PeoriaStory

Show up and.... We did it!

PEORIA, IL -- April 29.  Friends of Riverfront Park showed up at the tree planting, news release below.

We politely said we applaud the planting of trees, but hate the planned destruction of 137 trees, paid for by taxpayers, so luxury apartments can be built in Riverfront Park. Some people at the event agreed with us.

So -- one tree planted, a flowering crab, lovely, but 137 slated to be destroyed.: (They have been counted.)

A Kiwanis Club leader talks about the tree, behind him.  Note the hole to his left. Does it symbolize the deep hole the city is digging for itself, in supporting the River Trail apartments?

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Here's the story from Bill Dennis's site.

Here's the first post plus the news release, April 28:  The city plans to plant a tree for Arbor Day -- while planning to demolish about 100 trees  if those awful apartments are built in Riverfront Park.  Show up and hold a sign: 'Save Riverfront Park.'

Here are the details, from a city news release:

The 31st Annual Arbor Day Celebration will be held on Friday April 29, 2016 at 10 AM. It will take place just north of the Murray Baker Bridge on the waterfront at the Veterans Memorial site near the Riverplex. The tree planting at this site is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of South-West Peoria with participation from the City of Peoria Dept. of Public Works and the Peoria Park District. We encourage all to attend. Thank you!

                      -- Elaine Hopkins

Summer school and teachers

PEORIA, IL -- Public comments to the Peoria District 150 School Board on April 25 focused on summer school and teachers, while a parent complained about an autism program being moved.

Activist Terry Knapp recalled for the board how the chess tournament first  was sponsored by the teachers, then the Board of Education partnered with the teachers as the event evolved into state-wide competition.

"We need more of that and we need to work together," he said.

Then he brought up summer school, which ended because of a lack of funds. "We need a two month summer school program," Knapp said "I know we have limited funds. Find the resources, partner with people in the community to get the resources. It's sad that we don't have truly year round schools for our students." 

Sharon Crews discussed problems with teachers, including how they leave the profession because they dislike policy decisions made by the central administration. See her written comments below.

A parent expressed concern with the autistic program being moved to another school building. "Consistency is a big part of their development," he said.

The 7th and 8th graders, now at Glen Oak School, will miss programs such as sex education. The teachers oppose the move, he said. "The school (even) lacks central air," he added.

"I will not let this slide," he said. "The voice of the people who deal with these kids hasn't been taken into consideration. All kids matter. "

A man spoke about a proposed private program at Calvin Coolidge School, from a group of young entrepreneurs wanting to help over the summer. They will volunteer for in-school and extracurricular activities and make donations to the school, including school supplies, he said.

Here is a recording of the comments:

Download Dist150 April 25

 -- Elaine Hopkins

From Sharon Crews:

Finding and retaining teachers are problems facing most public schools. How many teachers have left our district after one to five years?

This administration has begun to change the perception and the reality of the more negative teaching environment that it inherited. Concerns of teachers across the country seem to be the same as past experiences here. Such as:

Policy decisions are made by central administrators, who often assume they know more than teachers do about what works in the classroom.

In my opinion, the most negative example of ignoring teacher input was Lathan’s demand that teachers use the Reading Mastery Program. I believe a Whittier teacher, who had effectively taught so many children to read, was so frustrated with this directive that she risked teaching reading the way she always had and went unnoticed until her retirement. Good for her and her students. We all witnessed what happened when Charter Oak objected to the program. Such programs are described in internet comments as scripted lessons that a robot could perform. Also, some administrators jump on every new approach or computer program. Also, there are the constant administrator walk-throughs with their I-pads clicking off check-boxes.

The testing craze is a second issue that negatively impacts teachers and teaching and essentially blames teachers for results. Testing has caused teachers to lose control of content and pacing and has added mountains of paperwork from teachers required to prove they have addressed the objectives, etc.

A major issue is the problem of student discipline and lack of support from administrators. I do believe this administration has started to address the problem—for example, the efforts to improve Lincoln and to address mental health problems. This is a never ending task about which complacency is not possible.

Certainly, salary is a teacher concern. Teacher pay has become a political football with threats to end teacher benefits, freeze salaries, cut pensions, and unions. Frequent increases in class size adds work and often increases discipline problems.   Yet no one considers larger class sizes as a reason for pay increases.

