Say What, Son?

Every father is proud of his children. So, bear with me, because here is a short story about one of my boys who has accomplished something pretty special. Andrew is a senior at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. He's majoring in the classics. You know, just like the show "Rome" on HBO, only hopefully, with less emphasis on the erotic aspects of ancient life.

Yet, in the midst of his scholarly pursuit of the likes of Julius Caesar, Epectitus and Scipio Africanus, Andrew has found time to publish his first article exploring the mysteries of the Universe in Mercury magazine. Go figure?

Mercury is the official glossy tabloid of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Andrew's article titled "What's the Matter with Antimatter?" is the lead story in ASP's November/December 2005 edition.

I'm not going to blog on any longer about what a smart kid Andrew is, but I do have one question about the article he wrote. Nonne hiems, quae incendiis magnis multisque belli inter gentes omnes inducatur, inhibeat orbem terrarum ne nimium calescat? If anyone figures that out, let me know!

PS Andrew's brother David is a pretty great son, too.

Mayor's Blog is One!

The Elburn Mayor's Blog is one year old today. From the beginning, this blog has been a communications experiment. Could I keep it going? How critical would people be? Could I keep it interesting? Would it be worthwhile?

In the past year, I have published 104 entries on the mayor's blog. Several draft blogs were never published, and a couple were deleted because I just didn't like them. So, the average has been 2 blogs per week. Considering I sometimes feel like I'm working 2 full-time jobs, that's a satisfying effort to report.

When people have offered constructive criticism, I've made changes to individual blogs. Believe it or not, I've tried to be fair with my observations, but not everyone agrees 100% of the time. You can't write as much as I have in the past year, and not upset somebody. And, trying to please everyone, is the shortest route to failure.

It does seem like the blog has been interesting. The blog averages about 55 "hits" a day from all over the world. That probably doesn't sound like much to most of you, but for a web journal that is exclusively about Elburn events, news and politics, I am pretty pleased with that level of interest.

Now, has the mayor's blog been worthwhile? That is probably the toughest question to answer. I can't imagine Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power, recommending a local politician start a web log. Blogging is inconsistent with several of Greene's leadership lessons. Greene would say that leaders should "assume formlessness," and "always say less than is necessary." And, his advice is pretty sound, based on centuries of historical annotations.

So, what is the true worth of this mayor's blog. I believe its worth lies in two genuine aspirations: to provide information that Elburn residents wouldn't get from any other source, and to have some fun in this wonderful little community we call home.

If this blog ceases to be one or both of these things, it's time to stop. For the time being, with your continued support and encouragement, I shall continue. Thank you all for clicking here. Blog on...

Let Us Be Thankful!

In Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union Address, he outlined the reasons for our support of the Allied nations in World War II. In his speech, Roosevelt introduced the concept of four basic freedoms to which all people are entitled: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear.

Framed prints of Norman Rockwell's "Four Freedoms" hang in our village hall directly behind our village board. For me, they represent a constant reminder of why volunteering to serve our community is important. And, I am thankful for everyone connected with our village who sit through long hours of meetings to make the important decisions that affect our future together.

When Norman Rockwell finished "Freedom from Want," he was concerned that his painting depicted an overabundance in America that he did not intend. Overabundance is certainly a pervasive issue that is still a factor in modern suburbia today.

As mayor, I listen to many complaints about our village. Yet, in my heart, what I feel is incredibly energized and positive about our town.

I believe that Elburn is a wonderful dynamic community that always puts its people first. Yes, we have train horns, gun noise and traffic congestion. But, we also have friendly neighborhoods, good schools, spirited volunteers, honest merchants, faithful churches, and a low crime rate.

Our complaints are truly miniscule compared to the thanks we should be expressing to one another. On Thanksgiving, let us recognize and feel all that is good and right about Elburn. Let us be thankful!

Elburn Highlighted in Planning Magazine

The Village of Elburn was highlighted in the August, 2005 edition of Urban Land magazine, a publication of the Urban Land Institute distributed worldwide. The article titled "10 Ways to Make Your Community Competitive-Lessons Learned from the Chicago Region" uses Elburn as its example for Lesson #5.

Our village was recognized as one using both transit-oriented and conservation design techiques to accomodate growth.

An illustrated version of the article was also published by the Campaign for Sensible Growth in October, 2005. This enhanced version, including a hand-drawn Elburn future plan, is available in pamphet form, and can also be downloaded off the web.

So You Think Blogs Are Blather?

I was googling the Elburn Mayors Web Log this morning just to see who has linked to it recently. Lo and behold, this humble blog is footnoted in a scholarly paper written by Professor Sonya Salamon of the University of Illinois.

Her paper was presented at the Emery N. Castle Symposium "Frontiers in Resource & Rural Economics Conference." The symposium was held this past October at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The title of her paper is "Globalization, Technological Change, Metropolitan Places, and the Hinterlands."

