Elm Leaves

Sun, 05 May 2013 13:43:28 -0500

RIVER GROVE About a month ago, I lost my cell phone by the Forest Preserve in River Grove. I did not even realize that it was missing until my neighbor called me the next day to tell me that Coach Matt Weldon of the Elmwood Park High School Track Team had called him from my cell phone, and asked him to call me so that he could return it to me. It turns out that a couple of the young men on the Elmwood Park High School Track Team had found it, and given it to him to return to …

Letter: No attack on library

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 06:45:25 -0500

April’s contested election in town need not bring out the worst in people; so, I was disappointed to read the guest essay (“Library not a political pawn,” Oct. 22, 2012) that twisted Elvis Hernandez’s reasonable question at a board meeting into a political attack. Fortunately, we can fact-check the essay by reviewing the video of the board meeting online at the village’s website. Unlike Mr. Zivojnovic, Elvis Hernandez and I spent the entire day at the village’s budget workshop this year. Prior to Mr. Zivojnovic’s appointment to the Library Board last year, the library hadn’t raised our taxes in the …

Letter: Cat Grandma to the rescue

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 19:08:45 -0500

To the Grey Lantern: Call me Cat Grandma. I am a super hero, too. As Cat Grandma, I bring wrongs to right. You know the texting fool in front of you who doesn’t move when the light turns green? I, Cat Grandma, am the one who uses her horn to get the line moving. Surely you are aware of people who lose their doggy’s doo on a neighbor’s lawn. I, Cat Grandma, return it to the owner’s front porch. Yes, I admit it, I’m partial to kitties, so when dogs roam the forest preserve bike trail unleashed, I confront the …

Guest Essay: Improving Elmwood Park should be the focus

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 13:08:57 -0500

ELMWOOD PARK — Being an elected official means being in touch with the community so you can properly represent those who have given you their trust. It means serving and representing the entire community and all its residents, not creating any divisions or distinction among your constituents. The job of an elected official involves discussion and listening to all of your constituents, as well as being scrutinized and criticized by the general public. The irony of the current political unrest in Elmwood Park is, the members of the groups and organizations involved in this coming local election are all intertwined …

Letter: Red light cameras violate laws of physics

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:52:25 -0500

In a letter to the Elm Leaves, Kirsten Mourar said “if red light cameras are safe and profitable, what is wrong with that?” There is nothing wrong with red light cameras per se. What is wrong is this: A yellow light has to be a certain amount of time as determined by the laws of physics in order to give a driver fair warning to stop or proceed. The federal standards never give all drivers this time. For example, the standards short the yellow light for right and left turns by up to 4.5 seconds because the standards require the …

Letter: Red light camera safe and profitable

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 12:16:16 -0500

I cannot understand the thinking of wanting to remove the red light camera. First of all, isn’t it illegal to make a right on red before coming to a complete stop before the intersection? And, in making a left turn it should only be on a green, not a long yellow/red. I was one of those people that was “caught” during the amnesty period. Since then I have not received a ticket. As I understood Paul Volpe’s comments, the camera has made an impact on people breaking the law and keeping the intersection safer. So why take it out? Plus …

Letter: A question of residency

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 06:21:29 -0500

I read your article regarding Trustee Bennett’s resignation from the Elmwood Park Village Board. In the article, you state that “after the purchase of Bennett’s new home the questions of his residency became an issue by political opponents on the Web. Bennett said the move was based on the sale of his current home and did not hide his plans from anyone.” This was followed by President Silvestri dismissing the allegations and insinuating that the opposing political party was attacking the longtime trustee on his way out, rather than thanking him for his service. Where exactly has the political opposition …

Letter: Honor Flight thrills vet Charles Miller

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:43:56 -0500

I read an article in the Aug. 9, Elm Leaves about the two brothers who went on an Honor Flight in April and just wanted to say my father, Charles Miller, went on an Aug. 1 Honor Flight and he had the most wonderful time. He is thrilled he went and constantly talks and boasts about it. He is 90 years old and it brought back memories of his days in the war and he was glad he got to go on the flight. Alice Miller Elmwood Park Editor’s note: Honor Flight Chicago is a nonprofit that aims to recognize …

