Westlake Village Villager - November 2025
2025 Halloween Decorating Contest Winners
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Winnebago High School and Middle School invites all area Veterans to our annual Veteran's Day program! Join us on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for a complimentary Veteran's Breakfast starting at 8:00 AM in the high school cafeteria. You are welcome to bring a spouse or guest!
RSVP for Breakfast: You must RSVP by November 1st by calling Sarah Helm at 815-335-2336 ext. 2148.
Assembly Only: If you wish to attend the assembly only, please check in prior to 8:30 a.m.
Photo Request!
Help us create a beautiful display by submitting a picture of yourself from your time of service. Please email your photo to HoppL@winnebagoschools.org ( include your name, dates of service, and branch) We look forward to honoring you on the 11th!
SNOW BIRDS
Will you be spending the winter months in a warmer climate? If so, stop in the office to complete the Garbage Stop/Start form. Contact Gina at wlvemail@comcast.net or 815-3354007 for further information. NEW
Each of the following numbers will take you to recorded options for all emergency or non
Pecatonica Sheriff’s Dept. ~ 815-319-6300
ComEd ~ 800-334-7661
Nicor Gas ~ 888-642-6748
Prairie Path ~ 800-831-2359
Pecatonica Schools ~ 815-239-2550
Township of Pecatonica Supervisor ~ 815-239-1555
Township of Pecatonica Assessor (roads) ~ 815-239-1394
Burritt Township Supervisor & Road ~ 815-988-0871
Burritt Township office ~ 815-218-6740
Winnebago County Highway Dept.– (roads) 815-319-4000
Lynx Golf Course ~ 815-335-4031
NOT ALL VOTES FOR PROPOSED BLUE BOOK CHANGES WERE RECEIVED ~ IF YOU HAVEN ’T VOTED - PLEASE VOTE...
HOA rules and regulations are legally binding in the State of Illinois.
State Law: The Common Interest Community Association Act (765 ILCS 160/) or CICAA
This state law grants HOAs the power to adopt, amend, and enforce rules, mange common areas, and collect assessments/levy fines, provided they operate within the bounds of the law and their own governing documents. (WLV Blue Book and Red Book).
They derive legal authority from a combination of state law and the specific documents you agreed to when you purchased your property in Westlake Village. By purchasing your property, you have accepted and agreed to be bound by all covenants and restrictions detailed in the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs). The CC&Rs grant the HOA the authority to create and enforce additional rules; The Blue Book and Red Book.
There are three Blue Book changes on the ballot.
If you have already voted, please do not vote again, as votes are verified and recorded per each lot number.
One vote is allowed per homeowner. Those with 2 or 3 lots do not get additional votes.
In order to make these changes the HOA must receive votes from 2/3 of WLV Residents or at least 367 votes!
Please...DO NOT TAKE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE LIGHTLY BALLOTS FOR THE PROPOSED BLUE BOOK CHANGES WILL BE MAILED WITH THE HOA DUES COUPON/REMINDER
New Deadline for voting is January 31, 2026
Vote on ALL Proposals independently: Either FOR OR AGAINST The following PROPOSED BLUE BOOK CHANGES:
(NOTE: The following is not the document to vote with - that will be mailed with your HOA dues notice in December)
Westlake Village Master Home Owners Association, Inc. Consent for Declaration and By-laws Amendments:
Proposal #1: Original: [Article 5 - Section 5.14 of the Declaration]
Parking of commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles, trailers, campers, or boats on any Lot or adjacent parking area is prohibited. No mobile home or homes shall be permitted on any Lot or Lots except by prior written authorization of the Developer. Regular or repeated parking on roadways is prohibited.
PROPOSED CHANGE #1: [Article 5 - Section 5.14 of the Declaration]
Parking of commercial vehicles with a plate classification of D (GVWR of 12,000 lbs) or higher on any lot or adjacent parking area is prohibited. In addition parking of recreational vehicles, trailers, campers, or boats on any Lot or adjacent parking area is prohibited. No mobile home or homes shall be permitted on any lot or lots except by prior written authorization of the Developer.
