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Residents protest possible closing of a Glenview fire station - and Glenview listens

Around 300 people, most wearing red "Save Station 13" T-shirts, protested Saturday against the possible closure of Glenview Fire Department Station 13.

A common complaint at the rally, organized by Andrew "Drew" Duffy, a Glenbrook South High School sophomore, was that the village wasn't transparent with residents about the potential closure of the station.

"It's a rallying cry for the people of Glenview who aren't happy with how the village government isn't listening to them," Duffy said. "We don't think they've been transparent, we don't think they've listened to the experts, the firefighters who have made it very clear that closing the station isn't a good idea."

Glenview village President Jim Patterson attended the rally but did not speak despite an invitation to do so. He did speak to members of the media and answered residents' questions afterward.

"Part of it is I heard what they had to say, and part of it is talking to residents individually and trying to understand where they are coming from," Patterson said.

The station did end up getting saved at a special meeting of the village board on Monday night.

  David Levy of Glenview, left, talks to village President Jim Patterson during a protest against the possible closure of Fire Station 13 in Glenview. Patterson attended the rally but did not speak despite an invitation to do so. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Andrew Duffy, a Glenbrook High School sophomore, speaks during a protest he organized against the possible closure of Fire Station 13 in Glenview Saturday. The protest, which was held outside the station, was attended by around 300 people. During a special meeting Monday, the village board decided against closing the station due to resident feedback. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Vince Spalo, a firefighter/paramedic at Glenview Fire Department Station 13, speaks during a protest against the possible closure of the station Saturday. During a special meeting Monday, the village board decided against closing the station due to resident feedback. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Glenview Village President Jim Patterson, left, listens to speakers during a protest against the possible closure of Fire Station 13 in Glenview Saturday. During a special meeting Monday, the village board decided against closing the station due to resident feedback. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Jesse Gallagher, president of Local 4186 and a firefighter/ paramedic at Glenview Fire Dept. Station 13, speaks Saturday during a protest against the possible closure of the station in Glenview. The protest - which was organized by Andrew Duffy, a Glenbrook High School sophomore, left - and held outside the station, was attended by around 300 people. During a special meeting Monday, the village board decided against closing the station due to resident feedback. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  People line East Lake Avenue during a protest against the possible closure of Fire Station 13 in Glenview Saturday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Quinn O'Connell, 6, of Glenview holds a sign during a protest against the possible closure of Fire Station 13 in Glenview. During a special meeting Monday, the village board decided against closing the station due to resident feedback. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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