6 Thursday, February 15, 2018
The Regional News
DEATH NOTICES Ann C. Breitbarth Ann C. Breitbarth (nee Rusthoven), 87, died Feb. 6 at Palos Community Hospital. Mrs. Breitbarth worked in
farming. She was self-employed. Mrs. Breithbarth is survived by her daughters, Diane Skistimas, Darlene Steffgen, Debra Santangelo and Donna Souther; brothers, Daniel Rusthoven and Jerry
Rusthoven; three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Services were last Saturday at Colonial Chapel in Orland Park. Interment took place at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.
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Staff keeps clinic open during the big snow JOHN FLEMING DVM • Prairie StateVet.com Dear Readers, I’m sorry I missed all of the snow last week. The snow is one of the things I like about living up north. We left for Captiva on Saturday and heard from our staff the next day that a big snowstorm had hit. Like good troopers they shoveled and shoveled and kept the clinic open all week. They saw some really sick pets, God bless ‘em. I was worried about those young ladies driving into the clinic to do their jobs. Even as late as the night before we came home we weren’t sure we were going to get there. We saw that many flights into Midway Airport were cancelled. Good fortune was with us and we left on time at 6:15 p.m. The flight was smooth but the landing was hard and fast and the thruster brakes were enormously loud. I told the steward to let the pilot know that Captain Fleming said, “great job on the landing” but I think he didn’t. This Sunday morning, we did a lot of shoveling. It was not all fun and games in Florida last week. We had it rough ourselves. Each day we had to decide whether to go the beach or to the pool. The pool was about 85 degrees and gave the optical illusion when looking over the top of the water that it continued as the ocean into the horizon. We also had to decide each afternoon whether or not to go to The Bean for coffee down the island into Sanibel. Late in the day we faced another hard decision about dinner; was it to be Doc Ford’s or The Green Flash? Randy Wayne Wright is an author who writes about old Florida using Doc Ford as the main character. His books are engaging and I would recommend you start off with “The Heat Islands” and then move on to “The Man Who Invented Florida.” You will laugh your butt off. After reading the first one Connie said she now understands me better. Back when Connie and I were in Gainesville in the ‘70s we would sit sometimes on the student green by the Reitz student union building. Periodically this guy with his guitar would be there playing, trying to draw a small group of listeners. He was just starting his career and he was pretty good. That was Jimmy Buffet. Adjacent to the green was Lake
An extensive remodeling at Sheehy Funeral Home, 9000 W. 151st St. in Orland Park, provides even warmer and more comfortable accommodations for families, loved ones and friends.
Supplied photo
This pelican is in a dive to catch a fish in ine Sound, Florida.
Alice. Dark water, lots of palm trees. The young guys would often walk their dogs there trying to start up a conversation with the girls. Once in a while one of them would let their dog get too close to the edge of the lake and a gator would snatch ‘em. This was especially true of the smaller dogs. At the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge one evening before sunset Connie and I were walking a trail among the mangroves and spotted a gator that was about 10-feet long. I explained to her that we couldn’t outrun him and to get up a tree if he came after us. I told her that you can’t stop a gator from closing his jaws but once closed you can hold them closed. The muscles for opening their mouths are very weak. I told her that if he tried to grab her that she should wrap her legs around him and hold his mouth closed until I could get there to help her. Growing up in Florida as a redneck I naturally learned about these things. While we were down there I came across an article that said that feeding milk to dogs should be prohibited. I don’t know where they got that idea. Maybe they still believe that feeding milk to dogs will give them worms! Every morning when I get up to get some coffee, being as quiet as a mouse, my dogs, who are pretending to be asleep, instantly appear in the kitchen when they hear the refrigerator door open. They know they are going to each get a tablespoonful of Half & Half in their bowls. During holidays, they look forward to a squirt of canned whipped cream instead. I’ve been doing this for 20 years and haven’t killed one yet. Plus, with most meals they get a little dollop of four percent cottage cheese mixed into their food. Also, while we were down there I was talking to a man whose dog is urinating in the house a lot. His dog is 16 years old and part of the problem may just be senility. His vet hasn’t done much for him
