Another...

...for Norwood Builders' Bruce Adreani!

In today's edition of the Journal & Topics, we read:



Anybody willing to wager that the "temporary waitress" hired from Hooters was consulting with a financial advisor instead of showing up in court?

As one of our friendly correspondents put it, "There was no way any of this was ever going to see the light of day."

Adreani's attorney, Frank DiFranco, uncharacteristically did not have a statement for the press about the dismissal of the charges.

Along with Bruce Adreani, we bet there are a number of Park Ridge Country Club "civillian witnesses" for whom the dismissal of these charges will make this a very Merry Christmas.

Maybe It Ain't Easy Being Green?

The Park Ridge Country Club, zoned for single-family residential use under Park Ridge's old zoning code, is now zoned as "open space".

Of course, once a property is zoned as "open space", the logical thing to do is build on it - Country Club plans terrace, dining room improvements

Club respresentative and architect Andy Koglin, of PRC/Uptown Redevelopment infamy, said that the terrace would offer club members the opportunity to enjoy warm weather. "So many times we're doing weddings and events where people like to enjoy the outside," he said.

We're guessing the club's cigar aficionados will get some enjoyment out of the new 1800 square foot terrace too.

The club, according to Koglin, will be making a "sizable investment" in the "hundreds of thousands of dollars" for the improvements. All of which will be done under the new zoning code without requiring the club to get a special use permit, endure a hearing process, or notify neighbors.

According to the article, Carrie Davis, city planner for Park Ridge, said the new zoning is more appropriate for the club...the "open space" zoning is reserved for the club and the city's park areas.

Fine.

But.

If the Park Ridge Country Club isn't just paying lip service to being "open space", we'd suggest they invest some time and effort in The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses

We note the Park Ridge Country Club is absent from the List of Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program Golf Courses.pdf, while quite a number of local area clubs are listed, along with those in other states and around the world.

Interestingly, on the list we found Raptor Bay Golf Club, about a 20 minute drive from Mayor Frimark's "home away from home" in Bonita Springs Florida.

The Audubon program is vigorously promoted by the USGA, which says about the program: Audubon International helps golf courses enhance and protect habitat for birds and other wildlife species, reduce water and chemical use, and educate the public about the benefits of environmentally managed golf courses.

We are pretty sure participation wouldn't require a "sizable investment" in the "hundreds of thousands of dollars" - just a real committment to being not merely "open space" but truly "green space".

The Frimarkenstein Place!

Mayor Howard P. Frimark is living proof that sometimes democracy can be a real drag.

While we must admit we think he looks stunning in thigh-high fishnets and hooker-heels, we recognize he is a man of his people...so his usual Judge Smails "Caddyshack" regalia is de rigeur.

We also understand his people aren't the Hooters girls hired as "temporary waitresses" for his Park Ridge Country Club Plae Dae event. We hear there's a lot of pressure being applied to a certain building developer and Park Ridge Country Club member to settle his case with the "temporary waitress" who's accused him of assaulting her.

The "temporary waitress" is probably unwilling to settle for just a new pair of thigh-high fishnets and hooker-heels, Nor-wood we. We think the "temporary waitress" should hold out for fuzzy handcuffs and a fancy leather riding crop too!

It remains to be seen if the Mayor and his people can persuade the stubborn developer to settle the case and keep them all out of court and the public eye.

After all, having their country club sexcapades exposed to the public light could be a real drag.