YARD WASTE CRISIS AVERTED

Glenview’s main trash hauler, Groot, has announced it will continue to collect wood waste through the summer.  The firm had originally said it could not comply with a state requirement that any material collected in an ash borer quarantine zone (which includes Glenview) be disposed of within that zone.  Now, however, the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) has agreed to establish a processing center for the wood on River Road in the far southwest corner of Glenview.  Groot will take wood there to be ground into one-inch chips, a process that should destroy ash borers.

The insects have already devastated parts of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Twenty percent of all trees in Illinois are ashes.

The bugs have been spotted in Wilmette, Winnetka and Evanston.  Experts say it’s only a matter of time before they reach Glenview.

While there’s no way to save trees that are infested, local tree doctor Dave Clanton says ashes can be protected by treating soil around them with a chemical called imidacloprid.  For more information, go to http://clantontree.com/order.shtml or to www.emerald-ashborer.com .

GLENVIEW OFFERS GARDENING INCENTIVE

Extensive development has prompted complaints from many homeowners who have flooded basements or soggy spots in yards that were once dry.  In response, the village engineer proposes that residents plant rain gardens – beds of native prairie grasses and wildflowers with very long roots that promote better drainage and water detention.

Russ Jensen said residents could hire special contractors or their own landscapers to create gardens of about 200 square feet and said the average cost would be $1,200-$1,800.  With an initial grant of $10,000 from the trustees, he suggested the village pay residents 50 percent of their costs.

If interest in the program is strong, Jensen said he might request more money from the village.  Residents will have to submit an application and garden plan, then allow inspection of the finished area before receiving a check. 

Jensen said rain gardens would, in the long run, be less costly than more storm sewers and could offer an ecological advantage – drawing more storm water through the soil, where it’s cleaned before returning to the water table, area rivers and streams. The native plants also provide habitat for birds and butterflies. 

For more information, go to http://www.glenview.il.us/departments/capital/engineering/rain_garden.shtml , call 847-904-4343 or 847-998-9500, or pick-up a brochure on rain gardens at Village Hall, Park Center and the Ev Tyner Nature Center at The Glen. 

ISMAILI HOUSE OF WORSHIP TO ASK FOR AN EXTENSION

Faced with the possible loss of permission to build near the corner of Shermer and Golf, an Ismaili Muslim congregation will ask the village board to extend its conditional use.  Normally, that permission lapses if a developer fails to start building within six months.  The Ismailis have told Village Hall that their religious organization has a long approval process. The Ismailis are led by the Aga Khan, a Harvard-educated Briton who oversees an empire of philanthropy and horse breeding. 

Area residents who objected to the conditional use are likely to be back at Village Hall  Tuesday to try and derail the project.

ONLY A TEST

If you see smoke or hear what may sound like gun shots on Monday, April 23 near the corner of Patriot and West Lake, don’t be alarmed. The Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy at 2300 Patriot Boulevard will conduct a day-long tactical police exercise. More than 120 officers from Northern Illinois will take part in the event, which will run from about 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

TWO TACOS AND A TOMBSTONE TO GO

The plan commission has approved reconstruction of the Taco Bell on Milwaukee Road just north of Niles, but the okay comes with a surprising condition.  To improve visibility for customers turning left out of the site, the commission asked the restaurant owner to move a driveway, and to do that, he’ll need some land from his neighbor – a cemetery.

“They’ve indicated that it’s not a problem,” said the Taco Bell owner.  “They’re willing to sell us 512 square feet.  There’s no bodies on that area, but unfortunately they just acquired 734 cemeteries, so they’re kind of busy right now.  Their property disposal person has to get around to this.  He’s up to his eyeballs in properties, and he’ll get to it when he gets to it. I don’t want to get the guy ticked off by calling him every day.”

The Taco Bell owner said he was even willing to buy the burial plots in that corner, but the cemetery refused, since people who acquire burial sites don’t actually own them.  They’re leased. 

The plan commission agreed to sign off on the plans provided the restaurant owner shared e-mails from the cemetery, expressing a willingness to sell when they have time.

WESTWARD HO!

