Faced with bigger expenses than expected at Park Center, the Glenview Park District has dipped into reserves and may ask voters for more tax money to pay for two new outdoor swimming pools. Bob Quill, director of leisure services, blames unexpected expenses for the current cash shortfall at Park Center. Electricity, for example, was projected at $190,000 annually but is actually costing $300,000 a year. Gas bills and insurance are also much higher, and opening the building in 2001 was more labor intensive than expected.

Program and staff cuts have enabled the district to cover operating costs at Park Center, but it’s been unable to pay off as much building debt as anticipated. The $176,000 shortfall could be compounded by a weak economy and competition from two new health clubs in the area – Lifetime Fitness on Old Orchard Road in Skokie and Extreme Fitness at Golf Mill. Quill says the district has been unable to match the marketing muscle of those two facilities.

Staff members are already looking at new ways to make and save money at Park Center, and the park board hopes to hire a business consultant at its next meeting, March 20. The board has also issued a call for volunteers from Glenview’s business community to provide on-going advice. While he could not rule it out, Quill said he would not favor any increase in rates charged to the public.

The district is also sifting through public suggestions for new swimming pools at Flick and Roosevelt Parks and will ask for some architectural drawings to be shown during another round of public hearings this summer. No changes are expected at either location in 2003, but Quill said both pools are old and will eventually need to be replaced. Again, financing could prove a problem, and Quill said nothing could be done until the public approves a tax hike.

The amount of increase would depend on the cost of new pools. If a homeowner’s annual tax bill was $5,000, he or she would pay about $22.50 a year more to build a facility comparable to the one recently opened at Wilmette’s Centennial Park.

A long-awaited coffee bar is set to open at Park Center some time this month. Filisi will be operated by James Stavropolis, a retired restauranteur who wants to go back to work. The district does not expect to make much money on the operation, especially since some of the purchases will probably detract from vending machine sales, but officials say the coffee kiosk will provided an important public service.

Glenview’s postmaster says a lot more mail is moving through Glenview thanks to The Glen. Not only are there more residents and businesses, but companies that sell through the mail apparently like this community’s new demographics. With all the wealth moving to Glenview, they’re mailing more flyers and catalogs to everyone in town. Bob Slickenmeyer says things will get even busier at the Prairie Street office when Anixter and the new Staybridge Suites open, but Glen residents do not appear to be using the downtown post office. Instead, he speculates, they may be posting mail and packages at Northbrook or Techny. (A source at Techny says traffic has been building steadily at the small office on Waukegan Road for the past two years.) Slickenmeyer also says a freeze in capital spending remains in place at the U.S. Postal Service, and there are still no plans for a new facility in Glenview.

Glenview and other communities in the area are battling an on-going epidemic of water main breaks. Public Works Director Bill Porter says the lack of snow has deprived underground pipes of important insulation and allowed about three feet of frost to build up under village streets and parkways. The extreme cold causes 6-inch pipes to snap, and even as the area warms, Porter expects more trouble. It takes about two weeks of temperatures above freezing or several days in the forties to melt ground frost. He adds that thawing can also be hard on water pipes.

Porter could not say how many pipes had burst this year, but he said the number is well above average. Northbrook has recorded an average of one break per day and predicts it will have repaired 100 broken lines by year’s end.

This week's board meeting promises some interesting debate. Among other things, the trustees will be asked to approve an $800 bill for repair of a window at the field house of Little Bear Park in The Glen. The background packet also discloses the disappointing news that Gallery Park will not be ready in time for this year’s OLPhun Run.  Also on the agenda, a return of the developer who hopes to build condos on the eastern boundary of Gallery Park and plans to launch a comprehensive inspection of the pavement in Glenview.  For details, tune-in to cable channel 17 at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4.

– Veteran school board member Liz Dinsmore has been called out of retirement to fill the District 34 seat abandoned by Nancy Morgan. Dinsmore had served on the board from 1968-1975 and from 1979-1995. Her new term runs until April 2005. An engineer by trade and an amateur pilot, Dinsmore had been active in the Hangar One Foundation. She’s also a member of the League of Women Voters and the Grove Heritage Association and was part of the District 34 Connect process that provided the school board with 13 recommendations for a cost-effective future.

