Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Cream of Wheaton Begins Thursday

The Cream of Wheaton has returned for another year of fun! After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 gathering limitations, the event is coming back Thursday, June 2 through Sunday, June 5, 2022. The weekend will consist of an arts and crafts fair, carnival, business expo, the Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals, and a variety of food vendors and live entertainment in the new bandshell in Memorial Park! For a detailed schedule of events and locations, visit the Wheaton Park District website.
Please note the following road closures associated with the Cream of Wheaton:

• Tuesday, May 31 through Sunday, June 5:
  • Liberty Drive will be closed between Cross Street and Wheaton Avenue, including the leased parking lots along Liberty Drive
  • Karlskoga Drive will be closed from Wheaton Avenue to Hale Street
• Starting Thursday, June 2 through Sunday, June 5:
  • Hale Street will be closed from Front Street to Seminary
  • In addition, at 3 p.m., Hale Street from the alley at Egg Harbor to Front Street will also be closed

Mosquito tests positive for West Nile in Roselle, DuPage County

The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed the first mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile virus in Illinois in 2022. The DuPage County Health Department collected a positive mosquito batch in late May from Roselle in DuPage County. No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported so far this year. West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a Culex pipiens mosquito, commonly called a house mosquito, that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. However, four out of five people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms. IDPH encourages the public to Fight the Bite by practicing the three “R’s” – reduce, repel, and report:

• REDUCE - make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut. Eliminate, or refresh each week, all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, and any other containers.
• REPEL - when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt, and apply an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535 according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
• REPORT – report locations where you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week such as roadside ditches, flooded yards, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. The local health department or city government may be able to add larvicide to the water, which will kill any mosquito larvae.

Gypsy Moth Spraying Taking Place in Late June

In late June, the Illinois Department of Agriculture will be spraying an aerial treatment affecting the Lymantria dispar, also known as the gypsy moth, in Wheaton. The gypsy moth is a non-native pest, similar to the emerald ash borer, that is capable of stripping plants of their leaves which makes them susceptible to disease and other stressors which can ultimately lead to tree death. The gypsy moth feeds on over 500 species of plants but prefers the oak and willow trees. It is one of the most damaging insects to forests and trees in the United States.
 
In order to slow the growing population of gypsy moths, low flying yellow airplanes will be spraying Splat GM, a chemical that copies the female gypsy moth pheromone at the end of June, as weather permits. The overabundance of the female pheromone that will be sprayed will confuse the male gypsy moths and will result in less mating and less gypsy moths overall in the area. The planes will be flying 100 to 200 feet above treetops, spraying the chemical that has a consistency of hand lotion. The City is sharing this information so that residents are not alarmed to see planes flying lower than normal and spraying this aerial application. For more information, visit the Department of Agriculture website.

Wheaton Public Library Reading Challenge

The Wheaton Library Summer Reading Challenge is back for another year: Read Beyond the Beaten Path! From June 1 to July 31, participants can read books, listen to audiobooks and complete missions to earn points to win prizes! Any age is welcome to participate, and a library card is not required. Join the Library for their summer challenge kick off on June 11 at the Library from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to learn about the challenge, grab a free ice cream treat and enjoy the music and dance of the Barefoot Hawaiian.

History of the Chicago Aurora & Elgin Railway June 7 

The Wheaton Public Library along with the City of Wheaton Historic Commission are excited to host Brian and Joyce Ostberg, creators of the BeHistoric YouTube channel, who will present on the history of the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin railway. During the early 1900s, communities from Chicago to the Fox River were linked by the first and fastest inter-urban railways in the United States, which was headquartered in Wheaton! The former route of the Roarin’ Elgin has been transformed into the scenic and popular Illinois Prairie Path. Registration for the presentation is required on the Wheaton Library website.

City of Wheaton Videos

• May 24 Planning and Zoning Board Meeting 
• May 23 City Council Planning Session  
• Water Hydrant Flushing Program

Upcoming Meetings

Community Relations Commission

City Council Meeting