|
|
The Glenview Watch
|
|
ANOTHER INCUMBENT CALLS IT QUITS
Following the lead of Village President Larry Carlson and Trustee Mary Beth Denefe, Trustee Jeff Lerner has announced he will not seek re-election. A former member of the School District 225 board, Lerner told the Glenview Announcements he was due for a break after 10 years of community service.
Lerner claimed being on the board would be more time consuming without the support and assistance of Carlson and Denefe. “This is a commitment I am not willing to make,” he concluded.
The leaders of Lerner’s party, to be known this year as Unite Village, are expected to announce a slate of candidates next week. Independent Mike Guinane has yet to say whether he’ll seek re-election, make a run for the presidency or step down, and a group of people who backed the Glenview First party in 1999 has not said who it will back for the top village job and three other seats on the village board.
Anyone interested in running can pick up the necessary forms in the manager’s office at Village Hall. Four seats are also available on the library board. Petitions must be filed the week of January 17.
Editor’s note: Sources tell The Watch Lerner had actually coveted the top spot on the ticket, but rumor has it the party preferred Trustee Kerry Cummings, so Lerner opted not to run at all.
CHARITY GETS THE COLD SHOULDER FROM VILLAGE HALL
Since Northbrook resident Beth Dorfman lost her 3-year-old daughter Emily to brain cancer in 1994, she’s been working to help scientists find a cure. Noting that 2,000 youngsters are diagnosed with such tumors each year and that half will die within five years, Dorfman, her husband Steve and a team of volunteers organized Miles for Smiles -- a walk and bike-a-thon that has raised nearly $1 million for research.
Now in its 10th year, the couple thought their event – normally held at the Botanic Garden – might be even more successful if staged in a community like Glenview. They loved the lay-out of Gallery Park and thought local retailers could benefit from sponsorship opportunities. In October, Beth went to the village board for a permit to hold the event here, but Trustee Kerry Cummings worried that the village had not yet developed guidelines and policies for special events at The Glen.
The matter was placed on hold, and village staffers now claim Beth Dorfman, who needs lead time to organize the event, has withdrawn her request for a permit.
In fact, Steve Dorfman says that’s not the case. “I spoke with Larry Carlson last month. I made it clear we were still interested,” he told The Watch. “We’re willing to be a guinea pig for Glenview – to abide by any reasonable new rules.”
Dorfman said he would be at Tuesday’s board meeting and hoped the trustees would reconsider a request that could bring 500-600 walkers to the community for the annual fundraiser.
Editor’s note: What on earth is taking the village so long? The Glen Redevelopment office has had two and a half months to come up with guidelines for park use. In fairness to this community and to groups prepared to pay for a permit and provide insurance to use the site, someone should sit down and draft appropriate rules for events in Gallery Park. A call to the park district might speed the process, since that organization already has such guidelines in place.
VILLAGE HOPES TO WEASEL OUT OF WETLAND PLANS
When the Army Corps of Engineers agreed to let Glenview fill 10 acres of wetlands north of Willow Road to build a Home Depot, Costco and Harley Davidson dealership, the Corps said okay on one condition. The village would set aside 10 acres of open space at the site and make new wetlands – a process called mitigation.
The community collected millions of dollars in cash for the land and is still taking in sales tax revenue from two of the new retailers, but no wetlands were created. In fact, The Glen Redevelopment office is now hoping to bring a car dealership to the site and to pave the land it had set aside for mitigation.
In exchange for an okay from the corps, Glenview offered to make wetlands on property already preserved in Gallery Park and at the Air Station Prairie. Residents wrote to the corps, complaining that 10 acres of open space would be lost, and the corps asked Glenview to explore four alternatives.
First, land remains at the Prairie Glen Corporate Campus. Glenview has been paying hefty subsidies to bring corporations in, but three sizable lots remain. Second, the corps wondered what might be done to improve a 10-acre parcel at the Techny Basin, south of Willow Road along the Chicago River. Third, the federal agency thought Glenview could partner with the Nature Conservancy or some other not-for-profit to create wetlands on one of its sites, and finally regulators wondered what might be done at The Grove.
In an analysis submitted to the trustees, Glen Redevelopment staffer Amy Ahner says Glenview could afford to surrender some land in the corporate park provided Catellus, the developer with an option to buy the land, has enough space for parking. She then does an about face, concluding that option is “not feasible,” because “the village cannot propose a project until contractual conditions are resolved.”
Moving along to the next suggestion, Ahner makes a compelling case for doing something with Lot 16. The river, once channeled and straightened, has begun to meander, eroding the banks of that property. By stabilizing the banks in such a way that the river can flow more naturally, she predicts the creation of “great wetland habitat” for wildlife and says flood control would likely improve. Nevertheless, Ahner nixes the idea because a preliminary estimate puts the cost of such a project at $600,000.
