Village officials doing their jobs

On Sept. 14, during the heavy rains in Downers Grove, a tree fell onto our detached garage and a car parked in our driveway. Our garage and car were totaled. The tree also cracked the utility poll and brought down wires in our yard. Fortunately, we were inside our home at the time and no one was hurt.

This letter is a big thank you to our mayor, Ron Sandack, our Deputy Village Manager David Fieldman and our Fire Station 3.

Our mayor, Ron Sandack, happened to be less than one block away (he was over at Prince Pond removing leaves from the storm sewer drain to prevent possible flooding) when the tree fell. He called 911 and our Deputy Village Manager David Fieldman to our home. He then came to our house to see if we needed anything, then went to talk to the Fire Department and the village manager. Ron also stopped by later that afternoon to see if everything was OK.

Our deputy village manager walked the area and made suggestions regarding the other trees that were also near our home. He met with us and was very helpful as he continues to be. Our Fire Station 3 arrived in a matter of minutes. They secured the scene immediately, as there were many onlookers. They answered our questions and stayed until ComEd arrived to disconnect the lines.

Thank you again to our mayor, Ron Sandack, our deputy village manager, David Fieldman, and our Fire Station 3 for all your work.

Martin and Kim Maxey, Downers Grove

Sport bike accidents not the err of the bike

The first question in the classroom portion of the Illinois motorcycle safety advanced rider course is, “Do you accept the fact that motorcycles are dangerous?” All motorcycles have inherent dangers; after all, it’s the only vehicle that falls over at a stop if not supported. If you choose to ride on the street, you are responsible to accept the conditions that it presents.

Sport bikes are no more or less dangerous than any other motorcycle. Ms. Hetman states that she “trusted the bike to protect him,” and the bike “failed him by locking the front wheel.” The motorcycle did not lock the front wheel; the rider did, he controls the brakes.

“If the wheels would have stayed on the ground, he’d be alive today.” If the rider would have chosen to steer, rather than panic brake, indeed the outcome may have been different. This is not a fault of the design of a type of motorcycle.

Sport bikes do have a higher center of gravity and shorter wheel base than other types of motorcycles. This is a direct result of their race track breeding — so is their high horsepower, light weight and massive brakes. None of these traits are “design flaws.”

Ms. Hetman states that “what makes them more dangerous than other types of motorcycles are their ridiculously powerful brakes.” As a licensed road racer and daily street rider of sport bikes, I have modified my personal motorcycles for even more braking ability. There is no such thing as too much brake.

No mother wants to believe that her son was killed by a mistake he made. This tragic accident had many elements of error, on both drivers’ parts. Blaming the design of a motorcycle is a faulty premise.

The article states that motorcycle advocates say lack of proper training is the leading cause of fatalities on sport bikes. Ms. Hetman disagrees and believes it’s a design flaw in the machine. The machine is not flawed; it represents the keenest edge of motorcycle development. As in the saying that “a scalpel does not make a good surgeon,” owning a motorcycle does not endow one with the ability to use it. Practice and training do.

Mark Wicklein, Downers Grove

District 58 should rethink fundraiser

I was disappointed to read that the District 58 Educational Foundation chose a circus as a fundraiser.

Circuses are nothing more than cruelty to animals. If anyone feels otherwise, just reflect on what is must take to make an elephant perform a hand stand. How often is the poor beast prodded, poked and mistreated before mastering this trick? Most humans aren’t even able to achieve that kind of balance.

Recently at a circus held in Mexico City, an elephant escaped, ran onto the highway and was hit by a bus.

I urge those in charge of fundraising for District 58 to look at other options.

Everyone needs exercise. How about having the students do a 5k walk or some other energetic venture? Let’s teach everyone to respect animals.

Marilynn Boucher, Downers Grove

Sport bikes not the problem

I read Dotty Hetman’s tragic story about her son’s death on a motorcycle, and although I am not a motorcycle rider myself, I have to write and point out that she is unfortunately completely wrong about the dynamics involved.

She claims that her son’s bike did a front-wheel stand under heavy braking when the front wheel locked. This is not possible. A tire that is locked stops rotating and slides across the pavement.

The coefficient of friction between a sliding tire and a road surface is far less than that between a rolling tire and the road, as anyone who has locked-up their brakes in a car should be able to tell you.

This is why Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) were invented; once you lock the wheels on a car, or on a bike, you have no traction (specifically, you are hydroplaning on a thin layer of liquefied tire rubber, that’s what leaves the black mark on the pavement). Without traction at the front wheel, it is impossible for the bike to perform a wheel stand, because it cannot pivot upward. Think of a drag-race car doing a burnout; no traction, and the car barely moves. However, when they are racing, with traction, the front end of the car pops up easily.

