Zoologist debunks misconceptions about animals
Originally published Saturday, July 25, 2009
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
It seems many animals have been greatly misunderstood.
To hear Zoologist Robert James tell it, much of what the average person knows about the creatures who share the Earth with us is incorrect.
Hedgehogs and porcupines, for example, can't shoot their needles at you. That would be like saying humans can shed their hair at will. A neat trick, sure, but not very likely.
Bats don't like flying into people's hair. And alligators won't bite you out of the water - although you need to watch out for those tails, their real defense mechanism.
"Out of the water, they'll never, ever use their mouth," James said.
James, who is based in Lombard and often brings his animals to area schools, is sharing his knowledge this weekend with crowds at the DuPage County Fair in Wheaton. James will make presentations at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday in the Ag-Venture Land area of the fairgrounds at 2015 W. Manchester Road.
It's an interactive event, where everyone gets a chance to pet all the animals, including an emu who understands Spanish, a bat, a tarantula and a python.
Don't worry about being poisoned, though. Apparently, tarantulas and pythons aren't lethal, either. Another falsehood debunked.
Bats, it turns out, are pretty cuddly. The hair on the back of the brown bat James brings is, as he describes it, softer than any teddy bear.
The animals all have been injured and brought back to health by James.
The python was crushed when it was being removed from under a house in Florida, and the hedgehog was hit by a car.
James said he uses only affection training when working with the animals, maintaining they all have to be treated with respect.
James also likens the different species of animals to the variety of humans in the world. He encourages everyone to pet all the animals he brings, regardless of prior fears they may have.
"What's on the outside of somebody means absolutely nothing," he said.
Tarantulas may look a bit scary, but they're around to eat bugs - and only bugs. Plus, James said, he's been bitten by everything from a monkey to a third-grader, but snakes have never harmed him.
"The first thing you do is meet somebody and then you figure out if you like them or don't like them," he said.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Beekeeper forced to move hive out of Lombard
Beekeeper forced to move hive out of Lombard
Originally published Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
It's not just about Curtis Rolfe and the bees he wasn't allowed to keep.
Rolfe wanted to tend a beehive on his property in Milton Township, but that's not allowed by law. He got the Lombard Park District's permission to keep the hive on nearby park property, but that arrangement fell through after neighbors complained.
That forced Rolfe to move the hive to his son's home in Ottawa, where he's not sure he'll be able to visit enough to care adequately for the bees.
And that's a shame, say experts on bees. Hobbyists such as Rolfe help maintain the dwindling bee population. And because bees pollinate our flowers, fruits and vegetables, their work is critical.
Rolfe and his wife Leanne were disappointed when the hive got the boot from park district property.
"They didn't say why or what the complaint was," Leanne said. "The bottom line is that they're not an aggressive bee. They won't hurt anybody."
The insects that actually sting most often, experts say, are yellowjackets, not honeybees, which attack only when harassed.
However, park board President Keith Giagnorio said the hive would be a liability to the district if someone did provoke the bees.
The Rolfes had to move the bees off their property because Milton Township allows hives only on properties of at least five acres, because honeybees are classified as "livestock."
The bees thrived on the Rolfes property for about three months. Curtis Rolfe said they had multiplied a few times and had started producing a good amount of honey before they were moved. He had hoped to use his hive as an educational tool for children in the neighborhood.
"I am very aware of how the bees are losing out in this world," he said.
Honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing, suspected to be the result of a virus that is causing colony collapse disorder.
Charles Lorence, co-president of the Cook-DuPage Beekeepers Association, which meets in Oak Brook, said some towns are becoming more relaxed about their bee laws because they see the threat of waning bee populations.
In fact, the city of Chicago has beehives on the roof of city hall and the Chicago Cultural Center.
However, Lorence wants to push for more villages to allow at least one hive on properties.
Lorence, who has apiaries - multiple beehives - in a forest preserve in Aurora and in the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, said a third of the food supply in America is pollinated by bees.
"They have an almost intrinsic value to humans," he said.
He said if the population keeps falling, the prices for fruits and vegetables could skyrocket, creating the possibility of $5 apples.
"The hobbyists are really doing everybody a favor," Leanne Rolfe said.
Although Rolfe's hive is now with his son, Curtis hopes he can move it back closer to his own home near Glen Ellyn soon.
He said he's going to approach churches or any buildings that are on more than 5 acres to see if they'd be willing to house his hobby.
Otherwise, he won't be able to drive out to Ottawa on a regular basis to tend to his hive, which requires some care in the colder months, when bees aren't able to feed as much on their own.
Beekeeper advocate Charles Lorence, left, and Curtis Rolfe say caring for beehives helps stave off the dwindling population of honeybees.
Photo by Paul Michna/Daily Herald
Curtis Rolfe tends to a hive
in Aurora. He was asked to move
his own hive off Lombard Park
District property after
neighbors complained.
Photo by Paul Michna/Daily Herald
Originally published Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
It's not just about Curtis Rolfe and the bees he wasn't allowed to keep.
Rolfe wanted to tend a beehive on his property in Milton Township, but that's not allowed by law. He got the Lombard Park District's permission to keep the hive on nearby park property, but that arrangement fell through after neighbors complained.
