At Home with Merle Burleigh – September 11, 2024

MERLE'S CORNER

The loud and unique horn of Big Boy 1410 steam engine announced its arrival through West Chicago Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. It was tracking down the rails at a fast speed. I watched it from my balcony. Some were watching near the 1912 C&NW depot. many taking photographs.I imagine the train buffs, using their expensive cameras, have some great pictures. The helicopter flying above it was getting another view. Although it did not stop here, we enjoyed seeing the big engine again. It must be a wonderful experience to be a passenger on the American Heartland Tour.

AROUND AND ABOUT

• Healthy West Chicago presents the program, "Seed Harvesting," at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept.11, 2024, in the meeting room at the West Chicago Public Library, 118 W. Washington St. To register, visit https://www.healthywestchicago.org/gardeneducationprograms. The program demonstrates the benefits and basics of harvesting seeds from gardens and yards. Attendees can enter into a drawing for a free seed harvesting kit.

• "Medicare and You" is the West Chicago Public Library program at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in the meeting room, 118 W. Washington St. The Medicare Ladies, licensed Illinois insurance agents present information about Medicare options to help attendees choose the Medicare program that is right for their particular circumstances. To register, visit https://wcpld.librarycalendar.com/events/month.

• West Chicago Park District holds an Adult Puzzle Pursuit at 6:30 p.m. Friday, 13, 2024, in the ARC, 201 W. National St. The event is for persons age 21 and over.Teams of 2 to 4 people race against each other to finish the same 500 piece custom park district puzzle, with up to two hours to complete it. There are prizes for the first three teams. Participants can bring their own adult beverages and snacks; concessions are available. The cost is $35 per team for residents and $42 per team for non-residents. Each team keeps their own custom puzzle. Registration is required by Monday, Sept.2, and may be made at https://www.we-goparks.org/adult-programs.

• We Go Drama of West Chicago Community High School presents "Alice in Wonderland: Down the Rabbit Hole" by Mark Landon Smith at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sept. 13 and 14, 2024, in the auditorium, 326 Joliet St. It is a perfect play for the family. Ticket price is $8, $5 for students. Tickets are available at the door. Smith's adaptation of Lewis Carroll's trip to Wonderland brings Alice into the 21st century as she travels the land of the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts. The characters are all given modern twists, while keeping the absurdist humor. Alice greets these adventure with sharp-edged humor, a little sass.

The company of actors and crew for the show areAva Bloniarz, William Wenberg Ryleigh Balo, Tyler Benton, Lilyana Bonilla, Guadalupe Carreto, Wil Cooper, Jordin Crudup, August Gutierrez, Allison Komaniecki, Matthew Krysinski, Elisa O'Brien, Alejandra Rocha, Oliver Ruiz, Gracie Thibault, Gabriel Valenzuela, Ja'Nyah Villa, Dayan Zenteno Bo Dragosh and Caiden McDougall.

Mark Begovich is the director. The Technical Direction and design is by Christopher Jensen. Costumes are by Kimberly Maslo. Hair and make-up are by Jaime Elza and Sam Rebmann.

merleburl.com

• WeGo Together for Kids host a Bike Rodeo from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in the Turtle Splash Water Park parking lot, 129 W. National St. The event focuses on bike safety and fun. Participants bring their bikes or scooters. Among the many activities are helmet fittings, give aways, bike repairs, bike riding, and cruising a safety course. Among the give aways are several bikes. There are separate locations for where bicycles are checked for safety, for helmet fittings and if they do not have one, they receive one as a gift, plus a station for decorating their bikes. Attending are members of the West Chicago Police Department and West Chicago Fire Protection District. Community partners share resources. This is part of WeGo Together for Kids' physical activity initiative, which aims to have children become more active. Funding is provided by a grant from Northwestern Medicine.

