BRIDGEVIEWSJanuary 2011Volume 20, No. 11 Highlighting Community News and Events

MAYOR Steven M. Landek

BOARD OF TRUSTEESNorma Pinion James Cecott

Patricia HigginsonMary Sutton

Michael PticekClaudette Struzik

VILLAGE CLERK John Altar

VILLAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE HOURS

Mon, Tues., Thurs., Fri.:8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Wed.: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sat.: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

7500 S. Oketo AvenueBridgeview, IL 60455

(708) 594-2525Fax (708) 924-8095

One convenient

number for:PUBLIC WORKSBUILDING DEPT.

COMMUNITY SERVICES(708) 594-2525

FIRE and POLICE

Emergencies only: 911

Fire non-emergency(708) 924-8250

Police non-emergency (708) 458-2131

TOYOTA PARKChicago Fire soccer,

concerts, special events(708) 594-7200

SPORTS DOMEAvailability, pricing

(708) 924-8290

VILLAGEOF BRIDGEVIEW

For the latest BridgeViews updates, log on to http: //www.bridgeviews.net

Bridgeview isgood for business

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This is the time for business license renewals, and business continues to

find Bridgeview a great place to locate and prosper, said Mayor Steven Landek.

Landek said 603 business license notices were mailed out in December, which means Bridgeview is a choice location for businesses.

“The strong business base in Bridgeview is crucial to our com-munity’s overall health and success,” Landek said. “More business means more jobs and sales taxes for our town.

“Without the business-friendly at-titude of Bridgeview officials, many of these entrepreneurs would relocate.

“Permits and licenses are processed swiftly and we monitor the fees in our neighboring communities to make sure we are competitive with the surrounding area.

“This is a promising trend and a good omen for the upcoming year,” Landek added. “I expect that Bridgeview will see an uptick in the sales tax receipts for the year 2011. Buy Bridgeview should always be our first thought!”

Landek pointed out four specific busi-ness accomplishments that will benefit Bridgeview in the coming year:

• A building from the early 1940s was put under the wrecking ball in early October, inviting new business to Bridgeview.

• Midway Autohaus, a thriving, quality pre-driven auto dealer, looks to expand operations in 2011.

• Al-Bawadi Grill, 7216 W. 87th St., will be featured on the Channel 11 WTTW program “Check Please” on Friday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m.

• Hawk Chevrolet joined the ranks of proud Bridgeview businesses.

HAWK CHEVROLET

AL-BAWADI GRILL

MIDWAY AUTOHAUS

BRIDGEVIEWS January 2011Page 2

Bridgeview residents ushered in the holi-

day season with a Winter Wonderland weekend that began Dec. 3 with a show-ing of the movie “Elf” at the Community Center. Guests were treated to fresh popcorn and bever-ages from the village’s Emergency Management Agency. They also were treated to Christmas carols performed by a singing Santa.

Fun and games were the order of the day on Dec. 4, as village families had full access to the park district’s gym and wallyball courts. Guests played volleyball, basketball and wallyball on the courts, and min-iature golf and bean bag games also were available. Other rooms were set up for holiday arts and crafts projects.

There was even a sur-prise visit by the Grinch, who tried to steal every-one’s Christmas fun — without any success.

On Dec. 5, Santa and Mrs. Claus came to Toyota Park for the annual Christ-mas tree lighting and pho-tos with village children.

Music was everywhere, with Trustee Michael Pticek leading children in the singing of Christ-mas carols, while the Bridgeview Church of God choir, with Trustee Norma Pinion, performed a portion of their Christ-mas cantata in the Media Room.

