Soapbox: Wise cancellation
Yes, the Air Expo in Lake in the Hills has run for 22 years in celebration and promotion of the village's airport. But no, public officials can't ignore that the celebration has lost money every year, last year a record $20,000. Thus, the village's grounding of a 2008 version of the event makes more sense than not, especially given the aerial space available for the flying events is growing smaller every year. But mostly, continuing to throw money at a money-losing proposition makes no sense.
Hallelujah!
Finally, a government faced with reduced revenue isn't making tax and fee hikes a first resort. Kane County department heads got word this week that they'll have to make do with less next year due to a downturn in housing permit and recording fees and a property tax growth level down by 10 percent from last year. Layoffs. Hiring freezes. Purchasing delays. Reductions in service. All could be part of next year's reality. "The alternative … is going back to constituents who elected us all and telling them we have to raise their taxes," said finance committee member Jan Carlson. "We're not going to do that." Finally, a government that gets it. Saturday morning sun
It isn't exactly "Friday Night Lights" anymore, what with the annual Elgin-Larkin battle for the Town Jug starting these days at what seems just a little past dawn. But with city bragging rights on the line and the loser out of playoff contention, the game between two 3-4 teams is likely to be a lively one. Unless you are a complete slugabed, you've still got time to fill up the thermos, grab a doughnut and head to Memorial Field for the 11:30 kickoff between the Maroons and the Royals.
630 dialing certainly no crisis
Citizens Utility Board Executive Director David Kolata last week called the extra dialing now required of all those with a 630 phone number an inconvenience and blames inefficiencies in the distribution of numbers. "It's a totally artificial crisis," Kolata said. Well, yes, that may be true, but it's also not really a huge deal. Electric rates and phone bills require attention. All of us having to dial 10 digits does not. We'll get used to it.
Words hardly suffice
Adequate words truly fail in expressing condolences to longtime political fixture Jim Ryan and his wife, Marie, on the death by apparent suicide of their son Patrick. Ten years ago, the Ryans lost 12-year-old daughter Annie to a brain tumor. Jim and Marie have battled serious health issues themselves. We can only echo state Sen. John Millner, who poignantly summed up: "My heart goes out to them. They're just good, honest people who have endured well beyond what any family should have to experience."
Useless activity
State legislators are having trouble this year producing a budget, resolving pension problems or coming up with badly needed money for transit, roads, bridges and schools. But given a chance to override Gov. Rod Blagojevich's prudent veto of a mandatory moment of silence for public schools, they're all over it. But why? State law already assured that any student who wanted to observe a moment if silence or pray silently could do so.
Here today, gone tomorrow
East Dundee has suffered the loss of numerous businesses in the last year or so. Now, it seems, Carpentersville has contracted the same disease. Despite corporate denials of closing rumors earlier this year, T.G.I Friday's on Route 31 recently shut its doors without notice. Meaning rumor was accurate and official corporate-speak was spin.