Glenview’s firemen expressed their excitement on April 6 as only they could, blowing the horns of their rigs to announce the outcome of a long-awaited vote. By a margin of 2-1, the men agreed to form a collective bargaining unit – the Glenview Professional Firefighters Association – and join a statewide group that will help them negotiate a contract with the village.

The Associated Firefighters of Illinois will also provide information to Glenview’s firemen and paramedics on a range of topics from safety, clothing and equipment to pensions and legislative issues. About 150 fire departments belong to the group, which also acts as a lobbyist for firemen in Springfield. Among the departments are: Northbrook, Winnetka, Arlington Heights, Evanston, Skokie and Morton Grove, which joined last July.

"We’ve been around since 1935," says association president David Foreman. "We’re the organization that firefighters turn to for information."

He stressed that Glenview’s decision to join was not a reflection of unhappiness or conflict and expressed hope village officials would agree to recognize the new bargaining unit. "The biggest problem we have in many communities is panic. As soon as some people hear the word `union,’ they have crazy ideas about what’s going to happen. We want to work together rather than being at odds. We want to keep things from getting personal or vindictive."

Many firefighters stressed the professional nature of their action, arguing that a formal contract is appropriate in all business matters. "If you were buying a house or a car or insurance, you would want a contract," says Foreman. "They’re written to prevent problems, not to cause problems. With a contract, everyone knows what the rules are and what they’re entitled to."

Should Glenview’s trustees refuse to recognize local firemen as a bargaining unit for the 80-man force, the matter would go before the Illinois Labor Relations Board, and the state could order Glenview to negotiate with its firemen under laws that govern collective bargaining. Assistant Village Manager Joe Wade said he was aware of the vote but had yet to receive a formal request from the firemen.

A group that formed in 1991 to oppose the widening of Lake Avenue to five lanes has resurfaced and is urging residents to sign a petition opposing plans for wider lanes and turn lanes when the county rebuilds the road next year.

The Co-Chair of Citizens Against Widening Lake (CAWL) disputes county claims that wider lanes will make travel on Lake safer. "Wider lanes give more of a feeling of an expressway, and people go faster. They tend to exceed the speed limit," Marilyn Sweeney explains.

County officials have consistently said they are not widening the road but concede that wider lanes and standard gutters will add eight feet to the width of Lake. At intersections where turn lanes are planned, Sweeney says the road would actually be 20 feet wider.

The group has planted hand-painted signs along Lake Avenue expressing its views, left a petition at Red’s Auto Body Shop, 1904 Lehigh, for those who would like to sign and is urging opponents of a wider Lake Avenue to attend the village board’s meeting on May 7 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 847-724-3044.

COUNTY SNUBS GLENVIEW – OKAYS HIGH DENSITY HOUSING

Despite strong opposition from area residents and from village officials, Cook County’s Board of Commissioners approved a 66-unit development of town homes and row houses on Landwehr Road, just north of Lake Avenue. Glenview Commissioner Gregg Goslin had argued the development was too dense for the 10-acre site owned by Moore Landscaping. Village President Larry Carlson agreed and hoped to make that case, but the commissioners would not let him speak.

Later, Carlson told the Pioneer Press that, "The game is not over yet. The village is exploring some more options." He thought the Moores might have trouble selling homes that would draw their water from a well, but unless Glenview agrees to incorporate the property, it would not be eligible for water from the village.

Glenview’s plan commission had offered to recommend incorporation only if the Moores lowered the number of units they planned to 52 and eliminated alleys from their design.

A 7-foot granite sculpture of a reclining doe has been placed at the center of a circular drive in front of The Grove’s Redfield House. The deer was designed by Bert Gast, a North Shore artist who specializes in tomb stones and cost about $200,000. It was apparently paid for by Catherine Pullizi: "In memory of my husband, David Pullizi and my brother, Carl Ellmauer."

The monument was inscribed with a quote from The Grove’s original resident and naturalist Robert Kennicott: "Ruled by all-wise laws, every animal fills its appointed place exactly, existing not alone for itself, but forming a necessary part of the vast system of nature."

