WeDneSDay, July 15, 2009

Daily HeralD Section 1

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Local Focus

Cook of the Week

D U N C E

D U N C E

Cathy adamsick, a third-grade teacher at Diamond Lake School in Mundelein After finding out her husband had celiac disease (a lifelong intolerance to gluten), Cathy Adamsick found ODD ways to make fresh, healthy meals like these pork chops, without the use of wheats and other grains.

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Filename: webimages.eps in KtoNdrive Artists: Eriona Baholli ext 4538; Maria Choronzuk, x4535

as of 4 p.m. Tuesday Mom charged with dropping infant on head Hawks reassign Tallon, promote Bowman Charges filed in Craigslist robbery St. Charles man charged with sex abuse Many tickets, but no license suspensions Check out dailyherald.com for todays top stories.

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Local Focus
Cyclists compete in the Masters Men 30+ race at the Arlington Heights Criterium International Cycling Classic. The 35-mile race with a purse of $700 dollars on a 0.7-mile course was one of several held Tuesday in downtown Arlington Heights.
P h o t o S b y G E o R G E L E C L A I R E / g l e c l ai r e @ dai l y h e r al d. c om

Sears Centre owners want village to take over

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ARTIST: Tim Broderick x4536

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Reporter/Editor:

By Ashok Selvam
aselvam@dailyherald.com

Local businesses mixed on reaction to bike race return

By Alissa Groeninger
agroeninger@dailyherald.com

The Criterium bike race returned to Arlington Heights Tuesday after a four-year absence and garnered mixed reactions from area business owners. This year the event was part of the International Cycling Classic, which features 17 dates in different communities. There were six races of various lengths and skill levels on Tuesday. Racers came from 20 countries and Olympic, World Championship and Tour de France competitors were among the mix. Palatine resident Sbiros Kalantzis, who used to own a restaurant near the race site, said the closed streets kept people from businesses. He said having the event on Tuesday does not work because not as many people can attend. This is ridiculous, Kalantzis said. It kills all the business. The city had no control over the events timing and could not schedule it for a weekend because it had to fit in with all the other dates for the tour. Other agreed it hurt business, but took a more positive view. Reija Thouma, co-owner of The Remember Frame Shop, said it only happens once a year. Greg George, who owns Randhurst Shoe Repair on Dunton Street, said he enjoyed watching the races and businesses could see benefits in the future if more people come out. Gary Grana, who owns a business on Arlington Heights

Harvest, a food store on Dunton Street that she works for, saw more customers than normal. And, not surprisingly, Camelot Street Bicycle Shop owner Peter Barson, a race sponsor, said his store saw a lot of business. Crowd estimates for any one time varied from hundreds to thousands, given that attendees covered multiple streets and counting was difficult. Officials managing the event said they were pleased. Its a very vibrant feel, said Karystien Pac of Poland Diana Mikula, assistant to the cools off in the fountain in village manager and coordinadowntown Arlington Heights tor for the race. after competing in the first Calling the day electric, two races of the day at the Eddy Van Guyse, announcer Arlington Heights Criterium for the professional race, said International Cycling Classic. Arlington Heights could one Pac was here for two weeks day see 30,000 visitors like of cycle racing. Evanston does. This is the ideal location for a bike race, See the slideshow at he said. dailyherald.com Race watcher Megan BruRoad three blocks from the net said she especially enjoyed race site, said too many streets watching her husband Steve were blocked, but expressed Brunet compete. To have something here confidence the village will in town was really exciting for work out the bugs. Next year theyll figure out a him, the Arlington Heights better way to do it, Grana said. resident said. Its great to webimages.epsMikula said business ownFilename: bring something ers should stay open to see down here to in KtoNdrive create more new customers, as opposed interest for the businesses, to closing for the day, which especially in these times. Tim Barrett, operationsext 4538; Artists: Eriona Baholli many stores did. We hope supervisor for the Arlington that theyre at least open to tryMaria Choronzuk, x4535ing it and exploring it, Mikula Heights Police Department, said there had been no signifi- said. Mikula said the village will cant traffic problems as of the look into holding the race afternoon. Some businesses saw a clear again in the future and will benefit. Colleen Barrett, of speak with business owners Arlington Heights, said Urban before making a decision.

