Don't expect to see provoking traffic lights fixed soon

The two pesky intersections in Elgin aren't going to get fixed anytime soon.

Last summer, the city officials said they awaiting funding to synchronize the traffic lights along Route 31 (State Street) at the intersections of Chicago Street and Highland Avenue to move traffic faster.

These are two intersections clog up a key city route.

I can't tell you how many times I've been at a red light on State and Highland only to see the Chicago light be green. Then, after the Highland light turns green, the Chicago light goes right to red.

Frustrating? Yes.

Soon to be fixed? No.

David Lawry, the city's general services manager, said the nearby train tracks complicate any effort to coordinate the lights.

He also noted that the Illinois Commerce Commission has control over those areas because that agency controls the tracks.

"Those are very difficult (to synchronize) because the first priority is the railroad," he said. "When a train comes through, it messes with the whole system."

City leaders indicated last summer that they expected some federal funding to help synchronize the lights.

But that's not exactly the case and it is very unlikely the signals will ever get coordinated.

The city did, in 2007, completed traffic signal modernization and system interconnect improvements for 13 intersections in the downtown area, also dubbed the Central Business District.

However, the city didn't have enough money to tackle the Kimball Street and National Street corridors.

Help the animals: The Friends of the Lords Park Zoo will host a fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 18 at the Rolling Knolls Country Club, 11N260 Rohrssen Road, Elgin.

Tickets are $10 and are limited to the first 180 people. Kids age 5 and younger and free.

The event will feature a cash bar, hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, a raffle and folk/punk band "Patchouli."

For more information or to buy tickets, visit lordsparkzoo.org.

Congratulations: Kudos to Cherie Aschenbrenner, the Elgin Police Department's crime prevention specialist and elderly service officer.

She recently received the Distinguished Service Award from the Elgin Golden Kiwanis Club for her role in forming and leading the Elgin Township Triad program.

"They do a lot to identify different frauds and scams that are perpetuated against seniors," said Carl Zeigler, Kiwanis president. "Cherie Aschenbrenner has been very instrumental in developing the program. One of the most important awards the Kiwanis Club can give is the Distinguished Service Award. We we're delighted to be able to honor her."