PeoriaStory

The future of classical music?

WASHINGTON, IL -- The future of classical music may have been on display at the Heartland Festival Orchestra's final concert of the season, on May 30 at Five Points auditorium, Washington.

The remarkable trio Time for Three played the entire concert with the orchestra, using many of their own brilliant original compositions.

This was the most innovative concert the Heartland has presented so far in its six seasons.

The trio's short pieces combined elements of traditional classical music with bluegrass, European folk music, jazz, techno-pop and rock and roll. 

One piece blended Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings with a rock song by Justin Timberlake.  Another blended a portion of Beethoven's Third Symphony with a piece by Led Zeppelin. A third combined Katy Perry's Firework with Stravinsky's Firebird. (The blending was called a 'mash-up.')

"There's no difference in what they were trying to say," one of the trio's violinists, Nick Kendall, told the audience of two disparate composers. "The meanings line up."

The trio dressed and played with the energy of a rock group, but their classical music training, timing and skills were also on display. Colored lighting for the stage background added to the show.

Keyboard and drums, played by Josh Fobare and Matt Scarano, added to the rock elements of the performance.

Conductor and artistic director David Commanday remarked on the trio's "amazing spontaneity." They were warm and funny in comments to the audience, and graciously played two encore numbers after standing ovations.

In his program note, Commanday wrote "this trio is like none that came before." How true.  

Members of the Central Illinois Youth Symphony joined the trio and orchestra for the final number, a classical-rock piece by the trio's double bass player Ranaan Meyer and Fobare. 

This remarkable concert will be broadcast on WCBU 89.9 FM at 7 pm on Sunday, August 2, and on WCBU2, HD radio, at 8 pm on Wednesday July 29. It's also streamed online at www.peoriapublicradio.org.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

The deficit and wasted money

PEORIA, IL -- The Peoria District 150 School Board heard complaints about wasteful spending, the demise of the ELITE discipline program, and cuts in the arts, during the public comments at the May 26 meeting.

Activist Sharon Crews nailed the district on wasting money.  Here are her comments, in writing:

Will you all be voting to spend $368,000 from Title I for summer travel—163 employees are going to Orlando, Florida, for more AVID training.  Thirty-nine are going for the second time and 24 are going for the third time.  Your thoughts please? 

Can you tell us why the Lindbergh modular classrooms are no longer needed and why they are needed at Thomas Jefferson? 

Why did you allow $2500 to be spent on a jingle used for the STEP performance at a board meeting? 

Instead of blaming the public for not petitioning the State for more money, please put an end to misspending--starting tonight!  Or are you approving what has already been spent for the AVID and IB trips? 

The discipline policy’s goals should be to eliminate classroom disruptions and to teach students that actions have consequences.  Mr. Cloyd is satisfied that policies meet State standards, but he doesn’t admit that the policies are not achieving positive results.

Last year only 18 of 203 students experienced what is traditionally labeled as expulsion.  Of the 18, nine of them went on to a higher grade in spite of losing from 5 to 10 months of school.  How is that possible? 

There was no loss of classroom time for the 29 students who were sent to Woodruff’s Safe School or the 71 who stayed in the same school and classes through the Expulsion in Abeyance program. Even if their probation was revoked, their initial behaviors had no consequences. 

How do you explain why 12 students were expelled for only June and July? 

No data was provided as to the current whereabouts of 70 of the expelled students.  Did these students go to another district, or did they drop out?

Also, there is no explanation as to how the length of expulsion is determined.

The District did not acknowledge a FOIA request as to whether or not the sexual misconduct of ten students had been reported to the police.  Lathan’s sarcastic response was that evidently we hadn’t read the PJStar for the last two weeks.  Yes, we did--the paper reported a teacher’s misconduct but nothing about students.  For whose benefit was your attempted deception?

Unwittingly, Lathan proved the ineffectiveness of the district’s attempts for online registration.  The count generated by the expensive computer program did not agree with the counselor-generated count of Peoria High students enrolled in music classes.  Face it, counselors must do what they always did—have much needed contact with students to discuss their class schedules.

Here is a recording of the public comments:

 

Dist150 May 26

 -- Elaine Hopkins 

 

PEORIA, IL -- This might be interesting.

From a news release: Illinois Central College presents “Suddenly Single Island Style”, Edith Barnard’s “Funky, dramatic, musical portrayal” of her fictional autobi-MYTH-ography of betrayal and recovery from divorce in the tropics. 

It takes place at ICC North on University in Peoria from 6-7:30 on June 11. To register, call ICC at 690-6900. Hickory Hall Auditorium seating is limited. First come first served!

In this hour and one half “over the top” speaking/singing concert, Edith surrounds herself with hammocks, palm trees and Caribbean instruments.

Do come and ask questions and enjoy the show. If you’ve ever been dumped or lost a job or a loved one, this is a chance to look at your recovery from a new angle.

