The Daily Herald du lieu suivant : Chicago, Illinois • Page 89

Daily Herald your news, send us your www.dailyherald.com photos. Monday, December 27, 1999 Your NEIGHBOR your section. section Send is us 5 WITH NEWS OF THE PEOPLE AND EVENTS OF THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS c24679C11L4 Town Square's design doesn't account for safety Good morning! VOICES OF OUR NEIGHBORS Are you more or less concerned with potential Y2K problems now that the new year is almost here? Karen Hinchcliff Administrative assistant Rosemont Not concerned. I just don't think it's going to be a shutdown like everyone says. Jim Winarski Programmer Wheeling Not really concerned.

I don't think the world will come to an end because of computer glitches. It's been blown out of proportion. Marilyn Risko l'eacher Bartlett I am not that concerned. I think if there are any problems they will be able to switch things over to the human side to take care of everything. Robert Lee Sales Prospect Heights Less.

I don't see any reason to be concerned. Rich Jacobs Electronic Technician Streamwood Not really. I think the government and business have taken care of any radical problems that may come up. Winfred Williams Auditor Hoffman Estates I don't even think about it. I don't let it get to me.

Paul Sobiski Engineer Schaumburg I'm less concerned, but prepared. I have food, blankets, batteries, flashlights, that kind of stuff. But it does seem like everyone has their act together. Eric Flondor Student Elk Grove Village I'm not very concerned, probably because I am ignorant as to what the problems really are. Jim Hamilton Senior editor Grayslake Less.

I've read that everyone says they are compliant. Joe Bakshis Manager Libertyville Not at all. I don't see any credible people worried about it. What's on your mind? What is your reaction to Issues in the community? Share your views with the Daily Herald opinion line, (847) 427-4580, or e-mail us at dailyherald.com to have your comments included in the Neighbor Fencepost. Contact us Birth announcements, college news; military news: Ardelle Chrastka, (847) 427-4494: I am very disappointed with the Arlington Town Square building.

Our city planner, the manager and those responsible should have mandated enough parkway or wide sidewalks for safety's sake. Why didn't they make the building sitting on the top of the tracks on Arlington Heights Road concave instead of curvature? There's nothing but a path around there, which is potentially dangerous. We gave away a street for You don't even find anything like that in the Chicago Loop. This was nothing but greed by those responsible. It's just a matter of time for the first tragedy to take place.

Also, where are they going to put snow removal? could have been downscaled so easily. For example, with one or two fewer theaters. Everyone respon- sible for this should be ashamed of themselves. Shouldn't we expect more brain power from our city manager and planners and those think they totally ignored the aspect. Eleanor McKernan Arlington Heights Neighbor Fence post No Toys for Tots drop box like many other Wheeling residents, donate the Toys for Tots.

How sad to find that a town as large as ours does not have a drop-off point for these gifts. I spoke to the village and they knew of no place within our area to do this. It would have to be given to areas surrounding Wheeling. Would it be so hard for us to designate our village hall for this purpose? Maybe this idea could be put on the agenda for the future. C.

Quedens Wheeling More Neighbor Fencepost Page 3 City sign too tacky Driving down Kirchoff Road I noticed that there was something being put up in front of Rolling Meadows City Hall, on the corner of Kirchoff Road and Owl Lane. What I later discovered was that it was to be our new community events board. At first I was OK with the idea, but when it was finally put up, I was repulsed by its appearance. Personally, I think it is too flashy and tacky to be in a residential neighborhood. Not to mention that no one really gets a chance to read the events because they flash by too fast, and there is something blocking your vision in both directions.

Blocking the way, heading east there are trees and heading west there are trees again and the flagpole. Another thing, has anyone even aksed residents if the light intensity is bothering them in any way? Being a former resident of those nearby houses, I know how INDUSTRY bright the parking lot lights are and how much light has been added with the sign: Also, downtown Rolling Meadows is focused around the corner of Meadow Drive and Kirchoff Road, so isn't it logical to put the sign there? That is the location of the old board, so why not replace the old with the new? Victoria Bartik Rolling Meadows Research needed before tax There is a group of citizens in Prospect Heights circulating petitions to attempt to create special service areas designed to bring Lake Michigan water to specific sections of the city. According to the mayor, if the city council authorizes special service areas there will be no referendum: The city formed a "water study committee" to gather information and to present the facts to the affected residents. Let's get educated before we unwittingly become taxed out of our homes. Barbara G.

Vidock Ann Marie Dalessandro Prospect Heights OUR Business thrives in suburban commerce center World War Il but it was the arrival of Motorola Inc. to Schaumburg in.1976 that defined the Northwest suburbs as an excellent home for business. Started by Paul V. Galvin-in Chicago more than 70 years ago, Motorola has made its name as a leading-edge technology company and a pioneer in twoway radio, automotive radios, paging; cellular phones and satellite telecommunications. The company's move to the suburbs kicked off two decades of robust growth for the company.

