CHRISTMAS DECORATING CONTEST 2025
3RD WARD ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DECORATING CONTEST 2025!
Fantastic decorations! Thank you to all who participated and helped spread Christmas Cheer throughout the ward.
1st Place: Vince and Dawn Strazzante 2632 Grove. 2nd Place: Serrano family 2627 Grove
3rd Place: Carlos and Lydia 7009 29th Place
1st Place: Vince and Dawn Strazzante 2632 Grove.
2nd Place: Serrano family 2627 Grove
3rd Place: Carlos and Lydia 7009 29th Place
Annual 3rd Ward Picnic 2025
It was a great day for a picnic to close out the season!
Thank you for your support, help, and donations:
Familia Fresh Market https://www.familiafreshmarket.com/ City of Berwyn, Chuck Lazzara, Berwyn Park District
Julian Lazzara, North Berwyn Park District
Thank you to the dignitaries or their representatives for attending and spending time with our residents: Mayor Robert J. Lovero, State Senator Mike Porfirio Senator, Javier Cervantes, State Representative Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez
State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid, and officer Perez with Pawfficer Romeo.
Thank you to everyone who spent time with us on such a beautiful day of food, fun, and camaraderie.
Small Title
Activities With the Alderman
Meet and get pictures with Santa and play games at
CLAW CITY 3200 Oak Park Ave.
Free popcorn & hot chocolate
3rd Ward Cleanup
​ Thank you to who all braved the heat and helped beautify our community on August 9.
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3rd Ward Meeting
11/212025
​ MEETING RECAP:
I held my last quarterly meeting for the year on Friday, November 21 at Heritage Middle School, Berwyn South School District 100
I had a Toys for Tots box and collected a few toys from residents. Thank you for your generosity!
My last meeting of the year is always the Safety Meeting for the residentsBerwyn Police Department.Officer Perez brought Pawfficer Romeo and discussed issues of how our safety concerns change now that we are coming home in the dark, such as staying visible, being cautious and careful of our surroundings. Berwyn, IL Firefighters Local 506 Firefighter Michael Loreto covered tips on seasonal concerns as well, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, safely cooking holiday meals and Christmas decorations. Rodrigo discussed Know Your Rights concerns. I covered things of interest to the residents including Berwyn Township’s Mental Health Program, food sources for those in need, information from Senator Javier Cervantes and Holiday Happenings in Berwyn: the city Tree Lighting on November 24 and my Annual Claw City Christmas Event with Santa Claus. We discussed the Flock Camera and slot machine issues and why SBC Waste Solutions Inc. the New SBC Waste Solutions contract did not result in an immediate rate reduction: The primary factor preventing an immediate rate reduction for residents was the unexpected, higher cost incurred during the transition period. Waste Management (WM) serviced the city for the first three months of the year during the changeover to the new service. During this time, WM charged the city with their new, exceptionally high rate for service delivery. This expense created a substantial financial burden on the city. To help offset these high transition costs, the city made the decision to maintain the residential rate at the previous Waste Management level. The cost of the SBC contract will rise by about 2% per year but the cost for the residents will remain the same throughout the life of the contract. We wished everyone a safe wonderful Holiday Season!
#nobullyzone #servingthecommunity #PeopleBeforePolitics
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RESUMEN DE LA REUNIÓN TRIMESTRAL DEL 3ER DISTRITO:
Tuve mi última reunión trimestral del año el viernes 21 de noviembre en Heritage Middle School. Distrito Escolar 100 de Berwyn South
Tenía una caja de Toys for Tots y recogí algunos juguetes de los residentes. ¡Gracias por tu generosidad!
