Glenview Watch: The real scoop on issues and events in Glenview, Illinois

BECK WINS BIG WITH VOTERS

Incumbent Park District Commissioner Judy Beck was the big winner in Tuesday’s local elections, securing 1,747 votes to retain one of two available seats on Glenview’s park board. Michael Scholl, a Golf resident who helped organize the successful referendum to replace Flick and Roosevelt Pools, was also a winner with 1,398. Two political newcomers from The Glen, David Kassner and Edward Leszynski, fell short of victory, getting 1,012 and 982 votes, respectively.

Beck’s victory may be a function of strong name recognition. She has served on the board for 25 years, but her victory may also reflect support for environmental issues. She has championed green building practices and supported preservation of some land for passive recreation – walking, jogging and bird watching.

As expected, an unopposed ticket led by Kerry Cummings secured three seats on the village board and the presidency. Cummings was the biggest vote getter at 2,045. Pat Cuisinier got 1,934 votes, Debbie Karton had 1,918 and Paul Detlefs received 1,905 votes. No tally of write-in votes for village president and board was available.

Four people were elected to the library board, including long-time residents Ellen Scholly (1,734 votes) and Claire McGuire (1,681 votes), incumbent Jack Neymark (1,496 votes) and former District 225 school board member David Winton (1,380). A bid by Michael Lukasiewicz fell short by 66 votes.

At just over 2,000, voter turn-out was extraordinarily low. The 1997 election, in which residents agreed to raise park district taxes to acquire soccer fields and Wagner Farm, drew nearly 9,000 people to the polls, and many new voters have moved to The Glen since that time.

NORTHBROOK’S BIG SURPRISE

Despite an endorsement from the local caucus and the Pioneer Press, voters in Northbrook rejected a re-election bid by Mark Damisch who has served as village president for the past 12 years. Robert Jaeger, who was running for what would have been a record sixth term, was also unseated, and their ally Rogers Faden went down to defeat.

The winner – by a margin of more than 60 percent -- was Gene Marks, a political newcomer who heads a commission that regulates security alarms in Northbrook. Marks was a vocal critic of Damisch, blaming him for a lack of development in the community, complaining that village government had grown too big and that the fire chief hired on Damisch’s watch spent more time in Springfield and Washington than in Northbrook. Chief Jay Reardon has won awards for his state and national leadership in the fight against terrorism.

Marks has said he wants an office at Village Hall so he can keen an eye on staff there. He describes himself as “pro-development,” and pledged to bring “more tax revenue to Northbrook.”

Last year, Northbrook raised property taxes by 3 percent, but the village still faces a deficit of $2-$3 million this year.

Todd Heller, A Damisch ally who had served on the School District 27 board for eight years, won a seat on the village board as did Marks allies Julius Kole and Michael Scolaro.

ATTEA STUDENT PACKS PELLET PISTOL

An eighth grader from Attea Middle School was suspended for 10 days and may face additional disciplinary action for bringing a pellet gun to school. The 14-year-old left at the end of the school day, then returned to show the weapon and a clip of pellets to a couple of pals in the boys’ room. On board the late activities bus, he let other students have a look at the gun he allegedly stole from Dick’s Sporting Goods at The Glen. Principal Charles Terry learned about the incident when a parent whose child had seen the weapon called to report it. He described the boy’s behavior as “dumb,” but stressed there was no evidence he intended to hurt anyone. Glenview police have not charged the child with theft or disorderly conduct but will work with his parents to determine a suitable punishment.

State inspectors have taken a closer look at the intersection of Willow and Pfingsten roads and concluded not much can be done to prevent future accidents involving pedestrians. Two children have died there during the last decade after being hit by cars, but the district engineer for Illinois’ Department of Transportation says the timing of the pedestrian signal is adequate. Pedestrians have 35 seconds to cross the five-lane intersection. Diane O’Keefe added that Willow is not wide enough to create a concrete island where pedestrians could safely wait if they are unable to make it across in time. IDOT will upgrade pedestrian signals at Willow and Pfingsten with brighter lights and buttons pedestrians can push to trigger the walk sign.

