From press release

STERLING, Ill.—The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is developing plans to stock flathead catfish and channel catfish in the Rock River later this year as part of a continuing effort to speed the recovery of the river’s fishery in the aftermath of a June 2009 fish kill.

Tens of thousands of sport fish were lost in the Rock River fish kill event first reported June 20-21, 2009. At that time, dead fish were discovered in the Rock River in an area from 2 miles north of Grand Detour to 50 miles downstream at Prophetstown.

The IDNR stocked the river with smallmouth bass and northern pike last summer and channel catfish last fall in the aftermath of the fish kill.

Dan Sallee, regional administrator for the IDNR Division of Fisheries, said: “At a recent meeting of area anglers, we again heard loud and clear how important the Rock River fishery is to them and to all of those who enjoy fishing from throughout the region. The Rock River fishery is very important to the local anglers and to the communities along the river. Although the fishery is expected to fully recover, the public would like to see all possible efforts made to speed this recovery.”

IDNR fisheries biologists this spring plan to collect and relocate up to 100 pairs of flathead catfish into areas of the Rock River that were affected by the fish kill. At the same time, IDNR personnel will relocate pre-spawn channel catfish to the same area of the Rock River, and further supplement the channel catfish population by stocking small fish from state hatcheries.

“Individual female flathead catfish may lay 100,000 eggs or more,” Sallee said. “If only one in 1,000 of these eggs survives and thrives, this stocking level would result in an increase of up to 10,000 flathead catfish in the population. This number of spawning pairs should speed the recovery of the fish kill zone. The channel catfish stocking will also be beneficial.”

Anglers with questions about the Rock River fishery can contact IDNR District Fisheries Biologist Ken Clodfelter at (815) 454-2759.

From press release

CHICAGO—Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D) kicked off a series of announcements in Chicago Jan. 29 to discuss details about Illinois’ $1.2 billion federal award to bring high-speed passenger rail service to Illinois by 2014. Illinois is among only three states to receive at least $1 billion for high-speed passenger rail, which will make the trip between Chicago and St. Louis faster than driving and will provide new train equipment.

Quinn said: “Illinois was one of only three states in the country to receive over $1 billion for high-speed rail. We appreciate the confidence of President Obama to bring high-speed rail to Illinois. Thanks to hard work and perseverance, our vision to have Illinois serve as the nation’s high-speed rail hub is becoming a reality, bringing jobs and economic growth to our communities.”

The Barack Obama administration announced the competitive awards Thursday, Jan. 28, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) program. The investment from the federal government is expected to create approximately 6,000 jobs in Illinois. Illinois received the third-largest award among 31 states chosen to share in the $8 billion made available nationwide for high-speed passenger rail. Thirty-seven states applied for funding.

Durbin said: “Investing $1.2 billion into improving our rail system is going to mean more jobs—jobs for today and jobs for the future. Today’s announcement assures that Chicago, already a major rail hub of the nation, will soon become the major high-speed rail hub of the Midwest and nation.”

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood added: “Today, President Obama’s vision is bringing high-speed rail to Illinois and the rest of the United States. This groundbreaking program will put many people back to work in Chicago and across the country, and it will also help transform transportation for the entire Midwest region.”

Illinois’ high-speed rail signature route, Chicago to St. Louis, will receive $1.1 billion for corridor improvements. Improvements to this 284-mile route will allow passenger rail service to operate at speeds up to 110 mph, reducing the total trip time from Chicago to St. Louis by more than an hour. The improvements include an overhaul of track, signal systems and existing stations as well as the implementation of state-of-the-art train control technology that will improve train safety. In addition, Illinois will receive $1.25 million to complete an environmental impact study for a second track along the same route.

The award for Illinois includes $133 million to build the Englewood Flyover on Chicago’s South Side, a Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) project, which will clear one of the largest rail bottlenecks in the nation. The improvement will eliminate significant delays for commuter trains, Amtrak trains and freight trains.

“This is great news for Illinois and the Midwest,” said Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “I commend President Obama, Gov. Quinn, Sen. Durbin and the entire Midwest region for their leadership and commitment through a long and competitive process. I also want to express my gratitude to the staff at the Illinois Department of Transportation who have remained focused and dedicated on efforts to make high-speed passenger rail a reality in Illinois.”

Thanks to a multi-state steering group formed by Quinn, Illinois will benefit from awards to several other neighboring states that make up the Chicago Hub Network. The region received a total of $2.6 billion—more than any other regional network. The network is designed to connect cities throughout the region to Chicago with reliable high-speed and conventional intercity rail service.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) received 259 grant applications from 37 states and the District of Columbia requesting nearly $57 billion in funding—far exceeding the initial $8 billion available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In total, 79 applications from 31 states were selected for funding.

For more information about the awards to Illinois and the other Midwestern states for high-speed rail, go to MidwestRail.org.

From press release

CHICAGO—Illlinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) joined in filing a federal lawsuit Jan. 22 that challenges last year’s acquisition by Dean Foods Company of one of its major competitors’ milk business. Madigan claims the acquisition presents serious antitrust concerns, which could adversely affect the price of milk for retailers throughout northeastern Illinois.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, Madigan and the Attorneys General of Michigan and Wisconsin filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee, seeking to require Dean Foods to sell the dairy processing plants it acquired from Foremost Farms USA in April 2009.

“Dean Foods’ acquisition would eliminate a significant milk supplier for northern Illinois that, until now, helped keep milk prices in check,” Madigan said. “Vigorous competition is essential to protecting consumers from skyrocketing prices, especially in this tough economy.”

Milk processors such as Dean Foods and Foremost Farms purchase raw milk from dairy farms and agricultural cooperatives to pasteurize and package. The processors then distribute and sell the milk to school districts, supermarkets, grocery stores and other retail customers.

The lawsuit asks the court to reverse the 2009 deal and also requires that Dean Foods notify the State of Illinois at least 30 days prior to any future acquisition involving a milk processing operation affecting Illinois.

The complaint alleges the acquisition substantially reduced competition in the sale of milk to supermarkets, grocery stores and other commercial customers throughout northeastern Illinois, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin. According to the complaint, Dean Foods’ acquisition deprived these retailers of the benefits of substantial head-to-head competition between Dean Foods and Foremost Farms.

Dean Foods, based in Dallas, is one of the nation’s largest food and beverage producers with revenues of $11.8 billion in 2008. Dean Foods’ Fresh Dairy Direct is the country’s largest processor and distributor of milk and other dairy products.

