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wilmettebeacon.com SOUND OFF
the wilmette beacon | November 15, 2018 | 27
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From WilmetteBeacon.com as of Nov. 12
1. Update: Missing man in Kenilworth found
alive and safe
2. Loyola earns rematch with Lincoln-Way
East with shutout of Maine South
3. Police Reports: Man found unconscious
at the wheel in Wilmette
4. 10 Questions with Ellie Finnigan, New
Trier cross-country
5. Wilmette resident keeps making music
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Regina Dominican posted this photo on
Nov. 7 with the caption:
“Our peer leaders hosted a fun lunch today
for their freshmen partners where they had
pizza and played dodgeball!”
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“Residents living on Lake Avenue, Wilmette
Avenue, Sheridan Road, Green Bay Road,
Ridge Road, Skokie Boulevard and Hibbard
Road are reminded to place leaves for
collection on the parkway, not on the street,
to maintain safe travel conditions on these
heavily used roads.”
@VoWilmette, Village of Wilmette,
posted on Nov. 6
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go figure
11
An intriguing number from this week’s edition
Number of times Jan
Schakowsky has been
elected U.S. Rep. in the
9th District, Page 3
From the Editor
Veterans have special
place in local workforce
Eric DeGrechie
eric@wilmettebeacon.com
Just a few days prior
to Veterans Day, I
received a press
release from the Village
of Wilmette stating that
12 percent of the Village’s
workforce is made up of
veterans.
The Village reviewed
employment numbers
and found that 25 Village
employees are veterans
representing the Air Force,
Army, Marines and Navy.
Veterans are employed in
full- and part-time positions
providing civilian
service in the police, fire,
water management, village
administration, community
development and
Jacoby
From Page 24
the survey to be controlling
and instead decided
to partially opt-in to the
minimum wage ordinance
and opt-out of the sick
leave ordinance.
We generally expect our
elected officials to make
decisions based on their
best judgment, considering
public opinion, but not
bound by it. This expectation
recognizes that many
issues are complicated,
and public opinion may
engineering and public
works departments.
“The wide range of
departments employing
veterans is a testament
to the diverse skill sets
veterans bring to any
workplace,” said Michael
Braiman, assistant village
manager.
The Village held its
annual Veterans Day ceremony
with government
officials, American Legion
Wilmette Post 46 and the
Wilmette police and fire
departments taking part at
Veterans Park.
“The Village extends its
gratitude to all the women
and men who have served
in the armed forces,” Village
Manager Tim Frenzer
said. “We are honored that
many of our local veterans
have chosen to live and
work in Wilmette.”
My grandfather, who
passed away in 1997,
served in World War II,
one of four brothers to do
so. I always think of them
on Veterans Day and this
year was no different.
Letter to the Editor
Centennial Prairie removal
I am writing to express
my complete befuddlement
as to why the Village
and the Park District
Board would consider for
one minute the idea of
removing the Centennial
Prairie, ostensibly to use
the land to install an underground
METAL stormwater
detention tank.
This prairie flourishes
as a living, breathing and
continuously growing ecosystem
because it is where
it belongs in the land. It accomplishes
more than any
metallic tank could ever do
in its place. This prairie’s
roots extend deeply into the
ground, hold carbon in the
ground, and clean the water
taken in, thereby keeping it
from needing to go into a
retention tank or any other
gray infrastructure system.
This prairie nurtures and
shelters birds, insects and
pollinators of all kinds. I
believe that removing Centennial
Prairie is antithetical
to ethical, intelligent
and forward thinking stewardship
of the land.
The Centennial Prairie is
a gift. It is a thing of beauty
and a thing that can instruct
Village government and the
people of Wilmette on how
we should all be working to
utilize native plants to repair
not be grounded on facts,
analysis, experience, and
law. Moreover, it’s often
difficult to know where
residents stand on an issue.
The combination of a
vocal minority and a silent
majority can create a false
impression.
But what about this
opt-in/opt-out controversy?
Should public opinion, as
expressed in the referenda,
control the outcome? Under
the unique circumstances
of this situation, I believe it
should. The pros and cons
of the County’s minimum
wage and sick leave
ordinances were known by
residents when they voted.
The outcome truly reflects
the values and philosophy
of the community.
In my opinion, the
Village Board is acting
responsibly by changing
direction and opting-in.
Maintaining a status quo
that’s strongly opposed
by 70 to 80 percent of the
village’s residents would
be divisive and would have
negative consequences far
beyond the opt-in/opt-out
controversy.
the environment. Instead we
continue to cover over land
with paving, lawns, tanks
and invasive species from
Europe and Asia.
The Village and Park
District have made some
strides in recognizing the
effectiveness of native
plants in some small, discreet
applications but fail
to take a holistic approach
or consider the impact of
undoing wholly successful
projects such as Centennial
Prairie. A tank is a
one trick pony compared
to the multiple levels of
utility the Prairie provides.
It would truly be a shame
and a great opportunity
missed if the Village fails
to preserve the Centennial
Prairie or to take advantage
of its service to the
environment of Wilmette.
Please, in the interest of
our environment and the
well-being of the people of
Wilmette, preserve Centennial
Prairie.
Joann Dinneen
Wilmette resident
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