Publications & Sites 
Judy is girded for wildlife war
Updated: August 6, 2012 2:16AM
Here’s Judy‘s pick of coming community activities in the Oak Brook/Oakbrook Terrace area, spiced with a little commentary. To suggest an event for her weekly column, send an e-mail to clafortune@pioneerlocal.com.
Be prepared
A Volunteer Restoration Workday will take place from 9 a.m. to noon June 9 at Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve, 3609 Spring Road in Oak Brook. Help restore a natural area by removing non-native vegetation or planting seed. Wear suitable clothing. This event is for those age 8 and up; under 14 with an adult. Free. To register, call (630) 933-7681.
I’m certainly wearing “suitable clothing” at this restoration workday, as suggested above. Suitable as in a suit of armor, with combat boots and warrior shield — one never knows if one will meet an enemy chipmunk.
I’ll never ask
anything again
A Graue Family Reunion will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 16 at the Graue Mill, 3800 York Road in Oak Brook. Enjoy lunch with descendants of the Graue, Asche and Fischer families from all over the United Sates. Exhibits will highlight artifacts received from family members through the years. Advance reservations are required; call (630) 920-9720.
Is there anything more fun than family reunions? What? No, this isn’t a contest, I’m just asking a rhetorical question … what? Don’t I mean hypothetical instead of rhetorical? I don’t know … what? Or perhaps assumptive or suppositional? Wait a minute — you’ve been at the thesaurus again … what? Don’t I mean dictionary? You’re impossible. Leave, get outta here, go to the Graue reunion, which is all I should have said in the first place.
Judy just keeps
going
There are still available places in a Zumba class from 11 a.m. to noon, starting June 9, at the Oakbrook Terrace Park District’s Fitness Center, 1 Parkview Plaza. Featuring high-energy aerobics and Latin dance moves, Zumba offers a perfect workout. This class is for those age 16 and up. For fees and to register, visit www.obtpd.org or call (630) 574-0430.
So Zumba features high-energy aerobics and Latin dance moves. Personally, I don’t think this will work for me because I already do aerobic water-jogging, which is hard enough because I hate the water and I hate jogging, and if I add salsa steps, for example, it will result in additional hatred, plus drowning. But go, enjoy this class. Just, once in a while, think of poor Judy trudging endlessly in a pool, getting nowhere and yelling phrases not suitable for a family newspaper or, indeed, family swim time, as I am constantly reminded by the lifeguards. Have fun.
I never lose
A summer chess class, designed for beginning or returning players, will take place at 7 p.m. June 13, 20 and 27, at the Oak Brook Public Library, 600 Oak Brook Road. These sessions will explain strategy and tactics using recent tournament games. Time is allocated for play after discussion. This is designed for patrons age 14 and older, with Jim Egerton. To register, call (630) 368-7701.
Here’s my strategy when my hero’s winning at chess. I start to hum. “Stop that!” he blurts out. “Stop what?” I innocently reply. “That grunting,” he yells. I stand up in a huff, which not only marks the termination of the game, but the inauguration of my two-week pout — admittedly, a touchy time for the Brinkworths. It’s worth it.
A night off from the tomb
Enjoy the Dave Rudolf stage show at Oakbrook Terrace Park District’s Heritage Park from 1 to 2:30 p.m. June 22. Listen to Jimmy Buffet tunes, or an old Harry Belafonte tune or one of the award-winning original tunes. Participants can join in the limbo, hula hoop or conga line. There will be lots of interactive activities to do while listening to great music. For more information, call (630) 627-6100.
I happen to be an outstanding hula-hooper — a quirk of fate, because as dear readers know, Judy is inept at all other sports (except for roller-skating. I’m ept at roller-skating). Anyway, some refuse to call hula-hooping a sport, but I say if it’s good enough for the Olympics … what? Yes, it’s an Olympic sport … what? No, of course the mainstream media doesn’t report it because they’re controlled by aliens from Pluto. That’s why nobody reported President Obama’s guest at the recent White House Correspondent’s dinner was Ulysses S. Grant. So there.