Girl Scout Troop 287 served hot cocoa and cookies. Everyone also received special Winter Wonderland coupons for Culver’s at 9229 S. Harlem Ave., and Lindy’s Chili & Gertie’s Ice Cream

Fun for all at Winter Wonderland weekend

January 2011 Page 3BRIDGEVIEWS

Justice – Willow Springs Little League BaseballServing the following areas since 1954: Justice, Willow Springs, Summit,

Bedford Park, Bridgeview (west of Harlem), Hickory Hills (north of 91st Street)

2011 REGISTRATION JUSTICE VILLAGE HALL, located at 7800 ARCHER RD.

Jan. 22 (Saturday): 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.Jan. 26 (Wednesday): 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.Jan. 29th (Saturday): 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

LITTLE LEAGUE DIVISIONS, AGES AND REGISTRATION FEEFee includes: uniform, trophy, picnic and after-game treats for all games played at JWS

fields. Discount for families with sibling players: 2nd sibling 10%, 3 or more siblings 20%

*A $5 late registration fee per player will be added after Jan. 29, 2011***Senior Division (15-16) registration will be held in May**

Birth certificates required for all new players. Three documents of proof of residency required at time of registration. Accepted douments include driver’s license or state ID;

voter registration card; homeowner or tenant records; insurance records (home or vehicle); cable, Internet or satelllite bill; utility bill (phone, gas, electric or water —

only one accepted).

RAFFLE TICKETSAll registered players are required to purchase one book of 30 raffle tickets at

$30. This cost is in addition to the registration fee and must be paid for at time of registration. Drawing for the raffle will be held on Opening Day.

For more Little League information please contact:SCOTT FOURNIER at (708) 458-5779

DIVISIONS / AGESTee Ball 4-6Minor 7-8

Jr. Majors 9-10Majors 11-12

Jr. Seniors 13-14

D.O.B BETWEEN5-1-2004 thru 4-30-20075-1-2002 thru 4-30-20045-1-2000 thru 4-30-20025-1-1998 thru 4-30-20005-1-1996 thru 4-30-1998

REGISTRATION FEES*$65

$120$120$120$120

Bridgeview Police Dept.at your service!

Bridgeview Baseball and Softball League2011 REGISTRATION

Ages: 4 to 18 years oldRegistration Date: January 15, 2011Registration Time: 11 a.m. — 1p.m.

Where: Bridgeview Community Center79th and Oketo Ave.

The league plays on the village fields located at 83rd and Oketo.

For more information, contact league president Dan Green at allsportscomplex@yahoo.com

In an effort to serve residents during overnight hours, the Bridgeview Police

Department upgraded its emergency call box next to its customer service window inside the police station.

The police station is staffed 24 hours a day, but because of duties such as booking pris-oners, answering phone calls and supervising the late shift, the watch commander may be away from the window during overnight hours. The call box allows anyone who comes into the station access to 911 service when the window is unstaffed.

One button on the box connects a person with the 911 operator, while another button connects immediately with the watch com-mander’s cell phone.

Quick service, in spite of reduced staffing and increased job demands, is made possible through technology, and Bridgeview is on the cutting edge.

Bridgeview Police Chief Russ Harvey explains the police department’s new call box to Trustee Norma Pinion. One button on the box connects a person with a 911 operator.

BRIDGEVIEWS January 2011Page 4

For the second year in a row, third graders from all five Bridgeview

schools collected food and toiletries for American soldiers overseas as part of Operation Care Package.

Conceived by School Resource Offi-cer Patty Wojciak, Operation Care Pack-age is part of the Citizenship Lesson in the Character Counts school program.

“Collecting for the soldiers is a good way to get third graders to feel that they participated on their own; that they didn’t get forced into it by their parents,” said Wojciak, who has been working in the village’s schools for 12 years.

“The kids really looked forward to the program this year,” Wojciak said. “We collected more than last year, too. Last

year, we had two boxes to donate and this year we filled five or six big boxes.”

The students began collecting items in mid-November and Wojciak delivered them to the Operation Care Package headquarters in Joliet on Dec. 6. The volunteers there pack the donations for shipment overseas, Wojciak said.

“Kids gave canned goods, toothpaste, crossword puzzle books, playing cards, Kool-Aid, hot cocoa and socks. Lots of socks,” Wojciak said. “The kids also

wrote thank you and Christmas cards to the men and women serving overseas.

“Last year, they gave us a flag with all of the military emblems on it,” Wojciak added. “We presented it to the mayor, and it’s hanging at Village Hall.”