Salary does not reflect the fact that many teachers work evenings, on weekends, and during vacation periods and summers. I often wished that administrators cared enough to ask how many hours a day we worked at home. Especially high-school teachers are expected to sponsor and/or show up for extra-curricular activities. Also, teachers spend considerable money on supplies for their work and for their rooms.

Finally, an Internet post that I share: I worry for the future of education in this nation. There have always been problems of one sort or another, but the pressure on teachers is increasing. I wonder when the breaking point will come when too many will walk away to keep the system afloat. - 80 -

 

 

 

Shaken baby syndrome is a myth, experts say

PEORIA, IL -- Shaken baby syndrome, a diagnosis used to convict and imprison parents and caretakers for child abuse, has no scientific basis showing it actually occurs.  That was the conclusion of a panel at a Peoria meeting on April 25. 

The concept is so questionable that a new name for it has been found, "abusive head trauma."  But the syndrome is "mythology." 

A Wheaton attorney, Zachary Bravos, said the "classic shaken baby case with no external signs of injury does not exist."  Bleeding on the brain, used to diagnose the syndrome, is caused by "disease conditions."

Dozens of bio-mechanical tests, some on animals, have proved that shaking cannot cause bleeding in the brain, he said.

The audience viewed a film about wrongful convictions and prosecutions of abuse, based on shaken baby syndrome. It revealed that the physicians who have pushed this wrong diagnosis have profited from it, by setting up a center and conferences and obtaining millions in grants to fund their activities. 

"You can't cause brain damage without causing neck damage," an expert in the film stated. Then the panel talked and answered questions from the audience.

Panelist Michelle Weidner was wrongly accused of 'abusive head trauma' in 2010. Her six week old infant was wrongly diagnosed at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, she said, and child welfare officials were notified of potential abuse.  The baby was ultimately taken out of state to another hospital where accurate scans took place.

He was finally diagnosed with a rare disorder, but the family was under supervision for three months by child welfare officials during an investigation, and could not be alone with their children.

Weidner has become an activist for medical accuracy in child abuse investigations.  She said she has been threatened. "I have been warned to stop telling my story," she said.

A nurse who tried to help her almost lost her job, she said. A doctor kept silent. "There is no safety for dissent.  People stay quiet," she said."There needs to be less fear. What does this say about child welfare in this community?" she asked.

A Springfield radiologist on the panel, Dr. David Ayoub, said the lack of scientific evidence for shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma is appalling. But the medical establishment has fallen for the ideology, and is pushing back against those who question it. "Things are worse now than before. I fear people like us are going away," he said.

Bravos said the syndrome is "entrenched in the legal system," but some judges who understand science are becoming enlightened. "The courts have been recognizing the evolution in science."

He added, "the attempt to silence dissent is usually the last gasp of a dying idea."  

Louis Milot, the team leader for assistant public defenders in the juvenile division of the Peoria county court, said parents accused of this type of abuse are not like typical criminals. "These parents want to know what happened. They want to help," he said. 

"I have issues with clinical-based opinions rather than science," Milot said.

A group, Pediatric Accountability in Central Illinois, seeks to help parents wrongfully accused, and "educate members of the medical, legal and law enforcement communities about medical conditions and accidental injury findings that minic abuse and neglect findings."

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

Climate change and materialism tonight

Peoria, Il -- from a news release:

Communicating about Climate Change: Why Values Matter
Monday, April 25, 6PM
Lakeview Branch Library, 1137 W. Lake in Peoria
co-sponsored by Global Village, our local 360 degree fair trade store in Peoria Heights

Communicators often appeal to values when trying to motivate people to care about the environment. Professor Tim Kasser from Knox College will share psychological theory and research to show how contemporary culture’s focus on materialistic values and consumerism must be confronted in order to create a sustainable future. He will present lifestyle and policy a! lternatives that are positive for the planet, and also promote people’s wellbeing and a more civil society.

Tim Kasser, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair of Psychology at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. He has written extensively on materialism, values, ecological sustainability, and quality of life, among other topics. He is the author of The High Price of Materialism (MIT Press, 2002) and co-author of Meeting Environmental Challenges: The Role of Human Identity (WWF-UK, 2009). Tim works extensively with activist and civil society organizations that protect children from commercialization, promote ecological sustainability, and that encourage alternatives to consumerism. - 30 - 

Heartland goes country/western

WASHINGTON, IL -- In one of its most original and perhaps to some, controversial, concerts yet, the Heartland Festival Orchestra presented an all country and western concert on April 23 at Five Points Washington. 

