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2011 SpringVillage of Oak Brook Volume 57 Spring 2011 FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK... Dear Friends and Neighbors, As this letter is being written, Oak Brook still has snow on the ground and we are experiencing below-zero temperatures. It is difficult to be thinking spring, but before this newsletter reaches your home, the snow should be gone and some signs of spring will be appearing. This truly has been a winter of record snowfalls throughout the county. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the superb efforts of our Public Works, Fire and Police Departments to get us through the worst of it as quickly as possible. The snow removal crews did an amazing job clearing our main roads as well as our local streets in record time and the Fire and Police Departments helped stranded and stuck motorists, rerouted traffic around downed power lines and in general worked around the clock to see that our residents and those passing through our Village were assisted in whatever way was needed. The entire Village staff did a fine job making adjustments to their schedules and assisting in coordinating all the services being provided. I have received several messages from both residents and members of the business community wishing to acknowledge and thank our staff for their efforts. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and all of our residents, I personally want to extend a most sincere and hearty thank you to each and every one of our Village employees for a truly outstanding and well done job!!! Despite the bleak weather picture there is some good news to report concerning the increase in sales tax indicating that the sluggish economy appears to be turning around with many more shoppers out during the pre-holiday period as compared to the numbers for the same period in 2009. In fact, our last 10 months of sales taxes has been up 9 percent from the same time period the previous year. As the weather begins to improve we should be able to expect more residents from both our own Village and from neighboring communities as well as more out-of-town visitors taking advantage of our wonderful shopping areas, restaurants and hotel facilities. In addition to enjoying our Village’s fabulous shopping and dining opportunities, there are other things to do locally that will help to carry you through the remainder of winter and on into warmer spring days. Our Oak Brook Library has some wonderful DVDs just waiting to be checked out along with a wide range of books to suit any reading taste. The Recreation Center at the Oak Brook Park District offers many classes as well as programs, not to mention their well-equipped fitness center that can help fulfill your New Year’s resolution to get more fit in 2011. The Peabody Estate likewise offers a variety of special events. A phone call to any one of these facilities can fill you in on the details of what is currently available. One last item is a reminder to vote in our local election on April 5. Residents will be voting for Village President, three Village Trustees, two Park Board members and School Board members for both elementary and high school districts. Absentee ballots can be requested at the Village Hall. Wishing you all some delightful springtime days! Sincerely, John W. Craig, Village President Village President John W. Craig Village Clerk Charlotte K. Pruss Board of Trustees Stelios Aktipis James Carson Mark Moy Moin Saiyed Gerald Wolin Elaine Zannis www.oak-brook.org Village Departments Police/Fire/EMS Emergency 9-1-1 Butler Government Center General Information 368-5000 Village Clerk 368-5050 Village Manager 368-5026 Community Development 368-5101 Engineering 368-5130 Fire Non-Emergency 368-5200 Library 368-7700 Police Non-Emergency 368-8700 Public Works 368-5270 Water Billing 368-5090 Sports Core: Administration Building 368-6420 Bath & Tennis Club 368-6440 Oak Brook Golf Club 368-6400 140893_Newsletter PR_r6:110003 Newsletter 3/2/11 9:17 AM Page 1 Village of Oak Brook Volume 57 Spring 20112 Election InformationThere will be a Consolidated Election on April 5, 2011. If you have recently moved to the Village, be sure to register to vote. Voter registration can be completed from Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Butler Government Center. The last day to register to vote at the Village Hall for this consolidated election is March 8. Residents may then register at the DuPage or Cook County Election Offices, located at 421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton, Ill. The final registration deadline is March 29. Early Voting will begin Monday, March 14. Early Voting sites and information will be posted on the Village of Oak Brook website at www.oak-brook.org as soon as that information is available. In addition, be reminded that many precinct changes have been made, so please check the Village website for polling places prior to Election Day. Visit the DuPage County