“The Village of Bridgeview is proud of these youngsters not only in showing their citizenship, but in their compas-sion for people they don’t even know,” Trustee Norma Pinion said. “And that makes my heart happy.”

Bridgeview students spread Christmas cheerThird graders really deliver with Operation Care Package

Students’ talents make spirits bright at ‘Good Life’ Christmas party

Fourth graders from the Lyle School choir (above) and seventh graders from the Wilkins School band (below) shared their holiday spirit with more than 370 seniors during a performance at the “Enjoy the Good Life in Bridgeview” Christmas Party held at Toyota Park. The seniors thoroughly enjoyed the student performances.

January 2011 Page 5BRIDGEVIEWS

‘Good Life’ Christmas partyMore than 370 seniors enjoyed the good life in

Bridgeview when they were treated to a wonderful buffet meal at a Christmas party in the Stadium Club at Toyota Park.

“It was a wonderful party,” said one of the seniors. “We look forward to these monthly parties as a way of staying active with our community.”

Seniors listened to Christmas music provided by the

Wilkins Intermediate School Band. Carols were per-formed by the fourth-grade choir from Lyle School. They were later joined by a Singing Santa.

Each guest received a gift from the village’s elected of-ficials. Raffle prizes were donated by Bridgeview Bank, the Bridgeview Park District and an anonymous sponsor.

One lucky senior at each table got to take home the poinsettia centerpiece.

BRIDGEVIEWS January 2011Page 6

LIBRARY NEWS AND EVENTS

Address: 7840 W. 79th St.Phone: (708) 458-2880Website: www.bridgeviewlibrary.orgHours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Closed on Sunday.

Bridgeview Public Library

Funny flicks pickedfor Movie Days

Win a prize atBook Bingo!

Do you long to be a rock star? Visit the Bridgeview Library on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 6:30 p.m. for a “Guitar

Hero” Party. Children in third through seventh grade are invited to attend. Sign up at the Children’s Desk in advance because space is limited.

Mario Kart PartyIs Mario your favorite character or do you like Luigi

more? Do you like to race as Peach, or do you prefer to race as Donkey Kong? Choose your favorite character and race at the library’s Mario Kart Party on Thursday, Jan. 27, at 6:30 p.m. Sign up for the party at the Children’s Desk in advance. This program is recommended for kids from third grade to seventh grade.

Martin Luther King Jr. DayChildren off from school on Monday, Jan. 17, to honor

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., can stop in at the library and learn about Dr. King at the library’s MLK Day program at 1 p.m.

Homework HelpHomework Help is offered most Tuesdays and Thurs-

days throughout January from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Miss Toni and her helpers assist students with their assignments and answer questions. Children are asked to bring homework with them because they will not have enrichment materials available. Call the Children’s Department for more infor-mation or to register for a homework session.

Preschool MoviesFor younger patrons, the library offers preschool movies

on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 11 a.m., and Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 1 p.m. Miss Kim will show movies ranging from 30-45 minutes in length for 3-to-5-year-olds.

For more information or to register for a program, stop in or call the Children’s Department at 708-458-2880, ext. 106.

A pair of hilarious animated movies will be shown at the library this month.

On Thursday, Jan. 13, the library will show “Shrek Forever After” at 6 p.m. On Tuesday, Jan. 18, the library will show “Despicable Me at 6 p.m.

Both movies will be shown in the Story Time Room in the Children’s Department. Children ages 8 and up can attend on their own. Families are invited to attend with children younger than 8.

The library will offer Book Bingo for children ages 5 to 12 on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 4:30 p.m. Play Bingo and win a book or another fabulous prize.

Children under the age of 8 must be accompa-nied by an adult, and all children must register to reserve spaces for this event.