Foremost Farms is a member-owned business association with headquarters in Baraboo, Wis., whose members are dairy farmers. In 2008, its Consumer Products Division had net sales of $233.7 million. Prior to Dean Foods’ acquisition of its Consumer Products Division, Foremost Farms processed its members’ raw milk at its plants in DePere and Waukesha, Wis.

Bureau Chief Robert Pratt and Assistant Attorney General Chadwick Brooker are handling the case for Attorney General Madigan’s Antitrust Bureau.

From press release

MARION, Ill.—Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) announced Jan. 21 partnerships that will give Illinois’ working families access to free tax preparation assistance, including help with filing for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The governor encouraged taxpayers to utilize the free assistance as they file their income tax returns, receive the tax credits they’ve earned, and avoid refund anticipation loans that can consume big chunks of hard-earned refund checks.

“The Earned Income Tax Credit is the best pro-job, pro-family and anti-poverty tax relief ever devised, and every eligible family in Illinois should receive the full credit,” said Quinn. “I am proud to announce free tax preparation assistance to help Illinois’ working families get their full refunds quickly and painlessly.”

State partnerships with the Center for Economic Progress’ Tax Counseling Project and Ladder Up (formerly the Tax Assistance Program) will offer free tax preparation assistance and e-filing for families across Illinois. Services are free for families who earned less than $50,000 and individuals who made less than $25,000.

Through the partnerships, volunteer tax counselors will provide free tax assistance and counseling at 55 sites throughout the state. Most sites will provide services from Jan. 23 through April 15.

Taxpayers can walk in to any of the locations, without an appointment, and work with trained volunteers who will help fill out their returns and make sure they file for all the credits, deductions and other benefits to which they’re entitled. Last year, the Tax Counseling Project completed more than 33,300 tax returns with refunds totaling $52.2 million. Ladder Up helped with more than 9,000 returns totaling $15.5 million in refunds.

Families raising two or more children in their home can get up to $5,028 from the federal EITC with earnings of less than $45,295 (married, filing jointly). Illinois residents who claim the federal EITC may also receive the state EITC, which can save them up to $283.

Quinn encouraged residents to avoid the high cost of refund anticipation loans (RALs) offered by commercial tax preparation companies. According to a 2009 study by the Consumer Federation of America and the National Consumer Law Center, the price of a RAL for a typical loan of $3,000 can range from $62 to $110. In Illinois, the interest rate on a RAL can range from 40 percent for a loan of $9,999 to more than 700 percent for a loan of $200.

Most Illinois taxpayers can file state taxes for free at www.tax.illinois.gov and receive a refund in about a week. Additionally, many can file their federal taxes online for free as well. Information about filing federal taxes online can be found at www.irs.gov.

For more information, call the Illinois Department of Revenue at 1-800-732-8866.

From press release

In December 2009, unemployment rates were above previous-year levels in all 12 metro areas for the 31st consecutive month, according to data released Jan. 28 by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

The unemployment rate for the Rockford metropolitan area in December 2009 was 16 percent, while the same rate was 12.6 percent in December 2008. Total nonfarm jobs for the Rockford metropolitan area for December 2009 was 153,700, down 3,100 from 156,800 in December 2008.

Metro areas that reported the largest increases in unemployment rate compared to December 2008 were Decatur (plus 5.1 points to 12.9 percent); Peoria (plus 5 points to 11.2 percent); Kankakee-Bradley (plus 3.7 points to 14.3 percent); and Chicago-Naperville-Joliet (plus 3.7 points to 10.6 percent).

Total payroll jobs decreased over the year in all 12 metropolitan areas. The largest percentage decreases in jobs were reported in Decatur (minus 4.7 percent, or 2,600 jobs); Chicago-Naperville-Joliet (minus 4.3 percent, or 163,200 jobs; Lake-Kenosha (minus 3.5 percent, or 14,000 jobs); and Peoria (minus 3.5 percent, or 6,700 jobs).

Not seasonally-adjusted figures compare the current month with the same month of the previous year and should not be compared to seasonally-adjusted figures. The December 2009 not seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.8 percent in Illinois and 9.7 percent for the nation. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for a job, regardless of if they are eligible for unemployment insurance. A person not collecting unemployment benefits still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they continue to look for work.

IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell said: “A prolonged national recession notable for its stubborn job growth continues to pressure our local economies and change our local landscapes. A positive way to meet that change is to identify and obtain the skills that will be in demand when this national recession relents and job growth returns to Illinois.”

From press release

DEKALB, Ill.—Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) announced Jan. 27 that Northern Illinois University (NIU) will get $8 million to renovate Cole Hall, which on Feb. 14, 2008, was the tragic scene of an unprovoked attack where five students were shot and 19 were wounded. An additional $2.3 million will be used to plan for the renovation of Stevens Building.

“We can never fully put this tragedy behind us, but it is important to move forward,” said Quinn. “Renovating Cole Hall, along with the funding for Stevens Building construction planning, provides a vital step in helping the NIU community heal from the impact of this senseless shooting.”

Feb. 14, 2008, five students were shot and killed in an unprovoked attack on a NIU Geology 104 class that was meeting in Room 101 of Cole Hall. Nineteen students were wounded in that attack; some have recovered and returned to classes, while others sustained injuries that require additional surgeries and hospitalization.

Cole Hall, which contains two of the school’s primary large lecture halls, has been closed since the attack, and classes have been temporarily relocated. Prior to the tragic events of 2008, Cole Hall was used heavily by the NIU students and community. This high-usage building was in daily operation from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Cole 100 had 17 classes scheduled and Cole 101 had 15 classes scheduled in the spring of 2008.

In the aftermath of the campus shooting, more than 5,000 members of the NIU community offered opinions on the use of Cole Hall.

The campus-wide discussion resulted in widespread support for Cole Hall’s preservation, but also called for completely remodeling and reconfiguring the building, including having no formal classroom instruction in Room 101, where the shootings occurred. Room 101 will be remodeled to support non-classroom activities, such as a computer lab, offices and commons. In turn, a replacement 400-seat lecture hall will be built as part of Stevens Building.

“We are most grateful for these funds, which will address two of our most pressing facilities-related issues,” said NIU President John G. Peters. “The money for Cole Hall will not only help us remodel and reopen one of the busiest academic buildings on campus, it will also enable the continued healing from the events of Feb. 14, 2008. We can also begin work to rehabilitate the Stevens Building into a facility befitting the quality of the outstanding programs it houses.”

Funding for both programs comes through Illinois Jobs Now!, a job-generation and capital improvement program that will revive the state’s ailing economy by creating and retaining more than 439,000 jobs over six years.

