What's on your mind? Speak Out messages are edited first before appearing in print and online.
Raising cottages would require access by boat
My friend suggests dredging the river by the Methodist Campground opposed to the "raising" cottages plan. Has the cost of dredging been considered? By the way, the stilts plan would require cottage occupants to access their cottage by boat. Please think about elderly folks doing this.
Not in favor of raising buildings at campground
I am outraged that our tax money is going to be used to potentially raise 120 structures at the "historic" Methodist Campground. Raising these buildings is a waste of money. Also, I do not understand why taxpayers are responsible for funding this project for a religious organization. This money should be used to improve Des Plaines.
Isn't campground problem of the church?
So, taxpayers are now on the hook to rehab a campground that has flooded so many times. Since this is the Methodist Campground, aren't they responsible for the property? I would like to do some work on my house. Where do I go for my check?
Critical times for city of Prospect Hts.
Poor choices being made in Prospect Hts. Layoffs, furloughs, red tape at city hall turning down business. This is a crucial time for us all. The learning curve needs a jumpstart.
What the heck is going on in Niles?
Is there something in the water in Niles? Just as Nick Blase's case is ending, if he ever gets sentenced, the new trustee is under investigation. Well, Niles voters have no one to blame but themselves. Thanks for clarifying how you got your story. It's not surprising they would try to run a smokescreen after the election by just declaring his record clear.
Claims show has little to do with Niles
This goes out to the person who wrote about "Talk of the Town". First of all, the show has little or nothing to do with Niles. One day the guy has Stroger, on the next week he has Bozo the Clown. If someone wanted to talk about Niles, the host would not let you get a word in edgewise. The person who wrote last week's article does not know what a public access channel is.
Thought particular runway was closed
Runway 18/36 is supposed to be closed at O'Hare but I have noticed some planes using it. Maybe 10 will take off about 2 to 3 minutes apart going in a line straight north. What is happening?
Another place to help homeless cats
I appreciate the recent article in the paper regarding "helping homeless cats without a family." The article gave the website of the humane society. Alley Cat Allies is another good organization for information regarding helping homeless cats and TNR programs (trap, neuter & return). Their website is www.alleycat.org.
Person who made complaint does not believe in system
I guess that person who made an official complaint against George doesn't believe in our justice system. The incident happened over 20 years ago. George has been an upstanding citizen and an asset to the community ever since. So I guess he doesn't believe that anyone can change.
(Ed. Note: This Speak Out message contains certain accusations that could not be verified so they were left out. If the person who submitted this Speak Out can verify what was said/written, please provide proof).
There's no reason to open restaurant here
So I can't help but notice that 90% of the things that people complain about in this Speak Out section deals with Des Plaines. I am a Des Plaines resident and I can honestly tell you that I couldn't agree more with you guys. And why would anyone want to open a restaurant/shop in downtown Des Plaines? It's obvious the trend is that they will close in two years. Sad, sad, sad.
People need to support businesses
Downtown Des Plaines is becoming a ghost town. Why are stores closing? Because people won't spend the extra penny to support local stores. Come on residents, don't drive to save a penny, walk and support downtown stores and restaurants.
Questions timing of opening of center
The Mt. Prospect Community Connections Center scheduled to open this August is poorly timed. In this recession with lower tax revenues, it makes no sense to be expanding village services. It seems that the planning for this project flew under the radar.
Book takes look at fight game through colorful boxer
Larry Burton, longtime police officer for the Des Plaines Police Department now retired, recently wrote a book, "The Irish Block Buster", the life story of his great uncle, Fitzie Fitzpatrick, the colorful swash-buckling two-fisted fighter who was a one-man riot fighting out of Los Angeles in the 40's. The book is a good look at the fight game and the mob, and the Los Angeles of 60 years ago.
Is fight over O'Hare expansion worth the expense?
Was the O'Hare legal battle really worth $14 million? I personally don't think so. Perhaps a down payment on a junior college would have been in order. Bill, Elk Grove Village.
Politicians should be willing to bite the bullet
With all the people out of work, why don't all politicians be told to give up a day a week without pay? This would greatly reduce the budget shortfall.
