Longs for a little neighborhood pride

To the editor: I have lived in the Parcel B subdivision in Hoffman Estates for almost 20 years. What has happened to simple pride in the neighborhood?

I used to enjoy taking walks, but now they are less enjoyable. Now when I walk around the neighborhood I am pointing out more and more houses falling apart from lack of simple maintenance.

We are lucky to live in a neighborhood that is extremely low in crime, close to major highways, has excellent shopping and a school district that is one of the highest rated in Illinois. So what gives?

What does it take to mow your lawn? Do those of us who take pride in where we live have to carry machetes to whack down the 3-foot overgrown "lawns" of weeds? And once you finally do mow it, must you leave it in piles to turn brown on the sidewalk?

A can of paint doesn't cost much at all, however, scraping your peeling paint and freshening up your trim can do wonders!

Garbage pick-up in this subdivision is on Wednesdays. Must you put your old toilets, water heaters and furnaces out on Thursdays so the entire neighborhood must stare at them for six days?

A five-gallon bucket of blacktop sealer costs $25. OK, so the storm knocked a huge branch down in front of your house. You don't need to hire a tree hauler, simply go outside and pick it up!

That fence that has been falling apart for five years already. And tarps that have been covering up the old beat-up cars for so many years are weather-beaten, faded and have holes. Are you really going to ever drive that car again?

This is not a junk yard. This is where we live.

For those of you who feel compelled to write and say, "If you don't like it here, move!" you are the people this letter is directed toward.

I'm sure I speak for so many residents who take care of the homes in this neighborhood. We aren't asking for much. Just a little pride.

Patti Sausen

Hoffman Estates