NEW GROUPS MARCH TO ADVERTISE, PROSTLETIZE AND CELEBRATE

 

Glenview’s annual Fourth of July parade featured a surprising number of newcomers along with many of the usual entries.  They marched through downtown Glenview on a warm, muggy Monday morning, waving, tossing candy, passing out flags, balloons and bottles of water.   Illinois’ Governor Rod Blagojevich led the political contingent – followed by State Representative Beth Coulson and Secretary of State Jesse White’s thrilling tumblers. A half dozen churches had floats, and the Illinois Right to Life Committee took part with its sobering signs: “We Remember Terri Schiavo,” and “Where There’s Life, There’s Hope.” A group called Catholics Against Racism followed a short time later.

 

This year’s Henley Street float – often a vehicle for local political expression – bore not a hint of controversy as children waved from a truck-drawn paddle wheeler dubbed the “Spirit of Henley.”  

 

They had considered a float depicting George Washington crossing the Henley – a geographic play on the fact that Henley Street and Washington intersect.  When the idea was proposed, some residents didn’t get the joke, so organizers nixed the idea. 

 

Henley Street is a regular in the parade, but another neighborhood – Glen Oak Acres – had not been seen for years.  This year, residents turned out in force with an elaborate float featuring a giant gingerbread man and other treats under a rainbow and a banner proclaiming “Life is Sweet in America.”  That entry won the judge’s choice award.  

 

Others who were honored –  Henley Street for the best neighborhood group, the Special Consensus Bluegrass Band for best musical entry,  Good Times Day Camp for best youth group,  Cub Scout Pack 10 for best community service and Hillside Landscape for best business – a float carrying a middle-aged man in a hammock, surrounded by greenery, sipping a cocktail.

 

Glenview Cycle raised a few eyebrows as a representative of that business paraded down Glenview Road in a car -- not on a bike, and there was more than a little irony in seeing someone from Truely Amish Furniture driving a red corvette. 

 

District 34’s financial problems were evident as the Glenview Education Foundation (a private fundraising group) marched for the first time, followed by an organization established to raise money for playground equipment at Springman School. 

 

Offbeat entries included a bright yellow ice cream truck called the Fat Boy Express, a group representing Pit Bull Terrier Rescue and a stretch white Hummer promoting the services of Scruples Day Spa at The Glen. 

 

Big sponsors of this year’s parade – giving $1,000 apiece – were the Abington of Glenview (a nursing home owned by Cook County Commissioner Gregg Goslin),Goslin himself, Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin Robbins in Glenview, the Glenview State Bank, Hackney’s on Lake and a group called “Run Together Glenview.”  That organization could be the first Korean-American presence ever in the Fourth of July parade. Regular runners at Park Center, about 50 took this year’s award for best adult group entry.

 

POST-HOLIDAY HIATUS FOR TRUSTEES, DOWNTOWN PLANNERS MEET

 

Glenview’s trustees took an extra day off – skipping the first meeting of July since it fell right after Independence Day.  The village board will meet July 19, and its downtown plan committee will assemble at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 7. Consultants will tell members and the public how the downtown area could be redeveloped, what zoning changes and financial assistance might be required to make it happen.

 

An earlier plan included four and five-story condo buildings along Waukegan Road and three-story buildings on Glenview Road with shops on the first floor and residences above. They’ll focus on five specific areas:  the Metra lot and Depot/Grove block, the 1800- block of Glenview Road,  the block that’s home to the old Glenview State Bank and fire station, the riverfront and Church St. stretching from Glenview Road to Dewes and the Dominick's site.
 
For details, call (847) 904-4340, visit www.glenview.il.us or sign up for the Downtown Planning Process e-news by e-mailing joanneh@glenview.il.us.  Thursday’s meeting will appear on Glenview Television, Channel 17 or 6, depending on your cable provider.  

