A SECTION 2 - PAGE 8 • PLAINDEALER - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1977 EDITORIALS Lombardo's Legacy With the passing of the long popular Gaetano (Guy) Lombardo recently, the popular music world lost another of its nostalgic pioneers. Bing Crosby and Jan Garber, of the same generation, died only weeks before. Lombardo, born a Canadian, was a truly American success story. Like Crosby and Garber, he refused to change his style as each fad overtook jazz and popular music. And his success outshone those of performers who led each new style and vogue- for a time. He came to Cleveland first from London, Canada, and got his first engagement leading the family band in 1924 at the Claremont Cafe. It was a close-knit group. Brothers Carmen (a gifted music writer and flutist) and Lebert played in it, also a sister, Rosemarie, and a brother-in-law. Ken Garner. Lombardo was a good showman and persuaded a radio station in Cleveland to let him broadcast free. That helped to establish the band. Lombardo's philosophy included many commonsense gems. "If we play 'Stardust,' " he once said, "there's no doubt about it- that's it." On another occasion he remarked: "We lose 'em in the 'teens oftentimes, but catch 'em again later on." Lombardo got his big break when ne replaced Ben Bernie at the Roosevelt Grill in New York in 1929. There he went on to greater fame and did his New Year's broadcasts until it closed in the sixties and he transferred to the Waldorf Astoria ballroom. On Jan. l, this year, it's estimated more than fifty million Americans heard mm play that song for the forty-eighth time. Fortunately, we'll hear it again this coming New Year's. The brothers are keeping the band going. It will be--almost--the same. The Advent Season Christmas and keep in mind its meaning is growing contains four candles, one lighted on the first Sunday light o the e wreath in Advent The custom of using a table wreath to enjoy the approach of Th< ay i (Nov. 27 this year) and two the next Sunday, three the next and four the Sunday before Christmas. Many of our churches teach that advent is the season one should prepare for the advent of the Savior on the twenty-fifth; in some there are elaborate rituals. But there is doubt when the practice began. Aside from specifically prescribed rituals or specific beliefs, the custom of using a wreath with four candles has been adopted by more and more Americans of all faiths, just as Santa Claus comes into almost every home. It's a good custom, for the candles and wreath are reminders of a happy time to come, and if an accepted custom in the home, lighted at each of four successive Sunday dinner tables, they add a warmth, and often a Christian atmosphere in the home. Building Permits Building permits recently issued by the Department of Building and Zoning for McHenry County include: Walter Gehlaar, 3234 Old Bay RcL, McHenry, to build a single family home at 3012 Old Bay Rd. in McHenry Township for an approximate value of $75,000. The permit and service fee of $252 was paid by the applicant. Erland A. Johnson, Rt 1 Box 10C, Grayslake, to build a single family residence at 5415 Fox Lake Rd. in Pistakee Highlands in McHenry Township for an approximate value of $25,000. Permit and service fee-$165.76. Terrenoe V. Butler, 1515 W. Lakeview, McHenry, to build a single family home at 3712 Berkshire Drive, Windy Prairie Acres in McHenry Township. There was no approximate value given. Permit and service fee-$223.20. Anton Jivoin, 4307 N. Hamlin Ave., Chicago, to build a single family residence at 4801 Winnebago in Indian Ridge in McHenry Township for an approximate value of $40,000. Permit and service fee-$196. V Thomas Crosbie, 7406 Mason Hill Rd., McHenry, to build a three- room addition at the same address for an approximate value of $30,000. Permit and service fee-$52.60. Mark Bringe, 3504 Thompson Rd., Wwider Lake, to build a single family residence at 9108 Oriole in Highland Shores in Greenwood Township for an approximate value of $41,000. Permit and service fee-$190. Thomas Schoefernacker, 18 Meade Court, Fox Lake, to build a new residential structure at 6819 Prospect in Fox Lake Vista in Burton Township for an approximate value of $55,600. Permit and service fee-$186. Marian Robbins, 622 Apt. D Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, to build a single family residence at 5207 Beacon Hill in Pistakee Hills in McHenry Township for an approximate value of $35,000. Permit and service fee-$207. Signs of the Season For Your Information Dear friends. Some widows can promptly talk about thoir lots, repeating Its circumstances, until the cruel edge is blunted enough for them to accept its reality. Other widows required months to bring themselves to talk about their husbands, about their death. Until they can talk, they have not really started on the road to recovery from grief. Respectfully, a. y* PETER AVJISTEN & SON FUNERAL HOME McHenry, Illinois 385-0063 dHxm1/ vteui America: It's About Trying By John W. Gardner It isn't possible to separate the American Dream from the people who dreamed. Most of the colonists and later immigrants to this land came on their own initiative and were perhaps in their very nature more venturesome than those who remained behind. But some of their attributes can only be explained by the experi ence on these shores--attributes