Were it a referendum from the start the matter would have been settled for the time being, but perhaps put for a vote another time. What will be interesting, if a decision is made before the results of the referendum and the latter indicated a difference of opinion. It would do more than drag on any other decisions, but could add more stife when other variances are covered. In all, when the fiueld was being rebuilt and before the conduit installed, was to my thinking the right time for this discussion.

The voice of the people is more important on such a sordid and divisive issue.

I know for a fact that one very important proponent for lights absolutely SUPPORTS referendum over the variance process. I'd be willing to bet a good number of Boosters would, too. In this economy the prospect of fulfilling the 'promise' of financial commitment is not enticing. Let them save face, people, and commit their funds to more important matters.

If the Planning Commission and ultimately the Village Board vote in favor of the variance, there is enough opposition to cause them concern politically in the future. The opposition is strong and mobilized. They are not likely to quit. The smart move is for District 87 to dump the application and let it go to referendum. It costs no political capital to do so.

Let the people be heard! What are we talking about... 5 months to hear directly from the community?

Don't be surprised if the numbers in our community in favor of lights is also very strong.

It won't matter, even with a public vote, the board still has to OK the variences. If the OTOF does not get their way, they will drag it to court. They would never give in to a referendum.

Looking at the unscientific vote above indicates a near 50/50 split. Given there was vandalism to the "no light" signs in the past, the concerns over the questioning techniques toward proponents, and the discussion of possible legal issues were the variance to be granted; the topic is heated and to some degree anger motivated. Kudos to the Village departments for allowing lengthy and public discussion. But the time draws near for a decision, referendum or not. I pity them their decision for half the citizens will not be happy.

It is a shame that our Village President has chosen that the democratic vote of his constituents, the very same people who voted him into office, need not be heard until after he and his fellow trustees decide the matter. In fact he states that by doing so, he would be offering those same constituents "better service".

The matter is now before the Planning Commission. With the holidays ahead, their decision may not be rendered fully until late November or early December.Then the issue would be brought before the VillageTrustees. That may take another month of deliberating. Realistically, if he had chosen otherwise, there would be only a 3 month delay before results of a March referendum would be known. Still more than enough time to break ground on light tower installation if the outcome were "Yes".

I do not claim to have any preconcieved notion of the results of this referendum. The petitions were signed by both folks of Pro-lights and No-lights leanings. The common shared belief was that this is an important, and devisive issue and all interested townsfolk should have an equal democratic say on the matter. I believe this to be only right. Our Field Our Town has worked very hard to ensure all citizens have a voice, even those who disagree with our position.

I, for one, would abide by the wishes of the majority. It is a shame that President Pfefferman does not share this same view.

Kirk Burger

If approved by the Board of Trustees and/or referendum, any property owner within 1200 ft who is negatively impacted can challenge the zoning in court. It may very well be a person who is not part of a group.

Amen, Ron Herbold!!

OFOT is simply exercising their full legal right to be heard at a zoning public hearing. If the Village does not give them that right, then they can simply sue (an would likely win) becuase they we denied due process. Meijer case in Lisle is a good example of this. That lawsuit went all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court becuase Lisle failed to provide due process by not letting the oppposing neighbors cross examine witnesses, provide testimony and subpoena witnesses to the hearing. That 60 acre property in Lisle still sits vacant today.

The Village must let everyone who wants to speak or question D87 do so, otherwise, there will be a lawsuit.

I second that, Ron Herbold!!

"How many citizens does OFOT represent?"
I couldn't begin to tell you, nor do I care. The issue is being debated in public hearings...the way it should be. The costs to wage a referendum campaign can be staggering: signs, petitions, flyers etc. That is why there are public processes put in place to prevent everything from being a direct vote issue. Our mayor is correct in that the operation of the Village would shut down if all issues were put to the general public via vote. If OFOT or any other group wants to threaten lawsuits every time they don't get there way, what am I to teach my children about Democracy.

Ron Herbold, please run for trustee in the next election!

To Bean. With reference to your comment about threats by OFAT to file a lawsuit, see Patch article dated 9/30/11 "Ozog: Neighbors Could Sue Over Memorial Field" where he is quoted as follows.....“I’m not suggesting that we are threatening to file a lawsuit,” said Ozog. “I think we will call these issues to District 87’s attention and to see if we might have a resolution". Ozog, attorney for the group opposed to the lights, believes Memorial Field was built without the proper zoning permission, which he says allows certain neighbors to file a lawsuit.

