Glenview Fire Chief Dan Bonkowski continues to recover from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a neurological disease that strikes suddenly causing extreme muscle weakness and pain. Doctors are pleased with his progress, and this week Bonkowski moves from Glenbrook Hospital to the Chicago Rehabilitation Institute for specialized treatment.

COME ON DOWN

Lehigh Road has reopened between Glenview Road and Chestnut Street, and the new Glenview State Bank at the eastern gateway to The Glen is also open for business.

Midwest Bank and Trust at Lake and Waukegan roads in the Glen Oak Shopping Center won plan commission approval to double the size of its building and eliminate two of four drive-thru lanes. Management said ATM’s and online banking had meant less demand for drive-thru services.

The commissioners were concerned about potential traffic problems created by the expansion, especially in light of brisk business at Trader Joe’s nearby, but they were pleased with the look of the new addition with brick to match the newly renovated shopping strip. Former Village President Jim Smirles, who manages the center, spoke in support of the project, and another prominent Glenview resident, construction executive Angelo DiPaolo, sits on the board of directors of the bank's holding company.

Commissioner Peter Brinkerhoff thought the project should be delayed to give the bank time for better planning of traffic flow, parking and landscaping, but Commissioner Steve Bucklin, who rents office space from the DiPaolo family, urged fellow commissioners to give the project a pass. "Everyone seems to like the building. You’re going to brighten it up. It’s going to match the center. I think the issue we’re looking at is just this drive-thru configuration. Quite frankly, I’m okay with the way it is."

Commission Chairman Howard Silver, who has delayed many a developer, said he did not want to hinder this project. Given the holidays, he said it might not get approval from Glenview’s village board until February. "I don’t want to put that kind of hardship on the petitioner. Six weeks makes a big difference in a construction schedule," he said.

The panel then gave Midwest unanimous approval to proceed with the addition but asked the bank to come back for discussion of the drive-thru design.

Asked after the meeting about the relative ease with which the project was approved, Commissioner DiMattina and Chairman Silver said the building's use and footprint were not changing -- that by putting an addition over two drive-thru lanes, the bank was not increasing impervious surface (area that does not absorb rain water or snow melt).

DiMattina called the project a "no brainer."  He and Silver denied any knowledge of the DiPaolo connection, and Silver told the Watch, "I didn't know, and if I had, it wouldn't matter."

The plan commission voted against a request from the International House of Pancakes to erect a 10-square-foot monument sign on the access road to the Target and Kohl’s shopping center off Willow Road. After agreeing to forego its signature blue roof at the commission’s request, the restaurant felt consumers might have trouble finding the new IHOP. They had submitted their proposed sign to the appearance commission which approved it, but the plan commission recalled an agreement signed before the shopping center was built. The developer had agreed to use only multi-tenant signs to limit visual clutter, and the panel saw no need to give IHOP an extra sign.

Village planners told area residents that construction of a playground for the day care center at St. David’s Church would not mean increased flooding. Neighbors in the vicinity of Glenview and Shermer roads complained the church had already cut down trees on the property, then re-graded it without a permit, causing standing water in their yards when it rained. A church spokesman said the wooded area was removed because homeless people had taken up residence there. He assured the public that new trees would be planted and said a newly constructed berm should prevent flooding. With that, the neighbors and the plan commission gave their blessing to the playground.

Glenview police finally got a chance to use their boot – affixing the enforcement device to a car near the downtown train station. Its owner, who had 13 outstanding parking tickets, promptly paid the $480 in fines owed.

A Raleigh Road resident was booked on charges of child endangerment after allegedly leaving her 4-year-old child home alone. Neighbors called police when the child was seen outside without a coat.

A residence on Charlie Court was extensively ransacked, telephone and cable lines were cut – but what did the burglars carry away? Last week’s police report says they got two cases of Johnny Walker Blue whiskey valued at $1,800.

A Des Plaines man has been charged with criminal damage to property after going on a rampage in the men’s room of McMahon’s Restaurant on Milwaukee Avenue. He allegedly kicked and punched holes in the drywall and ripped out a partition. Damage was estimated at $1,500.

The park district was again a target of vandals who drove a vehicle onto baseball field number one at Community Park West. Damage to the property along Milwaukee Avenue was set at $150. Meanwhile, at The Grove, someone made off with a donation jar containing about $75.

A firm called Windy City Music could be singing the blues. Burglars hit the business on Johns Drive, making off with $15,000 in cash and a .44-caliber revolver.

Four more people had wallets or purses stolen from cars left unlocked when they went inside to pay for gasoline at stations along Milwaukee Avenue. The problem is so persistent that Glenview’s police department is printing stickers to be placed on the gas pumps, warning consumers to lock their cars.

And a thief on two wheels apparently decided to trade up, stealing a Red Frontier GSX 21-speed men’s mountain bike from an open garage on Elizabeth Lane and leaving his own Scott Delano cycle behind.

– The Environmental Review Commission discussed possible protection for the Chicago River, Techny Basin and Woodworth Prairie last week, but only four of the seven members were on hand, and three of them were not sure how much land was really special enough to warrant legal protection against possible damage by developers. Tree expert Chuck Stewart, civil engineer Charles Hughes and land planner Diane Korling seemed reluctant to put any limits on adjacent properties like Heatherfield, the North Shore Corporate Park or McDonald’s, but wildlife expert Charles Payne thought all of the open space should be off limits to developers. After listening to presentations from the village naturalist, Air Station Prairie Stewards Kent Fuller and Rob Blomquist and from a spokesman for Friends of the Chicago River, the commissioners floundered, uncertain of their mission. No one from the village came forward to help them clarify the purpose of the Environmentally Significant Areas Ordinance, so they decided to meet again next month.

