A committee appointed by the park district to provide historic guidance for Wagner Farm recommends the barn be painted green with white stripes – colors selected by Pete Wagner after his original barn burned down and a new one was erected. The committee says most farmers in the 20's and 30's did paint their barns, but members of a citizens group formed to preserve the farm disagree with the green scheme. In a letter to Park Commissioners John Winand and Mary Jean Coulson who oversee the Historic Buildings and Grounds Commission, they write: "The Wagner barn was painted only once in 1936. . .This paint wore off, and from the mid 40's through today it has been weathered. It is this look that many Glenview residents voted to save."

To bolster that view, Citizens Organized for Wagners cites its recent survey of 599 area residents who have a strong interest in the farm. Eighty-seven percent favored retaining the weathered look.

COWS feels so strongly about the subject that it has offered to pay for a clear oil stain that would protect the wood without changing the color of the barn, but the park district has said the historic buildings commission should not consider public opinion and COWS does not represent all residents of Glenview.

The two could also clash over a proposal from the commission to buy a restored windmill that would sit on a 30-foot tower and cost more than $2,000. The idea is to illustrate how some farmers got running water before the advent of electricity. COWS members say there is no evidence the Wagners had a windmill, and the model to be purchased is decorative but not functional. "The farm does not need to be gussied up that way," says COWS founder Norma Morrison. "The Wagner Farm is real. The Wagner barn is real. The cows are real, and the chickens lay real eggs. I object to placing a phony windmill on our very real farm."

One other matter continues to rile park district administrators and COWS. Director of Leisure Services Bob Quill says the park district had named two new cows at Wagner Farm before Citizens Organized for Wagners announced a contest to name them. Right after the competition was unveiled, Quill says COWS President Mark Steger was informed that Agent 85 and Calf 86 were already being called Lady and Buddy. Steger admits he got the call but says the group had gone public with its plans and did not want to pull the plug.

Editor’s note: While we understand the park district’s desire and need to maintain control over costs, legal matters and the safety of visitors and livestock, officials should be willing to accept citizen input on many other areas of concern to the public. We doubt that Lady and Buddy would mind being renamed, and accepting the suggestions of school kids is really what a publicly-funded park district should do. COWS may not represent all residents, but it is a very large public group open to anyone who wants to join. The views of COWS leadership and the survey they have done deserve serious consideration. Instead, they’re getting the cold shoulder from a group of grown-ups who refuse to play ball if they can’t make all the rules.

In a matter of weeks, a committee formed to save a prominent barn on Deerfield Road from demolition by developers raised more than $30,000. Walgreens, which is based in Deerfield, contributed $5,000; one family donated $3,000 while another gave $2,500. The Caruso Middle School student council came up with $1,000 and the rest came in smaller increments. Plans are now proceeding to move the barn to a location next to Caruso where it will be restored over the summer and opened in September.

Glenview’s village board gave unanimous approval to environmentally-significant area status for more than 50 acres of land west of the Heatherfield development called the Techny Basin, an adjoining lot known as the West Fork Reserve and the Woodworth Prairie on Milwaukee Avenue at Greenwood. In casting their votes to support protection from possible damage by development around those natural areas, the board glossed over a shoddy performance by Glenview’s Environmental Review Commission which did not recommend protection for the reserve despite expert testimony that it provides good habitat for rare grassland birds. Some board members also seemed to miss the point of an ESA.

"I want to be sure we’re allowing for parking – maybe on Lot 16," said Trustee Jim Patterson.

Development Director Mary Bak said a lot could be built but would have to be submitted to the environmental review commission, the plan commission and the village board. Trustee Jeff Lerner added, "designation as an environmentally significant area doesn’t preclude development."

"Correct," said Bak.

"So should we incorporate that into this motion?" Patterson asked.

Village President Carlson seemed ready to ask staff to start work on parking lot plans when resident Dick Feit asked to speak.

