February 2014 - Oakhurst Community Association

Oakhurst
ORACLE
The Newsletter of the Oakhurst Community Association
From the Board
very year the Board of Directors puts
together a budget, forecasting
expenses as well as income. We
wrestle with the challenges of an aging
community, the ravages of winter and the
disease to the plant material.
By now everyone should have received the
Oakhurst Annual Assessment billing, payable
in March 2014. Without your support and
cooperation in paying this in a timely fashion,
we are somewhat hindered in what can be
accomplished.
As previously reported in the Oracle, the
stadium display at Eola and McCoy has to be
updated, the monument walls need some
major repair and/or replacement and the
dead and diseased trees and plant material
have to be removed and replaced.
We thank you in advance for your prompt
payment.
February 2014
E
Oakhurst Board of Directors
FRIENDLY COMMUNITY REMINDERS!
• Annual assessments are due by March 15th.
• Homeowners are responsible for providing the
Oakhurst Community Association with any change of
address.
• Residents should shovel their sidewalks as a courtesy
to their neighbors.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
OCA Representatives ......................2
Meetings in 2014 ............................3
Community Calendar ......................3
Classified Ads ..................................4
Lovely Lines ....................................6
Alderman’s Corner ..........................7
AYSO Soccer ..................................8
Nose Knews is Bad News ................9
City of Aurora News ....................10
WVHS Auction 2014 ....................11
Youth Directory ............................12
Youth Tennis ................................14
Tennis Registration ......................15
Holiday Flag Service......................16
Steck Kindergarten Night..............17
Steck Carnival................................17
Oaks Recreational Club ................17
Fischer Family Fun Run................17
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February 2014
Oakhurst Oracle
Oakhurst Community Association Representatives
Updated February 2014
Elected Board of Directors
Oakhurst Property Management
Bill Bernard, President
Connie Gallagher, Vice President
Bernard Biernacki, Secretary
Jeffrey Johnson, Treasurer
Clifton Mason, Director
Claudia Schmidt, Director
630-240-1052
630-499-9923
630-820-8414
Baum Property Management
Manager, Tina Straits
630-897-0500 X 1829
Tina@baumprop.com
P.O. Box 46, Aurora, IL 60507
630-220-0137
630-499-7869
Single-Family Neighborhoods
Ashbrook
OPEN POSITION
Doug Lucas
630-978-1314
630-585-1028
Mayfair
Bill Poppe*
OPEN POSITION
Aspen
Sue Ellen Gerchman
Charlotte Dockstader
630-585-0440
630-851-8118
Stanfield
Lewis Bullock*
OPEN POSITION
630-978-8265
Autumn Meadows
Jim Valastro*
Jeffrey Zalc
630-898-5151
630-851-7367
Breckenridge
Lynn Minnis*
Bill Chinetti
OPEN POSITION
630-978-4712
630-368-4493
Carriage Estates
Karyn Mrozek*
Barb Garitty
OPEN POSITION
630-978-0199
630-851-2687
Inverness
Rick Mervine
Linda Grula
Robin Church
Noel Houghton
Summerfield
Debbie Beaty*
Debbie Basak
Bill Bernard
630-898-4826
630-851-1624
630-240-1052
The Woods
Duane Pifko*
OPEN POSITION
Wild Meadows
Steve Bosco*
Abha Dey
630-820-6673
630-898-9457
630-236-9843
630-851-5633
630-585-8694
630-499-9899
630-788-5638
Multi-Family Neighborhoods
Autumn Lakes Condo Assn.
Connie Gallagher
Country Homes of Oakhurst Assn.
Janet Begeman*
Judy George
Heather Glen Assn.
James Rogers
The Townes of Oakhurst Homeowners Assn.
Andrea Wasielewski
The Townes of Oakhurst Condo Assn.
Karen Troller*
Hunters Glen Apartments
Bob Gleason, Manager*
Abington Woods
OPEN POSITION*
* Voting Representative
www.oakhurstcommunity.org
630-499-9923
630-692-1040
630-851-4714
630-898-4238
630-907-7673
630-897-0500 x1829
312-335-2637
APD Officer Mike Townsend #218
p. 630-356-5385 f. 630-356-5339 c. 630-675-1690
Email townsenm@apd.aurora.il.us
Oakhurst Community Association Committees
Architectural Modification
Landscape
Recreation
Traffic
Oakhurst Oracle Newsletter
Bill Poppe, Chairperson
Claudia Schmidt, Chairperson
OPEN
Rick Mervine, Chairperson
Robin Church, Editor
630-978-1314
630-499-7869
630-851-5633
630-499-9899
February 2014
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Oakhurst Oracle
ATTENTION OAKHURST RESIDENTS!
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Author Jo Fredell Higgins, a resident of Oakhurst, is
writing her 9th book. "Legendary Locals:Geneva" will
focus on leadership, past and present and will be
published by Arcadia Publishing.
If you know leaders in Geneva, IL, please contact her at
poetrylady45@yahoo.com or call 630-851-4401.
Do you know someone who leads a Geneva civic
organization, a church, a school, a scout troop, a communityminded person? I would like to contact them and possibly
include them in this book. Arcadia likes to include ordinary
citizens also who have made an impact in the business
community, the neighborhoods, or any significent contributions
to life in Geneva.Do you know a family who has lived in
Geneva for decades and made an impact to better
the lives of others?