– After completing more than $50 million in school improvements over the past three years, some members of the Glenbrook High School District 225 board were surprised to hear that another $20 million in work could be needed over the next five years to relieve overcrowding and update old facilities. Glenbrook North wants to reconfigure some areas to create more classrooms and to expand spaces now being used for special education, music and physical education. Glenbrook South needs more room for guidance counseling and wants to replace cabinets and desktops in six science labs. Administrators also say the swimming pool needs a new plumbing and ventilation system. The pool does not meet state standards for diving depth, but the board was not sympathetic to a proposal for a new one. "We’ve got tight cash flow, and we’ve just built a beautiful facility that’s plenty deep at Glenbrook North," said member Andy Olson in urging South to share.

– The high school board has refused to go along with Northbrook’s request to abate taxes on a hi-tech center planned by CDW founder Michael Krasny, who moved his store from Northbrook to Buffalo Grove when the community failed to provide sufficient tax relief. Board members Carol Rogale, Donna Torf and Elias Matsakis opposed breaks for the Skokie Boulevard building site. Board member Sarah Beyne was upset by the decision and promptly resigned as liaison to the Northbrook Economic Development Commission. "It’s in the best interest of the school district and municipalities to work together," she said. "You play nice together and a lot of good things can happen for the district." Beyne said she may have failed to communicate the importance of this project, or "certain board members aren’t interested."

– Member Elias Matsakis may be stepping down from the board now that his law firm is representing the village of Northbrook. While Matsakis will not be involved with the new client in any way, he asked the board to seek a formal legal opinion on whether his service to the schools would constitute a conflict of interest.

– State Representative Beth Coulson will sponsor a panel discussion on the issues facing public education at 7 p.m. Monday, March 10 in Wilmette’s public library. District 39 Superintendent and former State Superintendent of Schools Max McGee and Jerry Stermer, president of Voices for Illinois Children, will join her. For more information, call 724-3233.

– Students considering college or graduate school at Illinois state universities next year can apply for one of eight scholarships available in the 29^th District through the office of State Senator Susan Garrett. A panel of volunteers will choose winners based on academic performance, community activities and financial need. For more information, call 847-433-2002.

Northbrook’s village board may follow the lead of Naperville and put high school kids on some of its commissions. The students don’t vote, but they can make suggestions and take part in debates. Trustees say it would make sense to put a teen on the Northbrook Safety Commission because so many traffic complaints relate to the conduct of some young drivers. The head of the Environmental Quality Commission also feels a student could provide important perspective in shaping the community’s future. One concern was raised by the adult who supervises Northbrook’s Youth Commission. "Kids are pretty busy," says Joyce Silverstein. "I have a hard time getting them to come to our meetings."

Editor’s note: Glenview should feel some embarrassment in noting that its neighbor to the north is debating the composition of long-standing traffic safety and environmental commissions when this community hasn’t even gotten around to establishing such critical advisory panels. We muddle along with a forestry commission, electrical, senior citizen and emergency telephone boards which may not even meet and are filled by people whose terms expired in the 80's. Village President Larry Carlson can’t even find time for a discussion of commission and board reform let alone whether to include the community’s young people on panels that advise the village board.

It’s Christmas in March for Northbrook where tight budgeting and good sales tax receipts have provided an extra $300,000 for this fiscal year and another $1 million for the 12-month period beginning May 1. Last year, the village board added a half-penny sales tax for each dollar spent – a levy that provided $400,000 more than expected. Northbrook’s manager credits strong sales at the new Crate & Barrel at Northbrook Court and at local car dealerships. The community was also blessed by a $1.1 million grant from the state to pay off the mortgage on a brand new regional emergency dispatch (RED) center. (Glenview opted to leave RED Center because Village Manager Paul McCarthy thought it would be too expensive. Instead, Glenview spent more than $750,000 to build its own emergency dispatch.) Northbrook will use most of the extra money to pay for new sidewalks and street repairs.

Editor’s note: Where would Glenview be if, having provided Abt with a sales tax rebate, we had raised our own sales tax by half a percent?

Despite a slowing economy, Abt Electronics reports business is booming with plasma TV’s and digital cameras sailing off the shelves. "People need basic necessities, and we’re here to provide them," says President Michael Abt. Under the circumstances, and with more than over 1,000 people on the payroll, the company apparently makes an attractive target for union organizers who were warned repeatedly last week to stay off private property.

Abt called the police at least four times to have members of Laborer’s International Local 6 and the AFL-CIO thrown out of the store or removed from the property where they were passing out pro-union literature to employees. The local’s president, Jeff Ziemann, said workers at the Milwaukee Avenue store and warehouse do not have health insurance, and pay is being deducted from their wages for infractions, such as parking in the customer lot or making clerical errors.

