Community: August 2008 Archives

During this Labor Day weekend, the big event in Naperville is Last Fling, summer's final hurrah. There will be loads of activities for the whole family, two stages with bands, including headliners the Doobie Brothers, Dennis DeYoung from Styx, and Gavin DeGraw.

All weekend long, we want to hear about your experience at Last Fling. How were the crowds, the parking and the food? What did you think of the entertainment? How well organized was the event? Let's hear from you. We'll be back with a new topic on Tuesday, but will be publishing your comments on this and all other Potluck entries throughout the weekend. Enjoy the holiday.

A new plan has emerged to save the historic Hammerschmidt mansion off Chicago Avenue. Matthew Rasche is proposing that a civic charity be established to raise $2 million necessary to buy and restore the property. Investors could buy in, up to 800 shares at $2,500 apiece.

Does this sound like something you'd buy into? Would you be willing to invest $2,500 of your money into saving this historic property from the wrecking ball? Do you think enough people will get on board, enough to raise the $2 million needed?

UPDATE 8/29: The Historic Sites Commission Thursday night recommended the mansion be designated a landmark. The recommendation now goes to the City Council, which has final say.

Food banks that serve the Naperville say they are in desperate need of assistance. Demand is up. No wonder. With the sluggish economy, more people are out of work and out of jobs. But donations are down, too. Some who may have donated previously have fallen on hard times themselves. And No. 3, food is more expensive to buy, thanks to rising fuel costs and other factors.

What have you considered doing to help out these local agencies that serve people in the community in need? Have you considered donating money? Volunteering your time? Organizing a food drive? Or doing nothing at all?

A woman was faced with an interesting moral quandary in Naperville this week when she was in a parking deck and spotted a diamond ring with a $25,000 price tag still attached. Without hesitation, she called police and turned it over to authorities, who, three days later were still searching for the band's rightful owner.

What would you do in that situation? What do you think most other people would do? Even if you were tempted to hold onto such a valuable find, would you be afraid of getting caught if you tried to sell it? Would you act differently if you knew -- with absolute certainty -- that you could get away with it?

The Park District sent a letter June 23 to the about 600 people who take care of the community garden plots at 811 S. West St. Word had gotten out about concept drawings for the 212-acre Caroline Martin Mitchell estate that include moving some garden plots to increase recreation space. Park District and city officials assure people that no plans are final and no decisions will be made without a public discussion process.

Those who garden there enjoy the camaraderie and the therapeutic value in working with the soil. Although, they realize that land in Naperville is prime real estate.

How high a priority should the garden plots be on the city's agenda when figuring out what to do with the 212-acre Caroline Martin Mitchell estate? What does gardening mean to you?