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Landscaping for Wildlife
Would you like to attract pollinators and other wildlife to your backyard? Find out how at this exciting presentation by Ryan Maywin, Naturalist with the Downers Grove Park District.  Join us on Tuesday, March 26 at Ballydoyle Irish Pub
and
Restaurant,
5157 Main Street, Downers Grove from 7 to 9 PM. Enjoy a meal and
beverage (order on your own at the restaurant) as Ryan shares which
plants will attract butterflies, songbirds, and other wildlife. He will
focus on trees and shrubs that will be available at local plant sales
this spring, as well as parkway trees recommended by our Village
Forester. Please click here for more information and to register
for this free program.* * * * *
Wilderness & Wildflower Walk Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance is supporting Founders Day this year and celebrating spring with guided a Wilderness & Wildflower Walk in Lyman Woods on Saturday, April 27. Volunteer Naturalist Lance Herning will lead a group of hikers departing at 1:00 PM from the Interpretive Center. The group will be limited to about 18 participants and should expect to spend about 2 hours exploring the woods and fields of this high quality nature preserve. After our recent uncertain weather, the trails may still be muddy in spots so that participants need to dress appropriately. After the walk we will provide refreshments and opportunities for conversation.    You can register now to take part in this special exploration of Lyman Woods. Space is limited. Please reserve your place and make a suggested $10 donation to support educational activities of Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance. *
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Historic Preservation Activities The Village's historic preservation program was revised in 2015, contributing to an increased interest in landmarking homes and other structures. Since then twenty-three buildings have been  The
Village Council unanimously approved landmark status on February 5,
2019
for the H. M. Patton House, 5 Jacqueline Drive at
the request of Judith M. Erickson. Please click here to learn about this English Country
Revival home that was built circa 1927. The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status on August 21, 2018 for the Clifford House, 844 Maple Avenue at the request of Selma Moberg. Please click here to learn about this Gable-Front & Gable-Ell home that was built circa 1876.  The
Village
Council unanimously
approved landmark
status for the Ernest E. Bunge House
at 1514
Thornwood Drive on July 17 at
the request of Jaunita and Pamala Shaw. Please click here to learn about this Craftsman
Bungalow
that was built circa 1927.  The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status for the Engstrom House at 1323 Maple Avenue on May 15 at the request of David and Carol Miller. Please click here to learn about the Engstrom House that was built circa 1924.  The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status on March 13, 2018 for the Gorman-Dum House, 1205 Franklin Street at the request of Kenneth and Kay Hammer. Please click here to learn about this Queen Anne home that was built circa 1895. The Village Council unanimously approved lan  dmark
status for the Cameron House,
4632 Main Street on December 12, 2017 at the request of Brian and Karen
Beechler. Please click here to learn about this Craftsman Bungalow home that was
built circa 1922.
Also on December 12 the
Village Council approved unanimously landmark status for
the Century of Progress House built in 1936 at
1324 Maple Avenue. Please
click here to read information provided by David and Joan Kresl about
their Georgian style home.
Please click here to read about the presentation to Friends Of The Edwards House of the 2017 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Advocacy. Please click here for a complete listing of the 25 buildings that have been granted local landmark status in Downers Grove. * * * * *
PDHA
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public presentation entitled Mysteries
of the Monarch on October 19,
2017. Ken Lerner, PDHA Chair, welcomed everyone and gave a brief
description of our organization and its activities before he introduced
our speaker. You can click here to see Ken's slide presentation.Our speaker was Kim White, who participates in the DuPage Monarch Project and writes The Natural Naturalist blog. Kim told us about the marvelous life cycle of Monarch Butterflies and about the DuPage Monarch Project's work to provide improved habitats for these extraordinary creatures throughout DuPage County.  Kim has volunteered as a docent at Brookfield Zoo for 10 years, followed by 10 years as an employee in their Education Department teaching school groups. Later she worked as a tour guide for a pilgrimage company, taking people to Israel, Egypt, and Europe. After taking 4 years off to care for her beloved in-laws, she is now back to learning and teaching about the natural wonders of the world that can be found in our own backyards. Betty Cheever & Wally Brown Honored Many
organizations and individuals joined forces to honor Betty M. Cheever
and Wallace H. (Wally) Brown with tribute benches in Lyman Woods
Preserve. A celebration of Betty Cheever's and Wally Brown's community
leadership took place on Sunday, May 21, 2017 at the Lyman Woods
Interpretative Center. Please click
here to learn more about this event and the tribute benches honoring
Wally Brown and Betty Cheever. * * * * * Pierce
Downer's
Heritage Alliance is dedicated to preserving the natural and cultural
heritage of Downers Grove. In the past, we have maintained sharp focus
on the natural heritage within our community. Pierce Downer's Heritage
Alliance has been instrumental in the preservation and protection of
Lyman Woods, and Belmont Prairie, which continue as on-going projects.
We
are now also committed to the preservation of cultural aspects of
Downers Grove, including its rich architectural heritage. We work to
accomplish our mission through education as well as community outreach.
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Can you find this house in Downers Grove
and why is it important?
(Click the image for the answer)  Last updated 3/22/2019 |
 
Village
Council Meeting
* * * * *Tuesday, April 9, 2019 Meeting Agenda 7:00 PM, Council Chamber Village Hall 801 Burlington Avenue Downers Grove, IL 60515 * *
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Landscaping for Wildlife PDHA Program Meeting Tuesday, March 26, 2019 7:00 to 9:00 PM Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant 5157 Main Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515 Click Here for Program Details & Free Registration * *
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PDHA Meeting Tuesday, April 23, 2019 7:00 PM, Room 307 Lincoln Center, 935 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515 * * * * * Wildflower Walk Saturday, April 27, 2019 1:00 PM, Lyman Woods Please click here to sign up: Register for Walk * * * * * Click here to read our 2019 Spring Newsletter * * * * * Click here to read our 2018 Winter Newsletter * * * * * Please consider a charitable donation to support educational activities of Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance. Click here to see
Ashley Wurth's slides about Urban Coyotes from our 2016 Annual Meeting. * * * * * Click here to see Michael Lambert's slides on Historic Preservation in Geneva, IL from our 2015 Annual Meeting. * * * * * Click here to learn about beekeeping in Lyman Woods. * * * * * 1846
Blodgett House
An opportunity exists to restore the 1846 Blodgett House, one of the Village's oldest houses reflecting our rich cultural heritage. PDHA supports such efforts to preserve valuable historic resources for future generations. Click here to learn about the 1846 Blodgett House project. * * * * *
Click here to learn more about other local historic preservation activities in Downers Grove. * * * * * Downers Grove Township's Monthly Electronic Recycling Is Continuing in 2019 AVA
E-Recycling is continuing again this year its electronics recycling
program in cooperation with Downers Grove Township Highway Department.
Audio or video cassettes, as well as CD’s, are no longer accepted and all TV’s need to have a prepaid coupon from AVA. Please click here to learn more about the rules for recycling TV's. The next event is scheduled for March 19, and runs from 8 AM to 12 PM at the Highway Garage, 318 Quincy Street, Westmont IL 60559. Other events will follow on the third Saturday of each month at the same time and location, unless that date falls on a holiday weekend. As always the events close promptly at noon and electronics can only be dropped off on event dates. Drop offs outside of designated hours are not allowed. For further information, please call Downers Grove Township Highway Department at (630) 719-6625. |