Press Releases/Announcements from local sources
Merle
BerleAround and About in West Chicago - 31 Oct 2007
- Brian Reis
- Community Day coupon booklets for Carson's
- "Crafts and Treasures" Holiday Bazaar
- Spooky Trail
- "Building a Community: Creating a Dialogue about Mexican Contributions to West Chicago."
"Memorial visitation 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Williams-Woodward Funeral Home, 820 Pine St., West Chicago. Memorial service Thursday 10 a.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Parkinson’s Disease Foundation appreciated."
Sen.Randy Hultren
College
Illinois! begins annual enrollment period"Families interested in investing in their children’s future while protecting themselves against tuition inflation can now begin to enroll in College Illinois!, the state’s 529 prepaid tuition program, according to State Sen. Randy Hultgren (R-Wheaton)."
Angry
West Chicago residents seek answers from EPA"At a meeting called to discuss the issue, a dozen frustrated homeowners grilled federal Environmental Protection Agency officials about why their homes may need to be dug up for the third time in three decades."
The
briefs - Learn to arrange your fall flowers"The West Chicago Public Library will present a fall flower arranging program with Peggy Garvin at 7 p.m. Thursday at the library, 118 W. Washington, West Chicago. The basket will be filled with silk flowers, dried pods and leaves. The fee is $15. Participants should bring a garden pruner. For details, call (630) 231-1552, ext. 4."
District
master plan to include a long list of improvements"The district will host two public forums in the coming months to help gain feedback about what residents want from the district. Previous forums and surveys have already identified several areas in need of improvement and the district plans to move forward with up to $1.5 million in renovations, including aquatic center improvements, a skate park, a splash pad and playgrounds."
D33 misses AYP mark despite strong showing
"Students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency
at the middle school scored well below the reading standards set forth by
the Illinois State Board of Education, even as other subgroups in the
school and all elementary schools met the AYP standards in both reading
and math for the second straight year."
Sen
Durbin
Senate
Democrats Discuss Consumer Safety "This year alone, more than 20 million toys have been recalled because they pose hazards to children. The CPSC, which is responsible for overseeing the safety of more than 15,000 consumer goods, employs fewer than 425 full-time staff, relies on antiquated testing facilities and employs just one full-time toy tester. "
"Durbin’s legislation addresses key needs with five specific initiatives."
Sen.
Obama"But we cannot deny that nuclear power is – and likely will remain – an important source of electricity for many years to come. How we deal with the dangerous byproduct of nuclear reactors is a critical question that has yet to be resolved."
bill
to toughen current anti-meth law“Anhydrous ammonia is useful as a fertilizer; unfortunately it is also an ingredient for methamphetamine production and becomes extremely dangerous when it’s not handled properly,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “We must do what we can to stop the spread of meth addiction and trafficking in our communities, and to protect the public from the dangers associated with obtaining the ingredients for meth."
Cable
Com
Tune into Channel 17 this week for music! We've got jazz and variety. Channel 17 is the place to see local music performances.
West
ChicagoHigh School
WeGo
2 Africa In Need of Art & Craft Supplies"WeGo 2 Africa needs donations of fleece for blankets as well as fabric, stuffing, yarn, needles, thread and buttons for the Rag Doll Project. Also various art supplies (i.e. paints, brushes) are needed for the Classroom Visual Project."
Hall
"The West Chicago City Museum has Community Day coupon booklets available for $5.00. These booklets are good on Saturday, November 10th, and include the following coupons:"
DuPage
County filings"Filing opened Monday for the Feb. 5 Illinois primary. Here are the candidates who filed Monday to run for DuPage County offices and the judicial sub-circuits in the Northwest suburbs. Filing will be open for one week, closing Nov. 5. An asterisk next to a candidate's name denotes an incumbent...
CORONER ... Republican: *Peter Siekmann, West Chicago"
Armed
and Ready aims to protect vets at home"Colonel Huber (left) speaks with Military Assistance Program member Richard Flately with at the Armed and Ready Seminar at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Leon Richardt Post 6791 in West Chicago Oct. 27. Armed and Ready aims to ensure veterans receive benefits promised to them."
Local
hopefuls filing for primary"Democrats running include Navy veteran John Laesch of St. Charles, former Fermilab scientist Bill Foster of Geneva, Geneva-based business attorney Jotham Stein and Joseph Serra, also of Geneva, who works in cellular communications."
