Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Safety at Lee Street and E. Forest Avenue would improve with a new traffic signal, Des Plaines aldermen said.
At the direction of Des Plaines aldermen, public works and engineering workers conducted a traffic volume study at Lee Street and E. Forest Avenue last week. Traffic at the intersection has increased since 2010, the last time the study was done, said Derek Peebles, civil engineer. The data is being prepared to send to the Illinois Department of Transportation with an explanation that the city is interested is a permit for a traffic signal at that intersection, Peebles said. The opening of Boston Fish Market and other new development, and traffic from the Aldi grocery story and Advance Auto Parts store may be contributing to the increase in traffic volume from 2010 to 2013. In the video above, shot between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on May 13, …
Traffic volume data recently collected by the City of Des Plaines indicated the intersection of Lee Street and E. Forest Avenue may qualify for a new traffic signal to be constructed.
The City of Des Plaines is steering toward constructing a new traffic signal. Aldermen voted to direct city staff to complete a traffic count study at the intersection of Lee Street and E. Forest Avenue at a meeting on May 6. Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman said the intersection was in his ward, and he supported a traffic signal to be installed. “I’m very interested in pushing for this for a long time; I think this definitely is needed,” Brookman said. Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten, who was acting Mayor on May 6, said a traffic signal at Lee Street and E. Forest Avenue was necessary. “That’s a very dangerous intersection,” Walsten said. “I’ve seen people backed up four-to-five cars, and somebody’s going to get hurt — I’m telling you …
Monday, May 6, 2013
Does the thick stuff matter? Find out the answer.
You may know him as the Sixth Ward alderman in Des Plaines, and, more recently, as acting mayor, but many people are unaware Mark Walsten starred in one of the most popular television commercials of the 1990’s. Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten is seen here endorsing Liquid Plumber. Walsten worked as an actor on a variety of television and film productions during the 1980’s and 1990’s, he said, including extra roles in Code of Silence with Chuck Norris and Weird Science. Walsten, while not a union plumber, ran a remodeling business in the 1980’s, he said, and currently operates a home inspection company. Walsten said the series of commercials, starring him and another actor, Dave Dykstra, received top ratings at the time they were first …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Plans for Elite Training and Fitness to open a gym in downtown Des Plaines are underway, Michael Bartholomew, city manager, told city council members at a meeting on Monday.
A new gym is moving into Metropolitan Square in downtown Des Plaines, Michael Bartholomew told city council members at a meeting on Monday. Elite Training and Fitness, based in Elk Grove Village, is going to open in the space formerly occupied by World Gym, Spa di da… and Coldstone Creamery on Market Street, Bartholomew said. The business has a projected opening date of Sept. 1, Bartholomew said. “That’s great; I must’ve put on 15 pounds since [World Gym] closed,” acting Mayor Mark Walsten said. Bartholomew told city council members that Alex Dambach, director of community and economic development, and he have a meeting scheduled with the owners of Metropolitan Square next week. “We’re going to sit down and we’re going to talk about the …
Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten was appointed acting mayor of Des Plaines by city council on Monday.
Des Plaines aldermen appointed Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten acting Mayor of Des Plaines at a meeting on Monday. Walsten is the fourth city council member to fill the vacancy left by former mayor and now state Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines) since January. Walsten will serve in the office until Mayor-elect Matt Bogusz is sworn in on May 6. City council voted 5-1 to appoint Walsten. Seventh Ward Alderman Dan Wilson voted “present,” Third Ward Alderman and Mayor-elect Matt Bogusz arrived several minutes after the vote was taken. Second Ward Alderman John Robinson voted against Walsten’s appointment. “I feel like I was left out of the picking of the next mayor, and I don’t feel it’s right to myself and my constituents,” Robinson said. …
Monday, April 15, 2013
Fourth Ward Alderman Dick Sayad has served as acting mayor since February. Des Plaines City Council is scheduled to consider appointing a new acting mayor on Monday.
Des Plaines may have another temporary mayor after tonight’s city council meeting, according to the public agenda. Consideration of selecting an acting mayor is planned to occur before the closed session portion of the meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday. Fourth Ward Alderman Dick Sayad has served as acting mayor since February 19. Prior to that, First Ward Alderman Patricia Haugeberg and Eighth Ward Alderman Michael Charewicz served as acting mayor to fill the vacancy left by Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines) when he resigned on Dec. 31. The Des Plaines Journal reported Sixth Ward Alderman and former mayoral candidate Mark Walsten may be appointed acting mayor by city council. A message left for Walsten was not immediately returned at publication…
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Vote totals, up-to-date results and more election information.
Vote totals, up-to-date results and more election information. Des Plaines residents voted for a mayor, city clerk, aldermen and other public officials on Tuesday. We’ll update this page with current election results and other information about what’s happening. Like Des Plaines Patch on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep up with the latest on the election. Here are some previous stories on the election: The following election results are from the Cook County Clerk’s website. Updated at 1:22 a.m. on April 9: Mayor of Des Plaines: First Ward Alderman of Des Plaines: Third Ward Alderman of Des Plaines: Fifth Ward Alderman of Des Plaines: Seventh Ward Alderman of Des Plaines: Updates: We'll post election updates here, on …
Monday, April 8, 2013
Candidates running for office completed questionnaires about their backgrounds, plans if elected, and more on Patch.
Des Plaines residents will vote for six city officials including a new mayor on Tuesday, as well as new board members for Maine Township High School District 207’s Board of Education. Patch asked the candidates to complete questionnaires about their backgrounds, priorities and more. Click on their names below for more information, and stay tuned into Des Plaines Patch on election night for up-to-date results and more. In addition to Des Plaines city government and D-207 board members, Maine Township officials, Community Consolidated School District 62 board members and East Maine School District 63 board members will also be elected. For more information about those candidates, visit the Cook County Board of Elections’ website. Des …
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Mayoral candidate Anthony “Tony” Arredia speaks about flooding in Des Plaines.
Des Plaines mayoral candidates Anthony “Tony” Arredia, Third Ward Alderman Matt Bogusz and Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten spoke to Des Plaines residents at a debate at city hall on March 21. In this video, Arredia speaks about flooding in Des Plaines. Click on the names below to see what the other two candidates said. Mayoral Candidates Speak about Flooding in Des Plaines: Des Plaines Mayoral Election Questionnaires: For more stories, pictures, information and conversation, like Des Plaines Patch on Facebook.
Mayoral candidate Matt Bogusz speaks about flooding in Des Plaines.
Des Plaines mayoral candidates Anthony “Tony” Arredia, Third Ward Alderman Matt Bogusz and Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten spoke to Des Plaines residents at a debate at city hall on March 21 . In this video, Bogusz speaks about flooding in Des Plaines. Click on the names below to see what the other two candidates said. Mayoral Candidates Speak about Flooding in Des Plaines: Des Plaines Mayoral Election Questionnaires: For more stories, pictures, information and conversation, like Des Plaines Patch on Facebook.
Mark
2:17 pm on Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Des plaines is a great city, I voted for Mayor Bogusz with great honor and pride. This bitterness associated with this Historic moment in Des plaines only rings true for the "old powers that were" preaching this "pureist" point of view that has isolated Des Plaines from a growing population of new citizen excluded from a city that we love and respect. This myth of a Democratic machine lurking … more ›