In fact, if you download Sonya's powerpoint presentation from the Oregon State website, you will notice that at one point in her talk she linked "live" to the mayors blog. Once again, this technology is just way too cool!

If you would like to read Professor Salamon's paper, click on the link to the paper, and look for her comments about Elburn in the conclusion section on page 15.

So if you think blogs are just blather, think again. There are people out there listening to this new technology, and interested in what we bloggers have to say.

I wondered where those Oregon "hits" were coming from?

Then Blog You Must!

Yesterday Mayor Bill Gentes and his wife Christine stopped in for a surprise visit here in Elburn. For those of you who don't know, Bill is "The Blogging Mayor of Round Lake." Bill claims that searching for, finding and reading my web log was the inspiration that got him started with blogging. And, let me tell you, Mayor Gentes can really blog. I don't think he has missed a day in almost 8 months.

And, by now, I have read so much of his material that I felt like I was meeting someone for the first time that I already knew. This is one of the compelling aspects of blogging. If you choose to read our blogs, you really do get to know us. Blogging is an "open window" into what each of us as mayors are thinking. Agree with us, don't agree with us, you certainly begin to understand what makes us tick.

In December, Mayor Gentes will be representing local government bloggers as a panelist on the "blogging phenomenon" at the National League of Cities convention in North Carolina. That's really quite an honor, and I am certain that Mayor Gentes will do a great job representing all of us government "wonks" who enjoy blogging!

After our meeting, Mayor Gentes wrote in his blog that our first encounter was similar to one between Master Poe and "Grasshopper" from the classic "Kung Fu" television show starring David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine. So, in keeping with that theme, I offer the following exchange:

Grasshopper: Master, how can we find our way when all the paths seem dark?

Master Poe: The way runs through darkness. Through shadow. Neither is cause for despair. The five colors blind the eye. The five tones deafen the ear. The five flavors dull the taste. Therefore, the wiseman is guided by what he feels, not by what he sees.

Grasshopper: Master, blogging feels good.

Master Poe: Grasshopper, then blog you must!

Thank you Mayor Gentes and Christine for traveling way out of your way to visit Elburn, and for taking the time to visit someone who is as much a student of yours, as you are of him.

For more thought provoking conversations between Kung Fu's Master Poe and "Grasshopper," click here.

One More Beaver Picture

I have not seen Elburn's Bucky beaver in the past 10 days. I am told we have not been able to trap him, but he seems to have figured out a way to go back into hiding as well.

Maybe, he constructed a new door into his lodge to avoid the traps? Or, maybe he tromped off for another wetland, where he wouldn't get so much attention.

Or, maybe he's just a little publicity shy, and got tired of posing? We did have some fun at his expense in the newspapers and on the radio. Maybe, he's out looking for an agent?

Regardless, he made a bigger splash in Elburn than even he could have imagined. Good luck little Bucky. I suspect that we will meet again.

Veterans Day Recap

Yesterday's Veterans Day ceremony was sparsely attended, which was too bad because the weather was sunny, and we really had prepared a nice ceremony for the event.

Here Bob Britz reads off the symbolic meaning of each of the 13 folds necessary to properly fold an American flag with Jerry Lonigro and George Morris doing the honors.

Bill Grabarek read off summaries of each branch of the US Armed Forces as their flags were posted around the star points of our M60 battle tank memorial. Bill also concluded our ceremony with a touching poem about Veterans Day.

Earlier in the ceremony, Elburn Police Chief Jim Linane shared US Census facts about Veterans Day with the audience.

I gave a short speech at the memorial, and once again, was able to play "Taps" for our veterans facing east in front of the Legion building at exactly 11:00 am.

When I learned to play cornet in the fifth grade, I never thought that I would still be playing "Taps" 42 years later. But, doing so has been one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences of my life.

Those 24 somber notes mean so much to people. The eloquent emotion of that simple bugle call goes through me each time I play it. It still give me chills. And, it gets harder to hit the "high" note each year.

Keeping Faith with the Fallen

Today is Veterans Day. Today we remember in silence the brutal noise of battle. Today we salute lost generations and stolen futures. As we gather together in ceremony, we think of endless rows of military graves in distant lands. We think of grieving parents and orphaned children. We contemplate the horror of war, and what it really means.

War is the same all over the world. War is about bloodshed and broken bodies. War is about hunger and disease. War brings mankind down to the depths. And yet, war lifts us to new heights. War is the ultimate endeavor. Everything else we are challenged with as human beings pales in comparison to war.

Today we remember our dedicated veterans and soldiers who have accepted the demands of war unflinchingly. We remember those who served, and those serving now, in spite of the risks. We especially remember those who have died in battle, that we might live in freedom.

Let us always celebrate that freedom. We, who can choose our government, and walk freely in our streets, must appreciate our liberty. Our greatest tribute to those who serve is to keep faith with the fallen, and to fiercely protect our freedoms.

