At Home with Merle Burleigh – April 17, 2024

MERLE'S CORNER

Muy Cool Party, 137 Turner Court, hosts a Grand Opening Weekend Friday, April 19, and Saturday, April 20, 2024. The owner of the retail balloon boutique is Melissa Mercada. She said, "Step into a world where your party visions come to life with a pop of color and a dash of fun."

The Grand Opening celebration Friday is from 4 to 6 p.m. Mayor Ruben Pineda takes part in the ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. Attendees have the opportunity to meet local leaders and residents.

At the Open House from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, guests a see a vibrant display of the extensive balloon selection and unique party accessories. In the festive atmosphere, attendees also enjoy light refreshments, lively tunes and grand opening deals and offers in the world of balloons. Mercada said, "Whether you need small balloon decor or a large installation, we are the team you need to execute your creative vision and take your event to the next level. Imagination has no limit"

The business offers themed balloon backdrops, balloon photo op backdrop, balloon installation on framework, hoop balloon installation, balloon wall, organic garland either installed or grab & go, balloon columns, balloon arches, neon-lit marquee numbers and letters, shimmer walls and themed neon elements. Although the business is now open in this location, Mercada has been involved with many balloon projects, working with other designers or on her own. Her displays in West Chicago were at Gary School, first day of school at West Chicago Community High School, Trunk or Treat in the West Chicago Public Library parking lot, West Chicago Food Fest and Frosty Fest.

Since the building, which was the lower level of Isaac's Upholstering, is in the Downtown Historic District, Mercada worked closely with the West Chicago Historical Preservation Commission.The renovation work included replacement of windows and entrance door, and the overhead garage door. https://merleburl.com

AROUND AND ABOUT

• West Chicago City Museum presents the Historiography program, a non-fiction book reading group, at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 18, 2024, in the Museum, 132 Main St .The book is "Rising From the Rails: Pullman Porters and the Making of the Black Middle Class" by Larry Tye. 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.

When George Pullman began recruiting Southern blacks as porters in his luxurious new sleeping cars, the former slaves suffering under Jim Crow laws found his offer of a steady job and worldly experience irresistible. Goodread states, "Drawing on extensive interviews with dozens of porters and their descendants, Larry Tye reconstructs the complicated world of the Pullman porter and the vital cultural, political, and economic roles they played as forerunners of the modern black middle class. Rising from the Rails provides a lively and enlightening look at this important social phenomenon. . https://merleburl.com

• West Chicago Public Library hosts a presentation from the Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Speakers Bureau, "A Brief History of the Reintroduction of the Native Americans into Illinois," by Gerald Savage of theHo Chunk Nation. It takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18, 2024, in the main meeting room 118 W. Washington St. The program is recommended for persons age 10 and up.To make a reservation, visit https://wcpld.info/, under calendar.

Savage, who is Chief White Winnebago discusses the culture and history of the HoChunk Nation. He examines the history of his tribal territory and settlements, how his family was relocated into Starved Rock, tribal names and culture, his regalia, and artifacts. He grew up with his grandparents, who raised him in the tribal ways. His grandfather was Chief Walks with the Wind, and HoChunk Ska Ga is Chief White Winnebago. Artifacts are displayed.

• The West Chicago Park District offers Parents Night Out from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2024, at the ARC, 201 W. National Street. Parents drop off children who are between the ages of three and 10 and then enjoy an evening together. Activities for the children include pizza dinner, games and crafts, plus staff-supervised free-play in the Tree Top Escape and gym. The charge is $12 per child for residents and $14 per child for non-residents. To make a reservation, visit we-goparks.org.

• West Chicago Park District holds Family Nerf War at noon Saturday, April 20. 2024, in the ARC Center, 201 W. National St. The charge is $8 for residents, $10 for non-residents, which includes a pizza lunch and dessert. Families rotate between different Nerf activities, such as a parent/child Nerf battle, target practice and parachute games. All participants must register and children must be accompanied by an adult. To register, visit https://www.we-goparks.org/special-events. https://merleburl.com

• "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3" is the movie for the West Chicago Public Library Adult Saturday Film Series. It takes place at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024, in the main meeting room, 118 W. Washington St. It is a 2023 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Nia Vardalos. After the death of the family's patriarch, Toula attempts to locate her father's childhood friends in Greece for a family reunion. https://merleburl.com)

• The West Chicago Public Library hosts a program for senior citizens, "Knowledge is Power: Understanding and Communicating Your End-of-Life Wishes." It takes place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in the main meeting room, 118 W. Washington St. Nancy Betker and Rachel Cook, volunteers for the national organization Compassion and Choices, facilitate a presentation and dialogue about end-of-life options currently available in Illinois. They discuss Advance Directives and why it is important to decide and discuss end-of-life wishes. To register, visit https://wcpld.info/, under calendar.