That forced Rolfe to move the hive to his son's home in Ottawa, where he's not sure he'll be able to visit enough to care adequately for the bees.
And that's a shame, say experts on bees. Hobbyists such as Rolfe help maintain the dwindling bee population. And because bees pollinate our flowers, fruits and vegetables, their work is critical.
Rolfe and his wife Leanne were disappointed when the hive got the boot from park district property.
"They didn't say why or what the complaint was," Leanne said. "The bottom line is that they're not an aggressive bee. They won't hurt anybody."
The insects that actually sting most often, experts say, are yellowjackets, not honeybees, which attack only when harassed.
However, park board President Keith Giagnorio said the hive would be a liability to the district if someone did provoke the bees.
The Rolfes had to move the bees off their property because Milton Township allows hives only on properties of at least five acres, because honeybees are classified as "livestock."
The bees thrived on the Rolfes property for about three months. Curtis Rolfe said they had multiplied a few times and had started producing a good amount of honey before they were moved. He had hoped to use his hive as an educational tool for children in the neighborhood.
"I am very aware of how the bees are losing out in this world," he said.
Honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing, suspected to be the result of a virus that is causing colony collapse disorder.
Charles Lorence, co-president of the Cook-DuPage Beekeepers Association, which meets in Oak Brook, said some towns are becoming more relaxed about their bee laws because they see the threat of waning bee populations.
In fact, the city of Chicago has beehives on the roof of city hall and the Chicago Cultural Center.
However, Lorence wants to push for more villages to allow at least one hive on properties.
Lorence, who has apiaries - multiple beehives - in a forest preserve in Aurora and in the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, said a third of the food supply in America is pollinated by bees.
"They have an almost intrinsic value to humans," he said.
He said if the population keeps falling, the prices for fruits and vegetables could skyrocket, creating the possibility of $5 apples.
"The hobbyists are really doing everybody a favor," Leanne Rolfe said.
Although Rolfe's hive is now with his son, Curtis hopes he can move it back closer to his own home near Glen Ellyn soon.
He said he's going to approach churches or any buildings that are on more than 5 acres to see if they'd be willing to house his hobby.
Otherwise, he won't be able to drive out to Ottawa on a regular basis to tend to his hive, which requires some care in the colder months, when bees aren't able to feed as much on their own.
Beekeeper advocate Charles Lorence, left, and Curtis Rolfe say caring for beehives helps stave off the dwindling population of honeybees.
Photo by Paul Michna/Daily Herald
Curtis Rolfe tends to a hive
in Aurora. He was asked to move
his own hive off Lombard Park
District property after
neighbors complained.
Photo by Paul Michna/Daily Herald
Friday, June 5, 2009
Scores of write-in candidates face an uphill battle
Scores of write-in candidates face an uphill battle
Originally published Thursday, March 12, 2009
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
The Glenbard High School District 87 race was shaping up to be a quiet one. Only two candidates had filed to run for four open spots on the board.
As word spread that two seats were up for the taking, the tide turned. A once-uncontested race now offers voters 11 choices for the school board, with nine of those candidates running as write-ins.
The write-in option brings with it a unique set of challenges. As the name suggests, voters have to actually write down their chosen candidate's name instead of just filling in an oval or tapping a name on a screen.
That's an obvious advantage for those who have spots on the ballot, but it hasn't deterred scores of write-in candidates filing an intent to run in the April 7 elections.
In most cases, those aspiring officeholders are kicked off the ballot for not doing their paperwork correctly. The nominating paper process can be nit-picky, and candidates have been bounced from the ballot for such things as not numbering their pages.
Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham said people know each other better on a local level and have more time to pore over election papers.
"There seems to be more scrutiny to ballot petitions and notarizations," he said.
The booted candidates aren't always ready to give up, so they take the alternate write-in route.
There are also the cases, as in District 87, where people see a chance to get involved on a local level without having to spend the time and money running against an incumbent.
Of course, there are always those who don't want to - or can't - spend time gathering signatures to have their names appear on the ballot and instead hedge their bets and run after deadlines to file have passed.
Thomas Garvey, who is running for a trustee spot in Carol Stream against three people on the ballot and another as write-in, had a serious illness in the family that took him away from being able to collect signatures.
"It kept me from being as active," he said. That didn't take away his drive to run in any way that he could against incumbents Pamela Fenner and Matt McMarthy as well as Anthony Manzzullo and Greg Donzelli.
In any case, the write-in route will undoubtedly mean that candidates have to spend some of their time educating voters on the process instead of solely focusing on campaign issues.
Most who go this course agree that they'll be pounding the streets, knocking on doors and getting out the word that they are running for office even if their names are nowhere to be seen in the voting booth.
Don Pydo's tactic will be giveaways, such as pens and small brochures, that will remind District 87 voters what to do on April 7.
"I pretty much take it as a grass-roots efforts," he said. "It's a unique situation."
Robert Friend, one of Pydo's opponents, said, in retrospect, it would have been easier to just collect the 60 signatures needed to be on the ballot.
"I wouldn't have to worry about anything," he said.