Election Commission website at www.dupageelections.com to confirm the location where you should vote. (Click the tab entitled “Voter Status Lookup” on the bottom right hand side of the home page.) Consolidated Election Ballot The ballot placement for the April 5, 2011 Consolidated Election is as follows: One President to be Elected for a four year (full term) John W. Craig Gopal G. Lalmalani One Clerk to be Elected for a four year (full term) Charlotte K. Pruss Three Trustees to be Elected for a four year (full term) Gerald Wolin Anthony R. DiCanio Asif Yusuf Kee D. Shin Michael Manzo Public Question: Shall the Village of Oak Brook have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such a program? Electric Aggregation ReferendumIn 2009, municipalities were given the power to aggregate residential and small commercial retail electrical loads located in their towns and solicit bids to sell and purchase electricity provided residents approved this at a referendum. At a recent Village Board meeting, the trustees approved adding this referendum question to the April 5, 2011 ballot in hopes of saving Oak Brook residents and small businesses money on their electric bills. Here are some common questions about this referendum: • If the referendum passes, how will the Village choose a new supplier?If the referendum is approved, the Village would then have to develop a plan of operation and governance for the aggregation program. Two public hearings are required before the Village can adopt this plan. Once the plan is adopted the Village can solicit bids. The Village would have to go through a competitive bidding process. Potential power suppliers must be on a list approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Bid rates will be compared to ComEd’s current rates. The Village will only move forward with entering into a contract for electricity supply with an alternative supplier if the rates are lower than those offered by Exelon, the current supplier. If they are not lower the Village would continue to be serviced by Exelon. • If the Village chooses a new electric supplier, am I required to choose this new supplier?No. If the Village chooses another power supplier, all residents and small businesses will be notified. Residents will have the ability to return a form from ComEd to opt out of using the new power supplier. • Does this mean ComEd will no longer be my electric company and the Village will become the electric company?No. ComEd will continue to deliver power and manage the infrastructure. When there is an outage, you will still call ComEd. Your bill will still come from ComEd. The only thing that may change would be the supplier. • What other communities have placed this referendum question on their April 5 ballot?In the Chicago area a number of communities have placed this issue on the April 5 ballot including Darien, Oak Park, Lincolnwood, Wooddale and Fox River Grove. For any additional questions, please contact the Village Manager’s office at (630) 368-5026. YES NO 140893_Newsletter PR_r6:110003 Newsletter 3/2/11 9:17 AM Page 2 3 2011 Budget ApprovalThe Village has been saving money in funds, such as the Water Fund and Infrastucture Fund for a number of years for large capital projects. This year we will spend about $9,454,985 on capital projects, including $2,920,163 on water main projects, $3,196,702 on road projects, and $1,670,000 as the Village’s share of the 22nd Bridge project. The entire budget and a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the budget are available on the Village website. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2010 the Village’s operation fund is estimated to end the year in the positive of $1 million. This is due to sales taxes coming in well above projections and the conservative budgeting philosophy of the Village. The Village Board continues to demonstrate their commitment to the financial stability of the Village during this tough economic climate. Village Board Sets 2011 Goals At a recent meeting the Village Board of Trustees set forth an ambitious list of goals for 2011. The complete list of 67 goals and projects are on the Village website, but below are some of the major goals the Village will be working on in 2011: • Expand use of Village credit card for Village services • Develop a brochure to promote economic development in Oak Brook • Review and update the Village employee pay and compensation plan • Implement changes to the Village website • Have an outside consultant review the Police Department staffing levels • Implement core set of customer service standards for Village employees • Increase number of caterers and usage of Bath and Tennis Clubhouse Village staff will detail the status of these goals each quarter. Updates on these goals will be posted on the Village website. Citizen Survey The Village will be conducting a survey of all residents in the next few months. The survey is intended to gain insights about how well the Village performs vital services, as