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

The public is invited to view two possible designs for the new library at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22 in the Maynard Room. Current plans call for a 93,000-square-foot building influenced by the park district’s administration building and the Metra train station downtown.

Asked if village funding would cover such a large facility, Glenview’s director of capital improvements Don Owen joked, “If they build it out of sticks it will.” In fact, the architects have drawn a structure of stone and brick.

The library board has said it will try to raise several million dollars to pay for the extra space and hopes the state will provide some of that money.

Both plans include a large, curved area for children’s story-telling, a double-gabled roofline which, at 55-feet, leaves room for third-story space in lieu of a high ceiling.

Underground parking will be provided, Prairie Street will become a cul de sac, and planners are suggesting a pedestrian connection from Jackman Park to the library.

After nearly two years of negotiation, Glenview’s firemen and paramedics have reached an agreement with village management. The contract calls for annual pay raises of 3.75 percent for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Officials described the talks as long but productive, professional and not contentious. Deputy Village Manager Chris Clark characterized benefits as comparable to what other communities provide but said our firemen are not the best paid on the North Shore. Talks continue with the Fraternal Order of Police on a contract for law enforcement officers.

Glenview’s finance director reports revenues for 2006 were $1.4 million higher than expected, thanks to a cold winter that produced more utility tax, an increase in sales and hotel tax revenues, short-term interest rates that were higher than expected and a bigger chunk of the state’s income tax.

To boost business for long-time attractions, like The Grove and for some of Glenview’s newer attractions – the Heritage Center at Wagner Farm, the Air Station Prairie, Kohl Children’s Museum and Glen Town Center, Glenview will pay $30,000 to a group that helps market North Shore tourist attractions.

Originally an outgrowth of the Evanston Convention and Visitors Bureau, the group now represents Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette and Northbrook. Glenview will be included in an annual visitors guide with a circulation of 100,000 and in its destination planning guide that reaches about 5,000 people. The community will also be promoted through kiosks at the O’Hare and Des Plaines Oases along I-294, have a spot on the North Shore bureau’s website, be featured in a monthly online newsletter and receive mentions in Chicago Tribune and other regional ads.

Editor's note: Since the park district and OliverMcMillan, owner of The Glen Town Center, are likely to benefit, it's a shame that they were not asked to contribute to this initiative.

The Air Station Prairie will not be in bloom, but Glenview will celebrate anyway with a grand opening of the Tyner Nature Center at 9:30 Saturday, April 14. The roof of the $2 million building at the corner of Lehigh and Compass roads sports plants and solar panels, and the walls are covered with indoor and outdoor panels describing the plants and animals found only on prairies.

Other public events will be scheduled for the 32-acre site this summer and fall, when prairie blossoms appear. Glenview’s park district will operate a program similar to one at The Grove, allowing school groups and the public to visit and tour the site. In exchange, the village will provide a $200,000 subsidy in the first year of operation, allowing the park district to furnish and staff the building. Future subsidies are expected to be smaller, but they’ll continue until retirement of a tax increment financing plan at The Glen around 2018.

For 15 years, nature lovers have gathered each spring to clean the banks of the Chicago River, fishing shopping carts, tires and other large treasures from its waters. This year, local residents will meet between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, May 12 in the parking lot of Kohl's on Willow Road to help beautify the riverfront. The pay-off:: free tee-shirts, work gloves, plenty of exercise and a pretty good time. For more information, call Robyn Flakne at 847-486-5653.

The village says 56 people have signed up for pedestrians and bike tours set for March 24, March 31 and April 14. The events were organized to help a consulting firm hired to plan future improvements to Glenview’s bicycle paths and walkways. The groups will look for ways to make travel safer for cyclists and pedestrians, identifying gaps in the network of sidewalks and impediments to bicyclists. For more information, or to reserve a spot on the tour, call 773-792-9000.

Last year, Glenview announced that it would offer resident rates for Winnetka dwellers wanting to join our fitness center or outdoor pools. In exchange, Winnetka would extend resident rates for folks from Glenview. This year, Winnetka looked at the numbers and cancelled the deal. While 125 Glenview residents flocked to Winnetka's beaches last summer (paying $45 as opposed to $75 for the season), only 12 people joined Park Center, and not a single Winnetka resident bought a pool pass here.

Glenview's premiere family service agency is looking for volunteers to serve as big brothers or big sisters to kids in need. The program requires a year-long commitment of three hours a week. During that time, adults develop an important friendship with a child -- assisting with homework, playing in the park, attending a sports event or having dinner together.

