Articles filed under Arlington Heights Park District

• Why can’t park light display stay neutral? Dec 17, 2012 12:00 AM
  Letter to the editor: "From my perspective as a Christian," writes Kathryn Huber of Mt. Prospect, "Christmas is about celebrating Jesus's birth and spending time with my family. It is not about an activist group with a larger agenda threatening legal action to impose my beliefs on my neighbors who enjoy the park's display each year and don't celebrate Christmas."
  

   

• Park district ref didn’t convince her Dec 14, 2012 12:00 AM
  Letter to the editor: Cherryl Crouch of Arlington Heights says the park district didn't make its case for the tax increase it requested. "It's time for the park district to convince residents that they offer value for the money they currently receive-much less ask for more," she writes.
  

   

• Nativity display does not discriminate Dec 14, 2012 12:00 AM
  Letter to the editor: Harold Knudsen takes issue with another letter writer over the debate involving a nativity scene in the Arlington Heights holiday lights display. "A display of the nativity discriminates against no one, and is supported, in fact guaranteed by the First Amendment," he writes.
  

   

• Nativity for Arlington Hts. park formally approvedDec 13, 2012 12:00 AM
  The Arlington Heights Park District on Thursday officially approved a permit for a nativity scene to be added to the village's holiday lights display in North School Park.
  

   
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  Nativity scene in Arlington Heights park just about a go Dec 8, 2012 12:00 AM
  A controversial Nativity scene is on the verge of approval in Arlington Heights, though park district officials say they still want some questions answered from the private group that is requesting the display. "Assuming everything that Mr. Finnegan needs to provide is provided, I would assume it would be approved," said park board President Maryfran Leno.
  

   

• Arlington Park District cancels poll of ‘no’ votersDec 7, 2012 12:00 AM
  The Arlington Heights Park District has canceled plans to poll voters about why they voted against the tax increase in November, after an ethics inquiry into the use of public money for such a purpose. "You can't have the government spending tax dollars to ask you how you voted and how they can change your vote in the future," said Rob Sherman, a Buffalo Grove activist who went to the park distict with his concerns.
  

   

• Mayor misses the point behind display Dec 7, 2012 12:00 AM
  Letter to the editor: Judy Resele takes issue with the decision to exclude a nativity scene in the North School Park display, and reminds us what Peanuts' resident philosopher, Linus, has to say in "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
  

   

• Village to blame for failure of parks ref Dec 7, 2012 12:00 AM
  Letter to the editor: Margaret Kaden says she wanted to vote for the Arlington Hts. Park District referendum, and believes the repairs are warranted. But she blames the village of Arlington Hts. for lavish spending on the village hall and police station. "If the village would ask us for money for these extravagances we would say no, but they don't ask us. So we say no where we can, and the parks, tragically, suffer," she writes.
  

   
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  Controversial Nativity scene coming to Arlington Heights this weekend? Dec 4, 2012 12:00 AM
  A Nativity scene could join Arlington Heights' holiday display as early as this weekend, according to the leader of a group that's complained about the religious tradition's absence from the showcase. "I'd be shocked if it went the other way," said Jim Finnegan of the Illinois Nativity Scene Committee. "It's clear to me we have this worked out, it's not about going to court or not anymore."
  

   

• Arlington Heights Park District to poll ‘no’ voters from election Nov 28, 2012 12:00 AM
  The Arlington Heights Park District is trying to figure out why two attempts to pass tax increases by referenda have failed this year by going straight to the source — the voters. The Park District has contracted with Public Research Group for $7,200 to do a telephone poll of people who voted “no” in the November election, said Executive Director Steve Scholten on Tuesday. The group — which has done surveys for the park district in the past — will gather answers from 300 “no” voters about why they were against the $39 million bond issue that would have gone to renovate several of the district’s major parks.
  

   
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  Parties try to avoid lawsuit over rejected Nativity scene Nov 26, 2012 12:00 AM
  Arlington Heights Park District officials said their lawyers are talking with attorneys for the Thomas More Society, which filed a complaint last week asking for a nativity scene to be included in the village's annual holiday lights display.
  

   
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  Complaint filed after Arlington Hts. rejects Nativity scene Nov 23, 2012 12:00 AM
  The Arlington Heights Park District rejected a Nativity scene for its annual holiday display in North School Park because it never accepted private donations to the display, said park board President Maryfran Leno. The Thomas More Society has filed a complaint with the park district, saying that since Hanukkah dreidels are a part of the display, a Nativity should be allowed there, too.
  

   
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  National group spent money to defeat Arlington Hts. parks bondsNov 14, 2012 12:00 AM
  The Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity made about 7,000 robocalls a few days before the election telling people to vote "no" on the Arlington Heights Park District tax increase, which lost by about 800 votes. This was one of 12 municipal level races they were involved in around Illinois, including others in West Chicago, Wauconda and Gilberts.
  

   

• Arlington Heights Park District weighs options after election loss Nov 14, 2012 12:00 AM
  After residents last week rejected a park district tax increase for the second time this year, Arlington Heights Park District officials are contemplating their options for moving forward. "It's just disappointing because either way the buildings need to be replaced or upgraded whether it's sooner or later. The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be," said Board president Maryfran Leno.
  

   

• Residents want to support park district Nov 12, 2012 12:00 AM
  Letter to the editor: Roland Ley of Taxpayers United says Arlington Heights voters would have supported a smarter park district referendum than the one that failed Tuesday. "Taxpayers in Arlington Heights want to support our outstanding park district, but with huge property tax increases in recent years we believe the park district should be more careful with our money," he writes.
  

   

• Director of Arlington Aces soccer takes Harper College to Nationals! Nov 6, 2012 12:00 AM
  After winning his third regional title at Harper College, Arlington Aces Director of Soccer Dwayne Cruz is ready to take his team to Nationals this weekend.
  

   

• Voters reject Arlington Hts. parks plan againNov 6, 2012 12:00 AM
  For the second time this year voters have rejected a multimillion dollar tax hike for the Arlington Heights Park District. With all Cook County votes counted, voters rejected a $39 million bond issue by 863 votes — or 16,440 "no" votes to 15,577 "yes" votes. "The board and the staff are very disappointed," said Executive Director Steve Scholten. "This is a good plan that would move the district forward into the 21st century."
  

   

• Endorsements: A list of our choices for Nov. 6Nov 5, 2012 12:00 AM
  A summary of Daily Herald endorsements in all federal, state and county races of local interest on the Nov. 6 ballot, plus links to bar association judicial recommendations.
  

   

• Arlington Hts. needs to get behind parks Nov 1, 2012 12:00 AM
  Letter to the editor: John Dahl supports the Arlington Heights Park District referendum. "The park updates are not only very affordable but they will also make our facilities and sports fields more usable for all ages from kids to adults to seniors for many years to come," he writes.
  

   

• Yes on Arlington Hts. park referendumNov 1, 2012 12:00 AM
  Letter to the editor: Chris D'Alessandro of Arlington Hts. says passing the park district referendum is important for the future of the community. "Investing in our infrastructure is not wasteful; the buildings being updated in most cases have not been updated since the 1970s," she writes. "Why not now when interest and construction rates are at an all-time low?"