Clarke Mosquito Control, retained by the West Chicago Mosquito Abatement District (WCMAD), individuals can take the following steps to protect themselves against infection and assist in the fight against West Nile Virus (WNV):

• When mosquitoes are active, dress in light-colored, long-sleeved clothing, long pants and socks when outdoors during prime mosquito hours. Apply mosquito repellent with DEET to clothing and exposed skin in accordance with label directions.

• Neglected swimming pools can be ideal sources for larval development to the mosquito species that transmits WNV and a public health hazard. Residents should report neglected pools to the Mosquito Hotline at 1-800-942-2555. Technicians will be dispatched to inspect and treat the pool, as necessary, to eliminate the risk.

• Discard any outdoor container that might hold water, or empty water from wading pools and birdbaths once a week.  

• Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well trimmed around the house so adult mosquitoes will not hide there.  

• Do not dump grass clippings into low lying areas that collect water after rainfalls to prevent mosquito larvae development. The use of mulching lawnmowers is encouraged to eliminate grass clipping disposal.

• Report dead birds on your property to the DuPage County Health Department through its "Dead Bird ReportingTool" at http://www.dupagehealth.org/dead-bird-sighting. Dead birds (crows, blue jays and raptors) can be the first indicators of the presence of West Nile Virus in the area.

District residents are encouraged to report standing water areas that could develop larvae, and excessive mosquito annoyance conditions. The calls should be made to WCMAD's contractor, Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management, Inc. of Roselle, on the Mosquito Hotline at 1-800-942-2555.

For the latest information on the West Nile Virus, consult the Illinois Department of Health website at www.idph.state.il.us, or the DuPage County Health Department website at http://www.dupagehealth.org/ehs/wnv/surv.asp.

CALL JULIE BEFORE YOU DIG

State law requires you to contact JULIE before you start any digging project, no matter how small the project or how deep you plan to dig. Both the call and JULIE's services are free. There are two convenient ways to reach JULIE:

Red's 5 Steps to Safer Digging: Video also available at http://vimeo.com/60274724.

• Call Before You Dig
  

  8-1-1 is the nationwide toll-free number for locate services.

  OR
  Toll-free number - 1-800-892-0123 - staffed 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

   
• Click Before You Dig Using E-Request (link may be found below).

You can now enter your own locate request if you have a valid email address and a single-address excavation. You will receive a confirmation email from JULIE, Inc. along with general information pertaining to the excavation project. E-requests are processed by JULIE before the start of the next business day. The legal start date and time will be 48 hours from the time that JULIE processes your locate request. NOTE: Your E-request is not valid until you receive an email confirmation from JULIE, Inc. with a start date and time.

 

E-request link: http://newtina.julie1call.com/newtinweb/e_request.nas 

When Ball Horticultural Company, a world leader in plant development and distribution, planned to expand its headquarters in West Chicago, it thought big. It thought big not only in building a state-of-the-art, environmentally sensitive laboratory and warehouse, but also in its approach to landscape improvements that would accompany the additions. Its goal was to create the most ecologically friendly setting possible.

It succeeded on both fronts: Its Ball Premier Laboratory has been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council and the project has netted three sustainable landscape awards. Ball Horticultural's corporate campus landscape improvements have been recognized with:

• A Conservation & Native Landscaping Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness,

• An Environmental Stewardship Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects' Illinois Chapter, and

• An Excellence in Landscape Award from the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association.

"It's an honor to have our corporate landscape celebrated by such an array of landscape and conservation professionals," said Bill Doeckel, director - retail & brands, for Ball Horticultural. "It's validation that our commitment to sustainability really is the right way to do things. What's more, our CEO and owner, Anna Ball, absolutely loves it. She's done native landscaping at her home, so this aligns perfectly with her sustainability-minded priorities."

Native plants comprise roughly 75 percent of the project area, with more than 150 species of native grasses and forbs within the prairie, savanna, woodland and wetland landscapes. All of this helps the landscape retain stormwater and reduce local flooding.

"All of these elements have been carefully orchestrated to keep rainwater on site, rather than having it run off and contribute to local flooding," said Geoff Deigan, president and CEO of WRD Environmental, which Ball Horticultural retained to design the landscape improvements. "Ball Horticultural really deserves to be commended for making stormwater management such a priority."

Photo and content courtesy of Terracom.