Wheeling Village News

Wheeling.Com is not
affiliated with the
Village of Wheeling

Wheeling Village News
March/April 1998 Edition

Wheeling, District 21 Sponsor Learning Academy

In a world of copycats and imitators. few things are truly unique. Such unique- ness will help make the forthcoming Wheeling Learning Academy a compelling area-wide experience. Scheduled for the morning and early afternoon of March 14 at Jack London Middle School (1001 W. Dundee Rd.), the Learning Academy will feature 24 family and adult-oriented learning opportunities rolling through three sessions.

The event is open to all residents of the Village and surrounding communities. Organizers envision it as a way for families to share a fun, educational experience.

The event arose from recommendations of the Wheeling: 2000 and Beyond planning effort that spanned 12 months in late 1996 and much of 1997. That project suggested programs calling for "weekend learning academies; opportunities for people to meet each other in a social setting; and development of public and private community-business education partnerships that promote lifelong learning."

The learning sessions will include such adult fare as "Seafood Facts from Bob Chinn," "Cooking Italian the Buca di lieppo Way," "The Roth IRA: Does It Make Sense for You?" and book discussions conducted by book reviewer Judy Levin.

Younger participants will learn about bicycle safety, experience a large planetarium set up in the school's gym, delve into 'Math Hidden in that newspaper," and have an adventure with light, among others.

A Community Design Charette will give all attendees a chance to help plan Wheeling of the future, especially the area surrounding the new train station. (A "charette" is a tool used by architects to develop sites or entire communities using miniature three-dimensional buildings and other features.) When finished, the resulting ideas will be shared with the Wheeling Village Board.

A concurrent Community Fair will feature tabletop presentations and exhibits for organizations working in Wheeling and Buffalo Grove.

The Community Fair and Community Design Charette will be open from 9 ann. until 12:30 p.m. Learning Academy sessions will last from 9:30 a.m. through 12:10 p.m. The event will end with an optional lunch for all participants.

For more information about the Community Learning Academy or a complete listing of activities, phone Avi Poster at 520-2775.

John Popadowski Named Wheeling Chief of Police

The Village has named John Popadowski as Chief of Police, effective February 2, 1998. Popadowski was appointed Acting Chief in August 1997. He joined the Wheeling Police Department in 1995, after serving for 27 years with the Evanston Police Department.

Village Manager Craig Anderson, in announcing the appointment, lauded Popadowski's record of 29 years as a police officer. "We conducted an extensive search that lasted almost five months. Out of a pool of more than 70 applicants, we concluded that we had the best talent in-house and made Chief Popadowski an offer. We are pleased that he has accepted."

Before joining the Wheeling department as Deputy Chief, Popadowski, 51, accumulated broad experience in a variety of police work in Evanston. While there, he served in positions of increasing responsibility, ranging from patrol officer and detective to Commander, Division of Patrol Operations.

An affable advocate of community-oriented policing, Popadowski said the move in that direction began almost simultaneously in Evanston and Wheeling - positioning him to make an immediate contribution. "It's not a quick fix or a project," he said. "It's an organization-wide philosophy change that starts at the patrol-officer level - identifying problems and working with the community. It puts us much more closely in touch with the people we serve."

The chief pointed to the similarities and differences between police work in Wheeling compared with Evanston. The size of the two communities! number of calls and variety of police specialists are different, although the types of calls are not. He expressed great satisfaction with the level of training and expertise in the 83-personWheeling department.

"I really appreciate what has happened to me." Popadowski said. "I came here as an outsider, and I'm proud that I was so graciously accepted. I think we've got a great police department and a great community. It's an unbeatable team."

Wheeling Police Department

By the standards of, say, Chicago, the Wheeling Police Department is relatively small - just 83 people (including 59 sworn positions). Many of its members see each other, if just passing in the halls, almost every day. But its collegial atmosphere belies an environment professional as any around.

One needs to look only at its varied programs to see how this department provides service to what it calls the "authority-granting constituency" - residents of the community. Its range of services include youth, community service, patrol (including bicycle and canine), traffic, undercover, and investigation.

The community orientation - built on input from residents and front-line troops, the patrol officers - ranks high because of the department's willingness to listen and innovate. Ideas for change and improvement have been percolating to the top since the department introduced community-oriented policing two years ago.

Time was, decisions were made at the administrative level - a top-down approach the department now sees as a barrier toward effective communication. Today, for example. officers who see high school students smoking during lunch can request that they not take calls for a half hour while talking to the kids.

"We want everyone in the department to contribute," said Chief John Popadowski. "The message is: don't be afraid to innovate because you don't want to incur official wrath."

One such innovation is the "officer-in-a-bank" project suggested by a patrol officer. 'l'he concept is simple: place a desk in each bank where officers can write reports, use a telephone, and be visible to bank personnel and customers. The two-year-old program gives officers a chance to distribute crime-prevention materials and head off the potential for robbery.

