This new feature is a listing of friendly tips provided to Westgate area residents by Ken Arnold and other area residents.  It can be on any suggestion or insight on anything our daily lives come across.  These can be special deals within our community, how to conserve energy in our Westgate homes, financial management insights, and many other things we can all learn from each other.

This section is only as good as you and other neighbors make it!  Please share your contributions by writing Ken Arnold.  It is requested that you provide a write up in MS Word format that can then be pasted into this website as well as published in the future within one of Ken's "Neighbor News" newsletters to residents.

The "Neighbor to Neighbor" Tips presently given are as follows:

1)  ENERGY SAVINGS

You've probably read about the new, compact florescent bulbs that replace incandescent ones and how they not only save a lot of energy and last longer -- but materially reduce the amount of sulfur dioxide that goes into the air to generate that electricity.  But did you know that the small porch lights Westfield Homes installed over many of our outside entryways will JUST FIT a 100 watt compact florescent  bulb?

These front entry lights are left on many hours a day.  And substituting these cool-running, new bulbs will not only save a lot of energy -- but give you a BRIGHTER light for added security!  [Note:  In extremely cold weather, it may take two minutes to come up to full brightness.]

2)  HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE

Little known is a new Health Insurance program approved by Congress in the fall of 2003.  Its called Health Saving Accounts (HSAs) and allows for much greater control of a person's healthcare choices as well as a cash accumulation account with the savings that can help fund one's retirement - or be blown in Las Vegas, Baby!

This new program, moreover, is allowed for companies of any size (including those Westgate neighbors in their own businesses working out of their homes).  You may call Ken Arnold or review this website further under "Arnold Business Enterprises LLC" to gain further details on this cost-effective, new healthcare coverage program.

3)  LOWEST COST, TELEPHONE SERVICE

Many of us now have broadband internet.  However:  We separately still continue to put up with high monthly telephone bills from Comcast, AT&T or others.  This is especially true when having any sort of long distance package attached to it.  But do you know that if you have broadband connectivity you can get UNLIMITED long distance, voice mail, and many other features that's 40% and more off the bills you're now paying?

Ken Arnold has personally found a great alternative.  I used it to my extreme satisfaction during my 2008 Congressional Election effort.  It's call "Digital Telephone" service.  It uses a small telephone modem, you existing internet router, and existing high speed broadband internet service to give you great telephone service with no material effect on your other internet connections.  Now fax, talk to a girlfriend, AND have your son or daughter gabbing away to their friends while you're working on the internet -- all at the same time!

Frankly, this service is NOT rocket science.  It merely involves taking the free modem provided, plugging in your phone lines, connecting a LAN cable to it from your router (just like you would to an additional PC) and PRESTO!  Telephone service!  A "dirty little secret" as a Comcast "Digital Voice Customer" which I have been (until now pulling the plug on them) is that Comcast's "Digital Voice" service is THE VERY SAME technology -- it, too, is Voice Over Internet Protocol!  They call it different to charge you more!

I am so impressed with the price (about $25.00 per month for TWO lines of unlimited long distance and local service on their annual plan (monthly plans are also available), that I'm now arranging the provision of this cost-saving service to all of my Gurnee area friends and neighbors!  The website to go to is:

Break away from your materially higher priced service like I have!  Do it -- TODAY!

4)  BEING PREPARED FOR A DISASTER . . .

Westgate's Precinct Committeeman happens also to be both the inventor of The Civil Defense Survival Box(TM) and an acknowledged student of disaster preparation and survival concepts -- even being an acknowledged contributor to one of the premier reference books in the Nation on such subject:  "It's A Disaster...and what are YOU gonna do about it!".  This educational and vital reference book has been used by many Homeland Security organizations -- but now Ken Arnold is personally making it available to each and every Gurnee resident.  Just click on the below to learn more and order any number of copies.  Note that in addition to your own needs, you can order for friends and family.  Additionally, this makes for a GREAT fundraiser/public service for area civic groups as well as government agencies.

5)  Wireless Internet

Two advents in this area of broadband internet have come into our Westgate community area.  The first is a free service from our Warren-Newport Public Library.  The second is from two companies offering wireless broadband internet service.  One of these firms is db3broadband.com.

Since Spring, 2004, our local library started offering wireless high-speed internet while at the library.  You can simply bring in your laptop, boot it up, log onto their network with a few easy steps, and get fast internet for your various needs!  So do your research, update all your software, or do anything else that requires a lot of power.  And do it free of charge (except for your taxes, of course)!

