Letters to the Editor
She changed my life in so many ways. When I was a struggling photographer, she liked my work so much that she gave me a space above the Canterbury Shoppe. It was a storage area, but she saw my potential and let me exhibit my art there for a long time.
She never asked for much in return, and she helped me to grow and meet people who could help advance my career as a photographer.
With the gallery area she gave me to use I got the chance to shoot the covers for a local magazine and a local paper. She showed me how to give back to the community by showing me how to donate my art to Little Friends auctions and other local fundraisers.
I could tell how much she loved Naperville when she would be planning another charity event. We talked on weekends when I would have my art gallery open, and she would help me with learning to meet with the public.
I don't think there are enough words to cover what she did to help others. She always reached out and did what she could do for the town and the people. I will never forget her, and her compassion and love.
Rick Wagner
Naperville
I was home at about 10 a.m. Friday, June 26, when two Naperville policemen pounded on my door at my home at 300 N. River Road, Naperville, and said they were evacuating the house at 236 E. Fourth Ave.
I immediately went to the house, followed by the police cars, to find about six or seven more police vehicles, Naperville lawyer Margo Ely, and about five building inspectors gathered around the building.
They were escorting the tenants out of the house, some half-dressed, carrying what ever they could of their belongings. I was presented with the "Order of Revocation of Occupancy Permit" and a notice of violations. The police then padlocked the building, giving me and Mike Correra, my maintenance man, a set of keys. I was told that for any tenant to enter the building to claim his/her belongings we would need to schedule a Naperville policeman to witness the action
There were 10 people living in the house, the average tenancy 3½ years, the longest nine years. I was able to find homes for eight of them. Over the last 33 years a lot of good people have lived at 236 E. Fourth Ave., and the few bad apples that this newspaper chose to quote were undoubtedly guilty of the crimes they describe.
There was no maid service. The tenants cleaned up after themselves. From time to time someone would put up a sign (reading) "Your mother doesn't live here," and we would sort out the offenders.
A partial list of the organizations that sent tenants and often sponsored their housing includes Naper Cares, St. Vincent DePaul, Catholic Charities, DuPage Health Department, Lisle Township and Naperville Township
The eviction without notice was an unfortunate beginning to whatever zoning changes the City Council chooses to make, but we will continue to comply with all ordinances.
Dirk Van Tellingen
Naperville
