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Friday, November 1, 2013
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Task force explores zero waste policy Group will report to DeKalb County Board after 10 months of talks By FELIX SARVER
Zero Waste Task Force • County Board member Marc Johnson, D-Sycamore • County Board member John Emerson, R-Genoa • Mike Hey, Waste Management representative • Jeffrey Daurer, Northern Illinois University associate vice president of facilities, planning and operations, or designee • Connie Handel, University of Illinois Extension representative • John Rey, DeKalb Mayor, or designee • Ken Mundy, Sycamore Mayor,
fsarver@shawmedia.com
or designee • Rick Olson, Sandwich Mayor, or designee, • Greg Maurice, county health department director of environmental health division • Christel Springmire, county health department solid waste coordinator • Roy Plote, citizen • Jerry Smith, citizen • Steve Challgren, Ideal Industries representative Source: Oct. 16 County Board agenda
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SYCAMORE – Although Waste Management is continuing with its plan to expand its landfill in Cortland, a DeKalb County task force will examine whether the amount of trash local people contribute to it can be reduced. The County Board created the Zero Waste Task Force and appointed 13 members Oct. 16. The committee will meet publicly for the first time at 1:15 p.m. Thursday and include presentations from board member Marc Johnson, D-Sycamore, and county health department officials. The meeting will be held at the DeKalb County Community Outreach Building, 2500 N. Annie
Glidden Road. For the next 10 months, the task force will see if the county can make the zero waste policy a guiding principle of its solid waste management plan. Members of the task force include County Board members, county officials, city officials and Waste Management representatives. The goal provides a counterbalance to the decision to allow Waste Management to expand the DeKalb County landfill near Cortland. Johnson, who is a member of the task force, said he’s promoted the adoption of the zero waste policy since he was elected last year. He said the policy, which targets the reduction of waste in landfills, is about “taking care
G LIPPIN The House Photos by Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
The House Cafe’s Jan Pascolini decided not to renew her lease, which expired Thursday. Pascolini sold the business to three long time patrons, who plan few changes.
Trio of local owners take over DeKalb music venue By DEBBIE BEHRENDS dbehrends@shawmedia.com
and JILLIAN DUCHNOWSKI jduchnowski@shawmedia.com DeKALB – The House Cafe owner Jan Pascolini planned to have a private dinner party at the downtown music venue Thursday as she passed ownership to a trio of long time patrons. She wanted to thank some of the people who had helped her during the past six years she has owned the cafe, bar and music venue. Pascolini sold the business to Anthony Solario, Lisa Cowley and Corey Twombly, who signed a long-term lease with building owner Fareed Haque. Pascolini announced weeks ago that she did not plan to renew her lease when it expired Thursday. “I think the hand off is being done very amicably,” said Haque, who also is a jazz and classical guitar professor at Northern Illinois University. “Everything feels really positive. And I’m glad we didn’t have to put a sports bar in there.” The new owners are finaliz-
Pascolini stands in front of the business Thursday in DeKalb. The House Cafe offers a place for teens and young adults to hang out, and serves as a link between Northern Illinois University and the DeKalb community. ing their plans, but they plan to keep the name and continue the schedule of ongoing events at The House Cafe at 263 E. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb. Neither Solario nor Haque would disclose the length of the lease, but Solario said, “The House will be around for a good long while.” “We want to keep it the way it is in terms of events,” said Solario, of Cortland. “We want to expand the menu and, as new owners, we’ll have to reapply for
a liquor license.” The House Cafe was closed Thursday, but Solario foresees closing for no more than two weeks while licenses to serve food and liquor are obtained. He said no major remodeling is planned, but the interior will be freshened up. Solario and Twombly, of Malta, play together in the band Shannon’s Last Call, which played its first show at The House. Solario said he and
Cowley, of DeKalb, have worked together as well. Haque announced the sale Wednesday during the Northern Illinois University Jazz Combo Fest at The House, which prompted audience members to applaud and show their gratitude for all that Pascolini has done as owner. In return, Pascolini wanted to thank her employees, patrons and musicians who supported her over the years. Thursday’s private dinner, dubbed “The Last Supper with Jan Pascolini,” was another effort to show her gratitude, but she admitted she’d appreciate visiting The House as a patron rather than its manager in the future. She said she always carried the responsibility of The House with her. “As far going home and turning it off, I don’t think I’ve ever done that,” said Pascolini, who said she is excited to pursue new projects. Meanwhile, some patrons were excited that the House Cafe would remain a downtown DeKalb cultural hub with few changes.
See CAFE, page A6
of things from the beginning.” “Waste produces nothing,” he said. “We end up with a bigger pile of garbage in the middle of the county. … There are countries in this world using their garbage to produce energy.” Even though the county has a high recycling rate, it also produces a significant amount of trash, he said. According to a 2012 solid waste annual report from the county health department, the amount of solid waste recycled last year was 66,449 tons, compared to 48,018 in 2011. However, the amount of waste generated last year was 108,219 tons, compared to 90,899 in 2011.
See ZERO WASTE, page A6
Momentum building for possible gay marriage vote By SOPHIA TAREEN The Associated Press CHICAGO – After months of energetic lobbying, both sides in the Illinois same-sex marriage debate are ready for a vote next week that supporters say would fulfill a pledge by the sponsor to bring the issue back to Springfield. Anticipating a likely vote during the final week of the veto session, some lawmakers previously on the fence have announced their position on the question. Others are quickly drafting proposed changes so they can support the bill. More activists are calling for immediate action. And even opponents are planning for fallout ahead of the campaign season. One legislator who firmed up his support is Rep. Al Riley, an Olympia Fields Democrat who’s been hesitant to discuss his position publicly. He told The Associated Press he’s now a “yes.” “I’m not in the business of discriminating against people,” he said. The road to “good public policy is that you don’t talk about it all the [darn] time.” The home state of President Barack Obama has been surprisingly resistant to same-sex marriage, even with Democrats leading the House, Senate and governor’s office. The Senate passed the measure on Valentine’s Day, but it wasn’t called for a vote in the House because sponsor Rep. Greg Harris said he didn’t have the 60 needed votes. In the waning hours of the spring session in May, he gave a tearful speech saying he’d give his colleagues more time and vowed to bring up the bill again.
See VOTE, page A4
AP photo
Supporters hold signs during the “Defend Marriage Lobby Day” held in the Rotunda of the state Capitol on Oct. 23 in Springfield. The event was staged a day after thousands of supporters rallied for the legislation.
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