Already seeking exemption from plan commission oversight when it builds at The Grove, Glenview’s Park District is about to ask for another pass. The park board doesn’t think it should be governed by Glenview’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. In a letter to Village President Larry Carlson, Park Board President Chris Warren claims that ordinance would increase park district expenses while hurting its ability to "effectively manage its own historic sites."

Warren argues the park board has done a stellar job of historic preservation at The Grove and is carefully guarding its other historic properties – the old Navy chapel or Schram Museum at The Glen and Wagner Farm. That assertion outrages some critics who say the parks’ recent decision to use red paint on Wagner barn was "transformation," not "preservation."

The Historic Preservation Commission was set to consider designation for Wagner Farm and the park district’s headquarters on Prairie Street next week. If the panel made that recommendation and the trustees agreed, changes to those properties would have to be reviewed by the historic preservation panel.

In September, the park district asked permission to bypass the plan commission when doing construction in an environmentally significant area – The Grove. The parks’ attorney argued that submitting plans to the Environmental Review Commission and the village board was enough. That request was rejected in a unanimous vote by members of the plan commission who have recently criticized the park district’s construction of an asphalt parking lot next to the Chicago River and installation of pre-fab metal buildings at The Grove.

Editor’s note: Government doesn’t work by giving certain individuals or boards a pass because at some point in time they claim to know what they’re doing. Glenview doesn’t ask to be excused from oversight by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources because we have a naturalist on staff and have built an attractive park at The Glen, nor do we ask for a pass from the Department of Revenue’s regulations because our budget director is an ace. What’s more, Glenview’s park district has proven an embarrassment of late – disregarding good environmental practice and principles of historic preservation. To excuse that body from village oversight would be a second slap in the public’s face. If the park board thinks it should not submit projects to plan commission review because the school and library boards don’t have to, we suggest the schools and library be required to come in for planning advice too. And if the park board knows so much about historic preservation, then it should get along famously with the Historic Preservation Commission, gladly agreeing to landmark status if the commission recommends it.

What do you think? Let your favorite trustee know by sending an e-mail or making a phone call before Tuesday night’s meeting: LarryVillage@aol.com (Carlson), Cummingsclan@ameritech.net (Kerry Cummings), mbdenefetrustee@aol.com (Mary Beth Denefe), 847-724-1732 (Mike Guinane), JLE5715104@aol.com (Jeff Lerner), JimPattersonJr@pattersoncompany.com, and trusteewoodrow@aol.com (Kim Woodrow).

By a vote of more than 9-1, area trash haulers rejected a proposed contract by their companies Sunday, leaving Glenview and other Chicago area communities with a mounting garbage problem. Strikers outside the Onyx transfer station on Shermer Road told The Watch they are asking for parity with Chicago garbage collectors who get $27.50 per hour with three men assigned to each truck. Employees of Groot and Onyx, who work solo, say they don’t mind that part of the job but are not satisfied with pay of $21 an hour. Some media reports have put annual earnings at $70,000, but the men – who huddled around barbeque grills to keep warm – said only the most senior men working many hours of overtime earn that much money.

The village is keeping residents posted about the garbage situation on its website – www.glenview.il.us . Village Manager Paul McCarthy says public works crews will not be stepping in to pick up trash because Glenview lacks the manpower, but managers at Onyx were providing limited service to large, high priority clients, such as nursing homes. 

The nation’s largest privately-owned video rental company, now headquartered at The Glen, opened store number 318 last week – in Glenview. Family Video boasts more than 10,000 selections at its 6,600-square-foot store near the corner of Glenview and Greenwood roads. The chain competes with giants like Blockbuster by offering much lower prices. New releases go for $2.50 a night, but after three or four months those same films are available for $1, and once they’re a year old, videos usually rent for just 50 cents. Children’s tapes are free, and the store is offering a special promotion. Consumers will get 50 percent off for the first two weeks they rent from Family Video.

The village is planning ahead for the holidays – asking the trustees to spend nearly $12,000 on Christmas decorations downtown, but that’s just the beginning. Staffers at Village Hall want the trustees to award a contract for nearly $48,000 to decorate The Glen Town Center. The money would pay for installation of lights, wreaths, bows and garlands around the shopping center.

Editor’s note: Never has the role of developer felt so wrong. The taxpayers of Glenview will be picking up the tab to promote holiday sales for merchants at The Glen while the developer Oliver-McMillan heads back to San Diego with its tidy profits at taxpayers’ expense.