In fact, Friend, who is a member of the Lombard Elementary District 44 board, had even joked about moving up to a seat on the high school board.
Now he will be running against incumbent Tom Voltaggio, newcomer Yadav Nathwani and several write-ins: Rose Stelter, Philomena Merrithey, Thomas Stachelski, Luke Baer, Donald Birns, Richard Heim, John Snyder, as well as Pydo.
The District 87 case is unique, however, because at least two of the write-in candidates are likely to land a spot on the board.
That's not always the case.
Michael Elmore is taking on incumbent Village President Larry Keller in West Dundee. The task would have been daunting enough before Elmore was taken off the ballot.
"I fell into the reprimandable category of non-page numbering knucklehead," he said. "It's not of my choice to do it like this."
Elmore has faith, though, that enough people are disheartened by Keller to write his name on the ballot sheet.
"When I got voided from the ballot, a lot of people that heard that were like, 'That's crazy,'" Elmore said.
This way, he said, there's no way anyone can keep him from running.
"I think I have a great shot of winning," he said. "If you look at the past number of votes that (Keller) received in order to defeat the last candidates, it was only 400 and some votes."
His view is that voters who are tired of the status quo will make an effort to vote him in.
Unlike Elmore, Erik Peters, an 18-year-old from Antioch, was late in getting his name into the mayoral race.
He attended a board meeting in early February and found he simply didn't agree with Lawrence Hanson and Robert Caulfield Jr., who will be on the ballot as the mayoral candidates.
Because he only had a few days to collect signatures to run, Peters is running as a write-in, along with Kris Murphy.
"With write-in candidates, it's awesome that everyone gets the chance," Peters said. "You really see who's willing to make a commitment for their town."
Peters concedes that he has a bit of an advantage because he's an anomaly of sorts. The 18-year-old has been getting attention because he's so young and interested in local politics.
But he still thinks people will support him because he represents an alternative to the candidates on the ballot.
"They'll vote for any politician, regardless of age, if they feel the same way I do," he said.
Although it's an uphill battle, winning as a write-in is not unheard of. Perhaps the two most famous instances in the suburbs are when John Geils was voted in as village president of Bensenville in 2001 and Gerald "Skip" Farley did the same for his spot in Mount Prospect after he was booted off the ballot in 1997.
Farley was another candidate who was taken off the ballot for not numbering pages. Turned out, though, "I received more votes in write-ins than I had in a regular campaign," he said.
But, it takes a good amount of effort. Farley said he had 100 supporters pounding the pavement, handing out instruction cards for residents to use in the voting booth.
"We pretty well covered Mount Prospect," he said. "If you're serious about serving, it's definitely worth it."
• Daily Herald Staff Writer Jake Griffin contributed to this report.
Originally published Thursday, March 12, 2009
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
The Glenbard High School District 87 race was shaping up to be a quiet one. Only two candidates had filed to run for four open spots on the board.
As word spread that two seats were up for the taking, the tide turned. A once-uncontested race now offers voters 11 choices for the school board, with nine of those candidates running as write-ins.
The write-in option brings with it a unique set of challenges. As the name suggests, voters have to actually write down their chosen candidate's name instead of just filling in an oval or tapping a name on a screen.
That's an obvious advantage for those who have spots on the ballot, but it hasn't deterred scores of write-in candidates filing an intent to run in the April 7 elections.
In most cases, those aspiring officeholders are kicked off the ballot for not doing their paperwork correctly. The nominating paper process can be nit-picky, and candidates have been bounced from the ballot for such things as not numbering their pages.
Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham said people know each other better on a local level and have more time to pore over election papers.
"There seems to be more scrutiny to ballot petitions and notarizations," he said.
The booted candidates aren't always ready to give up, so they take the alternate write-in route.
There are also the cases, as in District 87, where people see a chance to get involved on a local level without having to spend the time and money running against an incumbent.
Of course, there are always those who don't want to - or can't - spend time gathering signatures to have their names appear on the ballot and instead hedge their bets and run after deadlines to file have passed.
Thomas Garvey, who is running for a trustee spot in Carol Stream against three people on the ballot and another as write-in, had a serious illness in the family that took him away from being able to collect signatures.
"It kept me from being as active," he said. That didn't take away his drive to run in any way that he could against incumbents Pamela Fenner and Matt McMarthy as well as Anthony Manzzullo and Greg Donzelli.
In any case, the write-in route will undoubtedly mean that candidates have to spend some of their time educating voters on the process instead of solely focusing on campaign issues.
Most who go this course agree that they'll be pounding the streets, knocking on doors and getting out the word that they are running for office even if their names are nowhere to be seen in the voting booth.
Don Pydo's tactic will be giveaways, such as pens and small brochures, that will remind District 87 voters what to do on April 7.
"I pretty much take it as a grass-roots efforts," he said. "It's a unique situation."
Robert Friend, one of Pydo's opponents, said, in retrospect, it would have been easier to just collect the 60 signatures needed to be on the ballot.
"I wouldn't have to worry about anything," he said.
In fact, Friend, who is a member of the Lombard Elementary District 44 board, had even joked about moving up to a seat on the high school board.
