Lots of letters in todays GE News.



They speak for the trees...

Actually, I thought the letters did a good job of mentioning other aspects as well. Such as the need for another strip mall at 5 corners, and the apparent lack of planning with respect to field usage and alternative locations.

The whole thing smacks of another instance of what seems so common in this village, where an idea of dubious merit just gets rammed through with insufficient attention to need, alternatives, or public support.

There is no way that the village can't listen to the desires and cries and wants and needs of its citizens! Oh....wait. Yes they can. I forgot about the Hase factor. If it's bad for the village, she'll likely cast the swing vote in the direction of the chainsaws. Perhaps some of those in the neighborhood could ask for some of the limbs a cobble together a table and chairs to remember the forest.

The PD is doing what all government does not telling you the whole story. Sure
vote for this referendum so that we can have an indoor soccer and basketball.
Of course they don't mention that they will need to take more land to compensate for their taking for the indoor sportsplex. Of course all along they knew they where going to do that just didn't want to tell you because it would ruin their referendum.

Of course this will be the 3rd indoor soccer field with five miles of Ackerman something else that never got mentioned nor did the fact that one was up for sale also seemed to have been forgotten.

I've been thinking a lot about this project lately.

Where was all this outrage and concern 20 years ago when a MUCH larger tract of land was clear cut and raised by almost 20' to create the soccer fields now on the west side of the park (north of Lenox homes). No one cared then. And that was a MUCH healthier forest area... with established walking trails no less.

What a shame. No outcry was heard then (except by a few Lenox residents who took out ads in newspapers to try to get the word out). I clearly remember the deer, fox, and other wildlife that use to visit our yard throughout the year. And when our boxer tried to go through the window to "go play" with a doe who was out at the salt lick Dad use to place out there.

Instead, that area got bulldozed over, and the area along the entry from Riford Road became a dumping ground for GE gov't... brush cuttings, remodeling debris (cabinets et) from Main Street School, et. I've always been surprised that a soccer player has never disappeared down a sink hole created from all the open pace created by entangled brush under the soil out at those fields. It was entertaining to watch the fire department come out every week or so during that fall and winter to extinguish fires that dotted the area ignighted by decomposition of that fill.

One thing I noted in Ted's recent post however....

"The topography of the area includes a ravine and small creek".

This must be new. I knew every inch of that area and the forest where the soccer fields now exist. Any ravine or creek that is there now was man-made within the past 15 years. Guarenteed. The "ravine" is likely the slope along the Riford entrance that was created when the fill operation began.

But what is queer... I sometimes dream about our old house (moreso since mom and dad sold it and moved in October) and sometimes they include a stream right behind our old stable. Weird.

I'm sad to see this area get cut. Just as I was when they put in the soccer fields to the north. And just like I was when they created the retention area that is currently between the house and those fields. Seems like everything from when I grew up there is getting wiped away in short order.. and I'm not ashamed to say that chokes me up a bit. But we all knew it was always a possibility I suppose. You don't buy a house next to an airport and then complain about the airplanes, ya know?

Don't get me wrong... I'm grateful the park district purchased Mom and Dad's house and saved them the hassle of going through the emotion of putting their home of 35+ years on the market to have strangers come through it all the time. Cory and his folks seem like good people. I think it worked out good for everyone, although it is hard knowing it will be torn down. But maybe it's better that way... it will always be "our house" then I suppose.

But even tho I live in Batavia now, and "home" is no longer at the end of Lenox Road.... I'll still really, really miss that little wooded enclave my friends and I spent our summers running around in playing "war", building forts, and exploring.

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Rio:
I've been thinking a lot about this project lately.

Where was all this outrage and concern 20 years ago ........

Al Gore had not invented the internet yet.....

The "save Ackerman" website impresses me as pretty well done.

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Rio:
But even tho I live in Batavia now, and "home" is no longer at the end of Lenox Road.... I'll still really, really miss that little wooded enclave my friends and I spent our summers running around in playing "war", building forts, and exploring.

Great post Tony. I and many others, could probably say the same things about the areas we grew up in. My baseball, football, kite flying field was turned under for developement long ago. Sad to see them go; sadder yet to see them go for bad reasons.

