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Fox
Lake
follows
its own current (p.2)
In
PC world, village takes road few travel
By
Courtney Flynn
Tribune staff reporter
Published
February 11, 2007
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"I
guess that's what people like about Fox Lake," Irwin said.
"You can go anywhere in our community in shorts and a T-shirt
and be welcomed."
Some residents commend officials for
standing up for what they think is right.
"It's
easy to follow like a sheep and do what everybody else does,"
said John Tomusiak, 39, a local businessman who grew up in the
area and has lived in Fox Lake since 2000. "It's harder to do
your own thing."
Resident Pete Jakstas Sr., 69, who
runs the Mineola Restaurant and Lounge and the marina, said Fox
Lake has never tried to be like other towns.
What
is good for Fox Lake
"Fox Lake will never be a Lake
Geneva," said Jakstas, who said his family holds liquor
license No. 1 in Fox Lake. "The quicker you realize that Fox
Lake is unique and forget about what the other towns are doing,
then you know we're doing what we believe is good for Fox
Lake."
His son, Pete Jakstas Jr., 42, who helps run
the marina, said he also supports the village for doing what is
best for Fox Lake.
"You do it your way. We'll do it
our way," he said. "That's the way I think it should
be."
Irwin, who quit smoking 8 months ago with the
help of laser therapy, said that until the state forces Fox Lake
to implement a smoking ban, officials won't do it.
Even
then, she joked: "If the governor decides to change things,
let me know--I'll run away from home."
Still, some
locals bemoan the old ways, saying Fox Lake is "behind the
times."
Norman Heine, 65, who recently stopped in for
a haircut at Swanson's barbershop, dislikes being subjected to
cigarette smoke when he goes out for dinner in town. Heine, who
says he doesn't smoke or drink, is troubled by one of his favorite
local restaurants that has a non-smoking section--upstairs.
"How
dumb is that?" Heine said. "It's as dumb as it
gets."
Some experts say business interests should not
trump the health benefits of a ban.
"It's very
difficult to balance sickness and human life against the profits
of businesses," said Joel Africk, CEO of the American Lung
Association of Metropolitan Chicago. "There is no question
that [a smoking ban] is the right public health policy
decision."
But Swanson, 65, said it's up to
individuals to choose whether they smoke. He likes just about
everything about Fox Lake, including the Indian head logo featured
on the entrance to his barbershop for 20 years.
"What's
with this?" Heine questioned. "Why can't we
change?"
Swanson just laughed.
"I love Fox
Lake--backwards or not," he joked over Heine's protests. "I
love it backwards especially."
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cflynn@tribune.com
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