Entitled 'Country Legends', the event starred two fine singers, Rachel Potter and Patrick Thomas, plus a 10 piece country band which featured an outstanding country fiddler Paul Huppert, musicians on drums, steel guitar and dobro, acoustic and electric guitar and banjo; bass guitar and three backup singers.

All that plus the symphony orchestra made for a rich, full sound to back up the two star singers.  The closest the evening came to classical music was the theme from the Magnificent Seven and Aaron Copeland's Hoedown from Rodeo.

The other numbers were classic and familiar country and western hits, from Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams, and others. With the symphony orchestra backup, they all sounded great, though not as complex and interesting as standard classical music.

It was a risky move for a classical orchestra, but the audience mostly loved it. "It's better than Bach," one member of the audience said.

The performers received a standing ovation for presenting an original and fun evening of music.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

Clean energy, clean jobs, environmental justice

PEORIA, IL -- What better activity for Earth Day than a rally for clean energy, clean jobs and environmental justice.

That occurred on April 23 at an Illinois People's Action event at Peoria's Zion Baptist Church, a predominately black church on Peoria's south side.

IPA, based in Bloomington, Il., states that it's a faith-based group. It works with churches to alert people about issues that affect minorities and the poor.

The April 23 event attracted Illinois Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth and Illinois Sen. Dave Koehler, both of Peoria, to discuss the Clean Jobs Bill, legislation working its way through the Illinois General Assembly.

But first there were speakers telling the audience of perhaps 75 people about the issues.It began with a sexist prayer "our father in heaven" but soon got better, as IPA members discussed the issues.

"People of color are affected more (from pollution) said Ronnie Lee.

"Edwards (the power plant) is eight miles from us. We cannot leave this fight to the environmental groups.  We must keep our power to ourselves," he said.

Dee Taylor said coal in Illinois generates only 4,000 jobs, but clean energy will generate 30,000 jobs. "We need an energy revolution: clean renewable energy, safe jobs, safe energy."

Lou Washington talked about her family members with asthma, and said "60 percent of African-Americans live within 30 miles of a coal (power) plant"

Blacks have the highest rates of asthma in the population, she said. Black children are seven times more likely to die from asthma than white children. "We have to stop it," she said.

Gerome Jackson said he and others need the jobs clean energy would provide. "The jobs from this bill would help save the world and can't be shipped overseas," he said to much applause.

Joyce Harant said the Obama administration wants a 35 percent reduction by 2030 in carbon emissions.  The Clean Jobs bill would produce 32,000 jobs and billions in investment in the state.  Iowa is already pursuing this, she said.

"This is the way to take control of energy," she said, adding "a solar farm" could be built nearby.

Rev. Marvin Hightower, first vice president of the Peoria NAACP, said it's an environmental justice issue. "We will fight," he said.

Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth said the bill as written is flawed but can be improved. 

People affected by pollution should benefit from clean jobs, she said. "I'm not willing to allow black, brown and low income people to be taken advantage of," she said. "We have to talk about economic injustice happening."

An organizer for the IPA said there are several issues that must be addressed in the bill before it becomes law.  These include no incentives for coal conversion to natural gas; no corporate bailouts, jobs targeted for low income communities that will include ex-offenders; protection for consumers if they take out loans for energy efficiency; and fees on polluters to finance the project.

Rev. Cliff Parks said "this is the beginning of the fight."

Sen. Dave Koehler said the Obama administration's rules level the playing field for all states, a big advantage. The bill in Illinois "is not going to be perfect but we will make your feelings heard," he said. A key issue is jobs, he added.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

Peoria filmmakers seek funding

PEORIA, IL -- This is interesting.  From a news release:

 

1. 
   
   Peoria-based startup Exit Reality Entertainment announced a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for their upcoming independent film, Remote, on Tuesday, April 5th. The film will produced primarily in the Peoria area. Remote is a psychological thriller and the first chapter of a larger universe, named The Red String Theory.
   
   Exit Reality Entertainment (Facebook) is a new media production startup company operating out of Peoria, Illinois. In addition to independent film production, the company also produces videos on YouTube, and offers media production services. Members include Peoria natives and Bradley University Entrepreneurship and Theater graduates.
   
