Traffic Guy

The Traffic Guy hears...

... that the City has purchased 11 mobile digital video recording systems for police cars. Asked by an alderman about the purchase, Police Chief Richard Eddington said, "These cameras are the kind that actually work."

... that a 6,000 gallon underground storage tank filled with heating oil and water was discovered at Willard School while an outdoor cement stairway was being removed. The tank, whose usage is presumed to pre-date 1974, is being removed.

... that new downtown restaurants Bravo Cuchina Italiana and Jamaica, Jamaica both received their liquor licenses.

... that at the Aug. 11 Administration and Public Works discussion on the City’s weapons ordinance, Alderman Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, asked the police chief whether the Evanston police would be notified whenever an Evanston resident obtained an FOID card. She wondered if the names could be published "in the newspaper." Chief Eddington said that could be done but he did not think that would be a "good idea." The alderman replied, "I want to know when I go to visit somewhere whether they have a pistol in their living room." Don’t we all?

... that the Cherry Foundation has given the City $12,000 toward the purchase of a T3 Personal Electric Vehicle. These three-wheeled vehicles resemble Segways but apparently are less tipsy with the addition of that third wheel. The vehicles are made by T3 Motion, and the company says they cost about a dime a day to operate.

... that the Oak Park knife sharpener was back on Evanston streets last week with his bright-colored, pedal-operated honer.

... that it seems the Olympic spirit has gotten to our Evanston squirrels. Has anyone else noticed a bit of sashaying in those branch-to-branch leaps? TG awaits loops and releases on our electricity and phone wires.

Speaking of squirrels, this one had some fine dining - a whole slice of pizza. Whatever toppings it might have had, by the time it got into the squirrel’s mouth, it was plain old cheese.

... Speaking of critters, here’s a deer that crossed paths in the Arboretum recently with one of the RT staff.

... that on July 30, the United States Senate voted down extending investment tax credits for installing solar energy and production credits for building wind turbines for the eighth time. The failure to extend these credits - which are scheduled to expire in December - has brought to a halt many new developments of solar and wind projects. Instead the energy focus stays on off-shore drilling.

... that the annual Adopt-a-Beach cleanup is set for 9 a.m.-noon on Sept. 20. Everyone who can should get out there to help gather cigarette butts, food wrappers, deflated balloons and (TG’s pet peeve) plastic water bottles. This year’s cleanup, organized by the Alliance for the Great Lakes, is part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Last year, the Great Lakes folks say, Evanston provided 225 volunteers, who picked up more than 725 pounds of trash along the Evanston shoreline - translate that into cigarette butts and empty H2O bottles. The Great Lakes people will supply trash bags and gloves at the beach on the day of the cleanup. To register visit www.greatlakes.org and click on the Adopt-a-Beach sun. For questions about volunteering contact Julie Kelso, 312-939-0838, ext. 229, or jkelso@greatlakes.org or France Canonizado at ext. 228 or fcanonizado@greatlakes.org.

The Traffic Guy says...