and the guy puts diapers on the dog. He really loves the dog and has no intention of putting him to sleep for this reason. When I asked if his vet had tried some estrogen replacement therapy (for sloppy bladders) he told me that this option had not been offered. Old female dogs often get a hormone-responsive incontinence and several therapies can help. The newer veterinary school graduates use Proin, which is the brand name for phenylpropanolamine (the active ingredient in the old weight loss product called Dexatrim). I don’t like the side effects of this drug in dogs and I still reach for pure estrogen replacement tabs or liquid. Proin has to be given twice daily and the estrogen usually works when given once weekly. I hope the guy asks his vet about these options. We had quite a bit of avocado to eat last week, mostly in salads but also as guacamole. The same article that said that milk is bad for dogs also told dog owners not to give their dog avocados since it will kill them. This “Death by Avocado” rumor may be true for birds but not for dogs and cats. The pit of an avocado, however, can cause an obstruction in a dog’s intestines which could kill him or her but anyone who throws their dog a whole avocado to eat is a moron. The flesh is fine. It is high in oil, however, and may upset a dog that is prone to pancreatitis. I hope all of you have a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your cabinet for use when a vet wants to make you dog vomit immediately at home. Also keep the Animal Poison Control number handy on your fridge: 888-426-4435. You will need your credit card to pay for the call. Next week we’ll mention something about marijuana.
be open for a session with caregivers able to ask about sundowning, the disease’s progress and what certain behaviors mean. To reserve a place, call (773) 474-7300. Light refreshments will be served before the meetings end at 7:30 p.m. Smith Senior Living, a not-forprofit organization serving older adults, sponsors two life-plan communities. It provides independent living residences and apartments for assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing care.
istration. For details, call (708) 598-2441. Heart screenings provided by Little Company of Mary Hospital will be offered from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20. Cholesterol and blood-sugar tests will be available from 8:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 26. Hearing screenings are set for 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 27. An arthritis seminar starts at 10 a.m. Feb. 28.
“Only the young can afford to hold on to an old grudge.” --Doc Ford
HEALTH BEAT Caregivers of elderly invited to Smith Crossing Two life-plan communities, Smith Crossing and Smith Village, are inviting caregivers in the area to attend free memory care support groups in March. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1, Smith Crossing, 10501 Emilie Lane in Orland Park. will host an open discussion led by social services director Amy Majcina and resident service director Amie Swim. People who attend are encouraged to ask questions about the onset, diagnosis and care of dementia sufferers. To reserve a seat, call 708-326-2300. At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, Smith Village, 2320 W. 113th Place in Chicago, also will have an open topic discussion, according to memory support coordinator Diane Morgan. The floor will
Palos Twp. offers health services Several events sponsored by the Palos Township Health Service are coming up at township headquarters, 10802 S. Roberts Road. Some of the services are provided for a fee; others are free of charge. All require advance reg-
LEGAL NOTICE VILLAGE OF PALOS PARK PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of Palos Park, Cook County, IL has scheduled a public hearing on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Kaptur Administrative Center, 8999 W. 123rd St., Palos Park, IL to consider the following: ZBA 2018 - 01: An application has been filed by Indalecio and Patricia Olvera requesting a variance from the requirements of Chapter 1268.02 (f) Side Yards of the Village Code to permit the construction of a new single family residence with a setback of 33.5 feet rather than the required 50 feet from 90th Street on the property commonly known as 8920 W. 125th Street in Palos Park, IL. The site is legally described as follows: LOT 1 IN CHRISTIANO CONSOLIDATION, BEING A PLAT OF CONSOLIDATION OF LOTS 9, 10, 11, AND THE WEST 15 FEET OF LOT 12 IN BLOCK 3 IN MONSON AND COMPANY’S 3RD PALOS PARK SUBDIVISION, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF PART OF THE NORTHEAST ¼ OF THE SOUTHEAST ¼ OF SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 37 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS PIN: 23-27-409-026-0000 All are welcome to review the applications for relief and to send correspondence, attend the public hearing, submit evidence, and testify at the public hearing. For further information, please contact the Community Development Director, Lauren Pruss at 708-671-3731 or lpruss@palospark.org. Respectfully submitted by: Marie Arrigoni, Village Clerk
