PeoriaStory

"Nice Work if You Can Get It" gets a B+

PEORIA, IL -- The musical "Nice Work if You Can Get It," played at the Peoria Civic Center on Oct. 28-29 as part of its first national tour.  It's a strange mixture of music from George and Ira Gershwin set to a plot that's a 1920s farce about bootleggers, and the rich and poor.

The Gershwin music is timeless of course, and there are even a few odd songs that no one sings any more. The orchestration and live orchestra were terrific, and earned an A+.

The same can be said of the sets, though some of the costumes could stand improvement. 

The plot is said to be based on something from Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, who wrote many plays and musicals in the 20th century. It was trivial and predictable, but amusing in some scenes.

The final book writer, Joe DiPietro, was nominated for a Tony, which seems to hint that in the hands of skilled performers this would be a better musical.

The non-Actors Equity cast was OK but not great, not Broadway quality but better than college or amateur performers. They spoke too fast in some scenes, so what they were saying could not be understood, not that it seemed to matter.  The Civic Center's weak sound system may be at fault, as well. It's fine for music but not lyrics or dialogue.

This musical obviously was stitched together to give a platform for the Gershwin music, but it's hardly cutting edge or even original. Unsophisticated theater goers will like it, but for connoisseurs, it gets only a B+. 

  -- Elaine Hopkins

Wasted Title One money?

PEORIA, IL -- The public comments at the Peoria District 150 School Board meeting on Oct. 27 revealed wasted funds that might have been federal Title One money. 

Board critic Sharon Crews reported that two years of data from a Freedom of Information request showed Manual school students enjoying movies, basketball games and food likely paid for by the federal funds.

Her written report is posted below. 

Here is a recording of the public comments. 

 

Dist150 Oct. 27

 

Critic Terry Knapp questioned why District 150 personnel apparently did not attend two recent public meetings on the Common Core educational standards.

"Hundreds of thousands" are spent to "go places" but these events in Peoria and Washington, IL were ignored, he said.

Knapp is suspicious of the standards after attending the meetings. "There are flaws," he said.  The East Peoria School Board has passed a resolution against them, he said.

Knapp noted that he once predicted that No Child Left Behind would fail, and that occurred.  It was aimed at promoting charter schools and private schools. The Common Core standards may be more of the same, he said.

A teacher questioned a reading program, Reading Mastery, and said it's "scripted instruction" used where teachers lack training.  The teacher says something and the class repeats it, she said. "Literature is gone," she said, along with class discussion that leads to critical thinking.

In her response, Supt. Grenita Lathan said it's only "one component" of language instruction.

  -- Elaine Hopkins

Here is the comment from Sharon Crews: 

Two years of data about Manual Academy field trips to Landmark and the Civic Center were requested through the FOIA.  Eleven events were reported but invoices were provided for only two events, the amount paid was not given for four events, and the fund charged was reported for only one event.  These facts are not secret, so why the unwillingness to reveal the data?

I have given you two documents—a request for one hundred and fifty students to attend March Madness in 2013 for $975 charged, I believe, to Title I and an invoice for 133 students to go to a movie at Landmark and 20 to bowl and eat lunch for a total of $921.50. 

Perhaps you could shed some light on the legitimacy of spending Title I money on March Madness.  The attempt to justify this expense is ludicrous--to learn how to be physically fit and create a plan for healthy living.  They will supplement their ongoing unit on basic basketball by attending.

Another ridiculous excuse for a trip to the Landmark theater was that the social group will add value and personal development to the lives of the students and this trip will take them out of their immediate community.  Taking Manual students to Landmark is getting them out of their community.  What!!  My guess is that this trip was, also, paid by Title I funds.

Even if these trips are legitimate uses for Title I money, is there an equal amount of money set aside for Peoria High and Richwoods students for such activities?  In two years over 225 Manual students had their way paid to a movie; in January, 2013, one hundred fifty Manual students went to Landmark at a cost of $975 plus $550 for three buses—no reason given.