Lauzen
shells out big bucks to nab Hastert ally"Joining the Lauzen team at a $5,000-a-month salary is Denny Wiggins, Kane County's GOP chairman. Wiggins, who also sits on the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, has been involved in Republican politics for 45 years, much of it in leadership roles in the county. He also was strongly aligned with Hastert."
Sen
DurbinSen.
Obama“While his legal credentials are strong, his views on two critical and related matters are, in my view, disqualifying. We don't need another attorney general who believes that the President enjoys an unwritten right to secretly ignore any law or abridge our constitutional freedoms simply by invoking national security. And we don't need another attorney general who looks the other way on issues as profound as torture."
"However, a full investigation and prosecution will be difficult when all of the Blackwater guards – both in the vehicle convoy involved in the shooting and the helicopters above – were apparently given immunity by investigators from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, an arm of the State Department."
"... to fly the United States and Illinois flags at State occupied buildings at half-staff on behalf of: Illinois State Police Trooper Brian McMillen"
“Unless you provide us [Verizon Wireless] with notice that you wish to opt out within 30 days of receiving this letter, we will assume that you give the Verizon Companies the right to share your CPNI with the authorized companies as described above.”
NOVEMBER
2007 PRESS RELEASE"Please join us for a Fall Flower Arranging program on Thursday, November 1, 2007 at 7:00 p.m."
Collage
of Hurley's Late ColorAt "peak color" the landscape is overwhelmed with the orange and red of the hardwoods. Hurley has a second color season, the ambers and yellows of the poplars and tamaracks. These pictures were taken on Oct 24th and 25th in stormy late afternoon and bright mid-morning. You can compare with 27 Aug 2007 and 01 Oct 2007. Notice how long the color season lasts up there. - Bob
Democrats
will have primary for chance to unseat Roskam"The 6th District Congressional race officially became interesting Wednesday. State official and veteran Army Reserve colonel Jill Morgenthaler announced her candidacy as a Democrat for Congress."
"Reliable statistics on crime by undocumented immigrants are hard to come by. But the Chicago Sun-Times has learned that less than 4 percent of the adults in Illinois prisons have been identified as illegal immigrants. And as of mid-July, less than 3 percent of the inmates in Cook County Jail were illegals."
Lincoln,IL
Firm
brings textile recycling to area" The somebody Bruns referred to is U'SAgain, a recycling company dedicated to keeping textiles out of landfills, providing clothing to Third World countries and creating jobs for people of various skill and responsibility levels. "I'm sure we will place more bins in the area," said Eunsil Drew, a U'SAgain public relations spokeswoman and fundraising coordinator in the West Chicago office."
Sen
Durbin
Reducing
Community And Healthcare-Associated Infections "Durbin’s measure would require the federal government to develop best practices guidelines for hospital internal infection control plans. Hospitals would then be required to review their existing infection control plans for compliance with these guidelines to improve the health and safety of patients, healthcare workers, and the public."
Sen.
Obama"Obama for America today released a new television ad about the need to have an honest conversation about the future of Social Security. The ad entitled "Wind" starts airing in Iowa today and can be found at www.iowa.barackobama.com/iawind."
Rep
Hastert
"Hastert's office would not confirm his departure. "He has consistently said that he would continue to serve as long as he is effective, and that is still the case today," said spokesman Brad Hahn. "There are different discussions taking place, but no decisions have been made."
"In another effort to improve customer service, the Act gives pharmacy chains options to more quickly and efficiently fill patient prescriptions when the pharmacy is very busy by permitting prescription orders to be filled at a central location and then delivered back to the pharmacy where the patient brought their prescription."
"Jan Hutchens wanted an apology from and a lengthy prison term for John Homatas, who killed her daughter, her daughter's unborn child and another man in a drunken-driving crash in 2006. She got neither Friday."
A
family tradition"Sonny Acres does nothing halfway. Halloween and Thanksgiving aren't just about pumpkins and Puritans. They are also about popcorn balls; sweet corn; haunted hayrides; train rides; petting zoos; haunted houses; mazes; barrels of newly harvested apples; and dozens of other touches that make the holidays feel like holidays."
Committees,
summit welcome additions"St. Charles schools have had plenty of committees in the past but recently created a new layer -- business and services, curriculum and instruction, policy, and community relations -- in order to get more input, more discussion and better plans. Summit 303 is the name for what will be a series of community gatherings that invite participation in the processes that affect how children in the district will be taught."
Driver
in '06 crash that killed 2 gets 12 years""I expect anyone who's remorseful, at that time, to make a statement," she told reporters outside the courtroom. "It just shows me I was right all along" about Homatas' character."