• We Grow Dreams Greenhouse and Garden Center, 1055 W. Washington St., hosts its annual "Dreaming of Fall Days," formerly known as Fall Fest, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Sept. 14, 2024, with fall plants and decor, food and drinks. Some perennial mums also are available. Fall decor includes pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks and hay bales. The tasty flavors of fall are pies, donuts and cider from Kuipers Family Farm. Unique toppings such as Bourbon BBQ Sauce, Cherry Apple Butter, and Salted Caramel Coffee Syrup are from Sonny Acres Farm .The small business vendors are ScentsAbilities and Caroline's Birdie Tweets. com

• West Chicago Public Library, 118 W. Washington St., hosts Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexican Independence Day Celebration with Latin music, food and fun activities from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Spanish children's books are available while supplies last and there is an adult book raffle. Crafts are in the main meeting room, plus tattoos and to-go crafts. Yummy foods are tacos from La Birria Local and paletas from Jorge's Paleta's. Leman Middle School Mariachi Band performs at 1 p.m.Rolling Roses, a Spanish Versatile Latin Band with a wide range of music, performs at 1:30 p.m. The Lotería takes place at 2:30 p.m,, and the afternoon of fun ends with Piñata breaking at 3 p.m.

• West Chicago City Museum presents the Historiography program, a non-fiction book reading group, at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in the Museum, 132 Main St. The book is "A Whole New Ballgame: The Story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League" by Sue Macy. 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.

To write the book, Macy spent 11 years meeting the players of the All-American Girl's Professional Baseball League, studying their scrapbooks and baseball card. The book tells the story as the players experienced it, It contains the fan' stats and tories, plus there are 50 photographs. The movie, "A League of Their Own," was based on the book.

Macy is the author of about two dozen books for children and young adults with many focusing on sports and women's history. Many have been named to Best Books lists and received awards from state and national organizations. She graduated from Princeton University. merleburl.com

• To celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Mary Poppins, West Chicago Public Library holds a Mary Poppins themed craft program at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in the main meeting room, 118 W. Washington St.Using the carpet bag, adults and youth from the ages of nine and up make a craft just designed for them To make a reservation, visit https://wcpld.librarycalendar.com/events/month.

• Healthy West Chicago and City of West Chicago host a Fit4Fall 5K Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 by Zone 250 at Reed-Keppler Park, 201 W. National St. The 5K race, a certified course along the Prairie Path, starts at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 1 Mile Youth Run at 8:30 a.m.The charge is $35 for persons age 18 and over and$15 for persons age 17 and under. For persons registering on Race Day, the charge is $40.The charge for the 1 Mile Youth Run for children age 10 and under is $5. Runners in the 5K race receive a Fit4Fall 5K custom medal and Fit4Fall 5K shirt. There are pre and post-stretching and massages by Athletico.To register, visit https://www.healthywestchicago.org/fit4fall5k

• West Chicago Park District hosts a Family Campfire and Campout at Kress Creek Farm, 39W150 Wilson Road. The campfire begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024; the campout ends Sunday, Sept.22. Campfire activities include campfire, dinner, s'mores, camp stories, games and a family movie. The charge is $5 per person for residents, $17 per person for non-residents. Parents are required to register, attend, and supervise children at all times. The campsite is $25 per family and includes a continental breakfast Sunday. Participants are required to bring their own seating, tents and bedding. A separate registration is required for a campsite. To register, visit we-goparks.org/special-events.

• West Chicago Park District holds an Adult Softball Tournament from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5 and 6, 2024, in Reed-Keppler Park, 129 W. National St. The per team fee of $250 for residents and $300 for non-residents includes round robin tournament and prizes for first, second and third place teams. Players form their own teams. Alcohol is available for players age 21 and over. Registrations are due by Thursday, Sept. 22 and can be made at https://www.we-goparks.org/athletics.

SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

• Kamila Cakes hosts its Grand Opening at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at 151 W. Washington St. (Wiant House). Each person attending receives a slice of cake. The business is not new, but is expanding to in store. The telephone number is 830 256-1742.

• The Cooking Club Fall Season at The Kitchen Table, 100 Hahndorf St., is underway. The weekly classes are from September through November; season membership is $99, individual sessions are $15 .Chief Aaron instructs classes in entrees, desserts, seasonal breakfast, snacks, international holiday baking. For further information or to register, visit https: thekitchentablewc.com/. com

• The 2024 West Chicago Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival is open now through Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Sonny Acres Farm, 29W310 North Ave. Attendees can enjoy a classic hayride through the charming landscape, take in the vibrant fall foliage, and savor the enticing aromas of great food from the outdoor grill, plus select the perfect pumpkin to take home. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, and closed on Mondays. Due to a private party, it is closed all day Wednesday, Sept. 21. For further information, visit https://sonnyacres.com/. The telephone number is 630 231-3859.

