At Home with Merle Burleigh – July 31, 2024

MERLE'S CORNER

Summer is quickly passing. The days are getting shorter/ the early morning chirping of the birds is closer to 5 a.m.; it was 4 a.m. Back to school sales are prevalent. Fall decor and some Halloween decor, is on the shelves. West Chicago Community High School starts August. 14. August does not have a major national holiday.However, there are daily national celebrations such as Homemade Pie Day, Ice Cream Sandwich Day, S'mores Day and Creamsicle Day. Of course, one of the best is National Just Because Day Tuesday, Aug. 27. On this day, we are encouraged to break free from the confines of routine and do something extraordinary, just because we can. I wonder if each of us will do this or do the daily routine. Even without a major holiday, there are quite a few local events to enjoy in August.

AROUND AND ABOUT

• The First Division Museum at Cantigny Park presents its Date with History series program at 6 p.m.Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in the Visitors Center, 1S151 Winfield Road. The program is free; there is a $5 charge for parking. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Coffee, iced tea and water are complimentary. Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author David Maraniss discusses his book "They Marched Into Sunlight: War and Peace, Vietnam and America, October 1967."

Published in 2003, the book tells the epic story of Vietnam through the events of a few gripping days of war and peace in October 1967. Winner of the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History, it weaves together the stories of three different worlds: the death and heroism of 1st Infantry Division soldiers in Vietnam; the anger and anxiety of antiwar students back home; and the obfuscating behavior of officials in Washington. Copies of the book are available for purchase and signing.

David Maraniss is an associate editor at "The Washington Post," fellow of the Society of American Historians, and a visiting distinguished professor at Vanderbilt University. Among his 13 books are biographies on Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Vince Lombardi, Roberto Clemente and Jim Thorpe.

Following the program, there is a VIP cocktail reception in the library of the McCormick House. Reception tickets are $60 and include free parking, drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Reservations are required and can be made at Cantigny.org

• West Chicago Park District hosts Fun Friday at 11 a.m. Aug. 2, 2024, at the Shell in Reed-Keppler Park, 832 Arbor Ave. Providing the entertainment is The Frog Lady. Attendees learn about the fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians in one-of-a kind herpetology program that educates and entertains. They learn about animals from around the world while seeing them right up close. The best is saved for last, because after the presentation many of the animals can be touched and even held. Deb graduated from Iowa State University in Ames with a bachelor's degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and a specialization in Interpretation of Natural Resources. https://merleburl.com

• "A Walk Through Nature" is the exhibit for the month of August 2024 at Gallery 200, 103 W. Washington St. It features the artwork of Shari Hohl. The artist's reception is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2. Refreshments are served.

Hohl has spent the greater portion of her life working in the graphic arts and printing industry as an art director, illustrator, painter, account executive and business owner. She now works from a studio in her home.She graduated with a degree in art from Indiana State University in Terre Haute. She did freelance work with a publishing house in Baltimore, Maryland, where she illustrated many children's books for Hanna Barbera, consisting mainly of work on the Flintstones, and Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo cartoon books. She enjoys working with pastels and oils. Animal portraits are one of her specialties. Each animal is uniquely portrayed in bold, dramatic colors. Hohl said, "I've been a nature lover as long as I can remember. I've also been intrigued with plein air painting as well as painting in my studio from the photographs I take while on visits to the river, a beach or forests. These pictures become the memories from which I paint. I also create some of my paintings from photos taken by friends from their travels." merleburl.com

• National Night Out is from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, at the West Chicago Police Department parking lot, 325 Spencer St. The event includes a DJ, balloon twister, raffle items and give aways. Among the thirty participants are policemen, firefighters, local community leaders and various organizations.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. It takes place in thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday; Texas and select areas celebrate on the first Tuesday in October. merleburl.com

• West Chicago Park District hosts Party in the Park at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Aug. 7, 14 and 21, 2024 in the Shell at Reed-Keppler Park, 832 Arbor Ave. In addition to children's activities, Prairie Station Acoustic, an alternative country, pop, rock group from Carol Stream, performs Aug. 7. com

• "Nellie Bly: 72 Days Around the World" is the West Chicago Public Library program at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in the main meeting room, 118 W. Washington St. Debra Miller portrays Nellie Bly in the U.S. Embassy in Paris, recounting her adventures as a reporter in the United States and Mexico, and as a war correspondent. Elizabeth Jane Cochran was bon in 1864 and died in 1922. Her nom de plume was "Nellie Bly." She became famous for her exposé of the New York City Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island. Emulating the the fictional character of Phileas Fogg from the novel "Around the World in 80 Days" by Jules Verne, she started on a solo trip, finishing in the record time of 72 days, six hours, 11 minutes and 14 seconds. To register, visit https://wcpld.librarycalendar.com/events/month.