From press release

CHICAGO—Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Marc Miller announced $16.9 million in grants for 49 park development and land acquisition projects throughout Illinois. Miller made the announcement at the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) annual conference in Chicago.

“These grants will help create a better quality of life in many communities throughout Illinois, while also creating jobs in this tough economy,” said Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D). “By investing in parks and playgrounds, we are also investing in the lives of children and families who need more opportunity to play outdoors.”

Forty-nine projects are being funded statewide through the 2010 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program facilitated through the IDNR. Of those, nine projects will result in the purchase of new land for future open space use and 40 will focus on outdoor recreation development.

Outdoor recreation projects include (some projects fit into multiple categories):

• 15 development projects for facilities that promote environmental and wetland studies;

• Nine projects that will provide initial recreation development of park sites for their respective communities;

• 20 development projects that will provide new playground equipment;

• Seven projects that will create water-based recreation by constructing access to lakes, rivers or streams;

• 10 projects that will include water play features known as “spraygrounds”; and

• Six projects that will provide in-line skating/roller hockey or skateboard areas.

“This money will help communities further the overall goal of leaving no child inside,” said Miller. “These projects will offer a wide variety of activities for everyone to enjoy the outdoors.”

This $16.9 million, combined with the grantees’ minimum 50 percent share, will result in more than $33.8 million of local acquisition and development projects to enhance the quality of life in Illinois. The amount awarded each year for the OSLAD program is based on the condition of the housing market, because the grants are funded through a percentage of the real estate transfer tax.

The complete list of projects can be seen at http://dnr.state.il.us/pubaffairs/2010/January/FY10OSLAD-list.pdf.

From press release

CHICAGO—Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) joined the federal government and 16 other state Attorneys General in a proposed antitrust settlement relating to the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation.

Madigan, the Department of Justice and the other states filed a civil antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the proposed merger, and, at the same time, filed a proposed final judgment that, if approved by the court, would resolve the lawsuit through a settlement.

“We have serious concerns when a company that controls more than 80 percent of the ticketing market seeks to merge with its biggest competitor, which is the largest entertainment promotion company in the country and owns and operates 85 concert venues across the country,” Madigan said. “This sort of merger bears close scrutiny because it can impact consumers nationwide.”

Madigan said the Department of Justice and a number of states, including Illinois, launched an investigation in February 2009 into the competitive and antitrust implications of the proposed merger by Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc., of West Hollywood and Live Nation, Inc., of Beverly Hills. The companies have said the goal of the merger is to create a company that can deliver to consumers a more efficient entertainment product by linking artists directly with their fans.

The goal of the settlement is to prevent the merger from having anticompetitive impacts. Under the terms of the settlement, Ticketmaster, the largest artist management business in the country, must license its ticketing software and divest its ticketing assets to two different companies, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), and either Comcast/Spectacor or another acceptable buyer. AEG is the nation’s second-largest promoter and the operator of some of the largest concert venues in the country. Comcast/Spectacor is a sports and entertainment company with a management relationship with a number of concert venues, and also has ticketing experience through its New Era ticketing company.

In addition to the licensing and divestiture provisions designed to ensure competition in the ticketing business, the settlement prohibits the merged Ticketmaster/Live Nation firm from retaliating against any venue owner that chooses to use other ticketers or promoters and this prohibition including restrictions on anticompetitive bundling of services.

The merged Ticketmaster/Live Nation also is required to allow any ticketing client that chooses a different ticketer or promoter to take a copy of ticketing data relating to that client. The settlement also creates a firewall to prevent Ticketmaster/Live Nation from using confidential information obtained in its ticketing operations to the disadvantage of its promotion and artist management competitors.

The settlement is subject to the federal Tunney Act, which requires that the Department of Justice accept public comments during a 60-day period. At the end of that period, the court may enter the agreement as a court order upon a finding that it serves the public interest.

Bureau Chief Robert Pratt is handling the case for Attorney General Madigan’s Antitrust Bureau.

From press release

Illinois’ respected Civic Federation released a report compiled by the organization’s Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability that highlighted the state’s current fiscal crisis, and provided detailed information about how Illinois reached this point. (Click here to view the report.)

The Federation confirmed what other respected groups and individuals have advanced: lower-than-anticipated revenues, coupled with the loss of one-time revenue sources and an increase in state spending have only exacerbated Illinois’ financial problems.

According to the report, years of fiscal mismanagement led to a “longstanding structural deficit,” as government growth continued to outpace available revenue. As a result, Illinois is in serious financial trouble, with a budget deficit exceeding $10 billion and a multi-billion-dollar backlog in obligations to state vendors, service providers and health care providers, which continues to grow.

Illinois’ budget mess has been scrutinized by a number of respected organizations over the last few months. The Pew Center for the States ranked Illinois’ budget among the nation’s 10 worst, highlighting the substantial difference between the amount Illinois takes in and the large amount the state spends.

Additionally, all three major credit agencies have cautioned Illinois to get its financial house in order. Fitch Ratings confirmed in late December that Illinois is on negative watch relating to its general obligation bonds. Now, the state is on negative outlook—and ripe for rating downgrades—with all three national credit rating agencies: Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s.

From press release

The national unemployment rate is hovering around 10 percent, but the good news is that the upcoming 2010 Census will create hundreds of thousands of temporary, part-time jobs across the United States. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) offers the following advice about what it takes to work for the Census and tips about how to land a job.

Every 10 years, the U.S. government is required to count every man, woman and child in the country. The 2010 Census is a massive undertaking that requires the work of more than 1 million individuals. This should come as great news to job hunters who are looking for ways to pull in a paycheck, even if from part-time and temporary jobs.

Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford Regional Office of the BBB serving Chicago and northern Illinois, said: “Many families are out of work and struggling to make ends meet. The jobs that are being created to assist with the 2010 Census could not come at a better time. A part-time job with the Census can help pay bills while still leaving the job hunter time to look for permanent employment.”

Job hunters can apply for jobs with the Census Bureau now; however, most hiring will take place during the spring of 2010. Census takers usually work in their own communities, going door-to-door, conducting brief interviews with households that did not return their questionnaire. Census takers work approximately 20 to 40 hours per week, primarily in the evenings and on weekends, and are paid weekly.

An applicant’s chances of getting a job with the Census depend on many factors, such as the availability of work in his or her community, test score results, number of hours he or she is available for census work and veterans’ preference. Also being able to speak a second language—even a rare language—fluently is a sought-after trait.

The BBB and the U.S. Census Bureau recommend interested individuals take the following steps to apply for a job with the 2010 Census:

• Review the Census Bureau’s Jobs Web site—www.2010censusjobs.gov—to see if you may qualify.

