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Wednesday, May 13, 2015
JERSEY COUNTY JOURNAL
Jerseyville, Illinois
Our VIEWS
The Jersey County Journal is published weekly by Campbell Publishing Company, Inc., Bruce Campbell, president. Phone (618) 498-1234 E-mail: circulation@ campbellpublications.net
Positives outweigh port district negatives The Issue: Grafton leaves local port district. Our View: Council decision hinders progess.
Publisher and Editor: Julie Boren
O
publisher@campbellpublications.net
nly time will tell if leaving America’s Central Port, the Granite City-based port district, will have a positive or negative impact on Grafton and Quarry Township.
But we’re inclined to believe it is hindrance to progress of a town that has seen exponential growth since the Great Flood of ’93. The council regularly approves new business licenses in the community, and there are few vacant buildings on Main Street in Grafton because of the tourist draw. But when it comes to infrastructure and riverfront development, progress is sparse by comparison. Sidewalks in town have been a concern of the council as have storm sewer systems, both of which are being addressed, albeit slowly. Those kinds of infrastructure improvements are possible with tax increment financing money, which may also be used in repairing Shafer’s Wharf, but what will happen when that money runs out in 2018? The port district could provide solutions, with its political clout, in finding state or federal funds to fulfill some of the developmental desires of the community on the riverfront, including the Grafton Ferry, which has also been a source of contention. The positives seem to outweigh the negatives when it comes to America’s Central Port, and the concerns from council members – levying of a tax, riverfront construction, permits, et cetera – seem vacuous when compared to the desires and history of the more than 50-year-old business. Not only has the district never levied a tax in its history, but the executive director said he would actively and publicly campaign against such a measure because it goes against the very fabric of what a port district does. Just as the port district has authorities with which the council is concerned, so too does the city have the controversial authority of eminent domain. But we don’t see people leaving Grafton because the city has an authority it rarely, if ever, enacts. And enacting it once would be more times than the port has levied a tax. If history is an indicator of intent, it should be clear the port district only intends to build up Grafton as a recreational and tourist destination, whether that be through construction, economic development, advertising or other means, without the need to control the riverfront or impose a tax. In its lifetime the port district use some of the authorities it has never enacted, but until then, Grafton is passing up an opportunity at greatness. Perhaps next spring the public will have a voice in the matter with a public vote, and we look forward to seeing such an outcome.
This Week's
ONLINE POLL
Regional Editor: Bob Crossen bcrossen@campbellpublications.net
Assistant Regional Editor Sue Heitzig sheitzig@campbellpublications.net
General Manager and Advertising Director: Nichole Liehr nliehr@campbellpublications.net
Reporter: Carmen Ensinger censinger@campbellpublications.net
Sports: Kory Carpenter kcarpenter@campbellpublications.net
It’s not all about the money… But it is a bit T
his is the time of the year is for moms and for graduations. And for me this time around, I am lucky enough to celebrate both. While my youngest still has a way to go on his degree, my oldest will receive his Master of Fine Arts degree from Washington University St. Louis in just a few days. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate all the rewards that come with being a mom! A young professional artist now, he got his start in the arts right here in Jersey County. Unfortunately there’s not much of the evidence of the fine arts left in public education anymore where he can serve as kindling for the fires of the next M.C. Escher, Patrick O’Rourke… or Jeremy Shipley. Therefore, the challenge ahead of him now is to secure gainful employment in his now limited and highly competitive field that keeps his fire ignited while also keeping Sallie Mae happy. Not an easy task… regardless of your chosen path. Erica Galos Alioto, a senior vice president at Yelp, recently posted an article on LinkedIn entitled, “Don’t Take a Job For the Money or Prestige.” I thought it would be particularly applicable to highlight some of what she shared as we enter the graduation season. It is the same sage advice I have given my sons and to anyone else who’ll listen.
Share your answer at jerseycountyjournal.com
Q:
What do you think about Grafton City Council's decision to leave the port district?
A. I support the decision of the council. B. I would like a vote of the people to decide the matter. C. I do not support the decision of the council. D. Dropping out of the port district hurts businesses.
Results of last week's poll Which Jersey Panthers spring sports team will advance the furthest this season? 0% 0% 50% 50%
A. Tennis B. Baseball C. Softball D. Girls soccer This poll is not scientific and reflects the opinion of those who chose to respond
JOURNAL SEEKING GUEST COLUMNISTS If anyone is interested in submitting a guest column, please contact the Journal. There are many topics out there and we have found that our readers have a lot of thoughtful things to say, on a broad range of topics. Columns, like letters, should add to the public discourse in a helpful way.
Guest columns are submitted by a rotating roster of columnists or are simply sent in unsolicited and, if appropriate, are published. These columns do not reflect the views of the newspaper, only the writer. Length is no more than 800 words. Deadlines are Tuesday at 10 a.m. Topics are the choice of the columnist although we encourage our contributors to avoid obviously inflammatory issues (religion, abortion, etc.). Though we are a local paper, contributors are free to write about national or international issues (the pledge, the war, Social Security, health care, etc.). The Journal reserves the right to hold, edit or withdraw a column. These guest columns are an opportunity for our contributors to share an idea, an opinion or information; it is not an opportunity to sell a product or a service. We are looking for informed opinion and lively debate. Our only requirements are that your column have relevance to our community and our readership and be responsibly written (no personal attacks or self promotion, for example).