Dems
lash out at GOP on war, health program"Though they rarely mentioned the president by name, candidates Jotham Stein, John Laesch and Bill Foster attacked his policies on health care and the Iraq war Tuesday at a Kane County Democrats forum at the Kane County Government Center in Geneva."
"Simmons, who was eight months' pregnant, was returning home from her job in Elgin. Simmons, her fetus, and John Chiariello, 25, of St. Charles, a passenger in Homatas’ Jeep, were killed. Homatas had been drinking at a West Chicago club just prior to the crash."
GOP
chief hired for campaign"Wiggins will be paid $5,000 a month as an organizer, said Lauzen, R-Aurora. “In 45 years, I don’t think I’ve ever worked for a candidate in a primary,” Wiggins said. “However, I think it’s crucial that we keep this seat in Republican hands.”
"Homatas and Chiariello, 25, of St. Charles, had spent the night partying with friends at a West Chicago strip club and were en route to the Elgin riverboat casino. Simmons, who was eight months pregnant, was on her way home to Yorkville from her job at the casino."
Buyers
look for conservation payback"Like Coveny, Court Airhart, president of Airhart Construction in West Chicago, said his company also is focused on building energy--efficient homes. "There's a whole approach to building a healthy, energy-efficient home. It goes from the thickness of the walls, to house wrap, to high-quality, energy efficient windows, to caulking and preventing air penetration," he said."
Times
Fate
of Great Lakes' water looks fluid"The Waukesha conflict stems from the city's being outside the vast Great Lakes Basin, which means the Lake Michigan water it would use would not be returned to the lake; it would drain into the Fox River and ultimately find its way down the Mississippi and into the Gulf of Mexico"
[Like western Chicago suburbs that get Lake MIchigan water. - Bob]
Sen
Durbin
Bush
to let more senators see surveillance memos - Boston
Globe"Another Judiciary Committee member, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the number two Senate Democrat, said he won't vote on the measure without first seeing the legal memos. Intelligence Committee members were allowed to see the memos before their vote."
"For those of us who care about torture, his answer on waterboarding is very important," Durbin said in an interview Friday. "I was looking for something different from Judge Mukasey, but so far his answers have been disappointing."
Sen.
Obama
"By saying in the commercial that the United States should “start reaching out to friend and foe alike,” he is restating his position on negotiating with countries unfriendly to the United States, while highlighting a foreign policy approach that may be tonally different from Mrs. Clinton’s."
Rep
Hastert
Revealed:
the little-known device used to block Democrats -
Guardian Unlimited"Indeed, Republicans stopped the majority of Democratic MTRs under Mr Gingrich and former speaker Dennis Hastert by treating the votes as purely political. Even if the minority's alternative plan had merit, Republican leaders urged solidarity, and the motion's defeat, as a matter of party loyalty."
Rep Peter Roskam
"U.S. Army Reserve Col. Jill Morgenthaler may announce as early as today (Thursday) that she will challenge Republican Peter Roskam for the 6th Congressional Dist. spot held for years by Henry Hyde."
Sen.
Craig will argue against constitutionality of his bust -
Minneapolis Star Tribune"This is the first time Craig's attorneys have raised that issue. However, an earlier friend-of-the-court filing by the American Civil Liberties Union argued that Craig's foot-tapping and hand gesture under a stall divider at the Minneapolis airport are protected by the First Amendment."
The
Evangelical Crackup - NY Times"Hybels, founder of the Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago, is very possibly the single-most-influential pastor in America; in the last 15 years, his Willow Creek Association has grown to include more than 12,000 churches. Many invite their staff members and lay leaders to participate by telecast in Willow Creek’s annual leadership conferences, creating a virtual gathering of tens of thousands."
W.
Chicagoans weary of work on key roadway"To me, it seems totally disorganized," resident Kris Campagna said. "I can't believe it has taken them this long to do this little stretch of work. Do they not know what they're doing?" Robert E. Flatter, the city's public works director, said problems often arise with this kind of work.
Your
guide to arts and crafts"Faith Community Church Bazaar: Nov. 2 and 3: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 910 Main St., West Chicago. Handcrafted gifts and household items, holiday decorations, attic treasures, bake sale, coffee shop. Benefits mission work. (630) 231-8230."
HALLOWEEN
HAPPENINGS: A list of our picks for scary fun - Horribly
Fun Halloween"The West Chicago Park District and public library have teamed up to provide a weekend of thrills, candy and entertainment."