• Call 1-866-861-2010 to learn about available jobs and contact your local Census Bureau office to schedule an appointment to take the basic skills test. While you can’t necessarily study to take the test, you can see a sample test online to practice and prepare for the types of questions asked.

• Fill out the appropriate application and take it with you on the day of your testing. You’ll also want to bring your proper identification and I-9 Form when you take the test.

• Follow up on your test results and the status of your application with your local Census office by contacting them directly.

For more information about the 2010 Census, visit www.2010census.gov. Job hunters can find more advice about landing a new job at www.bbb.org.

• News and notes from the Jan. 28 Winnebago County Board meeting

By Stuart R. Wahlin
Staff Writer

The Winnebago County Board voted 25-2 to issue $6,870 to board member Carolyn Gardner (D-9) after Judge Ronald Pirrello (D) ruled that Gardner is entitled to $5,500 in back pay for a year Pirrello and the Illinois Supreme Court say Gardner should have been serving on the board. Pirrello also ordered that $1,369.71 in related legal expenses be paid to Gardner.

Gardner prevailed after a year-long court battle for the seat of the late Mary Ann Aiello (R-9), who passed away in 2008. Ted Biondo was appointed as Aiello’s successor, and believed his appointment was to serve the remainder of her term, which wasn’t to expire until the end of 2010.

Democrats, however, seized an election statute indicating that if more than 28 months remain in an unexpired term, a special election must be held in the next general election, which would have been in November 2008.

Gardner attempted to file for the special election, but Biondo did not. Pirrello upheld Gardner’s candidacy for the special election, in which she would run unopposed, but a last-minute ruling at the appellate level determined there would be no election for District 9, and that Biondo would serve the remainder of Aiello’s term.

The Illinois Supreme Court, however, subsequently sided with Democrats by upholding Pirrello’s interpretation of the 28-month statute.

During the Jan. 19 board meeting, when the ordinance was introduced for a first reading and two-week layover, Frank Gambino (R-14) unsuccessfully tried to block the court-ordered payment, because Gardner had not paid a $377 traffic fine from 2004 for allegedly driving uninsured. Gambino wanted the ordinance sent back to committee until it could be proven the fine had been paid.

Gambino, Kyle Logan (R-3), Tom Owens (R-1), Lynne Strathman (R-1), John F. Sweeney (R-14) and Fred Wescott (R-9) voted in favor of sending the matter back to committee, but the motion failed.

Gardner has now reportedly agreed to have the fine deducted from her back pay.

Before a final vote Jan. 28, a number of Republican board members voiced their distaste for the payment to Gardner that was about to be approved.

Wescott indicated he’d vote “yes,” but wanted the record to show he would be doing so under protest.

Similarly, Logan said he’d also vote “yes,” but that he believed Pirrello “missed the ball” in his ruling.

“I completely disagree with the decision that was reached by Judge Pirrello,” Logan asserted. “However, we are a nation that follows laws, and if the judge ordered it and we have no further recourse, then I believe that would be what we need to do.”

Although he would vote in favor of the payment, Rick Pollack (R-13) urged Gardner to return the money to the county.

“Most of us that serve on the County Board…don’t do it for the money. Part of the money that we do receive is costs incurred while we come here to meet,” he said. “I would ask the recipient to consider returning the check back to the county board fund.”

Although most of his Republican colleagues would concede to vote in favor of the payment, Gambino held his ground.

“I know that the court has ordered us to do this, and Judge Pirrello felt that that was necessary, and I know it’ll probably pass tonight,” Gambino acknowledged. “But there is, in some respects, a higher order than our court system. That’s the one of personal respect and integrity. And I don’t believe that recipient has earned and/or deserves this money. …They weren’t there to serve their constituency or the county.”

Gambino echoed Pollack’s suggestion that Gardner return her check to the county.

“There’s a lot of pain going around,” Gambino added. “People are paying their bills and paying their taxes through their hard-earned blood, sweat and tears. I think it’s an injustice that Judge Pirrello would order us to pay this money at this time.”

Gardner did not speak in her own defense during discussion, or comment to the press afterward, but Mel Paris (D-8), the only Democrat to speak to the issue, urged colleagues to just do what’s been ordered by the court.

“If you look at it from a practical standpoint, this is not any different than a state mandate,” he noted. “We have been told that this is what’s gonna happen by the courts. And regardless of whether you like or don’t like it, we just need to go on with the business at hand, get the thing over with and move forward.”

In a roll-call, only Gambino and John F. Sweeney (R-14) voted “no.” Gardner abstained.

Public hearing

A public hearing was conducted regarding the issuance of $13 million in bonds for the purpose of the county meeting its court-ordered obligation to pay settlements and related costs resulting from a 2006 fatal traffic accident involving a sheriff’s deputy.

Deputy Joseph Boomer was acquitted in 2008 of criminal charges after his cruiser struck a car crossing Weldon Road at West State Street. Boomer was responding to a call at high speed without using a siren or flashing emergency lights. Brothers Aaron and D.J. Bachman were killed in the crash, which left their sister, Kori, permanently disabled.

In civil court, however, the county was ruled liable for the accident and ordered to pay $17 million in related settlements. The county’s insurance for such tort obligations was only $5 million, resulting in the need to issue up to $13 million in alternate bonds to cover the remaining costs.

During the hearing, there were no questions or comments from board members or the public.

Resolutions

After a closed session, board members unanimously approved four claims by county employees. The closed session came after Rick Pollack (R-13) requested further information regarding the nature of the claims. Doug Aurand (D-3) voted “no” to going into closed session, arguing Pollack should have done his homework before the meeting.

Permanent disability claims in the amounts of $18,676.08 and $40,000 were approved for Eric Beitel and Joseph Williams, respectively, for injuries sustained as employees of the Sheriff’s Department.

A $30,773.76 personal disability claim, plus $11,756 for a Medicare set-aside account, was approved for David Lutyens, who sustained injuries as an employee of the Highway Department.

A $20,000 permanent disability claim by Galen Harms was approved for injuries sustained as an employee of River Bluff Nursing Home.

The board also allocated $82,819 for the purchase of hardware and software needed for the completion of the county’s new court and case management system, which is expected to go online in April.

Board members also approved an agreement for the Village of Pecatonica to participate in the county’s permitting system for oversized and overweight vehicles to travel on county roads.

Closed session

In addition to discussing the aforementioned permanent disability claims, board members convened in closed session for a briefing by State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato (D) regarding an investigation into the suspected mishandling of funds in the county’s animal services division. Because the investigation is ongoing, officials aren’t commenting.

