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Steve Robinson Normal Town Council unanimously passed an ordinance regulating the riding of bicycles in the Uptown area, at its regular meeting Monday at City Hall. The ordinance would prohibit anyone from riding a bicycle on a sidewalk or within the traffic roundabout. The need for such an ordinance came to the Council’s attention during a walking tour of the area last month. Council members witnessed young people riding their bikes in the internal walkways of the roundabout at an increased rate of speed. There was also an increased number of incidents between pedestrians and bike riders in the Uptown area. The boundaries of the Uptown area are defined as south of Mulberry St., east of Fell Ave., north of the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way, and west of Linden St. with the exception of area near Constitution Trail. Although violators of the new ordinance would be subject to a $50 fine, City Manager Mark Peterson said the ordinance “will be enforced gradually. We’re concerned with those persons who blatantly and repeatedly violate the ordinance. It is those people who will be fined.” Town, Library Enter Into Intergovernmental Agreement: Council members unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the execution of an Intergovernmental agreement between the Town and the Normal Public Library. It is the first time the town and the library have had such an agreement, Peterson told Council members. Discussions surrounding library authorization required to carry out banking transactions sparked discussion for the need for the agreement. The Town will continue to provide services such as snow removal, solid waste removal, and brush and leaves collection to the library. Normal Maintaining Near-Perfect Bond Rating: Town Finance Director Ron Hill reported to Council members that, based on fiscal year 2009-10 spending, the Town’s plan to reduce spending at the outset of the oncoming recession almost three years ago proved a smart move. Hill’s report included the fact the Town’s bond rating from Standard & Poor’s remains at a rating of “AA” — one notch below a perfect Triple-A rating. Peterson reminded council members that it was their taking actions to curb spending in light of concerns about an oncoming recession over three years ago that made the news they received Monday possible. “Maybe it was luck,” Peterson said. “Maybe it was good financial management. But whatever it was, it put us ahead of the game. We assumed the recession would drag on. We assumed a worst-case scenario.” He credited Town departments with managing to come in under budget in their spending projections. He said he was proud of the heads of the various Town departments for accomplishing their budget reductions in an effort to curb spending. Public Works Director Hall Retiring: Monday’s Council session was the last one Mike Hall will attend as the Town’s Director of Public Works. He is retiring after 22 years on the job. “He’s been a tremendous asset to this community,” Peterson said. “He was a great fit to this organization. We could always count on Mike when he is in the mix.” Hall began his career with the Town as its first Town Engineer. A retirement reception will be held for Hall on July 26 at the Normal Public Works Building on Warriner St., from 1p.m.-5p.m. Hall is the second high-profile Town employee to retire in recent weeks. Steve Westerdahl, who doubles as both Community Development Director and Purchasing Officer for the Town retires later this summer, having been employed by the Town since the mid-1970s. Liquor Commission Meets: Normal Liquor Commission met prior to the Council session. The only business on the Commission’s docket was to approve minutes for four previous meetings: a regularly scheduled meeting held on March 15, and three special meetings held April 5, May 17, and June 21. Omnibus Agenda Items Approved: Omnibus agenda items approved by the Council included: Approval of minutes of the Council’s regular meeting held July 6, 2010. Approval of Town of Normal expenditures for payment as of July 14, 2010. A motion to accept bids and award the purchase of a front-end wheel loader from Birkey’s Construction Equipment Co., Inc. in the total amount of $84,000. A motion to accept bids for the 2010-11 Miscelleneous Sidewalk Improvements – 50/50 Sidewalk and ADA Ramps Project and award a contract to Hammond, Ill.