Seven months have passed since Mayor Michael O’Connor and the Berwyn City Council approved my appointment as chairman of the Berwyn Centennial Committee. Since then, I have observed a tremendous sense of urgency in many Berwynites, who all have a strong desire to create a beautiful birthday party for Berwyn.

I receive calls daily at City Hall from interested citizens saying how happy and proud they are that Berwyn has taken a major interest in celebrating our city’s centennial.

One elder who has lived in Berwyn all 79 years of her life said Berwyn has come a long way in the past eight decades and truly deserves to be recognized as a tremendous community in which to live, raise families and receive a good education. Berwyn has done this for thousands of families since our founding in 1908.

My committees have worked extremely hard for a successful parade, festival, dinner dance and all scheduled activities. I know down deep this hard work is being done for the future of our city and to bring all residents together to live in harmony. The result has renewed our image as one of America’s showcase cities — one that sets an example for communities across the country.

-- Carl Reina, centennial committee chairman