"Homatas and Chiariello, 25, of St. Charles, had spent the night partying with friends at a West Chicago strip club and were en route to the Elgin riverboat casino."
Sen
DurbinDurbin
Bill To Help End Hunger Added To Farm Bill "Durbin's proposal increases federal resources available to locally-based organizations working to end hunger in their communities. Additionally, the legislation reaffirms the goal of cutting food insecurity and ending hunger in the United States and requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide status reports on the progress toward that goal."
Illionois
Senators
Obama,
Durbin Ask Blackwater For Answers On Classification Of Workers
"In September, Senators Obama and Durbin, along with Senators Kennedy and Murray, introduced S.2044, The Independent Contractor Proper Classification Act of 2007, which will close a tax loophole that allows employers to classify a worker an "independent contractor" instead of an "employee" to avoid paying employment taxes and workers compensation for their workers."
Sen.
Obama"Obama has also called for a special envoy to resolve ongoing violence, and urged the Administration to strengthen the U.N. peacekeeping force. Earlier this month, Obama asked Secretary Rice to address what the United States government is doing to help curb increasing violence against women in the DRC, and is still awaiting a reply."
Comprehensive
Bill to Strengthen Nation's Middle Schools"Middle school is a critical time in a student's educational and social development. It is important to reach at-risk students early, before they experience a decline in grades and attendance."
THIS
MUST BE INVESTIGATED"* Why was nothing done to improve FDNY radio performance for seven years after a clear need was demonstrated in the 1993 World Trade Center attack?
* When new radios were finally ordered, why did the city award a contract to Motorola without a competitive bidding process?"
"We've all become familiar with the ways the Republican noise machine transmits lurid bits of misinformation and tendentious attacks from the conservative fringe into the heart of American political discourse, the process by which a slightly misdelivered joke by John Kerry attracts the ire of Rush Limbaugh and ends up on the front page of the New York Times."
West
ChicagoHigh School
WeGo
Play Soccer"WeGo Play Soccer is a new Community High School initiative! This initiative continues to support the WeGo To Africa schools that CHS has built in Angola. Soccer is a sport enjoyed around the world, but some in Angola find playing difficult due to the lack of soccer equipment. Please help support WeGo Play Soccer by donating new, or gently used, soccer equipment such as soccer balls, pads or cleats. Financial donations are also greatly appreciated. Your donations can be dropped off at Entrance A or by contacting Mrs. Haas at 630/876-6459, mhaas@d94.org, 326 Joliet, West Chicago, IL 60185. Thank you for helping!"
"This year's program theme [McHenry County Historical Society's] relates to the new exhibit on the 1920s called "Arrival: the 1920s." Schley Brandt of West Chicago, relying on her 20 years of quilt teaching experience and quilts from her own collection, plans to divide her presentation into two parts."
Briefs:
Veterans seminar"The West Chicago Veterans of Foreign Wars Leon Richardt Post 6791, 431 N. Neltnor Blvd., will host a seminar at 10:30 a.m. Saturday for military men and women who have returned from serving abroad. There will be information on resume writing, job placement, benefits, career development, and job availability. Guests include Susan Seloover from the Illinois VFW Department and Mac McKelvey of the Illinois Veterans Outreach Program. To make a reservation, call (877) 842-6258."
"Four teenagers were cited for illegal consumption/possession of alcohol by a minor at 10:45 p.m. Monday on the 500 block of Wing Lane, police said. Charged were West Chicago resident Lauren A. Richards, 18, of 2936 Andrus Drive, and St. Charles residents Michael R. Albrecht, 18, of 1800 Forest Ridge Road; Robyn J. Nicolay, 19, of 1100 Geneva Road No. 25A; and Molly C. Ourada, 19, of 445 Persimmon Drive, according to a police report. Each teen was released without bond and given a Nov. 15 court date."
West
Chicago man convicted in home invasion"Alejandro De La Salle, 30, 317 E. Blair St., West Chicago, was convicted Tuesday in DuPage County Circuit Court of charges including 12 counts of home invasion, a Class X felony. Judge Michael Burke made the ruling."
"A West Chicago man who told police he wanted to attack a former girlfriend with scissors for ignoring him was convicted Tuesday of mistakenly attacking an 11-year-old girl instead."
"The women of First United Methodist Church and First Congregational Church of West Chicago will hold their annual holiday bazaar and luncheon from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 3 at First United Methodist Church, 643 E. Washington St. It will feature handmade gifts and home decor, a bake sale and items made by artisans in Latin America. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $7. Admission to the bazaar is free. Call 630-231-3344."
