Traffic Guy

The Traffic Guy hears...

... that Evanston's beaches yielded their jetsam last week to volunteers from the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

... that Junad Rizki, one of Evanston's gadflies, took his pig to City Council last week - and this time she had blazing red lips to echo the national political tempest about "lipstick on a pig." Mr. Rizki has not named the pig, or at least not made the name known widely, so TG shall call it Stuffy.

... that the City has approved a pilot "green alley" project, under which the south east-west leg of the alley north of Dobson and east of Ashland will be paved with permeable concrete. The porous paving is supposed to reduce the rate and quantity of stormwater runoff; reduce stress on and preserve the capacity of the City's sewer system; recharge the ground water; and filter silt, pollutants and debris. The project, which will cost about $260,000, was designed in-house. Sounds good.

... that the City is going to sell some surplus equipment at auction next week. Listen, we preserve our vehicles as much as possible: We're selling a 1995 Chevy van with 60,000 miles on it; the original cost was $17,868 and we've put $17,867 of repairs into it. Here are some others: two 1991 Ford dump trucks - $57,836 (original cost); $119,689 (repairs); 56,513 (miles); $79,226 (original cost); $141,233 (repairs) and 91,308 (miles).

... that vehicle stickers will go on sale Nov. 3, and the City has approved a contract with the company Credentials to process the applications and payments. Last year's receipts showed 44,673 registrations. The deadline is Jan. 12 of next year.

... that there soon will be a four-way stop at Orrington and Central.

... that late last month a woman walking her dog near Wesley and Main met a coyote, also apparently out for a morning stroll. Keep a close eye on small pets, now.

... that, speaking of that area (the RT neighborhood), a new fire-alarm system will likely be installed at Robert Crown Center soon. Apparently there has not been a fire-alarm system there since 1974. The place does have heat-sensors connected to the 911 center but, according to the City, there's no audible alarm in the place.

... that one of the two water mains in the Arboretum near Emerson has to be repaired. The east main (the one needing repair), together with its western twin, provides that great Evanston water to Skokie.

... that City fire investigators say the cause of a fire late last month at the Phoenix Inn Restaurant, 608 Davis St., was most likely faulty electrical. The damage was estimated at about $140,000.

...that the U.S. House of representatives has approved the Great lakes Compact by a 390-25 House vote. This came one month after the Senate's unanimous approval. The Compact restricts the diversion of Great Lakes water and sets reasonable standards for water use inside the basin.

... Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder recorded a song "Go All The Way" at the request of Ernie Banks. It promises the Cubs will win the World Series someday: "And when the day comes for that last winning run/ And I'm crying and covered with beer/ I look to the sky and know I was right today/ Someday we'll go all the way." TG hopes that "someday" is this year and Eddie's song breaks the curse.
Go Cubs!

... that the "Celebrate Urban Birds!" Project of Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology has begun a "Little Green Places" contest. Here's what project leader Karen Purcell writes: "We want to see photos, drawings, or videos of Little Green Spaces that are good for birds because they provide shelter, food, or water. It could be an ivy-covered wall, flowers next to the stoop, a window box, a container garden on a rooftop or balcony, school garden, or potted plants by a library entryway.

We're asking participants to send a photo, drawing, or link to their video to urbanbirds@cornell.edu. We'll send the first 50 entries a copy of the new "Celebrate Little Green Places" poster and there will be other great prizes. The deadline is October 31." Visit here for more information..

From our readers:

TG: Other communities in Illinois have stopped AT&T from constructing VRADS in their cities. Why is this City allowing AT&T to deface the parkways with huge, ugly metal boxes that are for their profit? This does not contribute to a green City. We should have a choice rather than finding out after the fact in a newspaper article. The state granted the permits. Why do they have that right over the cities and towns in Illinois? AT&T says that Comcast has a monopoly, and they have the right to compete. Well, it takes one to know one! I cannot imagine how accountable alderpeople could have let this happen. At least come to the defense of the environment of the city of Evanston. Isn't that their job? The City has reduced the permits from 110 to 95. Whoopee - perhaps to 00 would be more responsible. Now the City (us) is going to pay to shield the ugly boxes with new plantings - $1,500 per landscape plan, why not AT&T? They will gain the most $$ from this debacle, not the residents. The map of locations is available on the City of Evanston website under AT &T Lightspeed locations. AT&T is moving fast with construction. Write or call your alderpeople ASAP. - Cheryl Henley

From TG: TG shares your aesthetic abhorrence of VRADs, but also understands, that allowing the VRADs was a move by the state legislature (and Evanston's legislators Coulson, Hamos and Schoenberg, who all voted for it) to allow competition for Comcast. Also, although the landscaping money is being doled out by the City, TG believes that it is AT&T money.

The Traffic Guy thinks ...

... that the wildflowers and other native plantings on the island of the Dawes Park lagoon are sensational - they're local, perennial and low-maintenance. This kind of thinking helps make our City green.

... that this is the time to visit the Merrick Rose Garden, at Oak and Lake, before the second blooms fade.

... that this sign might be read to indicate slow bumps ahead - as opposed to most everywhere else in Evanston, where there are speed humps.
So which kind is faster?