The Huntley Farmside

              35 cents
Fire Botvd MuttUts Mon Fair Pkotas
The HwilleY Famiside
Thursday, August 26,1999
A Press Publications newspaper m serving the Huntley community
Volume 39, Issue 34
Team prepares for kick off at new field
Tim Anderson
Press Publications
Head football coach Mike Slatteiy sajrs his team is ready for Friday night's season and home opener against Seneca.
But the bigger question on the minds of Slattery and others is this: Will the new football field be ready?
Construction crews were still instal¬ ling bleachers and light posts earlier this week in preparation for the open¬ ing of Huntley High School's new football field.
"As of right now, we're going to be fine," high school Athletic Director Dave Moyer said Monday about the
progress of the new field. "There is still work to be done out there. We're definitely cutting it close, because we're having our first game of the year at home. But unless there are some unforeseen problems, we will be ready."
Slattery said he has been keepmg an eye on the progress of the new field.
"I know the field has goal posts and grass, and those are the things I'm concerned about," he joked. The sophomore football game will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the varsity matchup to follow.
Slattery said the thought of playing on the new field has his te^n even more excited than it normally would be for the start of the football season.
"Our kids are reaUy pumped up, to
the point of being a little nervous about it," the head coach said.
Moyer said the new field will include an improved press box, more seating for fans and a larger concession area.
Just as important, Moyer said, the field is located on school groxmds, as opposed to the old home stadium that was located away from the new high school campus.
"It's going to be good for oiu- cam¬ pus atmosphere to play our home games on site," Moyer said.
The field also will have a track for use by athletes in the spring.
As for the football team, Slattery says his squad is ready to improve on last year's 1-8 record.
"I know there has been improve¬ ment with our program," Slattery said.
"Now we have to see if that will trans¬ late to more wins. We think it will."
His team will get an immediate test against Seneca, a perennial power in the Interstate Eight Conference.
"We really think Seneca is a team we can compete with," Slattery said. "We thmk we have a lot of talent, and we're ready to show it."
Senior quarterback Hugh McGinley will lead the Redskins' offensive at¬ tack. Other retuming players expected to contribute offensively are wing Scott Gentzleman, wide receiver Gary Mueller, and offensive linemen Dave Schnell and Eric Brooks. Middle line¬ backer Brandon Roxwort;hy and defe¬ nsive end Jeff Berg will anchor the ¦   TEAM, Page 2
Opening their doors
Pat Kolle/Press Publications
Village, Huntley Towers reach parking agreement
Tim Anderson
Press Publications
Tom Peck Jr. and Tom Peck Sr. invite residents to visit their new showroom in the Huntley Auto IMall, located at Freeman Road and Route 47. The company moved from Hampshire to the new showroom on Aug. 16.
It could be another three years before officials fi'om the village and Huntley Towers have to revisit the parking situation at the Route 47 strip mall.
Both sides may need that much time to recover from the most recent roimd of talks.
The frustratingly long, sometimes contentious dis¬ cussions about Huntley Tow¬ ers parking issues at least temporarily ended Aug. 19, when the Village Board nar¬ rowly agreed to allow devel¬ opers to fill the remaining one-third of the mall with waiting tenants.
Village President James Dhamer had to cast the deci¬ ding vote in favor of the pro¬ posal, which three trustees voted against because of what they believe will be significant parking problems at the site.
The vote allowed for a var¬ iance in the village's parking requirements, which other¬ wise would not have allowed Huntley Towers to be filled.
The approved plan will al¬ low the village to have a third- year review of the Huntley Towers parking situation.
Right before the vote, Trus¬ tee Chariie Becker may have best captured the exas¬ peration of both sides with a joke that left the entire boardroom laughing.
"Why don't we make the period four years, then maybe all of us will be out of office," he said.
Trustees Sue Lamb, Charles Sass and Erin Anderson all voted against the plan. In casting the deciding the vote, Dhamer said it will be in Huntley Towers developer Don Wolfs best economic in¬ terest to continue to look for solutions to the possible park¬ ing crunch.
"I don't see the point of seeing this building stay empty," Dhamer said.
The village president added that the entire parking situa¬ tion has been "an embar¬ rassment" for everyone in¬ volved.
Trustee   Dennis   Beeskow,
who voted for the proposal,
agreed:   "It's   been   a  mess
fi'om Day 1. It really, really
¦   PARKING, Page 2