Michael Abt says money may be deducted from a worker’s bonus if they violate company rules or make mistakes on the job, but he says the company has "great health insurance." He claims Abt personnel who were organized as recently as two years ago voted to leave their union after it was taken over by the Teamsters. "Our employees trust us, and they’re definitely making above average pay," said Abt. "We don’t want the union hassling them."

For nearly two hours members of the plan commission debated how best to regulate neon signs, then agreed to continue talking at their meeting on March 25. The group appears headed toward possible restrictions on the size of lighted window signs. Local ordinance already regulates exterior signs – limiting them to10 percent of a building’s facade.

The Glenview League of Women Voters will be at the public library from 3-9 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, to offer last-minute registration for anyone who wants to vote in the local election to be held April 1. On that day, Glenview will choose local trustees, park board commissioners, school and library board members. To register, you must be 18, a U.S. citizen and present two forms of identification – one with your legal address such as a driver’s license or utility bill and another with your name – a credit card, student ID or birth certificate.

The league has also organized three debates to help local voters decide how they’ll cast ballots on April 1. Candidates for District 34 and 225 school boards will appear at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 in the Lakeview Room of Park Center. Those running for park board will speak at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 13 at Village Hall where trustee and library board candidates will make their case at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 20.

Plans continue for a memorial park in front of the old Navy hangar at The Glen, and a local group plans to sell inscribed black granite paving bricks to raise money for three statues to stand at the site. Those statues, now housed at the Pensacola Florida Military Museum, portray a jet fighter pilot, a ground crewman and a sailor. The Glenview Hangar One Foundation hopes to sell 1,000 bricks at a cost of $100 apiece. For details, check the group’s website – www.hangarone.org – after April 1.

HM decries our pit bull politicians: "It is becoming very difficult to read about our village board majority and its sad attacks on the other board members. The silly diatribe that you described where the Carlson/Lerner duet did a number on Trustee Crawford for standing up for his rights is a pathetic example of ‘pit bull’ public servants. Lerner’s claim that he had to spend two weeks reviewing 50 pages of legal mumbo jumbo from Trustee Crawford is inconceivable to me. What was his problem? Did he think that he was getting paid by the hour? Then he went on to congratulate Village Trustee/Attorney Randall on his jurisprudential expertise. Well why didn't he just rely on Randall's opinion in the first place? Is he looking for martyrdom, or does he really have the interests of the village residents at heart?

"It is sad that Glenview can't have representative government. Voters are not given choices when the national political parties can front these so-called non-aligned caucuses, have local elections scheduled during off-election periods, and then present a single slate of political hopefuls that will represent the same special interests their national parties support."

"I am truly amazed that people like Trustee Crawford will submit themselves to the ad hominem attacks of the so-called Unite Party in order to provide representation to the people of the village. I guess this is what it’s like to live in a city of machine politics."

SC writes "regarding the comments directed towards John Crawford from Carlson, Lerner, and the rest of the circus, it’s a glaring examples of the arrogance and ‘holier than thou’ attitude of some of these elected officials. Elections like the upcoming one in April often result in low voter turnout for a number of reasons, but after seeing these kids on TV and reading about it again in The Watch, I'll be sure to be at the polls, and John Crawford will be getting my vote, regardless of where they put him on the ballot.

"Secondly, regarding the neon lights issue, it seems to me a big to do about nothing. Some of the signs that Gary Bruckner targeted in his virtual tour have been around for decades. Now all of a sudden, because he and a small group of people don't like it, these businesses should change their signage? I, for one, do like most of the signs. They give parts of Glenview the appearance of being alive, with thriving businesses instead of looking like the ghost town it’s destined to be if some of these people have their way. Glenview has a strong reputation of NOT being business friendly, and this is just another example of an issue being made out of something that’s really no issue at all. In these difficult economic times, many small businesses are just getting by. Leave them alone. What this town doesn't need is more legislation to further restrict the small business owners.

"And third, regarding Larry Carlson’s letter, the feelings in this community of ‘Glenview versus the Glen’ are this village government’s own doing. They created the problem and now don't seem to quite have an answer about how to fix it. Since GNAS first closed and discussions began about developing the property, its been treated by this village government as something separate from the rest of the community. We have a second train station named The Glen of North Glenview. If Carlson and the rest had been worried about the issue way back when, that station would have been known simply as North Glenview. Now we have a Home Depot at The Glen -- another example of a distinction that some people misguidedly think they need to make. So, Larry Carlson can try as he'd like to explain these issues regarding The Glen, but the perceptions that many people have about that area are real, and he helped create the problem. To me it will always be The Base."

