Voter Apathy and Corrosive Acid: Feedback Friday

At the current 781 "likes" on the H-F Patch Facebook page, we can't believe we're only 19 short of the big 800 milestone.

Thanks so much to all of our existing and new fans!

Overheard on Facebook

Many Southland residents will remember Tuesday for their horrendous commute back home thanks to an acid spill on Southbound Tri-state Tollway. Here's a few local stories:

• Terri Riley:"Yep I was caught in that - 3+ hours to get home which normally takes 45 min. They finally diverted us northbound but by then 95th street was too packed found a different route - just insane."
• Sue Mizgalski:"Unfortunetly i was unable to get to the voting booth before they closed because of this nightmare. Every side street was a parking lot."
• Karen Kurowski McHugh: "Yeah...made for a superfun 2 hour jaunt thru the backroads of La Grange, Countryside, Orland and Palos..."

The polls were pretty desolate in many cases acorss the Southland. We asked our readers what their experiences were and they responded:

• Caitlin Archer-Helke:"Turnout looked pretty sad in my precinct. I'm hoping it will pick up at some point today."
• Steve Burke: "Flossmoor community house was pretty quiet, too. I was surprised that the election judges weren't doing silly things to entertain themselves! Like making paper airplanes out ballots or something! Come to think of it, the ballot paper would make an EXCELLENT paper airplane."
• Mark Kreucher:"Is voter apathy because of some dirty politicians or because people just don’t believe their vote matters. Either way it’s sad. We have the right and duty to vote. Do your homework and elect those that really care and they’re still out there too."
• Patty O'Frederickson:"The polling place at Salem Lutheran was pretty empty too. I think the poor turnout in the 'burbs really hurt Debbie Halvorson. : ("
• Ed Glassner "Depressing that Cook County voters don't understand that the primary is THE election in our area. Low voter turnout brought us again Dorothy Brown (the extortionist), Jesse Jackson, Jr (& his uncontrollable ambition & missing moral compass), Patrick DALEY Thompson (name = qualification) ..."

Voices Speak Out on H-F Patch

. With Homewood's Village Board underwhelmed after the chamber's Tuesday Homewood Days 2012 presentation and the clock ticking, the fate of the annual event is murky, at best. It's certainly got the town talking, though:

• :"I know the mayor stresses shop Homewood in this economy but I don't remember seeing many Homewood businesses participating. Could you answer why so few Homewood merchants took part? ..."
• : "... This is nonsense already. CoC, just accept that HWD 2011 was an epic fail and move along already. For goodness sake, go talk to the Flossmoor planning commitee and get a clue and stop blaming everyone else for your misery."
• : "I refused to go last year because of the stupidity surrounding the event. I used to be fun ..." 
• : "It has always been my experience that people who are doing are to busy to complain."

Thanks everyone for your continued readership and support!