Join Us for the GHWC

Annual Chili Supper

February 1, 2013

6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

At Ruth Lake Country Club

Cost:  $20 per person

Send this reservation form and payment by January 27^th to Barb Bonertz:   813 W. 58^th St., Hinsdale, IL 60525   Telephone:  630-325-0236

Commodore’s Party

                 Yacht Club Invites All Golfview Residents

You could see people scrambling to keep up. Impatient gardeners wondered out loud when the lawn and leaf bags would finally be taken away. Never had the first pick up in April seemed so far away! Some of us forgot in our haste about our sedentary winter routine and paid for all our yard work with very sore muscles. But, ah, the result! Sometimes, spring comes softly. So softly, you have to look for clues. This year felt more like a fire drill!

It was really nice to see so many friends and neighbors attend April’s meeting. It should happen more often! Here are some of the things that were discussed:

We are still looking for some help with the Fourth of July celebration. It will be held on Sunday, July 1^st this year.  If you have any time at all to help with the preparations, please get in touch with your area representative. If you’re really good at coordinating a great party, where have you been hiding and why? Your help is really needed and will be greatly appreciated!

Some of the bases on our street signs have started to lose their paint. Ways of fixing them back up were discussed. There was an offer to fix one at no cost and then give an estimate to do the rest.

The seawall at Wiseman has suffered some erosion and some holes have appeared. There is concern over this since it is a safety issue for all those who use the lake. It was agreed that the holes should be repaired.

Homeowners who live around the lake expressed concern about the number of cars pulling into our parks after dark. The entrance to Zimmerman park used to have posts up to prevent this. However, if we were to close the park every night, we would need someone to do it and open it up again in the morning. Are there any “post masters” out there who would be willing to take this responsibility on? Remember, if you see any activity that seems unusual to you, call the sheriff. They are always willing to help us out.

A very serious incident took place around April 17^th in the West Jackson area. A home was broken into sometime between 10:30 and 1:30 in the afternoon. A pry bar was used on a window and the thieves seemed to know just where to go to get what they were after. The homeowner came home and they ran when they heard the garage door open.

Some who attended the meeting admitted that they had seen suspicious vehicles in Golfview, but were reluctant to call the sheriff for fear they could be wrong about what they had seen. If anything makes you feel uneasy, please call the sheriff! Let them decide what is trivial and what is not. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Many residents have mentioned how much they have enjoyed the plantings at our entryway signs. The plan is to continue with more for the rest of the year. Watering has become an issue since the committee who did the installation is reluctant to “drag” water from home in jugs many times during the week (in hotter weather) to keep the plants looking good. Irrigation systems are expensive. Several schemes are being discussed, including hand watering done by a landscaper.

Perhaps because of the expense, it has been asked why we need to do plantings at the entryways at all. You might not be lucky enough to get to the lake every day or take in the other beautiful spots in Golfview, but you do (probably) come and go every day. Think of the visual impact every time you leave and come back. This is a beautiful place to live. Why not advertise?

Finally, most of you are aware that the Homes Association has a new president, Dan Slattery. At the meeting, Dan asked for suggestions from residents for how we can improve our area. Or, put another way, what kind of vision do we have for the next five years? Any suggestions you might have can be emailed to him. The address is in the guidebook.

Remember, too, that our meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of every month at the Westmont Fire Station on Cass Avenue at 7:30. We would love to see more friends and neighbors attend. That would place our next meeting on May 17^th. Hope to see you there.

Happy spring, everybody! Don’t overdo it!

Krys The following notice is provided as a service. The GVHH Association has no position on the following.

Golfview Hills Park District   ·P.O. Box 23 · Hinsdale, IL 60522-0023

Board of Commissioners: President         Suzanne Zuver Vice President  George Bonnertz, M.D. Secretary         Pat Cahill Treasurer         Tim Pyle Commissioner   John Dziewior

Park District News

May 2012 CONCERT IN THE PARK FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND GUESTS FRIDAY MAY 25, 2012 7 -9 P.M.* ZIMMERMAN PARK “THE ORIGINAL ROCKIN’ FENDER SKIRTS” Reminder to bring chairs- ·       And perhaps a picnic supper or other refreshments ·       No Pets *light refreshments served at 6:30 p.m In Australia fender skirts  are known as “spats,” but here we know them as pieces of bodywork that cover the upper portions of the rear tires of an automobile. Fender skirts were first seen in the thirties on the Chrysler Airflow and spread to many American cars in the 1940’s until 1970’s. They are typically detachable to allow for tire changes. But this Original Rockin’ Fender Skirts is a four piece band that plays the kind of music that we all know and love  –”rock and roll.” The group goes back to 1982, when they were just twosome, but have since grown to a four piece band with two electric guitars, a bass/bass guitar, and drum.