MEETINGS IN 2014
Oakhurst Community Association
Oaks Clubhouse at 7pm
April 22 • July 22
September 23 • October 21
Send articles for submission, non-profit club &
group notices, working youth listings and
classified ads such as
For Sale and Lost & Found to:
newsletter@oakhurstcommunity.org
or
The Oakhurst Oracle
c/o The Oakhurst Community Association
2218 Ogden Avenue, P.O. Box 113
Aurora, IL 60504
February to May 2014
02/14
Happy Valentine's Day!
02/17
Presidents Day • No School
02/27
Parent-Teacher Conferences • No School
02/28
Institute Day • No School
03/04
Happy Mardi Gras!
03/07
WVHS PTA Silent Auction
White Eagle Country Club
3400 Club Dr, Naperville • 7p-12a
03/09
Daylight Savings Time begins • "Spring ahead" at 2a
03/15
Steck Carnival Extravaganza
Steck, 460 Inverness Dr • 11a-3p
03/15
Oakhurst Assessments Due
03/16
Oakhurst AYSO Soccer
Registration Closes • www.oakhurstsoccer.org
03/17
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
03/18
School Improvement Planning • No School
03/19
Ward 8 Meeting, 7p • Fire Station 8, 3770 McCoy Dr
03/20
First Day of SPRING!
03/31
Spring Break Begins
04/07
School Resumes
04/07
Oakhurst AYSO Soccer
Season Begins
04/10
Kindergarten Parent Preview Night
Steck, 460 Inverness Dr • 6-7:30p
04/18
Local Holiday • No School
04/22
Oakhurst OCA Meeting • Oaks Club, 7p
05/03
Fischer Family Fun Run
05/11
Happy Mother's Day!
05/17
Fine Arts Festival
WVHS, 2590 Ogden Ave • 8a-4p
DEADLINE IS THE 26TH OF EACH MONTH
COMMERCIAL ADVERTISERS CONTACT
Preferred Business Services, Inc.
971 Waterside Court • Aurora, IL 60502
630-585-9340 • Fax 630-585-8232
E-mail: fosterpbs@msn.com • pbspublications.com
DEADLINE FOR AD COPY IS THE 15TH OF EACH MONTH
Publication of paid advertisements in this newsletter are
not an endorsement or recommendation of any advertised
product or service. The Oakhurst Community Association
is neither responsible nor liable for the content of any
advertisement published, herein.
4
February 2014
Oakhurst Oracle
Kitchens for the Average Joe & Jane
H
ave you put off doing your
kitchen long enough? Is this
the year you have vowed to do
something with your cabinets? Have the
horror stories of kitchen remodeling made
you afraid to even think about it? With
prices approaching and surpassing $100,000
for full kitchen remodeling, it is no wonder
the Average Joe and Jane feel a little
overwhelmed.
Enter Kitchen TuneUp. This nationally
based, locally owned franchised company in
Downers Grove, owned and operated by
Marty Ceranec offers “Kitchen Solutions for
any Budget.” “I think some people get
sticker shock when they look at the price of
redoing their kitchen, says Ceranec, but
there are many, many ways to update the
kitchen without breaking the bank.
Sometimes people are overwhelmed by all
of the options. We work with clients every
day who have the same anxieties.”
For seventeen years, Marty has been
redoing kitchens and saving homeowners
thousands of dollars by coming up with
creative solutionis for their kitchens. He
must know what he’s talking about. Since
joining Kitchen TuneUp (KTU) based in
Aberdeen, SD in 1994, he has won 6 monthly
Customer Service Awards, Rookie of the
year award in 1994. Franchise of the year
award in 2000 and Customer Service Award
of the year in 2008.
“We are successful because we stick
with the basics such as returning phone
calls, showing up on time, and completing
the work as promissed. This doesn’t sound
difficult, but is often lacking in the
contracting business,” says Marty. That,
plus the ability to offer many different
options and price points powers his
business. “We are not trying to sell our
clients more than it takes to accomplish
their goals according to their budgetary
needs. We like to think of ourselves as the
experts in minor kitchen remodeling.”
KTU can provide anything from the
Signature Kitchen TuneUp which restores
your existing cabinetary, to a full blown
design and remodel. “Most of our work last
year was in the refacing and door
replacement category,” he added. “I have a
great stain guy who can stain new doors to
the color of existing cabinets. An instant new
look!” They also offer upgrades such as glass
doors, tip out trays, rollout trays, as well as
counters in laminate, solid surface, granite
and quartz (Cambria).
When questioned about any regrets,
Ceranec replies, “We often get calls to
update the kitchen when the owner is ready.
We always wonder why
they didn’t do it earlier so
they could have enjoyed
it sooner.”
Please take the time to visit our Website at kitchentuneup.com to learn all about our company and
what we can do for you and your kitchen.
For a FREE consultation call Marty at 630-985-0858.
Marty Ceranec
Local Owner
CLASSIFIED ADS
WANTED - Looking for someone to pick up and drop my first grader from
home to Steck elementary school (morning and evening). Contact Sue at
630-731-1243.
FOR SALE - Durasol SunShelter retractable awning. Width 15ft; projection 10ft.
Motorized operation with wireless remote control. Fabric color is forest green and
sand. 7 years old -- great condition. Call Bobbe at 630-820-6701
FOR SALE - Girls pink radio flyer vespa $20. Girls pink radio flyer 3 wheel scooter $15. Little Tikes Light up
tracing drawing art desk and chair $20. Vintage solid wood desk, 7 drawers, 54x22 $75. Nikon Camera Coolpix
S9100 used but in box w/accessories $ 70. Nikon Camera Coolpix 5200 used but in box w/accessories $50.