The second, new option in the area is wide area wireless broadband internet service.  This is a service that one uses a very small rectangular antenna mounted on your home to receive.  Two service provides exist which you should check out (they may jockey around their competitive positions at a moment in time).  They are:  1)  www.db3broadband.com ; and, 2)  www.dls.net

6)   Long Distance Telephone Cards

With tip #5 above on telephone service, you normally won't have a care in the world anymore about monthly telephone costs (monthly or otherwise).  However:  There are still those times when you'll be away from home, and perhaps even out of the Chicagoland area, where you'll need to still place telephone calls.  In such times, a telephone calling card comes in handy.  They don't use up your cellular phone minutes, save you any "out of area"/roaming charges on such cell phones, and have you avoid ripoff rates that hotels charge for such long distance calls.

Our local, Gurnee Wal-Mart store has a GREAT deal on long distance telephone service.  They're Wal-Mart Calling Cards you can purchase at a cost of only 3 cents a minute anywhere in the U.S.!  They're based off of the AT&T phone system, and can be set up to "auto refill" when the card gets down in the number of remaining minutes.  You can also go to any Wal-Mart nationwide to have the card "recharged" with additional minutes.  And their international rates are great as well.  There's a few more numbers to dial -- but you save a lot.  And there's NO monthly or per connection charges.  JUST 3 CENTS A MINUTE - PERIOD!

7)   Recycling Your Interior Doors

Our homes here in Westgate, unfortunately, used lower quality trim work and doors.  The doors are basically pressed masonite.

When upgrading your trim and doors to oak or other quality wood, one is left with the residual materials.  The old trim is a greater starter wood for yours or your neighbor's fireplace.  While the original doors can be well used elsewhere in your home.

One can take the doors off of the frame and remove the door knobs to have a flat door.  You can then recycle these in two ways:  a)  Using two, two drawer file cabinets for each end, one can make a nice office desk with the doorknob hole used to feed all computer cables thru (in the back); or, b) Take the same door slab and place it above your Westgate garage as floor planking.  You can then have flooring to store all of your extra things above the garage.

If you have any doors you're otherwise going to be discarding, please contact Committeeman Ken Arnold.  He'll be happy to take them.

8)   Recycling Electronics AND Fluorescent Tubes . . .

We are increasingly, our homes are using compact and regular fluorescent lightbulbs.  However:  A little know fact is that these bulbs contain toxic mercury in small amounts.  So when a bulb goes out, you should NOT simply throw it into the garbage or bust it up and toss it in there -- you should return it to a recycling center.

The problem with the above is there are few centers that are reliably open on a weekly basis.  They are basically "hit and miss".  And your personal computers, monitors, and fluorescent tubes can't clutter your home for months on end in the meantime.  Well, Committeeman Ken Arnold has now found an answer for us.  Very recently, the City of Highland Park has begun a regular schedule recycling acceptance program for electronic waste and fluorescent tubes.  Its only about 25 minutes away and 17 miles.  The address is 1180 Half Day Road and is about 1/4 mile east of Route 41 and Half Day Road on the south side of the road (behind the Highland Park police station).

Lake County residents can merely go there any Tuesday or Friday between 7:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. and drop their items off.  There's even a helpful Gurnee resident named Dennis there to help you unload!

So this Spring - clean out your garages and basements of all the items no longer being used or burned out.  And simply drive down any Tuesday or Friday and drop them off.  And perhaps do the neighborly thing in these times of high gas prices:  Before going, ask your immediate neighbors if THEY have any items to bring down.  That will save time and gas for a neighbor (or vice versa) -- not a bad thing in their tight times...

9)   The Difficulties of Finding a Good Contractor . . .

It is always difficult to find reasonably priced, and good quality home construction contractors and repairers.  Because of this, Committeeman Ken Arnold wishes to share with you some he has or are currently using.  He has found them some of the most reasonably priced and generally of high quality.  These firms are:

a)  For Floors and Linoleum:  Olsen Rug in Vernon Hills.  See Mr. Hamilton Wishnoff.

b)  For Heating and Air Conditioning Work:  Mr. Bob Washburn of Washburn Heating and Cooling in Waukegan.

c)  For Cement Work:  Mr. Tom May of TRM Concrete right here in Gurnee.

d)  For Misc Handyman Work:  There is a Westgate resident/neighbor who offers such work.  I have not personally tried him, but am happy to pass this handyman onto you for your consideration.  He is Mr. Steven Kraman at 1996 Madison Ave. - telephone 847-672-9685.

Committeeman Arnold invites any Westgate area resident to contact him via email or telephone for further information on the above contractors and to get their specific contact information.  He also invites other residents to give him other contractors that may also be recommended based upon cost competitiveness and their first hand experience with work on their own home.