Glenview could work with the Nature Conservancy, but Ahner says the community has “a better public agency alternative.” She notes three different areas (5-6 acres) at The Grove that could benefit from manmade wetlands, and the cost to create just two acres there would be $100,000.
Coincidentally, that is exactly what former Village Manager Paul McCarthy’s budget includes for this effort, and it is what Ahner recommends.
Editor’s note: Once again, the village is playing a cynical game, stalling and whining, attempting to evade environmental regulation rather than embracing the chance to create more high quality natural areas in this heavily developed community. When the village first asked to fill wetlands north of Willow, it proposed mitigation at The Grove. The Army Corps refused, saying such efforts should be made closer to the place where wetlands were filled in the first place. Now, Ahner and her boss Don Owen are back with the same lame suggestion – pleading poverty after brokering an immensely profitable land deal on the North Shore. Glenview collected millions of dollars for the land it was given by the Navy and paved hundreds of acres, but Ahner and Owen want the corps to believe Glenview cannot afford to do the right thing – to set aside 10 acres of open space adjacent to the prairie and to improve Lot 16.
By Ahner’s own account, these are things that could be done. What is stopping Glenview from calling Catellus to discuss our contractual commitment? Who makes the claim that it would cost $600,000 to stop erosion of Lot 16 while reducing the risk of floods and creating superior wildlife habitat? How detailed were the specifications and surveys that led to such an estimate? We hope the trustees will ask these questions and act in good faith, recognizing and respecting our original deal with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Historically, Glenview residents have been quick to support preservation of open space. They agreed to raise taxes so The Grove and Wagner Farm would not be developed. If you still think nature should be a priority here, send an e-mail to the Army Corps of Engineers. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number so your thoughts can be part of the record. Write to Kathy.G.Chernich@lrc02.usace.army.mil , and copy your
favorite trustee: larryvillage@aol.com, cummingsclan@ameritech.net, mbdenefetrustee@aol.com, ILE5715104@aol.com, or trusteewoodrow@aol.com. You can also call Jim Patterson at 847-724-6599 or 847-714-1200, and Mike Guinane can be reached at 847-724-1732.
OLPH TO ASK FOR A PASS
Representatives for Our Lady of Perpetual Help are set to appear before the village board Tuesday night, requesting dispensation from an agreement to provide storm water control at its downtown property. The parish has little green space, and rainwater normally rushes into the adjacent Chicago River during storms. Controlled release of that water could reduce the flooding that has plagued some residential areas. Ten years ago, OLPH said it would comply with local ordinance and provide detention by 2005. Now, a parish spokesman says the cost could run to half a million dollars.
GBS TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ZERO TOLERANCE
Got something to say about Glenbrook School District 225’s policy of zero tolerance – a rule that brings automatic expulsion for any student caught in possession of drugs, alcohol or drug paraphernalia on school grounds? The board of education is holding a special meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, January 6 at Glenbrook North High School. For more information, go to www.glenbrook.k12.il.us .
STILL NO OPENING DATE FOR RENNECKAR’S SUCCESSOR
Backers of an upscale restaurant and martini bar hoping to fill a space once occupied by Renneckar’s Pharmacy in downtown Glenview have applied for a liquor license, but one -- Glenview resident Lenny Prikhodko -- says business details are still unresolved, and he cannot say when V2 and the Vis a Vis Lounge might actually open.
In their application, Pikhodko and his partners say the new restaurant will feature the culinary creations of James Toland whose “new world cuisine has earned him the coveted five diamond award from AAA and has been honored with mentions from the James Beard Foundation and the New York Times.”
The décor, we’re told, was created by Francois Geneve who designed the interiors for Trio, Spring and Green Zebra. It features “elegant curves, bold colors and rich fabrics.”
FAREWELL TO THE TREE
The village will be picking up and mulching
Christmas trees from Monday, January 3 through Friday, January 14. Set
your tree at the curb with the trunk facing the street. If you live in an
apartment, condo or town home, put your tree at the single-drop location
for each building or complex. Remove all ornaments, lights and tinsel,
and don’t cover the tree. The village will not recycle wreaths or
garlands, so put them in garbage cans.
For more information, call public works at 657-3030.
NEWS FROM THE NEIGHBORS
-- Wilmette is launching a free e-crime alert for residents. They can sign up to learn about local burglaries, vandalism and other problems via text pagers, cell phones, PDA’s or standard e-mail. Police hope the service will prompt more residents to lock their cars and homes and to watch for suspicious activity that could lead to arrests.