well as compile resident suggestions of desired Village improvements. The results of this survey will assist the Village Board in short and long-term planning efforts. Thank you in advance for your participation and valuable feedback. New Water RatesIn 2010, the Village of Oak Brook contracted with American Infrastructure Technology for a water rate study. This study was necessary due to the recent water rate increases by the DuPage Water Commission and significant changes to the Village’s water Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The Village has accelerated capital improvements in areas that have had significant main breaks, such as Timber Trails. There are also major upcoming expenses for maintaining part of the Village system outside our boundaries. Effective January 1, 2011 the resident rates increased by $.20 per 1,000 gallons. Non-resident rates increased by a larger amount, which is $.35 per 1,000 gallons. NEW 2010 Rate 2011 Rate Resident Rate $4.39 $4.59 Non-Resident $5.39 $5.74 *Rates are per 1,000 gallons Employee Milestone Anniversaries The Village has been blessed with a team of passionate, dedicated employees that care about the quality of services provided to Oak Brook residents. We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to the following employees for their many contributions and continued commitment to the Village. 10 Years of Service Elena Matutis, Davis Kolzow, Brian Strockis, Glen Washington, Matthew Bielawa, Michelle Ruska, Michael Erickson, Kevin Fleege, Jim Fox, David Zima, Richard Roehn, Claudine Boettger 15 Years of Service Mary Meranda, Brian Bitterlin, Michael Janney, Scott Warren, Laura Millsaps, Sue Madorin 20 Years of Service Lee Hammer, Mark Schoppe, Kassy Polivka, Patrick Toland 30 Years of Service Jeff Arendt, Peggy Whoriskey, Eileen Kulis, Doug Patchin, Ted Vassios, Martin Zelisko Newsletter Redesign The Village of Oak Brook is pleased to present a more modern, resident friendly newsletter starting with the summer 2011 edition. The Village has partnered with VISOgraphic printing to enhance the readability of the newsletter by developing a modern design in a full color print. In addition to improving the hard copy format, the Village has sought to improve the online version of the newsletter. Using an online publishing tool, the newsletter will become interactive – complete with search engine, video, social media capacities, as well as iPad, iPhone and Blackberry compatibility. Additionally, local businesses may choose to take advantage of the redesigned newsletter by participating in one of many advertising opportunities featured on page 7. The online version of the newsletter, located on the Village website, will allow viewers to click on an advertisement and link them directly to the respective company website and/or other media. Volume 57 Spring 2011 Village of Oak Brook 140893_Newsletter PR_r6:110003 Newsletter 3/2/11 9:17 AM Page 3 4 New Flood Plain Map RevisionsDuPage County continues to grow rapidly, both in population and in land use. Urbanization from agricultural areas to residential, commercial and industrial areas has a profound impact on county rivers and streams. In the late 1970s and early ‘80s, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) that established the 1% annual chance (100-year) floodplains for DuPage County. These FIRMs have since been rendered obsolete due to changes in land use, topography, modeling standards and technologies. The DuPage County Stormwater Division has been conducting new watershed studies that will more accurate model the county waterways. Later this year DuPage County will submit revised floodplain boundaries to Illinois Department of Natural Resources for review. The newly-adopted FIRMS are relevant to our residents as these are used to calculate National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) mandatory coverage areas and rates. The Village Engineer has been monitoring progress and supplying field data to the county to ensure that their models accurately depict flooding conditions. As the FIRMs are finalized and released for review by the county, the Village Engineering Department will assist residents by explaining the impacts of any FIRM changes and possible appeal options. The current schedule for the revisions to our flood plain map is: March 30, 2012 Preliminary release of DuPage countywide DFIRM and FIS April 30, 2012 Start of 30 day Comment period May 30, 2012 Start of 90 appeal period Mid-Dec 2012 Letter of Final Determination January 2013 Final maps approved June 15, 2013 Final maps approved, and effective date of maps Contact the Village Engineer with questions about the process at mhullihan@oak-brook.org. Springtime Property Maintenance RemindersAs the weather gets warmer and spring finally arrives, property owners should check off some key items to preserve their home: • Inspect sump pumps along with battery/generator backups • Clear exterior drains and gutters • Clear drainage paths and