As part of the Adopt-A-Highway program, the Rotary Club of Glenview - Sunrise has purchased 50 Pik Stiks that can be used to collect paper, trash and bottles without bending over. Any community group wishing to help clean up our community is encouraged to borrow the sticks at no charge. For more information, call Chris Warren at 847-724-8010.

A program designed to serve high school students with severe behavior problems may move to second floor offices above the Remax building at 1245 Waukegan Road after Northbrook’s Sky Harbor issued an eviction notice. As many as 50 kids may attend school at the new location. The District 225 School Board has asked staff to try and negotiate a 10-year lease.

This week’s police blotter featured more than a dozen arrests for driving without a license or driving under the influence of alcohol. There were two busts for marijuana possession, two home burglaries on Hollywood, a break-in at Love’s Yogurt in the Plaza del Prado, the theft of some jewelry as a family moved into its new home at The Glen and a missing mailbox in Indian Ridge.

– Northbrook’s library has become the first on the North Shore to install an ethernet, making wireless connection of a laptop to the Internet possible. The system uses radio waves to link with the library’s high-speed T1 line. The service is available to anyone with a Glenview library card.

– Congressman Mark Kirk told an audience in Highland Park that there is a pro-Arab bias in the Bush administration and that traditional support for Israel in Congress has eroded. The North Shore representative says he’ll travel to Israel in August for the 19^th time.

– Charges of sexual misconduct have been leveled against two priests from the Techny Mission. One of the men is deceased. The other is retired and living out west.

– Skokie will allow the owners of pick-up trucks to park on public streets and in driveways, ending a 14-year fight for that privilege.

– Two dozen fans of the classic Italian Vespa scooter rode through Evanston, Wilmette, Northfield and Winnetka last weekend enjoying mild spring weather and showing off their beloved bikes. The Wilmette Life reports Vespas are a symbol of Italian style and youthful freedom.

The Lew Blond Memorial Run is set for Saturday, June 8 with the 5K runners starting at 8 a.m. followed by the one-mile fun runners at 9:15. The event will begin and end at Maple Middle School, 2370 Shermer Road with parking available at Glenbrook North. Proceeds will benefit local students, the ALS Foundation and Maple School. For more information, call 847-400-8900.

The Glenview Symphony presents a guitar recital by Steve Edwards and Philip Simmons at 2 p.m. April 21 in the auditorium of Northbrook’s public library. Admission is free. For more information, call 847-475-4819.

The Glenview Public Library celebrates National Library Week with a performance by ShawChicago of Loves Scenes from George Bernard Shaw. The show starts at 2 p.m. April 14.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, sports historian Gerry Gems presents "Take Me Out to the Ballgame: The History of Baseball." The slide show and lecture begins with Civil War days and progresses to modern times.

Then at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18 Mary Anne Burkhalter performs a one-woman show, "A Tribute to Mae West," with comedy, anecdotes and songs. Register for this and other programs at the library’s information desk: 847-729-7500, extension 112.

Mark Damisch wears many hats. An attorney and president of Northbrook’s Village Board, he is also a concert pianist. Now, however, Damisch tells the Pioneer Press that he has lost the use of his right thumb. Doctors think the problem could be linked to a damaged disc in his back. Damisch had planned a concert tour of Russia, England and Germany in late June. While he has dropped one difficult piece from his program, he will go forward with the performances, "Even if I have to do it with one hand." Damisch told reporter Irv Leavitt, "It’s not fair, but it’s not like getting cancer. I’ll beat it. I’m a stubborn cuss."

An anonymous poem is making the rounds in Glenview – lamenting suburban sprawl and the demise of downtown:

The shuttered shops of Glenview tell the story,

Of village politicians’ quest for glory

Who, in their mirrors, saw reflected Caesar,

And strove to imitate him with the seizure,

Of village streets, which now, no longer local,

Despite the fervent opposition vocal,

Of residents of this once pleasant region

Who now must look at streets designed for legions,

And legions come’; and tho’s they do not pillage,

Their alien traffic blights this lovely village.

