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Board elects Pietrowski as chairman By ANDREA AZZO aazzo@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – Tracy Jones said she thought the process of electing the next County Board chairman on Monday was the smoothest the meeting has ever run. Jones, a Kirkland Republican who serves District 1, was elected unanimously as board vice chairman Monday during Andrea Azzo – aazzo@shawmedia.com a county organizational meetMark Pietrowski looks over the agenda Monday shortly after he was ing. Mark Pietrowski, a Corunanimously elected to serve as DeKalb County Board chairman. Pitland Democrat who serves etrowski is a Cortland Democrat who serves District 3.
Minimum wage is set to rise in Chicago
District 3, was unanimously elected as board chairman. “I think he’ll be a great chairman,” Jones said. “Even though we’re on different parties, we see a lot of things the same way. I think it’ll be great.” The 23-0 vote of electing chairman was a stark contrast of what happened two years ago, when Sandwich Republican Jeff Metzger was elected in 2012 with votes from every Democrat but no Republicans. There were no other nominations Monday other than for
Pietrowski. The board has a 13-11 Democrat majority. DeKalb Democrat Ruth Anne Tobias was absent from the meeting. In 2012, the evenly split 1212 board had an issue electing the chairman when Republicans nominated Ken Andersen and Democrats nominated Metzger. A prearranged agreement fell apart during public discussion at a December 2012 meeting, so board members first suggested going into recess and heading to separate meeting rooms, raising con-
cerns that it was against the Open Meetings Act. DeKalb County State’s Attorney Richard Schmack ultimately issued a legal memo explaining it was not an Open Meetings Act violation. Metzger said Monday he wasn’t under any pressure to vote for chairman, unlike the situation two years ago. He and Pietrowski will meet this week to discuss the transition process and to fill Pietrowski
See BOARD, page A5
Saving animals, helping people
By SARA BURNETT The Associated Press CHICAGO – Chicago is set to become the latest U.S. city to raise its minimum wage, as Mayor Rahm Emanuel fast-tracks a politically popular plan to reach $13 an hour amid his bid for a second term and criticism that he is out-of-touch with working people. A Chicago City Council committee voted late Monday to advance the plan, which is expected to get full council approval today. The mayor moved the meeting from Dec. 10 following concerns that the Illinois Legislature would bow to business groups and pass a measure this week that would prevent cities from setting their wage higher than the state. Chicago currently has the same minimum wage as the state, at $8.25 an hour. The General Assembly is considering raising Illinois’ wage to $11 by 2017. Emanuel, the hard-charging former White House chief of staff, is facing a challenge from progressive candidates who said he’s been too cozy with business interests and hasn’t spent as much time looking out for people struggling to make ends meet in the nation’s third-largest city. His top rivals in the February election, Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Alderman Bob Fioretti, favor a $15 wage. Business groups and some Republicans argue that raising the minimum wage will lead to job losses. Leaders of several groups, including the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, said setting Chicago’s wage higher than the rest of the state will put city businesses at a disadvantage, particularly in areas that border suburbs where the wage would be lower. They support a statewide increase to $10 or $11 an hour. “Chicago is not an island, and we’ve got to quit pretending that we are,” said Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. But the measures remain popular with voters. Oakland and San Francisco voters supported increases, as did voters in Alaska, Arkansas, South Dakota and Nebraska. Emanuel settled on $13 an hour after a recommendation from a task force he created this year, when there was still a chance a stronger progressive candidate would take him on. He said he wanted to wait until after a Nov. 4 referendum on whether Illinois should raise its wage to $10, a
Photos by Monica Synett - msynett@shawmedia.com
Genevieve Helmick, 89, holds Peekaboo, a bunny from Bluemoon Sanctuary, Wednesday at Lincolnshire Place in Sycamore. Eight bunnies from the sanctuary visited the memory care center as therapy for the residents.
Bluemoon Sanctuary began when local couple adopted a blind rabbit By ANDREA AZZO aazzo@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – Holding a blind rabbit was soothing for Marlene Cleis, a 72-year-old woman who has Alzheimer’s disease. Cleis has lived for almost three years at Lincolnshire Place, 710 Vellagio Drive, Sycamore, a memory care center with 42 residents, all of whom suffer from some form of Alzheimer’s. Cleis said holding a blind rabbit named Bluemoon reduced her stress levels. “I think it calms you down and makes you appreciate nature,” Cleis said while petting the rabbit. “It’s just soothing. It doesn’t demand anything of you, just love.” The pet therapy session Wednesday was provided by Bluemoon Sanctuary, a DeKalbbased nonprofit organization that rescues rabbits and provides pet therapy for Alzheimer’s patients. Bluemoon Sanctuary was founded in 2013 and has 23 rescue animals, including 15 rabbits, according to its Facebook page. Wednesday was the first time
Peekaboo was one of the eight Bluemoon Sanctuary bunnies that visited the residents Wednesday at Lincolnshire Place in Sycamore. Bluemoon Sanctuary held a pet therapy session at Lincolnshire Place. However, other organizations, such as Therapy Dogs International, have stopped by in the past to help Alzheimer’s patients, said Tina Thompson, community director at Lincolnshire Place. “It makes them feel like they’re loving something, like taking
care of something,” Thompson said. “It uplifts their attitude. Someone who’s confused can make full sentences with pets.” Bluemoon Sanctuary began after DeKalb resident Carrie Caljkusich adopted Bluemoon from TAILS Humane Society, 2250 Barber Greene Road, DeKalb, about 3 ½ years ago. As Caljkusich and her hus-
band, Steven, learned about the rabbit, they realized there was no one in the area who was rescuing rabbits. The Caljkusiches rescue and rehabilitate rabbits from animal shelters or from people who find domestic rabbits in their backyard. They let the animals roam free in their DeKalb home and provide food and veterinary care. Steven Caljkusich estimated his family spends about $250 a month on food alone, which he said is not a significant cost to the family. They privately fund the normal day-to-day care of rescues, but they do accept donations for a veterinary fund in addition to accepting donations of various toys for the rabbits. “We try to do what we can with what we’ve got,” Carrie Caljkusich said. “We know our limitations, but we’re dedicated to what we do.” The pet therapy started partially because of Carrie Caljkusich’s mother, Marlene Cleis.
See THERAPY, page A5
See WAGE, page A5
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Oaken Acres receives grant to build outdoor classroom / A3
Ice cream shop opens in DeKalb despite winter weather / A6
Don’t lose focus on giving this holiday season / A7
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