The periodic clashes between Riverside residents and local government over flowers — flowers, for God's sake! — induces eye-rolling and a familiar refrain of disdain for over-officious village employees who obviously have nothing better to do than tell people what they can and can't plant in public parkways.

There are things to be learned when one is up and about at 7 a.m., and I did learn a few things about what happens on East Burlington Street at that hour of the morning last Friday.

It sure has been a couple of interesting weeks seeing where an apparently wide-ranging federal investigation into local politicians and their ties to companies who are also large campaign contributors will go.

Unable to come to a settlement, the Lyons Township Treasurer of Schools and Lyons Township High School District 204 will argue their cases at trial in December to determine how much money, if any, the school district will have to pay to the township treasurer's office (TTO) for work the township office never performed.

We're not sure that this latest offer from the Hollywood Citizens Association to lease a chunk of land to Riverside School District 96 for the annual sum of $1 for 30 years (with options to renew at market rates afterward) is the final answer to the school district's playground and parking issues, but at least the conversation is still taking place.

The announcement last week that Forever 21, the women's clothing retailer, was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection was yet another alarm bell for the village of North Riverside as it begins the process of getting a comprehensive plan off the ground.

What was that sound coming from Riverside Village Hall when the Chicago Tribune landed on its doorstep last week: a gasp of horror, or a sigh of relief?

There are two well-kept secrets (and perhaps many more) in the community of North Riverside. What are they? Two Little Libraries. 

Some subjects bear repeating, and this week's column will do just that as we revisit the Grande Dame of buildings in Riverside, the Township Hall.

All of a sudden, the near southwest suburbs are up to their eyeballs in federal agents. On Sept. 24, the FBI raided the Cicero and Springfield offices, as well as the home, of state Sen. Martin Sandoval, whose 11th District includes part of the Landmark's coverage area.