10)   The Difficulties of Finding Good Auto Mechanics . . .

Committeeman Arnold is very handy himself when it comes to auto repairs.  He does most repairs himself.  But there are times when he elects to have others do the work or the work is so specialized that he doesn't have the computers/specialization to do it.  During those times, he has learned of a couple of mechanics he'd recommend.  He does so not only because they are clearly the "lowest cost/high quality provider"...but he's found their business ethics to be sound and would therefore trust them for any work.

The auto mechanics he'd recommend are as follows:

1)  Whitmore Auto Service:  This is a shop owned by County Board member Randy Whitmore and located at 600 Greenwood Ave. in Waukegan, IL.  It is a place where I've found excellent problem diagnosis and resolution several times.  All at a reasonable price.  You may call them at 847-623-2811 to schedule an appointment.  [Note:  Please check with them first.  When last calling them I learned they were looking to hire a different mechanic and could not at that time accept any repair work.]

2)  Cottman Transmission:  A new repair shop has opened up in Mundelein, IL at 25758 N.  S.R. 83  (the strip mall by the corner of Routes 83 and 45 in Mundelein).  They're specialized in transmission work.  And they have a GREAT "maintenance special" which includes a 21 point inspection/test drive along with dropping and cleaning the fluid pan, replacing the transmission filter, and reinstalling with new pan gasket for only $49.95 on most vehicles.  Most other shops will charge $65 - $90 for the same thing or less.

In addition to the transmission work, this shop does most other type auto repairs as well.  However:  Committeeman Arnold cannot comment on this area of work since never having any (yet) performed there.  But he DOES find it an extremely service-oriented shop with a very honest proprietor that will treat you right.

You may call Manager Jim Powers at 847-566-2595 to schedule an appointment.

11)   Saving on Gasoline Purchases . . .

Obviously, gasoline has become the "liquid gold" of our time. It is the opinion of this citizen that gasoline prices will very likely reach a peak of $5.00 per gallon sometime this summer. (I really wish I was wrong...).

To help conserve such gasoline usage and/or allow you to maximize your gasoline value, here are just a few tips to eck out every bit of value:

1) Try not to fill your tank at the very fastest rate at the filling station. Back it down in speed just a bit. The reason for this is that the pump will register the gallons dispensed more accurately at this more modest speed of filling.

2) Keep all of your gasoline containers in the garage with lids on - including the air vents - to avoid any evaporation (which also harms the environment).

3) If you're at an unfamiliar gas station, or wishing to periodically check our local filling stations, initially fill your vehicle up with exactly 10 gallons of gasoline. Then note the cost listed on the pump. It should register 10 times the cost listed on the outdoor sign for that gasoline. (Example: At $3.90 per gallon, 10 gallons should have a registered price of $39.00 on the pump). Any differences (recently found in 1 in 4 filling stations) should at least be reported to the filling station -- if not to the Illinois agency in charge of certifying gasoline dispensers.

All of these small items CAN add up...

12)   Getting Lowest Cost Dental Services . . .

Dental care is increasingly an expensive proposition for growing families.  Between checkups, x-rays, fillings, crowns, and orthodontia; a typical family can spend several thousand a year on such services.

Whether offered Dental Insurance coverage at work, or if unemployed or otherwise not offered such benefit, there now IS alternatives to greatly lower your costs.  The two locally available are:

1)  The College of Lake County Dental Clinic:  This is a teaching facility that loves to have area patients for dental hygenists to learn on!  They will perform the most thorough dental checkup and cleaning you'll ever have in your life (Ken Arnold has personally gone thru their program).  Because of the level of depth (including x-rays and cleaning), you DO have to allow for a full, half day to be there.  (They're located in downtown Waukegan.  However:  Ken believes they're also planning to open an office on the CLC campus at some point in the future).  Besides the level of comprehensive dental care (everything but fillings and major restorative work), there's the low one time cost.  Get this -- all for only $ 15.00.  (That's no typo).  So contribute to education AND contribute to saving yourself some major money by giving them a call.

2)  For your other dental work (fillings, crowns, gum disease treatment, etc.) you need more than the Lake County Dental Clinic -- you need low cost dental care!  To get discount dental care discounted up to 60%, log onto the following website:  http://www.LowestCostDentalPlans.com

This offering is a dental discount program offering a wide selection of plans as well as area dentists.  And fifteen months of membership runs as low as $79.95!  So don't take one step to the dental office BEFORE you enroll in this great discount program for you, your family, or your employees.  Don't wait!  Do it today...

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