A water conservation event March 13, 10am-2pm at the Itasca Library. Attend this free event to learn about fixing leaks and preserving our water supply. Because minor water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year in U.S. homes, DuPage Water Commission is promoting “Fix a Leak Week,” March 15 through 21, 2010. Fix a Leak Week is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense® program as an annual reminder to Americans to check household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.
“Leaks can add up to more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted at home every year—that’s enough to fill a backyard swimming pool,” said Terry McGhee, Manager of Water Operations. “DuPage Water Commission is participating in Fix a Leak Week to help homeowners save money on their utility bills and to help save water in our community and for future generations.”
DuPage Water Commission and the surrounding communities will be holding Fix a Leak Week activities at the following locations:
Village of Itasca Community Library
500 West Irving Park Road, Itasca, IL
March 13th, 2010
10am-2pm
Village of Westmont
Water Department
39 East Burlington Avenue, Westmont, IL
March 20th, 2010
10am-2pm
Come out to these locations and play Water Quest and the Price is Right Water Conservation games, as well as learn about what you can do to save water and money! Prizes will include leak detection tablets, shower timers, rain gauges, and informational material.
To help consumers here in DuPage County and across the country save water, DuPage Water Commission and WaterSense are promoting ways to identify and repair dripping faucets, running toilets, and leaky showerheads. In most cases, fixture replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers, your favorite handy person, plumber, or WaterSense irrigation partner. Following are a few water-saving tips:
Reduce faucet leaks by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and, if necessary, replace the faucet with a WaterSense labeled model.
Leaky toilets are most often the result of a worn toilet flapper. Replacing the rubber flapper is a quick fix that could save a home with a constantly running toilet up to 200 gallons of water per day.
For a leaky garden hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.
Landscape irrigation systems should be checked each spring before use to make sure they are not damaged by frost or freezing.
If homeowners have to replace a plumbing fixture, DuPage Water Commission reminds them to look for the WaterSense label. WaterSense labeled toilets, faucets, and (soon) showerheads have been independently tested and certified to save water and perform as well as or better than standard models. WaterSense also partners with certified landscape irrigation auditors, designers, installers, and maintenance professionals. Visit www.epa.gov/watersense to find a WaterSense labeled product, or an irrigation partner in your area.
For more information on Fix a Leak Week, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak. For more information about your local Fix a Leak Week events, visit www.preservingeverydrop.org.

Please turn your clocks ahead one hour Saturday nignt or Sunday morning. Daylight saving time will end November 7.

Census forms will be mailed out between March 15 and 17. All questionnaires should be returned by "Census Day" April 1. If you don't mail the form back, you may receive a visit from a census taker, who will ask you the questions from the form. The 2010 Census questionnaire will be one of the shortest ever — there are only 10 questions, requiring about 10 minutes to complete. When you receive yours, just answer the 10 short questions and then mail the form back in the postage-paid envelope provided.

Census workers will go door to door from the end of April to July asking the same 10 questions of persons who did not send in their questionnaires.

The 2010 Census will help communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year for things like:
Hospitals, job training centers, schools,senior centers, bridges, tunnels and other-public works projectsand emergency services.

The data collected by the census also helps determine the number of seats a state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The majority of the country will receive English–only materials. Households in areas with high concentrations of Spanish-speaking residents may receive a bilingual (English/Spanish) form.

Any personal data you provide is protected under federal law.

All Census Bureau employees take the oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data.

[Additional info...]

The Springbrook Nature Center will be closed to the public for maintenance. We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Monday March 8, 2010, TCORP will begin painting a number of village-owned fire hydrants. They are painting approximately 300 hydrants and will be starting in the Bay Drive area. Most of their work will be done in commercial or industrial areas but some work is required in residential areas also. The contractors will have marked vehicles so that they can be identified. We are estimating the work to be completed within 60 days.

Need a place to hold a great get-together: Rent a room at the Itasca Recreation Center. Iris Room seats up to 130 people! Rental Information

Local businesses have teamed with the Village of Itasca creating "Hire Itasca" a web employment resource of open positions within the village. Hire Itasca offers local businesses a no-cost opportunity to list their positions online and market open positions directly to Itasca jobseekers. Individuals looking for employment within the Village of Itasca can go directly to the site to browse available positions and links to local employers. Itasca jobseekers should continue to visit the website periodically as positions will regularly be updated. Hire Itasca

The Springbrook Nature Center will be closed to the public for maintenance. We are sorry for any inconvenience.