-based Was Con Co. in the amount of $92,314.80. A resolution authorizing the release of Executive Session minutes. A conditional resolution partially reapproving the Final Plat of South Cottage Village. A resolution conditionally and partially approving a final development plan for The Shoppes At College Hills Planned Unit Development – Panda Express Heartland Community College announces Community Scholars Heartland Community College has announced its 2010-11 Community Scholars. Fifteen students were selected for the Heartland Community Scholars program, which gives students the chance to pay for college by performing community service and building leadership skills. Heartland students selected for the Community Scholars Program included: Natalie Howard, Joseph Lazaro, Madison Roberts and Kati Stegner (all of Bloomington); Carlyn Seeman (of Chenoa); Mary Frey (of Danvers); Courtney Funk and Derek Stoller (both of Gridley); Elizabeth Laurence and Jessica Welch (both of Lincoln); Kaitlyn Goodwin (Normal); Matthew Cox, Donald Tyler Griswold and Elizabeth Lindstrom (all of Pontiac); and Ashlynd Wilson (of Waynesville). Participants in the intensive two-year Community Scholars program are expected to use leadership training and experimental learning techniques to fulfill community service commitments. As a Community Scholar, tuition and fees are waived for up to four semesters of full-time enrollment, as well as for two summer sessions. Each student also is assigned a program mentor and designated advisor and provided with opportunities for on-campus leadership exercises and practical off-campus work experiences. Students volunteer at such pre-approved, non-profit organizations as Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Special Opportunities Available in Recreation (SOAR), the David Davis Mansion and the Humane Society of Central Illinois, as well as various schools, after-school programs and nursing homes. The Community Scholars program at Heartland is specifically designed for recent high school graduates of District 540. Admission to the program is based on high school academic performance, achievement scores, teacher recommendations and the quality of the application. For more information about the Community Scholars Program at Heartland, contact Pamela Sweetwood, director of Special Programs, at (309) 268-8168 or email pamela.sweetwood@heartland.edu. |
In The July 23 Printed Normalite:
Bill Linneman
Helen J. Leake's Gardeners Tips
The Spectator by Jim Bennett
Capitol Facts by Rich Miller
Normal Town Council Report
Capitol Commentary from Senator Bill Brady
News from State Rep.
Dan Brady
Publisher Ed Pyne - Pyne Needles
Mystery Photo, Legal Notices, Obituaries, Service Directory, School and Senior Information, and Classified advertisements Pick up a copy for these stories and more. by
Steve Robinson For 10 Wednesdays in the 2010-11 School Year, students in Normal’s Unit 5 School District will be starting their day an hour later than normal so that their teachers can attend professional development sessions. On the days teachers will be receiving the professional development, they will be meeting for 90 minutes. District Superintendent Gary Niehaus said starting one school day a month an hour later than usual will save Unit 5 close to $1 million which is currently spent on teachers when they travel to professional development sessions and on hiring substitute teachers. “Late Start Wednesdays” will take place on Sept. 15 & 29; Oct. 13 & 27; Nov. 10; Jan. 12; Feb. 9; March 9; April 6; and May 11. On those days, Unit 5’s high schools will begin their day at 8:15a.m., junior highs will begin their day at 8:45a.m.; and elementary schools will begin their day at 9:30a.m. The schools will be dismissed at their regular times. Buses to school will run one hour later on those Wednesdays, and a flier concerning the late start times advises students to be at their designated bus stop one hour later than the scheduled pickup time on those days. The flier advises all schools will be dismissed at their normal dismissal times on late start days. The program was proposed to Unit 5 School Board members in March by the principals of Unit 5’s two high schools – Dr. Jeanette Nuckolls of Normal Community High School, and Tom Eder of Normal Community West High School. Board members approved the program in April. “Parents are accepting the idea that we have to have cost reductions in place for next year,” Niehaus said. “This is one of those reductions. We have done enough research to know that this is the best practice. This is something that is happening in the state and across the nation for professional learning communities. “From a research base, we think we will do better in the classroom,” Niehaus added. “And we’ll do better with student achievement because we’re better prepared and organized as a faculty and staff through these late starts.” Dr. Gary Niehaus said doing these professional development sessions at the schools means the district is not paying for out-of-town travel – a cost often associated with teachers attending professional development sessions. As another cost-saving measure, Niehaus said Unit 5 is limiting the number of conferences that teachers and staff are attending, as well. When the idea was first floated, and then discussed, Niehaus said he knew he had resistance from Unit 5 staff members who had never done professional development in that way before, and from those who were unsure of the idea. “We had Board members who were questioning the inconvenience to parents,” Niehaus said. He added that Unit Five Education Association (UFEA), the union that represents Unit 5’s teachers, reacted positively enough to the idea that UFEA offered