PeoriaStory

Speaker on women's reproductive rights

PEORIA -- From a news release:

The Peoria ACLU Chapter Celebrates its 52nd Anniversary at its Annual Meeting on April 25  

The Peoria ACLU Chapter’s annual meeting on Thursday, April 25, 2013 will feature Ms. Kyle E. Ciani, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of History and Core Faculty Member of  the Women's and Gender Studies Program at Illinois State University. She will speak on "Problematic Choices: A Short History of Reproductive Rights in the United States."

The event takes place at the IVY Club, 1502 N. Galena Road, Peoria Heights, and begins with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. with the program, presentation of awards and election of officers to follow.

 Professor Ciani specializes in the history of women and gender across the Americas, with a focus on social justice issues. As an Affiliated Faculty in Women and Gender Studies, her courses are part of the program's core curriculum and she helps to mentor FLAME (Feminist Led Activist Movement to Empower). She has appeared on C-Span and other national media outlets on women’s issues. She formerly was Associate Director of the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation of San Diego (Calif.) County, and knowledgeable about the long-term effects of domestic violence. 

 Two Sam Belfer Awards will be presented this year, to Peoria Journal Star reporter Matt Buedel and to voter activist Helen King.  Buedel’s reporting on the Peoria Police Department and the criminal justice system revealed possible violations of civil rights and civil liberties, and educated the public on what goes on behind the scenes.  King worked tirelessly to register voters for the November, 2012 election, then helped lead a community movement to stop voter suppression before it began.  As a result people voted without noticeable interference, unlike in some previous Peoria elections.         .

Reservations for the dinner must be made by April 19. Contact Elaine Hopkins, 309-231-5758 for more information.  The dinner costs $35.  The public is invited, and welcome to attend the program free of charge.  

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Quest Charter School and the Gulen Movement -- disturbing

PEORIA -- Quest Charter School in Peoria, a Peoria School District 150 public school, privately run, is most certainly connected to the Gulen Movement of Turkey, a new research report shows.

The report deals with the influence of the movement in Illinois, where it is busily corrupting top politicians including Gov. Quinn, and in Peoria, where Caterpillar, Inc. apparently has backed Quest to get favorable treatment in Turkey.

Read the report here. 

Meeting on Ameren's Edwards power plant

PEORIA -- From a news release:

The Edwards coal-burning power plant in Bartonville is polluting our neighborhood and could be making you sick.¹ Ameren's Edwards coal-fired power plant near Bartonville is an outdated coal plant that lies on the banks of the Illinois River. Operating for more than 50 years, the Edwards power plant burns coal and pollutes central Illinois, contributing to dangerous levels of air pollution in the area.

Please join us a public meeting on this important issue.

Event Details:
WHO: You, Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance, and Concerned Citizens
WHAT: Public Meeting on the Edwards Coal Plant in Bartonville
WHEN: Thursday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Alpha Park Library, 3527 Airport Rd, Bartonville (map)
RSVP: http://action.sierraclub.org/Bartonville

Questions: Contact Kady McFadden at [email protected].

The pollution from the Edwards plant has a significant impact on human health. Emissions from coal plants include dangerous toxins like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and mercury. High levels of exposure to these emissions can cause irritation of the throat and lungs, leading to difficulty breathing, increased asthma symptoms, more respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular disease.

Attend this meeting to learn more about the issue, and how you can get involved to protect our community from this pollution.

The Sierra Club is working with Central Illinois Health Community Alliance, a group of local residents concerned about the decades of air and water pollution created by the Edwards coal plant south of Bartonville. CIHCA is working to retire the Edwards plant and transion Central Illinois to a cleaner energy economy.

1. Dynegy buying 5 Illinois power plants from Ameren, Peoria Journal Star, March 14, 2013.

Ban fracking event

PEORIA -- From a news release:

Have you heard all the Fracking Buzz? Lately, it seems like hardly a day goes by without a media storm about hydraulic fracking, the controversial drilling practice that's coming to Illinois. Some sources claim it will bring jobs and opportunity, but don't be fooled: we've seen the destruction fracking has already caused in other states. If you're ready for the straight story about fracking, come to our meeting Saturday, April 27 at 12:30 p.m.!

Join Food & Water Watch and Illinois People's Action as we host Ban Fracking Now: A Community Information and Action Meeting at the Peoria Public Library. We'll explain the technology involved and risks associated with fracking. We'll also discuss the local implications of the fracking debate in Illinois, and how we can fight back against Big Industry influence. To add your voice to this discussion, join our event on April 27.

Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," injects millions of gallons of fracking fluid — a mixture of chemicals, water and sand — into a well to create pressure that cracks open rocks underground, releasing natural gas and creating toxic waste. There is a "gas rush" in Illinois that threatens clean air and water, but there's still time to keep the frackers at bay. If you're serious about defending public health and our essential resources in Illinois, let us know you'll be at our meeting!

RSVP to join us:
http://act.foodandwaterwatch.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=104121

See you there,

Jessica Fujan
Midwest Organizer
Food & Water Watch
jfujan(at)fwwatch(dot)org

Genetic Roulette: the film, the movement

EAST PEORIA -- A large audience on April 11 filled the Performing Arts Center at Illinois Central College to see the film Genetic Roulette. They wern't disappointed.