I certainly do not begrudge giving students these opportunities, but I question using the Ed Fund or Title I to pay for these extras.

Forty-five years of Manual students and faculty came together last week to pay tribute to Wayne McClain, who brought honor to Manual as did all those who honored him.  Thursday at an ICC dinner honoring over 300 scholarship recipients, the greeting was given by Manual grad Rita Ali and the main speaker was Manual grad, counselor, and coach Derrick Booth.  Reconstruction did great harm to Manual High School but the relationships forged there are still strong and its graduates have made their mark.  Their stories are our AVID.  The last two weeks have brought tears of pride to my eyes.  - 30 -

 

 

 

 

Beethoven beats baseball

WASHINGTON, IL -- The Heartland Festival Orchestra hit a home run at its Oct. 25 concert, Beethoven Triple. A nearly full house at Five Points Washington showed that classical music could eclipse the World Series on TV. And the audience was not disappointed, as the orchestra presented its best concert to date.

Three Beethoven pieces were played beautifully, with full sound. The third piece, Beethoven's Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C Major featured the Urioste-Canellakis-Brown Trio, young award-winning musicians who wowed the audience with their musicianship and stage presence.

The well deserved standing ovation brought forth a lovely modern piece from the trio, a blend of classical, jazz and blues, Cafe Music for Piano Trio by Paul Schonfield. 

The evening began with Beethoven's Prometheus Overture, Op. 43, short and exciting, followed by Beethoven's Sixth Symphony, the Pastoral, a gorgeous number. It was the first symphony to incorporate music depicting bird song and a storm, according to artistic director David Commanday.

That storm was so excitingly played, and the orchestra's sound was full and rich.

A musician once told me "you have to bat 1,000 to be taken seriously in music."  These musicians, the orchestra and the trio, all measured up to that standard at this concert.

In addition, the informal ambience of the Heartland concerts, with deserts served at intermission, a reception afterwards with more goodies, and where the audience can chat with the musicians, adds to the evening.

And the videographers, who focus on the soloists and the orchestra, present   another dimension to the concert on the big screen above the stage, providing views that the audience otherwise would not see.

This concert will be broadcast on WCBU-FM 89.9 at 7 p.m. on December 21, and on WCBU2 (HD radio) on December 17 at 8 p.m.

The Urioste-Canellakis-Brown Trio, on a Midwestern tour, is headed for Ravinia near Chicago on Nov. 1,  and will perform on Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. at Eureka College in Becker Auditorium.  Catch them there, for a different program.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

Anti-fracking film Oct. 28

EAST PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:

Local Showing, Discussion of anti-fracking movie “Triple Divide”

planned for October 28

 

A coalition of local groups is showing the movie “Triple Divide” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28, at Illinois Central College’s Performing Arts Center. “Triple Divide” takes viewers to the triple continental divide region of Pennsylvania. The three-year investigation by Public Herald journalists looks at the effect of fracking on the four watersheds that provide drinking water to millions of people downstream.

 

Fracking is the term used for high-volume hydraulic fracturing, which involves pumping millions of gallons of water, chemicals and sand deep underground to fracture the shale formations and release trapped pockets of natural gas and oil. Illinois is awaiting a decision by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ revised fracking rules. JCAR must adopt the rules by November 15, 2014, or the process starts over. Environmental groups in Illinois dispute the oil industry’s complaint that Illinois has the toughest fracking regulations in the country. Problems with the regulations include insufficient penalties for breaking the law and endangering public health.

 

While much of the focus of fracking has been on southern Illinois, sand is being mined near Starved Rock State Park for use in fracking. The mining has threatened the Illinois River and other water sources. At this time, the sand is sent out of state, and if fracking is allowed in Illinois, a new local market and greater demand might be created.