Now he will be running against incumbent Tom Voltaggio, newcomer Yadav Nathwani and several write-ins: Rose Stelter, Philomena Merrithey, Thomas Stachelski, Luke Baer, Donald Birns, Richard Heim, John Snyder, as well as Pydo.
The District 87 case is unique, however, because at least two of the write-in candidates are likely to land a spot on the board.
That's not always the case.
Michael Elmore is taking on incumbent Village President Larry Keller in West Dundee. The task would have been daunting enough before Elmore was taken off the ballot.
"I fell into the reprimandable category of non-page numbering knucklehead," he said. "It's not of my choice to do it like this."
Elmore has faith, though, that enough people are disheartened by Keller to write his name on the ballot sheet.
"When I got voided from the ballot, a lot of people that heard that were like, 'That's crazy,'" Elmore said.
This way, he said, there's no way anyone can keep him from running.
"I think I have a great shot of winning," he said. "If you look at the past number of votes that (Keller) received in order to defeat the last candidates, it was only 400 and some votes."
His view is that voters who are tired of the status quo will make an effort to vote him in.
Unlike Elmore, Erik Peters, an 18-year-old from Antioch, was late in getting his name into the mayoral race.
He attended a board meeting in early February and found he simply didn't agree with Lawrence Hanson and Robert Caulfield Jr., who will be on the ballot as the mayoral candidates.
Because he only had a few days to collect signatures to run, Peters is running as a write-in, along with Kris Murphy.
"With write-in candidates, it's awesome that everyone gets the chance," Peters said. "You really see who's willing to make a commitment for their town."
Peters concedes that he has a bit of an advantage because he's an anomaly of sorts. The 18-year-old has been getting attention because he's so young and interested in local politics.
But he still thinks people will support him because he represents an alternative to the candidates on the ballot.
"They'll vote for any politician, regardless of age, if they feel the same way I do," he said.
Although it's an uphill battle, winning as a write-in is not unheard of. Perhaps the two most famous instances in the suburbs are when John Geils was voted in as village president of Bensenville in 2001 and Gerald "Skip" Farley did the same for his spot in Mount Prospect after he was booted off the ballot in 1997.
Farley was another candidate who was taken off the ballot for not numbering pages. Turned out, though, "I received more votes in write-ins than I had in a regular campaign," he said.
But, it takes a good amount of effort. Farley said he had 100 supporters pounding the pavement, handing out instruction cards for residents to use in the voting booth.
"We pretty well covered Mount Prospect," he said. "If you're serious about serving, it's definitely worth it."
• Daily Herald Staff Writer Jake Griffin contributed to this report.
War of words in Carol Stream library race
War of words in Carol Stream library race
Originally published Friday, March 27, 2009
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
The signs make it clear where the challenging candidates stand: "Stop library referendums and taxes."
The incumbents, and the Carol Stream library staff, think that's unfair and misleading. They've prepared their own counter document: a one-page flyer, passed out to library patrons, giving their response to allegations that they're plotting to raise taxes to build a new library.
The race for four seats on the Carol Stream library board has evolved into a war of written words.
The challenging slate has put up the red, "stop referendums" placards, which are plentiful in the area surrounding the library. Library patrons, in turn, have been asking librarians about the possibility of a ballot question. So the library, in turn, is handing out a "facts about the library" sheet to all patrons that outlines past referendum questions and issues on property taxes. The sheet can also be viewed at cslibrary.org.
"I was glad to see that because there really isn't a way to tell people that the information that they're seeing is not correct," incumbent Mary Hudspeath said.
But the fact sheet has raised the eyebrows of challengers because it supports the ideals of the incumbents even though it does not endorse anyone.
"It's obviously geared toward trying to support the incumbents," challenger Michael Wade said. "In fact, I lodged a complaint with the board of elections. It's illegal for (the library) to campaign."
However, the sitting board members said the idea for the flyer came from library Director Ann Kennedy and not from anyone running in the election.
"We ran it through our attorneys," incumbent Robert Douglas said. "It was done by the library because of the misinformation that has been circulated around the village. It's just simply facts about the library."
Ken Menzel, legal counsel for the Illinois state board of elections, said state law about using tax money for election materials is pretty clear. It says, "No public funds shall be used to urge any elector to vote for or against any candidate or position, or be appropriated for political or campaign purposes to any candidate or political organization."
When school districts ask for more money, Menzel said, it's OK for them to pass out fliers that explain what that bond money will be used for and discuss the district's financial situation, Menzel said.
"They cannot say, 'Please get out and vote yes on our bond referendum,'" he said.
He acknowledged, though, there's always room for argument.
"There's something of a gray, no man's land in that," Menzel said. "It's not uncommon for people to complain that something is slanted."
Incumbents say the library fler was prompted by other details released by the challengers. They've said, for example, that the library is looking to hire an executive director even though it already has a director.
That, according to Douglas, actually was a discussion about the potential hiring of an executive director for the DuPage Library System, part of a report at the library board's March 18 meeting.
But Wade said that's not what he heard.
"What I heard was that Ann Kennedy said they will have candidates for an executive director's position by August," he said.
