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T y, June 11, 2013 Tuesday,
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T’wolves’ Thuestad is Female Athlete of the Year
Sycamore natives start clothing venture
Programs get a read
Travel is the predominant theme in most local reading programs this year
on summer
Hearing set for TIFs in DeKalb Alderman opposes district along Sycamore Road By DAVID THOMAS dthomas@shawmedia.com
Photos by Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
Tutor Jill Metcalf (left) quizzes Jaden Cochran, 7, during a visit to the Sycamore Public Library on Friday morning. Metcalf brought Jaden to register for the library’s summer reading program. By FELIX SARVER
Summer reading program information
fsarver@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – Treasures await readers willing to travel through books to other places and worlds. The DeKalb, Genoa, Hinckley and Sycamore libraries are holding summerlong reading programs for adults, teenagers and children, and offering prizes to those who take part. “Have Book – Will Travel” is this year’s theme for the DeKalb, Hinckley and Genoa libraries, with a focus on traveling to faraway places. The theme was an option for local libraries with summer reading programs after they were issued a federal grant to buy travel-related books and guides, said Sally DeFauw, DeKalb Public Library reference librarian. DeFauw, who runs the adult and teenager reading program for DeKalb, said the library has been decorated with directional signs pointing to “Literature Lane” or “Reference Ridge” to reflect the travel theme. Readers will place completed reading logs in a box decorated like a suitcase with vintage travel stickers. Adults and teenagers can win one of 18 gift certificates to a restaurant that
DeKalb Public Library • Children, adults and teenagers can register by visiting the reference desk. • The summer reading programs end Aug. 6. • For information, call 815-756-9568. Hinckley Public Library • Children or their parents must have a Hinckley Public Library card to participate. • Prizes include passes to Brookfield Zoo, Shedd Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry. • For information, call 815-286-3220.
Library volunteer Katie Banasiak, 12, uses a stamp to record the number of books Mindy Smits (not pictured) has read as part of the Sycamore Public Library’s summer reading program. will be raffled off; participants get a raffle ticket for every five books they log. “That’s why we’re encouraging them to read as much as they can because it increases their chances to win,” DeFauw said. The library’s program for those younger than 18 is broken into four groups, with participants eligible for prizes depending on the requirements of their group. The grand prize is a bike from North Central Cyclery.
Genoa Public Library • Registration began May 29. • Visitors need reading passports stamped and redeemed July 26 for prizes. • For information, call 815-784-2627. Sycamore Public Library • Students from preschool to sixth grade can submit reading logs for prizes. • Adults can participate in the Best Seller Summer program. • For information, call 815-895-2500.
See READ, page A2
DeKALB – The DeKalb City Council will hold a public hearing Aug. 12 on establishing two tax increment financing districts in the city. While Monday night’s vote was just for the public hearing dates, 1st Ward Alderman David Jacobson did not want to see another TIF district established along Sycamore Road. W h i l e t h e c o u n c i l “I have some voted 7-0 to set a hearing date for a TIF dis- serious qualms trict along South Fourth believing in the Street, Jacobson was the lone “no” vote on setting necessity of a a hearing date for the TIF in one of our Sycamore Road-based district. Sixth Ward Al- major business derman Dave Baker was corridors that not present. “I have some seri- attracts other ous qualms believing in multinational the necessity of a TIF in tenants.” one of our major business corridors that attracts other multinational ten- David Jacobson ants,” Jacobson said 1st Ward alderman in an interview. “I think it’s silly to incentivize an area that is prime retail, prime commercial space, with public dollars.” The city is considering establishing new TIF districts along a narrow stretch of South Fourth Street, and with two parcels along Sycamore Road that include the former Nelson Veterinarian property and the Northern Illinois University Art Annex. Jacobson said there’s more of a need for a TIF on South Fourth Street. Mayor John Rey partially disagreed, stating that both areas are blighted and need help. “The areas have been studied, and TIF counsel has indicated that those two areas are justified for TIF financing to improve those blighted areas,” Rey said. “I have heard a number of citizen comments that have indicated it’s an appropriate time to deal with that Sycamore Road blighted condition property.”
See TIFS, page A3
Scheduled TIF timeline: n Today: Local taxing bodies notified of public hearing n June 26: Local taxing bodies meet n June 26 - July 26: Local taxing bodies issue joint report n Aug. 12: Public hearing held n Aug. 26 - Nov. 8: City Council introduces TIF ordinances Source: City of DeKalb
Quinn asks lawmakers to combine 2 pension plans By KERRY LESTER The Associated Press CHICAGO – Gov. Pat Quinn proposed a middle route Monday between two rival plans holding up a solution to Illinois’ nearly $100 billion pension crisis, but it’s unclear whether Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan will support it. Quinn asked lawmakers to craft and approve legislation that would include both competing pension plans – one advanced by Madigan and the other by Senate President John Cullerton – when they convene next week
in a special session to deal with the nation’s worst pension problem. Madigan’s plan, widely regarded as offering the most cost savings, would unilaterally impose pension changes on state workers and raise the retirement age. Cullerton’s plan gives state workers choices over what benefits to receive in retirement, something he contends would give it a better chance of being upheld by the state Supreme Court. Quinn proposes passing both in one single bill, essentially making Cullerton’s proposal a backup plan in case Madigan’s harsher solution fails
a legal challenge. But Madigan would not commit to supporting Quinn’s proposal, suggesting it was too complicated and insisting his own plan was the best option. “This is like a lot of things in the Legislature, you can make it complicated if you wish or you can keep Pat Quinn it simple,” Madigan said. “I think this is the time for the governor to step up, meet with Senate President Cullerton and individual senators and [support] the House pen-
sion proposal.” Madigan has argued that his plan will pass constitutional muster because the courts give legislatures wide discretion in times of crisis. Still, Quinn expressed hope that Madigan and Cullerton will work together to pass the compromise legislation. After the trio met for two hours Monday morning in Chicago, he drew on the image of goal-scoring Blackhawks duo Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in calling the two legislative leaders to compromise. “I appeal to them to work together to put this priority on my desk,”
Quinn said. Under the hybrid proposal, the legislation’s implementation date would be pushed back until next June, Cullerton said. That would allow lawmakers to skirt the need for a “supermajority” – or three-fifths of a chamber’s votes – for passage during a special session. Illinois’ five public employee retirement systems are $97 billion short of what’s needed to pay benefits as currently promised to workers and retirees, due largely to years of the Legislature voting to skip or short the state’s payments.
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