The village is about to start planning for redevelopment of 40 acres at the northwest corner of I-294 and Willow – the former Culligan property.  In cooperation with Northbrook, Glenview will come up with standards to address traffic and storm water impact along with the architecture of a mixed use development (housing and shops) planned by a company called GlenStar.  

Two public meetings are set for 7 p.m. April 25 and 26 in the Glenview Police Station community room, 2500 East Lake Avenue.

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT PLAY

-- The park district hosts a public hearing on its master plan for new acres at Community Park West off Milwaukee Avenue at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 26.  A consultant will unveil his vision for a six-acre dog park, while youth baseball and soccer fans will learn more about their fields and facilities.

-- Glenview's police department will host a bicycle safety fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 19 in the north parking lot of its building at 2500 E. Lake Avenue.  Kids and adults can register their bikes, have them checked for proper maintenance and learn important safety skills.  Admission is free, and the organizers promise prizes and drawings.

-- Glenview's public works department will host an open house for the public from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 12.  Residents can take a tour of the department's facility at 1333 Shermer Road, check out the big machines used to keep village streets and grounds in shape, talk with a tree expert and take part in a raffle. You may also be able to relegate your least favorite public official to the dunk tank.

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME

-- The Children's Board of Glenview Community Church will hold its "gently used" toy collection from 9:30-11:30 Saturday, April 28 in the est parking lot of 1000 Elm Street.  Donations will go to Connections for the Homeless and similar organizations.  Almost new art supplies would also be appreciated.

-- The Village Treasure House, a fine used furniture and antique consignment shop at 1825 Glenview Rd., will honor more than 75 volunteers at 12:30 p.m. Monday April 30. Profits from the shop go to local charities and community services.  So far, the Treasure House has provided more than $500,000 to local agencies.  If you’d like to give some time, go to www.villagetreasurehouse.com . 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...

School District 225 candidate Michael Szpisjak, who appeared to have lost his bid by 41 votes, has not yet conceded defeat in last Tuesday's election.  "I'm just waiting to see what the absentee ballot count is.  My brother Dale mailed in his vote on Tuesday.  He is active duty, career military, just back from a goodwill deployment, and I can not concede until his vote is in," he told The Watch.

Preliminary totals suggest Robert Boron and Skip Shein will retain their seats while the third vacancy will be filled by Joel Taub of Northbrook.

READERS WRITE

PM took our advice and complained to postal service spokesman Tim Ratliff: “I am appalled that the USPS would reduce the number of attended service stations at the new facility in The Glen (Glenview, IL).  The line of patrons, at least the times I have been in the facility, are longer than in the old facility.  Why have more space if it won't be used for the customers' benefit?  Empty real estate is not a plus; better service is.”

Ratliff replied: “Please call the national Postal Service number at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) and a customer representative will assist you.”

Prompting this note from PM to The Watch: “I would bet that if I called the suggested department I would get an automated answering system that would loop eternally, just like the federal bureaucracy.  I guess the appropriate thing to do is to go to the post office and ask to speak to the postmaster.  I assume there is somebody in charge?”

The Watch replies:  Yes, indeed.  Glenview’s postmaster is Alonzo Young.  Let us know what he has to say. 

Barb cast a write-in vote last Tuesday and was pleased to learn that spelling didn’t count: “Sarkany; Andy Sarkany and Andrew Sarkany were all acceptable to those counting the votes.  Obviously, the state is more lenient than the powers that be in Glenview!”

Mr. M. has another explanation for the old police station sitting ‘empty’: “Just prior to mothballing the old police station, the village signed five-year contracts with AT&T and T-Mobile to install fiber optic cable and cellular phone equipment, respectively, in the building. T-Mobile, for one, walled off half of the break room to create a secure area for cellular equipment. The village can't now sell or raze the building without breaking the contract and facing huge penalties.”

Ib Jorgensen read Library Trustee David Johnson’s remark about why a large new library is needed, even as the Internet plays a growing role in supplying public information: “I respectfully disagree with Mr. Johnson’s statement that ‘there’s absolute junk on the Internet.’ If you look for junk you will find it on the library’s shelves as well.”