 

Global Village, a non-profit, all-volunteer fair trade store in Peoria Heights, formed the coalition after a 2015 calendar had a dedication to former Pekin native Sandra Steingraber, the founder of Americans Against Fracking. Steingraber wrote “Living Downstream” in 1999 to call attention to the connection between cancer and our chemically poisoned environment.

 

Sponsors are Global Village, Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste, and Illinois Central College’s Students Acting for the Environment. Activists from the Starved Rock area and central Illinois along with ICC science faculty members will discuss the potential effects of fracking.

 

For more information on this event, contact Donna Schwab at 256-8233.

 

 

Peoria group hits the big time

PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:

Prairie Fiber Arts Guild is pleased to announce that our application to become a "Campaign for Wool" supporter was successful. It is with great humility and excitement that we join HRH Prince of Wales Campaign for Wool as an American supporter/marketing partner.

“The Campaign for Wool is a global endeavour initiated by its patron, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, in order to raise awareness amongst consumers about the unique, natural and sustainable benefits offered by wool.

Encouraging collaboration between an international community of woolgrowers, major fashion designers, retailers, manufacturers, artisans and interior designers, the Campaign has been instrumental in educating consumers about the versatility of wool, and reconnecting them with its myriad uses – From luxurious fine merino knitwear to fire-retardant insulation for the home.

Since its launch in 2010, The Campaign for Wool has influenced a new demand for wool on an international scale, and its efforts have seen an outstanding threefold increase in the price farmers receive for their wool.

Every year The Campaign for Wool stages Wool Week, a week long festival of events and workshops celebrating wool in all its guises. Take a look at our global calendar to see where Wool Week travels to next.”

See more at: http://www.campaignforwool.org

The Nov. 4 election

PEORIA, IL -- The Nov. 4 election is only days away now, and early voting throughout Illinois has begun.  It will continue through Nov. 4, and allows people to both register and vote, a first for election day. It will be helpful for people who have moved but not reregistered.

So there's no excuse for not voting.

Here are my endorsements:  just vote for the Democrats.They are all way better than their opponents.

Where there is no Democrat on the ballot, skip it or vote for the Republican. 

The race for governor puts megabucks Republican Bruce Rauner against ordinary Democrat and incumbent Pat Quinn.  Yes, Quinn is flawed.  He supported unconstitutional pension cuts for retirees, while giving away millions to corporations through tax loopholes, grants, etc. 

But Rauner is awful:  a hedge fund manager and businessman whose many companies went bankrupt (did he loot them?), while acquiring  nine (9!) homes and stashing money in the Cayman Islands.

He's too risky, will say anything apparently.  In fact he used to vote and fund Democrats. Now he's trying to buy the governor's office, I suppose to push more tax cuts for the rich.

For the Senate, Democrat Dick Durbin has been very effective while his Republican opponent, another businessman, would have no seniority and follow whatever the party wants.

The sad story is Democrat Sheila Simon, who is running against another woman with high name recognition, incumbent Republican Judy Barr Topinka for comptroller.

Simon, who seems very competent and smart every time I have heard her and talked with her, should be running for governor. But alas that was not to be this time. A loss in this race might mean she is out of politics for a while. But maybe not.

The 17th Congressional District pits one term incumbent Democrat Cheri Bustos against the one term Republican she ousted two years ago, Bobby Schilling.  He's another horror:  anti-choice, anti-gay, typical Repug. Bustos has not been as liberal as some of her backers expected, but again she's the lesser of evils. So vote for her, or against Schilling.

In the 18th Congressional District, incumbent Republican Aaron Schock is being challenged by Darrel Miller, who was also a Republican until this election rolled around. He's also anti-choice, anti-gay, so there's little difference between the two. 

Anyway, whatever your choices, it's important to vote, so the politicians know people care and are watching.

-- Elaine Hopkins

 

A trio of modern slavery events coming

PEORIA, IL -- Here are three interesting, and free events on modern slavery, from the Peoria Area World Affairs Council:

•  Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery    The first event is a viewing of the documentary "Not My Life" on Thursday, October 23 in Westlake Hall 130 at Bradley University at 7:00 pm..  This film shows a wide variety of real-life situations of modern slavery.  

• Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery    The second event will feature a panel discussion of human trafficking and slavery on Tuesday, October 28 at 7 pm in the Marty Theater in the Bradley Student Union.  Panel participants include Brian Cress, International Justice Mission, Miguel Keberlein, Legal Action Fund, Darci Jenkins, Heartland Alliance, and Rachel Stouder, Salvation Army.  Both events are free and open to all.

• "Understanding Muslim Societies: The Role of Women in Rebuilding the Middle East" with Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli will be held on Thursday, November 13.  The presentation at 7 pm is free and open to the public.

 

November is verrry funny

PEORIA, IL -- If you liked the HBO television series Veep, then you will love The Corn Stock Winter Playhouse's latest production, David Mamet's November. It continues on Oct. 23-26. It's a hilarious farce.

This 2007 play, by the noted dramatist Mamet, takes the audience into the Oval Office with the US president, an empty suit named Charles HP Smith, beautifully played by David Cook. About to lose reelection, he needs money, and fast.

His schemes to get it involve extorting the Turkey Association, which wants the turkey pardoned for Thanksgiving.

His aide, well played by Paul Gordon, must deal with this and other issues, including the desire of the presidential speech writer, Clarice Bernstein, played by Shannon Orrill, to have the president marry her to her lesbian partner on TV.

Comedy writing is tough, but Mamet is brilliant, with clever, witty lines carrying the play.  All the actors are quite good, but Cook is a standout in his role.

Warning:  there's a lot of profanity, about like Veep on TV. In fact November might have been the inspiration for Veep. In many ways it's more cleverly written than Veep. 

This is a don't-miss play. Call 309-676-2196 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays to get tickets.

-- Elaine Hopkins

The latest dog and pony show

PEORIA, IL -- What has been described as a "dog and pony show" by those who witnessed it took place at the Peoria School District 150 School Board meeting on Oct. 14.

There was much discussion about test scores which omitted the most important scores of all, the ISAT scores, the state of Illinois test scores.  PSD 150 officials said they will be released Oct. 31, though some parents have reportedly claimed they have received their childrens' scores already.

During the public comments, critic Terry Knapp said a presentation devoted to "student achievement" should include them. And comparisons with prevous years should also be released to the public, he said.

Here is a recording of the public comments. 

 

Dist150 Oct 14

Critic Sharon Crews urged the board to "please stop believing that your PR efforts are working."  Only smaller class sizes and the removal of disruptive students from the classroom will improve achievement she said.  A written account of her comments will be posted below, along with a post meeting comment.

A representative from Change150 noted that two board members from District 2 have refused to attend the group's town hall meeting on Saturday for District 2 (see post below for details), Debbie Wolfmeyer and Linda Butler. They are missing an opportunity to discuss school issues "with the voters who put you where you are," he said to the board.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Here are the public comments of Sharon Crews:

No Child Left Behind succeeded in discrediting public schools.  Parents fled 150 to avoid the stigma of failing schools.  A significant number of students did well on the test, but neither NCLB nor you acknowledged their successes. 

 In 2012 the board allowed Lathan to place an ad in the Peoria Journal stating that in 2010 the state had declared 150 a failing District but declaring that she had raised the bar.  Dr. Lathan chose ISAT as the measuring stick for others, so doesn’t she need ISAT proof to show that she significantly negated NCLB’s claims that 150 is a failing district?  I never believed this test should be the deciding factor—but you accepted it.  Tonight no one even acknowledged ISAT’s existence.

Only in my lifetime did public education become compulsory.  My father’s education ended with the sixth grade and my mother’s with the ninth.  Until the Civil Rights’ Movement many African-American children were not encouraged or sometimes allowed to go to high school.  We have been given a relatively short time to catch up and to motivate young people whose grandparents were never required or allowed to dream of a high school, much less, a college education. 