swales that drain the yard • Elevate valuable items stored in basements off the floor, or move those items to an upper floor • Check ceilings on the highest floor for bubbling plaster around the building exterior (Plaster damage can indicate ice damage to roof or flashing) If you notice clogged storm inlets along roadways or Village drainage easements, please contact the Public Works office at (630) 368-5270. ComEd Issues In June of 2010, Oak Brook residents endured one of the most devastating storms it has experienced in recent years. The storms felled many trees and caused several hundred residents to have their electrical service interrupted multiple times. Some neighborhoods had outages that stretched into days. As a result, the Village of Oak Brook hosted a town meeting on Aug. 12 to discuss ComEd’s shortcomings in the storm. After hearing complaints from a number of Oak Brook residents, ComEd committed to giving the Village a report on what ComEd will do to ensure such outages do not occur in the future. The report was recently shared with presidents of the local Homeowners Associations, and has been made available for viewing on the Village website. The report recommends additional tree trimming to prevent tree-caused outages, fault indicators to help locate and reduce outages, and lightning arrestors to prevent lightning from causing outages. President Craig expressed his frustration with ComEd’s performance in a letter to Exelon President John Rowe. In the letter, he requests that ComEd make major upgrades to the infrastructure, in addition to some of the actions proposed at the meeting of the Homeowners Association presidents. Also, he will be appointing a committee, consisting of a few Homeowners Association presidents, trustees and staff, to review ComEd issues in Oak Brook and evaluate methods of how the Village can improve electric reliability. Village of Oak Brook Volume 57 Spring 2011 140893_Newsletter PR_r6:110003 Newsletter 3/2/11 9:18 AM Page 4 5Volume 57 Spring 2011 Village of Oak Brook Commercial Revitalization Plan UpdateThe Commercial Revitalization (CR) Plan was adopted by the Village Board in early 2008. The plan provides the framework and analysis to support future development in Oak Brook’s 22nd Street/Butterfield Road commercial corridor over the next 20 years. A key component of the CR Plan is the implementation strategy. The implementation strategy provides the framework for the Village to prioritize and initiate specific work activities. These activities fulfill specific goals and objectives contained in the CR Plan. Since plan adoption, the Village has completed a number of recommended actions contained in the implementation strategy. Accomplishments to date include: • The 22nd Street bridge project under I-88 is complete. • 22nd Street widening project between Rte. 83 and Butterfield Road is underway. Completion is expected by October 2011. • As part of 22nd Street widening, a traffic signal has been approved for Costco. The signal will be synchronized into the 22nd system. • As a result of the $960,000 CMAQ grant received by the Village, a distributor study is underway to develop the framework for a program to get Oak Brook employees to and from the area Metra stations. • The Village has received a grant of $569,000 to assist in the installation of beautification improvements along a portion of the 22nd Street widening project. • Oak Brook and Oakbrook Terrace have agreed to have additional sidewalks installed from Rte. 83 and Butterfield Road as part of the 22nd Street widening project. • An updated Sign Ordinance was approved by the Village in Jan. 2010. As a result of this ordinance, the Village has been able to attract a number of new businesses to our community. • Planned Development regulations were approved by the Village in July 2009. These regulations will be the primary tool to process new development/redevelopment projects in our commercial corridor. • New building codes were approved by the Village in Jan. 2011. These codes and our local amendments provide Oak Brook with the most modern set of codes available. • To expedite the review and approval of larger development/redevelopment projects in our commercial corridor, the Board appointed a Planned Development Commission in Nov. 2009. • Applicants for new building permits can now get started on their project sooner with the advent of our “early start process” which was made available beginning in Jan. 2010. • In order to streamline our service to our customers, Community Development now oversees both the Building and Fire Inspection processes. Faster and more consistent service is the result. • In conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce Rapid Response Team, the Village has been able to attract a number of new corporations and institutions to Oak Brook including Rasmussen College, TreeHouse Foods and A.M. Castle. • With the assistance of the Chamber, staff is undertaking efforts to build a database of existing businesses that