"I had a meeting with the North American Corporation [next door to the Techny Basin]. They have over 400 parking spaces at their facility, and they do not do business on Saturday and Sunday. They’re considering my request to allocate a small number of spaces as a neighborly gesture on their part. There are some legal and insurance issues, but if it comes through, this could be a nice opportunity to keep that entire area in pristine condition."

"Great, Mr. Feit," said Carlson.

"When I hear from their legal and insurance people, I’ll get back to you," Feit continued.

"Nice job. Thank you," said Carlson.

Editor’s note: Sad to say, our village board offers little leadership and often seems incapable of creative thought. Fortunately, Glenview has many citizens willing to fill the void.

The owner of a Harley Davidson store being built on Willow Road at The Glen sent his wife, Audrey Brown, to ask for a little favor from the village last week. Their building will not be finished this summer when the motorcycle manufacturer marks its 100^th anniversary, and it won’t be done when thousands of people ride through the area en route to a massive motorcycle rally held in Sturgis, South Dakota. To take advantage of these sales opportunities, the Browns wanted to put up a 60 x 90-foot tent where they could do business in August.

Trustee Mike Guinane pointed out that the village doesn’t usually allow special event tents and banners for more than 10 days and worried Glenview might be setting a bad precedent.

President Carlson thought the circumstances were unique. "They kind of need this for their business," he explained. "If their building were finished, this wouldn’t come up."

Guinane pointed out that a million people might be attending the bike fest in South Dakota and wondered how many of them would pass through the village. "Are you expecting 10 percent of that million to come into Glenview?" he asked.

"I hope so," said Brown with a giggle.

"I understand there’s been a construction problem through no fault of your own," said Trustee Lerner. "They didn’t deliver the brick or whatever."

"Yeah," said Brown. "We’ve had a few problems over the brick."

"So this isn’t a special occasion," said Lerner. "You would like to open before the building is finished."

"Yes," said Brown. "Just for that month." She assured the board that security and porta potties would be provided and promised not to ask for an extension on the month-long tent sale.

Trustee Kerry Cummings said she was sympathetic and could see allowing the store to operate for two weeks but was not willing to give the business a whole month.

"If you were to give them two weeks, they could come back and ask for another two weeks," said Lerner. "That seems like a useless act. Their construction has been delayed through no fault of their own, so the real question becomes – is this a special circumstance?"

"We could have a lot of businesses that have delays, and are we going to let them run businesses out of tents because of delays?" Cummings replied.

Guinane added that Harley might have finished its building in time if it had paid for double shifts and worked weekends. "I’ve been in construction for 23 years, and you can accelerate schedules to accommodate an opening."

Lerner ignored the remark and seconded an earlier motion to allow the month-long sale.

The trustees then approved the request with Cummings and Guinane voting no.

The owner of a building at the corner of Dewes and Railroad in downtown Glenview is still trying to find tenants for the first floor of that condo building. By local ordinance, only retail businesses are allowed there, but with relatively little pedestrian traffic, the site is not ideal for stores, and the landlord says Metra commuters leave their vans and SUV’s outside the storefronts blocking the public’s view and killing any interest from would-be retail tenants. He asked the village board to eliminate some of the Metra parking out front, designating 16 spaces for two-hour customer parking.

Trustee Denefe, a former commuter, was adamantly opposed. "Having rushed from my home to the train station, not to be able to park in a space I anticipated being able to park in would cause me great angst," she explained. The landlord attempted to respond, but Denefe stopped him cold. "I’m not finished," she said. "I understand your issue, but I don’t think the solution is to take away parking spaces that the public has grown accustomed to being able to utilize."

Trustee Kimball Woodrow, a real estate investment advisor, took the opposite view. Noting that Metra spaces are available a block or two south on Railroad, he said the board should be responsive to "a group that’s trying to bring some vitality to an area that sorely needs it."

Trustee Lerner didn’t want to give up any spaces until the building had tenants, but the landlord argued a Catch 22. "We need the spaces to get the tenants."