Plans are proceeding for opening weekend, October 17-19, at The Glen Town Center, where promoters promise a "thrilling lineup of entertainment, events, music, food and fun for all ages."

According to a press release from developer Oliver-McMillan, all events are free and open to the public 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday; 9:30 a.m.- 10 p.m. Saturday; and 10:30 a.m.- 7 p.m. Sunday.

A schedule of events follows. Visit www.theglentowncenter.com for updates.

Opening ceremonies at Navy Park: 9-10 a.m. Friday with a special aerobatic flourish by the Lima Lima Flight Team and a tribute to the service men and women of the former Glenview Naval Air Station.

Free Film Festival at the Glen-10 Theatres: Up to five movies per day will be shown from Friday, Oct. 17 through Thursday, Oct. 23 including "A Few Good Men, Top Gun, The Hunt for Red October and U-571." To confirm show times, call 847-729-9600.

The Kohl Children’s Museum will host a daily showcase next to Jos. A. Bank, including kids’ art activities, face painting, and elements from the museum’s ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ exhibit (including special appearances by a Wild Thing). The museum is currently open in Wilmette and will move to The Glen in autumn 2005.

The Incredible Dancing Waters – a show involving choreography of fountains, light, music and color is designed to entertain all ages, while Luma – Theatre of Light features an innovative troupe of performance artists who light up the dark with swirls of color and sound. The Rope Warrior puts a new spin on jump roping with a high-energy show that combines acrobatics, dancing, gymnastics, martial arts, turbo jumping, and breath-taking fun, and musician Mark Nadler brings his comic cabaret style to The Glen Town Center for a special showcase performance of his award-winning "Broadway Hootenanny," featuring songs by Rogers & Hart, Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rogers & Hammerstein, and more. Jake and Elwood, a Blues Brothers review team, will perform classic Motown, funk, swing, and rock songs, while top trick bike athletes Mike Kaiser, Seth Johnson, and Dirty Dan Bogard perform aerial flips and spins. Those who love to fly can enjoy kite-making workshops, kite buggy rides, air art, and a kite aerial stunt team.

Individual stores have also scheduled special grand opening events and promotions throughout the weekend. Galyan's will feature Laurence Gonzales, author of Deep Survival. Visitors are also welcome to test their climbing skills on the indoor climbing wall. Jos A. Bank Clothiers will offer four grand opening prizes, including one of the clothier’s finest suits. Von Maur will host live jazz in Center Court, and in the children’s department, clowns and magicians. Long-stemmed roses will be given to the first 7,500 customers, with chocolate bars to the first 10,000 customers. All children will get free balloons while they last. There will be drawings for shopping sprees, as well as trunk shows and personal appearances from vendor representatives. The Von Maur grand opening festivities are held as follows: Jazz Trio at Center Court  Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Peabody the Clown: Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday, noon-3 p.m. Magic Shows: Saturday, noon- 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.

A Taste of Town Center will feature the foods of restaurants at the new mall.

Editor’s note: This event reminds us of the hoopla surrounding re-opening of Soldier Field. The stadium got rave reviews, but its reason for being – Bears football – was a disaster. The Tribune’s headline read: "First Fireworks, Then a Flop." We hope Town Center can win in a competitive retail environment, because its success should mean an early end to tax increment financing and full funding of our public schools.

A local resident whose family runs a dry cleaning business near the White Hen Pantry at Harms and Glenview roads is hoping to win a liquor license from the village board to open a "high class wine and liquor specialty store" in that same shopping strip. Perhaps because another liquor store on Waukegan Road has sparked public complaints with its prominent window signs, Chang Lee promises his "windows will contain very limited signage and posters. Inside of the store will be brightly lit and visible to the public to create a family-friendly atmosphere." Lee hopes to be open in time for the holidays. Also requesting liquor licenses – the Red Star Tavern and The Market – a gourmet food store. Both businesses will be located at The Glen Town Center.

