CARLSON BOWS OUT

Village President Larry Carlson has confirmed weeks of speculation that he will not seek re-election on April 5. The head of a family business that installs heating and air conditioning equipment, Carlson told the Pioneer Press, “I’m working two full-time jobs. I just can’t do it for another four years.”

Reporters Lynne Stiefel and Sara Loeb provide an excellent overview of Carlson’s achievements as board president at http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/gv/11-25-04-443598.html . In it, they note that the village president has so far failed to deliver on a campaign promise to revitalize downtown and created controversy when he proposed that the village buy and demolish the 1800-block of Glenview Road to make way for restaurants and parking.

Carlson held fast against calls to reform village boards and give more people a chance to serve in local government. He proposed a $500 fine against any trustee caught leaking any information from a closed-door meeting of the village board (including who showed up late or left early), and – with backing from the board – has proposed to condemn the Epco paint store site so it can be used for development of a new library complex. Ignoring the wishes of all but one library board member, Carlson says a new library will not be built at The Glen.

He considers recent annexation of a residential area adjacent to his company’s building on West Lake Avenue to be an important achievement, telling the Pioneer Press, “It took me four years, but I got it done.”


CHOOSING A SUCCESSOR

Carlson’s party, known in the last election as Unite Glenview (UG), has yet to announce who it will back to replace Carlson. Trustee Kerry Cummings, a former member of the District 34 school board, is the odds-on favorite. In addition to the presidency, three seats on the board will be opening. There’s no word, yet, on whether incumbents Lerner or Mary Beth Denefe will stand for re-election, but Trustee Mike Guinane is expected to run for the presidency.

Former Trustee John Patton Jr., now chairs the UG party which will be known this year as Unite Village. By choosing a different name before each local election, the party evades a state law that would require it to take part in a primary election. A nominating committee for the party is expected to choose candidates during the first two weeks of December. At least one opposition party is working to assemble another slate of candidates.

Residents interested in running for trustee or president can pick-up nominating petitions at Village Hall, 1225 Waukegan Road. They must be filed the week of January 17.

GBS DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE ATTACKS ZERO TOLERANCE

A 13-member panel appointed to study a policy that forced expulsion of any student caught with drugs or alcohol on school grounds has concluded that’s not the best approach. Headed by Superintendent David Hales, the group recommends a more flexible rule that would allow a more lenient penalty for first-time offenders. Students caught selling drugs on campus would not be eligible.

The disciplinary committee says the school board should not be involved in such cases. Instead, they’d be heard by a new panel of administrators, counselors and teachers. The board is expected to hold a public hearing in early December before voting on changes to the policy.

In making the announcement, Hales borrowed a phrase heard often from protesting students and parents during past discussions on whether to expel members of the lacrosse team for taking part in a paddling party which the district considered illegal hazing. They said kicking students out of school for such offenses was like “the death penalty.”

MONEY MAN WARNS DISTRICT 225 WILL SOON FACE DEFICITS

Crippled by caps that prevent schools from reaping big financial rewards from rising property taxes, even relatively rich communities like Glenview and Northbrook are singing the blues. In Springfield, lawmakers are looking for some way to fix the increasingly serious statewide problem, and Glenbrook’s assistant superintendent for business affairs, Craig Schilling, warns the area’s two high schools will face annual deficits of $2 million in each of the next three years.

Schilling said the board could head off debt by making budget cuts and finding new revenue sources. Among other things, he proposed cutting the faculty by 26 teachers over three years, raising student fees and charging kids to take part in sports and other extra curricular activities.

Schilling said the school board could also tap into reserves. The discussion is likely to continue at 7:30 p.m. Monday, December 6 at district headquarters, 1835 Landwehr Road.

NEW LIBRARY DRAWINGS SPARK DEBATE

An architect hired by Glenview’s library board unveiled modified drawings of a contemporary two-story red-brick building it’s proposing for the current downtown site near the corner of Glenview and Lehigh Roads. Library Board President Mark Grant has said the building, with nearly double the square footage of the current library, could cost more than $46 million.

Grant has argued it would cost far less to build at The Glen, since expensive underground parking would not be needed, and the library could continue to operate at its current location. If the new library is built downtown, Grant says its collection will have to be moved to another location, and the village will have to pay rent on a temporary space.

Some residents who feel the proposed building is too large suggest adding on to the current building – allowing library operations to continue at the present site and saving millions of dollars.

The meeting drew a large contingent of village officials, planners and consultants including Acting Manager Joe Wade, Development Director Mary Bak, Village Planner Jeff Brady, Trustees Kerry Cummings and Mary Beth Denefe, Downtown Development Consultant Steve Friedman and Traffic Planner Tim Doron. They quizzed the library board at length about costs and space needs, demanding documentation the board has yet to supply.

With the Internet playing a growing role in supplying the nation with information, some critics feel the village will not need a 96,000-square-foot library.