Thus worthy merchants with no need for highways,

Pack up their wares and seek out less used byways.

Jim Kubik was furious over a village board vote to charge OLPH for police and paramedic services provided for its fun run: "What a load of crap! Charging a not_for_profit organization like OLPH for village services to support an event that benefits the whole community is an outrage. First, the annual 5K fun run is open to the public (about 1,000 participants last year, including myself), not just parishioners of OLPH, and is, therefore, a public event. The identity of the sponsor is immaterial. Second, the proceeds benefit the Needy Family Fund, which makes emergency funds available to everyone in need, regardless of religion or membership in the parish.

"The village board should feel privileged to give assistance to this noble effort instead of adopting a policy that causes it financial damage and diminishes its effectiveness. Their attitude smacks of animosity toward a religious institution whose only intent in sponsoring this event is to make Glenview a better place. Will the Glenview Rotary be charged for village services provided in connection with the race it sponsors every year in October?

"To the Swainwood residents who have been heard to complain about the minor inconvenience the OLPH race causes them by running through their neighborhood, I say: ‘Lighten up and deal with it! Try to think of it as doing your civic duty.’ The event is held only once a year, early on a Sunday morning and lasts less than an hour while the participants are on the course. The residents should just come out and join the fun!"

The Watch replied: "Yes, under the new policy everybody pays for village services, even the Rotary. This arrangement gets the trustees off that sticky hook -- deciding which causes are worthy of public support."

To which Mr Kubik wrote: "As elected public officials, the trustees must be willing to make hard decisions. They should not adopt policies that hurt charitable causes just to avoid criticism and make their jobs easier. Community welfare is the issue here. That should be their main concern."

Betty Bergeron laments the loophole that allows Glenview’s Chamber of Commerce to avoid charges for public services during their street sale while making OLPH pay: "I think it is sad and disappointing that the PHun run will now be charged for village services. The purpose of this community event is to raise money for charity, but it also serves to enhance community spirit and encourage family activity, fun and health. In the meantime, the Sidewalk Sale, totally for the financial benefit of area merchants, gets village services for free. In this case, it appears Glenview has replaced its heart with a cash register."

The Watch replies: Relax, Betty. As Trustee Donna Pappo pointed out, OLPH can now charge the village for use of its parking lot during the Fourth of July parade and the street sale. It should be easy to recoup any losses. The trustees will no longer be obliged to cover the expenses of every not-for-profit that decides to organize a public event, and we may even be off the hook for the enormous public expense associated with the annual Chamber of Commerce street sale.

Maggie Hindes thinks the vote was an affront to residents who volunteer during the fun run: "There are numbers of people who donate many hours of their time before and during the day of an event [like the Phun Run], to help raise money. The village board’s decision not to use tax dollars for police and paramedic assistance detracts from this volunteer effort and is a poor example of cost cutting, because it will undermine the community's ability to serve needy families."

Joe Williams went to the public hearing on Lake Avenue reconstruction and came away with questions: "I fully understand the county's proposal but have quite a few concerns. First, have any alternatives been considered? Is this plan set in stone? What is the procedure in place for residents to propose alternatives? I have discussed this with several of my neighbors, and we feel this is a golden opportunity to make Lake Avenue a defining part of Glenview rather than just an extended off-ramp from the Edens.

"Second, what precautions are being considered to protect the neighborhoods between Wagner and Waukegan? The residential areas north and south of Lake could become convenient cut-throughs to Sunset Ridge and Waukegan Road.

"With improved storm water drainage being proposed, can anything be done to help the residents of Glen Oak Acres without them having to break out their checkbooks? Storm water problems in this area are due to poor planning and administration on the part of the village, not the fault of those who live here. This could be an opportunity to correct past sins. Finally, I wonder what kind of pressure the Board of Trustees is putting on the county to get Willow Road in Northfield improved in order to alleviate growing problems with Lake Avenue?"