-- Deerfield police are offering a 10-week Citizens’ Police Academy where residents can learn more about criminal investigations, narcotics, canine units and other police work. Those who sign up will also have a chance to ride along with a local officer for an evening.
-- State Senator Susan Garrett has named a panel of citizens to advise her on tollway operations. Among those selected are Grove Director Steve Swanson, who has spent years trying to secure sound barriers for that natural area along I-294 and Glenview resident Fred Tye who lives next to the Tri-State and volunteered to represent homeowners.
-- Walgreens has decided not to lease property at Cadwell Corners – a troubled shopping strip at the corner of Lake-Cook and Waukegan roads in Deerfield. Neighbors were fine with the idea, but village officials wanted the drug store chain to come up with a different configuration for its drive-through window – a demand that Deerfield-based Walgreens was not prepared to meet.
SAVE THE DATE
-- The downtown plan committee meets at 7 p.m. Monday, January 10 in the Lyceum of Glenbrook South High School. Glenview TV will tape and cablecast the event. Among other things, the panel will analyze the impact of limited, moderate and extensive redevelopment downtown and will review sites that consultants feel are ripe for change.
-- The Grove needs volunteers to collect seeds, pull weeds and make way for prairie grasses and wildflowers. Stop by Saturday, January 8. For details, call 299-6096.
-- Kids in grades 4-7 can try out for the next
production of Glenview Children’s Theater, a musical called “Recess.”
Bring sheet music and be prepared to read from the script during auditions
from 4:15-6:15 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, January 10-11.
LIBRARY LORE
-- Glenview’s public library celebrates the months ahead with its Winter Reading Club for adults. Register at the information desk and get some hot chocolate to go. If you read six books in eight weeks, you'll receive a library mug and a coupon for coffee. You'll also qualify for a raffle to win breakfast at several area restaurants.
-- Armchair travelers can also sign up for a talk and slide show about Israel at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 5. Linda Ruben will describe the museums, food, gardens and music of the cities, countryside and kibbutz. To reserve a spot, call 847-729-7500 ext. 112 or register online.
-- Jean Goetzke leads a discussion of Paul Theroux's The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train through Asia at 7 p.m. Friday, January 7. Since childhood, Theroux has been fascinated with trains. In this railway odyssey, he recounts his travels on the Orient Express, Khyber Mail, and the Trans- Siberian Express through Turkey, Iran, India, Southeast Asia, Japan and the former Soviet Union. Books can be checked out at the circulation desk.
-- Register for Preschool Story time. The first sessions for children 3-5 are at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday, January 10 and on other days and times. Check the Kid's Program Page for details or call the youth services desk at 847-729-7500 ext. 121.
-- Romp & Rhyme for babies 12-24 months and a parent or caregiver is set for 10:45 a.m.-noon Saturday, January 8. Participants will need a special pass from the Youth Desk.
-- The Inward Exploration Series begins Saturday, January 8. "Partner Yoga for Kids: Parent Child Workshop" takes place at 1:30 p.m. for youngsters 7-13 with a parent. The next two Saturdays the series continues with "Metakids" for ages 6-10 and "Metatots" for ages 2-5 with a parent. Again, youth desk registration is required.
CALLING ALL POETRY FANS
If there’s a poem you adore, come to the next meeting of Free Lunch, a North Shore group dedicated to community enjoyment of poetry. At 2 p.m. January 16 in the Wilmette Public Library, five audience members will have the chance to read their favorite poem, and the person judged to have read most effectively will get a $25 gift certificate from Alibi Books. The competition will be followed by a presentation from Chicago poet Mark Perlberg, whose work has been published in The New Yorker and Poetry. For details, call 729-3595.
A COOL NEW PLACE FOR JAVA AND FOLK
When Wilmette’s chamber of commerce surveyed residents, Bob Danon was paying attention. The Central Avenue gallery owner saw lots of people wanted something to do at night, so he expanded his business to include a 60’s-style cafe named for his dog – Charlie. The draw is live music – mostly folk and bluegrass -- performed each Friday night until 11 p.m. Charlie’s Coffee House at 1126 Central Avenue seats 36 people, but with local legends like Ed Holstein and Eric Lugosch on stage and a cover charge of just $10, Danon’s been packing the place and is planning to add Saturday night shows and an open mike on Monday nights later this month. For more information, call 256-5612.
READERS WRITE
Roberta Elliott, national public affairs director for a group called Hadassah, wrote to correct us: “In your post-election analysis of the local district race for the State House of Representatives, you falsely stated that Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, endorsed State Representative Beth Coulson. Hadassah, a membership organization of some 300,000 women across the United States, takes strong advocacy positions on an array of issues that affect women and families. We never engage, however, in endorsements of specific candidates or political parties. We wanted to bring this error to the attention of you and your readers.”