The physics of a motorcycle are the same. Without traction, both wheels will stay on the ground.

It is a shame that Mrs. Hetman’s son was killed, certainly, but the type of systems she is proposing for motorcycles will actually increase the effective traction of the front wheel and make it easier for such wheel-stand accidents to happen.

David Hillman, Downers Grove

Research important before purchasing new pet

I wanted to write today in hopes that maybe I could get my message out to anyone who is thinking of, or know someone who is considering, buying a new puppy.

The new movie “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” features some very cute stars. However, in the past when movies come out staring a particular breed of dog, the demand goes up for these cute pups. And puppy mills are often the ones benefiting from the “trend.” They breed more of these in-demand dogs to cash in on the trend.

Puppy mills are large-scale operations that force dogs to produce litter after litter to support the demand for purebred pets. These puppies are sold in pet stores or over the Internet, storefronts that mask the suffering, disease, malnutrition, and loneliness of puppy mills. Many people don’t know that buying a puppy from a mill is supporting a cruel and inhumane industry.

And that is what I wanted to warn anyone who may be wanting to buy a new puppy about. I hope that people put more research into where their new pet is coming from. Finding a credible breeder might be a little more work than going down the street to the local pet store, but doing so would be a much better alternative. I really do think that owning a pet can be a wonderful experience, as long as a cruel business is not being supported in the process.

A great site to find out more information on puppy mills, selecting a reputable breeder, and ways to help pets in need is the Humane Society of the United States’ Web site, www.hsus.org.

Maggy Neustadt, Downers Grove

Women’s groups upset by Biggert’s lack of response

This summer 10 groups of women which have members who live in the 13th Congressional District agreed to co-sponsor a candidate forum (debate) between five-term incumbent Congresswoman Judy Biggert, Republican, and her Democratic opponent, Scott Harper. The public and the press were to be invited. In order to accommodate their busy schedules, the candidates were contacted by phone in mid-August and given a choice of two Sunday afternoons in October.

Scott Harper’s representative checked their calendar and said either date was fine.

After being unable to talk directly with someone in Congresswoman Biggert’s campaign office for several weeks, we sent a detailed e-mail to her congressional office in Willowbrook with information about the proposed event. We received two phone calls at that time and were assured that we would get a reply.

After receiving no response, we called and established a date in mid-September as a deadline for their reply. The night before the deadline, we received a call asking for more information. It was sent immediately. We have had no communication from them since that night. Thus Scott Harper and the staff of the venue we had secured were notified the event had to be canceled.

We are deeply troubled that Congresswoman Biggert has chosen not to accept this opportunity to directly communicate with the voters and clearly define the differences between herself and her opponent, Scott Harper.

The League of Women Voters of Downers Grove, Woodridge & Lisle; The LaGrange/Chicago Business and Professional Women; The League of Women Voters of Illinois; The League of Women Voters of the LaGrange Area; The League of Women Voters of Naperville; The League of Women Voters of the Palos/Orland Area; The Downers Grove Area Branch of the American Association of University Women; The Hinsdale/Oak Brook Area Branch of the American Association of University Women; The Naperville Area Branch of the American Association of University Women; and The Palos/Orland Area Branch of the American Association of University Women

Candidates oppose 'pay to play'

The undersigned Democratic candidates for DuPage County Board wholeheartedly oppose the unethical practice called “pay to play.”

Pay-to-play is the concept that companies must first give campaign contributions to elected officials (“pay”) in order to get contracts from the government (“play”).

Pay-to-play is alive and well right here in DuPage County. You don’t have to look too hard to find the problem. The information can be found by reviewing campaign contribution filings at the Illinois Election Commission and then looking through DuPage County records showing contract awards.

Pay-to-play is in effect a “tax” that taxpayers are forced to pay so the elected officials in DuPage County can fill their campaign coffers with contributions. It is detrimental to economical, efficient government and against the interests of DuPage County taxpayers. No-bid contracts give elected officials the opportunity to reward those companies who have contributed money to their campaigns, and companies seeking to do county work quickly learn how to make it happen.

If elected, we pledge to work to enact a county ordinance similar to HB 824 that will eliminate pay-to-play for all elected county officials in DuPage County. This will benefit the taxpayers of the county not only by ensuring that county contracts are awarded based strictly on merit, not campaign contributions, but also be eliminating the “pay-to-play tax” that costs DuPage taxpayer dollars.

