In a vote late last week, Glenview firemen were evenly divided on whether to join the International Association of Firefighters, and with the final tally at 35-35, the organizing effort was defeated.

"You can’t believe the pressure Village Manager Paul McCarthy put on these guys," said one pro-union source. "He sent 13-page letters to every firemen in town by Federal Express, explaining why they should not join."

"It’s a huge deal," he added. "McCarthy does not want Glenview to be a union town, and if the fire department had organized, public works would be next and then the police."

The same source claims Fire Chief Dan Bonkowski was asked to oppose the organizing effort and made personal pleas to every member of the force. In a move that cut the number of men eligible to vote, Glenview promoted seven firemen to the rank of officers. The latest package of bills submitted to Village Hall contains a charge of more than $7,000 from the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association for "fire promotion evaluation."

Union officials were said to be disappointed over the vote but could try again next year. The outcome of the election surprised some since in a preliminary vote one year ago firefighters favored membership in the IAFF two-to-one. Soon after that news was announced, Glenview hired the affable and well-respected Bonkowski to replace long-time chief Joe Robberson, who was unpopular with some members of the department.

When former fire chief Robberson retired from his job in Glenview and took the top spot in Wilmette, some hoped he would persuade his new employer to join Glenview’s emergency dispatch service, set-up with Robberson’s backing and supervision. Instead, Wilmette had said it would remain independent.

Now, the village is having second thoughts – considering the advantages of collaborating with neighbors in providing state-of-the-art emergency dispatch. Noting that a new facility in Wilmette would probably cost more than $2 million, the village board appropriated $12,000 for a study of regional dispatching for fire and police, but the community is still not tilting toward Glenview. Instead, it might opt to collaborate with Glencoe, Winnetka, Northfield and Kenilworth – communities already linked through a police radio network.

While Glenview officials build costly bike paths at The Glen and crow about the pedestrian- friendly community they’re building there, the rest of the village remains a dangerous place for people on bikes. Since January 2002, 26 people have been hit while riding bicycles. At least one was killed and others were seriously injured. Even our police have felt the pain. Bicycle patrol officer Dan Marsh was hit last year by a landscaping truck that kept going. He was treated at an area hospital. The driver was never caught.

"We’ve had so many problems." says Police Chief Bill Fitzpatrick. "Drivers have to pay attention, but with so much traffic congestion they don’t always see a cyclist or a pedestrian." Often, he says, accidents occur when people on bikes are going straight and drivers are turning right. Too often, he adds, drivers who hit people on bikes fail to stop.

"They have an obligation to get help, regardless of who is at fault. Often lives could be saved but drivers flee. I can’t understand it!"

The police department offers a bicycle safety program to local schools and the park district, but educating children does not fully address the problem. The village website reports fewer than 12 percent of those killed while riding a bike and less than 40 percent of those injured are kids. Glenview makes no effort to raise the awareness of drivers, and Fitzpatrick says they are key to protecting people on bicycles.

"Drivers have to pay attention. They know how to yield and should show some common courtesy. After all, they’re driving a 4,000-pound vehicle while the cyclist is on a 25-pound bike."

Fitzpatrick says he’s all for building more bike lanes around town, although he points out they are expensive. He would also support erecting yellow "Share the Road" signs like those along Northbrook roads.

Municipal lawyers are divided on whether that’s a good idea. While it probably raises driver awareness, some attorneys say it makes a community liable in the event of accidents by implying that the city or village wants cyclists to use public streets. State Representative Elaine Nekritz of Northbrook is sponsoring legislation that could eliminate the risk of lawsuit for areas that use such signs. It ha passed in the Illinois Senate and awaits a vote in the House.

Glenview could also post another sign that might improve the odds for safe cycling here. The League of American Bicyclists certifies bicycle-friendly communities when they meet certain requirements. Forty-eight towns, including Schaumburg, have qualified after adopting a written policy on bicycle-safe streets, assigning someone in local government to oversee bike-related programs, spending at least a dollar per resident on bike facilities and activities, proclaiming May National Bicycle Month, encouraging citizens to bike to work and establishing a citizens’ bicycle advisory committee. In turn, the league sent a plaque and two street signs proclaiming them "Bicycle Friendly" communities.

