Post by slt on Jun 17, 2008 8:59:37 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/opinions/valleyviews/1008731,2_5_AU17_VVSCHERER_S1.article
June 17, 2008
Often we hear local stories in the media, but no follow-up. This column is follow-up from some of my previous writing.
• I drive down Eola Road every day, and I'm ecstatic to report the Indian Prairie School District's third high school site is bombarded with earthmovers! Construction crews are grading the soil and have torn down the lonely brick ranch that once was on the property. It's refreshing to know the overcrowding in the district will soon be history. Despite the resistance and roadblocks from a handful of complainers, I congratulate IP school board members; they remained focused and committed to the kids of the district. They did their jobs. Being a board member in this district is no easy task, and the pay stinks.
• Certain residents in the West Aurora School District are complaining about increased real estate taxes. Get over it; a good thing happened when the school referendum passed. Education costs money, and West Aurora has done without for far too long. The trick now is to get East Aurora residents to follow suit. The city of Aurora will not revitalize or prosper for the long-term until both school districts get solid support. Did you hear that, Mr. Mayor? Make education in our community your priority. The rest will fall into place.
• The Planned Parenthood facility is open for business and serving the community. The protesters have subsided -- at least I haven't seen any -- and most people have gotten back to their daily routines. Let the healing begin.
• There has been little talk of the Eola Road interchange off the tollway. I say good. We don't need it; people can use Route 59 or Farnsworth Avenue. Every single tollway crossroad does not need an interchange. Attention all mayoral candidates: should you want my vote all you have to do is promise to do absolutely nothing further with this project.
• I don't like the idea of Aurora installing those cameras at intersections that will automatically send tickets to a license plate number. What if I lend my gas-guzzler to a neighbor and he blows a red light while looking down at the fuel gauge? Just like cars are insured, not drivers, drivers receive tickets not vehicles. What part doesn't make sense? The camera idea has flaws but is a good revenue generator, and money talks. The people that marketed these contraptions should be required to pick up road kill while barefooted and without a shovel.
• The Aurora Wal-Mart at Butterfield and Kirk has been open for a couple months now, and it's quite busy. My wife and I go there frequently and we love the convenience, but we expected more for our money. The Wal-Mart in Naperville has better prices, but not the selection. It appears the neighborhood has accepted the store after all the fuss. I wonder how many North Aurorans visit the store. They were the folks who whined so loud that their city council nixed the plan and forced Wal-Mart to come to Aurora.
bryanscher0919@my.nl.edu
June 17, 2008
Often we hear local stories in the media, but no follow-up. This column is follow-up from some of my previous writing.
• I drive down Eola Road every day, and I'm ecstatic to report the Indian Prairie School District's third high school site is bombarded with earthmovers! Construction crews are grading the soil and have torn down the lonely brick ranch that once was on the property. It's refreshing to know the overcrowding in the district will soon be history. Despite the resistance and roadblocks from a handful of complainers, I congratulate IP school board members; they remained focused and committed to the kids of the district. They did their jobs. Being a board member in this district is no easy task, and the pay stinks.
• Certain residents in the West Aurora School District are complaining about increased real estate taxes. Get over it; a good thing happened when the school referendum passed. Education costs money, and West Aurora has done without for far too long. The trick now is to get East Aurora residents to follow suit. The city of Aurora will not revitalize or prosper for the long-term until both school districts get solid support. Did you hear that, Mr. Mayor? Make education in our community your priority. The rest will fall into place.
• The Planned Parenthood facility is open for business and serving the community. The protesters have subsided -- at least I haven't seen any -- and most people have gotten back to their daily routines. Let the healing begin.
• There has been little talk of the Eola Road interchange off the tollway. I say good. We don't need it; people can use Route 59 or Farnsworth Avenue. Every single tollway crossroad does not need an interchange. Attention all mayoral candidates: should you want my vote all you have to do is promise to do absolutely nothing further with this project.
• I don't like the idea of Aurora installing those cameras at intersections that will automatically send tickets to a license plate number. What if I lend my gas-guzzler to a neighbor and he blows a red light while looking down at the fuel gauge? Just like cars are insured, not drivers, drivers receive tickets not vehicles. What part doesn't make sense? The camera idea has flaws but is a good revenue generator, and money talks. The people that marketed these contraptions should be required to pick up road kill while barefooted and without a shovel.
• The Aurora Wal-Mart at Butterfield and Kirk has been open for a couple months now, and it's quite busy. My wife and I go there frequently and we love the convenience, but we expected more for our money. The Wal-Mart in Naperville has better prices, but not the selection. It appears the neighborhood has accepted the store after all the fuss. I wonder how many North Aurorans visit the store. They were the folks who whined so loud that their city council nixed the plan and forced Wal-Mart to come to Aurora.
bryanscher0919@my.nl.edu