Ask for Joy or Bobbe at 630-820-6701
FOR SALE - Imperial Masonry fireplace doors, polished brass finish. Fits opening 30 in.to 38 1/2 in. wide by 21
to 31 in. tall. Overall size 39 1/4 in. w x 31 1/4 in. tall, never used $175. Sells at The Home Depot for about
$250 minimum. 2GB memory DDR RAM memory cards. Improve desktop PC performance $15. Toys Medieval Castle with knights, dinosaurs - lots of them! Photos available. Call Jim at 630-661-1029.
FOR SALE - Pool bond. Please contact Steve at 630-881-0816.
FOR SALE - Pool bond. All dues paid in full. Summer is just around the corner. Contact
Jon at 630-851-2323.
FOR SALE - Sears Kenmore Elite side by side stainless refrigerator. 68” high, 35 ½” wide, 30” deep, ice and
water through the door. Very good condition. Asking $500. Call Sue or Paul at 630-204-9477 after 4:00 p.m.
February 2014
5
Oakhurst Oracle
SAVE
$30.00
This
certificate is
valid for
$30 OFF of
any labor
over $135 on
services
provided by
Mr.
Handyman.
630-820-9920
callhandyman@comcast.net
6
February 2014
Oakhurst Oracle
Lovely Lines
Cookie Cutters
t will soon be time to bake the
sugar cut-out cookies for
Valentine’s Day.
Some will be heart shaped, some
round, some as stars. Sprinkled with
red and white decorations and ready
for delivery. I have been a baker for
the Fox Valley Hospice for twenty
years now. I knew I could not handle
direct patient contact, but I could
bake. When my best friend “Mom”
Marion Furnas died at age 95 in 1992,
I attended grief sessions sponsored
by the Hospice to help me cope with
her passing. I thought one way I
could honor her memory was to
become a volunteer.
I must confess that I have more
cookie cutters than a person should
have. They fill a large wicker basket
to over-flowing and are indicative of
every season. They are positioned on
the high soffit with little white
Christmas lights interwoven and in
other places in the kitchen. I cannot
seem to look at a cookie cutter
without wanting it. My particular
favorites are the Father Christmas
ones with a pack on his back. If I see
one at a garage sale, it has to come
home. I have cookie cutters that are
made of aluminum and tin and glass
and plastic and copper and various
other metals. They are many colored
and sizes. I have taken small ones
I
and covered with red gingham fabric
to hang on my Valentine tree or
Christmas tree. Alas, I do not have
any of Aunt Helen’s cookie cutters.
Wonder what happened to them?
“Cookie shaping has been
recognized as a folk art in Europe for
centuries,” says Phyllis Wetherill,
author of Cookie Cutters and Cookie
Molds: Art in the Kitchen. In western
Europe, elaborately cut and
decorated cookies have marked
festive occasions. In Germany wellbehaved children are rewarded with
batches of lebkuchen shaped like
hearts or St. Nicholas and trimmed
with red and white icing.
As early as 2000 B.C. there were
Egyptian ceramic or wooden baking
molds that were used to make
biscuits or cakes. In the 16th century
the popularity of the gingerbread
man started to rise. Documented
history accounts for the first
gingerbread biscuits in the court of
Queen Elizabeth I of England. She
had the cookies made as miniature,
edible replicas of some of her more
esteemed guests. By the 1800s tin
cookie cutters were sold from shops
and from peddlers. Machinery was
developed in the United States and
Europe to manufacture them in the
mid-1800s.
The first American cookie cutters
were typically made from scrap tin.
Apprentice tinsmiths were given the
task of shaping circles and squares,
while master craftsmen lent their
artistry to the more intricate designs.
The subjects were familiar to the
early settlers and were of farm
animals, flowers, vegetables and
common folk. Of course, now those
early cookie cutters sell for high
prices. A rare piece titled “Running
Slave” was auctioned off at a 1989
Jo Fredell Higgins
estate sale for $7,400.
The handmade cutters were
replaced by manufactured metal
versions in the mid-nineteenth
century. By 1940 plastic versions
were popular. Today, there is a large
number of people who search for, bid
on and buy cookie cutters simply to
collect them. There is an official
Cookie Cutter Collectors Club that
meets regularly and sponsors events.
There are at least a couple of Cookie
Cutter Museums and there is a
“National Cookie Cutter Week”
during the first week of December.
Who knew? There was a couple
living in Pennsylvania who collected
over 600 cookie cutters. They were
still looking for a wheelbarrow
cookie cutter when interviewed for
Bon Appetit magazine in 1991.
So, it is almost time to begin.
Using Aunt Helen’s sugar cookie
recipe with real butter and the best
sugar and vanilla, the dough will be
fashioned. Then the rolling pin
comes out of the cabinet and the
various shaped Valentine cutters will
be used. After the cookies cool, it
will be time to frost and decorate. I
have a list of about a dozen friends
who will receive a plate of the
finished product. I will take to the
children at the Aurora Township
Youth Center and to the family of
seven, with five children under the
age of seven. I can put in clear
gylceen bags and tie with red
ribbons.