• Hawthorne's Backyard Bar & Grill, 1200 W. Hawthorne Lane, hosts the Fourth Annual Charity Kent Kopinski "This Tournament Sucks" Golf Outing Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Arrowhead Golf Club, 26W151 Butterfield Road in Wheaton. It is a 10:30 a.m. shotgun start. The four man scramble price is $125 per person. The price includes golf, cart, green fees, driving range, food at the course and pig roast at Hawthorne's.There are prizes and raffles, which include long drive contest, closest to the pin contest, par 3 challenge. Register with the bartender or manager. Proceeds benefit the Kent Kopinski Caddy Scholarship Fund. (com

• Dane's Games, 1895 N Neltnor Blvd., held its Grand Opening Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Hours are 2 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 2 to 11 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m. Sundays, and closed Mondays. The telephone number is 630 473-0046. Owner is Dane White, who has more than eight years experience in the game store business. He also is currently the owner of Dane's Games in Geneva for two years, and prior to that Gaming Goat for more than six years. The store manager is Liam Redmond-Matucci. For further information and game night event days and times, visit https://www.facebook.com/DanesGamesWestChicago/

The business offers a variety of games for sale from board games, collector card games, to hosting game nights at the store. In store game play events for all ages include Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, and Games Workshop. The store also has dice, video games, and collector cards. Especially for older grandparents, this store is a plus in locating the game requested by one's grandchildren. Dane said, "Just give me a call if you are having trouble finding the requested game. If we do not have it, we will check to see where available." Thus, not only-friendly and helpful service, but also purchasing from a local business, which is beneficial to the local economy. As a side note, I did purchase the board game, Ticket to Ride, for my son. Upon receiving, he told me he had been checking this game for some time and was planning to buy it soon. (merleburl.com

• For the Back to School event of WeGo Together for Kids, businesses donated supplies or funds to make the event a success. West Chicago businesses contributing were Aviant, Ball Horticulture, Buck Services, Chris Mechanical Services, FNBC Bank & Trust, Hawthorne's Backyard Bar & Grill. Jel Sert Company and Wiant House.

• Collinwood Technology Partners, 480 E, Roosevelt Road, Suite 200, celebrates its 10th Anniversary. The business is a veteran-owned IT recruiting firm providing permanent placement, contract placement, contract-to-hire or recruitment process outsourcing. In 2023, Great Recruiters recognized Collinwood Technology Partners as a Top Rated IT and Engineering Staffing Firm.

REMEMBRANCES

• Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Graciela M. Lopez, who at the age of 78 passed away Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024

• Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Rose J. Klauba, who at the age of 76 passed away Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024.

• Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Charles R. "Chuck" Brown, who at the age of 87 passed away Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.

• Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Susan M. Cosgrove, nee Collison, who at the age of 78, passed away Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.

• Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Karen Ann Glenn, who at the age of 80 passed away Friday, 6, 2024.

SCHOOLS

• The 2024 WeGo Boutique for Homecoming pop-up shop, sponsored by theWest Chicago Community High School Student Services Department, is during lunch hours Wednesday and Thursday, Sept 18, and 19, in the Auditorium Lobby. Students can choose either female or male formal wear and/or accessories for the homecoming dance Saturday, Oct. 19. Homecoming theme is "Once Upon a Time." com

• Leslie Fireman, West Chicago Community High School teacher and adviser of the school's online publication, "The Chronicle," is one of the nine recipients of the Journalism Education Association Rising Star award and the only one from Illinois. The award highlights her exceptional contributions to journalism education within the state. JEA Illinois State Director Katie Fernandez, said, ""To take the club from one reporter to winning a Pacemaker is unbelievable. What makes it more impressive, to me, is that she very much did it on her own. She did not have any co-advisers or even other teachers to chaperone trips with her."
When she became the adviser for the journalism club, there was only one reporter on staff. Fireman revitalized the program, transforming it into a thriving class that has since garnered regional, state, and national recognition, including the prestigious Pacemaker award. She has a commitment to teamwork and fosters a strong sense of community within her classroom. InApril 2024, "The Chronicle" won the prestigious Pacemaker Award from the National Scholastic Press Association. The award recognizes top-tier student media outlets across various mediums including online, print, yearbook, and magazine. The "Chronicle's "strategic initiatives, including daily content updates, the integration of a dedicated multimedia section, and innovative features like "wtw WEGO?" on Instagram and the Athlete of the Week spotlight, were the stand outs among the nation's leading online student publications. The award ceremony showcased twelve nationwide Pacemaker winners in the online category, the "Wildcat Chronicle" being one, a historic milestone in the paper's legacy. merleburl.com

• In the Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, football game, West Chicago Community High School won the game against Joliet Central High School with a score of 57-28.