RICHARDSON TO RETIRE

Glenview Park District Executive Director Tom Richardson has announced plans to retire in March of 2006. He has held the post since November1990 and spent eight years working for the park district in the 70’s before leaving to head Glencoe’s park district. He and wife Donna plan to relocate to a high desert community in Oregon – joining friends who love the sunny climate and enjoy easy trips to the mountains to ski. Richardson said he will not seek new employment but hopes to find volunteer opportunities.

Under his leadership, the Glenview Park District acquired 41 acres of land adjacent to The Grove – increasing the size of that nature preserve by 50 percent. He also oversaw referenda to acquire Wagner Farm and to rebuild Flick and Roosevelt pools.

The park district board has hired a consultant to assess current programs, services and facilities and to analyze the district’s staff structure. Commissioner Judy Beck says that $20,000 effort may give the commissioners a better sense for what skills and expertise they should seek in a new executive director.

Forty-three-year-old Michael Scholl is a resident of Golf. He has three kids, serves on the board of directors of a children’s hockey association called the Glenview Stars and considers youth sports programs to be an essential part of strong communities. Scholl served as co-chair of the campaign to raise taxes for new swimming pools at Flick and Roosevelt parks.

GLENVIEW’S GRANDE DAME GETS MUSICAL TRIBUTE

March 29 was a special day for long-time village resident Norma Morrison. She was honored by the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the Commission on Women’s Issues for her community efforts to save Wagner Farm and – years earlier – to close the Lutter Dump. Friends paid for a limousine to take Morrison, Glenview’s first female trustee, and husband Bill to the 10th Annual Cook County Unsung Heroines Awards Breakfast. As she stepped onto the stage to receive her award, cameras flashed and more than 200 guests, including Board President John Stroger and County Commissioners Larry Suffredin and Gregg Goslin, sang “Happy Birthday,” in celebration of Morrison’s 89^th. “It blew me away,” Morrison told The Glenview Announcements.

A new steakhouse at the southern gateway to The Glen is proving so popular that its owner wants to expand seating by enclosing an outdoor patio. Wildfire will appear before The Glen Redevelopment Commission Wednesday evening. Also on the agenda, a plea from the owner of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop. He obtained village approval for a sign at Town Center, but the one he actually erected has more lights than is permitted by local ordinance.

HANGAR ONE SEEKS PERMANENT HOME

The Hangar One Foundation has closed its small museum at The Glen, but President Frank Mack insists there are no hard feelings between the group, established to commemorate the service of men and women based at the former Glenview Naval Air Station, and the developer of Town Center. OliverMcMillan had provided a free but temporary home for the museum – a gift valued at $150,000. The firm also offered to match up to $100,000 in donations, but the group raised only $5,000.

Mack said it was difficult to secure grants and gifts without having a permanent home for the collection of aircraft and memorabilia his group wanted to display. Then OliverMcMillan found a paying tenant for the museum space and gave Hangar One 10 days to leave.

The developer thought some items could be displayed in the lobby of the theater at Town Center, but Mack was not keen on the idea of honoring service men and women in such a commercial space.

“Hangar One is extremely grateful to OliverMcMillan for its generous support to us over many years,” Mack said as his group packed up its collection. “The developer’s contributions to, and involvement in, Hangar One has been extremely beneficial to furthering our mission and goals.”

Mack thought the village and state should get behind his group, but Village Manager Todd Hileman said he had not received a formal proposal, and he doubted Glenview could provide much financial support. State Senator Jeff Schoenberg met with Mack, then suggested he apply for grant money from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources – an agency that has recently seen significant budget cuts.

Parks Commissioner Judy Beck suggested posters or pictures be displayed at Park Center, but John Winand, president of the park board, worried about the possible need to evict Hangar One again in the future. “I am most reluctant to become their new landlord,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Hangar One President Ace Realie has resigned from the foundation where he had served as co-chair of the museum.

In the aftermath of the Terry Shiavo case, State Senator Susan Garrett has organized a public forum to help constituents craft a living will. “We need to make sure that people know their rights and privileges in case of a medical emergency,” Garrett said. The free program will take place Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER OFFERS WEEKEND HOURS IN GLENVIEW

Got a problem that might involve county government? Commissioner Gregg Goslin is standing by – offering weekend hours for Glenview residents to drop by his office at 3801 West Lake Avenue. He or someone from his staff will be in the first two Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. – noon. Regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, continue at the Chicago County Building and at the district office. Residents planning to request assistance should make an appointment by calling Marti Walt at 847-729-8300.