This is a wonderful way to spend
a morning as winter still bellows its
way around us. The new Susan Boyle
album “Standing Ovation” will
provide the background music. I will
put on Molly’s red apron and feel
like it is old times. Aunt Helen and I
are together, still baking cookies.
Jo Fredell Higgins is an internationally published and award-winning writer, photographer, historian and essayist.
Jo’s ninth book will be released next year.
February 2014
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Oakhurst Oracle
r
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Alderman’s
Rick Mervine
Alderman 8th Ward • www.MyWard8.com • AldermanMervine@aol.com 331-452-5136
Ward 8 Committee Meeting
Wednesday, March 19th, 7 PM
Fire Station 8, McCoy at Gregory
All residents of the 8th Ward of Aurora are invited
to attend. You can expect updates on City of
Aurora programs, budget, and information about
issues of concern in the 8th Ward.
Is It Over Yet?
As I write this some two weeks before you read it, the
winter’s second Polar Vortex is swirling outside, winds up to 45
+ MPH and the mercury is plunging below zero for the
umpteenth time! School has been cancelled due to weather,
again, and we just had our second snow fall of the day, AGAIN!
Aurora just fought its 27th snow battle of the season (we
usually average 14 or 15, fewer than 10 in the last two years).
Salt suppliers don’t have enough salt supplies here in northern
Illinois but with temperatures under 15 degrees, salt has little
affect anyway. While we stayed under budget in the last few
years for plowing and salt, that won’t be the case this year. As
an example, the multiple day storm near New Year’s cost the
city some $530,000, less than $30,000 of it in salt since it was so
cold. Yes, this will be a budget issue, something we will have to
deal with over the next 11 months.
Pay attention to the robo calls from the city about extreme
conditions and check the city’s web site at www.Aurora-il.org or
the 8th Ward web site at www.MyWard8.com for information.
Until this is over, drive carefully, slow down and remember you
have had a great deal of experience driving in snow this season
– put that experience to work for you. Let Customer Service
know about any pot holes: call (630) 256-INFO (4636) or online
at www.Aurora-il.org, click on Customer Service and submit a
report.
it this one won’t work like it should on the weekends? After 18
months of replacing components, controllers and
reprogramming, there was only one thing left to do – replace
the entire system. That’s what happened the last week of
January. This better work.
The traffic light synchronization project on Eola south of
New York Street to Wolf’s Crossing is not yet complete. While
most old or temporary traffic signals have been replaced, the
last fiber optic connections are being made and the system
programmed. The restoration of the ground work will take
place in the Spring.
New traffic signals are back on track on Montgomery Road
at the CN railroad tracks and Normantown Road. Working out
some of the details with the railroad took longer than expected
but should be underway as the weather breaks. All lights there
will be synchronized with the trains and the crossing gates when
complete.
Traffic signals will be less of a problem on Stadium
Boulevard from the Rte. 59 Train Station south to New York
Street. The new stretch of road eliminates traffic lights or stop
signs in that stretch with the exception of Liberty. This was
done in an effort to provide a second way in/out of the train
station parking lot that would move lots of cars safely. The final
connection to the lot (without having to drive an additional
block down the road) will be completed in the next 18 months.
Community Policing
Year end crime numbers are in for 2013. It has been
another good year with crime dropping in Aurora again. For our
area (roughly one third of the city), most of the numbers were
in double digit declines over 2012. Only robberies were up with
2 more in 2013 than 2012. Here is a sample:
Burglary Down 47%
Theft Down 17%
Stolen Vehicles Down 65%
Arson Down 83%
Sexual Assaults Down 23%
Traffic Signals
I’ve had a few questions about the traffic lights at New York
Street & Eola. With hundreds of traffic signals in the city, why is
Still more work to be done but certainly headed in the right
direction again in 2013.
No texting, stay focused and SLOW DOWN!
Look up, focus on the road and Keep Them
Alive, DRIVE 25! Remember, 20 MPH in the
SCHOOL ZONE when children are present!
It is my pleasure to serve our 8th Ward,
Rick Mervine, 8th Ward Alderman
AldermanMervine@aol.com (331) 452-5136
Customer Service Line: (630) 256-INFO (4636)
(M – F, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
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Oakhurst Oracle
February 2014
February 2014
9
Oakhurst Oracle
Nose news is bad news
By Ann E. Funck
uring the four hours I was at
the doctor’s clinic, more than
one nurse asked brightly,
“How do you keep busy?” As if anyone
would have to TRY to keep busy -- or even
want to!
I was trying to not think of all the stuff
I was putting off that day because the
bridge of my nose was being “scraped” of
squamous cancer cells. The lab down the
hall would examine the scrapings for up to
an hour to see if all the cancer was caught
and, if not, another attempt would ensue. I
had two “Mohs procedures” back to back.
I interrogated every one of the blackuniformed gals in and out of my room
throughout those endless hours. The staff
had majored in psychology; all were
unbearably discreet and cheerful. They
were also models, with perfect noses.
I was whining about my cancerous
plight, but they were continually upbeat.
Each had a second major: theatre.
What’s wrong with this picture? I was
watching the cast from Mel Brooks’
musical The Producers -- the epitome of
irony. In black thigh-high boots, they were
goose-stepping to “Springtime for Hitler.”
I felt guilty not breaking into song and
dance with them.
Somehow I managed to eek out the big
reveal that I might need a skin graft AND
the ear was a common place for that
procedure. I assumed it would be the skin
on the ear’s backside.