Glenview School District 34 says it’s on the road to providing trouble-free transit after a difficult start this year. Officials say a new company was transporting students, and construction around town complicated the job, but some parents think the district made matters worse. "Routes were wrong, they were re-made and then changed again, pick-ups missed, parents fit to be tied," wrote one distraught dad. "It was a district-wide mess. I've heard complaints from parents of every school. District 34 also had a new transportation director who started over the summer. She took a week off in August which, in retrospect, was probably a bad idea. The complaint calls were so numerous in September that Superintendent Dot Weber sent a letter home to parents explaining that when you hire a new bus company, it usually takes six weeks for them to get it right. Excuse me? If such a thing was so universal a truth, why didn't she prepare the parents for the expected troubles and ask for patience ahead of time? People are usually much more forgiving if they're shown a little honesty."

– Residents of Winnetka set up a picket line outside the teardown replacement at 1020 Elm Street, not because the $1.75 million house is too big but because the developer paved the entire front yard. Michael Hughes says he wants to create an English courtyard – pavement surrounded by a wrought iron fence and shrubs, but all that asphalt prompted the neighbors to post signs in the parkway reading, "Helicopters Land Here." Hughes says he’s losing sleep and has called the police because protestors threw mud on his driveway. "If I don’t build something they like, I’m a bad guy?" he told the Pioneer Press. "What’s up with that?"

– In Glencoe, residents jammed a public hearing to oppose plans for a $120 million resort at the local golf club. They thought the proposed hotel and conference center would bring too much traffic to their community and were angry that their trustees had not kept the public better informed. Village board members said the proposal would probably be rejected when it comes to a vote later this month.

– The Muslim Community Center has filed a $5 million suit against Morton Grove, demanding it be allowed to build a mosque on the grounds of its Menard Avenue school. The village has refused to grant a special permit for that use, and the Muslim community says that’s a violation of its First Amendment right to freedom of religion.

– Wilmette will again consider a tough new ban on smoking in all public places and places of employment. The local chamber of commerce opposes the proposition, but Wilmette’s health department supports it.

– A consultant has proposed major renovations and new construction around the Metra station in Wheeling. With rail service expected to increase there in 2005, planners propose building an upscale, mixed use retail center around the train station over the next 10-15 years.

– The latest village board packet contained a surprising number of charges for "Train Travel," including a $1,200 charge for Glenview’s chief of police and more than $11,000 for his men. Glenview Watch thought the guys might have taken a little vacation on the Orient Express until we realized that the term "train travel" referred to travel made to locations providing special professional training.

– Also before the board, payment of $250,000 to Anixter as part of a $2 million incentive package, payable over 10 years, to locate at The Glen.

COMING DOWN

Demolition of the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters old headquarters at the corner of Waukegan and Willow roads continues with developers of a four-story condo building and 50 single-family homes standing by to begin construction. Active Living of Illinois says the site should be cleared in about a month, and marketing efforts will soon get underway for the new development to be called Haverford.

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME

– United Way of Glenview-Golf hopes to raise $170,000 this year for 22 social service agencies. Chairing this year's fundraising effort, Jim Jennings of Jennings Chevrolet.

– Bike racing fans have raised $100,000 to help pay for repairs to Northbrook's velodrome at Meadowhill Park. One anonymous donor says he will match any additional contributions this year 2-1. Meanwhile, the Northbrook Park District says it will only pay half the cost of fixing the track because so many of those who use it live in other communities.

AREA BRACES FOR MOTH AND BEETLE INVASIONS

Lake County may have the biggest gypsy moth problem in Illinois, and there are signs that the leaf-eating critters are coming this way. Traps in Northbrook attracted about 7,000 of the insects this past summer, and experts are finding eggs on Northbrook trees adjacent to forest preserves. Gypsy moths defoliate two million acres of American forest per year according to a story in the Northbrook Star, but experts disagree about the best course of action. Some favor costly aerial spraying that could kill butterflies as well as gypsy moths. Others advocate less harmful but perhaps less effective methods like wrapping tree trunks with burlap or scraping eggs off trees. A third camp argues that populations of gypsy moths decline naturally and should be left alone. 

Northbrook's president, Mark Damisch, opposes aerial spraying and says the job would cost more than $300,000. Glenview has done little to protect its trees according to Public Works Director Bill Porter. He told the Pioneer Press that moths had been found in one part of the village, and a report was sent to the state's agriculture department. "We're consulting a forester to see what realistically and financially can be done to retard the spread," he said, adding that more information would be coming out in the next few months.

Meanwhile, experts say another bug may be turning up in large numbers: Asian lady beetles, which look like native lady bugs with small, white oval markings on their heads. Unlike the gypsy moth, these insects are not harmful to trees and help keep aphids under control. 