-- This week’s meeting of the Glenview Village Board has been cancelled so candidates from the party that has long controlled Village Hall can have a proper celebration of an uncontested election.

-- The downtown plan committee meets Thursday, April 7 at 7 p.m. at Village Hall. The focus will be on six different concepts for Waukegan Road between Grove and Henley, and Glenview Road from Waukegan east to Church. Glenview Television will tape the meeting and run it several times on Channel 17 or 6, depending on your cable company. Residents of the newly-annexed Greenwood/West Lake Avenue area are invited to attend a Community Meeting on Tuesday, April 5 to learn more about the benefits of living in the village. English and Spanish-speaking officials will be at the Westbrook School East Gym, 1333 Greenwood Road from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Call 847-904-4340 for more information.

-- Spring has arrived, so the winter ban on overnight street parking is over and yard waste pick up has begun. You can pay by the bag or bundle, affixing a sticker or tag available for $1.65 apiece at Village Hall or thru various merchants around town, or you can make a one-time payment of $63.50 to Groot. No plastic or metal containers can be used for yard waste collection, but you can rent a 95-gallon container for $18.36 per year. For more information, call Groot at (800) 244-1977 or log onto http://groot.com/index.php and enter your zip code for specific Glenview information.

-- Village Hall is conducting a random telephone survey of residents – hoping to find out what people think of public services and problems. Spokesman Janet Spector Bishop says the poll will take about eight minutes and urges cooperation from anyone called.

SAVE THE DATE

-- Glenview Youth Services hosts ComedySportz of Chicago in a benefit performance Sunday, May 1 at the Northbrook Hilton. Dinner, live and silent auctions will be followed by the spontaneous humor of the nationally-known troop. For more information call, call Heather Smith 847-724-2620.

-- The Glenview Public Library hosts a discussion of Moscow on April 6 at 7 p.m. World traveler Dieter Klagge will share slides of palaces, cathedrals, museums, hotels, shopping centers and night clubs.

-- Mark National Library Week Sunday, April 10 by signing up for the following programs on Rhymes, Crimes and Times:

On Sunday, April 10 at 2 p.m., Michael J. Miles will perform “Chicago Rhythms and Rhymes” – a program featuring blues and architecture, street life and romance, neighborhoods and characters.

On Tuesday, April 12 at 7 p.m., long-time TV reporter John “Bulldog” Drummond will talk about Chicago crimes.

On Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m., authors Neal Samors, Michael Williams, and Rich Cahan (former picture editor of the Sun-Times) will show photos from their new book, “Real Chicago: Photos from the Files of the Chicago Sun-Times. Sign up for any or all of these special events at the information desk or call 847-729-7500 ext. 112.

-- Get free help with your resume, learn more about how to interview effectively and get advice on your career from a professional counselor. You can schedule an appointment for April 12, between 9 a.m. and noon by calling 847-729-5000 ext. 112.

-- The library provides multiple copies of many federal and Illinois tax forms and instruction booklets free-of- charge. Librarians can help you find specific forms but cannot offer tax assistance.

THE GREEN SCENE

-- Organizers are urging scout troops, church groups, whole neighborhoods, families and individuals to join in this year’s river clean up – collecting trash along the banks of the North Fork here in Glenview. Volunteers should meet in the Kohl's parking lot on Willow Road west of Waukegan at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 14. The clean up will continue until noon. For details, call Gary Riskin at 847-724-7418.

-- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will provide Loyola Academy with a $120,000 grant to help with the $372,600 restoration of almost 1,600 feet of the river bank on its Glenview sports campus.

-- State Senator Susan Garrett and Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn have come up with a plan they hope will keep fertilizer, pesticides, paint, motor oil and pet waste out of storm sewers that drain directly into the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Special decals will be plastered on curbs, alerting the public that it’s illegal to dump waste into those storm sewers.

