Westchester, IL -

In an effort to improve Westchester’s appearance, Jim Lange helped organize the Westchester Community Image Council in the winter of 2006. To date, it has about 125 members and a seven-member board of directors. Lange, the group’s president, said one focus is making the public more aware of littering and developing an awareness program. It is also doing year-round work on the median on Mannheim Road, south of Balmoral Avenue.

Jim Lange Occupation: Senior Real Estate Asset Manager at Northern Trust Company Home life: Jim Lange lives in Westchester, is married and has one child E-mail address: info@westchestercic.org

Q: Why did the Westchester Community Image Council form?
A: I think all of us, myself and the board and a lot of other people who have become members and volunteers, saw that Westchester is really a diamond in the rough. We are well located and we thought the town could look better and bring more attention and spur economic development ... and cause business to come into town and help the existing businesses. Overall, to just improve the village.

Q: What did it take for the council to get up and running?
A: The median was identified as one of our first projects at the original meeting. It looked terrible ... if we could just get some vegetation there to give some eye-pop to the village, that would be great. I contacted the Illinois Department of Transportation licensing division and we began working with Village Manager Carl Goldsmith. We had to get IDOT’s permission and we eventually were able to obtain an agreement, license and permit. It runs through the village but we maintain and do all the work on it — weed it and take turns watering through the week. It’s an interesting project because this was the first time we’ve done something like this.

Q: How does the council fund its projects?
A: Funding for all our projects have come from the public. We’ve had donations from the citizens ... member fees. We’ve had several corporations in town make large donations. The majority of our money has come from the citizens of Westchester and we do have fundraisers.

Q: What’s next for the organization?
A: Coming up here in fall we’ll probably plant some mums (on the median). Around November we have a work day when we cut down and take down all the annuals that have dried up from frost. We’ll just mulch over it ... so it’s protected from road salt. We’re hoping to plant on medians through Westchester Boulevard all the way from the Eisenhower (Expressway) through Cermak Road.