New Year's wish: Less mail, if you live in Huntley
Good morning. I sure hope your new year is off to a good start ... even if some of those resolutions are already toast.
Knowing myself well, I skipped the resolutions and went straight to the toast ... with strawberry jam. The only resolve I have is the kind in a spray bottle to clean the carpet. Now if only that worked on chins and things...
Signing up
Judging from the number of campaign signs that have cropped up in the past few days, we may soon want a bit of Resolve for the landscape. At least most candidates waited until after Christmas to stake those signs. I'm surprised no one went with a red and green theme.
It's in the mail ...
Green seems to be the theme in another round of mailings sent by disgruntled developer, Horizon Group Properties, to Huntley residents last week. At least they did wait until after Christmas, but it's pretty clear the developer, previously known as Prime Development, was short on holiday spirit.
Huntley resident Jim Roray contacted me wondering why he and his neighbors received yet another mailing from Horizon, the latest in a series of such missives over past months. "It seems like it's a smear campaign that Prime-Horizon is pushing against the village," Jim said.
That's one way to look at it, Jim.
Horizon has been unhappy with the village for some time and seems to feel that a direct appeal to residents might gain something its hardball tactics and multiple lawsuits have failed to yield. In a nutshell, Horizon owners have contended their early agreements and projects in the village should allow them to expedite their developments.
The village says each development proposal should stand on its own merit and contends it's protecting its residents.
Finally, after about a dozen of Horizon's letters, the village is sending out a letter of its own to clarify the situation. "We're going to set the record straight," village manager Carl Tomaso said Monday. "Our intent is not to get into a card and mailing exchange with them, but to tell our residents what the facts are."
The letter will go out later this week with village calendars.
It'll be interesting to see if the developer responds with yet another mailing of its own. Judging from Jim's and his neighbor's reactions -- "It went out with the rest of the trash," Jim said -- it would seem the developer might want to try another tactic.
Flag it
Certain local retailers might want to consider another way as well. Charlie Welzien of Carpentersville was shocked when he tried to buy a U.S. flag for Christmas for his brother-in-law who flies the flag year-round. It seems some stores consider American flags to be "seasonal" items and don't stock them in the winter. "Since when is there a season to fly the American flag?" Charlie asked.
That's a good question, Charlie.
On the hunt
Hey, I hear there might still be a $20 gold ornament hanging in Raceway Woods. If you find it, you'll also find directions for redeeming that treasure.
Raceway steward Donna Redmer says they'd still like to have a children's or student group collect the remaining red ornaments along the trails this month. That group will earn $1 per ornament (there are about 60). What a great field trip -- and, if no one else finds that gold -- you'll also earn that $20! Now that's a resolution to make and keep. Call or e-mail me and I'll put you in touch with Donna.
Have a great second day of 2008!
• Amy R. Mack's column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. She can be reached at (847) 931-5725; by fax (847) 608-0849; via mail at 385 Airport Road, Suite A, Elgin, IL 60123-9341; or by e-mail: amack@dailyherald.com.