MM can’t understand the controversy over neon: "Don't people have more to fight about than neon signs? As far as I am concerned, a little color might brighten up a drab downtown! As long as they don't flash or shine into a residential area, what is the real issue? A little eye-catching advertising goes a long way! Just maybe someone from Cicero might drive through at night, notice a shop worth patronizing and add to our revenue. How's that, Mr. Bruckner!"

RD is also critical of those who would restrict the use of neon: "Who appointed or anointed these Scenic Illinois busybodies to critique and complain about neon store signs? They must be a wing of the Unite Glenview party and the trustees that cling to the D-1 downtown zoning and the never-to-be-fulfilled dream of people strolling the downtown streets to find what they need.

"In the first place neon signs are both neo nifty and retro advertising art forms. They are a colorful treat to the eye that pleases and informs. Especially in our auto-oriented society and particularly our Glenview village where everybody drives to fulfill whatever their retail needs might be. And nothing is more eye-catching on a drive-by than a neon sign that identifies a business in just a glance.

"Have these Scenic Illinois self-styled arbiters of taste ever seen the neon walkway at O'Hare or the neon light display in the Glenview Public Library or the neon displays all over Paris and Cannes? Probably not, these provincials. So I suggest they begin with the Glenview Library and start attacking its board followed by O'Hare and Mayor Daley. Their journey of whining will stop there. Trust me."

The Watch replies: The people from Scenic Illinois are empowered by the same force that fueled community action to save and preserve Wagner Farm, to protect and enlarge the Air Station Prairie, to stop the construction of McMansions in modest neighborhoods and to save Bart the Bull. That force is the U.S. Constitution. It charges citizens with playing an active role in their governance. You too may express your wishes with regard to neon, but you do not have the right to decree that others are busy bodies because they have chosen to research an issue and advocate a course of action. We also suspect that you misunderstand the mission of Scenic Illinois, which has not proposed a ban on all neon but rather would like some restrictions on its use. Glenview already regulates exterior signs and public lighting. It seems reasonable to us that the appearance commission be charged with reviewing lighted window signs as well.

And JS adds: "Had Glenview Watch not brought my attention to the neon signs I would never have given them a second thought. I didn't realize 90 percent of them existed. I am with Dean Poulos. Neon signs that flash are a bit much, and those surrounding windows, which amount to no advertising, are really gauche. However, I have to say I think Grandpa's and the Glenview House are great. These are drinking establishments after all. As far as ruining historic Glenview, that has pretty much been done, and it wasn't the neon signs. Actually, the neon signs themselves are pretty historic. They were popular before a lot of the complainants were born. How many of these signs have been there for years, and now we have a problem? I also thought the Christmas lights downtown and the red, white and blue lights along the railroad tracks were beautiful."

Ron Rubenstein thinks it’s time for a change in park district management: "After reading that the park center has lost over $500,000 in two years, it is apparent that change is needed. The time has come for new management. Executive Director Tom Richardson and Director of Leisure Services Bob Quill must go. Another area of concern is the large investment needed to fix or replace the pools. Park district management complains that the pools do not take in enough money, yet they do little to promote usage. Some suggestions would be to purchase new chairs, hold family picnic nights and have local bands playing on designated nights to attract families with children. Glenview is experiencing unprecedented growth which brings new challenges and issues to the park district. What is needed are people in upper level management who will work for the citizens of Glenview and will bring to Glenview new ideas and a spirit of enthusiasm."

JM is feeling the pain of Lake Avenue construction: "I would venture to say that the residents living along Lake Avenue are not aware of the potential damage that may be done to their residences when the work on Lake Avenue starts again in the spring of 2003. If any resident was home in November when the contractor was smashing the old concrete surface between Shermer and the Lehigh overpass, you might have thought we were having an earthquake. There are no county or village zoning requirements relative to seismic shock, but I would put this construction work at a Mercalli Intensity Value of six at a minimum. That means it is felt by all, causing men to flee their homes in fear. Windows, dishes and glassware break. Pictures fall off the walls. Furniture moves, and weak plaster and masonry crack. My residence is adjacent to Lake Avenue where the smashing was taking place. The house shook, articles fell from the shelves and some minor cracking occurred in the foundation. I believe I have talked to every engineer involved in the project, and the answer seems to be the same. If damage occurs to your residence, you can file a claim against the contractor. How long do yo think that will take? This is not a village of Glenview construction job. It is a Cook County job, so we are dealing with the bureaucracy of county government. Could the village board persuade the county’s contractor to use a different means of smashing the concrete? We should all understand that time is money, and the contractor is using equipment which will cut his time on the job and therefore increase his profit. Damage to adjacent property is, at best, an after thought. What can be done?"