Incumbent Tom Arends said misunderstandings like this come up, but he wishes the challengers would address them with the board first before airing them in public as fact.
"It is important that they ask us these questions," Arends said. "It's a lack of communication. Just the fact that it gets sent out as a statement of fact is the misinformation."
The issue of Kennedy's salary has also come up, with claims that it's the highest in the area, especially compared to Wheaton. However, the latest survey of local libraries from 2008 shows Kennedy's salary at $98,800, and the director of the Wheaton library at $116,298.
Another argument by the challengers is that Carol Stream spends more money per capita than the larger Wheaton. The library's own data supports that, showing that Carol Stream spends $98.85 per person, with a budget of about $4 million and close to 41,000 residents in town. Wheaton has 55,416 residents, a budget of about $4.2 million and spends $76.86 per resident.
However, smaller libraries, such as Glen Ellyn and Geneva, spend more per capita than Carol Stream.
Candidate David DeRango said the challengers are trying to show that the library is not being transparent.
"We have one of the highest payrolls in the area," he said. "That's not misleading. The numbers are there."
Challenger Dominick Jeffrey said putting out the idea of a referendum is also more than warranted because the library has had three rejected in the past, and the board could decide to have one at any time.
"Just because they're not running one this year is not misleading," he said.
Leslie Shambo, an incumbent, said that the board has insists a referendum will not be slated for many years, so it's not fair for that idea to be thrown out.
"I've seen a lot of misconstrued facts," she said.
Originally published Friday, March 27, 2009
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
The signs make it clear where the challenging candidates stand: "Stop library referendums and taxes."
The incumbents, and the Carol Stream library staff, think that's unfair and misleading. They've prepared their own counter document: a one-page flyer, passed out to library patrons, giving their response to allegations that they're plotting to raise taxes to build a new library.
The race for four seats on the Carol Stream library board has evolved into a war of written words.
The challenging slate has put up the red, "stop referendums" placards, which are plentiful in the area surrounding the library. Library patrons, in turn, have been asking librarians about the possibility of a ballot question. So the library, in turn, is handing out a "facts about the library" sheet to all patrons that outlines past referendum questions and issues on property taxes. The sheet can also be viewed at cslibrary.org.
"I was glad to see that because there really isn't a way to tell people that the information that they're seeing is not correct," incumbent Mary Hudspeath said.
But the fact sheet has raised the eyebrows of challengers because it supports the ideals of the incumbents even though it does not endorse anyone.
"It's obviously geared toward trying to support the incumbents," challenger Michael Wade said. "In fact, I lodged a complaint with the board of elections. It's illegal for (the library) to campaign."
However, the sitting board members said the idea for the flyer came from library Director Ann Kennedy and not from anyone running in the election.
"We ran it through our attorneys," incumbent Robert Douglas said. "It was done by the library because of the misinformation that has been circulated around the village. It's just simply facts about the library."
Ken Menzel, legal counsel for the Illinois state board of elections, said state law about using tax money for election materials is pretty clear. It says, "No public funds shall be used to urge any elector to vote for or against any candidate or position, or be appropriated for political or campaign purposes to any candidate or political organization."
When school districts ask for more money, Menzel said, it's OK for them to pass out fliers that explain what that bond money will be used for and discuss the district's financial situation, Menzel said.
"They cannot say, 'Please get out and vote yes on our bond referendum,'" he said.
He acknowledged, though, there's always room for argument.
"There's something of a gray, no man's land in that," Menzel said. "It's not uncommon for people to complain that something is slanted."
Incumbents say the library fler was prompted by other details released by the challengers. They've said, for example, that the library is looking to hire an executive director even though it already has a director.
That, according to Douglas, actually was a discussion about the potential hiring of an executive director for the DuPage Library System, part of a report at the library board's March 18 meeting.
But Wade said that's not what he heard.
"What I heard was that Ann Kennedy said they will have candidates for an executive director's position by August," he said.
Incumbent Tom Arends said misunderstandings like this come up, but he wishes the challengers would address them with the board first before airing them in public as fact.
"It is important that they ask us these questions," Arends said. "It's a lack of communication. Just the fact that it gets sent out as a statement of fact is the misinformation."
The issue of Kennedy's salary has also come up, with claims that it's the highest in the area, especially compared to Wheaton. However, the latest survey of local libraries from 2008 shows Kennedy's salary at $98,800, and the director of the Wheaton library at $116,298.
Another argument by the challengers is that Carol Stream spends more money per capita than the larger Wheaton. The library's own data supports that, showing that Carol Stream spends $98.85 per person, with a budget of about $4 million and close to 41,000 residents in town. Wheaton has 55,416 residents, a budget of about $4.2 million and spends $76.86 per resident.
However, smaller libraries, such as Glen Ellyn and Geneva, spend more per capita than Carol Stream.
Candidate David DeRango said the challengers are trying to show that the library is not being transparent.
"We have one of the highest payrolls in the area," he said. "That's not misleading. The numbers are there."
Challenger Dominick Jeffrey said putting out the idea of a referendum is also more than warranted because the library has had three rejected in the past, and the board could decide to have one at any time.