Park District Meeting Notes Prairie Area:  Work begun in the Fall to correct the problems caused by the overflows from the sewers in the area continue.  New dirt was spread over a wide area and allowed to settle over the winter.  The area is now being seeded with prairie grasses. In addition, part of the asphalt road is being removed, and the area covered with dirt. Junior Golf:  please see the accompanying information. In March, Park District sponsored a meeting of all the official groups of Golfview Hills -  Park District, Homes Association, Women’s Club, and Yacht Club.  Calendars were compared and finalized.  Discussion concerning communication among residents was of primary importance.  Each group is pondering the same problem:  how to interest more of our residents in the activities and functioning of Golfview.  There was a reason we were/are attracted to this area.  To maintain our uniqueness and stability, everyone’s help is needed.  Ideas/suggestions?  Contact a Park District Commissioner, Homes representative, Women’s Club member. Also included with this newsletter is a summary of activities of the Park District this past year.  Park District is charged with the care and maintenance of Wiseman Park, Armstrong Woods, and the Prairie Area.  A fishing derby, concert, Winter Fest, 4th of July are also included on our agenda. Memorial Pathway: Requests for memorial bricks should be directed to Pat Cahill,  pcahill10@comcast.net. A new pump has been installed at the rear of the Pump House in Wiseman Park.  George Bonertz and Pat Cahill have been diligent in the pursuit of solving our flooding problems, both in the prairie area and homes along the route to Madison Street.  Flag Creek District will be doing additional landscaping in the area when installation of the pump is complete. Next meeting:  Thursday, May 10th 7 p.m. Christ Lutheran Church 55th & Holmes Reminder to check the web site for additional information:  golfviewhills.org

JOHNSON SLOUGH YACHT CLUBCommodore’s Party Sunday, May 27, 2012 Jim and Cheryl McCarthy’s home @ 561 W. 58th Street 4:00 p.m. Please bring an hors d’oeuvresEVERYONE IS INVITED!!!!!!

After seven previous years of giving us near perfect weather for the annual Golfview Hills Kids Fishing Derby, the weather gods cut this year’s event short with stormy conditions (Perhaps more pre-event prayer needed?!)

In approximately 45 minutes of actual fishing, 29 fish were caught (and released) by approximately37 participants. As before, each fish caught was measured. The total number of inches of fish caught by each participant determines the winner in each of 4 categories. First and second places (and ties) were awarded.

Juice, coffee, and donuts were served early and a Hot Dog lunch was served after the shortened completion of fishing.

We the GHPD Commissioners want to thank the many volunteers who helped make this event possible.

What happened to summer?  Why is it always in such a hurry?  Was it something I said? True, we had one of the coldest, wettest, and longest springs in recent memory. By June, we were all wondering when would finally be able to shed sweaters and wear sandals again. Then, sweet July rolled in, packing brass knuckles  of dry 90 degree plus days. But it all turned out alright. We got all of our rain in one day. Remember? I lost count of how many times I had to reset clocks and appliances after power outages.  At least the downed limbs gave us a good supply of wood to burn this winter.

So here it is, mid August and judging by the calendar on the wall, it has been a year since the last newsletter.  So you’re probably wondering how you get such an important  job writing about what goes on at the Homes Association meetings which, for the record, are held the third Thursday of every month at the Westmont Fire Station. You can drop by any time. Really. You learn so much! For example, when they’re asking for volunteers to write the newsletter, make sure you take a step backward with everyone else. It’s not even a new trick, but here I am just the same. So here’s some of what was discussed:

*With all the hot weather, there is concern that someone might think that going in the lake might be a good idea. There are signs posted to remind us, gently, that there is no swimming permitted in the lake. Ever.

*We’re slowly closing in on getting new playground equipment at Zimmerman park. Also being looked it is what is the best surface for said playground. There’s gravel down right now, but mulch might be a better choice.

*Speaking of the park, have you ever been down there after a rain? I walk the dog in that direction a lot and I notice you can’t really use the benches to sit a while and take in the view because of the mud that shows up right where you want to put your feet. So it was suggested that we put down brick pavers to make it nicer and more user friendly.

*Some of you might have noticed we have a mosquito problem. I did some light gardening recently and counted ten (10!) bites on my face. They are particularly vicious this year. There is an abatement plan, so if you haven’t noticed any spraying in your area, you should soon. Unfortunately, every time it rains, there are notices about new hatchings.

*Hinsdale Central has approached us to see how we would feel about using our lake for a rowing club they would like to get started. No one had any objections and it was mostly viewed as a good use of our lake. However, they would have to come up with the indemnification, so we’ll keep you posted.

*Some of you might have noticed that our entryway signs have been graded, mulched and planted with seasonal flowers. When the weather got Africa kind of hot, you might have seen our dedicated volunteers dragging water from their own homes and taking care of the plants. Some of you were even nice enough to roll down your windows and thank us. Believe me, it was much appreciated. I think special thanks are due to Jane Novotny, Maureen Stanley, Kathy Pokorny and Kim Argires for keeping Golfview beautiful.

*If you’re thinking of having a garage sale or are planning some other event which will attract a lot of cars, please remind your guests not to park on the same side of the street as the mail boxes. Your area representatives can provide those paper signs you can place on the mailboxes as a reminder. They also can provide you with car window stickers if you need one.

*I recently came across a notice from the township for brush pick up. The next one for our area will be August 29th. You might want to make a note of that in case you still have brush hanging around from storms or just general clean up.

*For those of you who try to keep ahead of your junk, this might help with those pesky electronics we all seem to have and have no idea what to do with. On the third Saturday of every month, Downers Grove Township will accept drop offs at their facility at 318 E. Quincy, Westmont. Their hours are 8:00 am to noon. (No holiday weekends, though) If you need more information, call them at 630-719-6620. There is no cost for this service.

*Finally, it’s just about that time when the kids will be heading back to school. So let’s all remember to slow down and keep an eye out while we’re driving.

Thanks, Golfview!

Krys Polacek