Trustee Guinane pointed out that hundreds of Metra parking spaces are available at The Glen of North Glenview lot, but the thought of sending Glenview residents to park at The Glen appalled Lerner and Denefe. "You’re talking about commuting from one end of town to the other," said Lerner. "To a commuter, the North Glen is another city!"

"You might think of it as another city," said Guinane, "but it’s Glenview."

"To suggest to a commuter that he change the location of where he departs to go to his job in the Loop to another train station is just going way beyond the realm," Denefe began.

"I don’t mean to interrupt you," said Lerner, "but it’s a different train schedule."

"Trains that stop at The Glen don’t all stop at the Glenview train station," Denefe added. "It’s like traveling from Northbrook or Deerfield. It just isn’t that easy. The fact that there are spots available at The Glen has no relevance."

Trustee Patterson thought maybe eight of the 16 spaces should be given over for customer parking, and Trustee Cummings favored four, but the board ultimately decided to set aside just two spaces for now. As additional commercial tenants sign leases, more parking spots will be designated.

Editor’s note: There were any number of reasons to reject this request. It was, after all, the developer who proposed putting customer parking inside the building. The village allowed him to build less than required by local code, but he now says the ceiling is too low to accommodate some vehicles, and the lack of lighting may discourage people from using the indoor garage. Putting blame aside, there’s a municipal lot nearby and 22 two-hour parking spaces on the east side of the building – which begs the question: is parking really the issue? There’s no street parking for Caribou Coffee or Oberweis Dairy – Optima properties on Waukegan Road that seem to do perfectly well with parking behind the building. On the other hand, Larry Carlson has often claimed the lack of street parking downtown is an issue. If he believes that, then the token decision to provide just two spaces for tenants of Optima West shows Carlson’s utter lack of commitment to redevelopment downtown. Sitting in the hot seat with a chance to exercise some small degree of leadership on this issue, he wilted. Finally, we think the number of vacant parking spaces at The Glen of North Glenview is relevant. That station is no more than two miles from downtown Glenview, the vast majority of trains that stop at Glenview also stop there, and plenty of people live close enough to consider North Glenview an option if parking at Glenview gets too tight.

GLEN WATCHING

--You might call Cameron Mitchell the Rich Melman of Columbus, Ohio – a young entrepreneur who has built an empire of theme restaurants in the Buckeye State. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Mitchell owns and operates 19 eateries with nine different concepts including Mitchell’s Fish Market, a casual seafood spot set to open this fall at The Glen Town Center.

– Also reported to be coming is a restaurant called Brio, described by the Bravo chain as "a casual, white tablecloth restaurant offering classic Italian food in a Roman ruin decor."

– Crown Theaters, which will manage ten movie screens at The Glen, plans to offer two new technologies that allow disabled people to enjoy films. Four of 10 auditoriums will be equipped with a device that provides blind patrons with audio description of action on the screen when there’s no dialogue and a small text display of the film’s audio track for the deaf.

– A Knoxville, Tennessee chain called National Book Warehouse will take space that was to be occupied by Border’s at the mixed use retail center. Its store, known as The Book Market, will do business below the Hangar One tower offering books at reduced prices to the public and an additional 15% off for librarians, teachers and school administrators.

– Oliver/McMillan, developer of The Glen Town Center, tells visitors to its website something Glenview residents may not have heard. When the area is fully developed its main drag, Patriot Boulevard, is expected to carry 28,000 cars a day!

– Golfweek magazine has issued its list of America’s best and the new Glen Club is there along with Cog Hill, Kemper Lakes and ThunderHawk, a public course in Lake County designed by Robert Trent Jones.

