The Herald-News • Sunday, November 15, 2015
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Book explores ‘old Joliet’ through postcards Greetings from Joliet. It’s not just a salutation anymore. That’s the name of a postcard book co-authored by Jim Ridings and Greg Peerbolte, executive director of the Joliet Historical Museum. The 256-page, all-color book takes a look at “old Joliet,” Peerbolte said, through the beautiful postcards that showcase the olden days of the city. Peerbolte first told me about the book when we were seated at the same table for a luncheon and we discussed our shared love of history. We’ve both now helped with a history book – Peerbolte co-authored this one about Joliet, and I edited a book by the DeKalb County Historical-Genealogical Society. “I like technology, but I’m very old-school when it comes to books,” Peerbolte said (which, incidentally, is something I might say, too). “I like how inviting a book can be sitting on a coffee table.” And we both also think, given all the talk about revitalizing and renovating downtown Joliet, “Greetings from Joliet” could serve as inspiration in that area. “It’s a great gift. It’s approachable. It’s not an intimidating book,” Peerbolte said. “You can flip through and see
VIEWS Kate Schott downtown as it used to be – and how it can be again.” Peerbolte said the project started in late winter/early spring of this year. Ridings, a former newspaper reporter, said Peerbolte reached out to him about doing the book. Ridings – who has authored similar books for Kankakee, Ottawa and Starved Rock — said all history appeals to him. Postcard books especially do, he said, because the images show many scenes of landmarks that are now gone, or where the use of buildings has changed. The co-authors started by collecting images the museum had on file, then asking other entities – such as the Will County Historical Society, the Adelmann Collection at Lewis University and three or four private collectors – for any images they might have. The book, Peerbolte said, is simple, as the images speak for themselves. “I think we have every postcard from Joliet,” Peerbolte said. Any profits from the book will go to the museum. Peerbolte said beyond being a help
Image provided
The new postcard book “Greetings from Joliet” will arrive at the Joliet Historical Museum by early December. to the museum, he thinks the appeal of the book is that it represents a form of intimately personal communication. “It was Twitter or text messaging back in the day,” he said. “You had a character count (what could fit on the back of the postcard). It kind of connects the old with the new.” If you’re interested in
getting one, there is a limited run of 2,000 copies of the book, which is priced at $24.99. Those who wish to pre-order it should be able to do so at www.jolietmuseum.org. Delivery of the books is expected no later than the first week of December, and it will be available exclusively (at first) at the museum’s gift shop at 204 N. Ottawa St. in
Joliet. Happy reading. And thank you for reading The Herald-News.
• Kate Schott is editor of The Herald-News, the Morris Herald-News and Herald Life. She can be reached at kschott@shawmedia.com or 815-280-4119. Follow her on Twitter @Kate_Schott78.
Joliet budget makers waiting on news from Springfield By BOB OKON bokon@shawmedia.com JOLIET – The budget showdown in Springfield has slowed the city of Joliet budget process, although probably by just a week. City Manager Jim Hock had planned to present a proposed budget this week, but said he wants more time to get a better idea of what kind of revenue Joliet will get from the state – and when it’s coming. “I don’t know if I’m going to know much more in the next couple of weeks. I don’t think the state’s going to adopt a budget,” Hock said. But reports from Springfield that the governor and Legislature could be close to
releasing millions owed to Joliet and other cities prompted Hock to push off the budget presentation for a Mayor Bob week. O’Dekirk Hock said he will ask the City Council to schedule a special budget meeting the week of Nov. 22 to 27. State Rep. Hock would Natalie not hint what Manley, might be in the D-Joliet proposed budget. But Mayor Bob O’Dekirk said at a recent council meet-
ing that his conversations with Hock indicated the budget could include “drastic measures.” Asked what those might be, O’Dekirk said Friday he was reluctant to offer specifics before a proposed budget is finalized. But he did say the threat of losing money to the state’s budget problems could be a factor. “With what’s looming in Springfield, I think we’re looking at the budget differently than we had in the past because we’re not sure what we’re getting,” O’Dekirk said. “We’re probably going to be more conservative.” O’Dekirk said he did not expect any tax hikes, although the council has put off a pro-
posed increase in water and sewer rates. That suggests any adjustments made to adapt to revenue losses related to Springfield would come in the form of budget cuts. Meanwhile, in Springfield, the House last week approved a bill that would release the local shares of Motor Fuel Tax funds, casino taxes, video gaming taxes and 911 taxes that the state has been holding since July. Joliet alone is waiting on $6.6 million. Joliet officials also are concerned about a proposal from Gov. Bruce Rauner to reduce the local share of state income taxes, which would cost Joliet another $6.7 million. Before last week’s vote on House Bill 4305, Rauner’s ad-
ministration put out a memo suggesting he would support the measure. But Rauner and other Republicans also have proposed adding more spending to the bill for road salt and state-run veterans homes, among other things. Democrats then put the bill on hold rather than sending it to the Senate for a vote. State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, a co-chief sponsor of the bill, said there is concern about what could be added to the bill, which was intended to distribute tax dollars due to local municipalities. “My understanding is they are holding it on postpone consideration because we don’t want anybody messing with it right now,” Manley said.