Danica Patrick’s NASCAR Nationwide Series debut, driving JR Motorsports’ No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet Impala, is scheduled to be Feb. 20 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

By Brandon Reid
Assistant Editor

Former Roscoe resident Danica Patrick, who in 2008 became the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race, has released her NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule.

Patrick’s Nationwide Series debut, driving JR Motorsports’ No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet Impala, is scheduled to be Feb. 20 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. From there, she is scheduled to race at Las Vegas Feb. 27, and then take a four-month break from the Nationwide Series to participate in her sixth IndyCar Series season.

Patrick will return to the Nationwide circuit at New Hampshire June 26 and then race at Chicago July 9, Michigan Aug. 14, Dover, Del., Sept. 25, Fontana Oct. 9, Charlotte Oct. 15, Madison, Ill., Oct. 23, Texas Nov. 6, Phoenix Nov. 13 and Homestead, Fla., Nov. 20.

“We just want to be smart and calculative about this process,” Patrick said in a release. “The tracks we’ve selected not only complement the IndyCar schedule, but will give me quality seat time at a variety of facilities.”

Some have speculated the schedule leaves open the possibility of a Nationwide debut at Daytona the day before the Sprint Cup Series’ Feb. 14 Daytona 500.

The JR Motorsports’ No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet Impala is entered in the Daytona Nationwide race, but, according to a Fox Sports report, “JR Motorsports says its driver for that car won’t be named until after Patrick’s ARCA race on Feb. 6 [at Daytona].”

Patrick announced late in 2009 that she will drive full-time in the IndyCar Series and part-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The Nationwide Series, which includes 35 races between February and November, is part of NASCAR’s national series and is the junior circuit to the Sprint Cup Series.

Patrick will drive the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet Impala in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick. She has an equity stake in her No. 7 team.

In the IndyCar Series, Patrick drives the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Honda/Dallara for Andretti Autosport.

Patrick began her IndyCar career in 2005 driving for Rahal Letterman Racing. That season, she became the fourth woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500, following Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James and Sarah Fisher. Her fourth starting position in the 2005 Indy 500 was the highest ever attained for the race by a female driver, and she also became the first woman to lead an Indy 500, first when acquiring it for a lap near the 125-mile mark while cycling through pit stops, and late in the race when she stayed out one lap longer than her rivals during a set of green-flag pit stops. She finished the 2005 season 12th in points and was named the series’ Rookie of the Year.

Patrick again drove for Rahal Letterman Racing in 2006, finishing ninth in season points. In 2007, she switched to Andretti Green Racing, finishing seventh in season points. She finished sixth in season points in 2008 and fifth in season points in 2009, including a third-place finish in 2009 at the Indy 500—both a personal best for her at the track and the highest finish by a woman in the event’s history.

By Brandon Reid
Assistant Editor

Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey (I) and Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen (R) filed their respective semiannual D-2 reports of campaign contributions and expenditures Jan. 20, 2010.

Click the following link for Morrissey’s Jan. 20, 2010, D-2 report: Morrissey_D-2_012010

Click the following link for Christiansen’s Jan. 20, 2010, D-2 report: Christiansen_D-2_012010

Morrissey’s contributions and expenditures

According to Morrissey’s Jan. 20 D-2 report, his campaign, “Citizens for Morrissey,” had $16,162.01 at the beginning of the reporting period (July 1-Dec. 31, 2009), had received $12,309.07 during the reporting period, had spent $26,898.32 during the reporting period and had $1,572.76 at the close of the reporting period.

Notable individual contributions included the following:

Alhark Corporation—$500 (Sept. 18, 2009) and $100 (Oct. 9, 2009)

Patrick Bachrodt—$200 (Oct. 9, 2009)

Farrell & Associates CPAs—$300 (Oct. 15, 2009)

LaMonica Beverages Inc.—$600 (Oct. 16, 2009)

Richard Nordlof—$200 (Oct. 9, 2009)

Jeffrey Petry, president of Petry Development—$1,000 (Dec. 16, 2009)

Joseph Scandroli Jr.—$200 (Oct. 23, 2009)

Morrissey’s Jan. 20 report also indicates Citizens for Morrissey owes a total of $28,700 in debt to SupplyCore, Inc. The debt is in relation to loans given April 1, 2005 (original amount was $20,000) and May 23, 2005 (original amount as $13,500). Citizens for Morrissey has paid a total of $4,800 toward the debt.

For further background, click the following link for Morrissey’s July 20, 2009, D-2 report: Morrissey_D-2_072009

Christiansen’s contributions and expenditures

According to Christiansen’s Jan. 20 D-2 report, his campaign, “Christiansen for Chairman,” had $1,386 at the beginning of the reporting period (July 1-Dec. 31, 2009), had received $49,307.80 during the reporting period, had spent $48,587.70 during the reporting period and had $2,106.74 at the close of the reporting period.

Notable individual contributions included the following:

Anderson Enterprises—$2,000 (Sept. 30, 2009)

Cord Construction Co.—$1,000 (Sept. 17, 2009)

Frank Gambino—$355 (Dec. 22, 2009)

Guyer & Enichen P.C. Lawyers—$1,000 (Nov. 25, 2009)

Brian Helm, Mechanical Inc. contractor—$1,000 (Sept. 17, 2009)

Hinshaw & Culbertson—$2,500 (Dec. 22, 2009)

Ironworkers Local Union 498—$1,000 (Nov. 25, 2009)

Joseph Behr & Sons—$1,000 (Oct. 6, 2009)

James Keeling—$200 (Dec. 22, 2009)

Kelly Williamson Company—$1,500 (Sept. 30, 2009)

Larson and Darby Inc.—$1,000 (Dec. 7, 2009)

Nicolosi & Associates LLC—$350 (Dec. 7, 2009)

Northwestern Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council—$5,000 (July 10, 2009)

Doug Perks, Eclipse Inc. president—$2,500 (Dec. 8, 2009)

Jeffery Petry, self-employed developer—$2,500 (Dec. 22, 2009)

Rockford Consulting and Brokerage—$1,000 (Dec. 22, 2009)

Joseph Scandroli, Scandroli Construction owner—$1,000 (Dec. 4, 2009)

William Charles Ltd.—$2,500 (Dec. 16, 2009)

For further background, click the following link for Christiansen’s July 20, 2009, D-2 report: Christiansen_D-2_072009

From press release

Monday, Feb. 1, the Logli Supermarket location at 6410 E. State St. in Rockford and Lifescape Community Services will begin offering something new and different in congregate dining sites.