 

GLENVIEW DEMANDS FOUR LANES FOR WILLOW ROAD, NORTHFIELD

 

Glenview’s trustees are again insisting any state work on Willow Road should involve widening through Northfield.   The state has money in next year’s budget to rebuild a section of Willow from east of Waukegan Road to just west of the Edens.  IDOT plans include turn lanes at two Northfield intersections, but in deference to local residents who opposed extensive widening, there are no plans to create four lanes of traffic.  The president of Northfield’s village board has offered to meet with Glenview officials to explain that community’s thinking, and President Cummings has agreed to arrange a sitdown.  Meanwhile, Northbrook’s new village president is laying low.  “It’s a touchy situation between two towns, and we’re caught in the middle,” Gene Marks told the Pioneer Press.  “It’s something we have to discuss.”

 

GARRETT WON’T SEEK HOUSE SEAT

 

Susan Garrett says she won’t challenge Mark Kirk for a seat in Congress.  Democrats had hoped the popular state senator would go after one of President Bush’s good friends in the U.S. House, but Garrett had misgivings about the amount of money she would need to mount a credible campaign.  One expert put that figure at $2 million. 

 

Garrett also expressed a desire to stay in her current job, and is gearing up to protect property owners following a Supreme Court ruling that affirms a local government’s right to force people to sell their property to make way for private developments.

 

 “I’ve heard from many people in my district who are understandably concerned with this decision,” said Garrett, chairman of the Senate Committee on State Government. “We need to have protective measures in place here in Illinois to ensure that our individual freedoms are not violated.”

 

Garrett has scheduled the first in a series of public hearings on the subject for 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 20 in room 16-503 of the Thompson Center in Chicago.

 

GLENBROOK HOSPITAL SCRAMBLES TO TREAT GROWING GLENVIEW

 

A few years back, a busy day at Glenbrook Hospital’s emergency room meant treating 60 people.  Today, a source in the emergency room says it’s not unusual to see 100 patients in a 24-hour period, and they have to wait longer for care.

 

With development of The Glen and the addition of three new residential centers for seniors (Hyatt, Chestnut Square and Belmont Village), Glenview is bigger and its population older than ever before, creating increased demand for hospital care, and Glenbrook is scrambling to keep up.  At a community leaders’ breakfast, officials said they were converting administrative offices into patient rooms – increasing the number of beds from 143 to 167.  Already, the medical center has added five operating rooms and four beds to its intensive care unit. 

 

The hospital is expected to serve more than 11,000 patients in 2006, up from 7,000 in 2000.  The facility is putting strong emphasis on outpatient services – doubling the number of colonoscopies it performs.  In 2000 there were fewer than 9,000.  Next year, Glenbrook expects to do more than 15,000 procedures.  The sleep clinic has gone from four beds to 12, and they continue to offer mammograms at an unusual branch on the main floor of Nordstrom’s department store at Old Orchard.  There, Glenbrook says, it has diagnosed more than 200 cases of breast cancer.

 

Demand for services could rise further as Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines converts to a long-term, acute care facility this fall or winter.

 

 

FIRE ALARM FAILS AMMER RIDGE COMPLEX

 

On June 15, a fire alarm went off at 2117 Ammer Ridge – a building in the 150-unit condo complex on Waukegan Road.  Ten minutes later, resident Mary Lou Jarvis phoned 911 to ask why fire trucks had not yet arrived.  She was told that firefighters were at the scene.  The woman scouted around and discovered firefighters at another building.  “The fire department went over every apartment, every hallway, roof, etc. I had to leave after 30 minutes, and they were still here,” she recalled.

 

Today, Chief Dan Bonkowski concedes there was a delay in getting firemen to the right building. “The delay was due to a dispatching error in processing the signal that is sent by the fire alarm system,” he wrote to resident Ray De La Cruz who had complained about the problem.  “The condominium’s system is incapable of transmitting the actual address of the building with an activated alarm.”  Instead, firemen must check an electronic panel in the complex to see where the alarm originated.

 

Human error apparently compounded the problem.  “The dispatcher announced the location as 1951 Ammer Ridge Court, instead of 1951 through 2129, and so the responding units initially went to that location.  When they realized that there was no problem at the 1951 building, they checked the alarm panel and found that the proper address was 2117,” Bonkowski explained.