• WeGo Drama presents "Mean Girls: High School Version," at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 25, 26, and 27, 2024, in the auditorium, 326 Joliet St. The hilarious musical is from a book by Tina Fey, lyricist Nell Benjamin and a composer Jeff Richmond. The ticket price is $8, $5 for students.

It tells the story of Cady Heron, who was raised on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home in suburban Illinois. Along the way, Cady meets "The Plastics" and their leader, Regina George.. But when Cady and her friends devise a "Revenge Party" to end Regina's reign, she learns the hard way that you can't cross a Queen Bee without getting stung."

The company of actors, musicians, and crew for the show includes Abigail Ballard, Emily Gee, Owen Thompson, William Wenberg, Mariana Acosta, Antwan Angeles, Leo Barrientos, Natalia Bellose, Jacob Benitez, Lilyana Bonilla, Alex Bradley, Guadalupe Carreto, Kylie Carter and Wil Cooper.

Others are Jordin Crudup, Pamela Cruz, Kevin Dorl, Chris Garcia, Danais Gomez-Garcia, Christina Guo, August Gutierrez, Sentia Irakoze, Matthew Krysinski, Kody Leano, Karidja Monjolo, Milly Mora-Zarco, Elisa O'Brien and Jocelyn Ramirez.

Also included are Kimberly Rameriez, Nick Riconosciuto, Alejandra Rocha, Ryley Salazar, Lauren Sikma, Ja'Nyah Villa, Kai Weems, and Dayan Zenteno, Tyler Benton, Ryan Blackburn, Caiden McDougall, Ella Moffatt, Francis Moffatt, Jamie Sticha and Mariah Varnado.

Mark Begovich is the director. Music direction is by Brandon Fantozzi, choreography is by Nancy Bocek and orchestra preparation is by Marissa Janiszewski. The technical direction and design is by Christopher Jensen. Costumes are by Kim Maslo. https://merleburl.com

• West Chicago Park District offers a tour of the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford Friday May 10, 2024. Scheduled hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The trip is geared for persons age 18 and older. The charge of $23 includes garden entrance fee and transportation. Attendees purchase lunch. Reservation deadline is noon Friday, April 26. To make a reservation, visit https://www.we-goparks.org/adult-programs. The group tours the gardens with a guide and then enjoy the gardens at their own pace.There is a great deal of walking with limited garden tour seating. https://merleburl.com

SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

• North Avenue Pub and Grill,27 W371 North Ave., hosts "Come Paint with Us"event at 7 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2024. The price is $45, which includes canvas and painting supplies. To make a reservation, visit ticketleap.com. For further information call 639 473-0237.

• Along with Color Me Mine, Prairie Landing Golf Club, 2325 Longest Drive, hosts a Paint and Sip event at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday April 2024. The $60 charge includes one glass of house wine or domestic beer, assorted flatbreads and supplies for the painting of a platter. Participants have a choice of sponging or freckles techniques. To make a reservation, call 630 208-7641.

• We Grow Greenhouse and Garden Center, 1055 W. Washington St., holds a Beautify Your World Cash Raffle with proceeds going toward the aging infrastructures of its greenhouses. Some of these have been standing for more than 30 years. The winning prizes are $1,000, $500 and $250. The ticket price is one for $25 and five for $100. The drawing of the three winners is on Earth Day, Monday, April 22, 2024. To purchase tickets, visit https://wegrowdreams.org/. The cold hardy annuals and cold crops are available for purchase.These include varieties of pansies, violas, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, and other dark leafy greens and root vegetables.