It's an impressive film, apparently designed to win over the California electorate, which faced a ballot initiative last November to require labeling of genetically modified foods.  That failed, because the biotech companies outspent the proponents by a huge margin.

But those who saw this film likely will never shop blindly again without reading the labels and asking questions. If they're suffering from illness, they're likely going to go completely organic, regardless of how expensive or inconvenient. (Here's a web shopping guide.)

The scientists interviewed make a strong case that the increasing incidents of allergies, autism, cancer, diabetes and other maladies stem from ingestion of genetically modified food in the form of corn, soybeans, sugar and other products, which have been tampered with to make them more profitable.

Animals fed GM corn and soy sicken and die. Residues of the GM crops are now in human bodies. 

The scientists who spoke up have paid a high price.  They have been attacked by the biotech industry,  sometimes losing their jobs and funding.  I saw it happen in Peoria, when a reporter friend was attacked for telling the truth about these products.  Industry representatives demanded a meeting with the bosses, company executives, who spinelessly agreed to hear their spin.   

Monsanto, a chief villain in the film because of its Roundup Ready products, recently had a U.S. Senator secretly slip a clause into a law on another subject that held it harmless from lawsuits and court action.(Is that constitutional?)  Obama signed the law.

Here's how it has been described:

"The language in Section 735 effectively bars federal courts from being able to halt the sale or planting of genetically modified crops and seeds, no matter what health consequences from their consumption may come to light in the future, according to interpretations of the law included in a petition against the provision that was circulated by the advocacy group Food Democracy Now."

Read the article here.

Here's another terrific article on Monsanto.

Biotech is rich, powerful and mean, and now fighting against attempts to require labeling of GMO products. There's a bill pending in the Illinois General Assembly.  Will our legislators have the guts to pass it? People want to know what they are eating, unless they're bamboozled, as happened in California.

If you missed the ICC showing, you can buy the film on DVD from Amazon.com for $20 or less. Or go to the Institute for Responsible Technology Website to view excerpts or rent or buy it. Or try libraries or Netflix. 

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Here's a photo of the crowd in the lobby at the tables of the various advocacy groups.  The Farm Bureau was there but outnumbered.

Photo by Dave Zalaznik

This might be interesting

PEORIA -- From a news release:

Did you know that Foods and Lifestyle choices can strengthen your brain and protect against everyday memory lapses, "senior moments", and even reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease and stroke? 

ICC and WTVP sponsor Dr. Neal Barnard (yes, we are cousins--our fathers were brothers) speaking on POWER FOODS FOR THE BRAIN.  Dr. Barnard is the president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. 

He appears on Dr. Oz, Ellen, Jon Stewart, CBS Good Morning, Anderson Cooper and more.  His website www.NealBarnard.org features his recent media appearances.  His Peoria appearance does require registration and has a $15 attendance fee.  To register, call 309-690-6900.  Seating is limited so don't wait!

 

May 2, 7-9 p.m.  ICC Performing Arts Center, East Peoria Campus

  

Edith Barnard, Public Speaking & Voice Coach
Motivational Speaker/Trainer
http://www.barnardcommunications.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +1 309 922 9058
"Find your voice, change your life!" --Edith

Doc plays the Heartland

WASHINGTON, IL -- Here's a review of the April 6 Heartland Festival Orchestra concert, by Theo Jean Kenyon:

When trumpet legend Doc Severinsen blew his last sustained high sweet note in "Tin Roof Blues," it was a perfect ending to the Heartland Festival Orchestra concert.

Before a sold out house at Five Points Washington, Severinsen with the Stiletto Brass Quintet simply wowed the audience over and over with their superb musicianship.

And they tickled the eye as well -- Severinsen in his snazzy red leather pants and embroidered red jacket, and the five women in the quintet with their red stiletto heels and red boots.

As for the orchestra, directed by David Commanday, it danced through an incredible range from the opening Olympics theme "Summon the Heroes" by John Williams through medleys of George Gershwin, all the Big Band greats plus Tommy Dorsey, Henry Mancini's "Moon River" and "Pink Panther" and Louis Armstrong's growling "Oh Yeah! finish.

Along the way there were soaring moments by members of the orchestra in the horns and percussion sections.

If a concert can be said to be utterly satisfying, this was it.  Even the violent thunderstorm overhead was no match.

Severinsen's opening piece, a romantic Italian work, "Caruso," let the audience know immediately that in his 80s, he remains a remarkable trumpeter who also was hugely enjoying the evening as much as his audience.

With Commanday and the orchestra he seemed happily at home, and at the close turned to them telling the orchestra "you are a precious commodity."

As for the Stiletto Brass Quintet, formed in 2010, each member is an accomplished performer in her own right.

In a program note Severinsen called them "truly a breath of fresh air and a wonderful evening's entertainment.  The fact that they are beautiful women in red stilettos -- well, that's just icing on the cake."

