This is a prime example of why it is important for all of us not to take advantage of a volunteer board to run all of the Village business without our input. While we elect the residents into position, it is still vital that we keep up to date on what is going on in our Village.

A while ago, an ordinance was discussed at a workshop and a Village Board meeting about this Ackerman Park project. Not one resident showed up to address the Board. These meetings are open to the public and agendas are posted online at least 1 week prior.

With so many residents having such a strong opinion on this topic, knowledge and interest, it is disappointing to see that not one knew about this project before it was voted on. You can go to the Village site to read all meeting notices and agendas and determine if you want to attend a meeting to comment on any item. These agendas include all the commissions as well.

Try it out- say every Wednesday go to the Village site and read all the agendas. It takes about 2 minutes.

quote:

Originally posted by JustAResident:
This is a prime example of why it is important for all of us not to take advantage of a volunteer board to run all of the Village business without our input. While we elect the residents into position, it is still vital that we keep up to date on what is going on in our Village.

A while ago, an ordinance was discussed at a workshop and a Village Board meeting about this Ackerman Park project. Not one resident showed up to address the Board. These meetings are open to the public and agendas are posted online at least 1 week prior.

With so many residents having such a strong opinion on this topic, knowledge and interest, it is disappointing to see that not one knew about this project before it was voted on. You can go to the Village site to read all meeting notices and agendas and determine if you want to attend a meeting to comment on any item. These agendas include all the commissions as well.

Try it out- say every Wednesday go to the Village site and read all the agendas. It takes about 2 minutes.

I agree, if the Trustees, SB members and PD Board members don't get outraged when you read something on Friday and come in to the meeting on Monday and make comments only to find that they have been discussing these same issues for months. Then you get branded a "johnny come lately" or they take offense at what you are implying.
It takes a lot of effort to keep tabs on only 1 organization, let alone 4 or 5. SB antics have kept up my pace for 4-5 years and could be a full time occupation if you let it. Why does this have to be? Your hope is that you elect quality people who look out for your interests as well, so you do not have to be ever vigilant.

The mere thought of our Village President making any decision that doesn't involve a box stitch or Jacobean Appliques makes me shake my head...quite slowly...from side to side.

I didn't attend the CBP meetings back then, but I'd love to know what Joe saw back that didn't pan out. I'll give this to the lady...she has stuck around. Something that I don't think I could have done.

walked through, and I mean through, the majority of Ackerman last night for 3 hours. Light was bad, so I will be going back again. This nature photography shoot turned into a social commentary shoot instead. You will see why once we get our photos online sometime next week?

Uh-oh....garbage dump....or homeless retreat?

yes.

I amaze myself. Constantly.

went out there this morning. I truly believe that this piece of land NEEDS to remain a forest and not a place for a soccer field. But it ain't the prettiest I have ever walked through. I think I have enough shots to truly represent it, my friend should have enough as well. We will post them this week. I don't think they will make www.saveackermanwoods.com though.

Here you go, 20 shots so far. I have a nice panoramic I have to stitch together, will add this week. I may add a few down the line here, I want to head out there at sunset to get some nice low shadow shots.

Ackerman Woods - Spring 2008

tried to represent what it looks like. I will be putting the link to my friends shots later this week.

I think my fav is the MD 20/20 shot myself. That or the lawnmower or frog.

quote:

Originally posted by BlueEchoes:
went out there this morning. I truly believe that this piece of land NEEDS to remain a forest and not a place for a soccer field. But it ain't the prettiest I have ever walked through. I think I have enough shots to truly represent it, my friend should have enough as well. We will post them this week. I don't think they will make www.saveackermanwoods.com though.

Let's name the new travel soccer team the Ackerman Frogs!

new email from CGEP and article in the Daily Herald:

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=182717

If you have nothing nice to say about the village president, don't say anything at all...

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check out my photos of the site at the link in a previous post.

"President Vicky Hase said previous village boards started the project, and the current board has arrived late in the process.
While many residents are concerned about the trees, Hase said one of the village's main goals is to revitalize Stacy Corner and keep property taxes low."