Sen
Durbin
"Strengthening our ability to protect our nation's food supply is vital to the health and security of our country," Durbin said. "I thank Senator Harkin for including this important provision in this year's Farm Bill and look forward to working with my colleagues to comprehensively reform our country's food safety arrangement."
Sen.
ObamaStatement
on Committee Passage of the Farm Bill"I applaud Chairman Harkin for his tireless efforts on this bill, and for gaining important ground on many of the priorities for our family farmers."
"For far too long, this country's hardworking black farmers were disenfranchised and discriminated against by our own government. And the Pigford settlement was an important first step in righting nearly two decades of discrimination by the USDA."
"I applaud members of Congress for not giving up on the fight to save SCHIP, and for coming together across party lines to approve a plan that supports state efforts to make sure children have access to the healthcare they need."
"In this tumultuous political climate, Blackwater Worldwide has taken center stage, our services and ethics aggressively challenged with misinformation and fabrications. Letters, e-mails and calls to your elected Congressional representatives can and will create a positive impact by influencing the manner in which they gather and present information."
[See also Contractors Could Leave Iraq in Wake of Immunity Change . - Bob]
Sen.Randy Hultren
"State Sen. Randy Hultgren (R-Wheaton) says that time has run out for the Illinois Senate to address the Governor's vetoes of key components in the state budget, meaning local communities, nursing homes, and other groups and organizations will not receive crucial funding for projects and operation costs."
Merle
Berle
- Faith Community Annual Christmas Bazaar
- United Methodist and Congregational Women Annual Holiday Bazaar
- Turner School Annual Spookarnival
- Lions Club annual Fall Pancake Breakfast
Central
DuPage Hospital gets OK to build 202-bed wing"Despite concerns about the project's size and scope, the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board Tuesday approved the hospital's plans to build a 202-bed wing on its sprawling Winfield campus ... The project will be financed by a combination of bonds and nearly $82 million in cash and securities.
Hoffman
squad cars to go even higher-tech"The system allows video to be wirelessly uploaded to a computer server stored at the police station over a 4.9 Ghz frequency. Computer equipment utilizing that frequency isn't available to civilians, giving police a secure channel to transmit potentially sensitive information wirelessly ... The equipment provider, Recon Vision Corp. of Lombard, is also working with the West Chicago police."
District
falls short of AYP goal"The report, conducted by the Illinois State Board of Education, shows roughly half the juniors tested last year met or exceeded federal standards on the math and reading portions of the Prairie State Achievement Examination. But federal guidelines this year required a 55 percent achievement rate in both tests to meet the Annual Yearly Progress goal. The report also indicated that white students were almost twice as likely to meet standards as Latino students."
"Mark A. Downs, also known as Mark Garcia, 31, was indicted Oct. 12 on two counts of first degree murder for his alleged involvement in Nicholas "Nico" Contreras' death. The boy had recently celebrated his sixth birthday and was asleep in a bed with his 8-year-old cousin at his grandmother's home at about 5 a.m. Nov. 10, 1996, when he was shot twice in the back. He died instantly."
HALLOWEEN
HAPPENINGS: A list of our picks for scary fun- Horribly Fun Halloween
- Spookarnival
West
Chicago's Harper brings sweet treat back to Winfield"Erin Harper left the real estate business behind in June when he decided to take a risk and start a new career selling kettle corn at local fairs and festivals."
Man
faces 60-year sentence for attack on 11-year-old"A West Chicago man faces up to 60 years in prison for attacking an 11-year-old girl he mistakenly thought was his former girlfriend. Thirty-year-old Alejandro DeLaSalle will be sentenced later this year by DuPage Circuit Judge Michael Burke, who convicted him Tuesday of home invasion, unlawful restraint and burglary."
Sen
Durbin
$6.65
Million in Health and Education Projects for Illinois "The Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 appropriations bill for the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations includes funding for the following projects:"
Training
More American Nurses "U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Senate approval of his legislation to address one of the major causes of the nationwide nursing shortage - an insufficient number of nurse educators - by providing grants to colleges to improve their ability to educate nursing students."
Sen.
Obama
Dream
Act"We should not punish undocumented children who were brought to this country illegally through no choice of their own by keeping them in the shadows. The DREAM Act would have given these young people the opportunity to earn a degree or serve in our military, and eventually become legalized citizens."
"As a Mississippi state court judge, Southwick has shown hostility toward civil rights and a disregard for equal rights for minorities, women, gays and lesbians. During his hearing before the Senate, Southwick could not find one case - in his 7,000 opinions - in which he sided with a civil rights plaintiff in a non-unanimous verdict."