SAVE THE DATE

– Residents are invited to room 203 of Park Center for a public hearing on plans to renovate playgrounds at Cole, Cunliff and Hawthorn Glen on Wednesday, October 8. You can comment on Hawthorn Glen starting at 6:30 p.m. and on other two parks at 8.

– The Glenview Public Library invites kids and adults to write letters and draw pictures for U.S. servicemen overseas from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, October 19. Veterans and soldiers will be on hand to talk about their experiences. If you know a soldier who's recently come back or one who would like to get mail from Glenview, call the library at 847-729-7500.

– Residents interested in art can sign-up for a talk titled "Manet and the Sea: A Voyage to Impressionism" on Tuesday, October 21 at 7 p.m. at Glenview's public library, and reporter Rick Kogan Remembers Ann Landers on Tuesday, October 28 at 7 p.m. To register, visit the information desk, call 847-729-7500 extension 112 or sign-up online at www.glenview.lib.il.us/programs.html .

READERS WRITE: 

Former trustee John Crawford is appalled by Larry Carlson's claim that three independent trustees delayed construction of The Glen Town Center: "I was surprised to read Larry's letter to Glen homeowners about the delays in completion of the Mixed Use Retail Center surrounding Hangar One and the changes and reconstruction of Patriot Drive and Chestnut. He stated that the delay was due partially to a hostile prior village board. Larry's Village Party has been in control of Glenview for several decades. It was in control from 1995 to 2003, while the MURC was planned and constructed. During the last four years, 1999 to 2003, there were three independent trustees on the board who questioned some expenditures, but they never delayed any expenditures or plans, and they were not in control. Carlson's claim is pure hokum. Larry also boasts that the planning by Oliver-McMillan, Glenview's partner in the development of the MURC, was 95 percent correct, and the five percent which has to be rebuilt should not be a cause for concern. The MURC was expected to cost $140 million while I was on the village board, and five percent of $140 million is $7 million. I think $7 million should be a matter of concern for the taxpayers, regardless of what the big spenders at Village Hall think. Finally, Larry's advice that the homeowners of The Glen should not worry about the additional cost because it is being paid for by Tax Increment Financing funds is wrong. Every dollar spent from TIF funds is money which would be going to School Districts 34 and 225, the park district and other taxing bodies in the absence of the TIF. All of the real estate taxes paid by Glen homeowners go to the TIF fund. The schools, park district and other taxing bodies have to raise money somewhere else to replace those dollars."

Kathleen Ferrarell wrote with a questions about the intersection of Shermer and Golf: "When Belmont Village was built, the intersection of Golf and Shermer was redone, widening Shermer at the entrance to Belmont Village. Now, when traveling south on Shermer and crossing Golf Road into Morton Grove, the lines are painted so that if you are in the left lane following the painted lines, you will not clear the oncoming traffic. This can be very scary when there are cars in both the right and left lanes and the left then has to move quickly to the right to avoid the oncoming car! I kept thinking that the entire intersection was going to be redone and this would be corrected, but so far nothing has been done. What gives with this?"

The Watch contacted IDOT, and three weeks later, Ferrarell wrote again: "A great morning it was to see the left turn lane painted going southbound on Shermer from Glenview! You have solved an issue that has been a source of frustration for me for months now. I certainly appreciate your help. Might I now be greedy and ask for a left turn arrow?"

Jeff writes about skunks in Glenview: "I live across the street from The Glen and have noticed a lot of skunks lately. My dog - - not the brightest animal around - - has been skunked twice, and my neighbor's dogs have also been sprayed. I'm just curious if the village has an animal control program and if that program has any plans regarding the skunk population."

The Watch replies: The police department's animal control division would come out if a rabid dog appeared in your neighborhood, but officers don't deal with wildlife that poses a theoretical threat. Instead, residents are advised to consult the yellow pages for a professional exterminator. 

Debby Rubenstein has advice for people who want to help injured wildlife: "If people find an injured wild animal and are safely able to capture it, Animal 911, 3735 W. Dempster (south side of Dempster, east of Crawford) at 847-673-9110 in Skokie will take it and arrange for rehabilitation. There is no charge to the person who brings in a wild animal, though donations are welcomed."