• Depending on the weather, the patio is open now at Hawthorne's Bar & Grill, 1200 W. Hawthorne Lane. The yard and games are not available until Wednesday, May 1, 2024. https://merleburl.com

• Christian Brothers Automotive, 1650 N. Neltnor Blvd., is a newer member of Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce. Jason Sotiroff is the owner. For the fourth consecutive time, Christian Brothers Automotive is #1 in Customer Satisfaction Among Aftermarket Full-Service Maintenance and Repair Providers in the J.D. Power 2023 Aftermarket Survey Index . The telephone number is 630 386-9106. https://merleburl.com

• Bunker Bar & Grill, 216 Main St., has new hours. They are from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday, from 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. https://merleburl.com

• G-Force Parking Lot Striping of Chicago North recently opened at 245 W. Roosevelt Road. The business is owned by Ricardo Roman, Jr., who served in the Illinois Army National Guard for eight years. In addition to providing parking lot striping and parking lot marking, the company also specializes in warehouse floor markings, parking lot sign installation, athletic field markings and ADA parking compliance. The telephone number is 630 950-7676. https://merleburl.com

• Brian's HeatingAir Conditioning & More, Inc. recently opened at 847 Weyrauch Ave. The telephone number is 630 509-8310.

• Delta Circuits relocated from 730 W. Hawthorne Lane to 721 Winston St. The business is a leading provider of printed circuit board manufacturing and design services with more than 27 years of experience.Its products are manufactured in its 46,000 square-foot UL-certified facility and and by its strategic offshore partners.

• Chips Manufacturing relocated to 1320 W Washington St. As a recognized leader in precision machining, Chips Manufacturing is a collaborative and innovative manufacturing partner for OEMs, medical and dental parts, switches, gauges, and the HVAC industry. We excel at manufacturing precision components ranging from high volume production to proof-of-concept.

COVID-19

The DuPage County Health Department developed a dashboard to provide information on the total number of people, in DuPage County, who have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, the dashboard includes a map which shows the distribution of reported cases by municipality and is updated at 4:00 p.m. daily. DuPage County's "COVID-19 Dashboard" is a one-stop-shop for all the information it offers including a town-by-town breakdown of cases. As of Monday, April 15, 2024, there were 12,794 cases and 67 deaths; this is the number from the beginning of track recording.

REMEMBRANCES

• Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Anita Sanchez, who at the age of 70 passed away Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

• Deepest sympathy is expressed to the family of Darlene Clara (Becker) Olson, who at the age of 86 passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

SCHOOLS

• TheApril Family Wellness Night, sponsored by Healthy West Chicago, is at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 18, 2024, atWegner School, 1180 Marcella Lane. While the parents participate in Zumba, the children have fun with veggies. Registration is not required. For further information on free transportation and childcare, email [email protected].

• Leman Middle School musical, "The Little Mermaid," is at 7 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2024, in the cafetorium, 238 E. Hazel St.

• Through its scholarship program, West Chicago Lions Club offers one $1,000 scholarships to a graduating senior for post high school education in the area of human services including teaching, social work, doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and mental health clinicians. The scholarship will be awarded to the institution of higher education to assist with the cost of tuition, books and materials.

Graduating seniors who attend West Chicago Community High School or any other West Chicago resident defined as one who resides within the Community High School District 94 boundaries, including all residences with a 60185 zip code regardless of school attended, are eligible to submit an application. Judging is based on high school grade point average, participation in community and school activities, intent to enroll in a post-high school education leading to employment in the human service areas that include teaching, nursing, other health careers such as counseling and social services, an essay describing one's accomplishments and service, as well as why one has chosen the intended field, and strength of character as evidenced by two letters of recommendation.

Applications forms are available in the counseling offices of each of the high schools. A completed application with the essay, a list of school and community activities, two letters of recommendation and an official copy of the applicant's transcript should be mailed to West Chicago Lions Club, 1879 North Neltnor Boulevard, Suite 254, West Chicago, IL 60185, and be postmarked byThursday, May 2, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The West Chicago Lions Club Scholarship Committee will notify applicants of their decision by mail.

• WEGO Boutique was once again a success. Through the efforts of the counselors at West Chicago Community High School, students were provided with dresses, suit coats, pants, and accessories to wear to their upcoming prom, Friday, May 3, 2024, at the Field Museum. https://merleburl.com

• Showcasing excellence in journalism, the Wildcat Chronicle, student publication at West Chicago Community High School, won the coveted national award and three distinguished individual awards at the recent National High School Journalism Convention in Kansas City. 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. Amidst stiff competition, the publication emerged as a finalist two months prior, marking it as just three schools in Illinois' to earn this prestigious distinction. 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.

