Here's to you, Chief Heavey

There are public officials who are sometimes hard to reach. Then, there are those who go out of their way to inform the public.

Fire Chief John Heavey has been that kind of official since he took the post three years ago.

In his last week on the job, he left a message for me about a fire Tuesday, just hours after his department extinguished it.

He wanted to let me know in case the newspaper hadn't heard about it yet.

Our cops reporter was on top of things, and already had the information. But the point is Chief Heavey wanted to let the public know that there was a fire in their community. Nobody was injured in the fire.

During the worst flooding since 2003, Heavey was hands on. He fielded questions as his department worked to fill sandbags to save Station One from the rising flood waters last week.

Heavey is retiring this week, receding along with the flood waters. He will leave the post in the capable hands of Randy Jaeger.

At his final council meeting last week, Acting City Manager Jason Bajor called Heavey an "inextinguishable flame of optimism."

He has been a beacon, dedicated to keeping the public in the light and the information flowing.

Heavey spent 33 years as a member of Des Plaines fire department. He'll be missed; here's wishing him well on his retirement.

Eye on ComEd: State Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat, will hold a public hearing on ComEd's emergency response process on Tuesday. The meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Des Plaines Public Library.

The purpose is to ensure strengthening ComEd's response when there are regional power outages, Garrett said.

Municipal leaders, elected officials, ComEd representatives, and the public are invited.

Des Plaines Idol on again: Rained out earlier this summer, the Des Plaines Idol has been rescheduled. The vocal competition is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at Prairie Lakes Theatre, 515 E. Thacker St. Admission is free. Come root for the nine young contestants.

Felled by the storm: The estimate that 600 Des Plaines trees were lost in last week's storm is staggering. These longtime city "residents" will be missed.

It is easy being green: Whoever said it isn't easy being green must have been a Muppet. Indeed, Des Plaines is proving just how easy it really is. Des Plaines bought two hybrid automobiles to replace conventional gasoline engine vehicles. Hybrid vehicles use a combination of gasoline and electric motors to increase fuel economy and reduce emissions.