The Watch replies: While a woman from Hadassah in Wilmette did write a letter in support of Coulson, noting that the incumbent state representative is a member of the group, there was no official endorsement. We regret the error and thank you for calling it to our attention.
And RN was upset when a club at Our Lady of Perpetual Help called on members to elect one of their own to represent the church on Glenview’s village board: “This is not the first time the OLPH Men’s Club has used their list of members for political purposes. During the last election, it sent out a similar letter asking the men and their wives to support Larry Carlson’s Village Party rather than backing OLPH member John Crawford. Father Flavin was a bit angry. This time he is not. I wonder why. There are other parish members who are not part of the Village Party who perform excellent services for Glenview. Why does the men’s club get involved in political affairs? Politics should not be their focus.”
M writes about Zero Tolerance at Glenbrook High Schools – a policy set for review by the board at GBN this Thursday, January 6 at 7 p.m.: “As a special educator with district 225, I do not support zero tolerance in our schools. If we are to treat each individual as unique, how can we hold an individual accountable for the collective? Each case must be handled separately in order to preserve a level of fairness that our board strives for. One of the greatest lessons our students can learn is that 'what is fair is not always equal.' Universal decrees and punishments are not the answer. Each case, however time-consuming, should be looked at individually. Our goal is to help our students to become upstanding, productive and positive members of our community. Punishment is not the answer, however; counseling, education and community service can be. We are talking about the present and future lives of students. We want our students to learn from their past mistakes and not be haunted by them.”
JH is upset about trash covering one of Glenview’s natural treasures: “After reading recent promotional articles about the conservation efforts at the Techny basin, I was looking forward to walking the path but was appalled to find the western edge covered with trash and litter from the Willow Shopping Center, including a fair number of Target and Kohl’s shopping bags. Are these merchants responsible for cleaning up their premises?”
The Watch replies: The Watch has repeatedly called on Village Hall to deal with this disgusting situation, but nothing has been done. It’s particularly disappointing in light of the fact that we now have a Natural Resources Commission that should be making problems like this a priority for resolution.
Diane Richards checked out one of Glenview’s newest restaurants in the small Waukegan Road shopping strip just south of Jasper’s: “I went to Mario’s Mondo Café after reading about it in The Watch. What a wonderful experience! The food was better than excellent, fairly priced and the small town atmosphere was terrific. We met the chef and his father who also works at the café. We were pleased to learn that beginning in January dinner will be served. Can’t wait! Mario said, by the way, that he’d be glad to donate food to not-for-profits in need, but he didn’t know of any organization looking for leftovers. If any of your readers have ideas, they can call the café at 724-3716 or fax to 724-3721.”
Mr. M laments the on-going perception that Glenview and The Glen are two separate communities: “Koenig & Strey's full page ad on the back cover of the Dec. 23, edition of the Glenview Announcements lists brokers in two separate and exclusive columns: 42 agents in The Glen and 56 agents in Glenview. Is this a signal that for hard-nosed brokers, the Glen is as separate from Glenview as Des Plaines is? Did Koenig & Strey clear its departure from the village line with the Chamber of Commerce, the Unite Glenview/Village party, and the village president? They all insist, despite huge concentration of village resources at The Glen and nine figure Glen-TIF debt, that Glenview is united. Didn't Koenig & Strey get the memo?”
“Still Fat” writes to protest Park Center’s holiday hours: “I can understand being closed on Christmas Day, but the New Year’s celebration is primarily an evening event. Not only were they closed on December 31, but also on January 1 when half the world has resolved to exercise more and lose weight. I expected some shorter hours or perhaps a skeleton crew, but Park Center was closed up tight all day on both days. Not a peep, except for the hip hop music blaring out the Lakeview Room -- perhaps to serenade the geese on the partially frozen lake.”
And EM can’t understand why Park Center was closed at a time when residents urgently need to exercise: “After all that high-calorie party food, I was ready for a serious workout, so you can imagine my dismay on New Year’s Day. Park Center was closed! What’s the deal? No wonder so many Glenview residents are joining Lifetime Fitness in Skokie – a facility that’s open 24/7 most of the year. They closed at 3 p.m. New Year’s Eve but were open the next day, and every parking space was filled.”
Editor’s note: Actually, Park Center opened late and closed early on December 31. The fitness center and pool were open from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m., the gym was available from 10 until noon and the front desk did business from 9 until noon. That meant some people who normally exercise before or after work were out of luck on the 31st and the 1st. You might want to notify the park board if you feel next year’s hours should be different.
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.