Finally, the doctor and all the staff
crowded into my room. There were no
smiles. The doctor pulled at the bits of
remaining skin on either side of my nose
with his thumb and first finger. “You’ll
need to see a plastic surgeon.”
Before I was allowed to escape, I was
instructed to sleep nearly upright on six
pillows, not lean over, strain, exercise, or
drink alcohol. Also, I was fitted with a
“bolster” or “pressure” bandage over what
was left of my nose. Suffice it to say, a
Walmart Jumbo Pillow would look dinky
in comparison.
When a visiting neighbor saw it the
next day, it was an hour before she said,
“It’s not so bad.”
If you can recall wayward Rep.
D
Anthony Weiner’s prominent profile
(above the waist), well, mine was worse.
Miraculously -- and with much
begging on the phone -- I snagged an
appointment with the recommended
plastic surgeon the very next evening. I
sped to his office, peeking out at the road
between my fingers, desperate to hide my
proboscis, knowing that no cop with
decent vision would dare stop me. Just
hours before, my granddaughter took one
short look at me and blurted, “They’ll get
out the torches and pitchforks.”
Now the plastic surgeon pried off the
heavy bolster and assessed the glistening,
bloody meat that was my nose. Maybe he
was considering taking the skin graft from
a buttock or two -- my body parts massive
enough for coverage. I needed a drink.
“I’ll take some skin in front of your
ear; it will heal like a crease from a facelift,”
he told me. I made a mental note to beg
him for a true facelift during the surgery, at
least on that one side, since it would be just
a “local” -- actually two: one for carving
out the graft and one for sewing it on the
nose.
Only a heart transplant lets you avoid
witnessing your own surgery.
Will I have to regularly shave the
cheek peach-fuzz from my nose graft? Or
check Amazon for The Lone Ranger mask?
The surgeon was handsome and so
pleasant. He happily makes eye contact
with bandages and without.
“Can you make my nose shorter?” I
asked -- hoping for less Bette Midler.
“I don’t do cosmetic surgery at the
same time,” he replied, turning back to his
laptop to type away. Maybe the word
“Picky” to my file.
He knew we’ll meet again for cosmetic
affairs. Who wants to look haggard -- and
ten years older than I actually am due to
years of rebuffed attempts to befriend
computers and printers?
Two weeks before, I had basal cell
surgery on my calf, resulting in eight
stitches. That trauma has completely faded
since this nose news.
The morning of the skin graft surgery,
I removed all jewelry; an ID band was
strapped on my wrist in case I died a
stranger. I was busy praying the surgeon
was ambidextrous. Sinatra crooned as I
was rolled into the room.
“What’s with Sinatra? I’m not that
old,” I lied. Then, remembering Billie
Holiday (even older), I asked for jazz. The
surgeon sliced and stitched for 90 minutes
to scat and erotic lyrics. He got three
cellphone calls.
After the first hour, I had a slight
tightness in my chest that I volunteered
like a fool and earned myself an EKG and a
stress test appointment. Of course, the
hysteria I repressed was because the doctor
wasn’t crafting a new, Barbie Doll nose; he
was grafting my old Mohs nose.
If you meet me, you needn’t mention
the sideburn I’ll cultivate to hide the scar
along my ear (formerly my best feature) on
the facelift side.
I was anxious to sleep horizontal after
struggling with six pillows for a week. My
favorite sleep position had always been on
my side with my top knee stuck out to keep
from rolling over -- like a bicycle kickstand.
In a few days, my brother-in-law
called to see if I survived.
“The doctor cut off the bright yellow
pin-cushion pressure bandage today,” I
said. “It had been stitched to my nose!
When he pulls the graft stitches out, I’ll
have enough pores for all four generous
noses on Mount Rushmore.
“He won’t let me wear a thing over the
graft -- even a discreet doily. The stitch
thread is purple. I can’t be seen at church
tomorrow -- they’d drop the chalice. I’m
Elephant Man. We canceled Skype.”
“How does she look?” he asked his
brother Rich. “Is she really going to wear a
bag over her head?”
“I’ll just tell you that when we kiss
goodnight, all lights are off.”
My patched nose is still bad news. I
hope it IS swollen, and will shrink. No
more arm candy. I’ve left orders for a
closed casket.
“My cheek near my ear feels numb
and sometimes my stinkin’ nose twitches
and tingles,” I confided to our daughter
Nancy, feeling my face.
“Sounds like a phantom-limb thingy,”
Nancy said, jerking her shoulder and
dangling arm around. “I wouldn’t worry
till your nose is ringing and your ear is
running.”
Until then, I’ll “keep busy” comparing
sunscreens and make-up. With make-up,
I’ll think young and try the hot brands
Urban Decay and Too Faced. Either one
sounds like me.
Fifteen years of Ann's monthly true tales are now in a book titled, A CHEAP SEXY CAR & More Serious Humor.
Entertainment for everyone, it is 450 pages and $20 hand-delivered -- or $25 if mailed. For a copy, please email her at rfunck222@msn.com or call 630 820-9896.
10
City of Aurora
Oakhurst Oracle
axãá
REGIONAL SALT SHORTAGE AFFECTING CITY’S
SNOW PLOWING
The “one-two punch” of this winter’s above average snowfall
and below average temperatures are creating challenges for
Aurora’s street maintenance crews as they deal with a regional
shortage of salt used to help clear the City’s 2100 lane miles of
roads during winter storms.