EDITORIAL
In the article Alioto talked about how she knew for most of her life that she wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up. She shared that she had dressed as a lawyer for her fourth grade career day. In high school she campaigned for, and won, the spot of top prosecutor on the mock trial team. And at 22, she entered her first year of law school. Soon though, she found that the classes and her writing exercises were not very exciting. She also found that she didn’t enjoy the environment of being surrounded by overeager law students who saw success as a zero sum game. She found her work as a summer associate at a top firm to be mindnumbing. But in the end, the money and prestige of going to a big firm won her over. She took an offer with a great firm where she was paid well and had the prestige of belonging to a top firm. She stayed there for four years, until her need for fulfillment could no longer be quieted. When she finally left, she ended up at a start-up. She took a huge pay cut, but she went to work excited every day. There was very little money or prestige, as the company was virtually unheard of at the time (I think the company she is a VP for is a little more wellknown these days).
I have always been much like Alioto. I pursued the spark, the fire, the passion…even after my Master’s degree, money was a secondary thought. As an Guest entrepreneur for well over a dozen Column years now, I wouldn’t change BY MELISSA a thing. But it CROCKETT has also made for some difficult times along the way. Doing a bit of what I don’t enjoy nearly as much had to become a part of my reality. So, here’s my keynote address to all the graduates out there—a condensed version: As you begin down the path of the real grown-up world where there are no extensions, GPAs, or a syllabus to inform you of others’ expectations, keep running down that path of your passion with your torch brightly lit. Just be sure you can make those student loan payments too… ■ Melissa Crockett Meske has served as a guest columnist for the Jersey County Journal since 2006. She is a professional writer and an organization catalyst. Follow her at mcmeske.wordpress.com.
Remembering Mother T
here is a story about a little girl who brings her mother tea in bed on Mother’s Day. As the mother is drinking her tea, she asks how the little girl made it, for she isn’t big enough yet to know about hot water and tea leaves. The little girl calmly and matter-of-factly tells the mother how she made the tea, adding, “I strained it just like you said! But don’t worry, Mom, I used the old flyswatter and took the water from the toilet…” Kids! They will never cease to surprise us and amaze us. Even when they do strain the tea leaves with the old flyswatter and take the water for tea from the toilet! Being a good mother, I bet that mother got up, got dressed, and helped her daughter make proper tea with a strainer and water from the sink. I’ll also bet that they had a great time and drank a cup of tea together afterwards. That’s what mothers do. They love their kids anyway, even when they mess up. It is, after all, the thought that counts. Writing this article on Mother’s Day got me to thinking about the holiday and my own mother. Mom graciously took time out of her schedule and helped me look up the historical information I needed for my article. We had a great time digging through the History Channel website looking up information on the Mother’s Day holiday. When I say there was a lot of information, let me just repeat, there was a lot of information. Mom read me the article, and I wrote down the information I wanted to use in my article. We learned a lot!
A bout letters to
the editor
Mom and I learned that American Anna Jarvis founded Mother’s Day in 1908, and it became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. Mother’s Day was the culmination of Anna’s mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis’ Mother’s Day Work Clubs in West Virginia that date back to the years before the American Civil War. Ann Reeves Jarvis started the Mother’s Day Work Clubs to teach the women of the newly created state of West Virginia how to care for their children. Later, in 1868, Ann Reeves Jarvis created Mother’s Friendship Day, a time when mothers of Civil War veterans, both Union and Confederate, could come together with their sons in reconciliation. The truly sad part of Mother’s Day, we learned, was Anna Jarvis herself. She hated the commercialism that became attached to Mother’s Day and tried her best, in the latter part of her life, to have it removed from the American calendar, spending her own fortune in legal fees while she sued flower companies and retail stores. It was her opinion that the nation had lost its vision when it came to Mother’s Day. Anna’s version of Mother’s Day was a day spent in church, wearing a white carnation, and going to visit with one’s mother afterwards. When Mother’s Day moved into more commercial circles in 1948 that included retail, Anna denounced Mother’s Day and wanted nothing to do with the holiday. She even lobbied the United States government to take Mother’s Day completely off the calendar! I am so very glad she was not successful!
I do think Guest that church is Column essential, but I am also glad BY HEIDI that I can bring MOORE my mother special gifts, both on Mother’s Day, her birthday, and all throughout the year. She is so very special to me! While flowers, candy, and cards do not tell of one’s worth, they are very nice to receive. It’s a little note, in the mail or over the phone, to say I love you, and I think of you often. All mothers deserve to hear that! However, there is one thing we tend to forget when it comes to our mothers. They want time, not gifts. Spending time with your loved ones on a daily basis is priceless indeed and the treasures of heaven. More mothers could use less stuff and more of you and your kids. So, let’s not forget the mothers in our rush to buy the perfect card or gift. Simply saying I love you or giving your mother a hug says words that no card can ever say. Time spent together is some of the best love messages the world can ever buy. This year, maybe go easy on the commercialism and stock up on the big stuff, all those I love you’s. I guarantee your mom will love you no matter what you give her for Mother’s Day. It’s the 365 days in the rest of the year when your time means the most. Mothers need Mother’s Day, but, most of all, the need you! ■ Heidi Moore is a resident of
Jersey County and a guest columnist for the Jersey County Journal.
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Words to live by: “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.”
John C. Maxwell American author and pastor