These are the news stories that I believe will grab Geneva's attention in the new year.
Now that we’ve taken a good look back, like the two-faced Roman god for whom our very first month is named, it’s time to focus on the future. As a result of that endeavor, listed in order of importance, here are the news stories I believe will grab Genevans’ attention in the onrushing 2013. 1. The mayoral race. Like the folks who watch NASCAR just to see the crashes, with two mercurial Genavans running, we’re all facing a similar temptation. But my fondest new year’s wish is that incumbent Kevin Burns and challenger Bob McQuillan will stick to the issues and avoid the mudslinging. As Karl Rove will readily attest, it’s starting to wear thin with the voters anyway. Either way, this race should prove to be an interesting proposition. …
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It's time to look back on the major 2012 Geneva news stories as I saw them.
In the famous but somewhat paraphrased words of the fictional Margo Channing, “Fasten your seatbelts folks, it’s going to be a bumpy Geneva 2012 retrospective ride.” Since we’ve got so much to cover, let’s get right to it! In January, responding to a make-a-prognostication-before-the-fact challenge from eminent readers Colin Campbell and Ken Loebel, this columnist predicted the president would prevail one more time. My theory was that a combination of pandering to far-right lunacy and the contenders’ willingness to tear each other to shreds during the primary would ultimately lead to the GOP nominee’s downfall. And that’s essentially what happened. February brought us the sad revelation that Geneva streets Superintendent Steve LeMaire …
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A temporary ban on toy guns. Really? Does that do anything to address the violence at Sandy Hook?
My younger son and his friends love to play with Airsoft guns. We’d prefer he indulge in his less-violent interests, but my wife and I have come to realize that capricious household bans often backfire and those toys aren’t nearly as dangerous as the BB guns of our youth. For the uninitiated, Airsoft guns, which may or may not be smaller-sized replicas of the real thing, are generally plastic contraptions that fire various caliber plastic BBs at very low velocities. If the boys wear sweatshirts and the masks the company sells, they can engage in a far cleaner version of paintball without fear of injury or collateral damage. So as you might imagine, with some pre-Christmas money burning a hole clean through his right hand pocket, my son and…
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There is no single solution to school shootings.
My initial reaction to the tragedy was to apply all my energy into coming up with the single solution that would forever relegate school shootings to history’s dustbin. But as I spent that afternoon speaking with local law enforcement officers, school administrators and parents, I quickly realized I was engaging in what could only be called a fool’s errand. The truth is, even if we stationed a police officer at every school, it wouldn’t be enough. But that doesn’t mean we stop trying. Whenever I hear people chalk mass killings up to “evil,” it makes me want to scream because that leaves us randomly dangling in the winds of a cruel fate. I refuse to believe in that kind of inevitability. Evil isn’t something that’s thrust upon us, it’s …
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4:03 am on Monday, December 24, 2012
Our respective firearms-related backgrounds are of little consequence. I hope we've both outgrown the "mine is bigger than yours" syndrome. Fortunately, if either of us should feel the need to enhance our familiarity or effectiveness with firearms, we have the right to do so. The 2d Amendment to our Constitution acknowledges and protects that right. WRT events in Newtown, "that kid" should have … more ›
We've got to uncouple property taxes and teachers' salaries.
If there actually is a woman out there who’s had to put up with me almost as much as my longsuffering wife, it’s gotta be Chronicle Managing Editor Kathy Gresey. The sad thing is, unlike my beloved spouse, she didn’t sign on for the job. For the record, Ms. Gresey, the only person on the planet with more energy than me, is a supremely talented journalist and editor. Given a bit more latitude, she could turn that newspaper into something really serious. And the fact that my too-frequent attempts to goad her into seeing things my way are patently unfair hasn’t prevented me from pressing my point. Now that you’re armed with that information, you’ll understand the irony of what I’m about to say. Because when I read Brenda Schory’s piece on the…
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8:12 am on Monday, December 17, 2012
Good idea Jeff. A number of economists have proposed the transaction tax as a means of calming the computer trading frenzy that makes today's markets so unstable in the first place. We could also consider capital gains taxes. I like the idea of those who profit from an educated population paying a bit more toward education. I would not want to leave school funding in the hands of Springfield or … more ›
Or better put, why I'm suddenly happy with Zac Ploppert and Bob McQuillan
Wow! I should’ve dared our young 1st Ward aldermanic candidate Zac Ploppert to give us a glimpse of his campaign platform ages ago. (And don’t worry Zac — despite the insistent internal goading — I generally don’t respond to me, either.) His most recent Dec. 10 Patch blog entry titled, The Issues as I See Them has to be one of the best political responses to a column challenge I’ve ever had the pleasure to peruse. For what can be said in a thousand-word piece, our aspiring city councilman was clear, concise and generally to the point. That doesn’t mean I agree with everything he said, but that’s not the point! Now, if we could only get the rest of those dais denizens to follow in his footsteps. I’m not sure if Zac and challenger Mike Bruno…
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We celebrate his life and mourn his passing.