Called “Senior Breakfast at Logli,” the restaurant inside the supermarket will become Lifescape’s latest congregate site in its four-county service area, serving a hot, nutritious breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., Monday-Friday. What makes this location unique is the majority of Lifescape’s dining sites are in senior centers, churches or senior high rises.

By teaming with Logli, Lifescape is offering an opportunity to those older adults, who not only want a great breakfast, but to meet their friends and get a little grocery shopping in as well.

Seniors 60 and older, along with their spouses, will be able to choose from six separate breakfast menus for a $2.50 donation.

From press release

The Rockford Park District recently announced that Risk Manager Pete Stankiewicz was selected as the Rockford Park District 2009 Employee of the Year by members of the District’s Recognition Committee and Deputy Directors.

Stankiewicz has been employed with the district since June 2008, and was selected for his professional leadership in developing the district’s system to communicate expectations with easy-to-understand segments for the Rockford Park District’s Loss Control Review. This system included a consistent way for team members to collect materials for the audit, and meeting with each manager multiple times to ensure they understood the process. His efforts resulted in the district receiving the highest loss control review score ever achieved, 96.09 percent out of a possible 100 percent. Stankiewicz is a graduate of Jefferson High School, Northeastern Illinois University and Northern Illinois University.

The Employee Recognition Committee was established in 2008 to collaborate ideas for a new employee recognition program. In 2009, a new recognition program was introduced to staff and launched in the first quarter.

Throughout the year, 16 employees were nominated by team members and selected by a Recognition Committee as “Employee of the Quarter,” making them eligible to be selected as “Employee of the Year.”

The nominations for each quarter included recognition for Outstanding Performance, Creative Contributions, Notable Service to Community/Citizens, and Notable Service to Staff. Factors used to determine who received the quarterly award included special contributions to the Park District as a whole, successful completion of special projects, ideas for improved work methods, outstanding dedication to the Park District, and/or outstanding customer service.

The other employees of the four quarters who were eligible to be named Employee of the Year included:

Garrett Jones, Stacey Young, Sue Howard, Judy Roby, Deana Bingham, Karen Weis, Lynn Olsen, Dena Sanford, Curt Johnsen, Marianne Larson, Breane Cory, David Spencer, Kathleen Forbes, Josh Strand and Rita Keedi.

Deputy Director of Human Resources Debbie Gass said: “Pete did an outstanding job of developing a process and system that provided staff with confidence in their ability to establish the best safety practices so that our citizens could safely enjoy our parks, programs, and facilities. His efforts have positively affected our organization and helped us achieve the highest loss control review score in the history of the district.”

From press release

Spectrum School, 2909 N. Main St., will host an open house from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 31.

For details, visit www.spectrumschool.org.

From online reports

President Barack Obama (D) delivered his State of the Union address Wednesday, Jan. 27. Full text of his address can be viewed by clicking here.

U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-16) issued the following statement in response to Obama’s address:

“It’s good to hear President Obama talk about the need to help create jobs in America. But I’m concerned his fix will involve more deficit-hiking government spending. We have actually lost 3 million jobs since the president signed into law the failed $862 billion stimulus bill, and our national debt has surpassed $12 trillion.

“We need a colossal change in thinking here, and I implore President Obama to halt the ineffective government spending that is burdening future generations with debt, and instead focus on helping the private sector create jobs,” Manzullo said. “At a minimum, Congress needs to stop pursuing job-killing legislation—like the health care and cap-and-trade bills—that would put another 8 million Americans out of work and hike taxes and health and energy costs for Americans. My American Jobs Agenda offers a host of legislative avenues to help create economic opportunities for our employers to put Americans back to work.”

Immediately following Obama’s address, newly-elected Virgina Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) offered the following response on behalf of the Republican Party:

Good evening. I’m Bob McDonnell. Eleven days ago I was honored to be sworn in as the 71st governor of Virginia.

I’m standing in the historic House Chamber of Virginia’s Capitol, a building designed by Virginia’s second governor, Thomas Jefferson.

It’s not easy to follow the President of the United States. And my twin 18-year old boys have added to the pressure, by giving me exactly ten minutes to finish before they leave to go watch SportsCenter.

I’m joined by fellow Virginians to share a Republican perspective on how to best address the challenges facing our nation today.

We were encouraged to hear President Obama speak this evening about the need to create jobs.

All Americans should have the opportunity to find and keep meaningful work, and the dignity that comes with it.

Many of us here, and many of you watching, have family or friends who have lost their jobs.

1 in 10 American workers is unemployed. That is unacceptable.

Here in Virginia we have faced our highest unemployment rate in more than 25 years, and bringing new jobs and more opportunities to our citizens is the top priority of my administration.

Good government policy should spur economic growth, and strengthen the private sector’s ability to create new jobs.

We must enact policies that promote entrepreneurship and innovation, so America can better compete with the world.

What government should not do is pile on more taxation, regulation, and litigation that kill jobs and hurt the middle class.

It was Thomas Jefferson who called for “A wise and frugal Government which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry ….and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned…” He was right.

Today, the federal government is simply trying to do too much.

Last year, we were told that massive new federal spending would create more jobs ‘immediately’ and hold unemployment below 8%.

In the past year, over three million Americans have lost their jobs, yet the Democratic Congress continues deficit spending, adding to the bureaucracy, and increasing the national debt on our children and grandchildren.

The amount of this debt is on pace to double in five years, and triple in ten. The federal debt is already over $100,000 per household.

This is simply unsustainable. The President’s partial freeze on discretionary spending is a laudable step, but a small one.

The circumstances of our time demand that we reconsider and restore the proper, limited role of government at every level.

Without reform, the excessive growth of government threatens our very liberty and prosperity.

In recent months, the American people have made clear that they want government leaders to listen and act on the issues most important to them.

We want results, not rhetoric. We want cooperation, not partisanship.

There is much common ground.

All Americans agree, we need a health care system that is affordable, accessible, and high quality.

But most Americans do not want to turn over the best medical care system in the world to the federal government.

Republicans in Congress have offered legislation to reform healthcare, without shifting Medicaid costs to the states, without cutting Medicare, and without raising your taxes.

We will do that by implementing common sense reforms, like letting families and businesses buy health insurance policies across state lines, and ending frivolous lawsuits against doctors and hospitals that drive up the cost of your healthcare.

And our solutions aren’t thousand-page bills that no one has fully read, after being crafted behind closed doors with special interests.

In fact, many of our proposals are available online at solutions.gop.gov, and we welcome your ideas on Facebook and Twitter.

All Americans agree, this nation must become more energy independent and secure.

We are blessed here in America with vast natural resources, and we must use them all.