Developer Oliver/McMillan proposed a series of design guidelines for retailers at The Glen Town Center last week, describing the kinds of signs, lighting, awnings and outdoor seating they could have. A brochure prepared for The Glen Redevelopment Commission would permit many signs that could not be posted in other parts of town – a fact that disturbed several commission members. A spokesman for the developer said the idea was to prevent a deluge of applications to the village for variances, but Chairman Howard Silver was not ready to let Glen businesses live by a set of rules different from those in other parts of town. "In village surveys, the biggest single gut wrench in this town is that The Glen is being treated differently – in some cases to the detriment of the rest of the village. That’s the perception, and some say perception is reality" Silver said, adding that he did not want to grant the developer "special favors."

West Nile virus claimed 62 lives in Illinois last year and the insect-borne illness made at least 877 people sick. Now, officials are gearing up for the return of mosquitos, spraying to prevent larvae from hatching and urging area residents to get rid of standing water in their yards. Representatives of the Illinois Department of Public Health met with local leaders in Wilmette this month, but the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District sent no one. Lab Director Marlon Henry said he had a scheduling conflict, but his absence was marked by Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin who told the district to keep the public posted on its activities and to do what they say they’ll do. He warned that "if things don’t change, there will be changes made." Suffredin has been working with Glenview resident Mike Luxem, a citizen watchdog who contends the district wastes tax dollars while providing easy jobs for politically-connected people. State Senator Jeff Schoenberg may also have his doubts about mosquito abatement. The 8^th District Democrat has introduced a bill that would make Cook County responsible for mosquito control.

It’s all the rage in sweet-loving circles, and it’s coming to Glenview. The practice of pounding ingredients into scoops of ice cream on an ice cold stone slab is known as "smushing," and is practiced by two chains expected to open here this year. The nation’s top smushing company, Cold Stone Creamery, says it will be doing business at Carillon Square this spring. The store will be one of 1,000 the chain hopes to operate by the end of 2004, offering simple concoctions like chocolate ice cream with brownies or more exotic fare like carmel apple ice cream with Hostess Ding Dongs. The Wall Street Journal says these ice cream creations often weigh in at 1,000 calories and can cost consumers $6-$10 apiece. In addition to sprinkles, Cold Stone throws in music. Its employees sing if they get a tip. They’ve also been known to juggle the spades used to mix ice cream and toppings. Should you tire of the show at Cold Stone, The Glen Town Center will offer another smushing experience in the fall. That’s when MaggieMoo’s is hoping to open. That chain has 92 stores and franchise agreements signed for another 230.

Congratulations to new parents Rob Blomquist and Gayle Nelson Blomquist on the birth of their first baby, Freya Brooke. She arrived Friday afternoon, in time for a very happy celebration of Mother’s Day.

– This week's meeting of the plan commission has been cancelled due to lack of a quorum.

– Area residents can help fight ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, when School District 30 hosts its annual Lew Blond Memorial 5K Run. If you’d like to volunteer or take part, call 847-400-8800.

– You can learn about quilting during a special program at the Glenview Public Library May 13 at 7 p.m. Sharon Evans of Quilter’s Palettte will bring samples of national quilts. To register for this free event, call 847-729-7500 (ext. 112).

– On Wednesday, May 14 you can take part in a genealogy workshop at 9:30 a.m. in the library’s training room. Register at the information desk.

– And on Thursday, May 15 the library will host a discussion for visually impaired people who enjoy listening to books on tape. For details, call librarian Kim Comerford at 847-729-7500.

If you’re interested in the emotional challenges faced by parents who have children through medically-assisted reproduction, tune into WBEZ’s Chicago Matters series Wednesday, May 14 at 7:30 am and 5:50 pm. Watch CoEditor Sandy Hausman talks with Chicago-area families and experts about the brave new world that many are navigating without a map in "What Do We Tell the Test Tube Kids?"

Joe Williams was confused by a report in our first edition last week, claiming that the Gale Street Inn was coming to Glenview. Later, after receiving a call from the leasing agent, we retracted our original story: "I'm a little confused regarding the status of the Gale Street Inn opening at the old Renneckar's site. Is they or ain't they? To get things going, maybe Larry can dust off his beloved 900 signature Deerfield Bakery petition, cross out the word "Donut" and write in the word "Ribs!"

