UPDATEMESSAGE From MayorAndré F. Harvey

IMPORTANTBE LLWOODNUMBERS

March2019

Personally and on behalf of my entire admin-istration, I want to thank all of the seniors who attended the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball at the Drury Lane in Oak Brook that was another great opportunity to celebrate our seniors – and celebrate with them. It is always a priority for me to support the elders in our community for their wisdom, and celebrating Valentine’s Day with them always is a joy.

There also was a great deal of joy on display at our Annual Black History Celebration on Feb. 24 as we were honored to have Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on hand as our guest speaker. Her election as the first African-American woman to hold the office was an inspiration to our youth and motiva-tion for everyone who enjoyed the event. We will include highlights from the celebration in the next issue of the Bellwood Update.

Finally, I invite our residents to join me on March 16 as we have Breakfast With The Mayor at the Village Hall. If you have at-tended before, you know that the gathering is an ideal time for residents and business owners to ask questions, raise concerns and make suggestions about virtually any aspect of our village. The meetings are a great way for us to collectively improve our community and continue to get to know each other in a personal and productive way. I hope to see you there.

Seniors Enjoy Festive Mardi Gras Ball

Village Hall (708) 547-3500

Police/Fire/Ambulance Emergency

911

Police (non emergency) (708) 547-3528

Police Anonymous Hotline (708) 544-5961

Fire (non emergency) (708) 547-3525

Water Bill (Billing Questions)

(708) 547-3520

Building Department (708) 547-3545

Public Works Department (708) 547-3540

Community Service (708) 649-3060

Human Resources (708) 547-3500

IMPORTANTBE LLWOODNUMBERSMore than 200 well-dressed Bellwood seniors, guests and

village employees enjoyed the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball on Feb. 16 at the Drury Lane in Oak Brook.

Prizes awarded in the free raffle sponsored by the village included a slow cooker, Keurig brand coffee maker and coffee, and a 43” TV as the grand

Bellwood Update is published monthly by the Village of Bellwood, 3200 Washington Blvd., Bellwood, IL 60104 • www.vil.bellwood.il.usMayor, Andre F. Harvey, Clerk, Janel Moreland, Trustees: Jophelia Boston, Michael J. Ciavattone, Annie N. Delgado, Gloria Holman, Ronald Nightengale, M.C. Robinson, Editor, Tonita S. LeShore, Editor, Derrick K. Baker, Graphic Design, Mazique Design Services,

Photography, Johnny Boston Sr. © 2019 Village of Bellwood

PLEASERECYCLE!

1 Registration Begins for Memorial Park Picnic Rentals 10 Daylight Savings Time Begins

11 Committee of the Whole, 3:30 p.m.

16 Breakfast With The Mayor, Village Hall, 10 a.m.

m a r c h CALENDAR

17 St. Patrick’s Day

20 Spring Begins Village Board Meeting, 6 p.m.

27 Neighborhood Watch Meeting, 7 p.m.

(Continued on next page)

Hillside Hosts Martin Luther King Breakfast

Bellwood Mayor André F. Harvey, Village Clerk Janel Moreland and the Bellwood trustees joined other elected officials, clergy, community lead-ers and residents on Jan. 21 at the Village of Hillside and Hillside Human Relations Commission’s 18th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast. The commission promotes and encourages mutual respect, cooperation and understanding among all people. Pastor Marvin E. Wiley of Rock of Ages Baptist Church delivered the keynote remarks.

West Central Municipal Conference Hosts Annual Breakfast

West Central Municipal Conference’s annual break-fast set the organization’s legislative agenda for the year.

The event, which was attended by Bellwood Mayor André F. Harvey, Village Clerk Janel Moreland and other elected officials and guests, also focused on reflecting the needs and values of member towns, including economic viability and fostering a sense of community.

Bellwood business-man Dawood Burhani, owner of Jamali Kopy Kat Printing Inc., recently celebrated 20 years of business, and was feted with plaque of appreci-

ation from Bellwood Mayor André F. Harvey and Bellwood Chamber of Commerce President Christopher Parker during an in-office celebration.

Kopy Kat, located 2501 St. Charles Rd., offers a range of digital printing and graphic design services to clients that include area churches, school districts, the Village of Bellwood and Proviso Township high schools, among others.