that came somehow out of the vast land, out of the end less, bustling movement, out of our escape from the burden of history. There was buoyan cy, a sense of the future, a taste for improvisa tion, confidence, a passion for self-improve ment, a resilient willingness to keep trying. Later we came to love success, but that was never what America was about: America was about' 'trying" --and the opportunity to try. As the years passed, the American Dream took on deeper, richer, more mature tones. We experienced failure and tragedy. We learned that we were imperfect. We learned that the world was complicated, and that we ourselves were complicated. Some of the lessons were so bitter, there were observers who thought we'd never recover. And, ironically, the dozen years pre ceding our 200th birthday were particularly troubled years: assassinations, bitter racial conflict, a hated war and the greatest scandal in our political history. Americans today are not unmarked by those troubled years. There is uncertainty. There is contempt for much that has been pretentious and false in our national life. But anyone who looks closely will see something else; resili ence, stamina, the courage to look at our faults--and under all the noisy, strife-ridden, often self-indulgent surface of our national life, an insistent desire to do better. We tend to imagine that earlier generations had more "character"; but one must render a mixed judgment. Nineteenth and early Twenti eth Century Americans had an essentially youthful notion that nothing could really go wrong for America: every problem would be solved. The Americans from every walk of life A former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, John Gardner is the Founding Chair man of Common Cause. today--teachers, business people, workers, professionals and civil servants--who are seriously tackling the problems we face as a nation are, in important ways, more mature. They take a hardier view of life. Our Founding Fathers knew that humans were flawed and that therefore human societies would be flawed. But the soaring optimism of 19th Century America forgot their wisdom and left it behind. In our attitudes today we are closer to the nation's founders than were the Americans of a century ago. Our sense of mis sion has been chastened and purged of the pride that goes before a fall. But we haven't given up. True, there is hypocrisy, self-indulgence and cynicism; and we have our share of rascals and fools. But with respect to most Americans, scratch the surface and you'll find a yearning for something better. We want to be better people. We want to help make this a better country in a better world. We want our liberty, so that we can continue to work on our problems as a free people. We want justice for everyone--and we know now that some of the obstacles to achiev ing it are in our own hearts and minds. We still treasure the idea of opportunity--to be what each of us can be as individuals, to be what we can be as a nation. And we want more down-to-earth things too: a decent life for our kids, a job, respect, dignity in our later years. Most of us know that we've got to work for those things. An endless stream of news stories leave the impression that America is awash with lunatics on parole. But most Americans work hard, raise their kids, love their country, stretch each dollar, mourn their dead, and keep going. Looking back, I have great affection for the morning optimism of a young nation. But my deepest admiration goes to those many Ameri cans who are keeping America's dream alive today. Child Care Food Program PUNCH LWE Assistant Secretary Carol Tucker Foreman has an nounced publication of "Food for Kids." a brochure which explains how child care centers and family and group day care homes can participate in the child care food program. The purpose of the child care food program is to improve the nutritional status of children by granting federal financial and administrative aid to licensed, non-profit child care in stitutions. This four-page brochure gives information on the kinds of federal assistance child care centers and familv and group Plant Memorial Garden For Pohl A Memorial garden for T. Nathan Pohl is nearing com pletion on the grounds of the Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian church, where Pohl was a member. A memorial fund was established through the church. Pohl had been an administrator at McHenry County college since the college was founded, until his death in February, 1977. McHenry County college students donated the labor planting the Memorial garden. MCC students in the "Un derstanding Landscape Plans" course submitted individual plans to Mrs. Pohl, and she and members of the church selected the plan submitted by Mary Lee Larson. V i b u r n u m s , y e w s . rhododendrons, magnolia, and other typical landscaping plants will grace the 40 by 50 foot courtyard. A peony plant that Pohl had planted in his garden at his home in Crystal Lake will also be transplanted in the Memorial garden. TURN ONS day care homes can receive by participating in the program. The brochure also includes information on eligibility and program requirements for participation. Copies of this publication have been sent to state departments of education for distribution to potential par ticipants in the Child Care Food program. Others