   Remote, a psychological thriller, follows the story of Daniel Grey in his search for his brother and friends. The movie chronicles the story of their disappearance. This film maintains a true-to-life sense of humor even among dire circumstances, and covers important issues such as missing persons, the dangers of social media, addiction, obsession, and the profound, crippling impact of loss.
   
   The team is attempting to raise a $25,000 production budget for the film, and will begin filming in early June. As of April 13th, they group had already raised $2,711 from 24 backers, in just 8 days. The Director, Jason Snydacker, along with the Producers, Dakota R. Kuhlman and Matthew Pleasant, are pleased to announce they've reached 10% of their total goal.
   
   Crowdfunding is a new platform that allows people from anywhere in the world to contribute small amounts of money, often as small as $5 or $10, to fund a much larger project. Kickstarter.com uses an all-or-nothing funding model, which means that project "Creators" such as Exit Reality, will not receive any amount pledged unless their full goal is met. Individuals - dubbed "Backers" - can select a tier of rewards for backing the project. Funding is not finalized unless or until the full goal is reached.
   
   Exit Reality announced that the film had been casted on April 2nd. The cast includes Peoria and Chicago area actors and actresses, including Ryan Wayne, who recently started in the film Out of the Heart (IMDB, Facebook), another movie recently filmed in Peoria, Illinois.
   
   Backers can pre-order a number of rewards for supporting the project, including: the movie and soundtrack in digital or CD/DVD format, exclusive access to the behind-the-scenes production journal and live stream of production, t-shirts and other memorabilia, concept art, or even thier name and face as a missing persons flyer featured in the movie. To acknowledge the support of the local community, Backers also receive their name listed in the movie credits for only a $5 contribution.
   
   Local industrial rock group, Phantom Noise (Facebook, SoundCloud), has been contracted to produce the full original soundtrack for the movie. Phantom Noise members Brandon Ousley, Brandon Jones, and Marc Redshaw have been performing music in the Peoria area since 2006. They are holding an upcoming show in connection with the film Remote at Peoria Pizza Works on May 6th. (RSVP/Reminder on Facebook).
   
   This film offers a unique opportunity to residents of the Peoria. This is an opportunity to get involved and follow an independent film production from start to finish, and support the arts and a very small local film industry. By supporting this Kickstarter campaign and pre-ordering one of their rewards, you are helping support independent film in the Central Illinois area. View the Kickstarter campaign here.
   
   Press Contacts:
   Daniel Quitschau
   CEO of Exit Reality Entertainment
   Finance Manager for Remote
   [email protected]
   309-285-7717
   
   Emily Wilson
   COO of Exit Reality Entertainment
   Line Producer for Remote
   [email protected]
   309-339-4253
   
   Dakota Kuhlman
   Founder of Exit Reality Entertainment
   Producer & Screenwriter for Remote
   [email protected]
   309-696-8196

Wild Party is wild

MACOMB, IL -- A very interesting musical play opened on April 13 at Western Illinois University, and runs through April 17 at Hainline Theatre on the campus.

The play is Andrew Lippa's Wild Party, and it's a wild production, filled with singing, dancing and mostly jazz music, spiced with a little sex, partial nudity (tastefully done) and even a gunshot and murder. 

The production is more like an opera than a musical comedy, as the music carries the plot and there are few spoken lines. The lyrics and music are not quite as clever as Sondheim's work, but the entire vehicle is interesting. 

It's a challenging play for college students, but they carry it off well. The singers and dancers in the large cast are terrific talents, performing with a live band. 

The costumes, the lighting and sets are all extremely well done.

It's WIU's entry into the American College Theater Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  With this production, they just might win an award.

It's great to see an interesting, challenging play instead of the same old musicals that are performed again and again. This play is not Mary Poppins or The Sound of Music, thankfully.

One of the charms of attending a college production is the chance to see a young performer with such promise that professional success could follow. 

The lead performers in this production seem to hold this promise. Madelyn Lego, who plays the role of Queenie, could be the next Kristen Chenoweth.  Tyler Breeding who plays the role of Burr, or Dustin LaFleur who plays the role of Black, may be the next Marlon Brando.  Fantasy?  Perhaps, but worth considering.

This play comes when WIU is under extreme funding challenges from the governor's ploy to use state colleges and universities as political fodder. (Shame on him!) Like the other state colleges, WIU is running out of money. A WIU news release issued today stated that 100 people employed on the campus are being laid off.