 

Eventually, officers determined it was a false alarm, and Chief Bonkowski concluded, “It is the condominium association’s responsibility to maintain its fire alarm system.”  He added that the system had been tested in April and met village code requirements.

 

Bonkowski noted that a sprinkler system at Ammer Ridge would have extinguished any fire but promised to modify the department’s dispatch software to remind firemen of the need to check panels at Ammer Ridge.  The chief apologized for the error in dispatching “You should know that this incident, while regrettable, is extremely rare,” he wrote.

 

NORTHBROOK MAN’S TIMING AVERTS TRAGEDY

 

This week’s edition of the Northbrook Star carries the story of a salesman turned lifesaver.  Joel Koplas usually took his lunchtime stroll from Sky Harbor in Northbrook to Wood Oaks Park at 1 p.m., but he left an hour early on June 23, arriving at the sled hill near Sanders Road in time to witness a horrific accident.  A 13-year-old boy racing down the hill on a bike took what the paper called a “vicious tumble.”  A handlebar actually pierced the child’s leg, causing massive bleeding.

 

The boy stood up, then collapsed.  Koplas ran to his side, took off his shirt and applied pressure to the child’s leg.  Using his other hand, he called 911.  Within minutes, police and paramedics were at the scene providing emergency care and calling for a helicopter to take David Roberts to the emergency room at Lutheran General Hospital.  

 

The child doesn’t remember much, but Koplas was struggling with the horror of what happened and was happy to visit a smiling boy in the hospital where he received a joyous hug from the David’s mother.  She told him, “You’re our hero.”

 

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

 

Glenview lost two prominent citizens last week.  Former Library Board President Donna Berndt died at Lutheran General Hospital where she had been treated for cancer.  Berndt, who was 50, served on the library board from 1995 to 2002.  She is survived by her husband and two children.

 

The owner of Carriage Hill Kennels, Jim Cocallas, died at the age of 80.  A daughter told the Pioneer Press that Cocallas loved dogs so much that they had air conditioning before he did at home.  He’s survived by his wife, Doris – an expert dog groomer, by two grown children and four grandchildren.

 

STUDENT FUNDRAISER EARNS $8,000 FOR YOUTH SERVICES

 

Student athlete Jessica Garvey got the idea while wrapping Christmas packages in the Glenview/Northbrook Youth Services trailer last year.  Why not organize a 5K run to raise money for a new building?  Last week, the 16-year-old, her parents and about 100 volunteers made it happen – hosting 353 participants in the first annual Youth Make a Difference Run/Walk at Gallery Park.  The event earned $8,000 toward construction of a new youth services center at The Glen.

 

SCHOOL NEWS AND BLUES

 

-- School District 34 Superintendent Gerald Hill says he’ll be pleased if Kevin Dorken, a teacher named in the wrongful death suit by the parents of Casey Fish, returns to Glenview.  Fish choked to death while playing Chubby Bunny in school.  Her classroom teacher, Dorken, had left the room.  He was subsequently hired as principal of an elementary school in Winnetka, but parents who learned of his background after the appointment raised a fuss, prompting Dorken to resign before the start of the school year.  He has now asked to return to District 34. 

 

-- School District 30 has selected Dr. Yasmeen Bilimoria, to replace long-time board member Laura Bierman who’s moving back to upstate New York.  Bilimoria is an allergist, the mother of three children and a frequent volunteer at Willowbrook School.

 

-- District 31 is looking for someone to replace Ron Koretz who is moving.   His term runs until April 2007.  The deadline for submitting applications is July 22.  For more information, call 847-272-6880, extension 223.

 

 

 

 

LIBRARY LORE

 

-- The Glenview Public Library's summer reading programs are underway. Adults and teens have eight weeks to read six books. There will be weekly prizes and grand prizes for those who complete the program and enter the raffle. All reading programs end August 6.

-- The library will offer some intergalactic fun when it hosts a Star Wars Extravaganza from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, July 9. Shake hands with storm troopers and other Star Wars characters. Bring your camera for a photo with Darth Vader, and may the force be with you!