Spanning the fields of orchestral, wind bands and brass chamber music, the quintet's members are Amy Gilreath and Cathy Leach, trumpets; Kelly Langenberg, horn; Jeannie Little, trombone, and Velvet Brown, tuba.

If you missed the concert, the quintet released its first CD on April 6. It features Severinsen on trumpet in "Tin Roof Blues," and was recorded in January at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

 -- Theo Jean Kenyon

SEE THE MOVIE FARM BUREAU TRIED TO CENSOR

EAST PEORIA -- Censorship?  In our little corner of the world? 

Yes. 

At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11 the screening of Genetic Roulette takes place on the ICC campus in the Performing Arts Center.  (See poster below).

So the Illinois Farm Bureau and the National Farm Bureau tried to pull the plug on the public screening. The ICC provost and Billy Cook, ICC professo,  stood up for academic freedom on campus.  But the campus caved in to let the Farm Bureau have a table in the lobby to hand out literature on the need for and safety of genetically modified  food. Ugh.  

Someone could always picket them.

Teachers RIFed, only Knapp seems to care

PEORIA -- Activist Terry Knapp told the Peoria District 150 School Board that giving 34 teachers unsatisfactory evaluations was a record number for District 150.  The evaluation team was 'deplorable," and "bullying," he said.  His comments were part of the Board meeting on April 8.

Knapp spoke during the public hearing required by law when so many teachers are dismissed.  He was granted only two minutes to comment, and registered a protest at the brief time he was allowed. "You can submit your comments in writing," the board's lawyer said.

Knapp began by stating that teachers spend $100,000 on their educations, have graduated from college and passed state exams, and didn't deserve such treatment.

Afterwards, Knapp spoke outside to say what he wanted to board to hear, adding District 150 has spent millions on teacher development, and should not have so many teachers found to be unsatisfactory. His recorded comments and those of others who spoke to the board are posted below.

The attorney for the district said 26 teachers are being dismissed, better than 54 last year. Some may be rehired if the final budget allows it, he said.

(The Peoria Journal Star story by Pam Adams clarifies the figures, which were not made clear at the meeting.)

Peoria Federation of Teachers president Bob Darling said "there are two lists" of dismissed teachers, and urged the board to consider rehiring some nontenured teachers that were deemed to need improvement, since they are still learning. 

Knapp began the regular public comments at the meeting by returning to issues he keeps mentioning, from the unsold houses on Prospect, owned by the district, taken off the tax rolls but sitting vacant, to the lack of any evaluation of District 150's early childhood program at Valeska Hinton School, to see whether the costs of the program are worth it, and whether they make a difference in later student achievement. "That's $1 million from other students into that program," he said.

Outgoing Peoria Federation of Teachers Bob Darling also spoke and made the astonishing statement "the days of trying to protect our contract rights are over, we need to work together to protect the profession."  He praised cooperation from Supt. Grenita Lathan. ( Some union leader!)

Jesse McGowan, a parent, questioned the Parent Advisory Committee's work, and said his ideas have been ignored at these meetings. District 150 should make personal contact with parents whose students are having difficulty, he said.

Board members Laura Petelle and Linda Butler responded that the committee has been focused on developing anti-bullying policies, but will have an open ended discussion on next year's agenda at a meeting on April 11.

Here are the public comments and comments at the public hearing.

Dist 150 4.8.13

 

Here is what Knapp wanted to tell the board which cut him off at two minutes.

Dist 150 4.8.13 no.2

  -- Elaine Hopkins

Art tour lots of fun

PEORIA -- On the first Friday of every month, Peoria artists open their studios to the public. On April 5, the event was very interesting, a blast, really. 

I was part of the learning-in-retirement group tour, co-sponsored by OLLI at Bradley University and Illinois Central College.  We began the event with wine and snacks at the 225 restaurant, in the Mark Twain Hotel in downtown Peoria. That's a lovely place, and the wine was terrific.

You don't need to be part of an organized tour to visit the studios for the First Fridays event.  Their names and addresses are listed here.

But frankly, the bus was a convenience, since finding two of the four studios meant going into hidden doorways in downtown allys.  Very cool. And the bus meant no parking hassles.

We saw lovely paintings, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, glass objects, antiques, wearable fabrics, and more, including restored historic buildings. Some of the venues also had music and refreshments.

As part of the tour got a brief history of the artists who have organized the group, Central Illinois Artists Organization, now numbering about 55, at 13 venues.  It began with a core group of eight! 

We visited the Atelier Building, with lovely wooden art including jewelry, as well as paintings, and lots more. Then it was on to Wheel Art Pottery Studios, where we saw raku pottery being created. At Toraason Glass, we saw glass sculpture creation (the studio is tucked away on the near north side).  Finally we visited the Studios on Sheridan, an amazing collection of shops with art and antiques.

That's barely scratching the surface of this First Fridays event -- so we will be back on our own for the next First Friday.

OLLI at Bradley may be planning another tour in early August.  If so, different venues will be on the schedule.

This is a unique, amazing event that should be even better publicized as a tourist attraction as well as something different and fun for area residents. It's very Chicago or St. Louis -- don't miss it.

 -- Elaine Hopkins