READERS WRITE

Barbara Hines is upset by the eviction of Hangar One from The Glen Town Center: “In view of the many millions that the village has ‘lent’ OliverMcMillan with no interest required and no specified date for payback, I think OliverMcMillan owes the village something. It should not be too much to ask that the relatively small space originally offered to the museum rent free be provided permanently. The museum belongs in the shadow of the old hangar where people can visit and pay homage to the history it represents. Without Glenview’s contribution to the war effort, the outcome of WWII might very well have been different. The men who operate the museum have struggled long and hard to make that reflection on history possible, and it will not be long before their generation is gone. That’s why it’s imperative that the museum be saved now for generations to come. OliverMcMillan has an unparalleled opportunity to make a valuable contribution to a community that, by the company’s own admission, has been very good to the developer. Why must everything come down to the almighty dollar?”

JLo scoffs at the park district’s reluctance to build a cement pad so cows at Wagner Farm can stay clear of mud when feeding: “If the park district is so interested in making the farm historically correct, why is the barn red? Is cruelty to animals necessary to assure historical accuracy? Shame on the park district for taking on a project for which they have so little expertise. Oh, but I forgot, it’s Glenview—soon to be the biggest joke in the state.”

Debby Rubenstein asks anyone concerned about the cows to call her organization: “The Wagner Farm Rescue Fund is a non-profit organization that addresses issues regarding the welfare of Wagner Farm animals. The rescue fund purchases farm animals designated by the park district as unwanted. These animals would otherwise be sold for slaughter. The rescue fund arranges life-long care, which includes funding, for these animals at an animal rescue sanctuary. Part of the rescue fund’s mission is addressing welfare issues of the animals currently owned, on behalf of Glenview tax payers, by the park district and in residence at Wagner Farm. Anyone concerned with welfare issues regarding the Wagner Farm animals (or how the issue of their care is perceived by those in other communities) should contact me at WagnerFarmRescue@aol.com.”

Mr. R. thinks people who own property adjacent to the new post office site should get no special treatment: “Residents of Bellwood, Prairie Lawn, and the Peachgate’s spent five years fighting with the village to keep the golf course view they had bought and paid for when they purchased their homes. They were treated rudely or ignored all together. No berm, no trees. Often two or three towering new homes 30 feet off that back lot line. At the time these homes were purchased it was inconceivable that any buildings would go up in their back yards. Nothing should be done for these winners at The Glen. They knew damn well what was planned for that lot and should be treated in the same manner as the long-standing members of the community were. Sour grapes? You bet!

Terry Wodder and John Ranz offer these thoughts on building a green library: “The library should add on and add less to save more. Not just financially but nvironmentally. Every step of the construction process – from raw material to finished product – consumes energy and generates pollution. In addition, the largest single component of our nation’s landfills is construction debris. Since the library’s own consultant, Frye Gillan Molinaro Architects Ltd., found that the existing building was in ‘very good condition,’ it would be utterly foolish and wasteful to replace brick with brick; steel with steel and glass with glass. Now is the time to get serious about our dwindling energy resources. Last May Dick Clark, the chair of the library’s Space Planning Committee, lauded Northbrook as an example of ‘how a new, well functioning building can serve a community and how such a library is enthusiastically supported and used by the community.’ The same can be said of Wilmette, Skokie, Niles, Mount Prospect and Arlington Heights. They all chose to save taxes and preserve for future generations a small portion of our nation’s limited natural resources by adding on rather than building new.

“Since George Lawson completed his space needs study in 1998, the Internet has had a profound impact on our ability to access information from remote locations with a variety of digital/wireless devices. Mr. Lawson’s study was based on the highest number of visits to the library on record – 558,514 in 1997. By the year 2003 that figure had fallen by over 20 percent, despite a 14 percent increase in population. It is imperative that the board commission a new space needs study by a truly independent, highly reputable consultant. For a mere $5,000-$10,000, the board can insure that they won’t over-build or over-spend. The board’s failure to take this simple, inexpensive step would be a travesty. Glenview can have a spectacular new expanded library at an affordable cost without sacrificing quality of service. It’s that simple.”

Jerry Clarito hopes Glenview’s park district will come up with a fair policy for choosing art at Park Center: “There seems to be a lack of resolve to allow the expression of diversity and multi-culturalism in the district. We should be reminded that park districts belong to the people, whose voices need to be heard.”

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.