When the newly appointed chief joined the department in the number-two position in 1995, the move toward community policing had just begun. Since then, it has expanded to become know n as SPAN (Solving Preventing, Analyzing Neighborhood Problems). Headed by Sgt. Terrie Wisnewski, the SPAN unit touches many residents, who are cooperating partners in preventing and solving problems.

SPAN oversees 22 Neighborhood Watch units, which meet every 3-4 months to identify and solve problems in cooperation with the Police Department.

In addition to people, the department's $5.7 million 1997 budget supported a 31-vehicle fleet, a modern communications setup and one dog, Nitro. Arguably the department's most popular member, Nitro is the heart and soul of Wheeling's Canine Unit, started in 1987 by Sgt. Bill Benson and now headed by Officer Randy Olsberg. The German shepherd has a nose for drugs and burglars, an ability to control crowds at major events and win friends in school classrooms.

In-school activities center on plainclothes officers who maintain a constant presence. Along with members of the SPAN unit, these officers help implement the "Stranger Danger" program and work with youth at risk. They also implement the Violence, Education and Gang Awareness effort to control and divert anger, resist gang influence and deal with issues of self-esteem. Working with the schools' counseling departments, the police act as mentors for many of their young constituents.

Controlling crime, sustaining quality of life and creating a sense of security are at the top of the department's agenda. SPAN officer Frank Delano said even deteriorating buildings get their attention. "We used to think that a rundown building wasn't our responsibility. But we've come to realize that such structures can be breeding grounds for crime. We work with landlords to upgrade their buildings before problems occur."

Welcome New Businesses in Wheeling

· Little Mexico Thrift Shop, Sister Therese Mary Martinez, 115 N. Wolf Rd.

· Ace Cab 10, Jerry Edlcr,47 W. Dundee Rd. #2NW, 229-0400. taxi dispatch

· Mainline Crafts Inc., Chun Kyo Yi, 400 Denniston Ct., manufacturing bags

· Quality Impressions Ltd., Donald Hack, 1716 S. Wolf Rd., 465-0320, contract finishing

· Pagoda Computer Supplies Inc., Gary Frager,140-G Shepard Ave.,8088984, Supplies, sales & refurbishing

· ACCIJ-FAB Inc., Patrick M. Erickson, 849 Seton Ct., 541-4230, Precision metal fabrication

· America's Home Detailing Corp, Richard Shapiro, 306 N. Wolf Rd.,4591110, office dispatch cleaning staff

· Kirby of Wheeling, Lois W. Washburn, 324 N. Milwaukee #A, 808-9550

· Mechanical Component Sales Inc., Charles A. Cardella, 561 North Wolf Rd., 541-1976. manufacturing representative

·America Furniture, 1950 S. Wolf Rd., new furniture

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day

The villages of Wheeling and Buffalo Grove and the Wheeling Park District, in conjunction with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, are sponsoring Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, Saturday, April 25, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Wheeling Park District Aquatic Center Parking Lot, 333 W. Dundee Rd.

This is your chance to dispose of the following materials

· paint
· furniture stripper
· antifreeze
· insecticides
· household cleaners
· metal polishes
· pool chemicals
· aerosol products
· hobby chemicals
· household and automotive batteries
· used motor oil
· paint remover
· solvents
· weed killer
· oil gasoline
· fungicides
· prescriptions
· drain cleaners
· varnish

Please do not bring:

· propane tanks
· farm machinery oil
· agricultural chemicals
· explosives
· smoke detectors
· fireworks
· fire extinguishers

For further information please contact Jim Grabowski at 459-2609

Blood Drive March 11th

The Wheeling Board of Health is sponsoring n blood drive on March 11, 1998, from 2:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. of Village Hall, 255 W. Dundee Rd., Wheeling. For more information call Mike Boyle at 459-2520.

July 4 Activities Update

Many thanks to the following restaurants committed to participating in the "Taste of Wheeling: '

· Bob Chinn's
· El Famous Burrito
· Taste of Hunan
· Wa-Pa Ghetti's Pizza
· Lupita's Bakery
· Crawdaddy Bayou
· Golden Chef
· Hackney's
· Guardino's

New Rates for Refuse Collection

The rates for waste hauling within the Village will increase slightly March 1,1998. New monthly rates for residents receiving once-per-week collection are:

· Single family detached units—$ 14.06
· Multi-family units receiving curbside service—$ 10.89
· Multi-family units receiving common service—$9.35

Board actions January/February 1998

· Added the Economic Development Commission

· Granted variation and site plan approval to 167-203 S. Milwaukee Ave. - rebuilding of garage at Kolssak Funeral Home.

· Granted variation for required parking at 567 Northgate Pkwy., the Wieland Subdivision.

· Rezoned property from B-3, General Commercial, to B-4, Highway and Service Commercial, for Amoco Service Station and Minimart, southwest corner, McHenry & Lake Cook Roads.

Printed on recycled electrons

This site created and maintained by:
Byte Me! Computer Sales and Service, Inc.