EB applauds the trustees for being careful with the taxpayers’ money: "As I watched the trustees’ meeting last week, I felt like I had received a great gift. The board finally voted against an expensive, one-bid contract. I realize that none of the present trustees are responsible for the original Glen fiasco, and I now have hope that they will continue to watch these expenditures. Thank you trustees!"

The Watch replies: Not so fast, EB. Were you out of town when our trusty trustees approved the $77 million dollar incentive fee for the MURC or the maintenance building known as the well house – the one that will cost more than your house to build?  We’re afraid good citizens like you will have to keep after our elected officials. They sometimes do the right thing, but penny pinching is really not their forte.

Peter Grant writes to agree with Bob Walker about scaling back plans for a new library: "I agree (and believe most citizens of Glenview do) with Robert Walker's contention that civic projects need to be reined in. As much as we think the train station adds to the village, it seats exactly six more people than the old one and cost a small fortune. Metra money – federal tax dollars – was available at a price. We lost some local control, and the building requires constant polishing. The library needs updating, and the staff there surely deserves it, but be aware that if we build a grandiose library, grandiose interventions by those who help fund it will follow, and our ongoing costs for maintenance are also bound to rise."

Lisa comments on Glenview’s lack of affordable housing for seniors: "There’s a lot of senior housing going up but nothing affordable for people making less than six figures. I wonder where they are supposed to live? Oh I get it. They are supposed to commute two hours each day and still be able to function."

BP thinks the county should help with flood control in Glen Oak Acres: The flooding problems created by all the new water flowing down Pleasant Lane from the Queens and Pleasant drainage project might be alleviated if the water was instead piped down Wagner to the drainage ditch that currently empties Wagner Farm. The Wagner Road sewer is supposed to be a real mess anyway. Maybe the Village should be contacting the County to see if a deal could be worked out to replace that sewer with one that would handle more capacity and take it to a better place to intersect the river.

"Also, on a totally different subject, you seem to have a great connection to the Metro section at the Chicago Tribune. I read all about Glenview and Bart in that newspaper, so I’ve cut my subscription to the Announcements. Who needs them when we have the Watch and the Trib."

NLB urges fans of Bart and his friends to speak up: "I hope members of Citizens for Wagners(COWS) pack that organization’s annual meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25 in Glenview Village Hall to hear the latest in the struggle to save Bart from slaughter. Everyone is welcome to this public meeting so all you folks who admire the Wagner Holsteins and want them to live should be heard."

Debby Rubenstein objects to culling Glenview’s herd at Wagner Farm: "Bob Quill of the park district says that rotation of dairy cows is routine on American farms, and that the new cows may not be given names, which contributes to the public viewing them as pets. The park district's interpretation of what the public voted for in the referendum to keep Wagner Farm has been called perverse. The park district's plans for farm programs requiring rotation of animals, in distortion of the Master Plan, is also perverse. The issue is not whether or not the animals have names or if people are attached to them. The issue is that these animals have rights, and the rights of these animals should be recognized and upheld."

C. Andrew disputes Biff Thiele’s letter from last week: "Mr. Thiele says the citizens of Glenview voted to preserve Wagner Farm as a ‘historical snapshot of the farm.’ Historically, the farm was a real farm. Real farms, for the sake of staying in business, rotate cattle based on their health and usefulness. If you were to ask any dairy farmer, he would tell you that keeping bulls and cows on the farm until they die of old age is ridiculous. If you want a historically accurate, or even a fiscally reasonable farm, then you must rotate the animals. If your purpose is to show children how real farms operate, why would you lie?

"Thiele wrote that he ‘did not vote to save our precious farm only to allow the park district to sell trinkets out of a souvenir shop or to create some kind of perverse petting zoo that kills off healthy, relatively young animals and replaces them with soft cuddly newborns that can interact with children.’ Actually, it is Thiele’s group – C.O.W.S. – that has been selling T-Shirts and hats at the farm, not the park district. Bart is not a healthy animal. He has been standing on a cement floor in the barn for so many years that his hooves are deformed, and he rarely gets any exercise. It has also been determined that Bart poses a serious safety hazard. Should a small child manage to crawl under the gate to Bart's pen, he could easily be hurt or killed before the caretaker could get to him. With every passing day the likelihood of this happening slowly climbs, and it is a risk that we can not afford to ignore.