Police Chief Fitzpatrick warns that things are likely to get worse for local cyclists here unless action is taken. "The cycling population is going to grow, the area is going to grow, and things will become more congested," he says.

Editor’s note: This issue is a no-brainer for the village board. Glenview urgently needs a traffic safety commission and a comprehensive effort to upgrade our streets so pedestrians and cyclists are not at undue risk. President Carlson should immediately solicit applications from community volunteers for the new board and pledge $40,000 in seed money – one dollar for every resident of Glenview. Some of that money should be used to pay for a professional study of our streets with recommendations on how they could be safer. After blithely forking over $100,000 in public money for statues at The Glen to commemorate the dead, it’s the least Carlson can do for the living.

– Renneckar’s space will soon serve ribs. Sources tell the Watch that the Gale Street Inn, a restaurant at 4914 N. Milwaukee across from the Jefferson Park train and bus station, will open its first suburban eatery at the former site of Renneckar’s pharmacy at the corner of Glenview Road and Pine Street. Gale Street boasts "Chicago’s finest ribs," a wide selection of fresh fish and seafood, chicken, steaks and chops along with soups, salads and several desserts. The Chicago restaurant, which has been in business for nearly 40 years, also offers wine, cocktails and cappuccino. It is owned by George Karzas.

– The coffee’s on at Park Center. A family-owned business known as Java-Jive is now selling Starbuck’s espresso drinks, smoothies, Italian sodas, sandwiches, salads, cookies and pastries in the lobby of Park Center. Jim Stavropoulos has been in the restaurant business for 45 years – most recently operating a deli at Bell & Howell in Skokie. The new eatery is open 6:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. on weekdays. Saturday and Sunday will find Jim, his wife Sharon or their son John at the register between 8:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. Java’s grand opening special is 50 cents off any coffee drink before 9 a.m.

Plans to expand Meier’s Tavern are on hold as lawyers talk over the demands of neighbors. Mark Daniel, an attorney for people who live around the historic East side pub, met with Village President Carlson, Trustee Jeff Lerner and village attorney Jeff Randall Saturday morning. Daniel says there has been progress, but the matter which appears on the agenda will not be discussed at Tuesday night’s village board meeting.

Thumbing their noses at a community group’s contest, park district officials have changed their policy and provided names for a calf and its mother at Wagner Farm. The district had originally called the cow "Agent 86" and its offspring "Calf 87," in an effort to keep the community from becoming too attached to the animals. Recalling the crisis over Bart the Bull, Executive Director Tom Richardson told the Chicago Sun-Times last fall, "We don’t want that to happen again."

Citizens Organized for Wagners, a community group formed to save and preserve the farm, disagreed with the numbering policy and announced plans for a contest to name the cows. "The public relations debacle surrounding Bart and three cows had nothing to do with whether the animals had names," said COWS member Biff Thiele. "The controversy was about slaughtering healthy animals."

Glenview’s public schools declined to participate in the unofficial competition, but students from a local parochial school, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pitched in with dozens of suggestions. At its annual meeting in April, COWS awarded tee-shirts to all participants and gave first prize – a $50 savings bond – to Joey Carini. He thought the mother should be called "Patch" and her offspring "Tux," short for tuxedo.

Casting a pall on COWS warm and fuzzy party, the park district promptly announced that it already had names for the animals – Lady and Buddy.

Thiele attacked the park district for "playing politics over a harmless contest," and trying to upstage COWS. "The district has missed yet another opportunity to involve the community in the farm," he concludes.

A report in this week’s Northbrook Star tells the tale of an angry village official threatening the District 225 school board. Northbrook’s President Mark Damisch is reportedly angry over the high school board’s refusal to okay tax breaks for new businesses.

Four years ago, Damisch backed plans for a high-rise office complex at Techny. The village, school and park boards all refused to allow tax breaks, and the deal died. Last year, the Northbrook village board agreed to breaks for billionaire Michael Krasny to develop office space at Dundee Road and Skokie Boulevard, but the District 225 board again said no, and the deal fell through.