Proposal #2: Original: [Article II - Section 10 of the By-Laws]
The Board shall not approve any capital expenditure in excess of ten thousand dollars, ($10,000) nor enter into any contacts having a term of more than two (2) years without the unanimous approval of the Owners.
PROPOSED CHANGE #2: [Article II-Section 10 of the By-Laws:
The Board shall not approve any capital expenditure in any particular year in excess of an amount equal to 3% of the total income amount from assessments on the Association ’s annual budget for that particular year. The Board shall not enter into any contracts having a term of more than two (2) years without the unanimous approval of the Owners.
Proposal #3: Original: [Article V-Section 4 of the By-Laws]
No animals, rabbits, livestock, fowl or poultry of any kind shall be raised, bred, or kept in any Lot, Unit or in the Common Properties or Limited Common Elements except that two (2) household pets, each under forty pounds (40lbs), such as dogs, cats, or other household pets may be kept, subject to rules and regulations adopted by the Board, provided they are not kept, bred, or maintained for any commercial purpose; and provided further that any special pet causing or creating a nuisance or unreasonable disturbance shall be permanently removed from the Properties upon fourteen (14) days written notice from the board.
PROPOSED CHANGE #3: [Article V-Section 4 of the By-Laws]
No animals, rabbits, livestock, fowl or poultry of any kind shall be raised, bred, or kept in any Lot, Unit or in the Common Properties or Limited Common Elements except that two () household pets, each under on hundred pounds (100lbs), such as dogs, cats, or other household pets may be kept, subject to rules and regulations adopted by the Board, provided they are not kept, bred, or maintained for any commercial purpose; and provided further that any pet causing or creating a nuisance or unreasonable disturbance shall be permanently removed for the Properties upon fourteen (14) days written notice from the board.
Whether your property is around the lake, golf course or in Westlake Village proper, maintaining Westlake is, and should be, your primary concern. Due to unforeseen circumstances, budgeting for the lake in the years following Covid, has fallen off dramatically. But, now is the time to prioritize Westlake or watch it decline... along with your property values.
This is a summary of the key takeaways and proposed action plan from the Westlake Village Lake Commission meeting held on October 13, 2025
Leading this meeting: Mike Lambert, LaVerne Weber, Kelly Johnson, Ben Bushman, Greg Surufka.
Board representative: Cindy Beyer-Reinhardt.
HOA members present: Don & Petronella Boose, Dick Gorman, Jack Heffern and Sue Lambert.
Key Takeaways and Urgent Concerns
The meeting focused on the urgent need for sediment management in Westlake, specifically in the creek channel and surrounding ponds, and the financial challenges in funding the necessary long-term work.
Sedimentation and Channel Health
• Urgent Channel Dredging: The main creek channel, which feeds into the lake, continues to silt up rapidly. Dredging performed two years ago in targeted areas of the channel has already filled in. The committee consensus is that the channel must be dredged every two to three years to prevent sediment from reaching and filling the main lake.
• Settling Pond Function: The four settling ponds are working as intended by catching sediment from the surrounding watersheds before it reaches the main lake. However, the ponds' capacity has been significantly decreased due to the large amount of collected sediment.
• Sediment Volume: One foot of sediment removal from the four settling ponds is estimated to be 2,400 cubic yards, which equates to approximately 174 semi-truck loads of sediment that must be removed.
• Main Lake Sediment Deposition: Sediment naturally seeks and collects at the lowest points. The south end of the lake and a smaller, historically deep pocket are the main areas where significant levels of sediment have deposited.