-- Later this month, drop-in and cool off with some movie madness: The Incredibles from 10 a.m. - noon or 7-9 p.m. Monday, July 18, Pooh’s Heffalump Movie at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 20 and Superhero Spectacular – 2-4 p.m. or 7-9 p.m. Thursday, July 28.  

--  Photographer Doug Dvorak will take you on a slide tour called “California or Bust,” showing aerial pictures he’s taken from Kansas to California. Sign up at the Information Desk or call 847-729- 7500 ext. 112.

-- Join staff member Jean Goetzke for her Travel with Me book discussion at 7 p.m. Friday, July 8. She'll lead a discussion of Wallace Stegner's book, Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs. Part of the book is autobiographical, another part describes and defines the true West, and the last part is devoted to other authors of the West whom Stegner admires. Sign up at the Information Desk and pick up a copy of the book at the Circulation Desk.

-- Are you worried about identity theft? Come to a program at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 12. You'll learn what steps to take if you become a victim and things you can do to prevent it from happening to you.

NEWS FROM THE NEIGHBORS

 

-- Northbrook police have agreed to launch an investigation into the deaths of two swans – shot near an eastside pond.  Their owner, Frank Gesualdo, has posted a $10,000 reward and hopes to see the killers apprehended.  The first bird was shot dead four years ago by someone using BBs and pellets.  The second was killed in February.  Gesualdo and a neighbor went to Northbrook Village Hall demanding a probe after officers failed to make arrests.  Village Manager John Novinson promised action, noting cruelty to animals is a felony in Illinois.

 

-- Three 17-year-olds were arrested and charged in Wilmette under a new law that bans public display of air rifles.  The kids were apprehended by police who drew their own weapons and ordered the suspects to lie down on the ground.  The officers then discovered they were dealing with air soft guns that shoot plastic pellets. 

 

-- Wilmette is taking a new approach to dogs in its parks – making it legal to bring a leashed pet to any place the animal won’t interfere with programming or create health issues.

 

-- Evanston faced an emergency at its emergency dispatch center last week when a section of plaster fell from the ceiling, knocking out communications.  An employee who had been in the area was on break.  Calls were switched to Wilmette’s police department while Evanston set up a new computer and radio operation at another location.

 

SAVE THE DATE

 

The North Shore Professional Women’s Association will host a networking dinner on from 6-8 pm. Tuesday, July 12 at the Five Seasons Country Club in Northbrook. Janie Gabbett, a communications coaching and former managing editor for Reuters, will give a talk entitled “Charisma: The Art of Reflecting Others’ Genius Back to Them.” A buffet dinner will be served. Cost of the meeting is $25 payable in advance and $35 at the door. The Five Seasons is located at 1300 Techny Road in Northbrook. RSVP to Gwen Wolken at 847-559-9564 or e-mail to reservations@nspwa.net by July 10.

 

READERS WRITE

 

CB is upset about new landscaping along Lake Avenue: “What can we do to get someone to water the new trees that were planted?  They are dying, and the village doesn't care.”

 

The Watch replies:  Glenview’s Public Works Director Bill Porter says Cook County hired a contractor to plant the trees, and the village won’t take responsibility for them for a full year.  If they don’t survive, Porter says, Glenview won’t be paying a penny. He adds that the landscaper may have had problems getting access to the trees because of on-going construction.  Cook County also passes the buck, saying it won’t pay for any trees that don’t survive.  The contractor did not return our call.   

 

TR is also concerned about water during the current drought: “I understand that we are restricted from watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., but on three different occasions in the last four days I’ve seen 15 sprinklers being fed from a fire hydrant at West Lake and Patriot between 2 and 3:30 in the afternoon. Will the village issue itself a ticket, or do different rules apply at The Glen?”

 

The Watch replies:  Communications Director Janet Spector Bishop says the landscaper has a special permit to use the hydrant and will pay Glenview for the water.  What’s more, there is a 28 day-exemption on local watering restrictions where new plantings are concerned.  That said, officials depend on the public to report possible violations, and in this case the landscaper had exceeded his 28 days and was told to observe the same watering restrictions that apply to you and your neighbors. 