“The business has been here for 46 years and I’ve owned it for 20 of them,” Burhani told the Village Free Press. “I’ve made it through the first 20 years and hopefully we can keep going. I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t. We have a better handle on how to manage our finances, so we can meet the customers’ needs and still do a decent amount of profit to keep going.

20 Years And Counting For Kopy Kat Owner

Fire Department Assists With Smoke Detector Installation

Beginning March 1, the Bellwood Fire Department will install smoke detectors in owner occupied single family residences for residents age 62 and older.

The smoke detectors will conform to the new Illinois law that states removable battery-operated smoke detectors should be replaced with non-removable 10-year battery smoke detectors.

Fire Department personnel will install smoke detectors at no charge, and educate homeowners on smoke alarms, fire safety and home fire escape planning by providing the Smoke Alarms & Your Safety pamphlet and the Home Fire Safety Checklist and Escape Plan document. Call the Fire department at (708) 547-3525 for more information or to schedule an installation.

Operation Uplift Gala Promotes Self-Help

Operation Uplift hosted its 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Community Awards black tie Gala on Jan. 19 at the Diplomat West in Elmhurst. Bellwood Mayor André F. Harvey was selected as an escort for the Youth Vision “21” Leon S. Brown Award that was presented to Jaleel Anthony for Outstanding Student and Proviso West Student Council President.

Founded in 1968, Operation Uplift Inc. provides self-help development services to the unemployed and underemployed. The agency also designs strategies that promote academic, social, cultural and economic advancement for individuals and minority small business owners.

Applications will be distributed ONLY on:

Date: Friday, April 20, 2018Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Place: Village Hall Community Room – Room 211

To apply you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be a BELLWOOD resident

• You must be 14 – 16 years of age

To be considered you must return the completed application along with the following items:

• A copy of your Birth Certificate

• A copy of your Social Security Card

• A current Water Bill with your mother/father/legal guardian’s name on the bill

• A signed Work Permit by the student/parent/legal guardian and an authorized official

Work permits for students 14-15 years old should be taken by the student and/or parent/legal guardian to be processed by an authorized official at Proviso West High School Office (main office) between April 24 – 27 and May 1 - 4 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

All completed applications and the required documents must be returned to the Village Clerk’s Office no later than Friday, May 4th by 5:00 p.m. NO EXCEPTIONS.

2019

Applications will be distributed ONLY on:

Date: April 19, 2019Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Place: Village Hall Community Room – Room 211

You must be a BELLWOOD residentYou must be 14-16 years of age

Mayor André F. Harvey invites you to

Seniors’Mother’s

DayBreakfast

Saturday, May 11, 20199 a.m.– 11 a.m.

Best Western Hotel, Lafayette Room

4400 Frontage Rd., Hillside

Featuring live entertainment! Tickets: $10Seating is first come, first served. Purchase tickets before May 3. For any questions contact Village Clerk Janel Moreland at (708) 547-3500 Ext. 1103 or jmoreland@vil.bellwood.il.us

Adults Only

During The King’s Daughters Annual Scholarship Prayer Brunch on Jan. 26 at the Allegra Banquet Hall in Villa Park, Bellwood Village Clerk Janel Moreland and the village’s trustees were honored with a Community Award.

Village Officials Honored at King’s Daughters Ministry Breakfast

The “Dreamers & Dream Makers” awards brunch focused on enhancing and empowering youth and educators and the people who encouraged them. In addition to addressing the gathering, Clerk Moreland presented a 2019 Dreamers Award to a youth recipient.

Bellwood Mayor André F. Harvey was among community members and organi-zations that recently received an award from the Proviso Township Ministerial Alliance Network (commonly known as PT Man).

Hillside/Bellwood Tax Assessor OutreachAssists Residents

Bellwood Mayor André F. Harvey and Hillside Mayor Joseph Tamburino collaborated to host Proviso Township Tax Assessor Steven J. Zawaski and his staff at the Eisenhower Community Center as the assessor’s office provided free assistance to local residents about how to appeal their taxes.

(Seniors Enjoy Festive Mardi Gras Ball continued)

Institute For Non-Violence Chicago Torch Inspires Young Men

Meet The Bellwood Trustees

Along with mayor, the Board of Trustees act as the village’s corporate authorities and exercise municipal powers that have not been specifically delegated to another office or board in the municipality. Bellwood’s six trustees form the legislative body. They are elected from the village at large to four-year terms.

