"SAVE THE STARGAZER!"

That was the title of an essay I'd written that was published in the Chicago Tribune in late April, on the reasons to save historic Yerkes Observatory from the wrecking ball, and the likely conversion of its pristine 77-acre site into a spa resort and dense housing development. Much has happened since, and the drama continues to unfold.

The week before the essay appeared, Jim Celano and I invited members of a local consortium of individuals and the leadership of Aurora University to meet on how to reinvigorate the local initiative to save Yerkes from the insensitive development plans put forth by its owners, The University of Chicago.

A few weeks later, the University dispatched its officer in charge of disposing of Yerkes to Williams Bay, to meet with a small group of interested local citizens, including the Conservancy, and, separately, with representatives of the Williams Bay City Council. Apparently, the City Council representatives advised the University of Chicago that they would only consider a plan that first provided for the preservation of the observatory facility, and that they would likely not condone commercial development of the Yerkes site. At the session we attended, we advised the university that they had been "accidental conservationists" for 100 years of a natural habitat that includes 554 feet of the last undeveloped, pristine Geneva Lake waterfront, left much as the Native Americans left it some 170 years ago, along with some deep stands of ancient oak forest. The Conservancy thus put conservation of the site's natural resources on the agenda. However, several of us went away largely unconvinced that the University was serious about changing its plans.

After that, and consulting with the Conservancy Board, we joined with local author Larry Larkin and Bill Turner, a Fontana resident interested in saving Yerkes, in crafting an alternative plan to conserve much of the environmentally valuable acreage at Yerkes and to preserve the observatory itself for later use in education, quality tourism and for community uses, as well as an ultimate tribute to the history of American astronomy and astrophysics.

On June 11th, we met with 70 invited local citizens, including regional press, State Senator Neal Kedzie, and State Representative, 32nd District, Tom Lothian, to present the outline of this alternative plan to save Yerkes, which we call "Yerkes 21." Our intent is to finalize this proposal to make Yerkes meaningful to the 21st century, just as it was to the 19th and 20th, and send it soon to the University of Chicago, with signatures from many local leaders, citizens and organizations. We will be prepared to turn the proposal into an offer to the university - one that would create a not-for-profit foundation to conserve and preserve Yerkes for the inspiration of future generations.

There is a long road ahead to "save" Yerkes, but "Yerkes 21" is an important step forward in forming a core group and developing a workable plan. Your Conservancy is at the center of this process, because we consider Yerkes to be one of the most vital conservation and preservation opportunities in Southeastern Wisconsin, and perhaps in this state. We will stay with this issue, representing the views and concerns of the Geneva Lake community, our members and our Board, and keep you apprised of progress, challenges and opportunities to assist. Stay tuned!

Chuck Ebeling

President, Geneva Lake Conservancy