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The first day of Naperville's annual Ribfest came with a few changes to help manage the crowds. Electric scanners and barcoded tickets, and bike racks were a few of the changes to help control the hoards of people who will make their way to Knoch Park this holiday weekend.

In years past, complaints about overflowing crowds, closed gates and too many people for local residents to catch the fireworks have plagued the Fourth of July weekend festival. Organizers hope to alleviate some of those problems.

We're curious to know if these measures are making a difference this year. How was crowd control? Did the new ticketing system make a difference. Then, of course, we'd also like to hear your opinions about the ribs and other food, the rides, the musical acts, the spectators and whatever else you'd like to tell us about this year's fest -- good and bad.

And remember: Have fun!

Emma Royko of Naperville is still one of the guys. She's just not part of their team.
Since kindergarten, she has played soccer, basketball and baseball with a group of neighborhood boys she has grown up with.
But, at age of 8, the tow-headed tomboy's being told "no girls allowed." It's not the boys who are banning her, though, it's the adults.
Wheatland Athletic Association no longer will allow her to play alongside her male teammates in recreational basketball and baseball leagues. Also, Heritage Family YMCA wouldn't allow her to play basketball with the team this winter after allowing her to do so the previous season. And the Naperville Park District already has accepted her team into its "premiere" soccer league this fall, but indicated it can play only if Emma doesn't.
Why is this happening?
"Probably because I'm a girl, and they have girls' leagues," Emma said. "But most of my friends are on that (boys) team."
"They say, 'Eventually, she's going to have to play with the girls. She can't always play with the boys,'" said her mother, Cindy Royko.
Do you agree with these organizations' decisions? Is age 8 too early to start seperating boys from girls when it comes to sports teams? Why should it matter anyway - if Emma is at the same skill level as her male buddies, shouldn't she be allowed to play sports with and against them?

In his 14 years as Naperville's mayor and liquor commissioner, George Pradel has never revoked a local bar or restaurant's liquor license.
Which begs the questions: is that because city officials and police tend to go easy on nightclub and restaurant owners because of the copious tax revenue their businesses generate? Or is it because the downtown nightlife district -- despite its rowdy reputation in some quarters -- is comparatively trouble-free?
Articles from the Naperville Sun library and anecdotal evidence suggest that out of the thousands of people visiting the downtown area on a typical Friday or Saturday, 1 percent or fewer are arrested for assault, battery, property damage or other crimes related to alcohol consumption there.
Still, the city's 32 liquor-licensed establishments and their employees can be held legally liable for indulging their patrons by "over-serving" them and, in some instances, conjuring their darker sides.
"We're constantly telling them we don't want them to over-serve," Pradel said of local tavern and restaurant operators. "Our police check all the time to see that people aren't being over-served. The owners could be in deep trouble" for that if, for example, a patron should become involved in a drunken-driving crash, he said.
"I think our city is very fortunate that we have such responsible owners of the bars and restaurants that serve liquor," Pradel said. "I know it's hard times, but we really put the clamp on people, and if they're over-serving, we're going to be taking them to court."
What do you think? Do you think Naperville bartenders to a good job at monitoring patrons' alcohol intake? Do you think that downtown Naperville's nightlife promotes fun, safe socializing - or is it becoming an area that draws more debauchery out of people than other areas?
And furthermore - do you think bartenders should be held liable if a patron drinks too much - or should that be something that simply falls under the category of "personal responsibility?"
Voice your thoughts - they might be published in The Sun this week!

An article in Wednesday's Sun tells of how many families are cutting back on day care or removing their children from the facilities entirely because of the economy. Presumably they are either trying to save money or have lost their jobs and therefore are able to take care of the children at home.

How are you adjusting your child care spending in the economic downturn? Have you reduced or eliminated daycare? Have you found other ways to take care of your kids, like having a relative watch them?

An article in Tuesday's Sun reports that Naperville's commuter stations are reporting large gains in commuters riding their bikes to the train station. The city has made efforts in recent years to make the streets more bike friendly, but do you think Naperville is a bike-friendly city? Can you travel around safely and find a place to park your bike? What are some of the dangers and safe routes you have found?

Fawell Dam in McDowell Grove Forest Preserve helps regulate the DuPage River to control flooding both above and below the dam. In Sunday's paper the Sun looks at how the dam works and profiles a man who works to clean up area rivers. What are your thoughts on the Fawell Dam and the city's flood preparations? Do you use McDowell Grove as a recreational facility?

The DuPage County Board has been discussing a plan to create areas for workforce homes in unincorporated areas of the county. The homes would be targeted toward people like police officers, firefighters, teachers and others who may want to live near the community they work in, but not be able to afford homes in that area.

Those areas that would be affected near Naperville include Mill Street north of Bauer Road; homes northwest of Ogden Avenue from Wright Street to Charles Avenue; some of the streets south of Hillside Road around Julian Street; and the area around Old Plank Road and Naper Boulevard.

Opponents claim that the "workforce" includes everyone who brings home a paycheck, and all deserve equal protection through local zoning codes. Some have noted that the zoning amendment would eliminate the applications process that enables planners to scrutinize new building projects individually.

Also opposing aspects of the measure are the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference and some municipalities that take exception to a slackening of property dimension rules and setbacks, the additional use of septic systems and wells, the potentially undesirable mix of housing styles, and what William Heniff, Lombard's community development director, called "a de-facto rezoning of the neighborhoods."

The County Board has delayed a vote on the issue so residents can have a chance to learn more and offer comments.

Here is a link to the Sun's most recent article on the subject: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1605167,affordable-housing-DuPage_na060309.article

What do you think? Does Naperville need affordable housing? Do you have a problem with this proposal? What would your concerns be if it is approved?

The Naperville City Council recently granted a $49,050 grant to fix up the Ogden Mall, at the northwest corner of Ogden Avenue and Naperville Wheaton Road, as part of the Ogden Avenue Site Reimbursement Grant Program.

The grant funds are being used to help reimburse property owners for qualifying sign, building facade and landscape improvements made to their sites.

According to the grant application, the landscape improvements will "enhance the landscaping at the three main parkway entrances to the mall as well as throughout the perimeter." The landscaping will include installing or replacing parkway and perimeter shade trees and the parking lot will be screened with shrubs and ornamental grasses.

Do you think this is a good use of tax money? Are there other areas along Ogden Avenue you'd like to see fixed up or otherwise improved?

With housing values going down - yes, even in Naperville - some residents thought their property tax bills might go down, too. But property tax bills that recently went out in general showed that tax bills went up, according to county and township officials.

Did you think your tax bill would go down? Was it more than last year? Some of you were lucky enough to see your tax bills go down a bit. Were you surprised? For those of you stuck with the same old bill, do you plan to dispute your assessment later this year?

If you'd like to talk to a reporter about your bill, contact Susan Frick Carlman at 630-416-5260. We'd like to tell your story.

During the first two months of operation, the city's red light cameras caught 1,906 violations at North Aurora Road and Route 59. Averaging 32.6 a day in February and 32.03 in March, it would seem that time and growing familiarity have not cut down on violations in any substantial way.

On Saturday, the city held its first hearings for those who wished to appeal their tickets, and 12 people showed up in person and 18 more did so in writing. They offered up a variety of excuses, but all ended with the same result. The appeals were denied, and the drivers were out a $100 file plus a $25 administrative hearing.

Is it worth it to appeal a red light camera ticket? Do you think it is possible to get a ticket overturned? Do you think the cameras are doing their stated job, i.e. increasing safety at the intersection?