BUSINESS WATCHING

-- Mario’s Mondo Café is open for business from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the shopping center just south of Jasper’s on Waukegan Road. The chef-owned restaurant features eggs cacciatore, poached eggs with peas and a variety of open-faced omelets served with French bread. There are also breakfast pizzas, paninis, wraps, pastas, salads, Italian chicken dishes and “Mondo Burgers,” made with half a pound of beef. Desserts include Mario’s homemade cannoli and tiramisu, and the café has a special menu for bombinos.

-- The village of Glenview has been ticketing Meier’s Tavern on Lake Avenue for weeks over the owner’s failure to abide by an agreement worked out more than a year ago with neighbors. Meier’s owner Gus Pappas won permission to enlarge the historic building and pave its parking lot after pledging to bring the building up to code, create storm water detention and add parking lot lighting. Inspectors say Pappas has failed to do some of those things and has done other things improperly. The tavern owner blames his contractor. Village Attorney Jeff Randall hopes matters can be resolved by mid-December.

GOP WATCH

-- Glenview resident and former U.S. Senate hopeful Andrew McKenna Jr. is in line to become Illinois’ Republican Party chairman. The state party’s finance committee voted to endorse McKenna for the job. He would replace Illinois Treasurer Judy Barr Topinka who plans to step down early next year.

-- Tenth District Congressman Mark Kirk has been elected to co-chair a group of 35 moderate Republicans in the U.S. House. They hope to counter the conservative agenda championed by President Bush and some party leaders. Kirk promised to work for stronger environmental protection, to back Israel and the U.S. military, to support medical malpractice reform and stem cell research. He said the Republican Party should oppose corruption and address the needs of suburban residents. “The suburbs are becoming the number one voting constituency in America,” Kirk told the Pioneer Press. “Our group wants to focus more of its attention on the needs of families who live in suburbs: good schools, good roads and state of the art health care.”

Editor’s note: Kirk, who was a steadfast ally of President Bush during his first term in office, may now be working to distance himself from Bush and his conservative ilk in preparation for a possible challenge from State Senator Susan Garrett, a popular and progressive Democrat on the North Shore.

GLENVIEW GETS RELIGION

Glenview’s legal counsel, Jeff Randall, had claimed for years that holiday decorations on village buildings might be unconstitutional, but when local firemen were forced to take down last year’s Christmas tree and lights, a firestorm erupted in the community, and the story was told by newspapers and broadcasters around the nation. This year, Randall took a new position, and Glenview trustees opened the door to decorations and celebrations. At 4 p.m. Sunday, December 12, Village President Larry Carlson will light candles at Village Hall in observance of Hanukkah. The public party will also feature latkes – traditional potato pancakes -- and the exchange of chocolate coins as part of a Hanukkah game. The event was organized by a Jewish congregation called Chabad of Glenview, which is offering menorahs and candles to any resident who calls 847-998-9896.


CULTURE GROWS IN GLENVIEW

-- A locally-published poetry magazine, Free Lunch, has received a $1,000 grant from the state. The money will help with the costs of publication and free poetry readings at the Glenview and Wilmette libraries.

-- The Glenview Symphony will perform with the New Tradition Chorus at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, December 12 at the Glenview New Church, 74 Park Drive. The program includes popular and light classical holiday compositions. Admission is free. For details call 847-920-9569.

NEWS FROM THE NEIGHBORS

-- A Northbrook police dispatcher was commended last week for helping a suicide prevention hotline in Nebraska to locate a North Shore woman in crisis. The 18-year-old had called at around 1:30 a.m. to say she was despondent and considering taking her life. She refused to say where she was, but the Nebraska counselor determined the caller’s phone number had a Northbrook prefix and contacted police there. After searching a variety of data bases, dispatcher Koa Hawks determined the young woman had a T-Mobile phone, and that company provided an Evanston address to police who were then able to find and help the woman.

-- Wilmette police are warning residents to keep their cars and garages locked after cash, cell phones, computer equipment, car radios and golf clubs disappeared from more than 20 vehicles. Many victims of those burglaries live along the Edens Expressway, south of Wilmette Avenue.

-- Police are blaming Hollywood for traffic jams around Chestnut Avenue and 10th Street in Wilmette earlier this month. On November 13, 14 and 15 crews were shooting scenes for a film called “Derailed,” starring Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen.

LIBRARY LORE

-- Chocolate lovers are invited to watch and sample as chef Jonathan Bean whips up some of his favorite chocolate recipes at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 7. A $3 tasting fee is due when you register, and participation will be limited, so call the library if you’re interested: 729-7500 Ext. 112.

-- You can also call that number to sign up for Internet seminars on investment club data online at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 30 and online resources beyond Google at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 9.

-- In search of work? Make an appointment for a free half-hour with a job counselor from 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday, December 7. Call 729-7500 extension 112.