Advances in technology can unleash more natural gas, nuclear, wind, coal, and alternative energy to lower your utility bills.

Here in Virginia, we have the opportunity to be the first state on the East Coast to explore for and produce oil and natural gas offshore.

But this Administration’s policies are delaying offshore production, hindering nuclear energy expansion, and seeking to impose job-killing cap and trade energy taxes.

Now is the time to adopt innovative energy policies that create jobs and lower energy prices.

All Americans agree, that a young person needs a world-class education to compete in the global economy. As a kid my dad told me, “Son, to get a good job, you need a good education.” That’s even more true today.

The President and I agree on expanding the number of high-quality charter schools, and rewarding teachers for excellent performance. More school choices for parents and students mean more accountability and greater achievement.

A child’s educational opportunity should be determined by her intellect and work ethic, not by her zip code.

All Americans agree, we must maintain a strong national defense. The courage and success of our Armed Forces is allowing us to draw down troop levels in Iraq as that government is increasingly able to step up. My oldest daughter, Jeanine, was an Army platoon leader in Iraq, so I’m personally grateful for the service and the sacrifice of all of our men and women in uniform, and a grateful nation thanks them.

We applaud President Obama’s decision to deploy 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. We agree that victory there is a national security imperative. But we have serious concerns over recent steps the Administration has taken regarding suspected terrorists.

Americans were shocked on Christmas Day to learn of the attempted bombing of a flight to Detroit. This foreign terror suspect was given the same legal rights as a U.S. citizen, and immediately stopped providing critical intelligence.

As Senator-elect Scott Brown says, we should be spending taxpayer dollars to defeat terrorists, not to protect them.

Here at home government must help foster a society in which all our people can use their God-given talents in liberty to pursue the American Dream. Republicans know that government cannot guarantee individual outcomes, but we strongly believe that it must guarantee equality of opportunity for all.

That opportunity exists best in a democracy which promotes free enterprise, economic growth, strong families, and individual achievement.

Many Americans are concerned about this Administration’s efforts to exert greater control over car companies, banks, energy and health care.

Over-regulating employers won’t create more employment; overtaxing investors won’t foster more investment.

Top-down one-size fits all decision making should not replace the personal choices of free people in a free market, nor undermine the proper role of state and local governments in our system of federalism. As our Founders clearly stated, and we Governors understand, government closest to the people governs best.

And no government program can replace the actions of caring Americans freely choosing to help one another. The Scriptures say “To whom much is given, much will be required.” As the most generous and prosperous nation on Earth, it is heartwarming to see Americans giving much time and money to the people of Haiti. Thank you for your ongoing compassion.

Some people are afraid that America is no longer the great land of promise that she has always been. They should not be.

America will always blaze the trail of opportunity and prosperity.

America must always be a land where liberty and property are valued and respected, and innocent human life is protected.

Government should have this clear goal: Where opportunity is absent, we must create it. Where opportunity is limited, we must expand it. Where opportunity is unequal, we must make it open to everyone.

Our Founders pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to create this nation.

Now, we should pledge as Democrats, Republicans and Independents–Americans all—to work together to leave this nation a better place than we found it.

God Bless you, and God Bless our great nation.

By Joe McGehee
Staff Writer

The Rockford RiverHawks announced today (Jan. 27) the signing of eight-year major-league veteran Randall Simon. The 2010 season will be Simon’s 19th in professional baseball.

The left-handed first baseman will give the RiverHawks’ franchise instant name recognition with fans who recall Simon’s brief stint with the Chicago Cubs in 2003.

After being acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in mid-August, Simon batted .282 with six home runs and 21 runs batted in (RBI) in 33 games. Simon went on to hit .333 in the 2003 post-season, which saw the Cubs reach the National League Championship Series.

Simon has spent time with six teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), including Detroit, Tampa Bay, Atlanta and Philadelphia. Simon boasted a .283 batting average, 49 home runs and 237 RBI in 537 MLB games.

On an unrelated note, the MLB Hall of Fame denied former Cubs right fielder Andre Dawson his request to enter the Hall of Fame as a Cub. He will instead be inducted as a Montreal Expo.

From press release

Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey (I) will release the 2006 Rockford Police Department Employee survey to the media and the public tonight (Wednesday, Jan. 27), at 6 p.m., in the Council Chambers at Rockford City Hall.

The survey is being released as a result of a recent decision by the appellate court that requires disclosure of the survey under the Freedom of Information Act.

Morrissey and City Legal Director Patrick Hayes are expected to comment about the survey.

Editor’s note: The following report was last updated at 4:20 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 27.

By Joe McGehee
Staff Writer

According to Rockford Public School District 205 incident reports, three staff assaults took place at Jefferson High School between Thursday and Friday, Jan. 21-22.

“Two of the assaults took place on Jan. 21,” said Mark Bonne, chief communications officer for District 205. “The third staff assault took place on Jan. 22.”

Bonne went on to state the incident reports did not indicate any injuries were sustained by the staff members assaulted. However, in two of the cases, students pushed teachers out of their way as they were exiting the classroom prior to the conclusion of class.

According to the incident reports, the third staff assault included a student grabbing a teacher’s arm to try to stop them from walking away from a conversation the student wanted to finish.

“They will be recommended for discipline in accordance with the District’s discipline code,” Bonne added.

From press release

The Rockford Park District has earned the No Employee Left Behind (NELB) award for 2010, one of four Illinois park and recreation agency recipients chosen by the Illinois Park & Recreation Association (IPRA) Health and Wellness Committee.

Applicants working toward obtaining the award underwent a stringent process that included an initial application, self-assessment, and evaluation. A wellness committee composed of three park and recreational professionals selected the winners, and awarded the Rockford Park District 35 points out of a possible 38 points.

The NELB program encompasses the six dimensions of wellness, working toward developing a well-balanced life from the inside out. The six dimensions are: Physical Activity, Social, Emotional, Intellectual, Spiritual and Environmental. The program promotes the importance of healthy employees, which has shown to result in a healthy agency with higher productivity, lower absenteeism, and numerous additional benefits. Among areas the award committee felt deserving of special commendation included the Rockford Park District’s Employee Morale Building and Positive Recognition, and Excellent Information Resources from Periodicals.

LoriKay Paden, IPRA Wellness Committee member, explained: “By dedicating the time to go through the self-assessment study, the review and compilation of materials, as well as the evaluation process, these winners have shown a commitment to their employees’ well-being. Their boards and staff should be congratulated on this achievement.”

Illinois is recognized as a leader in the parks, recreation, and conservation movement. IPRA is a not-for-profit organization and a public interest group whose members share the common goal of providing quality park and recreation opportunities for the people of Illinois.

