Indian Creek Newsletter

August, 2005

on the web at frontiernet.net/~indiancreek

Rib-eye Steak Dinner The Sons of the Legion is having a rib-eye steak dinner on Friday, August 12 from 5:30 - 8:00pm. The cost is $10.00. The meal includes a baked potato, lettuce salad, dessert, and drink.
Towanda Area Garage Sales Thursday, September 8, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Friday, September 9, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Saturday, September 10, 8:00 am - 2:00 pm or other times as desired. To be included in a Pantagraph ad, send a list of items and times, with $5 for advertising expense to Gail Briggs by Wednesday, August 31 (112 Hunt St, Towanda) or Email list of things to be advertised to Gail at rgbriggs@frontiernet.net. You will receive a response. . Questions? Call 728.2187
VP/Secretary Needed for Board of Directors There is a vacancy on the Indian Creek Homeowners Association board of directors for a vice president /secretary. Duties include participating in approximately 2 to 3 board meetings per year, the spring and fall homeowners meetings, and the recording of minutes of these meetings. Interested? Contact any board member: President: Steve Jurovic (2243) Treasurer (Dave Schulthes (2927) Grounds: Jim Russell (8042) Water: Tim Mogill (2048)
Towanda Elementary School News Opening of School The first half day of student attendance will be Wednesday, August 24, 2005. The first full day of student attendance will be Thursday, August 25, 2005. To sign up for school information send email to Unit5Connect@unit5.org - or check out the Unit 5 web site http://www.unit5.org/ for important news about what's happening in Unit 5; school registration, events, meetings and who to contact with questions, suggestions and concerns!.
Nature Area Restoration Update, by Sue Arnold On a hot, muggy evening in July, Dale Birkenholz and Angelo Capparella (pictured at right) toured our Nature Area. Dale and Angelo are past and present biology professors at ISU who serve on the ParkLands Foundation board and are members of the JWP Audubon Society. Between them, they share a wealth of knowledge regarding plants, wildlife, and natural areas management. They were joined on their tour by Sue Arnold (who arranged for the tour), Jim Russell and Helen Mogill. Dale and Angelo were very impressed that we have such a wonderful natural area available for our use, and they were even more impressed that we have homeowners who are willing to maintain and improve the site. There are over 75 plant species just within the 20-acre main section of the Nature Area. 23 tree species, 11 shrub species, and over 40 herbaceous species have been identified so far. Some personal favorites are the oaks (Red, White, and Bur), Shagbark Hickory, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Indigo Bush, Wahoo, Wild Senna, Wild Petunia, Mountain Mint, Purple Meadow Rue, and Joe-Pye Weed. Northern Prickly Ash, a thorny shrub, may seem undesirable, but it is one of only two host plants for the Giant Swallowtail butterfly. After hearing this, I was excited when Dale and Angelo later spotted a Giant Swallowtail back on my property. One of the most important first steps in natural areas management is planning. Jim, Helen, and I have done some initial planning, but now need input from other homeowners before moving forward. We would like to start with the area by the entrance sign. By thinning out some of the smaller trees, and removing the brushy under layer, we think that the Nature Area entrance will be more inviting and will attract more visitors. A major part of our restoration plan revolves around half a dozen mature specimen trees: three Red Oaks in the area northwest of the well, and single specimens of White Oak, Shagbark Hickory, and Bur Oak in the southeast section of the Nature Area, behind the Meyer’s residence. Their numbers are very small compared to other species, and there is little to no natural regeneration taking place. This is because there isn’t enough sunlight reaching the ground around these trees. Lack of disturbance (such as fire), and succession by more shade-tolerant species (such as maples) has altered the original composition. Dale and Angelo recommended cutting down most of the smaller trees and shrubs growing beneath their drip lines, taking care to preserve any seedlings or saplings that might be present. Shortly after cutting, the stumps will need to be spot-treated with herbicide to prevent re-sprouting. There is no need to remove the cuttings from the area, as they will decay naturally and provide organic matter to the soil. When new oak and hickory seedlings begin to appear, they may need to be protected from deer browse. The newly cleared areas should not be mowed. Other restoration plans include ongoing exotic species control. An exotic (alien) species is simply one that is not native to central Illinois. Some of the exotic species commonly found in the Nature Area are Osage Orange (Hedge Apple), White Mulberry, Multiflora Rose, Amur Honeysuckle, Reed Canary Grass, Garlic Mustard, and Poison Parsley. The more aggressive exotic species will invade and compete with the native species. Garlic Mustard can be easily pulled in mid-April to mid-May, and is a great task for those who prefer not to work with saws or other equipment. Poison Parsley is just starting to take a stronghold in a couple of spots, (such as the well berm) and could be chopped out with a spade in early summer just as it starts flowering. Multi-flora and Honeysuckle can be cut year-round, but will require herbicide application to prevent the stumps from re-sprouting. Herbicides should always be used very selectively, with great care taken to only impact the targeted species, and only after positive identification. All of these plans will be discussed, as well as frequency and scheduling of work times at a kick-off meeting at Sue Arnold’s home on Wednesday, August 17th at 7:00. Please plan on attending. If you have questions or concerns before then, please contact Sue, or Jim, or Helen. If you’d like to see what the end results could be, take a 5-minute drive north on County Road 29 to the ParkLands Foundation Merwin Nature Preserve. A short hike in from either the West Gate or the North Gate will lead to some of the recently restored oak and hickory savannas.