When we’re done with it here, we will forever retire that “one of a kind” moniker because once it’s used to describe former Geneva 5th Ward Alderman Paul DesCouteaux, it loses all meaning when applied to lesser mortals. You see, while I’m convinced that each one of us has a doppelganger somewhere on this vast planet, there was only one Paul DesCouteaux. And we’re far worse off for the good Lord’s apparent oversight as well as the legendary city councilman’s recent passing. Is it just me or, with that marvelously gruff voice finally silenced, does Geneva suddenly seem a little bit too quiet? Paul DesCouteaux wasn’t just ahead of his time, he defined it. Not only did he embody the term “fiscal conservative,” he may well have created it. From…
1:21 am on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Paul was a class act. A very hard worker, a devoted husband and father, and he was a champion of fiscal conservatism and community beautification projects in Geneva. He will never be forgotten by anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. more ›
Zac, we know you're independent, but what do you stand for?
It was good to see Zac Ploppert back on Patch again and ya also gotta give the young 1st Ward aldermanic candidate credit for showing up at virtually every City Council meeting. The truth is, while some of those government get togethers actually are a fascinating study, for the most part, watching the municipal gears grind is a lot like watching the late summer grass grow. Though I wish he (and all Patch bloggers) would read his prose out loud before that final submission, his writing has improved, which is always a good sign. Personally, I prefer potential politicians who are willing to improve and evolve. That said, I was more than a bit baffled by Zac’s latest piece titled, “A Truly Independent Candidate” in which he first decries …
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9:32 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
While I might not get the joke in the fourth paragraph (unless you and I count paragraphs differently) I must agree with Jeff on this one. I might have never paid enough attention to local politics, but I must admit the recent near-strike of Geneva teachers has perked up my ears a bit more. My point is that while I have seen a few Ploppert signs and read his couple Patch posts, I still have no … more ›
I'll be thrilled to protect your religious liberty as long as you're willing to keep your beliefs to yourself!
Since you can’t swing a dead Randall Road cat without hittin’ one of ‘em, despite 1st Ward aldermanic candidate and occasional Patch contributor Mike Bruno’s previous blogs, it’s time for me to wade in, too. Of course, we’re talking about those suddenly ubiquitous “Religious Liberty — Live it! Protect it!” bumper stickers depicting a solemn Statue of Liberty ironically hoisting a cross in place of her iconic torch. And I say “ironic” because that torch is supposed to symbolize enlightenment. As Mike so accurately pointed out, given its meaning and the basis upon which this country was founded, no self-respecting national symbol would ever want to be seen endorsing one religion over another. It’s unseemly — not to mention unconstitutional. …
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2:35 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
@Jack in Geneva. There are social safety nets that are the responsibility of the government too. I imagine it is far cheaper to pay a volunteer organization to provide soup that a government run organization. I fully support subsidizing organizations that provide that social service. It breaks down because Lyndon Johnson gave them *blanket* exemptions on the promise they stay out of politics. … more ›
There is something seriously sobering about having a son that's taller than you!
Now I understand why they call her “Mother Nature.” Only a woman could be this cruel and enjoy it this much. You see, I used to be able to ignore all the obvious data and obliviously make my way through the day harboring those vast alpha male ego-driven youthful delusions. But not anymore! Now I’ve been confronted with irrefutable proof that my family pack status is starting to slip. And this new stark reality came in the heinous form of my 6-foot plus sophomore son standing taller than I do! I suppose this shouldn’t be too much a surprise. Considering what he eats, he probably oughtta be somewhere around 9-foot-6. The truth is, for the past six months, I was clinging to my lofty perch by a scant half inch. Emboldened by every time I came …
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9:19 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
Hey, Elaine, thanks for dropping us that short note.... more ›
Jeff Ward
2:06 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Jon, Though I probably shouldn't be surprised, I can't believe someone actually wrote, "Using your logic we should ban all passenger planes." Really??? No, but they certainly banned anyone from taking a box cutters on a airplane. more ›