interested in vFood for Kids" (FNS-163) may obtain single copies free of charge by writing the Child Nutrition division. Food and nutrition service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington. D.C. 20250. "All who disagree with my plan signify by saying, I resign. Chuck Lewandowski ONLY ONE DID NOT APPROVE \M4EN A FEAST WAS PREPARED FOR THE PPOCXGALSOM. WHO? THE FATTED CALF Tony Fjcfc ARE YOU NEW IN McHenry Area? Do You Know Someone New? WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A ROYAL WELCOME TO EVERY NEWCOMER TO OUR AREA!!!!! CALL JOAN STULL 385-5418 Chuck Lewandowski W \j KNOW YOUR AREA-ROYAL WELCOME DOES IT BEST LET S GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT LOW-COST AUTO INSURANCE. GIVE ME A CALL FOR THE FACTS ON LOW-COST HEALTH INSURANCE. I'D LIKE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ON LOW-COST HOME OWNERS INSURANCE. Tony Fick Call us for Details 385- 2304 I D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE FACTS ON LOW-COST LIFE INSURANCE. AMERICAN FAMILY N S U R A N C E AUTO HOME HEALTH LW¥* AMERICAN FAMILY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY* MADISON, WIS. S3701 I--OUR NEW LOCATION-- Corner of Crystal Lake Blacktop & Rt. 120, , AAcHen "TWLITpulSE™"" (The Plaindealer invites the public io use this column as an expression of their view on subjects of general interest in our community. Our only request is that the writers give signature, full address and phone number. We ask too, that one individual not write on the same subject more than once each month. We reserve the right to delete any material which we consider libelous or in objectionable taste.) HKZOMXCl OBJECTIONS "Editor: "Currently before the zoning hoard of the city of McHenry is a petition for the rezoning of property, now zoned P.U.D., to R-4 which is multi-family housing. This borders Boone creek and Whispering Oaks subdivison which is a retirement area. The petitioner is Lancer Builders. Inc., from S c h a u m b u r g . 1 1 1 . "A public hearing was held Nov. 18, 1977, in City Council chambers attended by only a handful of objectors from Whipsering Oaks who reside on Oakwood drive and the only ones to receive legal notice of this procedure. This letter is to make this matter of concern to all residents. "To rezone this property to multi-family housing will be a travesty to Oakwood drive residents and the city itself. I believe this is not the best use of this land - just the most profitable for the developer, cutting the amount he would have to pay in the new developers' fees by one-third, the difference between single family and multi-family housing. "Developers have one cort- cern only, maximum money from the land developed and then move on. leaving the residents and the city with the problems they create. "This property is high water table land bordering Boone creek, an area prone to flooding with every heavy rain. In the spring of '73 when flooding was rampant in the area, with the creek over its banks, this entire acreage was under water all summer.Nothing has been done to correct this condition: in fact, not one thin dim was allocated by the City Council from General Revenue funds available, to even clean up Boone creek. Information was presented at the hearing that this same land was condemned more than fifteen years ago. Nothing has changed, this is the same land they wish to zone multi-family, with townhouses starting 1,000 feet from the creek. Where will the run-off from asphalt parking lots, streets, etc., go but to the low lands? "They presented no engineers' study, no water tables at the hearing, stating the engineers could take care of it later. The time to do this is now. before the zoning change, not after. "Conservation is all im portant to our environment and as we run out of valuable land for this purpose let us not turn flood land into housing. "Another hearing is being held at city hall Council chambers Dec. 2,1977, at 4 p.m. "It would be nice if taxpayers and our two aldermen from Ward 2 would show some concern and attend this hearing. . "Mrs. James Erickson "913 Oakwood drive •'McHenry" EARL R. WALSH & JACK WALSH INS. Firn, Auto, Farm, Life Representing RELIABLE COMPANIES 4410 W. Rto. 120, McHenry MS-1300 DENNIS CONWAY AUTO-LIFE-FIRE State Farm Ins. Co. 331* W. Elm St. McHenry, III. M5-7111 DR. B0TTARI 303 N. Richmond Rd., McHenry Eyes examined - Contact Lofltn Glosses fitted Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., 4-4 p.m. Twos., Thurs., Frl., 7-f p.m. Sat., f: 30 to 3:00 Ph. 30S-41S1 or 30S-2242 McHENRY COUNTY OFFICE MACHINES SALES-SERVICE A RENTALS Mon-Sat9-S:30 Friday tilf:00 *3 Grant St., Crystal Lake Ph. 4SM224 McHenry Telephone Answering & Letter Seraice • Answering Service • Car, Telephone & Paging Service • Complete AAimeographing & Printing Serivce • Typing & Photocopying Ph. 385-0258 rem5®} IMOP*"'." Farm Equipment George P. Freund, Ine. Case • New Holland 4102 W. Crystal Lake Rd. McHENRY Bus. 385-0420 Res. 385-0227 3*32 W. lit. 120, McHenry' "GATEWAY TO YOUR FUTURE" CAUUS J815) 385-4810 Firelli RADIAL TIRES FOR ALL CARS Europa Motors, Inc. 2318 Rte . 120 > 815-385-0700 PATZKE CONCRETE* McHENRY-ILLINOIS FOUNDATIONS • FLOORS • SIDEWALKS FREE ESTIMATES: 815-305-9337 815.385.553i ConuMt! ML %_W at our quick quick-action copy center. 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