Adaih, widow friend of Amanda (Edie’s persona) loses her husband in a battle with an Octopus-no joke! And it really happened. Some stuff is real and some is made up but all of it is intriguing.  and worth coming to ICC North from 6-7:30 on June 11.

www.SuddenlySingleIslandStyle.com. Book available at "I Know You Like a Book," in Peoria Heights, at Amazon.com, and at presentation. $10

Tune in Roger Monroe Monday morning, June 1, at 8 am to hear an interview with Edie.  90.7 FM WAZU

Watch WMBD’s “Living Well” Tuesday, June 9 at 4 p.m. for interview with Edie

Caribbean Broadcasting (below) production of Edie’s eleven years in Barbados mentions this book and shows her Island doggy Daisy who luckily loves snow!

 

Edith Barnard,  B.A.   M.A.

Public Speaking & Voice Coach

Motivational Speaker/Trainer

Mentor to Performers on The Stage of Life!

How to Work a Room/Schmoozing for Success!

Team Building through DRAMA-on site or at Apollo Theater

http://www.BarnardCommunications.com

E-mail, [email protected]

Phone; +1 309 922-9058

“Arts & Society” article #1 on Edie

http://www.peoriamagazines.com/as/2014/sep-oct/ministers-daughter

“Arts & Society” article #2 on Edie

http://www.peoriamagazines.com/as/2014/sep-oct/take-10-edith-barnard

Caribbean Broadcasting TV Show on Edie

http://youtu.be/LxU_7O-R190  

 

Schock allegations

PEORIA, IL -- There's a front page story in the Chicago Tribute today May 25,  about the investigation into former Cong. Aaron Schock's financial and campaign dealings.

It's under a paywall (why oh why do the newspapers think they can make more money from a paywall than from increasing their readers without one, to appeal to advertisers?).  The Los Angeles Daily News has it for free.

Here it is.

UPDATE 5/26/15:  The Chicago Sun Times has more information now, including Schock's links to Peoria area donors and Marco Rubio. 

UPDATE 5//28/15:  There's more from Politico: lots of high flying.

UPDATE 5/29/15: Compare the above stories with the PJS story of today, where no local names appear!

 -- Elaine Hopkins

CAFO lawsuit

PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:

Community Lawsuit Against Industrial Hog Operator, State Ag Agency Could Have Big Impact on Rural Illinoisans

Iowa ag corporation attempts to void local ‘Save Our Sandy’ community effort to oppose approximately 20,000-head hog farm, protect threatened waterway

Neighbors of a proposed large-scale concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) for Marshall County (IL) have filed a lawsuit in the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court against Iowa-based VMC Management Corporation (VMC) and the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) seeking a review of the agency’s controversial decision to allow construction of the industrial hog facility near Wenona.

The IDOA approved the mega hog operation to be located in a rural residential area on the banks of Big Sandy Creek, one of the state’s most valued streams and a major tributary to the Illinois River. The proposed facility would house over 19,500 hogs and produce 10 million gallons of waste annually.

In an attempt to bypass public opinion and public health scrutiny, VMC filed a motion on April 28th to quash and dismiss the lawsuit claiming that the local citizen group Save Our Sandy (SOS) does not have standing to challenge decisions by the IDOA to site new factory farms. The IDOA also moved to dismiss the complaint.

“The position that community members have no standing to ask their state government to review a decision that affects their lives, their health and their lifestyle is ridiculous,” said Leslie Smith, a SOS member and neighboring resident to the hog facility. “If this case is dismissed, it will have a huge impact on local farmers, residents and their communities, and prove that our state government protects out-of-state corporations over its own citizens.”

In a move that has frustrated local efforts to protect public health and Big Sandy Creek, the IDOA ignored a “no” vote by the Marshall County Board to allow construction of the facility at the proposed location.

The agency has a history of allowing CAFOs to be constructed despite opposition from citizens and county boards.

“The IDOA’s refusal to heed the recommendations of local authorities gives the citizens of Illinois every reason to call for a full review of new CAFO plans,” said Karen Hudson, regional associate of the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project and co-founder of the Illinois Citizens for Clean Air and Water. “Citizens have a legal right to uncover the repeated serious flaws and omissions by the IDOA and demand corrections or a stop to construction of these massive polluting facilities if they don’t meet regulatory standards.”

This is the first lawsuit to be filed against the IDOA for wrongly issuing a CAFO construction permit since the Jo Daviess County community group, HOMES, brought suit against an ill-planned mega-dairy project at the headwaters of the Apple River. While the HOMES group ultimately stopped construction of the CAFO, they were unsuccessful in litigation against the IDOA for approving the facility.

In its complaint, SOS called into question whether the IDOA did a proper analysis of the aquifer under the proposed site prior to issuing the permit, and whether plans for the facility will prevent runoff and groundwater discharges. Questions were also raised about the adequacy of the facility’s odor control plan, traffic safety proposal and road impact plan.

“The entire decision on CAFOs rests with the state, even though the community and local government will be the ones dealing with the daily operation issues and any pollution clean-up,” said SOS’s Smith.

“Local control of these decisions is needed, and needed now.”

Save Our Sandy is represented by the Environmental Law Clinic at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.

Save the arts, report sex offenders to the police

PEORIA, IL -- The Peoria District 150 School Board on May 12 heard adults and students plead to save arts programs, as the board decides which programs get the ax.

