Fantastic service is still available
My wife, Teresa, and I, have been regular shoppers at Ed’s Way since we began dating in 1998. We keep coming back because of Ed’s Way’s unfailing commitment to service.
As a blind shopper, I have always been able to receive assistance when I have asked for it, and they have never questioned my desire at times to shop alone. On a personal level, Ed, Mike, the cashiers, the ladies at the deli and John the butcher always make small talk with us as we shop. Mike and John in particular always ask Teresa about the health of her parents.
Then there was the time when Teresa was upset when she discovered her car was stalled in the parking lot. When Mike saw what was going on, he immediately gave her a jump start so she could get back home.
Finally, there was the day before our wedding when my brother and I went to Ed’s Way to pick up the soda we had ordered for the reception. As we approached the back of the store, “Mr. Ed” as Teresa likes to call him, came to us and asked cheerfully, “Are you ready for your supplies?” He and Mike immediately assisted us in bringing the many bottles of soda to my brother’s car. My brother, who is not a patient shopper and who is not easily impressed, said as we prepared to leave, “wow! That’s the way shopping should be!”
So, if I may be permitted to sloganeer just a bit, if you want service, come to Ed’s Way. It is the place to be.
David Meyer
Forest Park
Flawed improvements
Weeks prior to when the Harvard and Jackson street reconstruction work began, I got on the Forest Park Web site and looked for the actual plans for Harvard (the street closest to me). After studying them, I began to have serious concerns about a couple of issues: the bump-outs at Circle and Beloit, and medians near both ends of Harvard.
Regarding the bump-outs, one concern was the build-up of traffic because it would hinder the ability to turn right, especially at Jackson and Circle. The other concern would be with the large trucks that deliver their goods to Ed’s Way.
The biggest concern was the medians planned at both ends of Harvard. The planned median close to Harlem will actually be located on either side of Elgin Avenue and will include some sort of greenery. The problem with this plan is that there will be no parking available for those who live along that part of Harvard. Most importantly, there will be no parking on Harvard next to United Church of Christ on the corner of Elgin. The project will eliminate eight parking spaces at a church that has no parking lot.
I decided to voice my concerns to the village. I never heard back from the mayor, but I did get a response from Commissioner Mark Hosty. He said he would look into that particular issue and indicated that it was probably too late. My response was that it was not too late as the project hadn’t even gotten started. As the project progressed, I decided I would follow up with another letter to the mayor and Commissioner Hosty. I got no response whatsoever.
I talked with a few of the neighbors on my street, and they had no idea there would be a loss of parking on Harvard by their houses. I am wondering if anyone has even approached the two ministers at the church to let them know they will be losing eight parking spaces. Something like this should have been brought to our attention before this project got started.
One neighbor who complained by phone to the village was told that there were public forums. Really? Why weren’t those who will be directly affected specifically notified? I get the impression that our village just does what it wants without any real public input. No, they probably got this plan from some outside professional who knows nothing about this neighborhood.
The idea of the medians was to create a “gateway” into the community. Harvard is not a gateway into Forest Park because you cannot leave or enter Forest Park from any other community on Harvard. Harvard is a street within Forest Park’s borders. Madison Street and Roosevelt Road are gateways. So, why aren’t they working on beautifying Roosevelt Road?
I was told the median would be a way to slow down traffic on Harvard. Living close to Harvard for more than 17 years, I have not witnessed speeding on that street. The speeding occurs down Elgin Avenue. Although the median would probably be beautiful, it is totally unnecessary, and is just an obstruction that eliminates needed parking.
Stephanie Wright
Forest Park
