The News Opinion Editorial
Editorial (11)
We last visited this topic in mid-October 2009, and we tackled this question: “If increased property values are the end result to TIF 2 residents, won’t real estate taxes soar in the future when the TIF ends?”
When the Village Chronicles launches its new website, www.VillageChronicles.net, next Saturday (Aug. 1), it intends to effect a sweeping change to the classic paradigm associated with most suburban newspapers.
As most of you know, the newspaper business and the rest of the print media world are experiencing an apocalyptic meltdown. Giants of the industry, beginning right here at home with the Tribune and the Sun Times are on life support. And they do not have long to live.
There are many planned unit developments (PUDs) in our community. Most are
known as an HOA (homeowners association), but there are several other types—
individual family homes in developments of different sizes (think Summerlakes
and River Oaks)—townhome PUDs like Maple Hill and Emerald Green)—other HOA types that cover condo chartered properties, and non-condo developments.
Whichever type it is, these communities are governed by HOA boards of directors. Complexities of law create many headaches for the volunteer boards. Most HOAs hire management firms to gain access to legal advice, management talent and policy development expertise.
But local decisions still have to be made to properly represent the needs and tastes of the unit owners. Those variations, coupled with economic challenges, land-use issues, and stormwater management problems, to name just a few, make the HOA board’s job even more difficult.
The City of Warrenville is practiced with HOAs and is supportive of their efforts. Learning when, how, and to whom local expertise can be applied is not always easy.
An association of HOAs in Warrenville would address sharing of successes and failures. Perhaps only a quarterly gathering is needed. On the other hand a more formal structure may be useful in working toward the long-term success of all HOAs in our community?
For example, an umbrella organization could be helpful in facilitating the choices of contractors or vendors who had been found to be reputable in other situations.
Or, perhaps group training sessions could be structured for new board members.
An oversight entity might also prove useful in establishing stronger ties with various city and county departments.
If you are interested in pursuing this idea, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We will report the strength of interest and help put respondents in contact with one another.
The differences between “place” and “home” are fleeting but profound. The person ahead of you, a stranger, holds the door open for you to pass through the doorway, or smiles when meeting on the street. A subtle signal to cut through a waiting line
of traffic to enter a parking lot, or a nonchalant waive from a passing car acknowledges your presence and signals you belong.
A small act of kindness softens the harshness of the world and makes us feel OK. The 4th of July parade gathers townspeople to celebrate not just the nation’s birthday, but the gathering of a place and its people, strangers, neighbors, citizens all. It is bigger than “me,” yet it allows me to feel larger, wanted, accepted.
Is that what defines “community?” Feeling accepted, belonging?
What about caring for an ailing neighbor? Taking him or her to a doctor’s appointment, or picking up a prescription at the drug store, or taking out the garbage on a snowy day, or getting the mail in icy weather? These acts of caring go beyond small acts of kindness; instead they affirm a sense that the neighbor “belongs here” and is helped to remain here.
Is that what defines “community”? Caring for the physical well-being of a neighbor?
Group sharing as in potluck dinners, or a pig roast; these require an act of sharing to be a part of the gathering. You share a favorite recipe with a larger group; you sample the shared dishes from others; a feast has been made. The mingling over food and new taste treats nurtures conversation among those unfamiliar to one another. The circle of friendship expands.
Is that what defines “community”? Sharing food and favorite recipes?
Shopping for routine goods and services locally. Meeting neighbors, co-workers, fellow church or organization members while out and about doing chores and shopping. Exchanging personal greetings or information during those brief encounters grows awareness of the people around us and how they fit together.
Is this another defining moment of community?
Sharing constructive ideas with others in town is useful in addressing shared needs or problems. Such ideas form programs, even institutions, which serve community needs that make us all stronger or better off.
Is this more of the community definition?
We think so.
Taken together all of the above allows each of us to be our own self, to make the contributions we will, to accept help from others so we can be better or stronger.
The community gives us license to be ourselves while celebrating who we are as we all come together to make a strong, well-defined community. Being yourself is an act of community, pure and simple.
It may seem trite to state “It’s all about community,” but we think it is all about community.
Celebrate it.
Gather at SummerDaze in August. Participate in outdoor summer activities. Walk our plentiful trails and paths. Share your talents with a group to manage or address a common concern.
Be yourself but be with others. That is what makes our community strong.
Back in 2002, the DuPage County Forest Preserve District considered the construction of a new Fleet Services Maintenance building in the Blackwell Forest Preserve. At that time, District President D. “Dewey” Pierotti vetoed a proposal to proceed with the project.
Five years went by and nothing happened. Then in June, 2007, the district authorized the expenditure of upwards of $500,000 in design and architectural fees for the building, a sure sign that it intended to revive the project’
Sure enough, at its budget meeting last June 30, the district approved a new fiscal-year budget that accommodates the expenditure of approximately $7.5 million on the proposed project.
Meanwhile, on May 5 of this year, the district held an “open house” at which residents of the county were encouraged to share their concerns, ask questions, and gain more insight into the details of the project.