• Consequence of Inaction: Failure to continuously dredge the creek channel and ponds will allow the sediment to flow directly into the main lake, reducing boat access and causing increased weed and algae growth. Ultimately, these undesirable conditions will cause property values to plummet and threaten the community's primary asset/feature Westlake
Financial and Planning Deficiencies
A major theme of the meeting was the inadequacy of previous and current funding and planning for continuous critical maintenance of the wetlands and lake.
• Funding Shortfall: The original goal, set in 2012, was to have $1.66 M in Capital reserve for this project by 2023. The current overall reserve (not dedicated to only the lake) is only about half that at $490,200.
• Lack of Long-Term Commitment: The lack of continuity and communication as board members change over the years has led to reduced annual contributions to the reserve, stalling the longterm plan.
• Proposed Funding Compromise: A commitment to a “Separate, untouchable lake reserve bank account /fund” was proposed as a non-assessment, sustainable funding source for only the lake. Amount to be negotiated with the HOA Board.
• Need for a Reserve Study: Participants stressed the need for an updated, third-party reserve study to officially arm the board with the data needed to justify the necessary annual financial commitment to the community.
• Budget Prioritization Concerns: There was strong criticism of current HOA spending priorities (e.g., walking path replacement and pool attendant) instead of the lake's vital maintenance requirements.
• Assessment Difficulty: A community-wide special assessment is considered impossible due to the requirement for a two-thirds majority vote, which is viewed as unattainable.
Proposed 10-Year Sediment Management Plan (Conceptual)
Laverne Weber and Ben Bushman presented a conceptual 10year plan, including budget estimates, to address the critical sediment removal/dredging issues, prioritizing upstream (wetlands) work to protect the main lake. The plan will be submitted to the Association Board for review/consideration. The budget estimates use 2025 dollars and will need to be adjusted for annual cost inflation.
To view the Lake Commissions Strategic plan, login into your WLV Website at: https://www.wlvhoa.com scroll to the Documents tab and find: WLV Sediment Mgmt Strategic Plan (Lake Information)
Veteran’s Day always falls on the same date, November 11th, regardless of the day of the week. The holiday's date is fixed to commemorate the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, when World War I ended. Unlike some other federal holidays that are moved to a Monday if they fall on a weekend, Veterans Day remains on November 11th, even when it's a weekday.
Weekday Holiday: Because it falls on a Tuesday in 2025, it is a regular federal holiday, and government offices are closed on that day.
Weekend Adjustments: If November 11th falls on a Saturday, the holiday is typically observed on the preceding Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday.
BAGO - PEC - WESTLAKE VILLAGE CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DATE TIME EVENT
NOVEMBER 2025
11/1/2025 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Happy Holiday Bazaar
First Congregational U.C.C. Corner of Reed and 6th St. Pecatonica, IL
11/1/2025 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM 6th Annual Craft Show/ Open House
11/1/2025
1:30 PM
Using DNA to discover Patriot and Loyalist Ancestors, with Kate Penny Howard
11/1/2025 5:00 - 7:00 PM Pecatonica Rotary's Spaghetti Dinner
11/01/2025
11/13/2025
11/14/2025
11/21/2025
11/28/2025
11/30/2025
5:00 - 8:00 PM
5:30 - 8:30 PM
7:00 -10:00 PM
6:00 - 9:00 PM
6:00 - 8:00 PM
3:00 - 6:00 PM
Lady and the Tramp music
DATE NIGHT
Lady and the Tramp music
Lady and the Tramp music
Lady and the Tramp music
Sing-a-long with Lady & the Tramp
11/5/2025 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM Euchre
11/8/2025 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Holiday House Bazaar
The Building on Campbell 17855 W Campbell Rd Davis, IL
Winnebago/Boone County
Genealogical Society
RPL, East Branch
6685 East State Street Rockford, IL
Coffee Hour: 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Serving Lunch: soup / sandwiches: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Baked goods and crafts will be available. Drawing at noon for Quilt - Box of GroceriesApple Farm Basket!
Tickets available at the door or from a church member.