I can't honestly say I am completely against this project, although it can't hurt to slow the process down and really investigate the need. Also, it would be hypocritical of me to decry the building of a school at Ackerman and not speak up about the Gym. When preservationists stopped the rebuilding of MSRC on the first ref try, I wonder if they new this was the next plan.

quote:

I can't honestly say I am completely against this project

I can honestly say that if there are a large number of residents opposed to this project...and there appears to be little to no reasoning behind it...then President Hase will cast the passing vote to make sure those chainsaws and bulldozers fire up ASAP.

You would think someone who is moving out of state when her term is up and does not have to live with the consequences of her decisions just might take Peter Norton's lead and abstain from making those decisions.

Will this issue be discussed at tonight's park district workshop or at the 4/22 board meeting.

No one has said much about the new weekly local 'paper' that comes in my Chicago Tribune. It appears to be a partial competitor to the Sun. It has what they call 'citizen contributors'. I find it interesting, A lady by the last name of Creech wrote an article as a 'citizen contributor' about Ackerman Woods in there. A lady by the last name of Creech also wrote a letter to the editor of the Sun paper in support of Ackerman Woods. I wonder if it calls into question the journalistic integrity of the article that was written for the Tribune. Just find it curious...

quote:

Originally posted by Dan the Man:
No one has said much about the new weekly local 'paper' that comes in my Chicago Tribune. It appears to be a partial competitor to the Sun. It has what they call 'citizen contributors'. I find it interesting, A lady by the last name of Creech wrote an article as a 'citizen contributor' about Ackerman Woods in there. A lady by the last name of Creech also wrote a letter to the editor of the Sun paper in support of Ackerman Woods. I wonder if it calls into question the journalistic integrity of the article that was written for the Tribune. Just find it curious...

That section of the Trib essentially invited anyone who wants to to submit "articles." So this Creech lady took the advantage of doing so. Personally, I was impressed at her activity on this issue. And I thought her article was more balanced than I would expect from an advocate.

Yeah, you would be correct in questioning the "journalistic integrity" of material in that section, as it is likely that the material will be submitted by someone advancing a particular position.

I know a company that can "find" a red tail hawk, dragonfly or other endangered animal or insect on this site and shut it down for any type of development for a long long time.

Any chance you can go over there and take some snappies so everyone will know what we are talking about? You're good at that kind of crap....er....stuff.

will do.

In the words of GE Fan, we thanks you.

Go to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources site for a complete listing of the endangered and threatened species in Illinois. In a listing updated in January, you'll find the endangered and threatened species of plants and animals for DuPage County.

The counties with less development have not managed to locate nearly as many endangered and threatened species as the more populous counties.

I know of this company that had to:

1. Prevent one of their clients from building a very large building on a site because there was a protected red winged black bird nesting on the site, losing millions of dollars. This company stopped themselves from making money. Years later, the land is still sitting there with nothing built on it.

2. Had to build a bridge 30 or so feet higher than previously planned because the river it was going over was a protected area where dragonfly's migrate and mate.

All we have to do is get one of these creatures to be spotted on the site and the land will be saved from a strip mall. Anyone know photoshop really well, I will get some photos, if someone can photoshop a spotted owl in one of the trees, we are good to go.

quote:

Originally posted by BlueEchoes:
All we have to do is get one of these creatures to be spotted on the site and the land will be saved from a strip mall.

Will this do.....spotted on the first look this afternoon.

Don't tell me that the Daily Herald doesn't have a sense of humor. These two stories appeared side by side online:

Tree City USA honors

Roselle is among the communities that have received Tree City USA honors from the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to community forestry . This is the 22nd year the village has received the national recognition.

Glen Ellyn tree meeting

Glen Ellyn will hold a public information meeting to discuss the storm water facility project that entails cutting down more than 300 trees at Ackerman Woods in coming months . Residents looking for additional information can attend the meeting at 6 this evening at the Glen Ellyn Civic Center at 535 Duane St. in the second floor Clayton Room. While the village is overseeing the flood control project and leading the construction, Glen Ellyn Park District is donating the land. In return, two new soccer fields will be created as part of the project; one will serve as the detention facility. Glen Ellyn trustees agreed in November to go forward with the project.