• In the Friday, Sept. 6. 2024 soccer game, Wheaton Academy won against NorthPointe Christian High School with a score of 4-0. In the Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 football game, Wheaton Academy won against St. Charles East High School with a score of 28-17.

• In the Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, football game, Bartlett high School lost to Lake Park High School with a score of 0-31.

• Benjamin Middle School Varsity soccer team wins in penalty kicks and the Junior Varsity ties in 3-3 play against Wheaton Christian Grammar School. The JV volleyball team won two sets against Wheaton Christian Grammar School. com

• Timothy Brodeur is the new principal at Bartlett High School. He served as the principal of Caruso Middle School in Deerfield Public School District 109 since 2021. He implemented the Caruso Way, a Tier 1 social-emotional learning initiative that positively impacted student and staff behavior. com

CHURCHES

• West Chicago Community Clothing Closet, operated by St. Michael's United Church of Christ, is open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept.14 10, 2024, in the basement of the Rockwell Building, 108 Sherman St. There is no charge for the clothing and shoes. Each family may choose five articles of clothing per person in their family. The Closet is open the second Saturday of each month.

CLUB/ORGANIZATION NEWS

• Gallery 200, 103 W. Washington St.,hosts its first artist talk at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Artist Maria Ananieva gives the two-hour presentation, "Marketing Your Art." She said, " I learned through experimenting by going to art fairs, digital marketing , and exhibiting in galleries for the last 3 years. I am looking forward to sharing my most valuable takeaways on selling your art and the experience of each method."

Ananieva was born and raised in Bulgaria. At the age of 17, she moved to the United States with her family and since then has pursued art as her career. Her education background is in Graphic Design along with Fine Art classes at College of DuPage and variety of workshops. She started exhibiting her artwork at the age of 19 and has not stopped creating and showing her work since then. She taught several art classes at Gallery 200 and several at the DuPage Art League. Her art studio is in Water Street Studios at Batavia. merleburl.com

• Bags, Barks & Brews bags tournament fundraiser by Spay Illinois is Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at Hawthorne's Backyard Bar & Grill, 1200 W. Hawthorne Lane. Registration begins at 5 p.m..The charge is $40 per team. The charge of $40 for the pig roast buffet includes pig roast, BBQ chicken, salad, Mac and Cheese, baked beans, buns, sauce, cookies and a soft drink.The kids buffet for children age12 and under is $10. Reservations are due by Thursday, Sept. 2, at https://secure.lglforms.com/.../s/Jp7nyMXMYnexPaxJKQzreA.... com

• 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. There are two upcoming classes, Prairie Flower Workshop and Felted Landscape

For persons 18 and over, Prairie FlowerWorkshop is from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, and is taught by Maria A. Participants create one 11x14 inch size prairie flower painting. Theyexplore the entire process for start to finish, which includes concept sketch, blending, techniques, creating and painting. The charge starts at $30. Persons can bring their own supplies or pre-pay for supplies. A kit includes everything needed; individuals can bring their own brushes. To order a kit, email Maria at [email protected].

There are two Felted Landscape classes, one is at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, and the other is at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. Sharon M. Is the teacher. The charge of $35 includes all supplies. Participants make a landscape from felted wool fibers inspired by a photograph, either one of theirs or one from the teacher. merleburl.com

• Anahi Simental is one of the three new social work interns at WeGo Together for Kids. She said, "During my internship, I intend to learn from experienced professionals and improve my abilities to advocate for those in need. I am excited to acquire knowledge, grow and contribute to achieving a major impact on our community. com