The Watch replies: Glenview’s director of public works, Bill Porter, says the contractor may use a different technique this spring. To follow up on that possibility and make your wishes known, we would suggest you contact four people: Village President Larry Carlson (847-832-0051), Cook County Highway Director Wally Kos (312-603-1600) and Glenview’s two Cook County Commissioners – Gregg Goslin (312-603-4932) and Larry Suffredin (312-836-4120). While Glenview doesn’t call the shots on this one, we should have some influence with the county, and the county tells the contractor what to do.

EB is not pleased to hear about a PGA event in Glenview this summer: "I see we get a golf tournament adding to traffic. Kemper may not be doing well, but why should we citizens be made to help them out? This whole Glen mess gets sicker and sicker. I wonder if Kemper is a little upset by those in Glenview who thought the expensive course was such a good idea. Why doesn't one of our former village presidents bail Kemper out?"

PLS has an eye for detail: "Don't you find it interesting that the Spring, 2003 Park District brochure carries the logo ‘GVPD?’ Are we becoming Glen View? Does that translate into our ‘View of the Glen?’"

And DDJ is disappointed in Glenview’s top leader and his main claim to fame: "Poor Larry Carlson – once an independent thinker and respected member of the plan commission, now succumbed to the siren song of the Unite Glenview party that made him board president. Now all he thinks about is money. In the village newsletter, Larry tells us how grateful we all should be for the monetary benefits from The Glen but fails to mention our deteriorating quality of life. He chooses to ignore the history that has defined Glenview to date -- that we have always been a village of smaller homes on larger lots than our North Shore neighbors to the east. Larry's developer buddies have crusaded to change that, following the model of The Glen: ‘Max out!’ is their construction battle cry all over town. Truth be known, The Glen is not Glenview, and Glenview has no desire to become a Glen-like community. Perhaps it is time for Glenview to divest The Glen and let it incorporate as its own village so Glenview can be Glenview once again. Redemption is awaiting you, Larry. Are you up to it?"

Several readers have asked about the status of a home under repair at the corner of Indian and Glenview roads. The Village Manager’s office says that property, at 808 Indian, was supposed to get new siding and windows. Inspectors stopped the job when they discovered some zoning violations. The building is now partially covered with a blue tarp. The zoning board of appeals will consider granting a variance on April 7.

If you or someone you know could use some affordable counseling, reader HD wants you to know about the Samaritan Institute: "It’s a community center for counseling and education that is supported by 24 congregations on the North Shore with eight offices from Evanston to Lake Forest. Staff members are state-licensed clinicians who offer a unique integration of psychotherapy and spirituality. Fees are charged based on a client’s ability to pay. For details, visit www.northshoresamaritan.com or call 847-446-6955."

Local humorist and writer Eugene Finerman took time to tell us about his latest eating adventure: "To celebrate the 13th anniversary of our meeting, Karen and I went to a fancy North Shore restaurant called Carlos. It really is not my kind of place. For all my esoteric erudition, I have the taste buds of a 16-year-old. I could happily subsist on soda pop, pizza and ice cream. None were on the menu at Carlos. I would describe the food as Seurat cuisine: dots of food priced as if they were masterpieces. If I hadn't eaten three rolls, I probably would have lost weight. At the next table, a woman was nursing her infant. That child was the only one in the restaurant who received a full meal. I wonder if the management charged the mother a corkage fee."

The Watch replies: We love to hear about area restaurants and invite readers to check in with their comments. (Any Carlos fans care to reply?) We recently got a note from Glenview’s Gusto Italiano which is celebrating its 18^th anniversary – offering dinner-time discounts. For details, stop by the Carillon Square eatery and say hello to the new owner -- Andrew Karas. His earlier restaurant ventures include Andrew’s Open Pit in Park Ridge and, along with several partners, Jimmy’s Charhouse in Riverwoods and Johnny’s Kitchen on Milwaukee Ave. in Glenview.

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