As an all-volunteer organization – and a small operation at that – Glenview Watch must periodically call time out on our news gathering efforts. With the coming of better weather, we’ve decided to limit our coverage of local events during certain weeks. Lite editions like this one -- only six pages down from our usual ten --  will correspond with quiet times on the public front, what journalists call "slow" news weeks. We won’t skimp, however, when events warrant in-depth news coverage and analysis. Happy spring! We hope you will also enjoy a break.

BART BIDS FAREWELL TO WAGNER FARM FRIENDS

Park District officials feared Bart the Bull might turn violent as he was led into an air-conditioned trailer which arrived at Wagner Farm Wednesday to take him away. The public was banned from the property, but well wishers and reporters gathered in the Greek church parking lot across the road and were rewarded for their patience. Bart climbed aboard without hesitation, and the trailer was driven to the church lot so folks could pet the 2,000-pound bovine one more time. Bart stuck his head out the window and seemed to enjoy the attention.

Before reaching his new home, he was taken to the University of Illinois where he was neutered – reducing the risk he will pose during his life at the Animal Rescue and Farm Sanctuary in Trego, Wisconsin – 250 miles northwest of Madison. The tab for transportation and treatment came to more than $2,500 – a bill paid in cash by an anonymous donor. Members of Citizens Organized for Wagners are still collecting money to save the lives of several cows who will also be sent north. (To contribute call Biff Thiele at 847-998-0312.)

The animal technician who accompanied Bart said he appeared happy – lolling on a straw bed in his trailer for most of the trip. On arrival in Trego Friday morning, the Glenview bull also behaved well according to Susan Slater, director of the Animal Rescue Farm Sanctuary. "He got out of the trailer and walked right into his pen like a perfect gentleman." He has allowed his new keeper to scratch his head and nose, has been eating well and drinking plenty of water. "I’m so pleased," says Slater. "I’ve been hearing about him since December, and it was so exciting to finally meet this guy."

Bart joins four other bovine saved from slaughter, several horses, including two wild mustangs, two burrows, three emus, four goats, four sheep, more than a dozen chickens and 65 pot-bellied pigs – victims of a short-lived trend to acquire those animals as pets.

Bart’s stall provides a good view of the farm, and once its fence has been secured, he’ll be allowed to graze the 15-acre property. Residents of Trego have been coming by to meet the celebrity bull, and Slater invites people from Glenview to stop by if they’re in the neighborhood. For directions, details and pictures of Bart, visit the sanctuary’s website at www.arfs.org.

Park District Commissioner Judy Beck ascended to the presidency of that board Thursday, replacing Doug Kaiser. The most environmentally conscious of commissioners, Beck will serve for one year. The job is held by a different commissioner each year as a matter of routine. Chris Warren was named vice president and will assume the top job next year when Beck steps down.

Meanwhile, three members of the board say they won’t run for re-election. Catherine Crowley, Tom Pontarelli and Steve Schultz will leave next spring.

The park district board considered a request from High School District 225 to extend resident rates to non-resident teachers Thursday – a courtesy already offered to village employees. Commissioner Judy Beck was prepared to give teachers a break, but Tom Pontarelli wondered if the same benefit should be extended to people who work for corporations in Glenview, and John Winand wondered if the lower rate should be offered to employees of School Districts 34, 30, 31 and 63. Beck proposed that the matter be sent to committee for consideration and drafting of a comprehensive policy on rates for non-residents who serve or work in the community. The idea won unanimous support.

Wagner Farm hosts a chicken coop raising Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Kids can help pound nails and paint for no charge. Adult admission is $3.

Glenview’s golf clubs are way behind projections for the year – down 2,000 rounds, and officials say it will take spectacular fall weather to catch up. Meanwhile, the tennis club is celebrating another year with $1 million in revenues.

The Park District has been shopping for display cases to house historic items at the Wagner Farm museum and has found the right ones right here in Glenview – at a closing sale held by the Holy Spirit convent.

Despite on-going opposition from Heatherfield residents, including former Village President Jim Smirles, the Plan Commission is poised to approve a high-density development next door. To be built at the corner of Willow and Waukegan roads, Haverford will include a total of 122 units – luxury condos in two four-story buildings, town homes and single-family cluster homes built close together to preserve larger blocks of open space.

The Heatherfield Homeowners Association continues to protest the density, saying residents of that subdivision were led to believe that any new construction in the area would be no more than four units per acre. Haverford’s density is close to seven units per acre.

The developer of Haverford, Active Living of Illinois, has taken commissioners’ requests to heart – dropping the proposed density dramatically from what was originally proposed, eliminating some cluster homes, providing a substantial setback from Willow Road and adding sidewalks. The commissioners responded with enthusiasm, and while they deferred a vote until their next meeting, they seem likely to give Active Living a green light.

Owners of the Plaza del Prado shopping center on the southeast corner of Willow and Pfingsten are asking permission to build two new restaurants. A Corner Bakery and a fast-food outlet called Noodles would be located east of Bank One facing Willow.

Some members of the Glenview Plan Commission are skeptical. At Tuesday night’s meeting, Commissioner Joe DiMattina said parking at that location was tough enough, even with some retail space in the center sitting empty. "Your best scenario is really our worst nightmare," he told the petitioner. "If the 10,000 square feet that are now vacant are leased and you get an additional 5,500 square feet, [the parking problem will be even worse.]"

