A first-hand account

This has been in my TO BLOG file for the last few days, but I've been a bit busy.

Last Friday's game and Boy Scout Sleepover was a big success...according to a local writer.

The Scouts got a chance to parade on the field between the mascots all-star game and the actual game, so they got to see the finely manicured grass, infield and warning track, plus the visitor and home dugouts and even the players in person. At 14 years old (a fact that blows my mind since I wrote a pre-construction story for Marketplace back in the spring of 1995, when the stadium consisted of mud and construction materials), Fox Cities Stadium is certainly wearing well, which is probably why the state high school spring baseball and NCAA Division III baseball tournaments seem comfortably ensconced there.

The game itself ran long; the Rattlers watched their 4–1 fourth-inning lead evaporate completely by the ninth inning. As extra innings approached, the public address announcer made the announcement that if the game went beyond 10:30 p.m., the regularly scheduled Friday night fireworks could not take place because of Town of Grand Chute ordinances.

As a succession of Rattlers swung for the fences and failed to connect as the digital clock on the scoreboard inched toward 10:30, this ordinance struck me as a one-size-fits-too-much approach. Fox Cities Stadium is not in a residential area (the area's homes are north of U.S. 41 and east of the Wisconsin 15 exit). Fox Cities Stadium is undoubtedly an asset for Grand Chute in particular; I doubt there was any other gathering in the town Friday night with 5,240 people, most of whom had wallets with them. Perhaps the town doesn't want fireworks going off in Plamann Park after 10:30, but complaining about postgame fireworks at Fox Cities Stadium seems to me like complaining about Fox River Mall traffic in the town, or complaining about Lambeau Field's presence.

I will point out that there are some condos and houses behind the strip malls on the west side of Casaloma Drive. I will also point out that I have heard people complain about both Fox River Mall traffic and Lambeau Field's presence.

One other thing that I'll point out. We are good neighbors in a good neighborhood. We have agreed to the curfew as a compromise with Grand Chute and our neighbors. A curfew is better than only being allowed one or two shows per year.

As to the sleepover:

Our tent didn't get up until midnight, but the boys were at least able to watch the movie on the scoreboard, "Bolt," while I wondered if, in the heat and rain and packed-to-capacity tent, I would get any sleep. My sons report that I was asleep before the end of "Bolt"; I would report that while the aforementioned factors and trying to sleep next to U.S. 41 didn't wake me up, the sunrise in your face is an excellent alarm clock.

The campout is the second annual for the Timber Rattlers. I would say the T-Rats made at least a few hundred more fans Friday night.

We certainly hope so.

It's not quite the same

Sorry about the no fireworks thing tonight. There is a 10:30pm curfew and if we shoot them off after that time....well, it's no more fireworks....ever.

So, here are some post game fireworks from my favorite fireworks display ever. The centennial celebration of the Statue of Liberty

Another word about

Lo, mine archenemy has a follower:

It would be easy for Genevans to simply say, ah, Dr. Rodney Nelson is at it again.

The longtime area physician, former School Board member and community activist is renewing his fight with the Kane County Forest Preserve District over the fireworks that commonly end many Kane County Cougars night games at Elfstrom Stadium.

This has been a long-term battle for Nelson, waged largely with letters to the editors of area newspapers and missives to Geneva city officials.

Nelson is armed with a raft of studies that say fireworks produce air pollution particulates that are dangerous and become more dangerous for people who get more exposure to them. There are other studies that appear to have scientific basis and appear to counter Nelson's studies, but most of those have some kind of tie to the fireworks industry.

Big Fireworks? The truth is out there.

So it seems to me that it might be time for the Forest Preserve District to take a look at the situation. It seems appropriate that a governmental agency charged with preserving land and other ecological concerns might be willing to discuss an air pollution concern.

It's not like Kane County hasn't already gone there. It took a lot of pushing, but the county eventually took up the case of leaf burning, banning it in the face of convincing medical evidence about its potential harm.

As for Dr. Nelson, he has taken care of the medical needs of area residents and their children and grandchildren and served his community well in a number of ways.

Maybe Genevans should be glad he's at it again.

Genevans of the Kane County, Unite! You have nothing to lose but your, um, something.

For more background on this see this post.

Guest blogger (1/24)

I used to be known as known as fireworks, but now....

Lo, I am become Death, Destroyer of worlds.

