The Dream of the Main St. Art Guild

Devoted ACS Members and Supporters,

Shakespeare lived a long time ago, but his wise words continue to help me understand that behind a dream realized, there must be ambitious people to carry it forward. In the last four years, I have been honored to represent and help the Artist’s Cooperative of Savanna (ACS) realize some very big dreams, by doing business as 321 Art Gallery. During that time, the ACS represented more than 50 local artists and more than an additional 50 Carroll County artisans through an increased visibility on the Internet and in print through grants from the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, but as you are aware, we were unable to keep up with the overhead of that one physical location. But I believe that more doors have opened.

The dream is continuing with the induction of a new board of directors and our new fiscal year set to begin January 1 as Main Street Art Guild, a name that is synonymous with community and identifiable by many walks of life. This gives us time to prepare as a governing board and proceed into the future. Our name may have changed, but our focus, mission and original dream remain the same: to help artists become visible and to bring art into our communities..

We plan to hold an informational meeting for all interested past members and patron sponsors Sunday, December 12 at 2pm. At this meeting we will outline what we feel the future will hold for our local arts culture in Carroll County. As a board, we have collectively set many goals, which are clearly outlined in the attached brochure. Here is a short list that keeps growing:

- create a venue for monthly lectures and demonstrations from local artists;

- seek out a variety of venues for area artists/artisans to showcase and merchandise;

- provide an open “Art Lab” for students of all ages to participate;

- feature our members on the Internet, with directory and biography information;

- provide collaboration and showcase opportunities with other Midwest art groups.

You are invited to join us in the conversation and participating in the future of the Main Street Art Guild. Together we will continue bolstering cultural awareness for the arts and the creativity that permeates this area. As always, I appreciate your support through this transition and welcome your ideas. Please call or email me whenever you have something to share and may your life continue to be filled with the creative possibilities that art can provide.

Peace, Love ‘n’ Blessings,

Heather A. Houzenga

President

Artists’ Cooperative of Savanna, NFP

DBA, Main Street Art Guild

Letter To The Editor

Why solve a problem that doesn’t exist? That was my reaction after reading your article in the November 24th edition titled “IEPA Responds to USEP Report.”

This response to a 41 page two year study of IEPA by the federal people is to me a very discouraging moment for the future of livestock operations in Illinois. I first was made aware of these issues at a September, 2010 meeting hosted by Congressman Don Manzullo for livestock producers.

At that meeting an overview of the federal Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations program was given by Stephen Jann, Section Chief, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program, Permits Branch and Patrick Kuefler, Section Chief, Water Enforcement and Compliance Branch of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region Five Office in Chicago. During that meeting they pointed out that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency was not properly administrating the permitting process of the Federal Clean Water Act. They stated that IEPA was not meeting the minimum thresholds for an “adequate” program of the clean water act which became federal law in 1974. The law, “regulates the conduct of persons, which included owners and operators of CAFO’s rather than the facilities or their discharges.”

My observation of this meeting and in reading the USEPA studies and IEPA reply is that turf war (or job security) is going on between the two agencies and it is the taxpayers, livestock operations and their owners that will be the parties to suffer.

During the meeting livestock producers did not speak up because of the possibility they would be targeted in the future. If this turf war moves forward livestock producers would be required to hire a technical service provider to complete a very complex permit application for approval by the bureaucrat agency employees. This could easily be a several thousand dollar expense to the producers, a year’s profit for some operations. I was frustrated that the two USEPA bureaucrats stated that they were not familiar with existing Illinois law, the Livestock Management Facilities Act, which has required since 1996 new livestock facility plans be designed for NO discharge.

IEPA has recently said they would use information from public, state and federal data bases to complete a GIS-based inventory of facilities and would seek new administrative rules that require producers to file basic information with the Agency and new enforcement actions by the Illinois Attorney General’s office. They also will be seeking to add 3 new staff positions to work with the current 5 staff members now working on CAFO’s and their permits.

I am not aware and have not been provided with any information that the permit system, being forced by the federal government on Illinois livestock producers, will solve any real or suspect environmental problems caused by these operations.

Don’t these bureaucrats understand that farmers and their families live on the land? Generations of Lawfers have lived on the same land for 150 years. We like other Northwest Illinois farmers know more of how to take care of our soil and natural resources than all the bureaucrats in Washington and Springfield combined. Save the Spotted Cow!

I. Ronald Lawfer

Stockton, IL

Let Them Eat Cake

Our illustrious newest Republican US Senator from Illinois, Mark Kirk appearing on the Fox propaganda channel this past weekend: We should keep the tax cuts for the rich even if they add $700 billion to the deficit in ten years.