Dems
Give Mukasey a Waterboarding Primer"In response to Michael Mukasey's professed ignorance as to what waterboarding is, all eight Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have sent Mukasey a detailed primer on the centuries-old torture technique. It includes some surprising historical details: did you know, for instance, that during the occupation of Japan, the U.S. prosecuted Japanese soldiers who waterboarded U.S. POWs?"
West
ChicagoHigh School
SPIRIT
WEAR T-SHIRT RECALL"There has been a RECALL. Anyone that purchased a WHITE LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT from Spirit Wear can return their misprinted T-Shirt for a new one. Please bring the misprinted T-Shirt to any football or basketball game and you will receive a corrected shirt immediately. If you do not attend the games please contact Gayle Driscoll at 630/712-4490 or e-mail her at gtdriscoll@earthlink.net and she will make arrangements to get you a NEW corrected T-Shirt!!"
Man
convicted of West Chicago home invasion"Jilted by his girlfriend, Alejandro De La Salle told police he planned to break into her home armed with scissors, tape and a cord. The drunken man targeted the wrong house, though, and instead terrorized an 11-year-old West Chicago girl who awoke to an assailant in her bedroom."
Rep Peter Roskam6th
District race starting to heat up"Two Democrats are eyeing a run at incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, including a top state official with a military background. Retired U.S. Army Reserve Col. Jill Morgenthaler of Des Plaines is expected to announce soon whether she'll take the plunge and numerous political insiders predict her answer will be "yes.""
Health
Department, Convalescent Center feel pain of budget proposal"It will probably mean a large scale-back, if not the elimination, of our dental program," she said. "We’re the only place in the county that provides emergency dental care and screenings for children who don't otherwise have them."
Sun
5
Questions: Mike Justice"A 1975 graduate of West Chicago High School, he went on to earn a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois in Champaign in 1979."
"The girl, wearing Mickey Mouse pajamas, was awakened at 2:15 a.m. on Oct. 9, 2006, by a man holding her head down and attempting to place tape over her mouth. When the girl screamed, the man fled."
Sen
DurbinCosts
for Prescription Drugs "U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Marion Berry (AR-01) today introduced the Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act. The bill creates a Medicare administered prescription drug plan to provide seniors an alternative to the privately administered prescription drug plans currently offered under Part D."
Bipartisan
DREAM Act "U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged Senate colleagues to come together and support the DREAM Act, a narrowly tailored, bipartisan measure which would permit a select group of undocumented students to become permanent residents if they came here as children, are long-term U.S. residents, have good moral character, and attend college or enlist in the military for at least two years."
Sen.
Obama"U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Christopher Bond (R-MO) sent the following letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, requesting a full accounting of service members' psychological injuries, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), since October 2001. The senators also requested a detailed report on how the military monitors other psychological injuries."
YELLOWSTONE
SCRAMBLING TO STOP CELL TOWER AT PARK GATEWAY"The National Park Service provides no guidance or assistance to its superintendents who are left to cope, tower-by-tower, with a widening web of wireless scaffolds," Ruch concluded, noting that currently only one of the nearly 400 national park units has a plan for cell tower siting. "Even today, our national parks consider the cacophony of ring tones to be part of the natural soundscape."
"Many prominent libraries have accepted Google’s offer — including the New York Public Library and libraries at the University of Michigan, Harvard, Stanford and Oxford. Google expects to scan 15 million books from those collections over the next decade. But the resistance from some libraries, like the Boston Public Library and the Smithsonian Institution, suggests that many in the academic and nonprofit world are intent on pursuing a vision of the Web as a global repository of knowledge that is free of business interests or restrictions."
WEST
CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT ANNOUNCES FINAL MASTER PLAN MEETINGS"The West Chicago Park District is in the midst of a Master Plan process, one which is the first such plan in the last 15 years. Critical to this is the participation of the community. While several meetings have been held, the District has announced two more opportunities to attend this year."
Sen.
Obama
"According to press accounts, following an insufficient 30-day review, the FCC intends to modify existing ownership rules by allowing greater media market consolidation. This would allow large media outlets to become larger, potentially cutting out small business, women and minority-owned firms."
"Her troubling history of opposing federal funding for these programs threatens the right of women and families to access these important resources. Family planning programs serve millions of low-income Americans annually and provide affordable and accessible reproductive health services."
