Heun: How about some love for local light poles?

Light poles may be the most underestimated or overlooked staples of our neighborhoods.

We've had them in the United States since the early 1800s. Over the past few decades, cities have become increasingly creative as to how light poles, or lampposts, fit into a neighborhood and contribute to its charm.

No one is going to choose a neighborhood based solely on the type of light pole it has, but it is possible to become attracted to a neighborhood because the light poles complement the homes and landscapes or provide a historic feel to an older portion of a city.

Generally, city public works departments develop standards for light poles and take care of them.

I consider the light poles in the Eagle Brook subdivision in Geneva, where we live, as some of the nicest in terms of how they fit in.

But which other light poles in the area catch my attention every time?

For a historic or throwback feel, the light poles in Batavia along North Avenue, Lincoln Street and Jefferson Street are hard to beat. These cement poles came to Batavia neighborhoods from Mooseheart some time around the late 1940s or early 1950s, Batavia Public Works Director Gary Holm said.

"You've identified the only area in Batavia in which those are still existing," Holm added. "Those have slowly disappeared out of town. But a lot of people still like them."

These cement structures may not be the most beautiful, but they certainly have character and the ability to hold up in all sorts of weather, most importantly strong winds.

These poles would look good in any modern setting, or one in which the streets were still cobblestone and the transportation of choice was a horse and carriage.

Another sharp design can be found in the St. Charles neighborhood near Bethlehem Lutheran Church on the city's east side.

These black metal poles have a lantern-type housing for the light that makes one feel as if they were drawn up during Colonial times and lighted by candle or oil.

We obviously went through some eras in which utility or economics was more important than charm, because light poles in so many older neighborhoods are simply attached to, or near, main power poles.

But let's give our light poles some recognition. After all, none of us would see much of anything at night if not for these great inventions.

They are on fire

This may be something we start seeing more of at our outdoor dining venues: "Fire" tables.

That's what Pal Joey's in Batavia is calling its new patio tables along the Fox River. Diners munching on pizza have a "line" of fire flickering across the middle of their tables.

On a chillier summer night - and we've had more than a few of those in June and early July - they provide a pleasing touch and a little extra heat needed to extend the outdoor dining season, Pal Joey's tells us.

Because of the ability to keep patrons warm, the fire tables give the restaurant the option of having outdoor music more often.

Declare them winners

So far, the mosquitoes are winning. Our cities may spray in an attempt to combat these pests, but it appears to wear off quickly. Through its early stages, the summer of 2015 comes down to this headline: "Rain and mosquitoes team up to wreak havoc."

New home for police?

It came as no surprise when a consultant informed St. Charles city officials the police station along the Freedom Walk on the banks of the Fox River is in need of some upgrades or expansion.

Or, maybe, it needs to move into another building, in another area of the city.

The city has nothing to lose with my 2 cents: Develop a new police station complex and maybe some other city services needing to expand in the nearly-abandoned Valley Shopping Center area on the west side. Plenty of parking is available for police cars and other vehicles and equipment.

Not much else is happening on a majority of the site, and we really don't see this particular parcel in the city becoming anything serviceable in the retail world again.

Rabbits gone wild

So far in 2015, not a single coyote has been spotted roaming around near my property during the day or night. A couple of deer, yes.

With the number of rabbits whipping around our yard, eating everything we possibly try to grow, it might not be such a bad thing to see a coyote or two.

But my wife found some sort of spray a couple of weeks ago she swears has been effective in keeping the rabbits and squirrels out of our plants. So maybe we don't need to find bits and pieces of rabbits that became a coyote meal strewed about our yard.

The coyotes are out there, of course. That's why city and forest preserve officials provide information for residents about how best to live with them.

You'd like to think if we left these animals alone and didn't invite trouble, like letting our pets out for long periods of time without keeping an eye on them, we could likely coexist.

History tells us men and beasts have been hanging around together for a long time. Using a little common sense makes that equation work better.

dheun@sbcglobal.net