The original ownership plan for the Sears Centre was a mistake, the head of the arenas current ownership group said Tuesday. Almost every other facility in the country is owned publicly and doesnt pay real estate taxes, Ryan Cos. Midwest President Jeff Smith said. Ryan Cos., which owns a 75 percent stake in the $60 million facility, is in negotiations with Hoffman Estates officials for the village to take over the struggling arena. The Sears Centre opened in 2006 thanks to a $50 million loan from the village. Smith hopes to reach an agreement allowing the village control by the fall. In his first interview since village officials revealed the negotiations, Smith said the arena had been just crushed by the economy. An audit obtained by the Daily Herald shows the facility lost $512,635 in 2008. Ryan Cos. made cash calls to partners in the nationwide developer in order to raise funds to pay their bills on time, Smith said. He said there was no major breaking point that prompted negotiations, which were initiated to ensure the buildings long-term survival.

We dont have the luxury to hang around for several years, he said. This was outside of our core business; we tried it, and it didnt work. He did point to some positives. We have had major successes as part of the venture. We created a world-class facility in a great setting. Smith couldnt say why the Ryan Cos. had agreed to private ownership in 2005, but he did cite changes in the entertainment industry, including fewer performers going on tour, as reasons for the current situation. Theres no bitterness, he added. We fully intended for this to be a success for the village and us, and it didnt turn out that way, he said. Publicly-owned competitors, like the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, are exempt from paying property taxes, while the Sears Centre paid $1.8 million in property taxes in 2007, according to Cook County records. This created an unfair playing field in the battle to draw big-time shows, Smith said. Because the project is in the tax-increment financing district created to get Sears to move its corporate headquarters to Hoffman Estates, only $3,381 in property taxes from the Sears Centre were

distributed to taxing bodies in 2007, county records show. In a TIF, additional property tax revenue from development is used to pay for some of the development costs. The Sears TIF is scheduled to expire in 2012, at which point Elgin Area Unit School District 46 and other taxing bodies would have received much more revenue. But they will no longer receive any property taxes from the arena after the village takes over. The property tax take would rise if the villages plans for an entertainment district around Sears Centre in the Prairie Stone Business Park materialized. But proposals for an outdoor music amphitheater and an indoor water park are stalled by problems getting loans in the current credit environment. Ryan Cos. and the village knew four years ago if the arena floundered, the village could take over, as the original contract ceded control if their was a default on loan payments. The village is looking at three promoters with national ties to manage the venue and lure more concerts. Again, in hindsight, we probably could have brought a third party in, which is exactly what we just recommended to the village, Smith said.

Northwest suburbs in 60 seconds

Fire damages laundromat: Sparks from a dryer spread through a vent system, causing a fire and an estimated $50,000 damage to a Hoffman Estates laundromat. Crews were called at 9:12 a.m. Monday to the Leisure Time Laundromat at 2332 Hassell Road, according to a release from the Hoffman Estates Fire Department. Everyone was out of the building when firefighters arrived and saw smoke coming from the roof. Firefighters discovered flames in an area above a false ceiling and below the roof deck. A single sprinkler head activated and helped keep the fire in check. Concert marks 25th year: Tony Ocean will be appearing at a Ravinia-style forum 6:45 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at Holy Family Parish, 2515 Palatine Road, Inverness. This is part of the yearlong 25th anniversary celebration of Holy Family Parish. Tony Ocean is known for copying the styles of Frank Sinatra,
Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones and others whose romantic songs and lyrics have affected so many of our lives through the years. You can bring blankets and food, or buy tickets for $15 per person to the pig roast dinner. Dinner walk-ups are welcome as long as food holds out, but reservations are requested in advance at (847) 359-0042. Soft drinks and desserts will be on sale separately. There are inside accommodations in case of rain. Road; 11 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday at the Freeman Road branch, 1262 Freeman Road; and from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at the main library, 700 N. North Court. For details, go to palatinelibrary.org.

Library features kids classic: The childrens classic Where the Wild Things Are will be featured this coming weekend at the Palatine Public Library and its branches. Maurice Sendaks book will be read as children work on crafts and visit with the Wild Thing character. The events take place from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at the Rand Road branch, located in the Palatine Opportunity Center, 1585 Rand

New office in Hoffman Estates: Edward Jones Financial in Hoffman Estates will host a ribbon-cutting celebrating the opening of a new office at 10 a.m. on Thursday at Forest View Plaza, 1732 W. Algonquin Road. Childrens activities will take place and prizes will be awarded. The event is open to the public. Township hosts shred event: Hanover Township residents and businesses are invited to bring their old documents for shredding and recycling from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 18, at the township office, 250 S. Route 50, Bartlett. Clerk Katy Dolan Baumer is sponsoring the event, which is free to township residents and businesses. For details, call (630) 837-0301.