Vol. VII No. 30
Can Maywood turn old Bushwood site into entertainment venue? Village bought golf driving range from county land bank By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter
The former Bushwood Golf Practice Center, 30 Madison St., could become an entertainment venue under the village of Maywood’s plans for the property. The property was purchased by the village in May 2021 from the Cook County Land Bank Authority, records show. According to the records, the Village of Maywood paid $10 for the property, which was used as a landfill prior to becoming a golf range. As reported by Village Free Press in 2019, the family-owned golf range ceased to operate when the owners filed for bankruptcy as it was no longer able to pay a hefty annual property tax bill. In 2017, the taxes were $301,783 annually. The delinquent 8-acre property then became part of the Cook County Land Bank Authority’s inventory of vacant residential, commercial and industrial property. Under the village’s plans, the property could See BUSHWOOD on page 4
JULY 12, 2023
Scouts driving for food PROVIDED
Westchester Boy Scout Troop 73 in May 2023.
Saturday project helps Westchester Food Pantry By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter
As part of their service to the community and part of who Westchester Boy Scout Troop 73 is as people, they have added an additional food drive to their yearly schedule, hosting the ‘Summer Stock Up’ for the Westchester Food Pantry this Saturday. The troops will be helping collect both perishable and non-perishable foods at the Westchester Food Pantry, 1938 S. Mannheim Rd., on Saturday, July 8 from noon to 2 p.m. to help fight food insecurities both in Westchester and surrounding communities.
Kathleen Franzwa, who is on the troop committee as well as being a scout parent, said Troop 73 has already been involved with the food pantry through their volunteering, which they have been doing a few times a week for a couple of months. According to Franzwa, Scout Master Ryan Wright saw the need for food and asked if another drive could be held this summer. Traditionally, the troop hosts food drives near the holidays, often during Thanksgiving season. “The summer months are often the months where people don’t think about donating,” Franzwa said. “Because it is not the holiday time and they are really short on food right now and their numbers are up way high.” The troop’s committee agreed to help
and decided to host the ‘Summer Stock Up’ drive, passing out flyers at the Fourth of July Parade to get the word out and asking people to drop off food on Saturday. There is a lot going on but all the COVID related funding, SNAP, the expansion stopped federally,” Franzwa said. “That and inflation and increased housing and gas costs, Ms. Grant, the executive director of the food pantry, told me she has never seen numbers like this so we need to step up.” Amanda Grant, executive director of the Westchester Food Pantry, said there is a huge need. “Need throughout our area continues to rise,” Grant said. “Inflation, reduction of SNAP benefits and the end of the grocery and gas tax holiday have all See SCOUTS on page 2