Bill Dose comments on a new sculpture in Wilmette: "Wilmette's addition of a striking new Bruce White sculpture to their downtown is a truly substantial and sophisticated contribution to the public art scene here on the North Shore for which we should all be grateful. Hopefully as Glenview plans its new civic and municipal buildings and outdoor spaces, the palpable and symbolic impact of distinguished outdoor sculpture by important contemporary masters such as White will be addressed as an essential and compelling element of the visual mix."

David Penzell writes about painting the Wagner barn red: "At first it was somewhat humorous – a group of citizens concerned about the lovely little farm and barn tucked away off Lake Avenue in Glenview. They even chose a cutesy little name: COWS. They marched in the local Fourth of July parade in cute little costumes. Everyone loved them. Most recently, though, COWS has evolved from cute to downright scary. The organization has become a self-absorbed, one issue fringe group bordering on obsession over the color of a barn and coming dangerously close to operating like the Gestapo. Lately we have full page ads in the Pioneer Press with the history of the controversy. We have group members filming park district employees and contractors doing their jobs on the farm and sending out e-mails reporting peoples' movement in and out of local hardware stores. What's next? A blacklist of Red Supporters or people going through board members' trash, looking for evidence of a red barn conspiracy? To COWS I say, ‘You disagreed with the board, you stated your opinion, presented your facts and you lost. Hey that's life - deal with it. Take your petitions, your stain experts, your full page ads, your conspiracy-laden e-mails, your video tapes and MOO-ve on.'"

HH writes about the new Metra station at The Glen: "I was amazed at the fancy new train station being built for The Glen stop. It certainly looks to be as big as the Glenview station, and I thought The Glen was only supposed to be an auxiliary stop on the line. How is this railroad Taj Mahal being financed? If it is out of TIF (tax increment financing) money, it is another example of the reckless abandon with which our village trustees are throwing money around -- money that is really coming from taxpayers. Certainly this station cannot be claimed to be part of the infrastructure that was necessary to attract developers."

The Watch replies: Most of the money for that station has come from Metra, although the North Shore Corporate Park and North American Paper contributed $450,000 and the village has contributed as much as $500,000 for features like a slate roof that make the building look like what was built downtown.

Terry Wodder read our update on plans for a new library, then wrote: "I would like to publicly thank Mark Grant, president of the library board, for his prompt reply to my suggestion that the projected cost of a new library at The Glen may have been underestimated. In his response he noted that ‘money could be a problem for the village. They're building fire stations, they're building police stations, I just hope they don't run out of bonding authority.' I'm sure Mr. Grant will agree that money will be less of a problem if the library doesn't overbuild. That has been my concern from the start, and I trust that under his leadership the board will gladly enter into a spirited debate over the need to build such a large, expensive building. To begin, I suggest we look at patron seating. A consultant's study calls for 465 patron seats or 11.34 per 1,000 residents versus 5.79 per 1,000 for 11 neighboring libraries that have recently expanded or built new. The American Library Association recommends a minimum of 2.5 seats per 1,000 residents for communities of 35,000 or more. Given these facts, I believe the board has an obligation to respond to the following questions: Why do you believe you need almost twice as many patron seats as 11 other suburban libraries that have recently expanded or built new? Have you conducted a patron seating study to determine the average number of seats currently in use at any given time? If not, how can you be sure your consultant's recommendation makes sense?"

GKH is disappointed by our lack of coverage of the hazing incident involving kids at Glenbrook North: "I understand but don't agree with your stance that the hazing incident had so much exposure you didn't need to cover it. The recent editorial in the Pioneer Press regarding the parents' and school committee on hazing as well as the judge's slap on the wrist to a girl who had injured another cries out for comment. The follow up is almost as disgusting as the hazing itself! I hope The Watch watches this. I guess the mothers who provided beer have not been in court yet."

The Watch replies: Actually, Christine Neal plead guilty to charges of providing liquor to minors last week and was sentenced to one year on probation along with 14 days of community service. Her 18-year-old son, accused of battery, was sentenced to a year of court supervision and 50 hours of community service. Three girls received similar sentences. Meanwhile, the parents of several GBN graduates involved in the incident will pay $2,500 each for the injuries their youngsters caused to other students. We have no particular comment on this subject except to say that it's too bad people are so desperate to fit-in, and we hope those involved emerge from the trauma understanding that it's much more important to behave ethically and be right than to join the pack.

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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