AAhh, the "not my responsibility" defense, the sign of a true leader.

You want to revitalize Stacy's Corner? How about starting with that eyesore on the SE corner.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Yossarian,

Okay, I thought of something nice to say.

She is the master of deflection.

"what's done is done."

"Let's move on."

"let it pass."

"It wasn't me."

"We are coming into this late."

"It is clearly that Pete fellas fault."

"Can't we just forget it and move forward?"

"My tux was in the cleaners"

"I had a flat tire."

"I ran out of gas."

"My dog ate my homework."

Like I said before, why not halt a project when it is clearly obvious the people you work for are unhappy with it. If a doctor was sawing off her leg by accident when she was in for an ingrown toenail removal, would she say something like "oh well, what is done is done, keep sawing", would she?

Nice pics. Thanks!

Seeing all the flowers, and the moss, I wonder if anyone has done a survey of the non-tree plants in the area?

I try to get over there later this week - probably Thursday, but my knowledge of wildflowers is far shy of encyclopedic.

Just wanted to remind folk that not every plant of value is big and woody.

A survey of animal life might be of interest as well. The frog suggests to me that the area might hold some water - at least some of the time. I undertand wetlands protections have been lessened recently, but it still might qualify if it retained enough water for a significant enough portion of the time.

there was a wetland survey done out there, there are pink flags all over the place marking the wetlands area. To the north, there is a large wetlands area, this is where the first 2 shots are from. This is the nicest part of the land. Ducks, birds and some toads and frogs were all over the place.

The toad/frog was darn near smack dab in the middle of the place, almost by the lawn mower that was there, and the car parts dump. So he must have free reign of the area. Some deer droppings as well. Plenty of garlic mustard to eat.

The creek to the south of the piece is full of junk, could have been from people chucking things from their car on Geneva, or from people walking through there and "living" there for a while. The Mad Dog 20/20 bottle, Absolute gallon size, Schiltz, coors and a few other beers of choice would show that maybe there is some partying or living going on in there. There is a lot of trash, but there is a nice clearing or two that make up a nice forest.

May apples, trout lilies, and a couple other flowing plants were a plenty. I can't recall offhand what the flower was that I took. My friend who went out there works for our natural resource deparment and knew every plant out there, so I will get more names of plants he saw whenever he gets me the link to his photos!

I could have shown it in a positive light, making for some nice photos to put on the save ackerman site for their use, but I have an issue of showing things how they really are.

Lots of interesting stuff in the Wetland Report on the Save Ackerman site.

I'd sure prefer to retain it as is, instead of replacing it with grass.

quote:

Originally posted by BlueEchoes:
I could have shown it in a positive light, making for some nice photos to put on the save ackerman site for their use, but I have an issue of showing things how they really are.

Blue, while we are probably not on the same side on this issue, your photos are fantastic! You have made even the departed lawnmower look artsy. (Honestly, this is admiration, not sarcasm, from a very photo challenged individual)

BE - I'm surprised your friend did not mention that garlic mustard is an non-native invasive plant that threatens native woodland flowers and plants with its aggressive growth. This plant is a biennial that stays low and doesn't flower the first year, then the second year the white flowers can produce hundreds of seeds. Once introduced, this plant can choke out the native plants in a wooded area within 10 years.

That is the scalloped edge leaf, white flowering plant visible in several of your photos. If found in your garden or yard, pull it out and don't put it in the compost pile. Seeds are viable within days of the appearance of flowers.

In your photo 5 the first year plant is in the foreground, and in photo 6 are numerous second year plants in full bloom.

Also - that is a toad, not a frog!

yeah, he mentioned the GM, he was pointing out good and bad stuff the entire time we were out there. He also mentioned it was a toad, but after 2 shots (2nd one I used) he jumped and I tried picking him up and he pee'd on me, so I thought I would call him a frog.

What flower is shot 7 then? He is not here today so I cannot ask him what it is.