Shortly thereafter, according to Dennis Clark, President of West-Win Homeowners Association, whose members live close by, the district promised to hold a meeting in June to consider the project. That meeting was never scheduled, and Clark says the project was slated for discussion at a meeting on July 14 that has now been moved to July 21.
However, the district’s public relations department has told Clark that the matter will not be discussed on July 21, while President Pierotti says “indeed it will be discussed.”
All of this leads to the conclusion that the district is waffling and attempting to tire out its constituency, so that this fall the project can proceed. This is a typical political ploy, and perhaps can be thwarted if enough people show up at the districts July 21 meeting and voice their concerns.
The merits of the project are not the real issue here. What is clear is that the district has not done its due diligence or incorporated this project into its long-range plans in appropriate fashion. Until it does its homework, we urge residents to be vigilant, since the Forest Preserve is immune from such things as public hearings, bidding, and other processes that the ordinary Joe would have to endure in order to get approval of a project of this magnitude.
In its July 3 issue, the Village Chronicles published a story concerning this project, outlining a number of valid concerns and questions that we feel are appropriate and deserving of answer and response. We urge you to review these and make your concerns known to the forest preserve district either in person at a district meeting, or via email or other form of communication.
Suggestions keep coming our way. The other day someone suggested that the Village Chronicles could do something about getting a local medical clinic organized and operating. Another has suggested a local group of homeownerassociations might be useful. Yet another feels that stop signs or traffic signals would be a good thing at a specific intersection.
What to do with these ideas?
Letters to the editor allow our readers to get their thoughts beyond us and out in the open. Our letters section is named “Voices” and reflects our philosophy that the individual thoughts of our local citizens should become the voice of each person having a particular idea, which can then be shared with the rest of us.
The reaction to that single voice is often magical. Others may echo the same thought and frequently a group effort is formed to address the idea.
This newspaper is not the single voice of the community—rather it is a channel for communicating the many voices that wish and are willing to be heard. The process of sharing ideas in one central channel helps identify issues with “legs” and determines whether the citizenry supports a resolution to the issue as a priority.
Village Chronicles lends itself to this process in several ways. The paper reports news that is important for citizens to know. It provides background information on why some news items have deeper importance. It makes available guest editorial space for a thorough analysis of complex issues. And it publishes letters to the editor that reveal new ideas or reactions to previously publicized opinions.
Thus, the newspaper serves as a civic communication channel, useful to the entire community.
We only ask that you be civil and polite. Being angry about something is OK— being rude, insulting or personal is not. Focusing on the idea is the primary objective. Few will listen if your thoughts are lost in a sea of emotion, anger or ranting.
Calm consideration of ideas benefits us by providing a deeper understanding of issues and of one another.
Care to participate?
The Fourth of July. The very name stirs memories for each of us. The special times together as a family; those moments when we were breaking out of the “kid shell” and moving toward adulthood; exploring larger social contexts; early years of raising our own family; the ticking by of years as the children matured, each age giving us a glimpse of our own past; empty nester status when the Fourth still remains a special day to celebrate.
Celebrate what exactly? Well the nation’s wholeness for one; individual freedom for another; and togetherness of a people of purpose as another..
But for us the Fourth of July is also a time when we reflect on how all of us really do matter in bringing our nation together, one community at a time. In larger communities that may be a neighborhood thing, but in Warrenville, it is our whole town.
Some Warrenville residents don’t think the Warrenville Chamber of Commerce is a big deal. If it sticks around, fine. If not, that’s fine, too. Here are some frequent activities that find their way to the chamber—situations that would not arise if the chamber disappeared.
•A business wonders if Warrenville would be a good place to relocate. Who has the information to share with this person? They usually start with city hall, the city’s webpage, and maybe a Google search. But ultimately, the phone call is transferred to the chamber office.
•A family relocating to the Chicago area has family or friends in the western suburbs and wants to learn more about Warrenville. They Google the city’s website, but more than likely they contact a realtor and then the chamber office for more information.
•A new family moves into town. They search for stores to make routine purchases, asking their new neighbors for suggestions. Then the chamber’s Greeter Service drops by and talks with them and helps orient them to their new community.
•Santa comes to town in early December. Who organizes Holly Days for the community and local retailers? The chamber has been involved in this event for more years than anyone can count.
•Annual Good Citizenship Award to fifth graders. Another chamber program that helps our children understand why it is important to be informed, involved and a good partner with others in their social circle.
•The city wants to find out how businesses would react to a proposal that might affect them. They call the chamber to ask them to send an inquiry or survey to its members. Feedback is readily available and shared with the city.
•State of the City address is given by the mayor in February each year to a gathering of chamber members. Public is invited. Channel 10 coverage is usually arranged.
•Reaching out to other communities and their businesses to determine if they can find worthwhile business opportunities in Warrenville. Would they fill a needed retail or service niche in our town that is not now provided for? Or, do they have a need for one of our businesses to serve a niche market in their town?
•Networking throughout the community to help sell the goods and services of our local businesses. Does one business understand another’s business well enough to refer new customers to it? And vice versa?