"Just because they're not running one this year is not misleading," he said.
Leslie Shambo, an incumbent, said that the board has insists a referendum will not be slated for many years, so it's not fair for that idea to be thrown out.
"I've seen a lot of misconstrued facts," she said.
Glen Ellyn board may be banning romance between department heads
Glen Ellyn board may be banning romance between department heads
Originally published Sunday, May 24, 2009
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Sparked by a texting controversy involving two department heads, the Glen Ellyn village board may soon be voting on an ethics policy that forbids romantic relationships between department heads.
The policy, proposed by Village Manager Steve Jones, defines those relationships as ones "that can reasonably be determined to be of a romantic, sexual or dating nature."
Department heads, Jones said, "are subject to more stringent requirements, with their stature as role models, access to sensitive information," he said.
"If the relationship ended badly, you have the whole distraction issue," he added.
Jones last year recommended demotions for Police Chief Phil Norton and Staci Hulseberg, planning and development director, for "excessive workplace interaction."
The pair communicated via text message 9,637 times between January and August, communiqués that cost totaled more than $1,000. While the board discussed their fate last year, hundreds of residents and business owners showed their support for the employees.
The board ultimately decided against the demotions, but the issue didn't come without plenty of controversy and strong opinions.
And now, Trustees Tim Armstrong and Pete Ladesic say they aren't happy with the way the policy reads, with Armstrong calling it "vindictive."
"It's an attempt to remedy the situation that didn't go the way the village manager wanted it to go back in December," he said.
Jones contends that's not the case, but that the management team in Glen Ellyn is so small, some measure needs to be taken to protect employees.
Ladesic said he also didn't understand Jones' reasons for having more scrutiny of department heads.
"To have a relationship with a co-worker is not anything that doesn't happen every day," he said. "If it's something that disrupts the corporation, it should be addressed on a case-by-case basis. There was no lack of job performance (with Hulseberg and Norton)."
The final decision on an ethics policy, if it's agreed to be necessary, will come in the upcoming months by the village board, which includes new members elected last month.
Many on the former board had agreed with Jones, saying the management staff has to live up to higher standards.
"I believe (a relationship) has the potential to create an internal problem that shouldn't be there," Trustee Jim Comerford said.
Conflicts of interest
While the village board discusses ethics for its staff, there's also potential for new rules to apply to elected officials.
These will center around avoiding the appearance of conflicts of interest. Although already regulated by state law, a village ordinance would have language about gifts, hiring of relatives and transactions that involve officials.
The village may also institute an ethics officer to rule on conflicts. Those who violate the policy will be fined $1,000.
Peter Cooper, one of the new trustees, says he thinks some type of regulation is necessary.
"I think sometimes there is a concern that getting approvals from the board or the village can be an insider's game," he said. "It's essential that we get rid of that image."
Trustees are quick to point out that while there may be nothing unscrupulous going on with the board, there are sometimes perceptions in town that counter that notion.
"It's almost impossible to not have something that is conflicting," Comerford said.
The distinction, he said, is to make sure the village has a concrete plan for looking into conflicts.
"I think it's really important that we have an ethics policy that conveys confidence to the community," he said.
Two of the conflicts that most recently have come to light involve Trustee Armstrong: One is related to a Montessori School that was recently approved, and the other involving a new ambulance contract Glen Ellyn just signed.
Armstrong represented Ron and Elizabeth Repking, who wanted to move the Montessori school they own to a new location in town; Armstrong's brother-in-law also owns the ambulance company the village dropped for a new vendor.
In the former case, Armstrong recused himself from proceedings; in the latter, he disclosed his relationship but didn't recuse himself, because the village attorney said it wasn't legally required.
"Even though he's recusing himself, there's an appearance that he has an influence over the rest of us," Comerford said.
Armstrong himself brought up the two instances, pointing out that he acted in a way that was legal. He noted that putting too much scrutiny on elected officials might push residents away from pursuing public office.
"I think the level of purity they're trying to reach is unattainable," he said.
Some are advocating for an independent person or panel who can evaluate such concerns; Armstrong agreed with the idea of an ethics officer.
Cooper said that even when nobody acts unethically, there still may be an image in town that something untoward was going on.
"We have to create not only the fact of impartiality but an appearance of impartiality and strong ethics," he said.
Originally published Sunday, May 24, 2009
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Sparked by a texting controversy involving two department heads, the Glen Ellyn village board may soon be voting on an ethics policy that forbids romantic relationships between department heads.
The policy, proposed by Village Manager Steve Jones, defines those relationships as ones "that can reasonably be determined to be of a romantic, sexual or dating nature."
Department heads, Jones said, "are subject to more stringent requirements, with their stature as role models, access to sensitive information," he said.
"If the relationship ended badly, you have the whole distraction issue," he added.
Jones last year recommended demotions for Police Chief Phil Norton and Staci Hulseberg, planning and development director, for "excessive workplace interaction."
The pair communicated via text message 9,637 times between January and August, communiqués that cost totaled more than $1,000. While the board discussed their fate last year, hundreds of residents and business owners showed their support for the employees.