Debra Ann Miller is a professional actress, vocalist and voice-over talent with more than 30 years of experience as a performer for live audiences, television, and film. In 2010 she started her own company, Historical Women of Letters, focused on writing and producing one-woman plays in which she portrays important historical figures. merleburl.com

• The West Chicago Park District monthly social gathering for senior citizens is at noon Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in the ARC, 201 W. National Street. The theme is "Let's Make A Deal." The $10 charge includes lunch and the classic game show of deals, trades, and choices. The wearing of crazy costumes is encouraged. Reservation deadline is at noon Thursday, Aug. 1, and can be made at https://www.we-goparks.org/special-events. com

• West Chicago Public Library holds a Microsoft Word computer class at 6:30 p.m.Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in the conference room, 118 W. Washington St. Participants learn the basics, which includes creating a document, selecting and editing text, saving a document, and inserting page numbers and special characters. To register, visit To register, visit https://wcpld.librarycalendar.com/events/month.

• West Chicago Public Library hosts a Trivia Night at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in the main meeting room, 118 W. Washington St. The subject matter is related to history. There is an opportunity to win prizes.To register, visit https://wcpld.librarycalendar.com/events/month.

• West Chicago Public Library, 118 W. Washington St., hosts an End of Summer picnic at noon Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. Reservation deadline is Saturday,Aug. 3, and must be made in person. The ticket serves as a food voucher for a free lunch of a hot dog, chips, cookies and a bottle of water. Activities are games, music and a special visit from Bluey.

Making a special appearance is Katie Kostner, whose performance includes a variety of music styles from Broadway to current pop, rock, folk and country. She has performed in various venues including singing the National Anthem at a White Sox games. She is a third year BFA Musical Theater student at Viteerbo University, Conservatory for the Performing Arts in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

• West Chicago Park District hosts Wine in the Park from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at Reed Keppler Park, 129 W. National St. Attendees must be 21 and older. The price for tickets is $35 for residents and $42 for non- residents. To register, visit https://www.we-goparks.org/special-events. The event includes eight wine tastings, light snacks and entertainment by Prairie Station Acoustic at the Shell. It is a modern country band playing covers of the hottest music from today, as well as yesterday's country staples. Due to inclement weather, the event originally scheduled for June 1 was cancelled for rescheduling. com

• The West Chicago Public Library Bilingual Gettin' Crafty program, "Paper-Pieced Sunflower," is at 7 p.m.Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, in the main meeting room, 118 W. Washington St. To register, visit https://wcpld.librarycalendar.com/events/month. Using hand-cut pieces of coordinating paper, attendees piece together a lovely sunflower on black canvas board.

• West Chicago City Museum presents the Historiography program, a non-fiction book reading group, at 1 p.m.Thursday, Aug.15 2024, in the Museum, 132 Main St. .The book is "Emily Dickinson's Gardening Life by Marta McDowell. To get a copy of the book or for further information, visit Friends of West Chicago City Museum website, com or call 630 231-3376. It is not necessary to read the book to attend.

Per Lumuria Books, In the book," award-winning author Marta McDowell explores Dickinson's deep passion for plants and how it inspired and influenced her writing. Tracing a year in the garden, the book reveals details few know about Dickinson and adds to our collective understanding of who she was as a person. By weaving together Dickinson's poems, excerpts from letters, contemporary and historical photography, and botanical art, McDowell offers an enchanting new perspective on one of America's most celebrated but enigmatic literary figures."

