Ackerman Woods cleanup
deemed a big success

A big thank you to everyone who came out to Ackerman Woods on Nov. 1 for our first cleanup! About 50 people came to remove garbage from the woods. Volunteers dragged lots of garbage out of the woods, sorted it for recycling and loaded it into trucks. Take a look at some of our photos from the cleanup at saveackermanwoods.com/fall2008cleanup.html.

We filled the Park District’s truck with the two and a half loads of garbage. One lucky scrap metal recycler drove by towards the end of the cleanup and filled his truck with scrap metal that we had pulled out of the woods. We also had many boxes of cans and glass that we recycled.

What did we find in the woods? A bike, a mailbox, a lawnmower, several tires, remains of a burned-out cabin, 200 pounds of sheet metal from an old pool, 50 feet of tubing, a giant net filled with a huge amount of upholstery-type foam, a steel barrel, mattress springs, fencing and lots of odd concrete, building materials and metal scraps.

Mark your calendars for the spring cleanup at Ackerman Woods! The Park District is hosting an eco-restoration work day March 14, 2009. Check www.saveackermanwoods.com and the Park District Web site for more information on this cleanup.

Melissa Creech, Glen Ellyn

Strayer the right
man to lead Glen Ellyn

Saturday, Nov. 22, is the day Glen Ellyn residents will be voting for a new village president. I am hoping that you will vote for Jay Strayer. I have known Jay for 38 years and wholeheartedly endorse him. He is a 33-year longtime Glen Ellyn resident. His children went through the Glen Ellyn school system. He is a former village of Glen Ellyn trustee and he currently serves as vice chair of the village of Glen Ellyn Plan Commission.

In all the years I have known Jay, he has consistently demonstrated the highest level of integrity and ethical behavior in his personal life and his public life. He is trustworthy and reliable. You can depend on him to listen to the needs of the town’s residents and local businesses.

His leadership style is collaborative, thoughtful and decisive. I truly believe that he is the right choice for president to successfully lead Glen Ellyn to its next level of greatness. For his vision of Glen Ellyn and a summary of his resume, please check out his Web site at www.jaystrayer.com.

Your vote for Jay Strayer as the next president of Glen Ellyn will be a vote for a tested leader and a person who will combine the best of Glen Ellyn’s history with the brightness of Glen Ellyn’s future.

Jim D’Ambrosio, Glen Ellyn

Roskam should emulate
Obama as statesman

Dear Congressman Roskam:

October was the 22nd consecutive month you have earned an “F” for failure on the Iraq war.
It was earned by voting for another $10 billion to continue this criminal military enterprise in which another 14 American soldiers died needless, senseless deaths.

It was earned for funneling this enormous amount of borrowed money to continue the most self-destructive military venture in American history while our nation’s infrastructure languished from neglect and our entire economy teetered on collapse. It was earned for refusing to address this war in any meaningful sense in your public pronouncements, your Web site, your entire first term as Illinois’ 6th District congressman.

That, congressman, is a breathtaking level of failure that should sicken and anger every sensible voter in the 6th District. Yet, just as breathtaking is your genius for political survival with such a dreadful record, garnering 59 percent of the 203,000 votes to gain re-election for another two years. For the political acumen by which you achieved such an overwhelming re-election victory, you receive an “A.”

That means in the 111th Congress, you can vote to squander another quarter of a trillion dollars at the rate of $10 billion monthly to prosecute, not a war really, but the continued occupation of a once sovereign nation we invaded with lies, deception, fear and intimidation. That means hundreds of American military (personnel) can die needless, senseless deaths, and 25 million Iraqis can continue to suffer under our conquest. That means America’s infrastructure, health care system, educational structure, industrial base will continue to wither and possibly sink us to the level of other, once great nations forever.

Oh, I forgot. George W. Bush, the architect of that criminal military enterprise and the architect of that immoral if not criminal dismantling of our financial system, will not be leading your party or the country anymore. Quite possibly, the U-turn our new president will take from the policies you so recklessly supported in your first term will minimize the damage you can do in your second term.