With several days of bitter cold temperatures and additional
snow, officials are alerting residents that the use of salt for the
foreseeable future will be focused on primary streets with very
conservative salting taking place in residential areas. The
residential streets are very likely to remain snow covered in the
event of more snow, but they will be drivable according to
officials, and motorists will have to use extra caution. Salting is
also less effective when temperatures are below 20 degrees.
Aurora, like many municipalities, receives salt through the
Illinois Joint Purchasing Program. Supplies throughout the state
are at low levels resulting in shortages of road salt across the
Northern Illinois region.
Drivers are reminded to slow down and allow extra space
between vehicles when driving in winter weather and be extra
cautious at intersections and on hills and bridges. They are also
urged to be especially careful when interacting with snow plows,
staying a minimum of 75 feet behind the trucks and never
attempting to pass them. Even where roads appear to be wet,
drivers need to be mindful of “black ice” which causes roadways
to be slick.
Aurora officials are also reminding residents of the city’s
snowfall ordinance which was enacted to assure safe and
effective snow plowing. It dictates the ticketing and possible
towing of any vehicle parked on a public street or alley during or
after a snowfall of two inches or more. Failure to comply can lead
to a ticket and vehicle tow that will cost a minimum of $150.00,
plus applicable storage and release fees, depending on the time
of the infraction. City streets and alleyways are not considered
plowed until the lane of traffic nearest the curb has been cleared.
The City has already responded to 25 snow events so far
this year. At this time last year, response was only required to
four snow events and in the 2011-2012 season, six events had
been addressed to date. Approximately 13,500 tons of salt have
been used so far which is close to the average amount of salt
used during an entire season. Officials say there is enough salt
on hand for the immediate future but the current forecast will
obviously further impact salt supplies.
LOW-COST PET WELLNESS CLINICS RETURN IN
2014
The popular monthly, low-cost pet wellness clinics return for
2014 after nearly 2,200 animals were treated last year at the City
of Aurora’s Animal Control and Care Division.
Just Animals, a local non-profit, no kill animal shelter, is
providing vaccinations to dogs and cats, heartworm tests,
discounted heartworm prevention medicine, Feline
Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) tests and micro-chipping for Aurora
area pet owners. The clinics are held between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
on the second Saturday of each month rain or shine at Aurora
Animal Control, 600 S. River St.
February 2014
The services are available by appointment only and can be
arranged by calling Just Animals at 815-830-6568 and leaving a
message. Agency representatives will then call back and confirm
an appointment time. More information on the clinics is available
by calling Aurora Animal Control at 630-256-3630.
Just Animals is a volunteer-based group that is based in
Seneca. All the organization’s funding comes from donations and
fundraisers. For more information on the group, visit
www.justanimals.org.
For more information about Aurora’s Animal Control and pet
ordinances, visit the City’s website at www.aurora-il.org.
AURORA ANNOUNCES 2014 ELECTRONIC
RECYCLING DATES
The City of Aurora is again encouraging residents to safely
recycle their old and unwanted electronics this year after
collecting more than 156 tons – the equivalent weight of the
Statue of Liberty – in 2013.
The City began providing free electronics recycling to
residents in 2010 and expanded the program year-round in 2012
when a state law took effect barring electronics from being
disposed of in landfills.
This year’s collection events will be held from 9 a.m. to 1
p.m. on the following Saturdays:
Customer Service Center, 3770 McCoy Drive
February 8, March 15, April 12, May 10, June 7, July 12, August
9, September 13, October 11, November 8 and December 6.
Central Garage, 720 N. Broadway Ave.
February 15, March 29, April 26, May 24, June 21, July 26,
August 23, September 27, October 25, November 15 and
December 20.
Eligible electronics that will be collected include monitors,
computers (both PC and Mac), laptops, televisions, printers, fax
machines, scanners, computer accessories (mouses, keyboards
and modems), video game consoles, telephones, answering
machines, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), MP3
players, cameras, camcorders, servers and networking
equipment, DVD players, stereos, and VCRs. Microwaves are
the only kitchen appliances accepted for recycling.
Large appliances such as air conditioners, stoves,
refrigerators, freezers; smaller appliances including toasters and
coffee makers; and household hazardous waste materials are not
accepted.
Vintage Tech Recyclers, the City’s vendor, continues to offer
front-door collection service to Aurora residents by appointment
only. The list of eligible electronics remains the same, but a
maximum of 10 items – with at least one item being a television,
computer or printer – will be accepted per pickup.
Appointments can be scheduled by calling 630-305-0922
between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents will
need to provide their names, addresses and phone numbers
along with item count for collection. All electronics should be
placed at the front door before 7 a.m. on the scheduled collection
day.
The home electronics recycling collection is available for
those who have front doors at ground level. The service is not
available to second floor or higher units. For more information,
visit vintagetechrecyclers.com.
For more information on City
of Aurora collection events, call
the Customer Service Center at
630-256-INFO.
February 2014
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Oakhurst Oracle
& Associates, CPA’s
Accountants & Consultants
• Individual and Business taxes
• Taxes prepared by experienced CPA’s & EA’s
• Tax Planning & Strategy
• IRS and State Audit Representation
• Competitive and reasonable rates
St. Patrick’s Residence
Annual St. Patrick’s Day
“Come To Mom’s House” Party
Sunday, March 2nd • 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Residence • 1400 Brookdale Road • Naperville
Irish musicians, Irish and Scottish dancers, games and face
painting for the children, raffle and more. Irish soda bread from
Winston’s Market, corned beef sandwiches and hot dogs Grand
Prize of airfare to Ireland for two and other Irish surprises. All
proceeds will benefit St. Patrick’s Residence. For more
information contact Madelene Bernar at 630-416-6565, ext. 511.