Extending jobless benefits to the unemployed, NO, unless we find a way to pay for them. So, no need to pay for the tax cuts but, for helping the people without a job, NO. Let them eat cake!

I’m so glad we elected another Republican willing to keep helping the rich! We need the rich to keep all of the “millions” of jobs created by Bush’s tax cuts!

Paul Gonzalez

Lake Carroll, IL

Rock River Valley Hospice Thanks You

Over twenty years ago, a group of community members joined forces to create the first Festival of Trees benefiting hospice services in the Sauk Valley area. Now, years later the Festival of Trees continues as a tradition encompassing the entire Sauk Valley area.

We are blessed to live and work in generous communities where the idea of investing in our resources is a priority for all. The Festival of Trees would not be possible without the contributions given by these communities. The Hospice of the Rock River Valley says thank you to all businesses, organizations, volunteers, decorators, chairpersons, sponsors, donors and the general public for the generous amount of time, talent, and financial support given to the Festival of Trees. We realize your resources are limited and precious and we truly appreciate your expressions of support in an effort to help us continue helping others.

The proceeds from the Festival of Trees assist Hospice of the Rock River Valley in providing care and support to the terminally ill and their families. The professional staff and team of volunteers have offered expert and compassionate care for over 28 years to those during a most vulnerable time. Services include nursing care, social work, pastoral and bereavement services, volunteer support, inpatient and respite care, as well as medications, medical supplies and equipment. Although Hospice services are reimbursable by Medicare, Medicaid and insurance, the reimbursement does not begin to cover the actual costs of providing our services. This is why Hospice of the Rock River Valley relies heavily on community support to maintain our commitment of not passing on costs to our patients or their families.

On behalf of the staff, board of directors and volunteers, please accept our sincere and heartfelt thank you. Please know that through your generosity, you have helped to provide hope and compassionate care to your fellow community members.

We wish you and yours happiness throughout this holiday season.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Spencer, Executive Director

Karen Voss, Marketing Director

Capitol Report

By Jim Sacia, State Representative, 89th District

Tuesday, November 30th, started with the Judiciary II Criminal Law Committee meeting highlighted by death penalty reform. I wasn’t blindsided. I knew it was coming.

I heard all the longstanding arguments, both pro and con. What I appreciated most was the large number of testimonies as to why should we act now in Veto Session. Numerous states attorneys, including our own Winnebago County States Attorney Joe Bruscato, were there to oppose the legislation and spoke passionately about why it was being rammed through. It’s an obvious answer - with over twenty members of the General Assembly leaving, it’s easier to abolish the Illinois death penalty now, rather than waiting for new members of the General Assembly to be seated.

Tuesday was an interesting day in the Illinois House. It’s safe to say one of the most interesting I’ve seen in my eight years in this esteemed body. Session convened at 9:30am and we spent more than two hours discussing the legalization of medical marijuana. The gallery was filled with citizens with debilitating diseases hoping to see it pass. The sponsor, my friend Lou Lang (D-Skokie) an exceptional legislator, did his usual great job. I was among the many who challenged his bill. Every law enforcement agency that openly lobbies also opposed the bill, as did numerous other groups. Twenty-eight organizations are on record opposing medical marijuana. Of course, a large number of groups also support the bill. When the vote was called, the bill fell seven votes short. Representative Lang placed the bill on postponed consideration, meaning we may hear it again tonight, tomorrow, or any day we are in session before January 12th, the day the new General Assembly is sworn in.

Two more bills, SB2485 (Tenaska) and SB3388 (Leucadia) took up most of the day. Both are clean coal bills dealing with the sequestration of carbon dioxide and electrical generation. The space here doesn’t allow me to go over all of the pros and cons that were shared on the floor. SB2485, carried by my good friend Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley) was put on postponed consideration in the morning. As I write this, SB3388 Leucadia just passed with 86 yes votes and 27 no votes. Tenaska was called again in the early evening and passed the second time around.

Clean coal is among my passions. Illinois sits on more coal than Saudi Arabia has oil. Technology and exploration of new ways to put our coal to use is an absolute must for Illinois. The activity by lobbyists on both sides of the issue is mindboggling. In fairness there are more red herrings bantered about than I’ve seen on most issues. Much of the information shared can be documented, but a great deal cannot, so fear and half-truths abound. It’s a great lesson in separating the wheat from the chaff.

Before our day ended, two more significant bills were called; SB 3538 deals with major pension reform for police and firefighters affecting new hires only. As expected, it passed the House. The very big news of the day; SB1716 (Civil Unions) passed the house with one vote to spare. The bill is now on its way to becoming law in Illinois.