Every soldier who serves is a real human being with secrets, talents and passions. Every soldier who serves has a family that loves them. Every soldier who serves has human failings and human weaknesses. Yet, each soldier who serves sacrifices their individual freedom to protect the freedom of those of us back home. Soldiers are the ones who preserve our liberty.

This is a debt we cannot and should not forget. We cannot repay our veterans for what they have done. All we can do is see to it that our land is preserved for every man, woman, and child who succeeds them.

We can do that by living civic lives worthy of the personal sacrifice of our soldiers. We can and should give back to our communities, in appreciation for all that has been given to us.

Today our veterans stand with heads held high. Our veterans are here to salute their fallen comrades. Yet we, who have not served as soldiers, salute our veterans. We salute their bravery, their honor, their determination and their sacrifice. God bless our soldiers. And, God bless our veterans.

Elburn's Bucky Beaver on "The MIX!"

Eric and Kathy's radio show this morning talked about Elburn's uncatchable "Bucky" the beaver, and the pictures of him posted on the mayor's blog. After a good friend Bryan Pinner let me know what was going on, I called in and talked to Eric and Kathy myself.

Since Eric is a "highly decorated" honorary Elburn police officer, I offered to put him in charge of catching "Little Bucky." Eric wasn't sure he was up to the task, but Kathy said if anyone could catch "Bucky," it was Eric.

Eric told me that I took some really good pictures of "Bucky." And, Kathy said that "I was quick with a camera."

Eric then asked if we were offering a reward for catching "Bucky." But said, after pausing, if he did catch him, that would probably be reward enough.

Obviously, our conversation was meant to be good-natured and humorous.

Since the radio spot this morning, the "Mayor's Blog" had over 500 hits in the next 4 hours. I hope everyone enjoyed looking at Bucky's pictures, as much as I enjoyed taking them for you.

Bucky is a cute beaver. But, we do have to try to catch and relocate him before he "gnaws" down the neighborhood. Unfortunately, new homes and photogenic "beavers" don't really "MIX" that well.

Thank you Eric and Kathy for having me on your show!

Elburn Metra Parking Taking Shape

The Metra parking lot in Elburn is finally taking shape. When commuter service starts sometime next January, the parking lot will have 300 spaces available. The poles visible here will support the wired numbering system for the parking spaces.

Parking will cost $1.25 per day, and the money will be placed in a numbered collection box. There will be no permit parking at either the Elburn or LaFox parking lots.

It seems like there is still much work to be done at the Elburn site, but the contractors are really moving rapidly now.

Let's hope that the weather holds up, and we continue to have mild fall.

Metra in High Gear on Elburn Platform

This is the site of the future Elburn Metra platform and station. According to the mile marker, visible on the right, it is exactly 43 miles from here to the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago. Metra commuter service is scheduled to start from Elburn sometime next January.

Metra is working feverishly to complete the Elburn train platform in time for the inaugural run. The actual Elburn station building itself will not be constructed until next spring. But, Metra has assured us that they will have a temporary warming shelter available at the Elburn stop this winter.

Of course, with Elburn being the new end of the line, most commuters will be able to board the waiting train immediately. They shouldn't have to stand out in the cold for very long.

Sergeant Beaver Reviews the Troops

It looks like Sgt. Beaver is reviewing his new recruits from Canada. The end of the line is looking a little ragged there, Drill Sergeant!

Right now, Sarge is probably telling them: "Dress that line, you hosers!" "This ain't no Great White North, eh!" "Take off, and you'll be looking for me in a another channel."

Don't Miss the Show!

A few years back, I was so busy that I simply failed to notice the beauty of fall. It seemed like I just turned around, the leaves were down, and all the branches were bare.

Ever since then, I promised myself that I wouldn't let that happen again. So, each year I try to get out with my camera and take colorful pictures of the changing leaves of autumn.

This picture is from a small woods located not in a county forest preserve, but right here in Elburn. It's always a great spot to take pictures, and then afterwards, to sit on a bench, breathe in the cool air and reflect.

My advice is to get outside, look around and enjoy the fall colors now. We are just a little past peak color, but the leaves will be gone before you know it. Don't miss the show like I did.

We're Definitely Starting to Bond

OK, it's true, little bucky beaver and I are starting to bond. The problem is he can't stay in Elburn much longer. He is doing too much damage to the neighborhood trees at night.

We never used to see him in the daytime, presumably because he was sleeping in his lodge. But, ever since we've put the traps there, he won't go home. That's actually pretty smart. So, he's out most of the day swimming in the pond or napping on the shore.

Eager Beaver Spotted in Elburn Pond

Elburn's Prairie Highland beaver was in a "photogenic" mood today. Art Sanchez called to say he had spotted our eager beaver sunning himself on the shore. So, I ran over to snap his profile.

He definitely looks like a beaver, and not a muskrat, as some have suggested. I say that because I saw him "slap" his tail in the water several times with great effect. This morning I also saw the beaver let a canada goose sit right beside him.

But, needless to say, he was pretty wary of a local mayor with his camera.