Box Top Contest!
Collect Box Tops, Campbell's Labels and Tyson's Project A+
labels. Classroom contest starts February 10th and ends
February 21st. Start saving your labels now so your child's
classroom could win wristbands to the spring carnival!!!
Any questions, contact Morgan Trotter at
trotter927@hotmail.com.
12
February 2014
Oakhurst Oracle
WORKING YOUTH DIRECTORY
NAME
ABINGTON WOODS
Kevin Lubinski
ASHBROOK
Friday Gervais
Tori Hall
Achint Nagasamudra
Alex Tabb
Sonja Tabb
Juliana Yaacoub
AUTUMN MEADOWS
Kelly Ellam
Mike Ellam
Drew Ellam
Nikki Ellam
Alexia Lyons
Natalie Lyons
Zachary Lyons
BRECKENRIDGE
Tara Dillinger
Carla Dillinger
Christian Freitag
Natalie Freitag
Ryan Kallas
Andrew Kallas
Richard Poterack
Ally Reilly
CARRIAGE ESTATES
Madeline Butler
Adam Krusic
Jessica Groves
Kim Groves
HUNTERS GLEN
Chelsea Dean
INVERNESS
Caroline Church
Natalie Church
Kristen Dodson
Caitlin Fernandez
Alexis Gottschalk
Madison Herman
Shelby Herr
Calvin Houghton
Lincoln Houghton
Quincy Houghton
Morgan Kemerling
Casey Kemerling
Aleksandra Masiak
Jordan Masiak
Remington Rook
PHONE
SERVICE
630-770-2254
B,MH,P,Y,O,V
630-820-3329
630-898-9295
630-978-1781
630-978-1571
630-978-1571
815-341-1784
B,MH,P,V
B,P,MH,V
B,P,Y,O,V
Y,O
B-RC,MH
B,P,V
630-851-9029
630-851-9029
630-851-9029
630-851-9029
630-898-6160
630-898-6160
630-898-6160
B-RC,P,MH,V
B,Y,P,O,V
B,Y,P,O,V
B,P,MH,O,V
B-RC,P,V
B-RC,P,V
B,Y,P,O
630-236-6320
630-236-6320
630-499-1839
630-499-1839
630-820-8790
630-820-8790
630-585-0384
630-585-5111
B-RC,P,V
B,P,MH,V
B,P,Y,O,V
P,V
P,V,O,Y
P,V
B,P,MH,O,V
B,MH,P,O,V
630-373-5232
630-499-5431
630-851-8326
630-851-8326
B-RC,MH,P,V
Y,P
MH,V
B,MH
630-962-9708
B,Y,MH,V
630-499-9899
630-499-9899
630-820-4065
630-898-7214
630-851-5169
630-585-6855
630-978-1060
630-715-2038
630-715-0098
630-820-1971
630-499-0437
630-499-0437
630-236-6434
630-236-6434
630-585-6788
B-RC,P,Y,O,V
P
B,P
B-RC,MH,P,Y,O,V
P,MH,O,V
B,P,MH,O,V
B,P
Y,O,V,SR
B-RC,Y,P,O,V,SR
MH,P
B,Y,P,MH,O,V
Y,P,O,V
B-RC,MH,Y,O,V
B,Y,P,MH,O,V
B,P,MH,O
NAME
Katie Rumrey
INVERNESS
Jennifer Vickers
Allison Vickers
Emily Vickers
Lauren Vivian
Amy Walsh
Abe Weisler
Sam Weisler
Jonah Weisler
MAYFAIR
Sarah Anas
Katie Caputo
Kayla Cordes
Kendra Diehl
Audra Diehl
Emily Flori
Lucas Flori
Scott Hoglund
Amy Lenenfeld
Kaitlyn Manion
Hanna McIntosh
Allison Readnour
Paige Readnour
Connor Readnour
Schuyler Staub
Ginna White
Anne Wesley
STANFIELD
Julia Beer
Nicholas Brunelle
Natale Brunelle
Loretta Elder
Brooke Kottkamp
SUMMERFIELD
Hannah Buckner
Alesia Degand
Ashley Murray
Tara Perillo
Audria Wagenknecht
Ellen Wagenknecht
Taylor Westwood
THE WOODS
Taylor Kolb
Megan Lachat
Michael Lachat
Thomas Lachat
Haley Valente
PHONE
630-898-1236
SERVICE
B,MH
630-820-5443
630-820-5443
630-820-5443
630-851-9179
630-820-1255
630-236-7522
630-236-7522
630-236-7522
B,MH
MH,V,P
P,O,V
B,P
B,MH
B,RC,P,Y,O,V
B,RC,P,Y
B,RC,P,Y,V
630-692-0538
630-675-0452
630-978-4641
630-229-0165
630-229-0165
630-898-4505
630-898-4505
630-236-6242
630-236-9070
630-499-7428
630-820-2959
630-499-0137
630-499-0137
630-499-0137
630-820-3661
630-692-1862
630-898-5985
B,P,MH
B,P,MH,V
B,MH,P,O,V
B,P,MH,V
B,P,MH,V
B,P
Y,P,O
P,Y,O,V
MH,P,V
B-RC,MH,P,V
B,MH
B,P,V
B,P, V
P,Y,V
B,P,O
B-RC,MH,P,YO,V
B-RC,P
630-585-2206
630-499-0581
630-499-0581
630-375-6803
630-978-1515
B,P,Y,O,V
MH,O,P,Y,V,SR,T
B,MH,O,P,Y,V,SR,T
B,V,O
B,P,MH,V
630-585-6312
630-236-8767
630-375-9101
630-615-0045
630-499-5837
630-499-5837
630-851-5067
B,MH,P
B,P,MH,V
B,P,V
B,Y,P,MH,V
B,Y,P,MH,O,V
B,Y,P,MH,O,V
B-RC,MH,V
630-585-5164
630-236-7920
630-236-7920
630-236-7920
630-375-9473
B,MH,O,V
B,P,MH,V
B,Y,P,O,V
B,Y,P,O,V
P,Y,MH
Notify newsletter@oakhurstcommunity.org to ADD, CHANGE, or DELETE a Working Youth Listing.