Commissioner Howard Silver agreed, predicting possible parking trouble for Bank One customers.

A spokesman for the shopping center said it was wrong to decide the matter based on those few times when parking is tight and claimed Bank One had agreed to the developer’s plan in principle.

Silver, who does his banking at that location, said he was not impressed. "If you bring a letter from the guy who sits on the 25^th floor of the Bank One Plaza downtown, it’s not going to mean anything to me."

Susan Isenberg, who lives near the Plaza, complained that most area residents were not aware of the proposal. "If they did know, they probably wouldn’t like this idea," she said, noting there are already seven establishments serving food at the shopping center, three across the street at the Glenbrook Market and three more near Target and Kohl’s about a mile away. "There is no problem getting served at any of these restaurants," she said, "and I don’t understand why Glenview would allow a Corner Bakery on Lake in The Glen and another one five minutes away."

DiMattina felt there was no room for compromise on the issue and moved that the petitioner be told to forget any plans for expansion, but other members of the Plan Commission were not so sure. Linda Witt said she might consider allowing one restaurant, and Steve Bucklin said he could approve two. Bucklin said he goes to the Plaza several times a week and has never had a problem parking.

Having shared their concerns about parking, the Plan Commission voted unanimously to continue discussions in June.

PARKING LOT APPROVED

The commissioners approved plans for a new parking lot at the corner of Greenwood and Lake. That facility will serve the Canaan Presbyterian Church down the street and can be used during the week and on Saturdays by families taking part in Youth Baseball at Westbrook School.

The vote came despite dark warnings from one area resident who predicted the church plans to expand. Sheldon Krupp asked repeatedly why the church was building a parking lot to serve parishioners attending a single service on Sundays. The commissioners said that was not their concern.

State Senator Kathy Parker and judicial candidate Sandra Tristano came in for some serious criticism in the Chicago Sun-Times Monday. "A leading legislative critic of how the Illinois State Tollway Authority spends its dollars stood to gain financially from the $350,000 installation of video cameras at plazas and along toll roads," wrote reporters Dave McKinney and Bob Herguth. "Senator Kathleen Parker (R-Northbrook) and her husband, who co-own a company that markets a brand of video camera used by the tollway, earn a 5 percent commission when that equipment is purchased and installed by tollway contractors."

Parker denied any conflict of interest, but amended her state financial interest reports, according to the Sun-Times story.

Also under attack, Glenview resident Sandra Tristano, a Republican running for Cook County Judge. Her campaign literature boasted: "Sandra Tristano is not one of the boys," but the Sun-Times says, "Nearly 20 percent of the $40,000 she raised earlier this year came from companies and associates of Roger ‘The Hog’ Stanley, a businessman embroiled in federal corruption investigation of the Illinois secretary of state’s office under George Ryan. Stanley has a long relationship with Tristano’s husband, Michael, who was chief of staff to House Republican leader Lee Daniels until six months ago," wrote reporters Tim Novak and Bob Herguth. "As Daniels’ top aide, Michael Tristano helped steer five contracts worth a total of $340,000 to Stanley’s company to produce newsletters for legislators," the paper said.

The Tristanos told the Sun-Times they might return the contributions from Stanley to keep the money from becoming an issue in the November election.

Editor’s note: We should have known Tristano was only kidding when she issued that campaign brochure disavowing the old boys club. Seated behind her in the photo are a number of well-heeled men smoking cigars and drinking wine – among them, members of Glenview’s old boys’ club – Jack Bevington and Ron Greco.

Glenview’s police offer a surprising service for citizens who have always wondered what it’s like to be a cop on the beat. Each Friday night, members of the public are allowed to ride along with officers working the 3-11 p.m. shift. This month, Stephen Kozlowski of Downers Grove asked to tag along, but before he could take a ride, officers ran his name through the computer and discovered an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

A resident of Greenbriar Road reported the theft of delivered milk and a cooler from the front doorstep, and finally, a complaint has been filed by a Barrington woman who claims she was talked into letting a female Asian perform an eye lift on her at the Double Tree Suites Hotel. The cost – $2,000. The charge: unlicensed practice of medicine. The culprit: still on the lamb. Says Glenview Police Commander Scott Stewart, "This is a first for me!"

Evanston dentist and Glenview resident Paul Fischl was alarmed by reports that Coke will pay a local school district nearly $2 million for the exclusive right to sell its products there: "The recent deal between the Niles high schools and Coke is very disturbing from a health standpoint, even if somewhat understandable financially. I urge the Glenbrook high schools to resist the temptation to enter into a pouring rights deal with a soft drink company. I also hope that dentists won’t be the only ones objecting to such deals when the topic is raised." He includes a press release from the American Dental Association which reads: "Children’s health and welfare should be primary discussion points when decisions are made regarding exclusive vendor contracts in schools. Specific brand endorsements and marketing strategies may influence children’s sugary beverage consumption. . .Will a contract driven by sales incentives and persistent marketing best serve their students’ needs?"

Poor little Range Rover sits in the mud,

No one for miles to give him a tug.

Day after day it sits in water so deep,

Maybe get out soon – maybe next week.

The Watch replies: Glenview police have no details on the mysterious vehicle. Village Hall informed the department that the Range Rover posed no hazard and would be moved as soon as possible.

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.

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