The Doings Western Springs

Letter: Osteopathic physicians provide best of both worlds

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:39:30 -0500

In response to Kami Booth’s article, Look outside the medicine cabinet when treating pain, I would like to suggest that Booth and her readers consider having their medical care provided by a doctor of osteopathic medicine. Booth is correct when she states traditional medical students receive limited training in muscular mechanics. Osteopathic medical students, in addition to a rigorous curriculum and training in all areas of traditional medicine (like their MD-counterparts) also undergo a minimum of two years studying the musculoskeletal system. The osteopathic philosophy was founded on the belief that the body has the inherent ability to heal itself. …

Letter: No to for-profit detention facilities anywhere in Illinois

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:24:01 -0500

On Saturday, April 6, many people gathered to protest an attempt by Corrections Corporation of America to build a for-profit detention center, this time in Joliet. Profit motives do not belong anywhere in our justice system, especially immigration. Those lacking proper documentation are not criminals. Detaining the undocumented, or anyone, should not be for profit. But isn’t profit a primary goal of a for-profit operation? How else to attract investors? Our justice system should never seek to arrest and detain anyone for the benefit of private investors, especially those whose only offense is lack of proper documentation. To do this …

Letter: Common sense solutions to gun violence needed

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:47:21 -0500

On behalf of our members and supporters, the League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area strongly urges our U. S. representatives and senators to pass common sense solutions to the gun violence that is plaguing our nation. It is time for Congress to adopt legislation that will close the gun-show loophole, increase penalties for straw purchases of guns, ban assault weapons, place limits on high capacity ammunition magazine size, and fund research and reporting on gun violence in America. Curbing gun violence is a critical matter of public safety, public health, and public confidence. We support the many …

Candidate to involve residents in Indian Head Park

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:46:00 -0500

Candidates to involve residents I am writing today to ask my fellow residents of Indian Head Park voters to elect Amy Wittenberg, Brenda O’Laughlin, and Tom Hinshaw to the Village Board. When I left office, we had a balanced budget, residents active in various committees, a new park, roads in great shape, a new public works building, Walgreens anchoring a new plaza, (formally a mobile home sales site), development of Ashbrook, open budget hearings, and a plan for the future. Today our streets have been ignored for years, and a budget crisis with future deficits on the …

Hinshaw, O’Laughlin and Wittenberg for Indian Head Park

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:46:00 -0500

I support Tom Hinshaw, Brenda O’Laughlin and AmyJo Wittenberg for Indian Head Park trustee. They will bring a new level of transparency, openness, and collaboration to the Village Board, and will engage our village government to seek new ways to solve the issues facing our village. Our village faces yearly deficits of $250,000 but our current board has not shown the ability to think creatively for solutions. There is little true collaboration with this board and the residents and there is no attempt to discuss specific goals of the village by the board with the residents. This board has shown …

Barker, Gilman, Sengpiel and Violante for District 107

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:20:01 -0500

As I look back on the last four years, my departure from the Pleasantdale School Board is going to be, without a doubt, bittersweet. I will miss looking out for the best interests of not only the families and children of our district, but more importantly serving the taxpayers. I am confident that the district will be in very capable hands with conscientious and dedicated people like Kim Barker, Doug Gilman, Greg Sengpiel and Kristin Violante ready and willing to fill the shoes of the outgoing board. I have poured over their web site and realize that many of their …

Support Mirabile and Hawbaker for District 107 School Board

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:20:01 -0500

In recent weeks I have read many of the letters regarding the upcoming District 107 School Board election. The letters have been very insightful as to why the individual feels his or her candidate is the best person. The letters are from a personal perspective and try to give the voter who may not know the candidate a better idea of who he or she really is. My endorsements are selfish ones based on how my children have done and are doing in District 107. They have done great! The three that have moved on from Pleasantdale have done outstanding …