The Working Youth Directory is a service for youth, ages 12 and above, living in the Oakhurst community.
Parents: If you wish your child to be listed in this directory, please email newsletter@oakhurstcommunity.org. Include your child's
name, address, neighborhood within Oakhurst, home phone number of a parent who will be responsible for fielding requests, and
the service(s) you permit your child to provide. Be sure to talk with your child about personal safety before listing in this directory.
Each monthly issue of the Oracle is posted online to the community association's website, www.oakhurstcommunity.org.
B-RC: Red-Cross Certified Babysitter, B: Babysitter, MH: Mother's Helper, P: Pet Sitter, Y: Yard Help,
O: Odd Jobs, V: Vacation Watch, SR: Snow Removal, T: Tutoring
February 2014
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Kingston
Builders, Inc.
J & J Painting
of Naperville, Inc.
“A house is an
investment that no
one wants ruined by a
bad paint job.”
• Exterior painting and staining
• Interior painting
• Only top of the line products used
• Fully insured
• Reference available - “Past jobs speak for
themselves!”
• Group rates
We specialize in all aspects
of new construction and
remodeling.
•
•
•
•
Room Additions
Kitchens
Decks
Basements
“NO ONE will beat our job quality!”
630-551-7302
Bathrooms
Interior Trim
Exterior Trim
Guaranteed Work
Call JAY SCHMIDT
for a FREE Estimate
Start scheduling your exterior painting now!
CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
•
•
•
•
630-327-9735
Email: jay@kingstonbuildersinc.com
www.kingstonbuildersinc.com
SUTFIN MECHANICAL
• Furnaces
• Air Conditioning
• Water Heaters
• Humidifiers
• Air Cleaners
• Boilers
• Heat Pumps
• UV Lights
• Thermostats
• Maintenance Plans
Family owned and operated by a
Naperville resident.
630-778-6100
Scan or Visit
Sutfin Mechanical.com
for cost-saving
coupons!
February 2014
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February 2014
Come join us for a free
trial day from 9am - 12pm!
February 2014
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February 2014
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Comprehensive Pain Management
for Patients
Pain is very personal. No patient has exactly the same
experience. Your pain may be the result of an injury, stress,
disease, age or another medical condition. As such, no single
treatment will adequately resolve every need. That’s why Valley
Pain Care Centers offers a broad range of pain management
services. Whether you need help targeting specific symptoms
or you want a more holistic and functional medicine approach,
our experienced team of practitioners can help.
Conditions & Treatments
Gregory Arnold, M.D.
Director of Valley Pain Care Centers
With our comprehensive services, we
provide care for a variety of
conditions, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Herniated or ruptured discs
Pain in the arms and legs
Back pain
Muscle pain
Lingering post-operative pain
Nerve or neuropathic pain
Cancer pain
Shingles
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy or
complex regional pain syndrome
• Failed back syndrome
• Vertebral compression fractures
• Osteoporosis
To treat pain, we create plans that
combine conventional techniques
with:
• Interventional pain management
with precision injections
• Functional medicine
• Pain injections with the option of
having sedation with an anesthesia
provider
Turner Pain & Wellness
1222 North Eola Rd.
Aurora, IL 60502
630-499-8804
Jeremiah Loch, CRNA, PhD
Vincent Tello, M.D.
Through our holistic and functional
medicine approach, we want to help
patients:
• Improve overall health and well-being
• Understand how manual medicine,
homeopathy, and botanicals can be
used alongside conventional medical
techniques and practices
• Prevent future pain by targeting the
causes of their pain
• Create a personalized therapeutic
approach to care
Kiswaukee Community
Hospital
One Kish Hospital Dr.
DeKalb, IL 60115
www.kishhospital.org
815-748-2987
St. Margaret’s Hospital
600 E. First Street
Spring Valley, IL 61362
815-664-PAIN (7246)
Valley West
Community Hospital
11 East Pleasant Ave.
Sandwich, IL 60548
www.valleywest.org
815-786-8484
www.valleypaincarecenters.com
February 2014
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Oakhurst Community Association
P.O. Box 46
Aurora, IL 60507-0046
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Fox Valley, IL 60599
Permit No. 386
TIME VALUE MAIL ~ DO NOT DELAY
Printed by Alphagraphics • 1585 Beverly Court, Ste. 125 • Aurora, IL 60502 • 630.820.2200 • www.aurora.alphagraphics.com
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