AN ELECTRONIC MILESTONE FOR THE WATCH

On Saturday, Glenview Watch was banned from the Internet.  Our server, America On Line, explained that it routinely scans for accounts sending large amounts of e-mail at night.  AOL is trying to control the transmission of spam – unwanted electronic junk mail, and our list of subscribers has grown so large that we looked suspicious.  We assured AOL that all of those who get the Watch have requested it, and we received a prompt apology.  Now that we're back in business, we hope you'll help us get the word out.  Tell your friends and neighbors about Glenview Watch.  For those who don't have computers, let us provide a reason to learn.  Instruction is available free through Glenview's public library.                  

SCHOOL KIDS SAVE BIG BEETLE BUCKS

A few weeks back, the Watch reported a disaster for the 10,000 beetles "hired"  to gobble-up  invasive purple loosestrife plants clogging wetlands and crowding the Air Station Prairie.  The bugs were apparently released too late last summer and did not survive to feast in the spring.  Glenview had paid $10,000 for this natural form of weed control, and the state agreed to replace the beetles at no charge.  As the new batch was freed, scientists made an exciting observation.  Loosestrife eating beetles raised and released by kids at Pleasant Ridge School at no cost to taxpayers have already had an impact.  Holes in the leaves of purple loosestrife plants are clearly visible in areas where the kids' put their beetles to work, and the Village hopes other classrooms will begin raising beetles in the fall.

MAKING THE CASE FOR A CARWASH AT THE GREAT PARK

The long-suffering Mike Duncan, a man who's been trying to develop property at the corner of Chestnut and Lehigh for years, was back before the Plan Commission Tuesday, asking for re-zoning from an industrial classification to B-3, the most intensive business use.  Specifically, he proposed a car wash coupled with 4,940 square feet of office space above.

Duncan explained that grading by the Village along Chestnut had turned his land into a "bathtub."  In order to fill, create water detention and undertake a legally required environmental clean-up, Duncan claimed he would have to spend more than $400,000 making it essential that he be allowed to build a revenue-generating business.

He pointed out that 10 businesses nearby are automotive in nature and that a junkyard in his back yard would make residential development unlikely.  He pledged to build the "nicest building coming into the Glen.  We can scale it down.  We can do one story.  We can do whatever you would like.  It's going to be beautiful." 

He added that the car wash would not make noise, would generate as much as $300,000 in tax dollars and would not create a traffic problem.  Finally, he promised to take the car wash out after five or six years.   Huh? 

By then, Duncan says, his investment in hardware will be amortized and the property to his north (the Lehigh Triangle)  will begin to change.  If that industrial property is re-zoned, he feels offices, condominiums and retail construction would be possible and profitable.  

Without much discussion, the Plan Commission refused the request, urging the Village Board to consider B-1 zoning for the site.

MORE HIGH DENSITY HOUSING DOWNTOWN

The Plan Commission okayed construction of another seven condominiums on Dewes St. between Church St. and the railroad lines.  Those three-bedroom units, on less than half an acre, will sell for $340,000- $360,000.

PRAIRIE WORK DAY PLANNED

Kids and adults are invited to join in this Saturday's workday, July 1 from nine until noon,  at the Air Station Prairie.  The North Branch Restoration Project will supervise citizens who want to remove invasive sweet clover plants.  For details, call Rob Blomquist at 729-3487.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The Valedictorian at Princeton University, an electrical engineering major,  repeated an old Greek proverb during this year's commencement ceremony: "A society grows when the old men plant trees in whose shade they will never sit."

The new graduate added his own words of wisdom: "I would encourage all of us not to spend our entire lives lounging in our ancestors' shade, but to venture out in the sun ourselves, ensuring a well shaded future for the comfort of those to come."    He received a standing ovation.

READERS WRITE

HS  feels we've been unfair to Board President Nancy Firfer.  "When you quote someone word for word who is not reading from a prepared text, the grammar and sentence structure reflect conversational English.  It appears that your intent is to show that [Firfer] doesn't sound intelligent.  I would expect that if you quoted every conversation word for word you would get a lot of "ums" and fragmented sentences."

The Watch responds:  You're right, H.  Few of us are polished public speakers, and we all hem and haw a bit – especially when we're uncertain about something.  On the other hand, good communication skills are an important part of leadership, and Firfer often has a difficult time speaking in a straight line – especially when tackling complex topics. People who attend Board meetings or watch them on cable hear the exact words of our public officials – then draw their own conclusions.  By providing verbatim quotes of Firfer and other public officials, the Watch allows readers the same right – to judge for themselves.

JR expounds on the same subject: "It is painful to hear Nancy Firfer uming and ehing and changing her line of thought three or four times in one sentence.  The things that are important and that she should address she seems to flip-off.  The ones that seem clear-cut and resolvable she goes on and on about with no real direction."

HH read Bob Walker's letter about Optima's skinny sidewalks and sent this reply: "It is interesting that one of the reasons given by the Plan Commission for allowing Optima to exceed the prescribed density in both the West and East developments was to include more people in the downtown area who would be able to stroll about and patronize the local merchants.   Then, Optima is permitted to build right up to the property line leaving sidewalks so narrow that they hardly invite anyone to stroll about.  Take a look at Optima West to appreciate how our Village works.  Also, it has suddenly been discovered that increasing the downtown population won't attract any major retail outlets.  Some of us have been saying that for quite some time."

Alexis Reynolds is concerned about aggressive, non-native trees called buckthorn. "The rains have caused buckthorn to thrive," she writes.  "The mature trees are full of berries ready to infest gardens, hedges, lawns, woods and prairies.  Once germinated, these weedy trees are tough to remove, grow very quickly, crowding out desirable native and ornamental trees ... Be a good neighbor and remove buckthorn."

The Watch responds: The Grove has been removing buckthorn for years.  Take a look at how the landscape there has changed, and ask a volunteer to show you some buckthorn before going after trees in your own yard.

SJ takes us to task for failing to share details of the ABT deal: "I think that you should inform your readers that the tax the Village receives from ABT is at the normal tax rate until they reach one hundred million dollars, then the 50% goes into effect.  If the zoning stayed industrial,  we would only be getting money from the property tax without the added sales tax... I think it's great that ABT is coming here.  What other company, in Glenview, will be giving Glenview that much money in sales tax?"

JS is home and feeling feisty about the topic of teardowns: "I've just returned from a week in Carmel, California, a beautiful and charming place. Though teardowns and remodeling abound in that city, it has  maintained its charm. Anyone wanting to remove a tree, or even a branch from a tree, must apply to the Village for permission ... Glenview, on the other hand, seems determined to allow ugliness."

Ib Jorgenson has also been traveling and taking notes on airport security.  "I was checking in at the gate when the airport employee asked, "Has anyone put anything in your baggage without your knowledge?" I said, "If it was without my knowledge, how would I know? " He smiled an nodded knowingly.  "That's why we ask."

YOUR TURN

What's on your mind? Drop us a line by e-mail at GlenviewWatch@aol.com or the old-fashioned way. We're at 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60025. Thanks for reading. Dean Schott and Sandy Hausman, Co-Editors of The Watch.

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