The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

It’s kind of interesting when there’s not much going on — at least in the papers — and then suddenly there’s a flurry of activity.

Let’s first get to the positive news …

Today, the Chicago Tribune published information on the wonderful support the FISH Food Pantry in Carpentersville is providing to the community.

Feeding the poor has been the mission of the Friend, I Shall Help (FISH) food pantry in Carpentersville for more than 40 years. [...] The FISH food pantry is at the Meadowdale Shopping Center on Illinois Highway 25. For more information, call 847-428-4357.

Open from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the pantry is staffed solely by volunteers, receives no government funding and relies on donations. Families, who receive one week’s worth of food once a month, must provide verification of income and residency in the Carpentersville, East and West Dundee or Sleepy Hollow communities.

Keep up the fantastic work that you are doing for those in our community!

Next, the Daily Herald reports that the Village of Carpentersville has received double, top “Project of the Year” honors from the American Public Works Association, Fox Valley Branch, for the reconstruction of the Main Street Bridge and Sleepy Hollow Road.

[The Association] named the bridge renovation the Project of the Year for transportation projects in the $2 million to $10 million category.

The village’s overhaul of a stretch of Sleepy Hollow Road was honored as Project of the Year for transportation projects less than $2 million.

It is good to see all the hard work of Village staff and officials being recognized and regarded so highly.

“With all of the infrastructure challenges in the village, this shows what has been done,” Village Engineer Scott Marquardt said. “The recognition we are getting for them is good for the village.”

Marquardt said the two accolades are the first the village has received for transportation projects from the public works association.

The Village has also won awards for water quality and the bridge engineering design in the past.

So, what’s next?

Carpentersville now will compete against other branch winners at the Chicago Metropolitan Chapter level, Marquardt said.

But, unfortunately there always has to be bad news …

For instance, a “Speak Out” that appeared in the Courier-News:

Clean up C’ville: I am reading in the paper how the Carpentersville mayor Bill Sarto doesn’t like the old Carpentersville signs as they drive into town and wants to waste $70,000 on making some new ones made out of brick. Well, why don’t you try and start cleaning up this town? Like how about over on Oxford Lane?

Of course, that’s almost humorous when you match it up with another article that appeared in the Daily Herald today: “Carpentersville politics mires push for panel” … where Sarto is being criticized for being involved in doing exactly that (“cleaning up this town”).

Now, readers of Carpentersville Action Network are already familiar with the controversy created on the “Reviving the Beautification Committee?” thread, with more attempts to stymie efforts to help improve the town.

Sarto and others seem very committed to doing good things in this town. But there are a few voices that indeed want to dump on that and say that not enough is being done or that the actions are “political”.

I have to say … who gives a damn if those things are “political”?! Is it good for the people and community of the Village of Carpentersville? Yes! Then what is the problem?!

But, what is “political”? Do we elect people who are going to sit up on the Board and just show up for parades and ceremonies? Or do we want people who are actually going to do some real work?

It seems there are a few in the vocal minority that are satisfied with the former. I’m not one of those people. I’m glad to see President Sarto and others who are actually out there digging in the dirt in our town to help Carpentersville become a place we can be proud to call our home.

People accuse Sarto of fighting with everyone to “get his way”. But, if he’s fighting, who’s he fighting against? Those who are really guilty of “playing politics”. And, who’s he fighting for? The people of the Village of Carpentersville!

“Politically motivated”? I guess that’s what you label a politician who actually does things for the community while in office. Doing the job that people elected you to do is refreshing in an atmosphere where people say one thing and do another.

If this site seems like a “love fest for Sarto”, as “Concerned C’villian” said in a comment, it is only because it is mentioning what is really happening in the city — things that don’t make it into the papers often enough (or which aren’t considered when a controversy arises). Though, I have to admit that today’s headline on the web article from the Daily Herald was kind of interesting, when you look at the story and the ones who are playing politics. It seems pretty obvious that Sarto and Reece are quoted in the article as the ones making the “push for panel”, while others mentioned appear to want to be part of the “Carpentersville politics” that would hold such a group back.

Now, what about the entryway signs?

The entryway signs are part of an overall plan to give a better looking face to those coming to, or passing through, the Village. The plan was unanimously approved by the Village Board at the November 6th meeting. The funds for the signs were received via a grant, and additional funds were budgeted.

Does that mean that Fox View is being ignored?

It doesn’t seem so according to a December 2005 article in the Daily Herald. President Sarto said he was supportive of the revival of “Fox View Families Association”, which had the goal to “give the residents a voice in the community and a hand in shaping their fortunes.” And Police Chief David Neumann and the Department have been working on ways to effectively control crime in the neighborhood.

While overall there has been some improvement, there needs to be stronger efforts to curb the crime at Fox View, Neumann said. Residents need to notify police of criminals, and the management company needs to provide more security and evict troublemakers.

The police department, for its part, has been brainstorming measures to implement next year, including streamlining the investigation of trespassing complaints, Neumann said.

There is a lot of issues that seem to complicate that matter. But that shouldn’t mean that other things should be put off or not considered because there are so many issues to deal with.

Clearly there is a lot to work on. But, there has been a much progress made. As folks see the commitment to doing good things in Carpentersville, they need to stand behind it, speak up about it and get involved.