Residents can also sign up to assist a parent through the Parent Partner Program. Similar to the Befriend-A-Youth program, parent partners are matched with adults who need support in caring for kids. Three training sessions will be held in April. To volunteer, call Alison Guenther at 847-724-2620.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association Lock-up is being held today, Wednesday, March 21 at Grandpa's across from Glenview's downtown Metra station. Many upstanding citizens, including former park board president Chris Warren, will allow themselves to be incarcerated, and they're asking friends and neighbors to "bail them out." Warren will go behind bars from 6-7 p.m., and he's offered to buy his first five visitors a drink! Proceeds benefit the MDA.

Beginning in April, Glenview’s plan commission will start its meetings at 7 p.m., hoping to finish business earlier. The village board, which begins its sessions at 7:30, will have only one meeting next month – on April 10.

-- Foreign language buffs will find company at the Glenview public library. The Spanish Club will habla at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 and the French Club will parle at 9:30 a.m. March 24 in the library’s conference room. All ages are welcome.

-- The library offers a three-part series about travel planning on the web beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 22. Participants must register for all three sessions. You can do so online at www.glenviewpl.org or at the information desk. The first session covers destinations. March 29 will provide an overview of airline tickets and auctions, and April 5 is devoted to vacation packages and cruises.

-- A mother-daughter book discussion group meets at 7 p.m. Friday, March 23 to talk about Stranded by Ben Mikaelsen. The author will be at the Glenview Public Library at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 11. Girls in grades 4-7 and their moms or other special adult meet monthly. Register at the youth services desk.

-- The library urges children in grades 3-8 to make a joyful noise. Create a crazy image. Sing and celebrate yourself in a Poetry Playshop at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 24. Poems written by kids can be entered in the library’s poetry contest. Register at the youth services desk.

-- Join Glenview's Senior Services Division on Thursday, March 22 for a free seminar on government programs that can save seniors money. The seminar starts at 1 p.m. in the Glenview Senior Center, 2400 Chestnut.

-- Cook County residents over 65 can get a free 911 emergency cell phone, two batteries, a charger and instructions for use. Call 847-784-6030, mention reference number N1831A and reserve a spot at a one-time registration event from 9:30-11:30 a.m., Thursday, March 29 at the North Shore Senior Center, 161 Northfield Road.

Are you doing something at your home or business that might warrant a village inspection? Find out at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 28 when the village hosts a free seminar about inspections at the Glenview Police Department’s community room, 2500 East Lake Avenue. For more information, call 847-904-4340.

Martha D. writes to question a vote by the village board to allow smoking at local bars and restaurants: “I would like to understand why there seems to be much more of a priority on preserving income to establishments currently permitting smoking, rather than a priority on employees' and patrons' health? Second-hand smoke is a well-documented hazard. Is money made in these establishments more important than lives? What is wrong with these trustees? This is no longer the 50’s or 60’s when people were not aware of the dangers of second-hand smoke. Any Glenview resident should be able to walk into any of our restaurants and be assured that smoking is not permitted in that building. I believe that we owe it to ourselves, our families, our fellow citizens to protect them, not to increase their risk of cancer. It is embarrassing to me to live in a ‘smoking town!’ We are not ignorant people, are we?”

HS is equally unhappy: “I can't believe that the trustees did not pass a non-smoking
ordinance. After listening to the resident testimonies what are the trustees thinking about? I know money and business. Here is my thought on that. As more and more villages, cities and establishments go non-smoking then the places that allow smoking will get smokier and smokier. I will give you a personal example. My wife and I enjoy dining out at many different restaurants. Recently we dined at Tuscany on Milwaukee in Wheeling. They allow smoking in their bar area. However, the smoke was so thick that it was present in the dining area. When I asked the manager about this he told me that since some neighboring restaurants have gone non smoking such as Pete Millers many of the smokers are coming to Tuscany. Therefore the concentration of smoke is drastically higher at the few smoking establishments. This will also bring the level of smoke above the tolerance levels of many people. As far as I am concerned I will now choose Pete Miller over Tuscany for dinner. Of course the question is which restaurant will have a larger net gain? Since there are many more non smokers than smokers the answer seems obvious.”

And Dolph Z. figures some Glenview businesses may lose customers because the trustees failed to go with the county’s rules: “How stupid can they be? As Glenview residents for over 40 years, our family has tried very hard to patronize our local businesses, and we will continue to do so, except when we prefer to be in a clean air environment. Then our business will be going to neighboring villages who are smart enough and considerate enough to provide for cleaner air.”