Every lesson that teachers prepare must be complex enough to challenge the highest performing students and simple enough to make achievement for the lowest performing students possible.  Unfortunately, equal opportunity does not guarantee equal success.

You have many “on-site” witnesses who carry tales all over the city about what is happening in District 150.  The grapevine is extensive, so please stop believing that your PR efforts are working. 

The board and administration should direct their efforts in the two arreas they could most help teachers do their jobs and provide students with an education comparable to their abilities.  Smaller class sizes are mandatory.  Obviously, 25 to 30 students can be given little one-on-one attention.  They have to learn with group instruction, usually tailored for the average. 

One very interesting statistic that we will never see but about which we are all aware is how much teaching and learning time is lost because of discipline problems.  It is your job to see to it that disruptive students be removed immediately and with appropriate consequences and help so that learning can take place.  That wasn’t done toward the end of my career and, I believe, it is even worse now.  As James Rainer espouses, teachers should be given “the ability to avoid instructional downtime.”

(I ran out of time for this comment:)

Tonight you are again talking about the strategic plan, how to seek public input after you decide what kind of input you want and from whom, and how to sell your message to the public in the hopes of our votes for a tax increase.

Post comment remarks: 

When I originally wrote out my public comments, I wrote them with the intention of asking when the ISAT scores would be made public.  However, when I read the agenda, I saw the words “Annual Student Achievement Update.”  Therefore, I assumed that we would learn the scores last night.  Of course, I was bewildered when I didn’t hear ISAT mentioned.

Please check out the District 150 website.  Search “NCLB scores” and you will find a document labeled:

2012-13 Superintendent Annual Student Achievement Update

August 26, 2013

Please note that the wording is exactly the same as the wording on (the Oct. 14) agenda for “District Presentations.”  Therefore, why shouldn’t we have expected to hear ISAT scores?  Please note the date—so why shouldn’t we have expected to see scores on October 14, 2014?

I have also learned that parents can access their children’s ISAT scores on Skyward and that those scores have been up for quite some time.  I do acknowledge that individual scores might come out before the District data is ready, but I do believe the District has the scores but do not yet know when the State has told districts to release the information.

Last night was an obvious public relations stunt meant to soften the blow when we finally hear the ISAT scores.  Why can’t the deception stop?

 

Town hall meeting for District 2 in District 150

PEORIA, IL -- Here's a news release:

 

CHANGE150  PLANS SECOND TOWN HALL MEETING FOR DISTRICT 2

 

PEORIA, IL October 10, 2014 – CHANGE150 is excited to announce the second of three town hall meetings, one for each voting district within Peoria School District 150.   The District 2 meeting is planned for  Saturday, October 18th.  A similar meeting was held in District 3 in October, with two of that voting district's board members attending,  Rick Cloyd and Jon Bateman.  Community members may submit questions or express comments and concerns in advance or the day of the event, regarding issues with District 150.

 

• Where: Glen Oak Christian Church, 1115 E. Republic Street, Peoria, IL  61603
• When: Saturday, October 18, 2014, 10:30 am - 12:00 noon
• Who: The panel will include representatives from: the Peoria Federation of Teachers, Local 780; retired District 150 Administrators;  the NAACP; and Change150.   District 2 Board of Education members, Debbie Wolfmeyer, Linda Butler and Lynn Costic have been invited.  CHANGE150 is awaiting their responses.
• Why:  We believe our children deserve the best education possible, and that one way to achieve this is through honest, open dialogue between the school board and the community that they represent.   Change150 plans to lead this initiative by hosting and facilitating a series of town hall meetings to allow the public an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns.  
• How:  Attendees may submit written questions at the meeting.  Additionally, the community may submit questions or comments in advance at [email protected].

 

The goal of CHANGE150 is to unite Peoria’s communities because with a collective voice, we can be loud advocates for our children and for change.  For more information on CHANGE150, please go to www.CHANGE150.org.                      

 

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