Rita Gonzalez, District 1; Rifat Sivisoglu, District 1; Barbara Dahl, District 2; Max Havlick, District 2; Robert Brandt, District 3; Karol Sole, District 3; Dan Bailey, District 4; Tony Michelassi, District 5; Dirk Enger, District 6

Pay-to-play needs to be rid in DuPage County

I was pleased to see that HB 824, which eliminates pay-to-play politics at the executive level in Illinois, i.e. the governor's office, will become law on Jan. 1, 2009. Now if only we could get similar legislation enacted to eliminate pay-to-play politics in DuPage County.

I randomly picked four companies that made campaign contributions to DuPage County Chairman Robert Schillerstrom and checked county records to see if those companies had contracts with the county. Sure enough, those companies received millions of dollars of county contracts. I challenge Chairman Schillerstrom to find a county contract over $50,000 that was awarded to a company that hasn't made campaign contributions to himself or other DuPage County elected officials.

If you ask Schillerstrom if he supports HB824 as it applies to the governor, I predict he enthusiastically supports the bill. But ask him if he would support a similar bill that applies to his office in DuPage County, I predict the silence from Schillerstrom will be deafening.

I urge the DuPage County Board to stand up to Schillerstrom and pass an ethics ordinance similar to HB824 that eliminates pay-to-play politics in DuPage County. This will benefit the taxpayers of the county not only by ensuring that county contracts are awarded based strictly on merit, not campaign contributions, but also by eliminating the “pay-to-play tax” that costs DuPage taxpayers millions of dollars a year.

Robert Brandt, candidate for DuPage County Board District 3

State in need of constitutional convention

Why do Illinoisans need a constitutional convention to change the constitution of the State of Illinois?

The state government in Springfield has been deadlocked for years because members of the General Assembly and Governor can’t agree on much of anything. The 535 Club (the U.S. Congress) in Sin City (Washington, D.C.) have let the nation’s financial health go to ruin and are now arguing how to fix the mess without bankrupting taxpayers. Good luck! Citizens can do a better job of running the state than our present elected representatives.

We need such things as recall and unlimited initiative in the Illinois Constitution so we can pass petitions on these and similar issues of importance and get things done instead of being deadlocked.

Opponents of Con-Con say the cost could be about $72 million. Since there are about 12 million citizens in Illinois that equates to about $6 per citizen — the price of less than two cups of Starbucks coffee.

Freedom is not free; the price of your freedom is vigilance and participation. Signers of the Declaration of Independence gave their lives and fortunes.

Con-Con opponents say we have an amendment process that works. When is the last time you’ve seen an amendment? The present Constitution has a very limited amendment clause pertaining to the Legislative Article applying to the structure and procedure of the Legislature. Members of the Legislature can introduce amendments to the constitution, but again, when is the last time you’ve seen one?

Con-Con opponents say there is no way to keep delegates to a constitutional convention from the influence of special interest groups and lobbyists. What do you think happens during any election? Most elected officials and members of the General Assembly will try to become Con-Con delegates. They will want to keep control of their positions and pick up a few extra bucks in the process. It will be up to citizens to work for election of people they think will be good delegates and block out the present establishment from being elected.

A constitutional convention will not have a negative impact on the state’s economy. On the contrary, the total will of the people of Illinois will make the state better because it is in their interests to do so.

The bottom line is that if the result of a constitutional convention is not what the people think is good for the State they can always vote it down. Vote yes for Con-Con.

Andrew J. Clark, Downers Grove

Fine Arts Festival a success despite terrible weather

I would like to thank all the people in Downers Grove who braved the weather two weeks ago to attend the Fine Arts Festival.

For the first time in nine years, the Downers Grove Friends of the Library Storybook Character Parade was held in the library, due to the backlash rains of Hurricane Ike.

The Downers Grove North High School Marching Band under the direction of Bill Miller played wonderfully loud, while the participants in their Storybook Character costumes marched up and down the stairs and paraded inside the public library.

This year, we had marchers from as far away as Hoffman Estates and Plainfield, as well as the communities bordering Downers Grove. The monkey, Curious George, was the guest marcher, thanks to Andersons’ Bookshop.

This is truly a memorable event unique to our community. Thank you Downers Grove for making it happen, even with the rain!

Joni Hansen, Downers Grove Friends of the Library president

Cameras an infringement on rights

On Monday evening, Aug. 18, my elected officials in the village of Westmont voted yes to installing cameras on the village’s streets, which had previously been safe from the prying eyes of the tollways, grocery stores, banks, dressing rooms, department stores, parking garages, etc...
I watched the live broadcast of the Village Committee of the Whole meeting and almost fell off my couch laughing when the mayor and a trustee declared that installing red-light cameras was a “safety issue” to keep citizens “safe.” This is total nonsense at best, Candid Camera chicanery at worst.