Motorola had sales of $3 billion and 71,500 employees in 1980, four years after it moved to the Northwest suburbs. Today, the company has more than $29 billion in revenue and 133,000 employees, 24,000 of them in Illinois. It has major plants in Schaumburg, Libertyville, Arlington Heights and Harvard. "We've continued to renew ourselves," said Albert Brashear, senior BY MATT AHADO Daily Herald Staff Writer Few companies are more closely associated with the city of Chicago than Sears, Roebuck and Co. After all, the city's most famous building bears the name.

surprises visitors to learn that Sears has headquarters not in Ameri-: ca's tallest skyscraper, but in a' sprawling, low-slung campus in Northwest suburban Hoffman Estates: PRAIRIES Sears is have only one of many from the compa- STONE nies that migrated city to the suburbs, especially the thriving corridor along I-90 in Northwest Cook County. Sears moved its retail operations to Hoffman Estates in 1992, and its corporate division followed a few years: later. "The move allowed us to consolidate our operations and cut some costs," said Sears spokeswoman Peggy Palter. "It was getting very expensive to in downtown Chicago. Plus, Daily Herald Black operate the location is very accessible from all is the Higgins Road entrance to the Prairie Stone ofice complex on the Sears property in Hoffman parts of the metropolitan area." Estates.

Motorola headquarters, below, is in Schaumburg and overlooks the Northwest Tollway. The suburbs grew steadily since 2000 CROSSING CENTURIES rate communications. "The one thing that repeats itself is the growth." The emergence of the Northwest suburbs as a center of commerce is attributable as much to businesses that were born in the area as it is to the corporate giants who moved in later. Comdisco a technology services company based in Rosemont, was born and bred in the suburbs, and its founders wouldn't have it any other way. The business was founded in 1969 by Ken Pontikes, who borrowed $5,000 president and director of corpo- See INDUSTRY on Page 3 Daily Herald File Photo Charter organizers cringe at tasting their medicine The organizers of the Thomas Jefferson Charter School may be starting to understand how their criticism rang in the ears of all those local school officials.

While the parents who attended last week's special meeting seem committed to sticking out the hard times, they also were not afraid to express their frustrations. The last-minute decisions and all the uncertainty around the charter school have some of the parents on edge, even as they praise the school for what goes on in its classrooms. The parents' comments seemed to tap a well of frustration, "This is a joint operation," board member Mary Witte said. "We are uno is We not inal wouldn't Board putting Marilyn want doing board to in even this member keep Keller member, to incredible the imagine." Lou said, school Rittmeyer, inconvenience Davis hours "This an had that board orig- you. this you advice for parents: "Stay positive.

Flush all that negative stuff down the toilet." They did find some sympathy from parent John Martin, who is helping to set up carpooling arrangements. "I was just stressed out for making these phone Martin said. "I don't know how you've done it for two 3 Galloro Wong or three years." Seeing the other side: When children from the Willow Grove Kindergarten Center in Buffalo Grove made their holiday wish lists, they asked Santa for Pokemon cards and Barbie dolls. They were surprised, then, when they received a batch of letters from children who asked for such basic necessities as underwear and a warm winter coat. As part of a holiday service project, the Willow Grove children decided to adopt about 40 needy families who sent letters to Santa via the city of Chicago post office.

"We have so much here," said Willow Grove employee Sue Winston, who helped organize the drive. "We felt it was an important lesson for our children here." Each classroom adopted two families. The Willow Grove students and staff members spent hours purchasing and wrapping the gifts. Winston persuaded a supervisor from United Parcel Service to donate the cost of delivering all of the gifts to the families in Chicago. Willow Grove teacher Carrie Dyer said the charity project fit nicely with the school's recent emphasis on diversity and respecting different holiday traditions.

"We're trying to instill in the kids a feeling of generosity and compassion for other people," Dyer said. "We talked about how fun it is to open gifts and, for these kids, there wouldn't be very many." The excitement spread as the kindergartners tried to outdo each other with acts of kindness. "They could imagine how nice it would be to see their faces when they get this surprise box of gifts," Dyer said. "The enthusiasm was contagious." No jacket required: At a recent Wheeling Township Elementary District 21 school board meeting, three of the four male board members followed President Tim Hilgenberg's call for casual attire. Hilgenberg, who was out with the flu, had suggested the more laid-back approach because school board meetings had become the only times he wears a suit and tie.

Ron Smolin, Larry Krulewich and Phil Pritzker adhered to the request, donning sweaters but no neck ties. The lone holdout was Arlen Gould, who stuck with a gray business suit and a tie. "Some of us are still working," he joked. Clapping erasers: Susan Berge, orchestra director for Prospect Heights Elementary District 23, recently served as a guest conductor at the Iowa Music Educators Association conference at Iowa State University Wayne L. Wagner, head debate coach at Rolling Meadows High School, was honored at the National Forensic League's Desert Sun national tournament for his work with students David Hilquist, Oakton Community College vice president for business and finance, was reappointed to the professional development committee of the Central Association of College and University Business Officers.

Daily Herald staff writer Melissa: Knopper contributed to this column, Call Vince Galloro (districts 59 and 214, Jefferson Charter School) at (847) 427-4487. Call Dwayne T. Wong (districts 21, 62, 207 and Oakton Community College) at (847) 427-4491. 1.