the district an additional 30 minutes of flex time for those days with late starts, giving the district 90 minutes to work with. The district had originally wanted to use just 60 minutes for this program. UFEA’s gesture of the extra half-hour bumped the time to be used to 90 minutes. Unit 5 set up a booth at the Sugar Creek Arts Festival and distributed fliers indicating how the program would work, including the days the delayed starts would take place. State Provides Late Payment: The State of Illinois still owes Unit 5 $5 million in reimbursements for transportation and special education, Board members learned from the district’s new Chief Financial Officer, Erik Bush. Bush formally sat with Board members at his first meeting since being named CFO in April. Bush said $1.6 million of the $5 million owed would go toward transportation costs, with $3.4 million going to reimburse the district for special education. Bush said the State has traditionally made four payments to Unit 5 for reimbursement of transportation costs. Unit 5 received $800,000 from the State in January – a payment, Bush explained, should have been in the district’s hands last September. The State’s latest reimbursement to the district was literally very late – given to Unit 5 in late June – totaling $600,000. That means Unit 5 still has two more payments for school year 2009-2010 to yet arrive from Springfield. Illinois also typically provides reimbursement for special education costs, but has yet to send money for special ed to Unit 5, as of Wednesday’s meeting, Bush said. Niehaus told Board members the delivery of transportation payments by the State has been such that, in the last couple of years, at least one of the four payment due Unit 5 has come in late. Bush told Board members Unit 5 has managed to reduce staff to cut costs, as well. As school year 2009-2010 began last July, the district had 1,860 employees on the payroll. As school year 2010-2011 opens, there are 1,673 employees. Bush told Board members the downturn in staffing numbers “isn’t necessarily decreasing the level of services provided by the district.” Construction Update: Board members were provided with an update on the construction of two elementary schools and one junior high school to be added to the district. Cedar Ridge Elementary School and Benjamin Elementary School will open this coming school year. George L. Evans Junior High was slated to open this fall, as well, but due to lengthy weather related construction delays, will not open until the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year. Richard Ach, senior project manager for Chicago-based Turner Construction, reported that movers have begun loading furniture into the second floor of Cedar Ridge Elementary, after Unit 5’s having taken possession of the building from construction crews on July 1. At the site of Benjamin Elementary, Ach reported the school’s first floor classroom wing, including the commons area, have been turned over to the district. The second floor classroom wing is scheduled to be put in district control by July 26. Ach said lighting has been installed in the gymnasium wing of the building. At the site of George L. Evans Junior High, interior and exterior metal stud framing continues in the building’s north classroom wing, as does glazing in the school’s library, now that curtain wall framing has been completed; window installation is underway in the building’s south classroom wing; and face brick installation will begin on the building outside its kitchen/cafetorium area. Ach said crews have experienced a total of 165 delay days trying to work on this site. Of those 165, crews have been able to make up for just 19 of them. There will be no second Board meeting in July. The next meeting will be Wednesday, Aug. 11. Registration for ISU Homecoming events now open Approximately 90 days from now, Illinois State University will celebrate Homecoming for the 90th year. Students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members are invited to “Roll Out the Red” and celebrate Homecoming at Illinois State with a parade, football, tailgating, a 5K run and a host of other events. Online registration is already open for several events including the Town & Gown 5K run, Roll Out the Red Gala and the Great Urban Race. The 10th Annual Illinois State University and Town of Normal Town & Gown 5K run is set for 7 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16 at the corner of College and University. Online registration is open until 4 p.m. on Oct. 13. Participants may register at www.IllinoisStateHomecoming.com The registration fee is $20, but increases to $25 on Oct. 13. This year’s formal Homecoming event, the Roll Out the Red Gala, is in celebration of Homecoming and the 40th anniversary of the College of Fine Arts at Illinois State. It will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16 at the new Marriott Bloomington-Normal Hotel & Conference Center. In addition to dinner and cocktails, the gala will feature an interactive showcase of performances by students, alumni and faculty of the College of Fine Arts. Tickets cost $75 per person. Reservations are required by Friday, Sept. 24 and may be made at www.IllinoisStateHomecoming.com or by calling (309) 438-2586. The Great Urban Race