"We can go ahead and TIF a whole lot of stuff," Damisch reportedly warned school and park district officials. Tax increment financing or "TIF" allows a village to take all property tax dollars from a development and use that money for improvements to the site. The financing tool is being used by the village of Glenview to redevelop the Glenview Naval Air Station, although Glenview shares some of the tax dollars with schools and parks.

Damisch says the economy demands tax breaks for new projects, and boards should not refuse the aid just because a developer is rich. "Deal with it," he told the board members. "Guess what! Poor people are not developers." Damisch said he would not be deterred from asking for future deals, telling the boards he would "come after you, and come after you, and come after you, and come after you again!"

Board of education member Donna Torf, who opposed the tax break for Krasny, said Damisch’s comments were inflammatory. She suggested the village president begin talking with the school board sooner – before deals are done and submitted for approval. Park Commissioner Oscar Dahl agreed, telling the Star that the office tower plan failed because local boards were not consulted as the tax package was crafted.

– Two areas are asking for street parking bans: Claire Court, in the North Shore Corporate Park, complains that cars are blocking a cul-de-sac needed by trucks to turn around, and the Dewes Court Condominium Association is tired of Metra patrons parking in front of their homes.

– The village plans to buy another dump truck at a cost of nearly $80,000. The vehicle would likely be used to haul de-icing agents and snow from public streets and parking facilities at The Glen. The village is also poised to pay another Glen bill-- nearly $4,000 for "parking garage inspection."

– Three minors were arrested after two nights of trashing Tall Trees. They’re charged with puncturing tires, burning vehicle door handles with flares and throwing paint gun pellets on cars.

– An employee of Frito-Lay at 3400 Milwaukee Avenue reported his truck was burglarized. Taken was a case of cookies valued at $30. Meanwhile, the park district says someone stole $150 worth of candy from the concession stand at Community West Park.

– Construction workers in the 1400-block of East Lake report a problem with the same driver every day. The motorist comes through between 8:30 and 9 a.m., stops next to flagmen and deliberately spins the tires of his pick-up truck, spraying the crew with rocks and mud.

– Police were asked to keep a close eye on Linden Lane after a woman driving a BMW SUV was seen removing plants from neighborhood yards, and a Blake Lane resident says a burglar stole $500,000 in cash from safes in that home.

Glenview resident Tom Cernek will receive a Distinguished Service Award from John Marshall Law School this week. He joins former Commerce Secretary Bill Daley and five other individuals being honored at the Palmer House on May 9. A local attorney, Cernek has been active in evaluating candidates for judge and has worked as a volunteer to reform Illinois’ prisons. He was defeated in a bid for election to the Glenview Village Board in 2001 as part of the Glenview Good Government ticket, after the Unite Glenview Party spent $70,000 to elect its slate of candidates.

A Glenview couple has announced plans to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money for an orphanage in Rwanda. Sharon and Scott Krone are training for the climb, hoping to collect $35,000 for a van to transport kids, volunteers and supplies to and from the Sonrise Orphanage. Glenview’s Church of the Redeemer helped build the facility after more than 100,000 children in the war-torn nation lost their parents in massacres. Before Sonrise opened, one church official says many orphanage residents had never slept in a bed or used a toilet. Corporate contributions have come from the Edens Bank and Kinko’s, but The Krones are counting on individuals to donate most of the money they need. For more information or to offer your help, call their church at 847-446-9550.

A rubber duck race on the Chicago River in Northbrook raised about $8,000 last week. Participants in Earth Day festivities paid $5 apiece to enter more than 1,800 ducks in the competition. The fundraiser was organized by Rotary Club to help wipe out polio worldwide. A first prize of $1,000 went to Gene Marks, a part-time fireman, while second prize – a dozen hairdos at Teddy Kossof – went to Ed Harvey, the executive director of Northbrook’s park district. Ironically, fourth prize went to a man who said he had polio as a child. He returned his prize – free golf at Northbrook’s public course – saying he does not play golf and hopes the club can use the gift for its next charitable event. Organizers say they will probably hold another duck race next year.

To temporarily fill its walls with original art and to find one unique piece to reside there permanently, Northbrook’s public library is sponsoring an international competition. The juried art contest will take place in October, and already artists from as far away as Australia, India, Ireland and Japan have applied. Application fees of $20 will help to pay for the competition, and the grand prize of $1,000 will be given in exchange for the winning work of art to be kept on display at the library. For more information, call 847-272-6224.