Please join us for the sixth annual craft show/open house. Free Admission! Over 25 Vendors! Something for everyone.
Discover how DNA and traditional genealogy can reveal new Revolutionary War veterans and break down long-standing brick walls. Learn practical tips and hear surprising discoveries uncovered through genetic genealogy. (Zoom only.) https://www.wbcgensociety.org
Pec High School Cafeteria 1300 Main St. Pecatonica, IL
G5 Brewing Co., Beloit, WI
Poison Ivy Pub, Rosco, IL
Rascal's Bar & Grill
Mousie's on the Boulevard Salt
WLV Community Center
Pec U. Methodist Church Corner of 5th & Washington Pecatonica, IL
Pec U. Methodist Church Corner of 5th & Washington St Pecatonica, IL
Adults- $15, Children under 8- $5, A portion of the proceeds benefit the Pecatonica Food Pantry. Silent Auction Baskets!
1895 Gateway Blvd, Beloit, WI 5765 Elevator Rd, Roscoe, IL 5223 Torque Rd, Loves Park, IL 1614 S Park Blvd, Freeport, IL 6860 Spring Creek Rd, Rockford 3677 Westlake Village Dr.
Enjoy free dessert & coffee or lemonade at 12:30pm, play euchre from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. $2 Donation. Prizes awarded.
New this year: Homemade Soup sold by the mug and available for carry-out! Featuring: Coffee Table, Baked Goods, Sandwiches, Ham Loaves, White Elephant, 25¢ Bargain Room, and Crafts!
To pre-order ham loaves: Call Vi Johns: 815-239-2344 or the Church office: 815-239-1110
11/8/2025 6:00 to 8:00 PM Daddy Daughter Ties & Tutus Dance
11/9/2025 3:00 PM A Salute to Freedom
11/12/2025 6:30 PM WCHS Annual Member MeetingBecome a Member Today!
Winnebago Preschool 2970 Tract Street Seward, IL
11/13/2025 2:00 PM WLV Bookworms Book Club The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
11/15/2025 Now through - Deadline: 11/15
YOUTH Poetry & Prose CONTEST
Email: Sally (President) sally@rockfordwritersguild.org
St. Mark Lutheran Church 675 N. Mulford Road Rockford, IL
Winnebago Town Hall 108 W Main Street Winnebago, IL
WLV Community Center 3677 Westlake Village Dr. Winnebago, IL
Presented by The Rockford Writer's Guild online: https:// www.rockfordwritersguild. org/online-sumission-form/
Join us for Winnebago Preschool's Daddy - Daughter Ties & Tutus Dance. Dancing, snacks/Drinks, Games & Photobooth Admission: $25 per family at the door. Event is open to the community ages Preschool to 5th grade welcome. Contact: Taylor Hall 815543-8246 with any questions.
Performed by the Kishwaukee Valley Concert Band, Phyllis Hogberg, Conductor, Dianna Heddinger, Asst. Conductor, Frank Schepley, Narrator. *A freewill offering will be taken.
Winnebago Community Historical Society - Preserving the Past - Informing the Present - Inspiring the Future! Membership applications available at Winnebago Public Library.
Visitors and new members welcome, Questions? Contact Joleen Petit: 779 537-0814. Refreshments and discussion will be led by Dana Geigle. Please bring your own beverage.
Open to all youth 18 years and younger. $900 total in prize money to be distributed!
11/21/2025
11/22/2025
11/23/2025
11/28/2025
11/29/2025
11/29/2025
11/30/2025
7:30 PM 7:30 PM
2:00 PM
7:30 PM 7:30 PM
2:00 PM 2:00 PM
Uh oh, Here Comes Christmas!
Pec Playhouse Theatre performance at First Congregational United Church of Christ 633 Reed St. Pecatonica, IL
Conceived & adapted by Ernest Zulia & David Caldwell. Music & Lyrics by David Caldwell. Directed by Glen Wiegert. Sponsored by Pecatonica Pharmacy.
