Traffic Guy

The Traffic Guy Hears...

... that the City's department of public works has put maps on its website that indicate construction projects going on throughout the City, so now you can figure out ahead of time which streets to avoid.

... that the City has purchased a couple of riding mowers, so we can expect smooth, well-cut grass on all our parks and parkways this summer.

... that we're going to see even more cell-phone paraphernalia atop the north standpipe on Gross Pointe Road.

... that the City is still looking for grants to renovate the two fog houses at the Grosse Pointe Light Station.

... that the City is planning to put in a loading zone on Austin in front of Oakton School.

... that the Parks/Forestry crews are getting ready for summer. They've been shoring up the sand at the boat ramp.

... that the City has an ordinance mandating that house numbers appear on garages that face alleys - so emergency vehicles will know how to get to your house, among other reasons. However, TG hears, a lot of people don't know that, so if you don't have your property numbers on your garage - watch out, you might receive a fine.

... that Evanstonian Pete Scanlon was one of the 59 runners of Team BMC (Boston Medical Center) in the Boston Marathon last month. TG heard recently that the Boston Marathon is supposed to coincide with the "midnight ride of Paul Revere on the 18th of April in '75."

... that International No-Diet Day, which began in 1992, is celebrated on May 6. It's promoted as a way to bring awareness to the hazards of dieting. The NDD folks, Judith Matz, LCSW, and Ellen Frankel, LCSW, are sisters, therapists and authors of "The Diet Survivors' Handbook: 60 Lessons in Eating, Acceptance and Self-Care." They say, "Millions of Americans are currently dieting despite the volumes of research that shows that for 95-98 percent of dieters, short-term weight loss is followed by a regain of pounds in one to five years. In fact, a recent review of weight loss studies revealed that one-third to two-thirds of dieters actually end up heavier than before they started their diet." Their website is www.dietsurvivors.com.

... that State Representative Julie Hamos has come to the aid of wine aficionados who buy out-of-state wine online. Apparently we (the State of Illinois) treated out-of-state wine sellers differently from in-state wine sellers, preventing them from shipping wine to Illinoisians who purchased wine on line. But now the wine sellers can apply for Illinois shippers' licenses. Cheers!
From our readers:

TG: I was just reading the Traffic Guy column in the April 18 issue and it stated that when Station no. 5 closes, we will have a temporary trailer again at Ryan Field. This is incorrect. We used our GIS Department to perform a response time analysis to determine the best placement of Engine 25 during the construction period. As a result, Engine 25 will be housed at Fire Station no. 1 on Emerson. We will then have Wilmette response with us to the western district of Engine 25 so that we minimize any impact to response times. Let me know if you need any additional information. Thank you. -- Fire Chief Alan Berkowsky

From TG: Our apologies, Chief Berkowsky. We'll look for the Station 5 crews at Station 1 on Emerson - and thanks for the fine job you all do in keeping our citizens safe.

TG: In the [April 4] RoundTable the Traffic Guy reports on various street paving projects planned for this summer among which is ‘... and Wesley between Mulford and the north end of North Kirk.'

Should that read: ‘... and Wesley between Mulford and its end of North of Kirk,' since 1) Kirk runs east and west and 2) Wesley runs north of Kirk about 1/2 block where it ends at the Chute School parking lot?

And while I think about it, Wesley was repaved with concrete between Mulford and Kirk when the sewers were replaced. Is the entire street, curb to curb, to be repaved, or only some parts?Thanks and keep up the good reporting. - Howard Ellegant

From TG: TG has forwarded your request to the City and will apprise you of the answer.