But before that, during the public comments, they heard a shocking report from activists Sharon Crews and Terry Knapp, concerning what happens to students caught performing sexual related incidents in schools.

In a word: nothing happens to them, Knapp said.  And in addition the Peoria police have no record of these offenses, Knapp said.

Here is a recording of the public comments:

Dist150 May 12 2015

The comments of Crews will be printed below.

Here is the report from the Peoria Journal Star. 

Knapp also criticized the board for continuing to ban local arts personality Lee Wenger from the schools, for a run-in with a student years ago.  The incident has been expunged from court records, Knapp said. "It's ridiculous that he's banned from the school district."

Heartland Festival Orchestra director David Commanday asked the board not to cut arts program, and he was followed by several others.

Then in her response, board president Debbie Wolfmeyer said "we are not considering arts" cuts, but added "everything is on the table" because of budget cuts.

Here is the comment from Crews:

At the last meeting Mrs. Wolfmeyer acknowledged that the Expulsion in Abeyance grant ended some time ago, but that the idea of that program has been expanded to include all offenses, not just for drugs and alcohol.  In fact, in 2013-14 and this year up to March 10, 228 of the 373 expelled students were placed on probation instead of being expelled. 

The name Expulsion in Abeyance is still being used, but the expansion of the now defunct program to include all offenses has not been reflected in policy. Your informal decisions should not be allowed to replace policy.

Wolfmeyer stated that the board chose probation over expulsion to avoid expelling a student for a one-time offense.  I believe that the records of the 228 students would show a trail of referrals and suspensions that preceded what you want to call a one-time offense.  There is no listing for expulsions of students who are expelled after their 4^th suspension—or is that policy now defunct, also?

I don’t know why this board is so reluctant to see the truth and/or to tell us the truth about much of anything.  You vote on expulsions and revocations of expulsions at every meeting.  Why can’t you include the number of each as part of the minutes?

The data I received about expulsions caused me to draw a few conclusions.

Again, expulsion is not a viable solution without summer school and probably night school.  Summer school is the only justifiable consequence for expulsion and actually the only credible opportunity for students to make up credits. 

Of the 373 expulsions, 43 were kindergarten through 4^th grade; 37 of them were in the abeyance program, so they were not expelled.  The first thing you should do is to come up with a better consequence than expulsion or probation for children this young. 

Not surprisingly, 249 of the expulsions were for seventh through tenth graders with 81 for ninth grade.  Clearly, that is a group that needs special attention.  I found it interesting and a bit bewildering that comparatively few juniors and seniors were expelled. 

128 expulsions were for drugs or physical fighting. 

The length of expulsion time varied so much that it is difficult to draw conclusions as to the justification for the lack of consistency.  I believe that legitimate lengths of expulsion are impossible without summer school.

An extensive change in your discipline policies for referrals, suspensions, and expulsions is greatly needed.  This time please seek the advice and opinions of teachers.  Classroom disruptions continue to take up too much learning time.  I do not believe that expulsions are the best solution, but problem students must not be allowed to continue disrupting classrooms.

 

Riverfront Park sale: corrupt and poisoned.

PEORIA, IL -- So the Peoria City Council has approved a preliminary agreement to sell almost 6 acres of its Riverfront Park to developers for apartments.

The vote was corrupt and should be redone.  The conflicts of interest in this vote should rule out four council members who voted to sell.

According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, since 2013, developer Glen Barton has given campaign contributions of $2,000 to council members Ryan Spain and Jim Montelongo, $500 to Chuck Weaver and $250 to Mayor Jim Ardis. Ryan and Weaver got donations within the last two months.

All four of these guys should have recused themselves from the vote, but did not.

There are so many problems with this project it's hard to list them all.  In a letter to the editor of the Community Word, I noted several.  Since then, more have been revealed.

1. In today's Peoria Journal Star, the editorial deals with the federal requirement to divert sewage from the Illinois River -- a multi-million dollar project.  But Peoria has no ordinances protecting the river from street debris, such as oil and gasoline runoff. Storm sewers are often inadequate to catch this runoff. (Chicago has setback ordinances to protect its waterways.)

So -- what will be the result of waste from the parking lot for the proposed apartments.  There has been talk of a berm. Would that protect the river? Or just cause flooding and overflow?  And if the street on the plans, running from the Riverplex to the apartments is built, there's more runoff, with no berm to protect the river.

2. Also in today's PJS,  there's a story that spells the end of Lakeview Wilds, the group that tried, and failed, to protect a wild area running from Glen to the Lakeview complex on Lake. A developer has bought it, plans development, leading to more pollution and runoff, and another lost wild place in Peoria. The creek there probably drains into the Illinois River, as all waterways are connected somehow.

Next he'll probably ask for incentives to build and provide campaign contributions to elected officials who support him.

Is there no end to the greed of developers? That's what is driving the sell off of the parkland along the river. Sigh.

Here's a good blog site on the park with lots of details.

And here's the Facebook page on saving the park.

 -- Elaine Hopkins