now occupy space in Oak Brook. • The Village has started requiring cross-access between businesses when other improvements are proposed. McDonalds Corporation and Chase Bank recently constructed a cross-access between their properties on Midwest Road. • Staff has initiated discussions with the Chamber and our business community on the need to identify opportunity sites which could be targeted to accommodate new development. Once the location of these sites is determined, detailed information will be developed about each site. From this list, the Village made significant progress to implement the recommendations contained within the CR Plan. Over the next 12-24 months Village staff will bring additional implementation programs and initiatives to the Village Board for final consideration. Goals include: Filling existing office vacancies, completing redevelopment of opportunity sites, analyzing the possibility of a river walk along Salt Creek, exploring the option of new ramps to I-294 and I-88, and initiating the implementation of the north York Road study. To view the complete CR Plan, please visit the Community Development page on the Village website. 140893_Newsletter PR_r6:110003 Newsletter 3/2/11 9:18 AM Page 5 6 New Businesses Come To Oak BrookOak Brook has welcomed a number of new businesses and institutions over the past 12 months. Together, these new businesses occupy over 275,000 square feet of office/retail space and equal nearly 1,000 employees. Our new business residents include: Microsoft – Oakbrook Center Jason’s Deli – Clearwater LA Fitness - Clearwater Gibson’s Steakhouse – 2105 Spring Road Rasmussen College - 1415 22nd Street TreeHouse Foods – Commerce Plaza Bar Louie Corporate – Commerce Plaza Charles Schwab – Clearwater ITT Technical Institute – 800 Jorie Blvd. Olivet Nazarene University – 2809 Butterfield Road AM Castle – The Crossings A.M. Castle Moves To Oak Brook Specialty metals distributor A. M. Castle & Co. has announced plans to move its corporate headquarters from its longtime home in Franklin Park to Oak Brook. A. M. Castle will be occupying 39,361 square feet of vacant space in located at 1420 Kensington Road, part of a two-building complex known as the Crossings. Occupancy in Oak Brook is expected by May 1, 2011. A. M. Castle will employ 140 people in the Oak Brook offices, according to NAI Hiffman. A. M. Castle reported net sales of $708 million for the first nine months of 2010, up from $631 million in the same period in 2009. The company, which also owns a plastics subsidiary and operates more than 65 locations worldwide, ranked 71st on Crain's 2010 list of the Chicago area’s largest publicly held companies. Fire Department Reminders Here are a few simple rules to remember when you are on the road and encounter an emergency vehicle. DO: • Drive at once to the right side of the road and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed. • Drivers should stay 500 feet behind emergency vehicles. DON’T: • Stop in the middle lane when there is room to pull to the right, or pull to the left when in the center lane. • Race ahead to make the green light or turn before the emergency vehicle gets there. Beautification GrantThe Village has been awarded a $569,000 grant to beautify 22nd Street from Spring Road to Salt Creek. This grant was awarded through a competitive grant process from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program, and will be implemented as part of the Village’s approved beautification plan. The project will consist of installing planters, trees, shrubs and groundcovers in the median. There will also be an irrigation system to sustain the plantings. The kickoff meeting took place in December, and we anticipate a July contract letting. The bulk of construction is expected for fall 2011, with the planting scheduled for spring 2012. New Bath and Tennis Club Sales Coordinator The Oak Brook Bath and Tennis Club welcomes Tammy Perri to our staff as a part-time sales coordinator for corporate and private events. We are very pleased to have her join our staff after holding a similar position with the Chicago Botanic Garden. In an effort to make your event a success, she has developed a list of preferred caterers for your food and beverage needs. The list includes: • Calihan Catering • My Chef Catering • Tasty Catering Do you represent a civic-based community group? The Bath and Tennis Club now offers a room rental discount for your group Monday through Thursday all year and on Sundays during the winter. Please contact Tammy by phone at (630) 368-6442 or by e-mail at tperri@oak-brook.org for more information and to reserve space for your event. Recycling Extravaganza The Library will be hosting a Recycling Extravaganza in the library parking lot on June 4, time TBD. The Library is working with an organization called School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education (SCARCE) to organize this community event. SCARCE will facilitate the Book Rescue and collect other