Rep Peter Roskam
ROSKAM
AND KIRK FUNDING THE EMERALD ASH BORER FIGHT"For example, one in six trees are threatened in Mount Prospect, with a projected cost upwards of three million dollars to deal with this problem. It is my hope that Congress will act quickly to make this assistance available as soon as possible. Here there is a great opportunity for the federal and local governments to work together for the benefit of our communities."
ISBE
& IDOT team up to stress importance of school bus safety"While school buses are the safest way for students to be transported, accidents do occur," said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. "Many accidents involving school buses occur as a result of motorists who attempt to pass a stopped school bus with flashing red warning lights while students load or unload."
Inch
by Inch, Great Lakes Shrink, and Cargo Carriers Face Losses -
NY Times"The picture is just as serious in the upper Great Lakes and is particularly grave in Lake Superior, where water levels have hovered below average since 1998 and, based on provisional data, set record lows in August and September. It is the longest stretch of below-average readings at Lake Superior since the Corps of Engineers started tracking the Great Lakes' levels in 1918."
ElementaryDistrict 33
"A Night of Caring for Your Mind and Body - October 25, 2007 - For all families living in West Chicago - Held in the Cafeteria at West Chicago Middle School."
City
ofWest
Chicago
Community
Invited to Trick or Treat Downtown"Downtown West Chicago businesses designated by a pumpkin in their window, will once again host the annual trick or treat for the community's little ghosts and goblins. The activity, which is scheduled on Saturday, October 27th from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., is part of the Horribly Fun Halloween Happenings, sponsored by the West Chicago Park District."
'I
will not vote for this'"Board member Pam Rion of Bloomingdale recognized a sticker won't be wildly popular, but "we can't do anything else," she said. "It's time for political courage," Rion said. "I'm willing to take the plunge because Springfield let us down." While some are renewing calls to ask voters to approve a sales tax increase to fund public safety, "referendums are not guaranteed," board member Jim Zay of Carol Stream said. He, too, called a vehicle sticker an option worth considering.
"Nathaniel Strayve, 18, drove from West Chicago to catch the premiere with his best friends. Others without rides ran for blocks in the bitter 50-degree weather just to make it in time. "I can't feel my arm," one boy said, as he rushed in to join the viewing party."
Burns asks for party debates in 14th District"In an e-mail this week, Burns invited his three Republican opponents -- State Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora, dairy magnate Jim Oberweis of Aurora, and entertainment promoter Rudy Clai of North Aurora -- to organize and commit to four debates before the Feb. 5 primary election."
Reports
say former House Speaker Dennis Hastert likely to resign"Roll Call quoted anonymous Republican sources as saying that the resignation was probable, but the Kane County Chronicle was unable to independently verify the report. If Hastert were to resign, a special election would be held to fill his seat for the remainder of his term."
Sen.
Obama
Poll:
Barack Obama VS. the Top Republicans - Associated Content -
Denver,CO"While Obama had to catch up and pass Giuliani, the situation with Thompson is different. Obama has had a lead over him every time Rasmussen had paired them up. In a total of six out of the last seven polls, going back to July of this year, Thompson has trailed by anywhere from 4 to 7%."
Obama
Calls for Ouster of Official After Remark - New York Times"Senator Barack Obama said the leader of the civil rights division of the Justice Department should step down after suggesting that minority voters were not widely disenfranchised by laws requiring photo identification because many members of minorities died before reaching old age."
Breaking
News: Former Speaker Hastert to resign - Los Angeles Times"The Roll Call newspaper in Washington reported on its website this evening that former House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois intends to resign his House seat later this year. The subscription-only site said Hastert, who had already announced he would not seek reelection in 2008, was calling friends and associates today and telling them of his decision."
Rep Peter Roskam"Why is Peter Roskam misrepresenting the contents of this legislation? Why is Roskam punishing the weakest among us? Namely poor children."
Panel
Approves Eavesdropping Compromise - NY Times"But passage in the committee came with one unexpected hitch. In an interview after the closed session, Mr. Wyden said he had succeeded, by a vote of 9 to 6, in adding an amendment that would offer additional protections by requiring that the government get a warrant whenever it wanted to wiretap an American outside the country, like an American soldier based overseas or a business person. "The individual freedom of an American shouldn't depend on their physical geography," he said."
WEST
CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT SEEKS INPUT"As part of the West Chicago Park District Master Plan process, Winning Systems Inc. will be conducting a survey of West Chicago recreational interests and needs. This input will go a long way in determining the future of the Park District. Questions will range from your evaluation of parks to facility needs."