Towanda Library News (on the web at towandalibrary.org) STORY TIME FOR 3-5 YEAR-OLDS. The 11:00-11:30am eight-week Wednesday morning sessions are as follows for the 05-06 school year: Session 1: Aug. 24 - Oct. 12, 2005 Session 2: Nov. 2- Dec. 21, 2005 Session 3: Jan. 18 - Mar. 8, 2006 Session 4: Apr. 5 - May 24, 2006t Please register children by calling 728-2176. Wed., Aug. 31: Friends of the Library Meeting at 5pm; all are welcome. Wed., Aug. 31: TOWANDA READS BOOK DISCUSSION. The Kite Runner by Kahled Hosseini. 6pm at the library. From the inside book cover: 'Taking us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the present, The Kite Runner is the unforgettable, beautifully told story of the friendship between two boys growing up in Kabul. ... Their intertwined lives, and their fates, reflect the eventual tragedy of the world around them. When the Soviets invade and Amir and his father flee the country for a new life in California, Amir thinks that he has escaped his past. And yet he cannot leave the memory of Hassan behind him.' Mon., Sept. 5: HOW TO SELL ITEMS ON eBAY. Learn basic tricks-of-the-trade from Linda Aschenbrener, who has a part-time eBay business. This program is being offered again due to popular demand. At the library. Thurs., Sept. 8 through Sat., Sept. 10^th: FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY RUMMAGE SALE. Thurs 4-7, Fri. 9-6, Sat., 9-noon. Towanda Community Building. Donations appreciated! Mon., Oct. 3: BREAST HEALTH PROGRAM. 7-8pm. McLean County Dept. of Public Health will offer a program on facts & figures, early detection methods, self-exams, risk factors and more. At the library.
Towanda Elementary PTO News Playground equipment has been ordered and will tentatively be installed before the start of school. Donations of any kind are still being accepted to help defray the cost of installation. Monetary donations are tax deductible. Donations can be given to PTO President Jamie Jackson 728-2725 or Treasurer Lisa Rudin 728-2678. Small schools need the help of many people. Volunteers are still needed to help with chess club, computer club, step up to reading, and guided reading programs. If you have any questions or an interest, please contact Mrs. Erickson at 728-2278. Recycling: The Towanda PTO is recycling computer printer cartridges, cell phones, used laptop computers, and PDAs (Palm Pilots) to raise money for the school. These items can be dropped by the school or at Martha Rients home, 36 Candle Ridge Rd. Contact Martha Rients with questions - 728-2178.
Local Groups Friends of the Library is a group that supports special projects and programs for the Towanda District Library. They raise funds throughout the year at various events including an annual 4th of July book sale as well as an ongoing book sale at the library, an annual rummage sale and other events. They also sponsor the "Towanda Reads" book discussion group and get together annually just for fun. New members are welcome! The Friends of the Towanda District Library meets monthly on Wednesdays at the library at 6pm (dates and times may change). The next meeting will be at 5pm, Wednesday, August 31. Contact the Towanda Library at 728-2176 for more information. Towanda Area Historical Society volunteers are compiling a book of the history of the Towanda area. General meetings will be held on the 4^th Tuesday of even-numbered months with the next meeting to be held August 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Building. Plans will be made for a fund raiser dinner to be held on Friday, October 21 as well as committee signups to accomplish the work of the Society. The Towanda Ladies Night Out Group: a loosely structured social organization with a focus on community service; Dutch-treat to dinner once a month (September - June), no mandatory attendance, no expenses for insurance/etc. and very limited fundraisers; membership: dues of $25 a year. If you are interested in joining, contact any member or new President Dawn (Rob) Sutter or Ruth Parsons co-Secretary (728-2768). The Towanda area Seniors group meets monthly, the second Wednesday of each month, at 12:00 at the Towanda community center. The meeting consists of a pot luck luncheon, conversation and sometimes a special program. The next meeting is August 10. Bring a dish to share; meat and drinks will be provided. Donations are accepted, but not required. Questions? Beverly Meginnes, 728-2769.
Reminder: please watch for children playing when driving through the neighborhood (especially on Candle Ridge Rd).