small items for reuse or recycling. Electronics recycler, CRS Company, will be accepting computers and supplies, small household appliances and other electronic items. A full list of acceptable items will soon be made available on the Library website. The Library is seeking volunteers to help with the event. Please contact Michelle Coduto at (630) 368-7708 for more information about the event or to sign up to volunteer. Village of Oak Brook Volume 57 Spring 2011 140893_Newsletter PR_r6:110003 Newsletter 3/2/11 9:18 AM Page 6 REACH 100% OF OAK BROOK RESIDENTS WITH YOUR ADVERTISEMENT For questions or to request your advertisement today, please contact the following representatives of Oak Brook. CONTACT: Ashley Stambaugh Phone (630) 368-5038 astambaugh@oak-brook.org Blaine Wing Phone (630) 368-5022 bwing@oak-brook.org 1/2 horizontal 1/2 vertical 1/4 horizontal 1/4 vertical 1/4 corner 1/8 horizontal or vertical All advertisements will be in Full Color. Size 1 x 2 x 3 x Annual Rate 1/2 horizontal $750 $1,500 $2,250 $2,700 1/2 vertical $750 $1,500 $2,250 $2,700 1/4 horizontal $375 $750 $1,125 $1,350 1/4 vertical $375 $750 $1,125 $1,350 1/4 corner $375 $750 $1,125 $1,350 1/8 horizontal $200 $400 $600 $720 or vertical The Village of Oak Brook reserves the right to deny advertising to any company, organization, or individual without explanation as deemed inappropriate or incompatible with our standards. We reserve the right to run any ad simultaneously without notice to any other organization. We will make every reasonable attempt to honor each advertiser’s preferred ad placement; however, advertisement positions are treated as requests, and we cannot guarantee all requests will be met. Advertisement Sizes The Village of Oak Brook newsletter keeps the more than 7,500 residents informed on community happenings. Partner with us to drive your business by becoming a part of our local quarterly newsletter. 10% discount 7 Upcoming Adult Programs Sunday, March 13 — 3 pm The Enigma That Is Turkey Seasoned traveler, Al Popowitz, will present a slide lecture on the history of Turkey and the various sights to see. Wednesday, March 16 — 2 pm Book Discussion in the Friends Meeting Room The March selection is “Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” by Jamie Ford. All are welcome. Books will be available at the Circulation Desk. Wednesday, March 30 — 2 pm Knight and Day - Movie Matinee June Havens finds her everyday life tangled with that of a secret agent who has realized he isn't supposed to survive his latest mission. As their campaign to stay alive stretches across the globe, they soon learn that all they can count on is each other. The movie stars Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. PG-13 – 109 minutes Sunday, April 10 — 2 pm Author Talk: Bryan Gruley Author Bryan Gruley will discuss his two books Starvation Lake: A Mystery and the sequel The Hanging Tree. These critically acclaimed novels draw on the author’s knowledge of small town Michigan, hockey, and the newspaper industry. Upcoming Children’s Special Event Saturday, March 12 — 2 pm Chris Fascione: Juggling Funny Stories You’ll be laughing out loud as nationally-known family entertainer Chris Fascione brings children’s stories to life through his unique combination of acting, storytelling, comedy, and juggling. Adults and children alike have fun participating in the show. Volume 57 Spring 2011 Village of Oak Brook Oak Brook Public Library Your library is always open @ www.oak-brook.lib.il.us What’s New at the Library…Follow us on Twitter @oakbrooklibrary and on Facebook!140893_Newsletter PR_r6:110003 Newsletter 3/2/11 9:18 AM Page 7 Village of Oak Brook Volume 57 Spring 20118 On Sunday, July 3, our newly revamped Taste of Oak Brook will debut. The event will open at 2 p.m., kicking off with live bands and children activities. Already confirmed for a performance will be the popular band, Sixteen Candles, with music from the ‘80s. The Village and the Park District will provide an array of fun children’s activities, in addition to meeting Ronald McDonald, face painting and the petting zoo. We plan to have a new food format this year, so be sure to check our website at www.oak-brook.org for an up-to-date list of which restaurants will be participating in Taste. As always, McDonalds will have its world famous french fries available for free! Beverages will also be available for purchase at the event. As is tradition, we will end the night with the fireworks show – the best in the western suburbs! Please review the Village website and our summer newsletter for more the latest information about the 2011 Taste. We wish to thank our primary event sponsor, McDonalds Corporation, for making this event possible. Save the date for the 2011 Taste of Oak Brook! Village of Oak Brook 1200 Oak Brook Road Oak Brook, IL 60523-2255 PRESORTEDFIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID OAK BROOK, IL PERMIT NO. 19 140893_Newsletter PR_r6:110003 Newsletter 3/2/11 9:18 AM Page 8