 

Roberta Kurtz wonders what happened to the greenery promised for a utility building across from Glenbrook South High School: “Do you think it would be possible to put some pressure on the village to landscape the West Lake Pumping Station so it doesn't look so bad. They would never have put anything so ugly up in The Glen. Since they have so much money to redo all of Lake Avenue, they must have some left over to cover that ugly building.”

 

The Watch replies:  Bill Porter says that building and the new Rugen pumping station will be landscaped with native grasses and wildflowers this fall.

 

DP wonders what’s taking so long: “I know Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I bet it was completed quicker than northbound Greenwood between Lake Avenue and Glenview Road. The manhole covers are now raised above the road, the second left turn for westbound Lake traffic has not been opened since its renovations last year.”

 

The Watch replies:  That intersection was part of Lake Avenue reconstruction.  It’s now complete and open. 

 

GW is tired of rude construction contractors: “I live in Countryside, a Glenview neighborhood in unincorporated Cook County.  On my drive home from work I encountered a cement truck partly blocking my path. I patiently waited until the driver noticed me, but to my surprise he looked at me and went back to his work.  When I tried to get by, I hit my car mirror on the street sign. Behavior of various contractors has become a complaint of the entire neighborhood. Sometimes in the morning a person will tap their horn for the guy to move, and they will be given the finger or verbal abuse.  On this occasion I called 911 and asked to have the sheriff come.  A deputy came, he saw, he left.  The truck remained in place.  Obviously since the sheriff is not up for re-election nothing is going to get done. I thought the Glenview Fire Department might be upset, because the truck was blocking a dead end street.  What would have happened if there was a fire and the fire truck couldn't get by?  But the fire department told me to call the police.  I wonder whether the Glenview police would have corrected the problem.”

 

The Watch replies:  Glenview police might well have acted on your complaint, but you were right to call the sheriff, as Cook County provides law enforcement for your neighborhood.  We suggest you contact Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin at 312-603-6383 / larry@suffredin.org or Commissioner Gregg Goslin at 312-603-4932. Both have shown interest in serving their constituents and might help to resolve this situation.

 

Sue is concerned about traffic in Glenview: “I agree with writer Laura about the Chestnut/Lehigh intersection.  I have been commuting north and south on Lehigh for over 15 years, and it is now close to unbearable.  While waiting for a train and three sequences of lights, I witnessed a little boy making a very stupid mistake -- crossing against a red light. Traffic in Glenview is the largest oversight of our village.  Police rarely issue traffic tickets.  Waukegan Road is a slalom during rush hour.  Get out of the way if you are obeying the speed limit.  During a recent Friday afternoon rush hour  I saw a man driving next to me in a Glenview Fire Department Ford Expedition.  Traffic broke just past Taco Bell, and as if free on bond, the man passed me in front of Carillon Square going faster than 40 mph, changing to the right lane with no signal indicator, and turning west bound on Lake.  I believe the speed limit is 30 there, maybe 35, but come on - this dude was in a public vehicle!  Has he not heard of safety issues with SUV's turning quickly? Why don’t police ticket more for traffic offenses?” 

 

And GR is glad to avoid the left turn to westbound Chestnut from northbound Lehigh:  “Officials told you motorists wanting to go west through The Glen have the option to proceed northbound to West Lake Avenue where there are no such left turn restrictions. That's not really an option if you are driving your child to Attea Middle School.  I rejoiced when my 8th grader graduated. I don't have to use that intersection any more!”

 

Mark Levy is glad the state is skeptical about improvements to the intersection of Willow and Pfingsten: “The changes being considered are all well and good, but even now, motorists ignore one key safety feature.  No Turn On Red signs are posted for Pfingsten in both directions, but many people make right turns on red despite the signs. I think right turn on red was a mistake and should be repealed.  At intersections where it's permitted, many people don't bother to stop, putting pedestrians at risk. In addition to the other improvements, I'd like to see red light cameras that other cities are installing to cite those idiots who run the red or illegally turn on red.”