– Morton Grove has nixed a plan by the Muslim Community Center to build a mosque and classroom addition at its school on Menard Ave.

– Northbrook is set to start work on a Trail through Time. The outdoor exhibit at Anets Park will feature a restored wetland and prairie, native American wigwam, a pioneer sod house and formal garden.

– Developers hope to build two six-story condos with a total of 120 units at the site of the former Old Orchard Theater on Skokie Boulevard. They would also construct a 15,000-square-foot retail building to house a bank and restaurant.

– Another developer is asking to build a seven-story condo and retail project in the 5000-block of Oakton, replacing an empty grocery store and three storefronts.

– Pfizer will close the Skokie offices occupied by former employees of Pharmacia/Searle near the corner of Old Orchard and the Edens. The closure is part of a worldwide reorganization affecting 1,500 people in the Chicago area. Skokie will set up a task force to sell or develop that property.

– Wheeling will provide at least $350,000 to the developer of a shopping center just north of Milwaukee and Dundee, raising that money through tax increment financing. The center is described by planners as upscale and prohibits laundromats, currency exchanges, dry cleaners, thirft stores, video rentals, arcades and tattoo parlors.

– Starbucks plans to open one of its new drive-through stores on Milwaukee Avenue in Wheeling, replacing the vacant Town Pantry near Strong Avenue.

– Evanston students may now sit through the Pledge of Allegiance. The state requires all public school kids to begin their day with the pledge, but district attorneys say students who object can leave the room, stand quietly or remain seated.

Last week the Watch erroneously reported that the federal government provides the U.S. Postal Service with $3 billion per year. In fact, Congress gives the post office just $50 million. Our source, former auditor Terry Wodder, says the service does get other support from the taxpayers including $11 billion in loans. He used the information to argue that Glenview’s elected representatives in Washington should be able to persuade the post office to move from its building on Prairie Street to The Glen, and he stands by the argument that Glenview could actually save millions of dollars by building a new postal facility at The Glen – then expanding the library at its present location rather than building a large new library elsewhere.

Biff Thiele responds to news that Borders will not be locating at The Glen: "I couldn’t be happier to see Borders pack up and leave town. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Now that Borders is out and Fred Feinstein is busy eating crow, I hope the village board will show some spine for a change and reverse their previous decision, before someone else comes into Glenview thinking its okay to just walk over our dignity and slap their ‘graffiti for dollars’ onto that tower. Thanks to Larry Carlson, yet another of Glenview’s historical landmarks has been gutted in the name of money. Our village board allowed the shameless defacing of Hanger One, and I will always hold them responsible for the demise of yet another of Glenview’s historical landmark. Save what self respect you still have and put the original GNAS markings back on that hanger and forever ban any future advertising or signage on the remaining shell of our heritage. The hell with Fred Feinstein and his meaningless threats. Do the right thing."

As for the lawsuit against Meier’s Tavern he adds: "Good for the neighbors of Meier’s Tavern. If Gus Pappas can't follow the same rules the rest of us have to follow, shut him down. And where the hell does the village of Glenview get off allowing him to sidestep the process. Watch your smoke? I'm watching your smoke and mirrors."

Glenview’s own J-Lo also wrote about Borders decision to close the book on Glenview: "Well surprise, surprise! Most visible reminders of the old air station are now gone, the sign, the birds, the foxes, the grasslands, and so is Borders. How many debacles must we endure? We've managed to ruin most of our open land, drive the birds away and make many citizens of Glenview wish that they too could fly away. Terry Wodder is absolutely correct. Let's use some of the money that is being thrown around to increase the size of our library and build a new post office elsewhere. And while I'm at it, who needs more houses on Wagner Road? When will this idiocy end? When we live in a Concrete City – what we hoped to escape when we paid a premium to move to this suburb? But, never mind. Larry Carlson doesn't care about traffic jams, or so he says. Guess we all have to just shut up and live with what the village board gives us – a four letter word that I won't use here. Something stinks, and it isn't just the displaced skunks which overrun the neighborhoods now. Something's rotten on Waukegan Road."