Seems like it's too early to be holding public meetings
Isn't 6:30 p.m. too early for Des Plaines aldermen to conduct committee meetings? People are barely finishing their evening dinners.
Politicians would give themselves raise
If Des Plaines raises taxes, the first thing politicians will do is give themselves a raise. Quinn wants to raise taxes and now Des Plaines plans to raise taxes. By the time Obama gets done shifting budget amounts he will raise taxes but he will not call them taxes. I would like to get a raise too. "I cannot get one, no money for that now," I am told. I am told that I have to learn to do without. "You just cannot have everything you want," I am also told. Why do politicians think they have an infinite amount of money available through taxes? Taxpayers do not.
(Ed. Note: We have not heard of any recent proposal by Des Plaines to raise taxes.)
They should raze not raise buildings
Instead of raising the buildings at the Methodist Campground why don't they raze them instead?
Makes no sense to approve government health program
Stand up and fight against Obama and his neo-Marxist health care plan. Since health care is a major cost to businesses, of course businesses will drop their coverage for their employees and tell them to go on the national health care plan. Wake up people. This will lead to higher taxes to cover everyone on government health care including illegal immigrants. Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are already financially broke. Do you think the government will do any better running a national health care plan?
Enjoys very much her stories about real people
I love to read Denise Fleischer's inspirational stories about real people that surmount huge problems.
They should consider others to serve in Niles
Since Niles Mayor Callero misled put a felon on his slate and telling that this person could serve, I certainly hope the other candidates from the last election are considered to fill the vacancy. Rosemary Palicki came in second and should be considered.
We miss actress Farrah very much
Farrah we will miss you. Your infectious smile, soft voice and trim figure went very well with your beautiful heart. Michael Jackson, uhhhh.
Couldn't talk to anyone from ComEd
I live in Northfield, and I read your article about the Glenview government's disagreement with ComEd. I had a ComEd problem, at my home, and I'd like to see an article about others who had similar problems. I moved into a section of Glenview in September, and the electric bills were usually $200-$225, per month. In January, the bill was about $850 because December was very cold. My fiancé, who also lives in that house, called ComEd. She told me that we were approved for a deferred payment plan, which would require us to pay $200, per month. We paid $200, each month, in February, March, and April. On Apr. 27, we got a disconnection notice that said that we would need to pay about $950 by May 4. If we didn't pay that amount, by that date, the electricity would be disconnected. On Apr. 28, I contacted ComEd, through their website, and I asked someone to contact me. On the same day, I called ComEd and left two answering machine messages, asking someone to call me. On Apr. 29, I faxed a letter to ComEd. No one responded. On Apr. 30, at 5:45, Nicole got a phone message that said, "Your power will be turned off, tonight." Since the call was made after 5:00, she couldn't talk to a ComEd employee. The power wasn't disconnected. I paid $950, on May 4, because we didn't have a choice, but we did nothing wrong. Do you know of anyone else, who has had a similar ComEd problem? If so, that would be a great article.
Online cheating is nothing new
On the June 14 front page of the Glenview Journal, you ran a story---"Allege Students Cheated Online"---and in that story, Principal Brian Wegley asserted that GBS's student newspaper, The Oracle, had "no evidence to show how long the practice [cheating] had been ongoing". What, is he accusing the students (his own students, may I add) of faulty journalism? Take it from a GBS grad like myself: online cheating is as old as online homework itself. The Oracle student reporters had all the evidence in the world that the cheating had been going on all year: many GBS students would readily admit to having "cheated" online. (Well, maybe not current students for new fear of punishment, but grads would tell you. In fact, in one of my physics classed we cheated on online assignments in the classroom, in the presence of our teachers.) Really though, the story neglected to convey that this so called "cheating" is hardly the horrifying taboo it appears to be. How many times have you helped someone with their textbook homework by solving a problem with them? It's no different online, but it can be tracked via IP addresses, so it's "cheating". In any case, how naive of Principal Wegley to believe that The Oracle student reporters had no such evidence of cheating. On the other hand, if he was not naive, and just trying to save face (making students appear like angelic non-cheaters), how disheartening to know how readily dishonesty is cultivated. And to the Glenview Journal reporter who "reported" on this topic without interviewing any of the most integral parts of the story---the students themselves---shame on you. You are simply perpetrating the silencing of young voices and minds that GBS seems to have mastered.