Be a Guitar Hero at Bridgeview Public Library

January 2011 Page 7BRIDGEVIEWS

PARK DISTRICT ACTIVITIES

Bridgeview Park District 8100 S. Beloit • Phone: (708) 594-1818

Senior Fitness / Tai Chi / Pilates FusionSenior Fitness is designed for active older adults and individuals who are new to fitness. We do cardio, weightlift-ing, stretching and balancing. Tai Chi involves standing and balancing movement with your breathing. Everyone can do Tai Chi. If you have trouble standing, you can do it in a chair. Yoga and Pilates tones and stretches the entire body. Monday & WednesdaysMondays: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Wednesdays: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.Ages: 55 and olderFee: $58 for an 8-week session, Jan. 24 – March 16.

And for the Kids ...• Shin Kickers (for 3-5 years old)It’s never too early to learn to play soccer!!• Pre-Shotokan Karate (for beginners & continuers, ages 5-8) • Youth Shotokan Karate (ages 8 – 14 )

Start the New Year right: Resolve to get fit with the help of the Bridgeview Park District Fitness Center. There are membership plans to fit most ages and budgets.

Get FIT with us!

Walking/Running TrackUpper perimeter of gym; 330 feet; 16 laps = 1 mile

Weight Room• 2 trotter treadmills • Seated leg, curl, leg extension, leg press• Lifestyle upright bike • Seated bicep curl• Recumbent bike • Seated chest & shoulder press• Life Fitness stepper • Seated abdominal crunch• Elliptical machine • Seated triceps extension • Lat pull-down

Trial Membership is good for 30 con-secutive days, for the weight room and indoor track. Afterward, there is a 7-day period to apply the trial fee toward a Gold or Silver Membership.

District Fee: $20; Non-District Fee: $25Indoor Track Membership has a daily $2 per visit fee.District Fee: $15; Non-District Fee: $30

Silver Membership is a full-year mem-bership to the indoor track plus $1 per visit to the weight room.

Adult/District: $50; Adult/Non-District: $75; Senior/District: $40; Se-nior/Non-District: $60; Youth/District: $30; Youth Non-District: $55

Gold Membership is a full-year membership and includes unlimited access to indoor track and weight room.Adult/District: $95; Adult/Non-District: $120; Senior/District: $80; Se-nior/Non-District: $110; Youth/District: $75; Youth Non-District: $105

Note: 18 years and older constitutes an adult; 62 and older consti-tutes a senior; 13–17-year-olds may purchase a youth membership when accompanied by an adult membership holder. Passes do not include gymnasium usage.

Wallyball and Racquet BallEnjoy the fun of getting or keeping fit with your friends play-ing wallyball, handball or racquetball on our closed-in courts. Reservations are scheduled on the hour. To make your reser-vations, call the Park District at 708-594-1818, give your last name, phone number and time requested. Racquetball Fees (players must bring their own racquets):Pass holders: $5 per hour; Non-pass holder: $10 per hour; guest: $3 per visitPermanent Racquetball Court Time (1 day, 1 hour per week for 10 weeks): Pass holder + 1 guest: $60; Non-pass holder + 1 Guest: $100; Each additional guest: $3 per visitWallyball Fees: Pass holders: $20 per hour; Non-pass hold-ers: $25 per hourPermanent Wallyball Court Time (1 day, 1 hour per week for 10 weeks: Pass holders: $170; Non-pass holder: $220

VILLAGE OF BRIDGEVIEW7500 South Oketo Ave.Bridgeview, IL 60455

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

BRIDGEVIEW, IL 60455PERMIT NO. 1

PAID

The 79th Street project in Bridgeview has gotten off to a shaky start.

Repairs to the 79th Street bridge were supposed to begin in July, but a strike by construction work-ers pushed the start date back.

Then the project was delayed again when it turned out no agree-ment was in place between the Illinois Department of Transporta-tion, which owns and maintains the bridge, and the railroad that runs underneath the bridge.

That agreement is now in place and work has started, but further work is on hold during the winter months.

Work is expected to begin in earnest sometime this spring and should be completed by September.

Repairs will consist of spot patching the approaches to the bridge and reconstruction of the concrete deck on top of the bridge. Repairs are being paid for by IDOT.

Although the project was off to a slow start and now the winter months have nearly halted construction work, everyone expects BIG progress when the weather breaks.

79th Street delays finally ironed out