The No Employee Left Behind award itself will be presented at the IPRA annual business meeting Friday, Jan. 29, at the Hilton Chicago.

For more information, contact IPRA at 630-376-1911 or visit www.ILipra.org.

From staff reports

Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen (R) announced today (Wednesday, Jan. 27) an ongoing investigation at Winnebago County Animal Services regarding an allegation of the mishandling of funds.

According to a press release from Christiansen’s office: “All steps are being taken, including a thorough investigation, in resolving this matter as quickly as possible. We appreciate the quick response and cooperation of Winnebago County Sheriff Richard Meyers, State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato, and Winnebago County Auditor William Crowley in resolving this issue.”

Check back to www.rockrivertimes.com as more details become available.

From press release

The howling you hear in rural northwest Illinois on a moonlit night is not wolves. But they are making a comeback.

If you’d like to learn more about Midwestern wolves, their behavior, ecology and numbers, you are welcome to attend the Northwest Illinois Audubon Society’s presentation of “Wolves in the Midwest” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 2, at St. John United Church of Christ, 1010 S. Park Blvd., in Freeport, Ill. Richard Benning, an environmental educator at the Severson Dells Nature Center, and president of the local Audubon Society, will make the presentation.

Wolves have made a remarkable comeback since the passage of the Endangered Species Act. Their numbers are on the rise locally in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. The Feb. 2 Audubon program is designed to help you understand more about wolves and the reasons they inspire such a variety of reactions–from fear and loathing to wonder and respect.

“Wolves in the Midwest” is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the program.

For more information, check the local Audubon Chapter’s Web site at nwilaudubon.org.

From press release

Monday, Feb. 1, the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District will begin taking reservations for use of its shelter houses for the 2010 season.

The fee to reserve is $25 for up to 150 people, $30 for up to 300 people, and $350 for 300-500 people (because of the additional staff and amenities provided).

Reservations for the District’s 27 shelters are being taken on a first-come, first-served basis at WCFPD headquarters at 5500 Northrock Drive. A reservation application may be requested by phone, e-mail or in person.

For descriptions, panoramic photos and information about shelter houses, visit the Forest Preserve District Web site at www.wcfpd.org. For a complete list of shelter house locations, capacities and facilities, call (815) 877-6100 or e-mail: wcfpd@wcfpd.org.

By Katha Pollitt
Poetry Media Service

I met Elizabeth Bishop in 1972, when I audited her poetry class (not “workshop”—she would have hated that term) during my senior year at Harvard. She was quite unlike my other professors. She was a woman—at the time Harvard had exactly one tenured woman, and not many women in the lower ranks, either—and there was nothing of the grand professeur (or grand poète) about her. She was modest and unaffected, reserved but not cool. We called her Miss Bishop. She was the only teacher I had in four years of college who invited a class to her house—a sunny, rather bare apartment on Brattle Street, I think it was, where she showed us a Joseph Cornell-ish art box she had made that she said drew on the folk art Brazilians made to memorialize dead children.

How I wish I had taken notes! She was a wonderful teacher, the perfect blend of formal and free, just like her poems. She gave us assignments—sonnets, villanelles—but she always said that if we burned to write something else, we should of course do so. One afternoon, she gave us end words—“blue” was one—and had us all sit there for half an hour and turn out sestinas. I wonder about that now—Bishop’s “Sestina” being one of the few modern examples of the form that is moving (in both senses) and doesn’t feel like an exercise. My sestina, in fact, was about how boring sestinas are.

What strikes me, having taught a bit myself, is how kind she was. We can’t all have been budding poets, yet she talked about our work as if we were. Bernard Malamud, whose freshman writing seminar I had taken, was a brilliant teacher in the old authoritarian style, who had no trouble telling 18-year-olds they lacked sufficient gifts to write fiction; he saw himself, I think, as a kind of talent scout from God. Maybe he was—but I had friends who took years to recover from his verdicts. Bishop had the opposite approach: she seemed to enjoy teaching, and was clearly amused by her students, a typical Harvard combination of the bow-tied and the tie-dyed—young fogies and hippies—but I don’t think it was a calling, part of her identity. She wasn’t concerned to make final judgments or peer into our depths.

Toward the end of the semester, in office hours, she said to me, “You should take your poetry very seriously.” Those were the most important words said to me by any teacher, and possibly any person.

I was too shy to keep up with her much after I graduated, but I recently came across two longish letters from her. Both were from 1978, the year before her death. In one, she reminisces about Port Clyde, the town in Maine where I was living at the time:

Did I tell you (forgive me if I repeat myself) that I’ve been to Port Clyde, twice, I think—and a year ago last June I actually went on an Audobon [sic] trip that started from there—out to Matinicus Rock, to see puffins, and lots of other sea birds. It was a lot of fun. I stayed with two friends, at a rather dismal, tall, green, Victorian house, near the landing—it had just opened that very day for guests and was very strange.

She invited me to visit her in North Haven the next summer, but like an idiot, I didn’t go.

In the late ’70s, when she read at the Guggenheim, I went to hear her. Bishop is sometimes described as a notoriously poor reader of her own work—flat, low-key, lacking in presence. After all, she was a short, gray-haired woman who wore nondescript wool skirts that fell below the knee, the antithesis of what a poet was supposed to look like. I thought she was a good reader—I dislike theatricality in poetry readings, and that super-sensitive breathy chanting thing poets get into where every line ends with an upward lilt like a question. But more than that, her reading was a kind of gift; it made me see that whatever way a poet reads his or her own work is fine, is, in fact, perfect, because the way they read is part of their sensibility, their own personal expression of their poem. No one else can have that relation to those words: it’s unique.

It was interesting that Bishop said “rainbow, rainbow, rainbow” in a straightforward, even way, and not “rainbow! rainbow! (pause) RAINBOW!” She let the words do the shining. The way she read said: the words on the page are the poem, I’m not going to slather a lot of emoting on top of them, I’m going to let them speak for themselves. True or not, this insight has helped me not to be nervous about giving readings: however I perform is all right, I tell myself, because I am the writer reading my own work.

And although I am the one telling myself what is, after all, my own idea, I always imagine it is Miss Bishop saying it to me.

Katha Pollitt’s new book of poems is The Mind-Body Problem (2009), and her most recent collection of essays is Learning to Drive: And Other Life Stories (2007), both published by Random House. This essay originally appeared in the July/August 2009 issue of Poetry magazine. Distributed by the Poetry Foundation.

© 2009 by Katha Pollitt. All rights reserved.