COMMUNITY MEMBERS HIGHLIGHTS

• Peter Waterman has been named the new Director of the Federal Risk Authorization Management Program. This program has been without a permanent director since January 2021. Waterman's appointment marks a significant step forward for the program, which plays a key role in the government's broader efforts to modernize IT infrastructure and adopt secure cloud solutions. FedRAMP is a crucial federal program responsible for ensuring the security of cloud services used by government agencies. He is the son of former West Chicago residents, Cheryl and Ray Waterman. com

• Lora Boehne Kalka recently was promoted Executive Vice President-Chief Operating Officer at FNBC Bank & Trust. She joined the bank as Vice President in 2013 and promoted to Senior Vice President of Finance in 2023. Kalka is a member and past chair of the Illinois Bankers Association, Future Leaders Alliance, member of the IBA's Scholarship Committee, and represented Illinois on the American Bankers Association Emerging Leaders Council. com

• Fernando Ramirez, president Mexican Culture Center DuPage, is a member of Mexican Cultural Art Alliance, a national group of directors of Mexican culture centers. At this time, the members are visiting different culture sites in Mexico, which include Guanajuato City and San Miquel de Allende. com

CITY OF WEST CHICAGO

• At the Monday, Sept.3, 2024, meeting, City Council approveda resolution establishing the terms for the sale of 126 Wood Street. The items summary states."The City's goal by acquiring 126 Wood Street was to demolish the unsafe dilapidated structures on site and then to seek to sell the property to a third party and attempt to recover the City's investment in the acquisition.

ODDS AND ENDS

• To mark a decade of fitness and fun at the ARC Center, West Chicago Park District has an exclusive offer for new and recurring members. It is 50 percent off its annual Classic Fitness Memberships, available through Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The offer applies to both residents and non-residents.The purchase must be made at the ARC, 201 W. National St. Classic memberships include the Fitness Center, Open GymCourts and Indoor Track. Fo r further information on memberships, visit.https://www.we-goparks.org/memberships. com

• West Chicago Community High School Class of 1974 celebrates its 50th reunion Friday and Saturday. Sept. 20 and 21. The informal gathering is from 6 to 10 p.m. at American Legion Post 300, 123 Main St. Cash only for dinner and bar. The dinner is at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 28256 Diehl Road in Warrenville. The charge is $65, cash bar. Reservations and advance payment are due by Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. For payment information email Donna (Baker) Hodel at [email protected]. merleburl.com

• Wayne Township Food Pantry holds a Double Hero Blood and Food Drive from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in the township Senior Center, 27W031 North Ave. For each double hero that gives for the blood Drive, Vitalant makes a $20 monetary contribution to the Wayne Township Food Pantry. The food collected also goes to the Pantry. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 877 258-4825. Persons donating blood need to bring a an ID. merleburl.com

• West Chicago Police Department is celebrating the September work anniversaries of its Police officers. School Resource Officer Michael Levato celebrates 26 years. Celebrating 22 years is School Resource Officer Robyn Arms. Commander Adam Reavley celebrates 17 years. Celebrating 14 years is Sergeant Gregory Bowers. Officer Paula Schoonhoven celebrates eight years. Celebrating three years is Detective Michael Montgomery. Officer Joseph McGuire celebrates three years. Celebrating two years is Elvira Serrano. com

• At a special meeting Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, College of DuPage Board of Trustees appointed Sahin "Sonny" Jutla as the new trustee. He replaces Heidi Holan, who resigned in July as she moved out of the district. merleburl.com

• Via YouTube, bicyclists can gather historical railroad information as they cycle on the Fox River Trail and Illinois Prairie Path. There is a virtual tour of the disused stations, stops and facilities along the Geneva Spur of the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin railway. These two routes go through the communities of Geneva, West Chicago and Winfield. On the virtual tour, stops are made at the sites of 11 former stations/stops, plus a side trip to the ruins of the bridge that formerly carried the trackway over the West Branch of the DuPage River in Winfield. To watch the video, visit https://youtu.be/yZkjHfzjtVo?si=IDBbKJEKCnuLTh5U. com

• CF Industries is supporting a book drive for Bernie's Book Bank, sponsored by its Northbrook IRG through Friday Sept 13, 2024. Founded in 2009, Bernie's Book Bank works strategically to make books accessible to all children. Bernie's Book Bank increases book ownership among children in Chicagoland by distributing quality new and gently used books.

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