Some theater professors reportedly are being let go, and the major of musical theater is under threat, according to the campus newspaper.

How disgusting that is -- when this production and other campus arts and musical presentations are so strong now, only to be gutted, and for what? Power politics?

Anyway, this play is definitely worth seeing.

 -- Elaine Hopkins 

 

 

All good except for the legal bills...

PEORIA, IL --  The ambience at the meetings of the Peoria District 150 School Board is so different from a year ago that I have trouble believing it.

At the board's April 11 meeting, for example, there was a presentation on a summer project for middle school children to put on a production, in the Peoria Civic Center, of Disney's The Lion King.  It's a specially designed theater workshop for school children.  There are no auditions. Everyone who applies will be included somehow in the production. It will play during the Civic Center's Ignite!, an arts weekend in August.

What a change from the previous superintendent, who had let the arts wither away.

A recent Barry Manilow concert helped raise many free musical instruments for the schools, and Kidder Music Co. is repairing those that need it, for free, the board heard. The schools can enroll students in orchestra and band if instruments can be found for them, the board was told.

This is great, as the arts are so important for school students. Not so long ago the district had a fabulous high school jazz band.  I'm hoping it will start up again.

And so it goes -- new projects, genuine excitement, no politboro-style praise for the new superintendent, who responds graciously when appropriate.

Still, there are some critics.  Terry Knapp during the public comments reported on his Freedom of Information Act request to determine legal fees the district is paying. He learned that the district has paid $7,000 in travel fees to its Chicago-based law firm.

"Hire Peoria lawyers," he said, calling the situation "ridiculous." 

He said he interviewed the district's full time in-house lawyer and learned he doesn't do collective bargaining!  Say what?  Why on earth was he hired in a district with five unions? Knapp asked. (The previous superintendent hired him. Figures.)

That lawyer also refused to supply information on his hours worked, saying it fell under lawyer-client confidentiality, a ridiculous idea in my opinion. Knapp will appeal that ruling to the Illinois Attorney General's office.

Here is a recording of the public comments. 

Download Dist150 April 11

Sharon Crews talked about grade inflation, presenting research that college and high school grades have gone up.  College grades of 'A' rose from 15 percent in 1940 to 45 percent in 2013, she found. "Students seem to be rewarded just for showing up," she said.

She also questioned why no research has been done in how many District 150 students attend and graduate from college, and what their employment turns out to be.  She also spoke out for reinstating summer school.

Superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat responded that "we're looking at comprehensive summer school.  It's the cost.  We're open to ideas on how to fund it."

Here's a link to the Journal Star story on the meeting.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Reproductive rights talk and...

Peoria, IL -- From a news release: 

Peoria ACLU Chapter Celebrates its 55^th Anniversary at its Annual Meeting on April 28  

The Peoria ACLU Chapter’s annual meeting on Thursday, April 28, 2016 will feature Colleen Connell, Executive Director of the Illinois ACLU. She will speak on Religious Refusals and the Threat to Religious Liberty and Healthcare.   

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.

Guest speaker Connell has argued before courts in both the state and federal justice systems, including the Supreme Court of the United States, on important matters involving the rights of women to control their own reproductive health.  Ms. Connell has directed the organization’s litigation efforts involving constitutional rights of privacy and the rights of Illinois citizens to make decisions concerning reproductive matters without undue governmental restriction.

The Sam Belfer Award will be presented to the Peoria Housing Authority and its security officer Jerry McKean.  The PHA board revised trespass list policies to provide due process to those placed on the list, namely a way to challenge the listing and have the name removed.  Officer Jerry McKean has gone above and beyond in his efforts to monitor the list as well as remove inappropriate and/or outdated names. The David Citron Award for an ACLU member goes to Jean Sanger for her leadership and service on the ACLU board as well as several other important civic boards of directors in Peoria in recent years.                                                                                                                                                Two special awards for civic activities also will be presented.  They go to the Collaboration that developed the Peoria School District 150 Comprehensive Sexuality Education Program that is comprehensive and accurate, and to Kamil Mufti, resident scholar and imam at the Islamic Foundation of Peoria, for strengthening understanding of freedom of religion and distinguishing between free speech and hate speech. 

Reservations for the dinner must be made by April 22. Contact Elaine Hopkins, 309-231-5758 for more information or the chapter website, http://aclupeoria.org. The dinner costs $45.  The public is invited, and welcome to attend the program free of charge.  

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