While the words used state that there is no suggestion to sue, the implication is obviously there.

Great field, better with lights.
Hope the naysayers lose and I live a few blocks from the field and love the traffic as it means that awesome field is being enjoyed by kids.

Jay, I'm not sure what comments you are reading but there is certainly no 'bullying" or "attacking" in anything I've read here from either side. As far as the size of the group opposing lights being large, that may be true but the pro-light crowd is also large.

Our quiet bedroom community as you call it happens to enjoy the presence of a fairly large high school. The simple fact of the matter is that activities accompany this presence and should be expected by the residents. People move to GE to be a part of the Glenbard West community but our kids in athletics have to deal with substandard athletic facilities that cause them to be bused to practices, a situation that most (not all) affluent suburbs don't have to deal with. Some alternatives to lights at Memorial have been suggested by various people and I for one would enjoy hearing District 87's response to those alternatives. I personally don't care what solution is decided upon if it solves the problem of busing our kids. A hustling, bustling high school area is an exciting attribute for any area (and yes I live very near GW, have to fight traffic every morning on Crescent, and enjoy every minute of it).

The only bullying I witnessed at tonight's meeting was the rude outbursts by OTOF. Shame on them.

If D87 votes in favor of a TIF at the Joint Reivew Board meeting on Nov 11, we will know there is a back room deal.

Glen Ellyn gets to siphon property taxes from the school district and D87 gets their lights - quid pro quo.

The taxpayers get stuck with paying more property taxes due to the TIF.

Everyone's happy except the property taxpayers.

I try to focus on the positives. In one instance- the lights are not implemented and therefore are not an eyesore as well as environmental polluters of light and smog. In the other instance, our town's team gets to practice more and feel proud of what they accomplish. Maybe we can come to a compromise by allowing the OTOF group to appoint a representative voice to help write the legislation detailing when the lights will be available for use( i.e. days of the week, starting date in the year, time of day, protocol for extensions or amendments)? I hate to see our town in such dissonance. No one ever said that having a vibrant community was easy. I too would like to applaud the government's approach to allow our political system to run its course with transparency!

I'm still wondering who is going to pay for this if Boosters can't raise the money?

Barbara, that would be you and I and every other tax payer. If Chris McClain or the super say any different, just remember their track record. Liars and deceivers, along with the conveniently vanished Gain Ground group that left us taxpayers on the hook for an extra $700,000 or so. If anyone knows a former Gain Ground member, such as Paul Murphy(who signed an agreement with the district) thank them for their part in that deception.

That is why there is concern about the district's motives down the road. They have proven to be disingenuous in the past. Until Meissen and McClain are gone, I wouldn't believe a darn word they say. They are just playing us. On our dime. I think our board members need to look in the mirror, 5 of them anyways.

I actually find that OTOF is also shoveling a lot of manure in this debate as well. They have said that girls lacrosse is a sport at the school, it is only a club sport, therefore not able to use the fields at all. THey stated that there were 9 or 10 (I have heard both numbers at the meetings) new teams, there is not, girls lax is not part of that number and they only had two teams last season not 3 as implied. They have implied that they will sue and stop at nothing to stop this, even if the vote comes in favor of lights. So, while the district handled the turfing poorly, I agree, I think OTOF is also acting exactly the same!!

To Jim Burket: Way snotty on your reply to me about "new fangled thingies". I appreciate your patronizing attempt at an explanation, but yes, Jim, I am still young enough to understand damage to the Lake Ellyn area. I believe phase one of this master plan is Memorial Field, and phase two will envelope the lake area and Duchon Field. I also believe the District 87 taxpayers are going to get stuck with the money for this. And I also believe GBW's best option is to play their games at College of DuPage. as a matter of fact, I have yet to receive any kind of intelligent reply about this alternative. My children attended Montini Catholic (another football school). Perhaps GBW should look into renting lights (yes, you can do that) for a year or two at Memorial Field before permanent 7 story night blinding trailer park lights are permanently installed anywhere near Crescent Boulevard.
And I think we should stick to the issues and forego mean spirited remarks.

You people do know why COD and other schools have football fields. right?? They play football as well. And, when they are not playing football, they have other sports or repairing the fields.

Ramona, Ramona, Ramona. You admit the district has been untrustworthy. You talk about shoveling manure, c'mon now. You don't have a clue to COD's schedule for their field. So who's shoveling what?
Love the football coach's comment about being at a unfair disadvantage. But, he says he doesn't care either way on the lights. Yeah, right.
Just a little too much me, me ,me going on.