The conference highlighted students competing in various categories such as writing and multimedia. Senior Brandon Heath showcased his expertise in video package editing, while Managing Editor Karidja Monjolo's stellar performance in broadcast anchoring earned her an "Excellent" distinction. In photography, seniors Emily Ziajor and Sebastian Alarcon showcased their skills in sports photography, and Editor-in-Chief Sasha Baumgartner showcased in the photo storytelling category. Ziajor and Baumgartner received honorable mentions . In the realm of writing, Gill, Reviews Editor Michael Birdsell, Features Editor Alexa Morales, and newcomer Dania Cureno exhibited their excellence in various writing categories. https://merleburl.com

CHURCHES

• Faith Community Church, 910 Main St., hosts "The Quartet Club 2," a chamber music concert, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2024. Performing the music by Felix Mendelssohn and Wolfgang AmadeusMozart, Caroline Jones, Beth Novak play violins, Benton Wedge plays the viola and Jake Muzzy plays the cello. To reserve seats, visit us. The concert also will be streamed at: https://realconcerts.us/. There is a pay what you want with a request for a one dollar minimum.

• The PeaceJam, student group at St. Michael's United Church of Christ, is looking for students who would like to be involved in the program. Membership/attendance at the church is not required. Persons interested can email [email protected] This will be passed on to program coordinator Alex.

CLUB/ORGANIZATION NEWS

• To prepare high school students for their post-graduation goals, Young Professional Group Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce is establishing the Leadership Academy. Starting in the fall the academy will provide educational workshops, connect students with mentors, and help create leaders of the future. A free information session takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024, in the ARC Center, 201 W. National Street. The meeting is geared for junior and senior high school students; parents also are welcome. To register, visit https://bit.ly/3TL9NuQ.

In addition to area business leaders from a variety of backgrounds, former Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti and State Senator Seth Lewis are keynote speakers. Information at the meeting includes the mission, outline, and focus of the Leadership Academy, plus application details.

The mission of the Young Professional's Group is to foster a dynamic community of young professionals who are committed to innovation, collaboration, and creating positive change in the world. Through networking, education, mentorship, philanthropy and professional development opportunities, its aim is to inspire and empower members to build meaningful careers, make a difference in their communities, and forge lasting connections that will help them succeed throughout their personal and professional life. https://merleburl.com

• West Chicago Youth Cheerleading hold a two-day Cheer Camp from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21, 2024, in the fieldhouse at West Chicago Community High School 326 Joliet St. the camp is designed to learn/practice basic skills taught Junior Coaches. Performances take place at 1 p.m. Sunday. A camp t-shirt is included with the fee of $40. To register, visit https://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=wegoyouthcheer.

West Chicago Youth Cheerleading Organization registration is open until Friday, May 10, 2024, for the 2024-2025 school year West Chicago. It is for youth in first through eight grades; Cheerleaders cannot be high school students. Cheerleaders must be committed to attend every practice from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting in May. Additional Sunday practices begin in August. For information and to register, visit https://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=wegoyouthcheer.

• WeGo Together for Kids hosts two pop up Early Childhood events for parents with children who are ages birth through eight. One is at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Casa Michoacan, 900 Roosevelt Road, and the other is at 11 .m. Saturday, June1, in the West Chicago Public Library meeting room, 118 W. Washington St. Parents learn about early childhood development and the free resource services and programs available. Food and children's activities are provided.https://merleburl.com

• Support Over Stigma hosts a "Stuff the Squad" event from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the Warrenville American Legion Post 589 Burger & Cruise Night. The DuPage County Military Squad Car takes center stage at the Post, 3S371 Mignin Drive. The goal of the event is to stuff the car with supplies to fill the care packages for deployed military and veterans. Some of the items include Beanie babies, soup, puzzle books, tuna/chicken pouches, sandwich crackers, playing cards, pens, lotion, lip balm, socks, plain t-shirts, hard candies, "and anything else you would want if you were 9000 miles away from home," said Zoeie Kreiner, executive director of Support Over Stigma. Hot dogs, burgers, brats, fries and beverages are available for purchase, which benefits the Post.