"Finally, Thiele argues that ‘the park district answers to the public. Not the other way around. The public was asked to create a master plan for the farm. For the park commissioners to selectively follow only those parts of the plan they like while ignoring the parts they don't like is to pervert the public will.’ In fact, the purpose of the park district is to make unbiased decisions based on the available information. The park district consulted numerous experts on the subject, and every single expert said it was necessary to rotate Bart the Bull off of the farm. I concur that the park district should answer to the public, but only if that part of the public is the majority. To my mind 100 C.O.W.S. representatives does not compose 51% of the some-odd thousand residents of Glenview. We can only hope to fulfill Glenview's hopes by preserving an accurate farm for the future generations of Glenview." 

And Mat from East Glenview is tired of hearing about The Glen and Wagner Farm: "I have lived in Glenview over 30 years and have always enjoyed not only the historic Wagner Farm but also the animals. I think it is a big part of tradition and should be preserved. Why don't we just leave poor Bart alone and let him live where he is comfortable. He hasn't done anyone any harm, and I think the majority of people would rather just leave this beautiful piece of property intact, with the animals still out grazing. Why take away an enjoyable piece of property and make it into a showcase? Isn't it ridiculous to spend all this time and money worrying about what to do with Wagner Farm? Like another reader wrote, we voted to preserve the farm, so why can’t we just drop the subject? Also, isn't everyone getting sick and tired of hearing about The Glen? I know I am. Why don't we fix up downtown Glenview? It came before The Glen and needs a makeover. It's past time to go forward and put down all this unnecessary nonsense about Wagner Farm and The Glen. I say move on."

Gerald White comments on plans for Lake Avenue: "Just read this week's edition of The Watch. Thanks to you, I was one of the few who received a notice about the Lake Avenue presentation with enough time to make plans to attend. Some observations: Both the county and The Watch stated that at Harms turn lanes already exist. Where are these turn lanes at Harms Road?

"Most residents seemed shocked to learn that Lake Avenue, between Waukegan and Laramie, would be widened by four feet on either side. This is probably how the highway department will accommodate those new left turn lanes. Many questions ensued about this widening. After the presentation and questions, I now sympathize with the residents along Sunset Ridge Road in questioning the need for a turn lane form Lake onto Sunset Ridge. I do not believe that a left-turn lane should be installed there. It will only encourage northbound Waukegan Road traffic to turn right at Lake and continue their trip north up Sunset Ridge instead of clogged Waukegan Road.

"I also agree with the citizen who reminded us that if 6,000 residents in Northfield have been vocal enough to successfully prevent the widening of Willow Road through their village, we 40,000 residents in Glenview should also become more active and vocal as to what the county does to Lake Avenue. There still is no one taking responsibility for why the streetlights at Waukegan and Lake are not working. Just last evening, there was another traffic accident there.

"Finally, I sat behind Larry Carlson during the meeting. It started almost 15 minutes late. As debate and questions heated up, several residents asked for a little more time. Mr. Carlson would have none of that and ended the meeting right then and there."

The Watch replies: The Watch replies: It’s not over `til the fat lady drives her SUV down the new Lake Avenue. See our story about Citizens Against Widening of Lake. That group managed to gather more than 4,700 signatures against widening in 1991, and the county decided not to proceed. As for those phantom turn lanes at Harms, we apologize.  The county said it.  We repeated it, but it isn't so.

YOUR TURN

Write to glenviewwatch@aol.com or 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60025. If you haven’t already done so, please consider making a contribution to support The Watch. Non-deductible checks should be payable to Glenview Watch. Thanks for your support and for reading. Dean Schott and Sandy Hausman, Co-Editors.

To read past issues of Glenview Watch, Click Here