Letter: Barker dedicated to Pleasantdale

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:58:01 -0500

I am a parent. I like Pleasantdale schools. The school district has earned The Red Apple and other awards which have lead me, and keep me here. The beacon of excellence shines from the committed teachers, administration, and parents. Kim Barker is a parent who invests in her community and wants it to continue to shine. I have been impressed mostly with Barker’s unwavering dedication to make things better, not to be satisfied with “ as good as last year” but to improve. Our community and schools need people invested like Barker. She has taken the lead on neighborhood streets/maintenance …

Letter: Violante for District 107 Board

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:56:00 -0500

I strongly encourage people to support Kristin Violante, candidate for the Elementary School District 107 Board. In my role as a trustee with the village of Willowbrook, I have worked closely with Violante and seen firsthand the strong work ethic and professionalism she brings to the job. Since day one in her position as the superintendent of Parks and Recreation, Violante has been extremely motivated to do the best job she can. As a Willowbrook resident myself, I can say she has listened to the feedback from local citizens and provided excellent programs that suit all ages and ability levels. …

Letter: Death penalty not arbitrary

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:12:44 -0500

As DuPage County state’s attorney, I take exception to several statements in The Doings’ recent editorial “Positive Trend on Death Penalty.” The suggestion the death penalty has “been applied arbitrarily” ignores the reality that prosecutors across the country painstakingly agonize over each individual case in deciding whether to seek the death penalty. The cases the paper mentioned where defendants were later exonerated or released from death row are all pre-death penalty reform cases. The 2003 reforms, including mandatory videotaping of custodial interrogations, depositions and the use of DNA, resulted in Illinois having the fairest death penalty system in the country. …

Hawbaker and Mirabile for District 107

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:44:01 -0500

I have personally known Mike Hawbaker since he moved into the district over six years ago. I have had the pleasure of living close and seeing firsthand what a wonderful caring father, husband and neighbor he is. Having four young children in District 107, Hawbaker has great concern for the future of our schools as well as the community we live in. His integrity is unwavering and unquestionable. I know he will be very fair and have all residents’ best interest at heart, making him a great addition to the School Board. Mark Mirabile has been active in the community …

Focus 4 the Future for District 107

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:44:01 -0500

I support the Focus 4 the Future candidates because they are the right combination of what Pleasantdale School District 107 needs to move forward. Current board members have rested on their laurels long enough. Achievement levels are dropping, expenses are increasing, and we lag behind a competitive set of feeder schools while clinging to an outdated strategic plan. With sagging property values, it is time to step up and rise to the challenges of our ever changing demographic, economy and world by providing an outstanding, well-rounded education for all children. Kim Barker will bring passion, energy and communication experience that …

Letter: Support Barker/Violante for Pleasantdale District 107

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:44:01 -0500

Support Barker/Violante We enthusiastically support both Kim Barker and Kristin Violante for District 107. As residents of Willow Springs for the past four and a half years we have one child in first grade at Pleasantdale Elementary and one who will begin kindergarten in the fall. We have known Barker and her family since we moved to the area. As a new family to District 107, Barker has gone out of her way to introduce us to other families in the area and make us feel part of the community. She has made our transition into the district positive and …

Violante for District 107

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:42:02 -0500

Violante in District 107 I am confidently writing to you today about Kristin Violante who is running for the District 107 School Board. I know Violante through her work as the superintendent of Parks and Recreation for Willowbrook. She understands the financial constraints municipalities such as Willowbrook face and has therefore worked diligently to provide excellent programs and safe, enjoyable park facilities with an ever tightening budget. As a resident of Willowbrook, I am happy she is spearheading an effort to create a comprehensive master plan for the Parks and Recreation Department that will guide the entire department through the …

Focus 4 endorsement for District 107

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:42:02 -0500

I would like to endorse Kristin Violante and her Focus 4 the Future running mates Greg Sengpiel, Doug Gilman and Kim Barker. Violante realizes the difficult task of shifting staff, students and parents into the rigor of the Common Core. She also understands the importance of early education as each new standard will be an extension of previous learning. Their platform of offering a free full-day kindergarten curriculum and spending more time on each subject will help provide students a great starting point for a rich educational experience and a strong foundation with which to build on. I am confident …