Since football coach doesn't live in Glen Ellyn and doesn't live in D87 why is he testifying at a public hearing? Was his testimony supposed to be part of the District's initial presentation and subject to cross examination by OFOT?

Jane Thorsen, the principal, does not live in Glen Ellyn. Linda Oberg, the athletic director, does not live in Glen Ellyn. Were they not supposed to testify on behalf of the district and the school? If they were, why shouldn't Coach Hetlet?

A comment was removed because it violates Patch's terms of use. I encourage everyone to use their full name. No "screen names" are allowed in this forum.

Like "Bean" . . . . . . . and "Dick?" Total screen names.

Should we not allow screen names on the new Glen Ellyn Bulletin Board? Was thinking about that, but I doubt it would be as much fun.

I question the wisdom of conducting an "unscientific" poll on an important issue like this. Whatever the results are, we should ignore them. Samantha, any chance you could discontinue the poll and take it off the website?

I have posted as Bean. It's been my nickname for 40 yrs and I've used it for several months on Patch. Will posts by Ramona, Dick, Albert, Maria, Christina, Jane, Jack and Pat also be removed since they violate Patch's terms of use?

The Glen Ellyn Golden Eagles football program has a RECORD number of kids playing football this year. The Lakers Soccer organization is near record participation. The # of kids playing lacrosse and field hockey is exploding. Phillies is one of the best girls softball programs anywhere. Kids in these organizations, who will attend GW, will benefit from lights for decades. 99% of parents with kids in these programs support lights. Will lights in your backyard suck? Yes. Is your home worth more because its near a school? Yes.
It seems like its 1955 and we're arguing against the Eisenhower expressway system.
It's called progress.

Christina, just because you CHOOSE to shlep your kids all of the county for school and athletics, we CHOOSE not too! I want our public system to the best it can for our area. I would prefer them to stay closer to home, I don't want to watch a "home" game in some other town or school!! All the locals by the field, you have stangers in your backyard until after 1 am already, as the last train from Chicago comes in after 1 am. I am sure they will try and stop Metra as well. And, there is girls' sports that will benefit, girls soccer and field hockey. The reason I mention girls' lax is that OTOF was including that sport and those teams in their counts for the number of teams waiting to use the field, and that is simply not true!

As a 7 year resident of Glen Ellyn, I am amazed and appalled that this even requires a vote. The money is there, we have an extreme shortage in field space, and we have a large school full of athletes needing a place/time to practice. There is already a precedent with the lights at the tennis courts. This is necessary, this is obvious, this is progress.

It seems almost ridiculous to even be debating a topic like this in a town like Glen Ellyn. Get them installed as quickly as possible and move on to making downtown more vibrant. The lights are imperative to keeping us competitive and that is why the majority of the people live in Glen Ellyn. Vote yes and move on to more pressing issues.

Did anyone catch the description of the GBW Band Parents taping (and removing) the gym floor tape so the marching band could get enough practice time? As a former member of the Marching Illini, I can not imagine the band parents from my high school(s) taping the floor on their hands an knees before and after each practice.

The school I attended in Iowa had two lighted fields. It was a small sleepy town that had not changed for decades.

The school I attended in Darien had a lit field in 1983 (I can not imagine when the lights were added; but they were not new).

I've been in Glen Ellyn for over 15 years. I'm amazed it's taken us this long to debate the issue.

We keep talking about the athletes, but the benefits extend to other activities.

Steve

Amy Schilling - the money is where, exactly? I haven't heard of anyone writing a check to pay for this or to pay off the turf. The cost includes lighting, seating, additional parking. The Boosters have indicated they are not paying for this. The Gain Ground organization has dissipated. So please tell me where this money is coming from. Also, if there is so much cash floating around, perhaps we should be using it to improve the school so it becomes one of the top 50 next time around.