Jophelia Boston Three-year Bellwood Trustee Jophelia Boston moved to the village in 1998 and “my husband and I fell in love with the village and decided to call Bellwood home.” Boston, who served on the Bellwood Planning Board for 14 years before being ap-pointed trustee, also chairs the Community Development Committee and is co-chair of the Quality of Life Committee.

She is passionate about making sure Bellwood remains a safe place to raise a family and to “spend our golden years. I am also committed to helping the village to grow in a positive direction so it is a place we can all be proud to call home. I take ownership of all the accomplishments made in the village during my time is office. I am proud of all of the new homes that have been built, the new businesses opening in the village, including Thornton’s Gas, Oak Street Health and the Cement Mason’s project,” she said. “Bell-wood is in a forward motion and I look forward to pushing forward with it.”

A “hands on person,” Boston added, “You will normally see me working whenever there is a village event. I enjoy being a part of the positive things going on in Bellwood. I love Bellwood and only want the best for our community and its residents.”

Gloria J. HolmanAppointed a village trustee in 2014 and elected to office later that year, Gloria J. Holman continues to invite residents and business owners to share their ideas and concerns at virtually any point of contact with her, including during the Saturday morning meet and greet event for residents at the Bellwood Village Hall.

Holman, whose family has lived in the village for 33 years, has served in various capacities in the vil-lage for 20 years, including on several committees and the Bellwood Planning Board. She has served as a Neighborhood Watch block captain, as a member of the family day picnic committee and on the Bellwood Neighborhood Watch Scholarship Fund Corp.

Her priorities for the village remain consistent: provide great leadership and vision to continually move Bellwood forward in every area.

M.C. RobinsonArkansas native and 16-year Bellwood Trustee MC Robinson demonstrates the same passion today for the village as he did when elected in 2003 as evident in his roles around the village. Robinson has served on various village committees, including previously chairing the Public Safety, Finance and Quality of Life committees; he currently chairs the Administration committee.

He is a member of the Advisory Council of Age Options and since 1992 has served on the board of the Bellwood Neighborhood Watch Scholarship Fund. He is a strong supporter of the Police department and the Community Policing program, and a block watch captain since 1985. The certified tool and die maker was elected for 20 consecutive years by his co-workers as chairman of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Union. Commonly known as the “people’s trustee,” Robinson is a familiar face around town and connects with residents at village and Memorial Park District events.

prize. The sweepstakes gift giveaway included a food processor, $50 gas card and $25 gift card sponsored by Oak Street Health that was represented by Victoria Prewitt. Music was provided by DJ John Woodhouse, and Conquest the Band performed as did singer/comedian Theresa Sykes.

PT Man Honors Mayor at Monthly Breakfast

The organization, chaired by Bishop Dr. Reginald J. Saffo and Chairman Emeritus Bishop Claude Porter, works toward creating a collective body of community partners and believes in working collaboratively toward community parity. Meetings, which are open to citizens and leaders, are held every second Saturday at various area locations.

The Institute For Non-Violence Chicago Torch Club assembled a group of young males at Proviso West High School to hear words of wisdom and motivational advice from Bellwood Mayor André F. Harvey. The Torch Club lights a path that provides knowledge, skills and motivation for young people to pursue peaceful strategies and solutions for solving conflicts.

Early Voting Dates and Times Set

Bellwood residents should mark their calendar for the early voting period that will run from Monday, March 18 - Monday, April 1, includ-ing Sunday, March 24 and 31. Early voting hours are:

• Monday - Saturday, March 18-23 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• Sunday, March 24 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Monday - Friday, March 25-29 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

• Saturday, March 30 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• Sunday, March 31 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Monday, April 1 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

On Feb. 5, Bellwood Firefighter Brandon Smith completed the one-year proba-tionary period required of all new fire-fighters, and during which he attended the seven-week fire academy, finished a 25-week emergency medical technician course, and completed extensive in-house training.

Bellwood FirefighterCompletes Probation

Saturday, Sept. 23, 201711 a.m. - 12 noon Community Room, Village Hall,

3200 Washington Blvd.

Bellwood residents and business owners are invited to

BREAKFAST THE MAYOR

• Share your questions, concerns

and suggestions with Bellwood

Mayor Andre F. Harvey

• Get updates on village news

• Meet and greet your neighbors

and friends

WITH

Saturday March 16, 2019 10 a.m.

Village Hall Community Room,

3200 Washington Blvd.

Breakfast will be served.RSVP to Taushonia White-Taylor

at (708) 547-3500 Ext. 1102