11/30/2025 3:00 - 5:30 PM Westlake Village’s Annual Gazebo & Tree Lighting Event
Westlake Village Community Center 3677 Westlake Village Dr. Winnebago IL
Welcome in the Christmas season with community spirit at WLV’s annual Gazebo & Tree Lighting Social and take your picture with Santa and Sing-along with Lady & the Tramp music!
November 2, 2025, at 2:00 A.M.: Clocks are set back 1 hour (“fall back”), gaining an hour. Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour earlier than the day before. There will be more light in the morning. Since the time changes at 2:00 A.M., we generally change our clocks before bed on Saturday.
Pecatonica Public Library
400 W. 11th Street
Pecatonica, IL
https://pecatonicalibrary.org/
815-239-2616
Pecatonica Library Calendar
11/06/2025 Every Other Thursday 10:00 AM - Noon QUILT SWAP with JoEllen Every other Thursday
11/03/2025 & 11/26/2025 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Lucky Quilt Company Quilters Club
11/04/2025 Tuesdays 11:000 AM Story Time Every Tuesday
11/13/2025 1:00 PM Bunco
Pec Girl Sout Troop 2160
Congratulations! These Girl Scouts and their leaders along with community volunteers gave Blassingham Park a huge upgrade with new dugouts and bleachers! We are very impressed and grateful for all your hard work on this project! It was quite the undertaking and took a significant amount of planning.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
- Helen Keller
Held every other Thursday. Need help finishing a quilt? Bring it in and check with JoEllen.
Held 1st Monday and 4th Wednesday of month
Join us for stories, craft, snack, and playtime with friends. Every Tuesday.
Come play Bunco! All are welcome!
Pecatonica School Calendar
DATE
11/05/2025 & 11/06/2025 2:00 - 4:00 PM & 5:00 - 8:00 PM Parent/Teacher Conference
11/21/2025 & 11/22/2025 7:00 - 10:00 PM
Scan for Tickets
Fall HS Play - The Odd Couple (Female Version) by Neil Simon
The following students have won the Pecatonica High School
October Student of the MonthAward:
• Senior: Jonathan Sell
• Junior: Caleb Beatty
• Sophomore: Colton Frint
• Freshman: Madelyn McLevige Congratulations!
SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU GO…
Tickets for this year's Fall Play are on sale now! Tickets are $8 each and can be purchased at https://pecatonica321theater.ludus.com/ index.php
or $9 at the door. Shows are November 21st & 22nd at 7pm. Please come out and support our students!
Congratulations to the PHS and PCMS band and choir students who made it into their respective ensembles for ILMEA District 8 Festival! These students have gone through a rigorous audition process to be selected to perform with other talented students around the area. The students listed below will be attending an all day festival mid-November at Dekalb High School and will have a concert later that night. We couldn't be more proud of our talented and hard-working students! - 10/18/2025, SABRINA MASSA
The WLV Bookworms meet the second Thursday each month at 2PM in the WLV Community Center, 3677 Westlake Village Dr. , Winnebago, IL 61088
New members are always welcome! Next meeting: November 13, 2025 - 2PM held at WLV Community Center. Questions? Please contact Joleen Petit: 779-537-0814.
The first installment in the beloved and New York Times bestselling series: Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves
A female cop with her first big case
A brutal murder
Welcome to...
THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB by Richard Osman
An interesting review of this book will be led by Dana Geigle. Light refreshments will be provided, please bring your own drinks.
FREE MOVIE: Tues, Nov 4 @ 2:00 pm FREE MOVIE: Tues, Nov 11 @ 2:00 pm Planes, Trains and Automobiles
FREE MOVIE: Tues, Nov 18 @ 2:00 pm Classic: The Shop Around the Corner
FREE MOVIE: Tues, Nov 25 @ 2:00 pm Classic: Home for the Holidays Free popcorn and comfy seats!