If you want to know, ask mayor, aldermen
To the person who wrote in wondering "why doesn't Des Plaines do that too?" when it comes to things that might draw people to the town, talk to your mayor and councilmen. They made the decisions that led to bringing a casino here. Then go back and read some of the past submissions to this site.
Is Mayor Moylan really sincere?
The constant smiling, glad-handling ways of Mayor Moylan lead me to question his sincerity.
Not impressed with work ethic of PW
So today I witnessed a fine example of Des Plaines Public Works at, well, not work. Another storm blows through town, fortunately not knocking out power or causing major damage, but a lot of fallen tree limbs. What do our fine orange friends do? Five men in three trucks drive around and pick up some branches, not all of them set out on the curb, only some. Interesting. Five men, three trucks, some work. I hope Public Works reads this. You are wasting what little tax revenue the city has coming in. Do not be shocked when more of your staff is laid off. I doubt we'd see much of a difference in services. Signed, Disappointed in civil integrity.
Do emailed Speak Out get published?
Does the Journal & Topics publish all Speak Out e-mails that are submitted? Last week I sent a message indicating my displeasure with tax money being used to raise the cottages at the Methodist Campground and it did not appear this week. It appears that this place has connections.
(Ed. Note: Yes we publish emailed Speak Outs. We don't publish them immediately, however, because there is a backup. Give it some time. It should be in.)
Henry goes crazy over ice cream truck
My little buddy Henry the Rooster likes the sound of the ice cream truck. You should hear him squawk. He flaps his wings like he wants to fly out the window and flag down the ice cream truck for a Good Humor bar. Plus all the kids like the ice cream truck also. So we are in flavor of keeping the ice cream truck.
Looks like pooper snooper complainer out there again
Journal & Topics Newspapers, listen to most of the Speak Outs, there is a major whiner out there again. I believe it is the guy who looks over fences and checks to see if the dogs are doing their business near his yard. The pooper snooper is out there again. Whaaaaaaa.
(Ed. Note: Pooper snooper...that's clever.)
When will MP get a downtown food store?
When is Mt. Prospect going to get a downtown grocery store? All these condos around and nowhere to buy groceries within walking distance. Even Des Plaines has a store while Mt. Prospect is empty.
(Ed. Note: Chances are it will get one when enough people have screamed for one).
Didn't notice many people at Prospect Hts. festival
I walked through Prospect Hts. Summerfest mid-day last Saturday and it was a ghost town. There were people in the pool at the Morava Center, but maybe one parent and their kid enjoying the actual "fest". I kind of cringed, and asked myself whether the city could scale back the fest even more next year if the crowds were going to be so light.
Has experienced many problems since moving here
Does anyone have any respect for other people's property? I'm tired of coming to my business in Des Plaines to find that my flowers in front my restaurant are missing. My particular restaurant moved to Des Plaines two years ago from Mt. Prospect. In the 18 years there never did I have anyone steal or graffiti my building. In the first two years I have had flowers stolen from the front of my building, graffiti on the building, a person walked right in the back door of the restaurant and stole a rodder in broad daylight on a Saturday which is one of the busiest days of the week. Thank god customers saw the person and he was caught and prosecuted. The topper was Friday, June 26. I pulled in my lot at 6 a.m. to find some landscaper had dumped a full load in the middle of my parking lot. Nice way to start your day. It cost me $ 500 to have the debris removed from the property---one ton to be exact. I'm having second thoughts about moving to Des Plaines. It's been very disappointing. To the landscaper who dumped on my property, thank you for the misery.
Politicians need to keep politics out of public service
I thought our aldermen are to be the voice of the people in Des Plaines and not to be a position to push their political party. Stop using my tax dollars for your political podium. If this is what you are doing resign and peddle your politics somewhere else please.
Here's an idea for handling campground flooding issue
"This Old House" has had several episodes on water front floating homes. Some were very expensive, very lavish. They easily went up and down with the tide. Why is this not an option for the Methodist Campground? Anchored by deep poles set at the four corners of the lot, with overhead power, such a home would more versatile than just raising a home. The next flood might be higher and still flood the house.
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