•Workshops and seminars—these cover business operating basics like planning, marketing, human resource regulations, accounting and tax issues, plus whatever other topics are needed by the local small business community. These are provided at nominal cost by the chamber to its members.
•Summer Daze—who will continue this 32-year tradition absent the chamber? Will the city and park district carry the entire event forward?
•Candidate Debate Night—local candidates running for office participate in a biennial Candidates’ Night sponsored by the chamber. This is the only such program provided for on the local scene.
•The coffee table magazine “Warrenville” is produced every other year and mailed to every home and business in town. It is also mailed to prospective new businesses and families considering a move to Warrenville.
•Community telephone directory—long a fixture of our community, the little book of resident phone numbers and local business information has been a project of the chamber for decades. Who will handle this project if the chamber is gone?
There are other programs and services performed by the chamber. Some are more visible than others, and most people value each very differently than others. Still, without the chamber, many traditions would be lost. And by the time their absence is noticed, it will be too late.
Is that really what our community deserves?
How to Use Your Website, Lesson Five . . .
Written by Tom SherlockThere She Blogs! (Part Three)
This is the final segment covering the creation of a blog within the VillageChronicles.net website. We will explain the last three features of the canvas you are presented with when creating your blog: Search Older Posts, Trackbacks and Comments.
Search Older Posts allows you to search on a word that is in the title of a previous blog. All you would need to do is type the word that you are looking for in the title and click on the magnifying glass to the right of the textbox. This will perform a search for that word within all of the blogs on the system and return to you all of the blogs that contain that word in the title. Now you just have to click on the blog you would like to read, and it will be presented to you.
The Trackbacks and Comments option has two purposes. The Comments tab allows you the option to prevent users from commenting on your blog if you choose to do so. All you have to do is choose the disable option. Trackbacks are used primarily to facilitate communication between blogs. When you create a blog, you may want to reference another blog in your article. To do this, you put a link in your blog. When someone reading your blog clicks on the link it will take them to the other blog so they can review it. A Trackback is kind of like a counter. When the user clicks on the link of this other blog the trackback feature sends an acknowledgment. This acknowledgment is sent via a network signal called a ping from the originating site to the receiving site.
Consider the ping like a knock on the door of the receiving website. When the knock occurs, the receiving machine basically increases its counter. This keeps track of how many times that particular blog is being referenced in other blogs. The receiving blog will typically display summaries of, and links to, all the commenting entries below the original entry. This allows for conversations spanning several blogs that readers can easily follow. The problem with this though is that trackbacks require both sites to be trackback-enabled in order to establish this communication. If both sites are not trackback-enabled, than the trackback feature is useless. While this feature may be useful in the techie world, it really doesn’t serve much purpose for the casual user.
Next week we will introduce you to the Forums section of our website. As always, if there are any questions send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We are here to assist. Anyone interested in a hands-on training session pertaining to features of the website should send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Until then, Happy Clicking.
In our view there is absolutely no reason for prohibiting our students from watching and listening to the president of the United States urge them on to bigger and better things through education. The decision of District 200 to “screen” the president’s remarks is inexcusable.
Learning is a lifelong pursuit, and the die of success begins to be cast early on in a youngster’s educational journey. True, the primary nurture of the learning process emanates first in the home and then from school. However, it is also embellished by the “village,” from clubs, churches, libraries and the like, and now, of course, by the Internet.
In the process, parents, teachers, and our elected leaders become role models, valued over the centuries to provide words of wisdom. The range of modern communication continues to become broader, more massive and more efficient. Yet the fundamental content remains the same.
Unfortunately, in the current superheated and fractious political era, we are plagued by those who habitually cast aspersions and doubts on the motives of the most genuine of communicants, in this case our president, as he, like other leaders before him, seeks to emphasize for our children the value of education.
His message is far from esoteric. It is printed for all to see, and it includes a lesson plan for teachers to use if they wish to make the most of the moment in stimulating student motivation to excel in school.
It is the golden rule of success, is it not? Seeking your future through educational pursuits will empower you intellectually and financially. What could be simpler or timelier?
Unfortunately, the ideologues among us cannot resist the temptation to make something out of nothing for some dim sense of political gain. Desist, we say! You are trampling the simple seeds of hope and future in our children. Nothing more heinous is underfoot.
A timid District 200 school district avoided the controversy by not mandating universal viewing of the president’s message. Hopefully the content of the message will still be shared with all who desire to witness it in the district’s schools. But avoiding the controversy has only created a more sinister one.
Who do we count on to monitor the quality and credibility of our children’s education? After all, we require a major educational and professional background for those we hire to teach our kids? Don’t we wish our kids to stand on their own and seek open searches for truth and justice? Why then do we flinch from controversy rather than use it as a moment to learn from each other?
Last time we checked, no one was the sole source of knowledge, truth, justice or fairness. Those are golden nuggets found best by all of us working together to build a trusting community.
Seeing the devil in the unknown or darkness is an apt definition of paranoia. Is that what we wish to pass on to our newest generation?
