Winfield United Volunteers for a Better Community report a serious outbreak of gypsy moths and caterpillars in the village. Moths devour tree leaves, particularly oak and shagbark hickory, and bushes, putting them under stress and making them vulnerable to other plant diseases. Outbreaks have been sighted at Cantigny, Blackwell Forest Preserve, High Lake and Geneva roads and at the Morton Arboretum. WU volunteers recommend a visit to the Department of Agriculture’s Web site for photos and description at www.agr.state.il.us or call (888) 296-6684.

Winfield Village Manager Bill Barlow is coordinating the collection data about the scope of the outbreak in Winfield.

Volunteers are needed to knock on doors in a neighborhood or two and ask residents whether there have been any sightings of gypsy moths, caterpillars or egg sacks on their property. Marion Street already has been completed, as well as half of Summit Drive and parts of Washington Street. Volunteers were asked to e-mail Phoebe Smith at smithigdon@comcast.net or call (630) 653-5747 if they could spare some time to help collect information. This fall’s warm weather made it pleasant for volunteers to walk a neighborhood or two.

Kids to craft ornaments

Winfield Park District is offering an ornament-decorating craft class for children ages 3 to 5 and their parents from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11.

Children will decorate ornaments to share with their families. Parents are welcome to join their children for the class.

 Admission is $12 for residents, $17 for nonresidents. Call the Park District office at (630) 653-3811 for information.

New officers pending

The Winfield Chamber of Commerce annual candidate’s night is Tuesday, Nov. 18, in Caliendo’s Restaurant and Bar. Nominating committee members will present a slate of officers. Serving on the committee were Angel Oakley, John Czech, Linda Chirikos and Kathy Doremus. New officers will be sworn in at the annual inaugural dinner in January.

Season ends

All four farmers and most of the nonfood vendors were open on the last day of the farmers market. It was a chilly – and rather sad – morning as customers and vendors said good-bye, adding, “We’ll see you in the spring.”

This year’s market had almost perfect weather, with only one rainy morning since it opened June 4 in the Prairie Trail Shopping Center at County Farm and Geneva roads. This year also had a record number of vendors, 45, nearly making it a one-stop shopping area with the addition of Gloria’s Gourmet meat and fresh eggs. Farmers had an abundance of tomatoes, cucumbers, corn on the cob, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, squash, pumpkins, string beans, apples, cherries, peaches, raspberries, blackberries, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, potatoes, beets and a vast array of apples.

Without a grocery in the village, market customers will now have to drive to West Chicago, Wheaton or Warrenville, paying high gas prices, and, in a few weeks perhaps, dealing with wintry driving conditions. Probably the only person glad the season is over is Winfield Chamber Executive Director Rich Bysina, who said, “I won’t miss getting up at 5 a.m. every Wednesday morning (30 times this season) to sweep up puddles and assist vendors in setting up their booths in the right location.”

Baskets help needy

St. Vincent DePaul of St. John’s Parish is in need of Thanksgiving baskets for the needy in Winfield, Wheaton, West Chicago and Warrenville, reports Mike McGrath  of the St. Vincent DePaul Society. Anyone who wants to adopt a family for Thanksgiving should call St. John’s church office at (630) 668-0918, Ext. 600, and leave name, address and telephone number. The organization provides the about 100 baskets to needy people in the area. Once a donor has been signed up to provide a basket, a letter will be sent to the donor with a sample menu of what to buy for the family, the number of family members and number assigned to the donor’s basket. Baskets are to be dropped off at Sebahar Hall on the lower level of the new church on Liberty Street from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21.