"McDowell lives, gardens, and writes in Chatham, New Jersey. She consults for public gardens and private clients, writes and lectures on gardening topics, and teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden, where she studied landscape design. Marta's particular interest is in authors and their gardens, the connection between the pen and the trowel. She is the 2019 winner of the Garden Club of America's Sarah Chapman Francis Medal for outstanding literary achievement. Her books include "Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life," "All the Presidents' Gardens," "World of Laura Ingalls Wilder," Unearthing the Secret Garden," and "Gardening Can Be Murder." She worked as a horticulturist for five years at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum. She is on the Board of the New Jersey Historical Garden Foundation at the Cross Estate."

SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

• Sonny Acres Farm, 29W310 North Ave., hosts a Corn & Craft Beer Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. The wide assortment of corn-base foods include Roasted Corn, Elote, Chaskas, Corn Dogs, Corn Fritters, Popcorn and Kettle Corn. Persons 21 and over with a valid ID can enjoy samples of a variety of craft beers from local brewers. Family activities are amusements, self-feed zoo, and corn hole games. Live Pete performs from noon to 5 p.m. The Makers Market features unique items from local artisans. For further information, visit https://sonnyacres.com/corn-craft-beer-fest-at-sonny-acres-farm/.

• Prairie Landing Golf Club, 2325 Longest Drive, hosts a Back to School Beer Fest for persons age 21 and over at 6 p.m. Friday Aug. 9, 2024. The charge of $32 includes five beer tickets, live music and surprise vendors. Reservations are required by Monday, Aug.5, 2024, and can be made by calling 630 208-7641 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• CORRECTION:The name of the business at 348 Charles Court is Goggins Warehousing, not Groggins Warehousing.

• Creative Feelings, 128 Main St., is a craft shop for personalized gifts. The business has different events and classes. On its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/creativefeelinghm/, there is a monthly calendar showing the various activities. The mother and daughter, Karla and Lily, make personalized products, planners, mugs and accessories. The email address is [email protected]. The telephone number is 847 660-9938. com

• Towers Collision Expert, 397 Charles Ct, Unit B, recently opened. The company has bee in business for five years providing collision repairs, free estimates, insurance company assistance, lifetime warranty, towing, automotive glass replacement, detailing and paintless dent repair. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; telephone number is 630 747-1606.

REMEMBRANCES

• Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Gerardo Cuatzo Cielo, who at the age of 44 passed away Wednesday, July 24, 2024.

• Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Harry F. Eichman, who at the age of 93 passed away Sunday, July 21, 2024.

• Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Carolyn I. Denning, who at the age of 84 passed away Tuesday, July 23, 2024;

• Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Ferenc Loke, who at the age of 80 passed away Monday, July 22, 2024.

• Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Caycie Taegan Arielle Parkman, who at the age of 20 passed away Saturday, July 20, 2024.

• Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of John E. Schmitz Jr., who at the age of 82 passed away Tuesday, July 23, 2024.82,

SCHOOLS

• Last spring Benjamin School District 25 recognized staff for reaching certain milestones in the district. Superintendent Jim Woell presented certificates for their 25 years of service to Benjamin Middle school teachers Colleen Morgan, 6th grade science and integrated language arts teacher, and Jim Allard, 7th grade science and social studies teacher; and to Evergreen Elementary School teachers Mercedes Draftz, 1st grade teacher, and Lori Peterson, Library Media Center teacher/enrichment teacher. com

CHURCHES

• For the first time in the history of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, women , Angelica and Stacy, led the youth group to the national 2024 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America youth gathering, which took place in New Orleans. Under the leadership of Reverend AlexMolina, pastor of the church, these two women were empowered to lead the groups to the event. With the support of the Metro Chicago synod, St Andrew Lutheran Church, and contributions, the trip was an outmost success.

The church started to participate again in mission trips in 2012 with the then pastor, Reverend Lindsay Mack leading the group. The youth group of the church attended its first ELCA in 2015 in Detroit. They attended their second one in 2018 in Houston with Reverend Josh Ebner, the church pastor. merleburl.com

CLUB/ORGANIZATION NEWS

• Gallery 200, 103 W. Washington St.,has art class series ranging from sculpture, jewelry to painting for adults and youths. All classes are beginner friendly, intermediate and advanced. Upcoming classes are plaster statuette and necklaces.To make reservations for the classes, visit https://www.gallery200.net/gallery-200-shop/art-classes.