This is a revenue issue. Period. And, everyone sitting in the chamber’s leather chairs knew it. Once those cameras go up, they are never coming down. Village officials will find reasons to support the use of more and more cameras in more and more places throughout Westmont to continue to feed the ravenous government machine. This is just the beginning. The Era of Spying on Westmont Citizens has officially kicked off, but I would feel much safer with the police and my local government not spying on me.

If local officials are truly concerned about my safety, they should pass an ordinance mandating that cameras be installed throughout my home so they can ensure that I don’t burn myself when cooking or fall down the stairs. Or bump my head into a state of unconsciousness in the basement.

Americans have never lived under a tyrannical regime, one in which we’re dragged off in the middle of the night to a distant camp of horrors. Our history books are dusty. After decades of materialism, fast food, and Oprah Winfrey, we are fat and soft, just like sheep before they’re slaughtered.

Most citizens are clueless and care about nothing but their todays, not their children’s or their grandchildren’s tomorrows. Millions of people have given their lives fighting and dying for the precious freedoms that many of us so carelessly take for granted - freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to peaceably assemble, freedom to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The ubiquitousness of our society’s surveillance systems are putting a big chill on our civil rights, on our freedom of expression, and this frigid chill will eventually turn into a deep freeze, much like the Siberian Soviet Gulags of the 20th century. Unless we, as U.S. citizens, remain ever-vigilant, we are doomed to follow in the paths of suppressed and oppressed nations before us. History is full of horrific examples such as those of the persecuted Soviet peoples, but we are too groggy with apathy to take notice.

Day by day, month by month, year by year, I sit and watch my elected government officials and judges at the local, state, and federal levels dismantle the unique freedoms that America was founded on, brick by brick, and the “certain unalienable Rights (that they are endowed by their Creator with) – among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Each year the noose gets a little tighter, the regulations become more stringent, the taxes more oppressive and Big Brother becomes more of a Big Bully.

The author George Orwell, in his prophetic novel, “1984,” foretold of a world wherein the population was totally controlled by a government that was able to monitor every thought and every action of every individual. This is us, with “us” being the “U.S.” This is where we’re headed as a nation if government continues to implement surveillance of its citizenry. The only thing Orwell was wrong about was the year.

Madeleine Miller, Westmont

County Board candidates to speak at forum

Candidates for the DuPage County Board in Districts 2 and 3 will be presenting their qualifications and issues and answering questions at a forum being held Wednesday, Oct. 15, in the Council Chambers of the Downers Grove Village Hall at 801 Burlington Ave. in the village. The forum will run from 7 to 9 p.m., and Forest Preserve candidates in District 3 will be making statements before the County Board candidates begin.

The candidates for Forest Preserve are Republican Linda Painter and Democrat Matt Mostowik. In District 2, the County Board candidates are Republican incumbents Patrick O’Shea and Brien Sheahan and Democratic challengers Barbara Dahl and Max Havlick. The District 3 Democratic challengers are Karol Sole and Robert Brandt. They are up against Republican incumbents Michael McMahon and John Curran.

Members of the public are invited to attend and to participate by submitting questions they write at the forum, which is being sponsored by the Downers Grove Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the League of Women Voters of Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Woodridge, and Lisle.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that does not endorse any political party or candidate.

For more information or to inquire about membership in the LWV, call (630) 968-8706.

Kay Vlahos, Downers Grove

Resident supports Park District pool proposal

I would like to address the Downers Grove Park District and all the community pool nay-sayers out there.

I think it’s great that the Park District members are committed to finally bringing the issue of a community pool to the forefront. While it is a good thing that the pass system has become available to utilize our neighbors’ pools, it’s time that Downers Grove step up and provide our own pool for our residents.

Just consider our neighbors — Westmont, Clarendon Hills, Woodridge, Lombard — they all have Park District pools! Yet Downers Grove has to do a “pool pass exchange” in order for our residents to enjoy a pool over the summer. Sometimes it amazes me that Downers Grove continues to be such a wonderful place to live almost in spite of ourselves.

I encourage the Park District to continue to see if a self-sustaining pool is feasible. If it is, great! Even if it’s not, let’s still put it to a vote and see if we can get one built.

The demography of Downers Grove has changed since the last vote. I think there are a lot more families that would be willing to support a community pool vs. oppose. That is evident by the results of our last Park District election where the new board members are at least willing to entertain the discussion of a Park District pool.

Sheryl Van Anne, Downers Grove