 

And Henry Hill feels Patriot Boulevard could be safer: “Somebody goofed in not providing parking for the users of the soccer fields and other facilities in Gallery Park opposite The Glen Town Center. Cars are now parked on Patriot, reducing it from two to one lane along that point. When traffic is proceeding north in both lanes, traffic in the outside lane has to stop and wait for an opportunity to cut back to the inside lane, creating potential for an accident. There is also the possibility that a driver may not realize that the cars parked in the outside lane are not moving. A parking lane should either be cut into the existing parkway (moving the sidewalk) or no parking signs should be installed, requiring people to use The Glen Center parking facilities, lots off West Lake or adjacent to Attea Middle School.”

 

JAS was not surprised to learn of Village President Kerry Cummings’ secret selection of a little-known Glen resident to replace her as a trustee on the village board: “If someone from The Glen wanted the position, who did you expect to win? Residents have nothing to say, and the decisions are made by the very few.  It’s a predictable soap opera around here: So The Village Turns, with residents of old Glenview watching the town slowly sliding down the tubes.”

 

PM agrees that Glenview’s new president is a good old boy in disguise. He writes: “Did you honestly think Kerry Cummings would be different than Larry Carlson?”

 

BT had this observation about the new trustee.  Philip White is the former CEO of Sweetheart Cups: “Sounds like he is still getting sweetheart deals here too.”

 

A reader who signs himself “Disappointed to the Max,” writes: “I called our new village president to discuss the appointment and left a message.  She didn’t call back.”

 

And local attorney Craig Gertz points out that White arrives at the mid-point of Cummings’ term and will have to stand for re-election in two years if he wants to stay on the board.

RB says the newest plan commissioner, English teacher Allan Ruter, may not be teaching at Glenbrook South this fall: “It is my understanding that Mr. Ruter will actually be teaching at GBN next year but will continue to live in Glenview.” 

 

GNB offered her views on Glenview’s new swimming pools: “Overall we are very excited and think they are great.  I was disappointed about the size of the lap swim but understand the needs of kids.  But with kids being the emphasis, I was amazed to find only two diaper changing tables at Flick, and both were in family changing rooms that were marked ‘out of order.’”

 

Pam Lewkovich thinks Glenview should have built something else first: “I've lived in Glenview for almost 27 years.  When I moved here in 1978 I had a four-year-old and a newborn. One of the major things I came to Glenview for was its schools.  I wasn't too concerned about the pools.  I certainly used the park district for lots of activities, but I also used the library for enrichment and a place where I could introduce my children to the joy of reading. For me, the library is a special place and is just as important in their lives as the new pools and police station.  I've thought that a referendum would be a great idea, even if it's not binding. At least citizens would have a say in what happens in their community, but I don't think I’ll hold my breath waiting for that.” 

 

BA chides the village for failure to keep the public posted: "Is anyone else getting tired of the village of Glenview pretending to make all information available to the public via e-mail and Internet files?  The latest file for the July 7th meeting packet is in zip form, contains 3923820 bytes and takes 45333 bps to download in 24 minutes.  Now I don't have the latest computer or high-speed Internet which could shorten the time and accept huge files.  In the past I have gone to the Glenview Library.  Even the librarians were unable to download the village files on their server. They requested hard copies from Village Hall, but that means residents wait until after the meeting has occurred and there is no time for meaningful discussion.  I have protested directly to the village to no avail.  When I ask for a disk, it is not available.  Watching a meeting on GVTV is no substitute for public participation in the development process of a village, especially this one which may involve discussions of public funding of private developments. The Internet has been an excellent source for public documents for more that a decade.  If providers want users to see huge files, they should break the information into individual pages or chapters, have a text only version, etc.  The village could also make available copies (hard and on disks) at reasonable cost in advance of the meetings. If the library can't handle these files and provide citizens with public access, it is illusory to say information is publicly available before the meeting."

 

WJ is a Springman alum who’s ready to party: “I’m curious to know what is planned for the 40-year reunion of the class of 1965?”

 

The Watch replies:  While there was a special reunion to celebrate Springman at 50, nothing has been organized for the class of `65.  District 34 tells us, however, that it would be fine for you to organize such a gathering.