FM says the library should stay downtown and the post office should move along: "Why should the valuable downtown area be clogged with little post office delivery trucks! Mail sorting can be done at a less valuable location, and this would get the delivery trucks off of valuable land. That space could be used for library parking and expansion."

Henry Hill has another idea for Glenview’s public library: "Why hasn't anyone suggested the creation of a branch library at The Glen to relieve some of the claimed crowding at the present building. Items not on the shelves at either location could be quickly transferred. The present building would only need minor expansion if at all. I hope this choice will be a part of the new survey."

The Watch replies: A consultant to the library board has recommended against building a branch at The Glen, saying a second location would mean hiring extra staff – an expense the district should avoid.

COM is concerned about the condition of Glenview’s train station: "Who is maintaining the downtown Glenview Metra Station? Apparently, no one. Although it is rumored that village employees are paid to keep the premises clean, one needs only to commute by train to experience the unsightly and filthy conditions that have existed for many months. Both public shelters west of the tracks, pose a health threat because of the lack of attention. It is not uncommon for commuters to be exposed to human excrement, vomit and urine. Discarded food and other garbage and unpleasant stains make sitting in the shelter a very unpleasant experience, and lighting has been noticeably absent. Who ever is in charge would be well advised to take a power hose to decontaminate those public facilities. A handicapped parking space, east of the tracks, poses a threat to anyone parking there. The concrete abutment has been dislodged, leaving a metal rod exposed, ready to puncture the front tire of a vehicle. Driving might be a healthier option."

The Watch replies: Public Works Director Bill Porter says train station shelters are cleaned twice a day – once after the morning rush hour and once each evening. The problems you observed may be caused by vandals in the wee hours. A contractor is paid to police the station overnight, but a village clean-up crew does not arrive until mid-morning. Porter says a power hose is used to clean the facilities several times a year – but not during the winter. Spring cleaning is set to take place this week. Several light bulbs were replaced after we contacted Porter, and he says damage to the handicapped space, caused by snow plows this winter, will also be repaired.

Bill Smiegel wonders if the park district is taking down trees: "On a recent afternoon home from work I saw something that struck me as both ironic and interesting. I was driving past the new Swenson Skate Park (Shermer and Dewes), and I noticed a huge stump leaning up against the fence. I thought we were protecting old trees in Glenview – saving those with large trunks from destruction by developers. It’s a shame that they couldn't move their parking lot to save the tree, especially in a park where there was an existing lot that was removed. I also wonder why the park district is building a skate park when skating is passé. I don’t see nearly as many rollerbladers or skateboarders as we used to. This whole thing seems like a dumb waste of money and a dumb use of valuable land."

The Watch replies: The park district’s executive director says skating remains popular among young people. As for Glenview’s tree ordinance, developers are permitted to remove them but may be required to plant more trees or pay a fine.

Where oh where have our Glenview cows gone,

Where oh where can they be?

Not in the pasture, not back in the trees,

Where oh where can they be?

So often on drives by,

The Holsteins we'd see.

Now so many fenceposts,

And sadly no he!

No longer the scene that once used to be,

Who can unravel this mystery?

FL is watching Wagner Farm and wondering: "Is that barbed wire around the top of the fence? I thought barbed wire was outlawed in Glenview. Is this another example of the double standards some perceive in this community? And while I’m asking questions, where do the funds come from after an election to repay those who made loans to their party beforehand? Is this form of chicanery legal?"

The Watch replies: Not only is it legal, but it’s common practice for the Unite Party in Glenview and for politicians in state and federal office. As for the fence at the Wagner Farm, it is not barbed wire but something called twisted hog wire, a fencing material widely used in agriculture and legal under local ordinance.

FS sends a note about historic homes in Glenview: "Contrary to what some think, it is quite probable that Solar Park is not the Solar Lane area, but Hunter Rd. a little further east. There are a number of Keck homes there and articles from the 1940's indicate that that was indeed Solar Park."

The Watch replies: There are Keck houses in both locations, but a legal notice in this week’s Announcements identifies a home in the area we have described as being part of Solar Park. 

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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