West
ChicagoHigh School
Board
Briefs are posted- Enrollment Projections
- Graduation Requirements
- Special Education Study
- Edline Discussion
- ACT SCORES
City
ofWest
Chicago
Free
Electronics Recycling Event"West Chicago, Illinois: October 18, 2007 - The Environmental Commission of the City of West Chicago wants the public to know about a free electronics recycling event held at SIMS (formerly United Recycling Industries), located at 1600 Harvester in West Chicago between 8:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m on Saturday, October 27, 2007.
Acceptable items include: computers and computer systems, printers, ink jet cartridges, CDs, diskettes, data cartridges, cassette tapes, video tapes, cell phones, TVs (no consoles), small home applicances, scrap metal, telephones, VCRs, fax machines, scanners answering machines and electronic games. For more information, call (630) 231-6060."
Nickelodeon
star helps give prizes to W. Chicago kids"On the day they graduate from high school in 2020, the 38 students may remember how camera crews, parents and younger siblings crowded Mendoza's classroom. They might recall how they looked at each other in confusion as Nickelodeon star Erin Sanders announced that their teacher had won a $1,000 college bond for each of them."
Non-profit
gets statewide attention for W. Chicago work"For free, the kids attend after-school sessions four days a week from 2:45 to 5 p.m., then get bused home. They get tutoring, take classes in drug and violence prevention and nutrition, and receive a snack. There is also a summer program for elementary-age students."
Ex-House
Speaker Hastert to step down"Speaking to two reporters Thursday in Washington, Hastert would not confirm or deny the resignation reports. Asked if he plans to resign before his term ends, he said, "not at this time.""
Sources:
Hastert to step down early"His final term ends in January of 2009, but reports from The Associated Press Thursday cited anonymous Republican aides who say Hastert will end his term before that date."
Sun-Times
Hastert
May Quit House by Thanksgiving"The early departure of Hastert, who already announced he was not seeking re-election, would trigger a special election. That could create political chaos in the 14th Congressional District, where two primary elections could be held at the same time -- to nominate candidates to run to fill the vacancy and to nominate contenders for the full term."
Sen
Durbin"I'm pleased with the President's announcement today and urge Congress to do what we can to support greater economic sanctions against the brutal dictatorship in Burma."
Illionois
Senators
Durbin
and Obama Unsatisfied with VA Response "On August 31, the Department of Veterans Affairs suspended all inpatient surgeries at the medical center due to an unusual increase in deaths. Four top hospital officials have been reassigned until an Inspector General investigation is completed.
"Although the power is back on, and the storms are long gone, residents and business owners are still facing a mountain of challenges. This Presidential disaster declaration will now start the process of matching needs with money,"
Sen.
ObamaJustice
Department Must Fire Voting Rights Official"On October 5, 2007, Tanner argued that photo identification requirements for voting cause problems for the elderly. However, he argued that such requirements do not disenfranchise minority voters because "Our society is such that minorities don't become elderly the way white people do; they die first." Video of Tanner's comments are here."
"Despite a boom in production of ethanol by small plants across the country, most consumers around the country have been unable to fill up their cars and trucks with E85 gasoline because of problems in the distribution of ethanol and obstacles to greater ethanol distribution by oil companies."
GovernorBlagojevich
AP
Tests Comcast's File-Sharing Filter"We picked the Bible for the test because it's not protected by copyright and the file is a convenient size. In two out of three tries, the transfer was blocked. In the third, the transfer started only after a 10-minute delay. When we tried to upload files that were in demand by a wider number of BitTorrent users, those connections were also blocked."
West
ChicagoHigh School
COMMUNITY
HIGH SCHOOL REPORT CARD AVAILABLE ON SCHOOL WEBSITE"The School Report Card presents information on Community High School and also compares the high school's statistics with statewide and national figures."
City
ofWest
Chicago
"Anticipating a severe storm today, the City of West Chicago has learned that ComEd is taking steps to prepare for potential weather-related outages and, in addition to activating its Emergency Operations Center, has issued the following information:
* As of 7:00 a.m., 9,338 customers have been affected by the storm. As of 7:00 a.m., 2,160 customers are currently without service. The estimated time of restorations will be provided following a thorough damage assessment. ComEd customers should contact 1-800-Edison-1 to report interruptions to service.
* Downed power lines present potentially dangerous situations. Stay clear of such lines and report them to ComEd as soon as possible."
Community
High School misses AYP mark"A significant number of students, for some reason or other, take the first day of testing much more seriously than second day testing," he said. "We've found examples of 20 st