WCIC launches "historical marker" project

Samuel Insull. Mary Jane Kennedy. Walter Baltis. George Nixon. Westchester Rapid Transit. These are some of the names behind Westchester's history, and the WCIC is working to make sure more people know the stories behind the names.

We're developing a series of "historical markers" that will denote a bit of history to be installed throughout town.

Look for the signs this summer. In the meantime, if you have ideas for a sign, or old photos, stories to share or other information that you think would be fitting for this project, please e-mail us at info@westchestercic.org or call Paige Fumo Fox at (708)562-6035.

Join us February 27 for bowling

The WCIC will hold its fourth annual Cosmic Bowl Saturday, February 27, 2010, from 7:00 to 11 p.m. at Suburbanite Bowl in Westmont.  Doors open at 7, with dinner at 8 and bowling at 9:30 p.m. Raffles are part of the evening.

Reservations, which are $35 per person, are required by February 5. Any residents or businesses that would like to donate an item to raffle may call Genny Panek at 708.865-9977.

To make a reservation, print out a form and mail it to us, or reserve on-line with the Paypal button below.

WCIC Harvest Celebration

Thanks to all who participated in the Westchester Clean Sweep

There is certainly a lot less litter strewn about the streets of Westchester after our fantastic volunteers swept through town May 2!

We had individuals from all over: families; students from St. Joe's, Proviso West and Westchester Middle School; Boy and Cub Scouts; Girl Scouts and Brownies; Indian Guides and Princesses. They collected more than 55 bags of litter throughout town. Members of Westchester Gardens began the big task of weeding our 75 Boulevard Gardens.

Meanwhile, with the help of the Lions Club and Brownies, we collected plenty of items that will be put to good use: several bags of food for the Westchester Food Pantry; nearly 20 cell phones that the sheriff's department will reprogram to dial 911 and distribute to senior citizens; eyeglasses for the Lions Club and flags for Cub Scout Troop 73 to respectfully dispose of during a Flag Day ceremony.

In addition, our board member, Cheryl Rodriguez, drove away with an SUV filled with donations for our yard sale. If you have other donations for us to sell when we participate in the Canterbury Street Area Sale May 30, please give her a call at 773.704-1484. Please, no out-of-date televisions or large appliances, however.

Special thanks to Public Works Director Rusty Gross, who heleped us set up the collection site and coordinate the removal of the trash bags. Also, the West Cook County Solid Waste Agency provided us trash bags and the funding to pick up safety vests and signs.

We consider our first effort a success, and we plan to repeat it.

Our first clean-up of the year, held March 22, was a great day

We picked up litter around the median garden at Mannheim and Cermak; around the Welcome Garden; and at the trailheads.

Thank you to all our volunteers who brought out the chainsaws and helped us make quick work of the buckthorn. Buckthorn is an invasive species we've been removing from the area under the Forest Preserve District of Cook County's Preserve Keeper Corps program.

We had a few newcomers join us that day, and we're grateful to see more people coming out to help make Westchester cleaner and more attractive. Special thanks go to Atrium Landscaping. Owner Kathy Bruch and her crew - Roberto Silva, Jesus Martinez, Carlos Martinez and the other Jesus Martinez - were a tremendous help clearing the buckthorn.

Stay tuned to our pitching in page for more work days, as well as our May 2 Clean Sweep, when we will coordinate volunteer crews to pick up litter throughout town.

Cosmic Bowl was a great success

Thanks to all who joined us for our third annual Westchester Community Image Council Cosmic Bowl Feb. 28. We raised more than $4,000, which will go toward projects in the coming year.

We were happy to meet new people as well as see familiar friends as we enjoyed dinner and bowling at Suburbanite Bowl in Westmont.

Special thanks to our lane sponsors: Thomas H. George, DDS; Preferred Plumbing; Village Trustees Neil Boyle and Patrick Casey; Premier Accounting Service/Robert S. Suich; Thomas P. McNulty, attorney; Nicolette Jelen/State Farm; Bruce Horek/State Farm; One Westchester (Richard Ryan, Kathryn Hayes, William Buikema, Jim Lange and Jill Saraceno Franklin); and Park Commissioner Derek Gordon.

We look forward to announcing new projects and events in the coming year. Again, thank you for the support of those who attended and the many businesses and individuals who donated items for our raffles.

Boulevard Gardens project blossomed in 2008

In summer 2008, the WCIC tackled its largest project to date: planting 75 gardens on the medians in Westchester Boulevard.

The Boulevard Gardens project began with the idea to plant small gardens at the ends of each median. That evolved into the suggestion to let people "adopt" the gardens. Each garden is marked by a plaque that recognizes a family or business.

We soon found ourselves digging dozens of garden plots over the entire summer. We were thrilled the project took off as successfully as it did.

With the design support of landscape designer Gina Lange, we planted knockout roses, Russian sage and Karl Foerster reed grass -- all hardy perennials that should provide beautiful color for years to come.

We are grateful to the families and businesses that adopted gardens. We heard from so many people who appreciated the burst of color down the Boulevard. We were touched by the stories of people who adopted gardens in honor of deceased loved ones or -- in one case -- to welcome a brand new baby.

We truly appreciate the assistance of Westchester Public Works Director Rusty Gross and the village board members who supported this project.

And finally, the volunteers who came out on typically hot summer mornings to dig, plant, water and maintain these gardens have our gratitude. Thank you.