The Watch replies: They ain’t. While Gale Street looked at that location and liked the idea of coming to Glenview, its owner apparently decided not to open at the Renneckar’s site because – like the owners of the Deerfield bakery -- he felt parking was inadequate.

RB wonders about standing water on Willow Road: "What's going on with that lake that forms after every rain just to the south of Home Depot and north of Willow Rd.? The real estate rental outfit told me that the land is wetland and won't be developed for retail use. Isn't all that shallow water a likely breeding ground for carriers of West Nile virus?"

The Watch replies: "The mosquitoes that carry West Nile tend to reproduce in small areas of stagnant water – catch basins in streets or back yards -- rather than large natural areas according to Glenview naturalist Kent Fuller. On the other hand, natural and restored wetlands should not pose much of a public health hazard, in part because frogs and fish found there eat mosquitoes. Recent visitors to the new Willow Road wetland say they heard plenty of chorus frogs, a sign that reconstruction is off to a good start."

Former School District 225 Board Member Sarah Beyne responds to a complaint from Board Member Donna Torf who felt the village of Northbrook had not adequately consulted the schools regarding a tax break for development at the corner of Dundee Road and Skokie Boulevard: "Village President Mark Damisch did consult with local boards through their representatives on the Economic Development Committee. This process began a full nine months before the deal was even brought to the boards. In the case of the 225 Board, the EDC information was reported back to the board in the form of committee reports. In the event the committee reports were not comprehensive or clear, the village put together detailed communications – including a Q&A sheet outlining the importance of the development and responding to anticipated questions. And finally, President Damisch and the village manager as well as the head of the Economic Development Committee made a special presentation to the District 225 board prior to the project being brought forward. The purpose was to address any lingering questions."

Mr. A. has an idea for Glenview’s finest: "Monday through Friday I exit northbound I_294 at Willow at approximately 5:30 _ 6 pm and head east to home. Not being the lucky sort, I almost always catch the red light. Often, cars in line ahead turn on red, even though there is a No Turn on Red sign right there. I have never seen a Glenview patrol car off to the side of Willow to catch these scofflaws. The village could generate some much needed revenue if officers paid attention to this spot. They might even get a speeder or two or 20 in the process!"

Maggie is thrilled to hear that the Techny Basin and Woodworth Prairie have won ESA designation: "Wow. I hardly can believe it! There is a God, and he/she has a green thumb! Thanks for reporting that. It's wonderful news!" But she is stunned by board members anxious to install a parking lot and is grateful to Dick Feit for his proposal to share parking with the corporation next door: "What is it with these guys? Do they have a family business that constructs parking lots? It's reaffirming to see that at least once in a while the voice of a single citizen can be heard! We owe Mr. Feit a big thanks!"

JH read about Trustee Patterson’s call for a parking lot and opined: "Patterson probably would like to pave over the whole area and then sell parking stickers to balance the village budget. I fear that he just doesn't get it."

WM thinks the word used by one little girl to dismiss her older brother should work for our village board: "Bignore Jim Patterson!"

And VW asks: "Do we allow ourselves to be cautiously optimistic about the new ESA?"

The Watch replies: We think it's a good sign that politicians are paying lip service to the environment. They haven't always done that, and perhaps some of them will actually start learning something about this subject. That said, Glenview's ESA is a pretty weak piece of work. There is no penalty if the village chooses not to enforce it. If and when development takes place around the new environmentally-significant areas, we'll see how enlightened the board is. We also note that the Environmental Review Commission has a pretty bad track record in advising developers on what they must do to protect our ESAs. The lawyer on that commission admits he's more interested in development than preservation, and the civil engineer seems to share that bias. The botanist knows about plants, and the arborist knows about trees, but neither seems to know much about wildlife. The worst part is we're paying all four of them an hourly rate to serve on this bogus board. We believe the ERC should either be staffed by people who understand a range of environmental issues or be abolished.

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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