-- Train enthusiasts are invited to the North Shore & Western Model Railroad Club exhibit 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, December 4 and 1-4 p.m. Sunday December 5 in the Maynard Room. Just drop by. No tickets are needed.

-- And, finally, the library board continues to solicit public ideas for its new building and its location. Send e-mail to Executive Librarian Vickie Novak: vnovak@glenviewpl.org.

READERS WRITE

NLM doesn’t like the look of architectural drawings for a new library in Glenview: “The architect for the library does not get it. At a previous planning meeting of the library board it was made very clear. The library trustees wanted a structure that would clearly be a civic building – one that would harmonize with the neighboring park board building and the outstanding train station. While it showed an attractive, red brick structure that could be for many purposes in any location, the drawing presented November 22 to the public did not respond to the library board’s requests.

CWC wonders, “Why can't the Amtrak train stop at The Glen of North Glenview to free up some of the congestion at Glenview and Lehigh/Harlem? Wouldn’t it be great to assure that firemen and paramedics at our downtown station would not be detained by a train? When those in positions of authority have been asked this question, they simply shrug their shoulders. I believe this is a very important question that deserves a much more thoughtful response and reaction. I’m also wondering what became of that $800,000 interest-free loan we gave Oliver McMillan to better market The Glen. Von Maur needs to understand that this is not Iowa, and they do need to advertise. Did you know that every Thursday Von Maur has a special sale on clothing? Neither does anyone else! Also, residents of Lake Forest have never heard of The Glen. Great marketing, huh?”

WM thinks larger public facilities in Glenview are needed because past public officials failed to plan for a bigger village: “Village needs, which include more parking downtown, additional space for village administrative and operational structures, such as police and fire stations can be traced back to actions by prior village boards. Action taken -- or more accurately not taken 20-30 years ago -- are the source of many of today's challenges. Some organizations within the village were led by people who thought ahead.

The Community Church and OLPH are good examples. The leaders back then were perceptive enough to assemble and buy enough land to meet their needs at that time and for the foreseeable future. One might say they had vision and probably did not always rely on the ‘lowest bidder’ syndrome. Obviously, former village officials were not thinking that far ahead. As a result, present and future residents will have to bear the pain and cost of these oversights.”

BC is alarmed by the rude and dangerous drivers on local streets: “I am enraged every morning when I drive my high schoolers from the west side of town to GBS. It is bad enough to have to leave 30 minutes earlier than prior years to drive 1.79 miles with all of the road construction on Lake Ave. and Greenwood Road. What aggravates me most is the drivers who think they can sneak in front of all of us by turning off Milwaukee into the Beaumont or Taco Bell and exiting at Friday's to cut the corner and get in front. Isn't this illegal? Where are the police? I was almost hit the other day by a driver who sped out of Friday's parking lot and barreled right in front of me, not looking or pausing. The police could have a field day giving out tickets. No wonder there is so much road rage.”

RG inquires about “a new restaurant opening soon in downtown Glenview at the site of the old Renneckar’s Drug Store.”

The Watch replies: A fancy French restaurant and martini bar were supposed to have opened by now, but we hear progress on the place is hung-up in talks over whether the eatery will buy the building or lease space. Stay tuned.

Mr. D shares LG's outrage “at the cruel ‘catch and release’ fishing policy at Lake Glenview. I see a pervasive disregard for humane animal treatment at the policy level in our village. Other examples include the Neanderthal goldfish hunt at Roosevelt Park pool and the park district's forced exile of older animals from their home at the historic Wagner Farm. Albert Einstein wrote that a society can be judged by the humanity with
which it treats its animals, and Glenview has an abysmal reputation in this regard.”

KNC writes to defend the math program in District 34 schools: “I am writing at my daughter's urging. She is a math major at a Big 10 university who attended District 34 schools. Now that she's had three semesters of competing with students from all sorts of schools, she strongly disagrees with your reader who recently disparaged the quality of mathematics instruction here. In fact, both of my kids have a strong grasp of math concepts and are able to apply their knowledge of math in practical situations. When I was first exposed to the District 34 math program, I was surprised by the lack of emphasis on rote memorization of the multiplication tables. I came to accept the fact that my children have access to technology that reduces their need to memorize and frees them to understand and work with higher level math concepts. My daughter learned to enjoy math, and now, as a sophomore in college, regularly receives the highest test scores. My husband marvels at the ease with which she comprehends the concepts behind differential equations, an area in which he and many of his peers in engineering school struggled. I see the math curriculum in District 34 as one of its strengths. A strong understanding of math concepts is crucial to developing a work force that maintains our country's ability to compete in an increasingly technological world. District 34 takes a risk by following a curriculum that is so different from the way in which its students' parents learned math, but I strongly believe the payoff for that risk is students who are well-prepared for the technology-focused workforce they are destined for.”
 

 YOUR TURN:  Write to glenviewwatch@aol.com or 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60026. 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