Water Consumption It has been a hot dry summer and water consumption remained high in June and July, with usage at over one million gallons for each of those months. Normal usage is about 600,000 gallons per month. Excessive watering causes churning in the water lines and increased sediment in the water in your home. Of course, we must water flowers, new grass or sod, and young trees and bushes. But established grass, if not watered, will go dormant. It will not die. Please observe lawn/garden watering restrictions: Even street numbers water on even dates; Odd numbers on odd dates. See frontiernet.net/~indiancreek for further information about Indian Creek water. Major decisions affecting the water system are made at Homeowner's Association meetings. Please attend.
St. Jude Run to Peoria Mike, Christi & Jillian Hutson send the following message to the residents of Indian Creek: Thank you so much for your generous donations on behalf of our efforts for St. Jude! We truly believe that this money will make the difference in the life of a sick child. The struggles we put forth on August 6th are nothing compared to what St. Jude patients go through everyday. We thank you again for supporting this great cause. The relay style run from Bloomington-Peoria is a fundraising run for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. . Each runner is asked to run a 2 mile stretch, then switch off with another set of runners, this continues for the 54 mile trip to Peoria. There are several area satellite runs that meet in Peoria along with a run from Memphis, TN to Peoria, that kick off the St. Jude telethon. Each runner is required to raise a minimum of $500. 100 % of the funds collected go directly to St. Jude to support research, treatment, and family care. There are just over 100 runners participating in the Bloomington-Peoria run. This run was started in 1985 by Christi’s parents (Doug Reeves & Pattie (Reeves) Taylor former Indian Creek residents) just after Christi’s brother finished his treatment at St. Jude. This is the 20th anniversary of the Bloomington-Peoria run and Mike , Christi, and Craig, (Christi’s brother & former patient) are running. The runners leave Bergner's parking lot in Bloomington at 7:15 am on the 6th, and make it to Peoria by 6:30 pm.
Sightings
	Twin Barred Owl Chicks Linda and Terry Garbe enjoyed watching a mother barred owl and her two chicks this summer as the birds nested in the sycamore tree across the creek from the Garbe’s deck. One of the babies landed on the railing of the deck and seemed to be practicing moving its head in circles. Since barred owls live 10 years and return to the same nesting site each year, the Garbes hope to enjoy visits from their entertaining neighbors for years to come.
Twin Baby Raccoons Terry Garbe spotted these baby raccoons in the yard down at the end of Bent Tree Lane where it connects with Eastwood Drive.
Towanda Lions sponsored Steve Liebenow Memorial Scholarship. The Towanda Lions Club is sponsoring a $500.00 scholarship for a 2005 High School college bound senior and/or currently enrolled college student attending classes full time from the Towanda area. This is a one-time scholarship, not open to renewal. Applicants for this scholarship must meet the following criteria: 1. The applicant must have a Towanda mailing/residence address. 2. Average grade of at least a C, verified by a high school transcript. 3. In 250 words or less, submit a letter of application containing a brief biographical profile which includes your college plans, school activities, community service activities, and work history. 4. Submit two letters of recommendation: one from a teacher, counselor, or administrator, and one from a non-relative in the Towanda area. 5. Submit a copy of your fall 2005 class schedule of the college/university you will be attending. 6. Letter of application, recommendation, transcript, and class schedule must be received by the Scholarship Committee Chairman by September 15, 2005. Mail to: Steve Liebenow Memorial Scholarship c/o Robert Hancock 7 Bent Tree Lane Towanda, Illinois 61776 The Towanda Lions Club committee will review all applications and select one scholarship winner. All applicants will be notified by mail of the committee's choice. This scholarship is offered in memory of Steve Liebenow, a long time Lions Club member, educator, and community leader who passed away in 1999.
Free to a Good Home!!! Pumpkin, a tortoiseshell Persian cat needs a new home where she can reign Queen and be pampered. The Reeser Family, 8 Eastwood Court, are moving out of state soon and don't think she'd like to go! She is a 6 year old loving but shy Persian with front paws declawed, spayed and a very proper litter box user. Dogs are not her favorite and she wants to hide when they are around. Vaccinations are up to date. Interested? Call 728-2344 and ask for Janet.
Communications Email: If you are interested in receiving email announcements of upcoming subdivision events or other announcements of interest to residents, send your email address me at hmogill@frontiernet.net. Subdivision web page: frontiernet.net/~indiancreek If you have scenery, garden, wild animal or pet photos that you are willing to share, email them to me, Helen Mogill, hmogill@frontiernet.net, or bring them by to me at 18 Bent Tree Lane. I can scan and return your photos. My phone is 728-2048. Newsletter: If you have events or announcements for the newsletter, contact me, Helen Mogill, 728-2048, email:hmogill@frontiernet.net. Kids – contact me if you’d like me to include your name, phone, and a list of odd jobs– babysitting, pet care, lawn mowing, etc. Adults, let us know about your business.