Wadsworth E-Newsletter
November 29, 2016
In This Issue
No Property Tax Increase
Santa Comes Saturday
Santa Returns
Holiday Safety Tips
Input for our Park
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In this issue- 
  
This is a jam-packed issue.  We start off with the first season's greeting from us... an announcement that the village is NOT increasing its tax levy for next year.

We provide details of two visits from Santa Claus in December, the first one being this Saturday at the village hall.

Our fire department has provided a list of common sense safety tips and we also seek your input regarding our village park.

As always, I'm interested to hear your cheers and jeers and you can send them to my email address below. 
 
--Jim Zegar, Editor
    jzegar@villageofwadsworth.org
No property tax increase-
We are very happy to inform you that on November 1 your village board approved the property tax levy estimate for next year which has NO increase from the current year.  

For most of you, your property tax bill will have amounts due for 16 other taxing authorities and we can't speak for them, of course.  We remain as vigilant as we can to spend your money wisely on projects and investments that provide for the benefit of the community as a whole.

As you know from prior newsletters, the major part of our funding comes from sales tax dollars and one of the unique things for Wadsworth is that a large portion of those sales tax dollars comes from non-residents who shop at our various retailers.

Thanks to all who shop here.

Santa Comes this Saturday-

Our annual tree lighting and visit from Santa Claus is this Saturday, December 3, starting at 6:30pm sharp. The jolly old guy will arrive once again in a Newport Township fire truck.



After the switch is thrown to light our outside Christmas tree, Santa will be available inside our village hall to talk with children and hear their wishes. We'll provide cookies, hot chocolate, and hot coffee, free of charge.

Our beautiful and talented Wadsworth Queens will be on hand to help out Santa.  This is a wonderful opportunity for you to bring your camera and snap some photos of your youngsters, pictures they and you will no doubt treasure in the future.

It's also a good chance to learn more about the Wadsworth Pageant first-hand and how your daughter or granddaughter can participate.

As a reminder, sometime in January (date is yet to be set), we'll have our Christmas tree burning festival and we can pick up your tree if you want us to. More details will be provided at a future date.
Santa returns-
When I was a little kid, I couldn't get enough of Santa. Perhaps your child is like that, too, or maybe the little one can't attend this Saturday's visit at the village hall. If so, there's a second chance to see the jolly old boy.

He'll return on Saturday, December 17, at our downtown fire station off Wadsworth Road. Donuts, hot chocolate, and coffee will be served.

A photographer will be there and you can purchase a photo of your youngster with Santa and have the picture printed immediately.

The Newport Township Fire Protection District will host this and they are also raffling off a large screen television and other items.

Remember, this event is not at the village hall, but at our fire station on Caroline Avenue across from the post office. Click HERE to view the event flyer.  

Holiday safety tips- 
 

In order to help prevent you, or someone else, from accidentally setting fire to your house this winter, our fire department has provided some safety tips. It goes without saying that safety is first a byproduct of common sense but it never hurts to read a few reminders.


 

First, half of all home fires occur during the months of December, January, and February.  That should tell you something right there.


 General tips-

* Have your furnace, chimney, and vents inspected

* Burn only dry, seasoned wood in your fireplace

* Do not burn wrapping paper or garbage

* Dispose of cooled ashes in a covered, metal bucket

* Keep the bucket at least 10 feet away from your home

* Check smoke and CO2 detectors 


 Christmas tree fire tips-

* 1/4 of tree fires are electrical in origin

* Obviously, keep heat sources away from the tree

* Try to purchase the freshest tree possible

* Don't block an exit with a tree


Portable generator tips-

* Generator should be in a well-ventilated area

* Do not use the generator in an attached garage

* Turn off generator and let it cool before refueling


Our fire department will start publishing a periodic, electronic newsletter with information for all residents and especially items of interest for our senior citizens.  If you want to receive this new publication, simply send your email address to Trudy Maatta at tmaatta@newportfire.org or call her at the fire station: 847-336-1080.


 
Input for our park-

 

We take a lot of pride in our Wadsworth Road park, with its pavilions, playground equipment, baseball field, running/walking track, and the tennis and basketball courts.  Our staff keeps the park clean and well-maintained. But that does come with a cost.

The two courts need a major repair which is more of a rebuild from the ground up and cost estimates are sky high.  This causes us to wonder if there are alternate uses of the property which would be a more intelligent use of village funds.

Currently, the courts are used not only for hoops and tennis, but also pickelball. We are seeking suggestions from our residents as to whether that site would be a better use for other kinds of park activities.  This is not to say we won't repair the courts keeping them for current use but we want to be open-minded about other possible uses.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to send an email to Administrator Amidei at mamidei@villageofwadsworth.org or call him at the village office.

We are also looking at using some of our sales tax proceeds to install new equipment for the 2017 year. Stay tuned for more information on that as our specific plans progress.

As a final teaser, we are looking at various plans and suggestions for the 12-acre village parcel that is immediately to the west of St. Patrick's Church. More on that over the next few months as we evaluate a variety of possibilities.