– One month ago, Glenview residents delivered petitions bearing more than 200 signatures asking the village to clean up litter along the banks of the Chicago River. Village President Carlson promised action, but the area is filthier than ever as the trustees go on vacation until January 7.

– Watch Editor Sandy Hausman again tackles an environmental topic on National Public Radio’s Living on Earth. To hear the remarkable story of a primitive Amazon tribe that sent big oil companies packing go to www.loe.org.

Glenview firemen are raising money to support a special camp for young burn victims – inviting the public to a benefit on January 12. Twenty-five dollars buys lunch, raffle tickets and transportation to a Wolves’ game. Call 847-657-6790 no later than December 20 to reserve a spot.

Glenview’s public library is collecting hats, mittens, scarves, socks and slippers for Northfield Township holiday gift baskets. Leave donations of new "warm and fuzzies" in the lobby.

The township’s food pantry continues to collect donations of canned and packaged goods along with cash for needy families at its headquarters in the Passport Building at Lake and Pfingsten Roads. For more information, call 724-8300.

With the Chicago Sun-Times seeking more than 3,000 Secret Santas, a Glenview company suited up. Crystal Productions donated $18,000 worth of materials and kits for arts and crafts. If you’d like to make a needy child’s Christmas wish come true, send an e-mail via the newspaper’s website – www.suntimes.com or call 312-321-2917.

A Glenview resident writes about reports of 8^th grade gamblers at Springman School: "What was the administration thinking when it let the quartet of gambling leaders off? What do the police have to say? We will never know because they are juveniles. When the referendum for higher school taxes comes up again next year, I can’t think of a better reason to defeat it. The district needs a new principal at Springman, a whole new school board and a new superintendent. If those four kids who took bets on professional games needed money, maybe they should have been expelled. Then they’d have plenty of spare time to earn money doing chores at home."

The Watch replies: Lighten up. These were 13-year-old kids who probably had no clue that placing $10 bets was illegal. Give them credit for taking some initiative in life, and give school administrators credit for turning this minor offense into a learning experience for students. There may be good reasons to vote against a school tax hike, but this isn’t one of them.

S.C. questions village plans to set a range of speed limits on the new Lehigh Road: "As is so often the case, the village board takes a less than logical approach when dealing with a particular issue. The board recently decided to set three different speed limits on a street that runs for approximately 1.5 miles. Talk about confusing! When asked by a village board member what the speed limit was before reconstruction of Lehigh began, Don Owen quickly answered, "Forty miles per hour." That’s not entirely accurate. For years, all of Lehigh had a 45 mph speed limit from Lake Avenue to Willow Road. Within the past couple years, the stretch south of Chestnut was lowered to 40 by the Cook County Highway Dept, but north of Chestnut has always had a 45 mph speed limit. Seems it would have been a lot less confusing to the motoring public (and as safe as the 25 mph zone that no one will pay attention to anyhow) if the board had set a consistent speed of 30 mph for all of Lehigh. That would have given Lehigh/Harlem Avenue one speed limit, from its beginning at the north end near Willow Road, all the way south to Dempster Street in Morton Grove."

The Watch replies: Trustee Donna Pappo also raised this issue, suggesting the changes create a speed trap for drivers. Don Owen argued that because of proximity to residences south of Chestnut, the limit should be 30 miles per hour and near the new METRA station, an even lower limit (25 mph) was warranted. North of that point, where there will be few pedestrians, he felt 35 was acceptable. Whichever argument you like, village planners will have to do more than post speed limits if they want people to drive safely around pedestrians. Studies show that drivers’ perceptions of safety dictate the actual speed they drive. Lehigh is a new, wide, flat road with good visibility, and drivers will be inclined to exceed whatever limit is in place.

Sid Kavin writes in defense of The Glen: "All those pathetic malcontents who complain about The Glen should really be ashamed. They are showing their outright jealousy and lack of vision. The Glen should make all the people in Glenview proud. In a couple more years, even when it's still incomplete, The Glen will be attracting people from all around the North Shore for work, shopping and leisure.

"I have been a Glenview resident for more than 36 years and recently moved to The Glen. It's great! I also had an office on Glenview Road and have seen the old downtown area disintegrate for many years due to a 'leave well enough alone' attitude. What a sleepy, sad place it was. Only recently, now that The Glen has come to be and forced them to awaken, has anyone considered what must be done to improve the old downtown. Wake up you people and enjoy the new Glen with the rest of us!"

TL and PL harbor no ill will toward residents of The Glen, but they’re concerned that too much official time is devoted to Glenview’s enormous new development: "Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Village Manager Paul McCarthy and Glenview’s trustees put The Glen developers first while village residents get shortchanged. Like that lady said last week, let The Glen secede (McCarthy with it!), and give us back our nice village the way it was before. Who needs all that density out there. Keep the post office, library and village hall in Glenview, and remember – the Lake Avenue mess is for the benefit of The Glen."

And an animal lover from Glenview writes to recall: "It was one year ago today that you published the story "Bye Bye Bart." It changed my life forever, and certainly the lives of Bart, Moodonna, Milkshake, and Pumpkin. Many wonderful people contributed to the Wagner Farm Rescue Fund so these gentle animal souls could remain with us. You'll be hearing a lot more about the Fund this coming year. Thank you for being one of the catalysts that has led to what has indeed become my higher calling."

The Watch replies: Hooray for higher callings. They’re frustrating, expensive and time-consuming, but what else do we have to do?

IYOUR 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