Support Over Stigma mission is to reduce the number of suicides among Military, Veterans and First Responders. We provide resources and tools to those battling the demons of PTSD, Moral Injury & Critical Incident Stress. https://merleburl.com

• Turner Elementary School celebrated its 70th anniversary this year.To honor the occasion, the Friends of the City Museum have a Turner School ornament for sale. The cost is $12 for members and $15 for non-members. The ornament will be available in early May, but persons can place their order now at [email protected] or call the Museum at 630 231-3376. All proceeds benefit the Turner School PTO. https://merleburl.com

• Taco Tuesday's are from 4 to 8 p.m. at American Legion Post 300, 123 Main St., and are open to the public. The choice of steak or pork tacos is $2, each, taco platter with three tacos, m rice and beans is $10, Chips and Salsa is is $4 per order, Chips and Guacamole is $6 per order and margaritas are $6 each, Grand Burrito, choice of steak or pork, beans sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes is $10, and Nachos, a choice of steak, pork, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream and guacamole is $10. https://merleburl.com

• Bryn Wicklas is the WeGo Together for Kids community-based intern this year. She currently is Master of Social Work Student at Aurora University seeking to obtain social work licensure in the Child Welfare field. WicklasI graduated with a degree in Sociology and English as well as a minor in Spanish from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. She also works with Puente del Pueblo as the Junior High Coordinator to facilitate their afterschool and summer program for middle school students. https://merleburl.com

COMMUNITY MEMBERS HIGHLIGHTS

• Robert Beal, physics and AP physics teacher at West Chicago Community High School, is one of ten outstanding high school STEM teachers from across the nation to join the newly formed Vernier Trendsetters Community. This select professional learning community marks a significant milestone in Vernier Science Education's commitment to supporting educators, fostering STEM literacy, and revolutionizing classroom learning experiences.

The Vernier Trendsetters Community offers educators a forum to enhance their teaching skills, specifically through the use of Vernier data-collection technology, and to engage in meaningful collaboration with like-minded leading STEM educators. This collaborative environment will empower educators to enhance their teaching methodologies and inspire students to excel in STEM fields. The Vernier Trendsetters Community embodies the commitment Vernier Science Education has to supporting educators and driving innovation and curiosity in STEM education. https://merleburl.com

• On the local, district, state and international level, the Lions Clubs are an important part of life for West Chicago resident and Ward 1 Alderman Lori Chassee. At the recent District1J convention , Foundation Director Ron Fruit presented her with a Lions of Illinois Foundation Fellow recognition. District Governor James Worden selected Chassee for this award. Worden also submitted her name for consideration to receive an International President's Medal. Chassee is to receive the award at the State Convention in May. Chassee said, "I am touched beyond words by his high regard, and that of many of my Lions friends who expressed their support for this recognition. How I wish my father was here to know this, himself a highly decorated and respected Lion as was my grandfather. I hope that I have made them proud." https://merleburl.com

CITY OF WEST CHICAGO

• The West Chicago Economic Development Commission meets at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in City Hall, 475 Main St. The Commission meets quarterly.

ODDS AND ENDS

• American Science & Surplus, 33W361 Roosevelt Road, is collecting used, undamaged eclipse glasses to donate to Eclipse Glasses USA, LLC. They are sending donated glasses to Latin America for children to enjoy their August 2024 eclipse.The business is collecting the glasses until the end of April.

• Friends of West Chicago City Museum are seeking photographs that residents took during the total eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024. They want to document the West Chicago photographs for the history of this event. Persons can mail photographs to [email protected] or bring to the Museum, 132 Main St. Museum hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays.

• Volunteers are needed to help with the annual cleanup of the Great Western Trails and the Illinois Prairie Path Saturday, April 27, 2024. Beginning at 9 a.m., West Chicago volunteers focus their clean up efforts near the Great Western Trail end point at Sassafras Drive. Participants should bring work gloves to pick up litter along the trails. To volunteer, email Don Kirchenberg at [email protected]. https://merleburl.com

• County Board Chair Deborah Conroy, Stormwater Committee Chairman and District 6 County Board member Jim Zay, and Stormwater staff presented the County Board with the 2024 Award in Engineering Excellence from the American Council of Engineering Companies. The County received the award for the Smith and Cambridge Drainage Improvement Project located in unincorporated West Chicago. https://merleburl.com

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