Robert J. Sheehy and Sons Funeral Home: over 100 years of experience in third generation Submitted by Robert J. Sheehy & Sons Funeral Home The Sheehy family has been providing a “Century of Service” caring for families in their time of need. Bob and Jim (only decedents that own and operate a funeral home) continue the tradition that was started in a storefront at 76th and Halsted by their Grandfather, Roger Sheehy. Little did the founder know it would be the first of six funeral homes owned and operated by his sons Roger, Jack, Bob, and grandsons Bob and Jim. Currently there are five licensed Funeral Directors at Robert J. Sheehy & Sons Funeral Home. Along with Bob and Jim are Bill Kiley, John Sullivan and Mike LaRocque. Collectively, they have 86 years of experience in the industry. We instruct our Funeral Directors to understand when a family suffers a loss it may be the most difficult time to endure in their lifetime. Our job is to make sure each family has the opportunity to grieve properly and not have to worry about the details they have entrusted us to carry out. We stress the importance of being a good listener; each family will have different emotions when it comes time for the arrangement. A good Funeral Director has to recognize this and adjust accordingly. Some families want to take their time and discuss every detail, others are more direct and want to move along, and our job is to be prepared to answer each question and deliver on all requests. We want our Directors to treat each family as if it was their own, to go out of their way to make this difficult time easier to manage. There are many factors that come into play when a family decides which funeral home they will select: reputation, service, location, cost, and facilities to name a few. Families are concerned with costs, which is why we provide many options. One-day viewing, morning-only visitation, off-site visitation, and cremations with memorial services are just a few options to consider. It is not important to us what type of funeral a family chooses; what is imperative is value received. Families often acknowledge their appreciation with unsolicited letters and cards, and most contain the same comments; care, compassion and attention to detail. In every industry, change is a constant, and the funeral industry is no different. Technology has empowered people with knowl-
LEGAL NOTICE
edge that wasn’t readily available years ago. For the consumer, the internet is a valuable tool but not all the information and options are provided. The funeral director has a responsibility to decipher the information so each family will select the items that fit their needs. Costs for funeral homes continue to go up just as in any other industry. It is our responsibility to control costs, provide affordable options, and continue to maintain the quality of service. As owners, our goal is to provide a comfortable setting, much like a home. Over the past eight months, we have done a complete redecorating including new furnishings, painting, carpeting and amenities in order to provide a contemporary setting in which families can be comfortable and proud. Updating the décor and the technology in our locations along with the quality of service are just two examples which provide added value. Electronic Kiosks for registering visitors is a new feature which is very popular. After the visitation, the family is provided
a register book with typed names and addresses. Also, thank-you envelopes are self-addressed which make this process easier for the family when sending out acknowledgements. At no cost to the family we produce a DVD comprised of pictures highlighting the deceased’s most treasured moments. This DVD becomes a keepsake for the family to be viewed at any time in the future. A flat-screen TV is prominently displayed when visitors enter the funeral home. A photo of the deceased is easily seen along with the information for chapel location and service information. On average, less than 13% of businesses make it to the third generation. We know how fortunate we are to be able to continue this proud tradition. We are committed to honor the memory of our Father, Grandfather, and Uncles by continuing to serve each family with class, compassion, and care which has been a trademark of the “Sheehy” name for 105 years.