The plaster statuette class is taught by artist and Gallery Manager Britta Renwick. The class sessions are Friday, Aug. 9, and Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. There are two starting times on Friday, 4 and 5 p.m. Participants select their choice. The Saturday class is at 4 p.m. The charge for the 2 sessions is $45 and includes all supplies. Class size is limited to 15 persons. At the Friday session, Renwick draws a sketch of what each participant wants to make. Then participants make the wire and wood armature for their statue. The Saturday session is where the fun with the plaster cloth begins. Participants work until their project is done. Renwick helps with every step.

The Crimp Necklace is at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2. Renwick teaches attendees how to use crimp beads to make a beautiful, one of a kind, necklace. The hoop necklace class is at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug.16. The cost is $25. Attendees learn how to make the versatile necklace which can be worn long, or looped and worn double stranded. The knotted necklace class is Friday, Aug. 30. The cost is $35.

• Through the GardenWorks Project, students at Educare West DuPage are caring for their vegetable plants and seeds. The youngsters are learning about food growing and the importance of gardening in environmental stewardship.Volunteers from GardenWorks Project go to the school every other week to provide guidance, answer questions and help the children develop gardening skills. com

• Members of American Legion Auxiliary Post 300 recently hosted a Christmas in July event for the veterans in the D uPage Care Center. Enjoying the dinner were seventeen veterans, three staff members, three volunteers and three family members. Using poppy funds and generous donations from the Sons of American Legion Post 300 and community, the Auxiliary was able to give each veteran monies for their personal accounts at DPCC. Hawthorne's Backyard Bar & Grill provided the dinner. For dessert, Barb and Jim Hensel donated pies and ice cream. Auxiliary members helping were Dona Smith, Dawn McQuillan, Melissa Ferguson, Kathy Hummel and Barb Hensel. com

COMMUNITY MEMBERS HIGHLIGHTS

• Persons attending the DuPage County Fair saw a familiar sight near the north gate, the giant red wheels of a steam tractor, owned by West Chicago resident Jim Lootens. Long time residents recall seeing it used for the West Chicago Fire Department Corn Boil at Railroad Days. The hot, buttered corn on the cob was a crowd favorite. Minneapolis Threshing Company manufactured the engine, which was used to plow fields, saw wood and build roads. Jim and his father, Art, purchased the machine in the 1970s.

• West Chicago resident and business owner Carrie Jo Little had a feature story, "The Rules of Engagement," plus her photograph on the cover in the June issue of "Chicago Agent Magazine." She and her husband Marc are the owners of CarMarc Realty Group, founded in 2017. They have more than 25 years of combined real estate experience. Carrie is the Managing Broker of CarMarc Realty Group. She served as the 2017 State President of the Women's Council of REALTORS®.

On LinkedIn, the magazine states, "Chicago Agent Magazine is the leading voice for the residential real estate community in Chicagoland. Our guiding principle in crafting the stories, local news and information featured in our bi-weekly print magazine, robust website and special events is to help agents and brokers succeed. We bring together the metro area's top real estate professionals, developers and lenders with the latest data, intelligence and in-depth features designed to help them build their business and stay connected to the community. merleburl.com

WEST CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT

• The annual Chicago Ducky Derby is Wednesday, Aug.7, 10, 2023, in the Chicago River in downtown Chicago. Each duck adopted in the fundraiser benefits 23,000 athletes and more than 13,000 young athletes for Special Olympics Illinois programs.The West Chicago Police Department has a team, WCP Ducks. DuckAdoptions are $5 for one entry, $25 for a Quack Pack of six ducks or $100 for a Flock of Ducks of 24 ducks. The goal is have 250 ducks adopted. To donate, visit. https://www.duckrace.com/Chicago/teams/10529

The top three ducks are winners. Prizes for the winners include 2024 Chevy Trax; four life-time passes to Six Flags Great America, an all all-new Chevy Trax, a $2,500 cash prize, and a Six Flags Great America 2025 Self-Guided VIP Tour Package. Winners do not need to be present to win. Family Festival is from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The main event, Splashdown for the Duck Derby, takes place at 1 p.m. Persons can watch the dump truck filled ducks waiting for the race to start. The goal is to have 100,000 ducks race.