Hi to (the snarky) Jim Burket et al - Here I go again. Yes, Jim, I am aware that GBW plays their home football games on Saturday afternoons. I thought (from conversations with my north side gal pals) that GBW wants to play a night game or two, ergo the parking and stadium seating and possible dual jumbotron system for instant replays. Earlier this year, residents nposted here about lost opportunities to Glen Ellyn merchants, because fans of the opposing teams would want to enjoy shopping in downtown Glen Ellyn after Friday night games. These would be the people who 'schlep' their kids all around the county for away games. I re-read the Variance Proposal on the OFOT website, and there are plans for Duchon field delineated in the proposal.
I think it is wasteful to spend money on Memorial Field when there is a structure already standing at COD. District 87 has lighted fields at GB South and East that are accessible to GBW with some creative scheduling. And to others reading this, it is wonderful that the Golden Eagles and Lakers/Raiders programs have expanded . . . but Newton Park is an outstanding location for the Eagles football games.
Jim, Duffy Field (Montini) is worth a drive for Glen Ellyn residents interested in seeing a field and lights cohabiting with a residential neighborhood. To the best of my knowledge. the field was funded privately, through fundraising.
Someday we'll agree on something, I am sure -
Christina

So Christina, are you willing to pay the buses to get kids to COD? I mean since GBW is in the midst of so many of it's students and COD is in the midst of Glenbard South students, we would have to bus the fans to COD? At some point all these buses will cost more than the lights. Again, not my kid! I live by the school because it is a neighborhood school, and I don't want them schleped all over creation. I know that the kids have to practice on other fields, but they are still local, not in other towns and other than Village Green, not even across busy Roosevelt Rd. You want to talk about a busy street, our athletes being bussed across Roosevelt is a bigger danger than crossing Crescent any time.

John R. - Where are you getting your facts from regarding the EXPLOSION of kids in sports and what do the Eagles and Lakers have to do with Glenbard West? When you say 99% of the parents are in support of lights at the field, where do you get that number? I am one of those parents and don't recall receiving a survey.

Hang on Ramona,

As a parent who has been actively involved in the Eagles for the past several years, I can attest that the GBW and GBS coaches and a few students from each team attend a single pep rally at the start of the season. This past year I do not believe GBS was able to attend (someone correct me if I have the year incorrect).

I have once or twice seen GBW players at my son's practices, but they have always been siblings of the players who attend to shuttle a brother to practice or help a parent who is coaching a team. I'm honestly no sure they are always eager participants.

I suppose the high school coaches may leverage the older teams to forecast incoming talent, but I have not seen them at any of the games or practices.

The Eagles teams are balanced between GBS, GBW, and other schools. The coaches appear to avoid creating teams targeted at particular schools. If the programs were 'farm' teams, they players would be aligned with their intended high school early in the program to bond the team, align coaching styles, etc.

Many of they players and coaches in the Eagles are close to GBW, but I believe this is driven by their true enjoyment of youth football. It really does not feel like a true farm team when compared to other youth sports in the area.

I can not speak regarding the Lakers.

Steve

When all of this is over, we will all still be neighbors. You, the sudden expert in traffic safety. Me, the snarky, butt ache of an online commentator. You, the woman who feels illegal parties break out after youth athletic events. All of us. While lying in bed last night, just before drifting asleep, I thought of our young ones. All of them. And I came up with this. I hope it brings light to what the real argument is. Also . . . I actually may not have written this:

You see athletes large, small and in between. Some are gifted and know it, so they coast. Others are not and know it, so they work like crazy. A select few are gifted and work like crazy.
There is a place for all of them in youth, junior high and high school sports.
There also is a place for their parents. So many places. You find them behind the wheel, in dugouts, on benches, in lawn chairs, at concession stands, in hotel lobbies.
They work ahead or work split shifts or work into the wee hours, all in an attempt to be there when the boy or girl they welcomed into the world digs in with the bases loaded or drives to the basket.
Occasionally, they look in the mirror or at the bank statement and wonder, "Is it worth it? Is all of this really worth it?"

Here's the good news,
Yes.
It is absolutely worth it.
The wins and losses fade. Trophies collect dust in an attic. Stat sheets wind up in a recycle bin.
None of them matter.
You realize it years later. Like the day you wake up and your youngest is graduating from college.
You hear her talk about a semester-long project that involved building a city - designing the water system, infrastructure, etc. - and the mind drifts to softball diamonds here and in other cities, other states.
It was a group project requiring strategy, planning, execution and, more than anything, teamwork. Sports introduced her to all of it.
They taught her that life isn't always fair. Line drives get caught. Bloopers fall in. Umpires miss calls. Players drop balls.
Deal with it. Learn from it. Move on.
Sports strengthened their resolve, toughened their skin. So when an irate boss openly voices his/her displeasure, they can tell a concerned co-worker: "It's OK. I've had coaches yell at me."

