Not all Babies come home from the Hospital in two days. Mine came home 46 days later. My daughter Madeline was born Dec. 2, 2009. She was born with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). CDH is a birth defect in which there is an abnormal opening in the diaphragm allowing part of the organs from the belly (stomach, spleen, liver, and intestines) to go up into the chest cavity, not allowing the lungs to completely develop and forcing the heart to move.  Not all babies survive this devastating birth defect.  In fact, statistic show there is a 50 percent survival rate. Madeline was also born …

The Village of La Grange is considering its options for waste removal, as its current waste hauling contract will expire soon. The making, transporting, and storing of garbage creates long-term environmental problems. Therefore, waste hauling programs should charge increasingly higher fees to those who produce more garbage. Making the products and packaging we use and discard every day consumes a great deal of energy and creates pollution. Extracting the raw materials for our stuff pollutes our air, land and water. Drilling for oil is an energy-intensive process that pollutes vital resources…

Good afternoon, this is Chief Mike Holub of the La Grange Police Department with a community alert message.  Yesterday during the noon hour, an elderly couple from the 400 block of south La Grange Road became the victims of a ruse burglary.  A ruse burglary is when entry is gained to a residence by deceptive means. Once inside the residence, three men in their mid 40s and of mixed ethnic background, distracted the couple with a fraudulent story.  They made sure the couple was separated and distracted and then they committed the theft. We are grateful that the couple was not inured; however …

I am writing this as an endorsement of the caucus candidates, Scott Mesick and Patty Rocco. Unlike the Rose Party candidates, since Trustee Mesick and Rocco received the caucus endorsement, they have openly stated their positions in public and individually on each of their own blog sites. They have not wavered since then. I find it interesting to look back in time and see what the candidates seeking election thought were the hot issues of the time and what positions they took on these issues. 2003 is an interesting place to start. In 2003/2004, there were 5 candidates running for the position…

To the Editor: Mr. Hayes, the senior member of the Rose Party troika, sounds the party theme when he states “One of his top priorities for the village is to improve the commercial areas in order to ease the residential tax burden………..” To see if the theme has merit we compare 2009 sales tax and property tax figures for La Grange Park and the four surrounding communities.  In column 2 of the table below, the villages are ordered by increasing sales tax revenues. The general property tax, corrected for population differences, is in column 3. Village Sales (M$) General Prop (M$) La Grange Park…

To the Editor: As a former LaGrange Park Trustee I have witnessed the village’s financial struggles. The primary source of funds for essential services of police, fire, and public works are real estate taxes from homeowners and sales taxes from retail businesses. Unfortunately retailers have been fleeing our limited and moribund retail areas. To many of our caucus anointed village officials any change or improvement to the retail areas is an anathema. The Rose Party candidates for trustee, Tim Hayes, Susan Storcel, and Jason Vitel are willing to act to revitalize the LaGrange Park business …

Jack Ryder, chairman of the Rose Party, and his colleagues have been promoting their political party as offering a choice for La Grange Park. You certainly have a choice and in this letter I want to discuss an issue the Rose Party prefers you not think about. The following is a sample of proximate communities that, I believe, have political parties involved in their local elections. Alsip, Bellwood, Broadview, Brookfield, Chicago Ridge, Countryside, Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Harwood Heights, Hazel Crest, Justice, Lyons, Maywood, Melrose Park, Morton Grove, Westchester, etc. Feel free to …

Letter to the Editor: On April 5 please reelect Joyce Easter Fitch to the District 102 School Board. A lifelong resident of the La Grange area, Joyce is the candidate with the knowledge, experience, and good judgment we need on the Board. Joyce taught in Western Springs and District 102 and has been an administrator serving as the 102 Director of Technology. She has taught on the college level and been a featured presenter at national conventions. Most recently, her four-year experience as a 102 School Board member completes her knowledge at every level of education. People who know Joyce …

I endorse the five incumbents who are running for re-election to the Districy 102 School Board. Those candidates are Dawn Aubert, Don Sands, David May, Joyce Easter Fitch, and Peter Tiemeyer. These five incumbents remain committed to continuing their important work. Each of them brings unique skills and perspectives to deliberations, and the value of their work as a team is far greater than the sum of their individual contributions. Over the next several years, there will be significant importance in maintaining experience and continuity within the board as it works to address financial …

To the Editor: As a parent and District 102 resident, I'm looking forward to the upcoming election as a chance to show my support for candidates Aubert, Fitch, May, Sands, and Tiemeyer, and all that the current Board of which they're a part has accomplished in just a few, short years. My sons had many exceptional teachers in their years at Ogden and Park Junior High, but with one son having entered LT just this past year, I have seen firsthand how recent changes at Park have more fully prepared the District's students for the rigors of high school. I have been especially pleased to see how …

I am saddened after seeing yet another political piece generated by the LaGrange Park Caucus or one of their supporters. With the exception of the mailed piece for all the Caucus candidates (Park, Library and Village Boards); everything I have seen has done nothing but spread untruths, innuendos, thinly veiled threats and whatever fear-based rumor they could muster. They have not touted the attributes of their candidates, because they are uncharacteristically weak. There is a great line from the “West Wing” TV series, “Jed Bartlett, not quite as mean spirited as the other guy. Doesn’t really …