The board ultimately decided against the demotions, but the issue didn't come without plenty of controversy and strong opinions.
And now, Trustees Tim Armstrong and Pete Ladesic say they aren't happy with the way the policy reads, with Armstrong calling it "vindictive."
"It's an attempt to remedy the situation that didn't go the way the village manager wanted it to go back in December," he said.
Jones contends that's not the case, but that the management team in Glen Ellyn is so small, some measure needs to be taken to protect employees.
Ladesic said he also didn't understand Jones' reasons for having more scrutiny of department heads.
"To have a relationship with a co-worker is not anything that doesn't happen every day," he said. "If it's something that disrupts the corporation, it should be addressed on a case-by-case basis. There was no lack of job performance (with Hulseberg and Norton)."
The final decision on an ethics policy, if it's agreed to be necessary, will come in the upcoming months by the village board, which includes new members elected last month.
Many on the former board had agreed with Jones, saying the management staff has to live up to higher standards.
"I believe (a relationship) has the potential to create an internal problem that shouldn't be there," Trustee Jim Comerford said.
Conflicts of interest
While the village board discusses ethics for its staff, there's also potential for new rules to apply to elected officials.
These will center around avoiding the appearance of conflicts of interest. Although already regulated by state law, a village ordinance would have language about gifts, hiring of relatives and transactions that involve officials.
The village may also institute an ethics officer to rule on conflicts. Those who violate the policy will be fined $1,000.
Peter Cooper, one of the new trustees, says he thinks some type of regulation is necessary.
"I think sometimes there is a concern that getting approvals from the board or the village can be an insider's game," he said. "It's essential that we get rid of that image."
Trustees are quick to point out that while there may be nothing unscrupulous going on with the board, there are sometimes perceptions in town that counter that notion.
"It's almost impossible to not have something that is conflicting," Comerford said.
The distinction, he said, is to make sure the village has a concrete plan for looking into conflicts.
"I think it's really important that we have an ethics policy that conveys confidence to the community," he said.
Two of the conflicts that most recently have come to light involve Trustee Armstrong: One is related to a Montessori School that was recently approved, and the other involving a new ambulance contract Glen Ellyn just signed.
Armstrong represented Ron and Elizabeth Repking, who wanted to move the Montessori school they own to a new location in town; Armstrong's brother-in-law also owns the ambulance company the village dropped for a new vendor.
In the former case, Armstrong recused himself from proceedings; in the latter, he disclosed his relationship but didn't recuse himself, because the village attorney said it wasn't legally required.
"Even though he's recusing himself, there's an appearance that he has an influence over the rest of us," Comerford said.
Armstrong himself brought up the two instances, pointing out that he acted in a way that was legal. He noted that putting too much scrutiny on elected officials might push residents away from pursuing public office.
"I think the level of purity they're trying to reach is unattainable," he said.
Some are advocating for an independent person or panel who can evaluate such concerns; Armstrong agreed with the idea of an ethics officer.
Cooper said that even when nobody acts unethically, there still may be an image in town that something untoward was going on.
"We have to create not only the fact of impartiality but an appearance of impartiality and strong ethics," he said.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Rte. 22 retailers in survival mode
Rte. 22 retailers in survival mode
Originally published Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
After months of construction delays, nine business owners along Route 22 in Buffalo Grove decided it was time to take some action.
The group met Monday evening to figure out ways to promote the Woodland Commons shopping center. The business owners said they've been struggling ever since the Illinois Department of Transportation began working to change Route 22 from two to four lanes.
"(The construction's) delayed so much, and we don't know what's going on," said Andrew Cardaras, owner of Michael's Chicago Style Red Hots.
The contractor's most recent deadline is up this month. Now, the road may not be open until spring.
"It's a struggle of survival," said Warren Michaels, owner of the Michael Thomas Salon and Spa. "We're all working very hard to survive in a tough situation."
To try and counteract the shoppers who have left for other more convenient locations, the owners are planning a grand re-opening for Woodland Commons when construction finally does end.
They also tossed around promotional ideas to make the best of their situation.
Joe Brucato, owner of Exposure Tanning, said since the parking lot is so big, it could be used to sell trees or pumpkins during the holidays.
The owners also plan to meet with the village to make sure enough pressure is being put on IDOT to complete the project as soon as possible.
"If I had known the road construction was going to be this lethargic, I would have definitely though twice about buying this business," said Bracato, who purchased Exposure Tanning in January.
Elliott Hartstein, Buffalo Grove village president, said the construction has also directly affected the village, which owns the Arboretum Golf Club along Route 22.
"We certainly are empathetic to the businesses and the people who traverse Route 22," Hartstein said. "What we can do is continue to push IDOT, which we've been doing anyhow."
However, since the village doesn't have control over the state project, Hartstein said it's up to IDOT to press the contractors to finish the project.
"As frustrating as it is, we're fortunate to get the road done," he said.
"We don't want our businesses to be jeopardized; we have a mutual interest."
Originally published Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
After months of construction delays, nine business owners along Route 22 in Buffalo Grove decided it was time to take some action.
The group met Monday evening to figure out ways to promote the Woodland Commons shopping center. The business owners said they've been struggling ever since the Illinois Department of Transportation began working to change Route 22 from two to four lanes.