Doesn't mean they like it, doesn't make it right. But they can handle it.
Sports prepare them to manage success and disappointment, deal with adversity. Remember that the next time you drive six hours to a sweltering summer tournament, or shiver under a blanket at a spring doubleheader.
It's worth it.
Just be sure to occasionally take a breath, take a step back and take a second to enjoy the moment. It doesn't last much beyond that.
Games turn to seasons and seasons to years, faster than you can say, "Do you have everything in your hockey bag?"
Squeeze what you can from the long rides, the overnight stays. You never get those back. Be a shame to waste them listening to an iPod or dwelling on a loss.
Encourage them to succeed but allow them to fail. They learn from both.
Be there either way. It's all they will remember.
Experience the journey with them, not through them. You had your time. This is theirs, no matter how many hours you contribute.
Keep in mind, the key is not whether they make or miss the winning shot, but accept responsibility for taking it. If they can do that, they won't shy away from much at work, in school, in life.
Hold them accountable beyond the court/field. Remind them playing sports is like any privilege. It can be taken away.
Finally, continue to give them love and support, win or lose. Stay in the game.
It's worth it.

So Jim--
When are you writing the book about childhood sports??? :)

Thank you, Rob. I appreciate the sentiment and kind words.

Barb, publishers are not quite as content savvy and intelligent as you appear to be. No one is biting yet.

Ramona, My son has been involved with Lakers for a few years. There's no involvement whatsoever with any high school. Not word one. No inspiring words from hs players or coaches. Nothing, nada. You sound silly posting inaccurate information under a screen name. How are you allowed to do so?

Steve, the entitlement issue, for me, is more about the turf field and the deception and GG BS. The gym, not a problem. The school building needs to be kept up.
If GG(in my mind I'm not aware of the differences between who were GG and who are boosters) wouldn't have pulled their BS and left us all on the hook for another 6-7-800,000 plus a whole new field which might be needed sooner than we were told because of expanded usage, I might feel different.

But, McClain has shown not to be trustworthy with my money and those who were and are behind it don't appear to be the least bit concerned with costs. That is where I use the word 'entitled'.
It reminds me of the fight for the Platform Tennis 'Hut'. We should as a community, finance a project for the benefit of a few? The simple answer is NO.

Personally, I would rather see my kids home at night, having family dinners and doing their homework rather than out on memorial field under the lights. The kids that are going to come out of all that sports with scholarships (if that's what parents are after) have got to be a minority than kids that will excel due to their academic advancement. That is where our kids future's are. Higher test scores, more disciplined study habits, not just getting thru the classes but real learning. We have very good teachers and very good classes at West. Successful transfer to college, a successful college experience and education is what I have emphasized with my kids. I want them to eventually get jobs, Im not worried about whether they will play great softball in the park after work in their 20's, 30's etc.

Have you sent a kid to college? Colleges don't want a straight A student, they are looking for well rounded kids who have been exposed to art, music and sports. It is the sport, the instrument or the art portfolio that catches a recruiter's eye. If you tell your kids to concentrate only on grades, good luck with that! If you want dinner with your kids, don't sign the permission form and don't pay the fees and your kids will be home. I want my kids to try everything, it is a big world! Who knows where their passion may lie!?!?!?

I totally agree Barbara.
Yes I have a kid in college. Extremely well rounded. Encouraging our kids to study hard and excel in school will mean they will have more choices for colleges. Mediocre grades - is mediocre, regardless of how many activities they are involved in. I don't feel that extra playing time at night at memorial out weighs the long term benefits for the individual child. My kid was always involved in sports but it was secondary to their academics, music, volunteering, If a parent feels that there child needs to be involved, how about we emphasize the extra time instead of being at Memorial playing sports under lights that our kids should be at Bridge Communities or Pads or some other volunteering. This is the time for Glen Ellyn to refocus our priorities.

So, to verify, those who do not play sports, participate in extracurricular activities or volunteer time will do much better in the college selection game than those who do? It's all about the grades?

Hi Jim-- Not at all what I meant. Just that the grades come first. Extracurriculars make a difference, of course, but I don't know of anyone who got into a great school with wonderful extracurriculars but bad grades. Unfortunately, universities look at the quality of the high school, too. So while we fret over lights and let our academics slide, we're actually harming ALL our kids because good schools are more likely to take a kid with straight A's from a top 50 school than they are to take that same A student from a school that is not known for academics. When my daughter applied to Duke, the admissions director told us that she almost didn't get in because GW wasn't on their "good schools list."