The workshop will acquaint attendees with owls, hawks, falcons and other birds of prey native to Illinois, including their care, dietary and housing requirements, legal aspects and handling.
This Workshop is perfect for those considering a career or already working in the fields of wildlife or wildlife rehabilitation, for nature center employees and for those simply serious about wildlife.

Dates: Saturday, April 10, 2010 and
Sunday, April 11, 2010

Time: 9:00 am until 5:00 pm
Registration Information

Census forms will be mailed out between March 15 and 17. All questionnaires should be returned by "Census Day" April 1. If you don't mail the form back, you may receive a visit from a census taker, who will ask you the questions from the form. The 2010 Census questionnaire will be one of the shortest ever — there are only 10 questions, requiring about 10 minutes to complete. When you receive yours, just answer the 10 short questions and then mail the form back in the postage-paid envelope provided.
Census workers will go door to door from the end of April to July asking the same 10 questions of persons who did not send in their questionnaires.

The 2010 Census will help communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year for things like:
Hospitals, job training centers, schools,senior centers, bridges, tunnels and other-public works projectsand emergency services.

The data collected by the census also helps determine the number of seats a state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The majority of the country will receive English–only materials. Households in areas with high concentrations of Spanish-speaking residents may receive a bilingual (English/Spanish) form.

Any personal data you provide is protected under federal law.

All Census Bureau employees take the oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data.
[Additional info...]

From March 1st-14th classes being held inside the Nature Center are being moved to the Itasca Rec Center due to building repairs. We're sorry for the inconvenience. These classes include Furry Friends, Movie Madness and Fun with Electricity.

On October 14, 2009, the Itasca Park District was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal Award from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) at their Annual Congress and Exposition in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Gold Medal Award honors communities throughout the United States that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management, and agency recognition. Each agency is judged on its ability to address the needs of those it serves through the collective energies of citizens, staff, and elected officials.

The Itasca Park District competed against the Batavia (IL) Park District, Vernon Hills (IL) Park District and the City of Golden Colorado Parks and Recreation Department in its population class.

“We’re absolutely thrilled and honored to be the recipient of this prominent award”, said Maryfran Leno, Executive Director of the Park District. “This award is an affirmation of the vision, commitment, dedication and hard work of all our staff and commissioners. Without the combined efforts of everyone, this national recognition would not have been possible”, said Ms. Leno.

A panel of five parks and recreation professionals reviewed and judged all application materials. Applicants were judged on seven criteria including long range strategic planning, revenues and expenditures, facilities and cooperative agreements, meeting changing environments and community challenges, unique projects tailored to the community, best practices to include environmental and cultural protection, preservation and restoration efforts, interpretation and education programs, overall general stewardships efforts, professional involvements and forms of recognition bestowed on the agency.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of some 20,000 professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.

Excellence in Aquatics Award from NRPA. The Itasca Waterpark has won a National Award for Excellence in Aquatics. This is an award from the National Recreation and Parks Association that can be won only once every five years! Itasca also won this award in 2001.

The Itasca Police Department believes in maintaining open lines of communication with the public in order to encourage citizens to voice their opinions, concerns and suggestions for ways to improve quality of life in the Village of Itasca. As such, the Police Department is committed to establishing close ties with and responding to the needs of the community while developing and perpetuating community-relations and crime prevention programs.

Reminiscent of the beat officers of the past, officers assigned to the same area are afforded intimate knowledge of the residents, problems, concerns and possible solutions to neighborhood problems. In order to further community oriented policing, officers shall be assigned to specific areas as part of the neighborhood policing program
[Additional info...]

On a periodic basis, the Itasca Police Department participates in on-line auctions. Property to be disposed of through these auctions includes seized vehicles and lost or unclaimed property where the owner could not be located. The Police Department was recently awarded title to six vehicles seized pursuant to DUI, traffic and drug laws. These vehicles are available for purchase on the following website Auction Site

The Happy Acers reconstruction project is substantially completed. The lift station pumps and controls have been tested and are currently operational. The remaining work includes abandoning the existing lift station, site restoration at the pump station, touch-up landscaping on the slopes, and additional work at the remote storm water monitoring manhole at North and Hickory. The contractor will also install aeration system in the basin to help maintain clean fresh water. This project is on schedule with a final completion date of May 15, 2010.

Monday March 8, 2010, TCORP will begin painting a number of village-owned fire hydrants. They are painting approximately 300 hydrants and will be starting in the Bay Drive area. Most of their work will be done in commercial or industrial areas but some work is required in residential areas also. The contractors will have marked vehicles so that they can be identified. We are estimating the work to be completed within 60 days.