...And That's My Opinion©

By Sandy Goldman

The Rogers Park Community Curmudgeon

Thanks—Or Maybe No Thanks

Every year between the holidays it’s great fun to read the national and local columnists write about the things for which to be thankful. Well, I thought, why don’t I do that for Rogers Park? Here are some things to be thankful for—or maybe not:

• Tom Bradley, Michael Harrington and Karen Hoover for making this years’ Aldermanic campaign one of the most energized I can remember in several decades.

• Joseph Moore for accepting the challenge and conducting one of the most hard-fought, (add your own adjectives here) battles of his career. “To the victor go the spoils.”

• All the not-for-profit community groups and block clubs some of them worthy, some self-aggrandizing and some of whose missions and actions I totally oppose.

• The people who volunteer and staff the aforementioned—some of whose philosophies I disagree with even more.

• The policemen and firemen of the 24th District who serve and protect 24-7.

• The 49^th Ward Streets and Sanitation personnel and Superintendent Bill Norkett (the only ones with which I have any experience) who never fail to respond to my requests.

• All the teachers in our schools who never quit trying to educate, despite overwhelming odds. Some day we hope that they may gain the edge.

• The puckish group who keep Forum49 message board interesting and amusing. As Shakespeare had Puck say, “What fools these mortals be!”

• The editors, writers and columnists of the News Star who despite deadlines keep us informed of local news.

• Avi Myers who does the same on local access TV for the North Town Community Council.

• The park district workers who cleanup every Monday during the summer and provide skating rinks in the winter.

• Gateway Bar and Grill (formerly My Place For?…) and owner Steve Dorizas for sticking it out through the bad times and remaining in Rogers Park.

• The many new condos scattered around the area. Have you seen the amenities and the prices? Can upscale retail stores be far behind?

• Market forces and gentrification/revitalization pushing the return to a stable community.

• The apologists and the antagonists on both the right and the left, liberals and conservatives on all political levels. We all know who is who.

• Bally fitness Center—what every successful, prosperous shopping center needs—in lieu of a multi-screen movie theater!

• The 24^th DAC, District Advisory Committee or Dubious Abstruse Charade?

• Runge Tire and Auto who invested heavily in a new facility rather than leave the community.

• All the new and old business in the year 2003…some still here, some never off the ground, some out of business and some moved to the suburbs.

• The Sam Leone Jr. Guard program at Leone Beach that trains young people not only to feel safe and be safe in the water, but also to develop a sense of self worth and to go forward prepared to handle life. I know this from first-hand knowledge.

• Loyola University and S&C Electric who are two of Rogers Park’s greatest benefactors.

• The new library.

• The new Field School addition.

• The anticipated location of the yet-to-be-built fire station. Still can’t be thankful for that dreadful location.

• The Morseland, now open on a scaled back, BYOB agenda,Thurs. to Sun. 5 – 11. Reports/rumors indicate that the new owners intend to replicate the previous business plan when they acquire a liquor license…time will tell.

• The very close personal friends we have nurtured in 46 years in RP; many of whose paths I have crossed, in every sense of that word.

• The many former Rogers Parkers throughout the USA who have responded to my columns.

• The two shameless well-known developers in Rogers Park (one of whom is now bankrupt), who fooled so many for so many years and those who in their naiveté were fooled.

• Those who eventually caught on to the above! But unfortunately too late.

• And finally to one critic, frustrated beyond civil composure who referred to me as an “old fart,” I leave this message from a Robert Ludlum novel: “The devil knows more because he is old, not because he is the devil.”

• And to all a good night and happy holidays.

...And that's my opinion.

And I'm Sandy Goldman

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To E-mail Me: smgoldman@ameritech.net