In what was the most hilarious aspect of your re-election campaign, you printed campaign literature and even set up a Web site linking yourself to our next president to bask in the glow of greatness he radiates so effortlessly. We have names for human beings like President-elect Obama, congressman. They are called “statesman”; they are called “humanitarians”; they are called “leaders.”

Linking yourself to President-elect Barack Obama is a good start. How about emulating him as well?

Walt Zlotow, Glen Ellyn

Strayer fit
for president

I want to express my support for Jay Strayer for Glen Ellyn president in the upcoming election. The citizens of Glen Ellyn will soon have the opportunity to attend the Civic Betterment Town Meeting Nov. 22 to nominate candidates for village offices.

Arguably the most important position in the village government is the president. Jay is one of the three candidates seeking this nomination. He is a 33-year resident of the village and has served on several boards/commission, including trustee on the Village Board from 1999-2003.

He is now a member of the Village Planning Commission. He has served both as an attorney for large corporations, his own firm and local not-for-profits. His community spirit is also reflected in his volunteerism at local homeless shelters, the United Way Board and the GE Children’s Chorus. His service has been recognized by awards from the Jaycees, Daughters of the American Revolution and Girl Scouts Prairie Winds Council.

These are sufficient reasons to vote for Jay, but consider his personality traits.

Jay is a good listener and he understands local government. He knows that citizens expect that utilities, roads, police and other village services should operate without flaw. He is prepared to serve the public and he expects each village employee to also be public servants.

I ask you to vote for and support Jay Strayer. Additional information is found on his Web site at www.jaystrayer.com.

Richard Dunn, Glen Ellyn

Military families should
send their mail for free

On this 233rd birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps, I as a USMC veteran spent my morning mailing a package to my son who is stationed in Afghanistan. He is a major in the Air Force who just had his first son a few months ago and is now deployed for at least six months.

I know how difficult that is having experienced that with my first daughter when my husband went to Vietnam for 13 months. She happens to be retired Air Force.

What struck me as ironic is the fact that all military personnel overseas have free mailing privileges back home. Yet the families left behind don’t have the same privilege.

What is more important to boost the morale of our troops than letters and packages from home? The government and most Americans claim to support our troops, yet a simple thing like providing free mailings to them doesn’t exist.

When I visited the post office, I asked about this very issue. The gal told me that to her knowledge, the only time free mail to overseas military personnel was provided was during Desert Storm. Aren’t our other conflicts important enough to warrant this same feature?

Even the Web site of the U.S. Postal Service says: “Far from home, few things brighten their days more than mail from friends and loved ones.”

Come on people, Congress, whoever. Back up your “support the troops” with actions and not just words! If free mail to our troops existed, I bet there would be a lot more people sending letters and packages.

As it is, I stood in line waiting — in Carol Stream, at the biggest post office in the area with only two personnel helping and the line extending almost out the door (I’m sticking to Wheaton!) — I hadn’t filled out a customs declaration, so that involved another wait. After spending $8.75, I sure hope Patrick enjoys his cinnamon roasted pecans I made.

Cathy Godfrey, Wheaton

Jay Strayer
has experience

I am writing in support of Jay Strayer, who is a candidate of the Civic Betterment Party for president of the village of Glen Ellyn. The election will occur at a town meeting at the Civic Center Saturday, Nov. 22, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

I had the privilege of serving on the Village Board with Jay in 1999-2001. He was an outstanding village trustee and demonstrated a keen interest and dedication to our village. He has also served this community in leadership roles in local organizations such as United Way, Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus, Glenbard West Booster Club, Glen Ellyn baseball, etc. He serves currently as vice chair of the Glen Ellyn Plan Commission and has been recognized as Glen Ellyn Citizen of the Year.

As village president, Jay will provide positive visible leadership of the Village Board and make a difference in the Glen Ellyn community. He will be able to use his experiences as a business lawyer and business leader in making government policy decisions. I am confident he will always be receptive to the concerns of citizens and business community.

I urge Glen Ellyn residents to attend the Nov. 22 town meeting and join me in voting for Jay Strayer. Thank you.

Joe E. Wark, former president, 1997-2001