11/1/2025
11/3/2025
8:30 AM
Garden Club
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Quilt Club
11/5/2025 10:30 AM Story Time
Meets first Saturday of month in community room.
Meets 1st Monday of every month. Join anytime. No membership, no fees! Bring your own machine or handwork and projects!
Held every Wednesday with Mrs. Black. No Story time on November 26th - Thanksgiving Day
11/10/2025 6:30 PM Winnebago Library Book Club Meets once a month. The November selection is: True Colors by Kristin Hannah
11/13/2025 6:30 PM Teen Advisory Board
11/13/2025 10:30 - 12:30 PM ADULT Book Arts Workshop
Decide what happens at your local library! Bring a friend! Teen advisory board members get volunteer hours every meeting and event they attend! Free snacks will also be provided!
Please call the Winnebago Public Library if you will be attending (815) 335-7050
Each month will feature a new craft making, using or related to books. All supplies provided. Free workshop! REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
11/20/2025 10:30 - 11:30 AM Homeschool Book Bingo No registration required! Cool Bookish prizes! Snacks!
11/06/2025 1st Thurs
10:30 - 12:30 Homeschool Book Arts Workshop Mini Pocket Library
11/06/2025 11/20/2025 1:00 - 3:30 PM Card Club
!
1st Thursday of each month. Each month will feature a new craft making, using or related to books. All supplies provided. FREE workshop! Note: Ages 5-7 must have one on one parent or adult assistance. Ages 8+ may work independently.
Meets 1st and 3rd Thursday this month, in Community Room. Free to join and play!
11/18/2025 Every 3rd Tues 10:30 AM ADULT Book Bingo Cool bookish prizes & refreshments. No registration required.
Thomas (815)222-7603 (TTY:711) 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Mon.-Fri. A licensed agent will answer your call.
Thanksgiving Day In the Kitchen
Did you know that there are 3x the daily average number of cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year?
Here are a few safety tips worth repeating:
• First off, make sure your smoke alarms are in working condition!
• As you begin, keep flammable materials like curtains, aprons or dish towels away from the stove or oven.
• Don’t leave any cooking unattended. Especially on Thanksgiving (or any time)! We can get so busy greeting guests and putting several dishes together at once, that we may walk away from our kitchen, opening up for a potential disaster.
• Always have young children supervised when they are in the kitchen.
• Make sure all appliances and burners are completely turned off when the food is done.
• Keep a fire extinguisher or fire blanket ready for emergencies.
Bonus Tip:
Fixing That Turkey - Frying or Roasting
For safe preparation, thaw the turkey completely.
Frozen turkeys are best thawed in the fridge at least 4 days before cooking.
Clean any prep surfaces to avoid cross contamination with ready to eat foods.
When deep frying, always do it on a flat stable surface, at least 10 feet from any structure.
Never overfill the deep fryer or pot.
Wear protective gear.
When roasting, follow temperature and time guidelines accordingly.
Use a meat thermometer, inserted in drumstick.
Dark meat takes longer to reach appropriate temperature of 165F (74C).
Thanksgiving Timeline
Here are some interesting facts about how the annual holiday of gratitude developed, according to History.com. November 1621- The pilgrims celebrated their first successful corn harvest by hosting a three-day feast and inviting their Native American allies, the Wampanoag Tribe, often referred to as the People of the First Light.
1789- George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation to celebrate the end of the Revolutionary War.
1827- Writer, editor and “Mother of Thanksgiving” Sarah Josepha Hale campaigned to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.
1863- During the civil War, Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday on the final Thursday in November.
1939- Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving Thursday to the third week of November to boost retail sales during the great Depression.
1941- Rosevelt moved Thanksgiving back to the fourth week of November.
WLV’s 2nd Annual
Visit with Santa and Tree Lighting Event
Gather with neighbors, friends & family as Westlake Village welcomes in the magic of theseason.