"(The construction's) delayed so much, and we don't know what's going on," said Andrew Cardaras, owner of Michael's Chicago Style Red Hots.
The contractor's most recent deadline is up this month. Now, the road may not be open until spring.
"It's a struggle of survival," said Warren Michaels, owner of the Michael Thomas Salon and Spa. "We're all working very hard to survive in a tough situation."
To try and counteract the shoppers who have left for other more convenient locations, the owners are planning a grand re-opening for Woodland Commons when construction finally does end.
They also tossed around promotional ideas to make the best of their situation.
Joe Brucato, owner of Exposure Tanning, said since the parking lot is so big, it could be used to sell trees or pumpkins during the holidays.
The owners also plan to meet with the village to make sure enough pressure is being put on IDOT to complete the project as soon as possible.
"If I had known the road construction was going to be this lethargic, I would have definitely though twice about buying this business," said Bracato, who purchased Exposure Tanning in January.
Elliott Hartstein, Buffalo Grove village president, said the construction has also directly affected the village, which owns the Arboretum Golf Club along Route 22.
"We certainly are empathetic to the businesses and the people who traverse Route 22," Hartstein said. "What we can do is continue to push IDOT, which we've been doing anyhow."
However, since the village doesn't have control over the state project, Hartstein said it's up to IDOT to press the contractors to finish the project.
"As frustrating as it is, we're fortunate to get the road done," he said.
"We don't want our businesses to be jeopardized; we have a mutual interest."
Rt. 22 work creates danger zone, some say
Rt. 22 work creates danger zone, some say
Originally published Friday, June 16, 2006
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
At first, construction on Route 22 through Buffalo Grove and Long Grove caused the usual mutterings around town.
As with any road project, residents were frustrated with progress.
Aaron Underwood, a Long Grove resident, set up a Web site, www.lgbgroads.com, to log some of those complaints.
Complaints escalated to fears, however, at this week's Long Grove village board meeting as residents talked of the roadwork creating dangerous situations.
Debby Keyes, who lives in the Promontory Ridge subdivision along Hampton Drive, said a right-turn lane into her neighborhood has been permanently eliminated, leaving no room for residents to slow down on the 45 mph speed limit road before they turn.
Keyes and other residents also said it's nearly impossible for them to make a left turn onto Route 22 because construction barriers block their view.
Because that is their only two-way entrance point for the neighborhood, they said, they often have to make that turn blindly.
"We are an accident waiting to happen," she said.
Residents said they also get cut-through traffic trying to get to Route 83 via Port Clinton Road, putting their children in danger of cars driving through their neighborhoods at high speeds.
Pam Newton, Lake County board member and a new resident of the subdivision, suggested setting up a meeting with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Lake County Department of Transportation, the village and the neighborhood to address some of the more dangerous situations.
Village President Maria Rodriguez agreed to set up a meeting as quickly as possible so that any life-threatening situations can be taken care of.
"Some of the short-term actions could be taken right away," she said.
Rodriguez said the village would also try to plan for a later meeting that would look at some of the long-term concerns about Route 22.
Those concerns include a right-turn lane and regulating traffic at the Route 83 intersection so that cut-through traffic is limited.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed we get some quick response," Keyes said.
"This situation has been going on for so many months now; we want to see something positive here this summer," she added.
Originally published Friday, June 16, 2006
By Nadia Malik
Daily Herald Staff Writer
At first, construction on Route 22 through Buffalo Grove and Long Grove caused the usual mutterings around town.
As with any road project, residents were frustrated with progress.
Aaron Underwood, a Long Grove resident, set up a Web site, www.lgbgroads.com, to log some of those complaints.
Complaints escalated to fears, however, at this week's Long Grove village board meeting as residents talked of the roadwork creating dangerous situations.
Debby Keyes, who lives in the Promontory Ridge subdivision along Hampton Drive, said a right-turn lane into her neighborhood has been permanently eliminated, leaving no room for residents to slow down on the 45 mph speed limit road before they turn.
Keyes and other residents also said it's nearly impossible for them to make a left turn onto Route 22 because construction barriers block their view.
Because that is their only two-way entrance point for the neighborhood, they said, they often have to make that turn blindly.
"We are an accident waiting to happen," she said.
Residents said they also get cut-through traffic trying to get to Route 83 via Port Clinton Road, putting their children in danger of cars driving through their neighborhoods at high speeds.
Pam Newton, Lake County board member and a new resident of the subdivision, suggested setting up a meeting with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Lake County Department of Transportation, the village and the neighborhood to address some of the more dangerous situations.
Village President Maria Rodriguez agreed to set up a meeting as quickly as possible so that any life-threatening situations can be taken care of.
"Some of the short-term actions could be taken right away," she said.
Rodriguez said the village would also try to plan for a later meeting that would look at some of the long-term concerns about Route 22.
Those concerns include a right-turn lane and regulating traffic at the Route 83 intersection so that cut-through traffic is limited.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed we get some quick response," Keyes said.
"This situation has been going on for so many months now; we want to see something positive here this summer," she added.
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