Don't believe me. Then, just read this article from the Kane County Chronicle.

For years, the Kane County Cougars have entertained fans with postgame fireworks.

But a neighbor to Elfstrom Stadium, where the Cougars play, says 30 shows a season releases too many particles in the air and poses a health risk. The stadium is owned by the Kane County Forest Preserve.

Dr. Rodney Nelson, who has been campaigning against the fireworks for about 15 years, said a new study from the New England Journal of Medicine backs up his position. The ecological study, published this week, found that fine-particle air pollution lowers life expectancy.

The researchers found that concentrations of fine particulate matter – equivalent to one-twentieth of the width of a human hair – can travel deep into the lungs and has been linked to the worsening of asthma and heart disease.

Fireworks, Nelson said, can release fine particles into the ambient air, affecting Geneva residents in neighborhoods near the stadium.

“One exposure can be lethal,” Nelson said. “Once again, the Kane County Forest Preserve will threaten my health and the health of my neighbors by creating ... fine particle pollution at least 26 times and four nights in a row at least twice.”

It's science!

The good doctor is willing to be reasonable, though!

He said he would accept the risk posed by one exposure due to Fourth of July celebrations, but not from 30 pyrotechnics shows in a season.

“I’m willing to bend once a year. I’m not that radical,” he said.

I know. I know. about three or four paragraphs up in the story there was this:

“One exposure can be lethal,” Nelson said.

I bolded that and -- for good measure -- italicized it, too.

Frankly, as the new Destroyer of Worlds, I am glad that sentence wasn't printed like this

"ONE EXPOSURE CAN BE LETHAL!!!1!1!! ZOMG!!!!!!"

I really need to sneak up on people if I want to take over for bubonic plague and ebola.

Maybe I should worry, because the government is there...ready to help:

Mayor Kevin Burns said officials will listen to Nelson – as they would to any resident’s concerns – and act if necessary.

“We admire Dr. Nelson’s passion and persistence,” Burns said. “And we encourage him to also share his thoughts with state officials and lawmakers who have regulatory authority to address this matter.”

Second Ward Alderman William Barclay said he would open Nelson’s concerns for discussion at a future city council meeting.

“I love fireworks as much as anybody else,” Barclay said. “I celebrate the Fourth of July and watch fireworks at Cougar stadium. I’d hate to not them have [fireworks] at a game. I think he has some legitimate health concerns. He presents some valid arguments why that is unheathy.”

The bureaucrats are there, too! Now, I'm really scared!

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Maggie Carson said Nelson raises interesting concerns. The IEPA already has a device to measure ambient air pollution, based in Elgin.

She said it is not likely the agency would put a monitoring device near the stadium to measure particulate matter from fireworks.

“What the Illinois EPA does is look at broader trends,” Carson said. “If there was an industrial park with a lot of pollution we might put a monitoring device there. But we would not measure a spike an hour after fireworks. We would not look at short-term issues, but those of a lifetime.”

Carson suggested that people with respiratory issues should close their windows when fireworks are used.

“If you have a lung ailment, it’s in your best interest to avoid any concentrated air pollution,” she said.

Close their windows?!?! Curses, foiled again!

I forgot to mention the title of the article from the Kane County Chronicle....I may be the new Destroyer of Worlds...But, I'm not evil!

Fireworks shows bug Geneva doctor

75 dies insquequo Oris Dies

Public records

Great crowd of 4,901 last night. There was disappointment as the announcement was made after the bottom of the ninth about the fireworks show having to be canceled. This is due to the 10:30pm rule.

If you love to look at minutes of Town Board Meetings as much as I do, here are a couple of relevant links. These are both to PDF's of a pair of Grand Chute Town Board Meetings from March 2005.

REGULAR MEETING – TOWN BOARD – TOWN OF GRAND CHUTE – 1900 W. GRAND CHUTE BLVD., GRAND CHUTE, WI – MARCH 1, 2005

Fireworks discussion begins at the bottom of page three. The meeting with the referred to in the discussion was at the Stadium. I seem to remember a story in the Post-Crescent, but I can't find it right now.

REGULAR MEETING – TOWN BOARD – TOWN OF GRAND CHUTE – 1900 W. GRAND CHUTE BLVD., GRAND CHUTE, WI – MARCH 15, 2005

Fireworks discussion begins at the bottom of page one.

This is all about good citizenship and being a good neighbor.

Enjoy.