Mi última reunión del año es siempre la reunión de seguridad para los residentes del Departamento de Policía de Berwyn. El oficial Pérez trajo a Pawfficer Romeo y discutió temas sobre cómo nuestras preocupaciones de seguridad cambian ahora que regresamos a casa en la oscuridad, como permanecer visibles, ser cautelosos y cuidadosos con nuestro entorno. Bomberos de Berwyn, IL El bombero del Local 506, Michael Loreto, también brindó consejos sobre preocupaciones estacionales, como detectores de humo y monóxido de carbono, cómo cocinar comidas navideñas de manera segura y decoraciones navideñas. Rodrigo habló sobre las preocupaciones sobre Conozca sus derechos. Cubrí cosas de interés para los residentes, incluido el Programa de Salud Mental del Municipio de Berwyn, fuentes de alimentos para los necesitados, información del Senador Javier Cervantes y acontecimientos navideños en Berwyn: la iluminación del árbol de la ciudad el 24 de noviembre y mi evento navideño anual de Claw City con Santa Claus. Discutimos los problemas de la cámara Flock y las máquinas tragamonedas y por qué SBC Waste Solutions Inc.
El contrato de New SBC Waste Solutions no resultó en una reducción inmediata de las tarifas: el factor principal que impidió una reducción inmediata de las tarifas para los residentes fue el costo inesperado y mayor incurrido durante el período de transición. Waste Management (WM) prestó servicios a la ciudad durante los primeros tres meses del año durante el cambio al nuevo servicio. Durante este tiempo, WM cobró a la ciudad su nueva tarifa excepcionalmente alta por la prestación de servicios. Este gasto creó una carga financiera sustancial para la ciudad. Para ayudar a compensar estos altos costos de transición, la ciudad tomó la decisión de mantener la tarifa residencial en el nivel anterior de Waste Management. El costo del contrato SBC aumentará aproximadamente un 2% por año, pero el costo para los residentes seguirá siendo el mismo durante toda la vigencia del contrato. ¡Les deseamos a todos unas maravillosas fiestas navideñas!
#nobullyzone #servingthecommunity#PeopleBeforePolitics
Alderman Richard E Leja
I am a 43+ years resident of the 3rd ward and have been a tireless representative of the ward during my first term on the city council. As a retired union painter, with strong ties to Berwyn's union community- as one of their own, I have made serving the community my purpose in life and I put in the hard work every day to support that vision. As alderman, I am committed to being your voice and representative, no matter who you are, where you are from, or what you believe, working hard to make Berwyn a welcoming, safe, and desirable place to live.
Public safety and continued public engagement are at the heart of my vision. I am currently the chairman of the Fire and Police committee on city council where I remain very involved in making constituents voices a priority and in maintaining safe neighborhoods. I have strong ties and support from the police and fire departments, who recognize my commitment to keeping Berwyn safe.
I am particularly committed to maintaining strong relationships with our senior residents, ensuring they feel valued and heard. I am a strong proponent of the proposed senior community center that will greatly enhance the well being and safety of senior residents as well as improve our Senior Services program.
I am an active sponsor of our youth sports programs, attending most games, interacting with parents and families, supplying refreshments at the games and hosting celebrations to honor the players to close out each season.
I am a strong advocate for the use of public green spaces, with a particular emphasis on Proksa Park. I envision all these areas as hubs for green initiatives, promoting environmental sustainability and community well-being. My plans include expanding the use of these spaces for recreational activities, community events, and educational opportunities. Recently, as Alderman I used my voice to advocate on behalf of our Park district in their application to the OSLAD Grant Review Committee, helping the District win this important grant that means so much for the future of Proksa Park and our city, benefiting residents of all ages. Working on more green spaces and open lands including put through a moratorium on building on land less than 30’ wide, helping to mitigate flooding in Berwyn- early in my first term.
I attend nearly every district 100 school board meeting, visit schools and attend student functions and activities. Spending time with families, teachers, crossing guards and school officials led to my discovering that we were dangerously low on crossing guards protecting our students. With the Blessing of the mayor and help from the Berwyn Marketing Department, I created an initiative to raise awareness of our crossing guards and their diminished numbers while promoting their recruitment. I began this initiative early in 2024 and have raised our crossing guard count by over 50% in less than a year.
As your Alderman I will continue to be a leader who combines experience, passion, and a genuine dedication to the growth, prosperity and safety of our community.