• Sofia Gonzalez is the social worker for the West Chicago Police Department. She works with police officers to provide social services and support to West Chicago. Gonzales primarily connects with clients through follow up contacts after a police report has been made. Also she serves as a Mental Health Advisor on the DuPage MERIT Crisis Negotiation team. Some of the services she provides are Orders of Protection, Crisis Intervention, SafetyPlanning,•Counseling and Legal Assistance Referrals.Her education includes a master's degree in social work from Aurora University. For more information on the Police Department's social services unit, call 630 293-2235. Prior to this, Rosie Valencia. served a social worker for 20 years until her retirement from the Police Department Dec. 7, 2023.

Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigative Team, was formed in 2019. MERIT is a county wide task force that has nine components, including SWAT, major crash reconstruction, crime scene investigations, computer forensics, crisis negotiations, and an incident management assistance team. The task force is a collaboration of more than 30 police agencies. merleburl.com

CITY OF WEST CHICAGO

• DuPage Airport, City of West Chicago and WGN-TV once again host the annual "Back to School Celebration" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, at the airport, 2705 International Drive. Youths meet Mayor Ruben Pineda, West Chicago Fire Protection District firemen, West Chicago Police Department officers, and pilots. Activities include climbing onto airport maintenance and snow removal vehicles, experiencing CAP flight simulators, plus seeing vintage aircraft and military planes. On the tarmac, guests can enjoy a free lunch and music. To make required reservations for the free event, visit https://bit.ly/3rqligz. It really is a fun time; grandparents and parents enjoy it as much as the youth.

• Coffee with the Mayor os from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in City Hall, 475 Main St.

• Out of 2,000 municipalities, West Chicago was listed as the 20th Best Place to live for families on the Fortune's 2024 List. This is the second time the City was on the list as it was number nine in 2022. The list highlights a premier place in each of the 50 states. The range of factors encompasses educational excellence, healthcare resources tailored for aging adults, general wellness initiatives, financial stability indicators, and overall community livability. For further information, visit the City's website, https://westchicago.org/.

ODDS AND ENDS

• With the resignation of Heidi Holan, College of DuPage has a vacancy on its Board of Trustees. She is moving out of the district. Her replacement will serve until the Consolidated Election in April 2025. Applicants for the position must be a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years old, a registered voter and a College District 502 for at least a year. To apply, persons should send a letter of interest to [email protected] by Wednesday, Aug. 7.

• The scheduled date for the beginning of construction on the Geneva Road bridge over the DuPage River is changed. The date now is Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. The project includes the removal of the existing two-span concrete bridge and the construction of a new, single-span steel girder bridge. It also involves the installation of retaining walls and sidewalks and drainage improvements, pavement reconstruction, and installation of a stormwater storage facility.

• Many enjoyed the Taco & Art Fest, organized by West Chicago Park District. Perfect weather provided the perfect backdrop for the music, food, games and various artistic activities. Taco Wars, sponsored by the West Chicago Parks Foundation, sold more than $1,000 in taco sample tickets for the four participating taco food trucks. They were La India, Taqueria Santa Barbara, Mario's Cart, and Serna's Grill. Winning the Taco Wars was Serna's Grill, by one vote over La India. com

• A Northern Illinois Food Bank first mobile food distribution was successful. It took place Thursday, Aug. 25, 2024, at the Timber Lake Apartment complex. NIFB provided for f160 households, totaling more than 700 people. Six WGTK partners shared information about mental health, early childhood and medical services. The event was made possible by the partnership of Northern Illinois Food Bank, Northwestern Medicine, Timber Lake Apartment Homes and We Go Together for Kids.

• West Chicago resident and DuPage County District 6 board member Shelia Rutledge was searching for a small engine repair person. She said Anthony Wallace of Sunnyside Landscaping & Tree Service picked up her riding lawnmower and chainsaw and repaired it in a weeks time. Of course, this is not a part of its regular services, but does show the company's commitment to a customer. The company has been in business for more than 38 years.It is located at 215 W. Grand Lake Blvd.; telephone number is 630 231-9273.

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