returns for a second year, closing out Homecoming week activities at noon on
Sunday, Oct. 17 at Fat Jack’s in downtown Bloomington. Participants in this
event will use clues to find checkpoints, complete challenges, and navigate
the streets of downtown Bloomington, uptown Normal, and the Illinois State
campus. Illinois State has been the only college to be selected as a host
location for the Great Urban Race for the past two years. Proceeds from
each team’s registration will benefit the Alumni Association Scholarship
which provides financial assistance to outstanding students at Illinois
State. Registration is open and available at www. |
Normal Community Ironmen, Normal Community West Wildcats, Ridgeview Mustangs, University High School Pioneers, Central Catholic Saints, Lexington Minutemen, ElPaso Gridley Titans, Illinois State University Redbird, Illinois Wesleyan Titan, State Farm Holiday Classic, McLean County Tournament, HOI Conference, Heart of Illinois Historic North Street
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- Dialogue Connecting the Community. Unit 5 Lunch Menus School is out
coming next to the Historic Normal Theater Gen. admission $6; children & students w/ID $5. Refreshments $1. Prize drawing every night. Great cartoons before classic movies. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Hotline: 454-9722. Tues & Wed • July 27 & 28 • 7 pm Picasso & Braque Go To The Movies (2010) Director Martin Scorsese contributes to this mesmerizing documentary on the influence of expressionist, cubist and abstract art on early film and vice versa. NR/60 min. Presented in LCD Digital Projection. McLean
County Board Report Recording Secretary: Judith LaCasse Regular Meeting this Week At the regular meeting of the McLean County Board on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, the County Board approved the appointment of Judges of Election. The County Board approved the application to amend the text of Chapter 36 of the McLean County Land subdivision Ordinance to add a section regulating stream buffers. The County Board approved an amendment to the Lease Agreement between the Public Building Committee of McLean County, as lessor, and the city of Bloomington and the McLean County, as lessees, and providing for the Levy and collection of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the rent payable under such amendment to the Lease Agreement. The County Board approved an extension of the outside auditing services of McGladrey & Pullen, LLC. Staff Sgt. Martin Taylor returns to USA Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Martin A. Taylor is returning to the U.S. after a deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, respectively. The soldiers return to Fort Dix, N.J. for debriefing, evaluations and out-processing procedures before returning to their regularly assigned Army Reserve or National Guard units. The specialist served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Iraq Theater of Operations. While deployed, he received the Meritorious Service Medal, and Army Commendation Medal. Taylor, a psychological operations specialist, is assigned to the 346th Psychological Operations Company, Columbus, Ohio. The staff sergeant has served in the military for nine years. He is the son of Wally C. Taylor of Riss Drive, Normal. In 2001, he graduated from Normal Community High School, and received an associate degree in 2007 from Heartland Community College, Normal. Cole Rosenbaum enters basic training at U.S. Air Force Academy Cole D. Rosenbaum has entered Basic Cadet Training at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., in preparation to enter the first academic year at the academy. The six-week, two-phased orientation program must be successfully completed by the cadets prior to entering their freshman year. The training prepares men and women to meet the rigorous mental and physical challenges experienced by new cadets. Phase one involves personal in-processing, orientation, and training in the fundamentals of being a cadet. Cadet trainees are prepared to adjust from civilian to military life and disciplines, and learn proper wear of the uniform, saluting policies and procedures, drill and ceremony, marching, and living quarters standards. During phase two, cadets train outdoors living in tents while learning to function in field conditions. Cadets apply and practice team work, cohesion and learn to deal with physically and mentally demanding situations. They complete the obstacle, confidence, assault, and leadership reaction courses, and participate in a rescue mission termed Operation Warrior. He is a 2010 graduate of the University High School and the son of Douglas and Sandra Rosenbaum of Normal. Lincoln’s Bloomington Festival set for July 31 The second annual Lincoln’s Bloomington Festival held in downtown Bloomington and surrounding