I went on a recent field trip with an AP class at West, almost 1/2 the boys were on the Varsity football team, along with a number of girls tennis players and other athletes. Hmm...how can jocks be in an AP course??

How come there are no school facilites for hockey players and figure skaters?

Wow... Can we get any farther off the point. We are now all the way into judging our parenting skills and whether or not sports are good or bad for college entry.

Lets get back to it... Lights at Memorial Field or not. Simple enough.

1) If the lights are going to be paid for from some budget other than Glen Ellyn taxpayers and/or District 87 funds (see GBW website - Facts about Memorial Field and please read carefully) then there should be no further discussion about the cost of the project. Each of us may have our own opinions about the wisdom of spending "x" dollars on lights...but if you aren't spending the money... how much does you opinion matter on the $ side of the issue. If some wealthy person wants to spend way too many dollars on a piece of artwork that looks like total crap in your mind who are you to tell them otherwise.

2) When that ugly art is going to be put in middle of the yard for everyone to see.. now you have a reason to speak up. So here we have something to talk about.

Heck I live 4 blocks from the tracks (in that sit down and shutup zone of town... by my own comments above) and I hear them every night. Strike 2.

Lastly, there are already lights on the tennis courts at this same location. Strike 3.

So if we need to consider one more thing cause you don't like those points... How many nights a year are these lights really going to be on? The school doesn't have night programs during the summer. The field is not going to be used when there is 3 feet of snow on it.
Maybe we are back to a bunch of crazy parents who will pay a large amount of money for a useless piece of art stuck in the middle of the yard so that are kids will go play sports, never come home for dinner and be too stupid to go to college.

Personally, I think we are a bunch of caring parents that want the best for our boys and girls. We want to work within the community to find a solution that really works. Why don't both sides get serious, put away the petty bickering, and do something positive and proper for your high school and the community, with a proper set of rules and guidelines.

As I said, they aren't going to be paid in full by outside fund raising. No matter what the district may try to insinuate. Fool me once, shame on you district 87. Fool me twice? Not as long as those financial Houdinis, Meissen and McClain are around. Don't believe a word they say. Or any former GG leaders. I know they're around.

Jim, these side issues are important because OTOF has made safety, dinner times and college readiness as reasons not to have the lights. Let there be light!

test

To sum up the PRO-lights arguments on this thread:
1) it's "progress"
2) don't you dare try to stop the "progress" I'm forcing down your throat, it's unpatriotic, & a futile waste of time & taxpayer money (but the lights are not a waste of money)
3) don't wait, do it now, so it can't be undone & we ram through the next "progress" initiative as quickly as possible
4) cost doesn't matter, cuz' it'll be great; & besides, someone else is magically paying for it, really
5) sports = good; therefore, we need lights

Wow, I don't buy any of that.

I love sports, played some in HS and lots outside of HS with friends, all my life. And I agree that you learn about life by being involved in team sports. But never in my life did I think, "hey, this is all due to having lights on my field". Because I didn't. I still learned teamwork, dealing with conflict and defeat, and how to work hard to achieve success. The idea that we need lights in order to realize the benefits of sports defies the empirical evidence of the past 2,000 years of humanity.

And don't call me names for exercising my right to voice my opinion. I am not attacking your right to voice yours. The district works for us, they don't rule over us. They are obligated to hear from me & other concerned residents, & to follow our wishes. Have we forgotten that?

I have little faith in the promises that this won't cost much, given the experience at Ackerman Park, the Library, Stacy's Corner, & the never ending red ink the district seems to put us through. Did you notice the recently proposed tax increases? Do you really think it has nothing to do with all of the above, including the lights? How about we use the $300K (or $1million+) to avoid tax increases for ALL residents?

The benefits of the lights will be miniscule, and only for a very tiny portion of Glen Ellyn. What about the rest of us who have to pay for it and don't want it? Not fair.

The way the principal and other supporters speak, you'd think GW has zero sports participation. But GW has the highest participation in the district... despite having no lights!

I attended the hearings and couldn't help but feel that small army of suited bureaucrats (who are being paid tons of money -- by us, to be used against us) couldn't care less about the people of GE. They just wanted to do some big project so they could claim some kind of credit for implementing something big. Either that, or they are just so blindly obsessed with athletics that they'll do anything to boost it.

I love sports. But since moving here, I can't help but feel that this town is a bit obsessed with sports and I wish we would focus more on math and science so our children can compete economically when they become adults.

The US won't lead the world because we spent the most time playing sports.