After reading that there are no plans for a postal facility in downtown Glenview, Miss M. writes: “Here's a tip for the impatient or geographically challenged. Head to the Golf post office where there are no lines, ample parking and efficient service. It’s the best kept secret – or it was until now.”

JM was dismayed to discover “the Glenview Public Library does not recycle any materials; not paper, or drink containers, or anything else. Two dumpsters but no recycling!”

Executive Librarian Vickie Novak tells The Watch, “There are recycling containers throughout the building in staff and public areas.”

JNA scoffs at Trustee Cuisinier’s concern about overdevelopment of local school sites: “I find it hilarious and hypocritical that Trustee Cuisinier laments the loss of open space at schools where additions are proposed. Has he seen the amount of open space a McMansion eats up on a typical lot? I live in Park Manor where lots average 7,500 square feet. Village ordinance says the maximum lot coverage allowable (house and pavement) is 45 percent of the total lot area. That translates to 3,375 square feet. The McMansions going up around me (seven within a one block radius), almost without exception are built to the maximum building size and maximum lot coverage allowable by the ordinance. My 1945 Cape Cod, which is typical of the original neighborhood, has an impervious lot coverage of about 2,300 square feet or about 31 percent coverage (that's 69 percent open space compared to 55 percent for the average Mcmansion). What is happening to open space (not to mention the impact of increased storm water runoff from the increase in impervious areas) when developers are being allowed to eat up all the residential open space without a second thought? The loss of green space at three schools seems like a drop in the bucket compared to the residential areas of Glenview that are being consumed by these awful architectural monstrosities.”

And MM also sees hypocrisy in Cuisinier’s remark: “Oh, this is rich -- the crusader for OLPH, the most overdeveloped parcel in all of Glenview, lecturing District 34 on open space! What's really got the trustees worried is the possibility that these expansion plans will necessitate an increase in the 34 levy, increasing residents’ tax bill. Some local voters aren't too swift. All they know is their tax bill is up, and they’ll point the finger at the village for poor management.”

Bob has a better idea for train station parking: “I'm glad Metra finally released a number of monthly parking passes at the Glen station, but I wonder why monthly parking passes for downtown can't be used at the Glen? I understand there's a limited amount of space and more demand at the downtown station, but there's plenty of spaces and monthly passes going unused at the Glen. Why not give parkers who have a downtown permit the option of parking at the Glen from time to time? That way Glen parking permits would be good only at the Glen and downtown permits good at both stations.”

GNG is back in defense of a large new library: “Since Ib Jorgensen and Biff Thiele cite surveys showing limited use of our library in arguing for a smaller facility, I did my own survey of the downtown Metra Station and conclude that the station is not needed. The number of people actually standing in the station at any one time is significantly lower than the number of people driving by on Glenview Road. Are these two saying our library isn’t even needed if only 60 people are in attendance at one time? Do they think those people should instead be visiting a local bookstore to save the residents of Glenview millions in taxes? Maybe, we could re-open the old American Opinion bookstore, as it contained all the reference materials ever needed by most residents of Glenview.”

But Jennifer Kozicki pokes fun at the library board’s plan for a building of over 90,000 square feet: “Let's see, we've got a 94,000-square-foot building and never more than 60 library patrons at a time. That’s 1,567 square feet per patron. If half of those people are concentrated in a few areas, there could be some spots that are completely unoccupied. Those dark corners may raise security issues, so the library board might want to spend even more on security guards and cameras to guard Glenview’s new and unnecessary space.”

And Biff Thiele replies: “No one ever suggested that the train station isn't needed, but since your argument has holes in it, you are changing the subject. Apparently you concede that there are 60 or less patrons at the library at any given time. If you have actually begun to count seated patrons, tell us how 60 or less at any given time can justify a seating plan for over 400.”

Linda Nidetz offers this answer to Jim Sullivan who objected to her attack on the Bush administration and called for unity in support of American troops in Iraq: “The main purpose of my letter was to motivate concerned citizens to immediately contact their representatives and urge legislation requiring the military to provide soldiers with proper equipment and training.”

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.

-- Join Glenview's Senior Services Division on Thursday, March 22 for a free seminar on government programs that can save seniors money. The seminar starts at 1 p.m. in the Glenview Senior Center, 2400 Chestnut.