neighborhoods will be held on Saturday, July 31 beginning at 10 a.m. The festival will open with the flag raising ceremony conducted by the 10th Volunteer Mounted Union Calvary and a welcome from Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln (Chris Holtz and Deborah Senger) on the steps of the McLean County Museum of History. The Museum is situated on the old courthouse square where Lincoln visited travelling with the 8th circuit from 1847 -1857. There are many fun and enlightening activities for adults and children planned around the square including a Lincoln scavenger hunt, exhibitors and a talk with local historian Guy Fraker at 11:30 a.m. Take some time to visit the market and the re-enactors and have lunch at one of downtown’s eateries, then join the Museum’s executive director, Greg Koos for a walking tour of Lincoln related sites around the square at 1:00 p.m. The air will be filled with folk music selections by the Old Men Boys and the Blue Grass folk musicians as a backdrop to the festival and the weekly Downtown Bloomington Association’s Farmer’s Market. Children’s crafts and carriage rides will add to the fun at this year’s event. The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition based in Springfield will also have presenters and story tellers stationed at a number of the sites. The David Davis Mansion will kick off their festivities at 10:30 a.m. with “Path to the Presidency”, a humorous recollection by the 16th President presented by the well-known Lincoln presenter George Buss followed by an Officer’s tea vignette demonstration under a large tent on the shady Clover Lawn and free tours. Enjoy a fashion show at 2:00 p.m. with the ladies of the 33rd Illinois Regiment Band who will wear their period costumes. Later the band will lead an early evening military ball with the President and Mrs. Lincoln along with Civil War dancers. Guests can arrive at the Ball in style with free carriage rides from the mansion gate to the tent. There are also planned activities for the children, Mansion tours, food vendors and period demonstrations on the grounds of the Mansion. The David Davis Mansion State Historic site is administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Davis had been appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by his grateful friend Abraham Lincoln, and had the lavish Victorian Mansion built in 1872. The “Oaks” will be the site for the Asahel Gridley Encampment staged by the 10th Volunteer Mounted Union Calvary where you can get a sense of what life in the camp during the Civil War. Demonstrations include Aerial Telegraphy, Saber training and cooking for the Cavalry. The Lincolns will be available throughout the day at the various Downtown and surrounding locations. The Burr House, a Civil War Era brick home constructed in 1864, situated near downtown Bloomington across from Franklin Park will feature tours free tours and refreshments and re-enactors including a Union Surveyor. The Bloomington Public Library will feature Confederate re-enactors on the lawn and author, Betty Carlson Kay as Elizabeth Todd Edwards in the community room. There will be craft activities for the youth, Lincoln movies playing in rotation throughout the week of the festival in common areas of the library and a Civil War costume contest the day of the festival. Hal Smith, Executive Director, Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition and Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area had this to say about the upcoming festival, “This year we are commemorating the 150th anniversaries of Lincoln’s presidential campaign and the Civil War. “The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition is excited to see that the Lincoln Festival is once again taking place in Bloomington-Normal this year. With the recent launch of efforts to develop the management plan for the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, we enthusiastically recognize this Festival as precisely the type of community event that highlights and celebrates the wondrous history of this community. We sincerely hope the Lincoln Festival serves as a sustainable and vibrant event for the community and their related groups and sites to celebrate their great Lincoln heritage with one another, year after year.” The festival committee is anticipating a large reception to the second annual event so come out (in costume if you desire) enjoy all of the events at the various locations to commemorate the 150th anniversary and Lincoln’s connections in Bloomington, Illinois. For more information on this event please contact the following participating sites directly: The Burr House: Burrhouse@hotmail.com or 1-(800-449-4182) David Davis Mansion: davismansion@yahoo.com (Jeannie Riordan) or (309) 828-1084 McLean County Museum of History: marketing@mchistory.org or (309) 827-0428 Lincoln’s Bloomington Festival Committee chairperson, Barb Adams at history.bea@gmail.com (309) 824-8862 Bloomington Public Library: (309) 828- 6091 (Karen Moen) |
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