Letter to the Editor

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 06:02:31 -0500

An honor and sad reminder At the April village board meeting, the board approved special street designations for some residents of Elmwood Park. The honorary street designations will be a welcomed addition to our town. This is an easy, interesting and economical way to honor deserving residents and point out our own “home-grown celebrities.” Most importantly, a street designation was approved for an Elmwood Park resident, Nicholas Daniels, who gave his life in service of his country. There is certainly no one more deserving of such an honor and this designation will also serve as a permanent reminder to all …

Letter to the editor

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 06:01:18 -0500

Inadequate yearly progress at D-84 I recently read the article in the Franklin Park Herald-Journal about outgoing District 84 Superintendent David Nemec, who at the ripe old age of 55 has decided to cash in on his $100K plus annual pension and relatively free health insurance. Given normal mortality rates, over the next 20-25 years the State of Illinois or, more likely, us, the local taxpayers, will be on the hook for the $2 million-$2.5 million plus dollars Nemec will pocket while enjoying his fishing sojourns in northern Wisconsin. Yep, that’s how the system works: Our taxes go up; his millions …

Letters to the Editor

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 06:29:16 -0500

John Mills School PTA 2011-2012 highlights The Illinois PTA was organized on May 30, 1900, and has since worked diligently to support public schools and to ensure that all children have equal opportunities and access to education. Our local PTA at John Mills has been going strong since 1921. I personally feel that we are partnered with an amazing and successful organization. With membership more than 120,000, Illinois PTA is doing a marvelous job, along with your local John Mills PTA. Please enjoy the following highlights: September - Kevin Anderson, our new superintendent, was a guest speaker at our PTA …

Why Hephzibah’s children want to live nearby

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 06:20:02 -0500

Belonging to a community like Elmwood Park or Franklin Park comes second for most of us, after belonging to a family. But when you don’t have a family to call your own, community goes to the top of the list. Especially when you’re a young child and the community you’ve come to live in is the first truly safe place you’ve ever known. You get to go to school every day, make friends and learn how to enjoy life. Our children at Hephzibah Children’s Association develop very close, loving connections to their care-giving adults and their peers. So when it’s …

Letter to the Editor

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 06:08:00 -0500

Pantries need for food is year-round I would like to bring to your attention a problem that is growing in our communities. The St. Celestine Food Pantry in Elmwood Park is seeing more and more new families and individuals in need of food each month. This happens especially in the beginning of the month. The food supply is limited and lately the Alvernia Food Pantry has had to ask families to come back for food the following week. The need for food is every month not just at the holiday times when people are more giving. One little girl in line …

EPNCO lists accomplishments

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:25:01 -0500

A civic organization is defined as a structure which benefits a community. Its members work together to achieve the same common goals and sponsor events for the benefit of their village. The Elmwood Park Neighborhood Civic Organization (EPNCO) and its members, through their various endeavors, exemplify what a true civic organization is. On March 31, we held our first annual EPNCO Local Vendor Expo at Zoar Lutheran, which showcased 37 of our local home-based businesses in town. This event was a huge success with a spectacular turnout of residents who came out to support our local vendors. On April 29, …

Letter to the Editor

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 06:07:54 -0500

Community needs truly served by park I live across the street from Trumbull (Veterans) Park in River Grove where an extraordinarily beneficial event was held June 9 called “Summer Carnival.” This event was elaborate, very well organized and extremely well attended. Individuals with special needs were performing karaoke and singing with the band while their counterparts were dancing. Fun was had by all in this extremely heartwarming event. It was quite evident that the hearts of the organizers at Veterans Park were solely for the needs and entertainment of people with special needs. Veterans Park truly served the needs of the …