Saturday, Aug. 10

[AUG. 10, 2002]  Layoff notices have gone out to the 435 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees who work at Lincoln Developmental Center, according to Dan Senters, spokesman for AFSCME Local 425.

Union members will begin meetings Monday to determine if they have options for employment in other state-operated facilities for the developmentally disabled. Some LDC employees may become eligible for early retirement under the new plan passed by the state legislature recently.

On Aug. 26 and 27, representatives will be available to talk to LDC employees about unemployment compensation, Social Security benefits and other retirement possibilities. A job fair will be held on the LDC campus Aug. 29.  Peer counselors will be available, sponsored by the AFL-CIO, Senters said.

The Department of Human Services must give union members 30 days notice of layoffs, Senters said. DHS is preparing to shutter the 125-year-old facility if the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board decides to issue a permit for its closure on Aug. 15.

A report issued early this week by the Department of Public Health, which provides staff for the planning board, recommends the state close LDC.  Although the planning board does not always follow DPH’s recommendation, it was another blow for those who support keeping the facility open.

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Gov. George Ryan and DHS, citing continued allegations of abuse and neglect, announced in June that LDC would be closed and its residents either placed in community settings or sent to other state-operated facilities. Closing date was set for Aug. 31.

At present only 163 residents remain at LDC; the rest of the 375 residents living there since last October have been moved to other facilities.

Senters said that a group of parents and AFSCME members plan to attend the meeting of the Health Facilities Planning Board to be held in Chicago next Wednesday, even though the board will not take any further testimony at that meeting.  He said even though no one would be able to speak for keeping LDC open, the silent presence of a large group of supporters would show their solidarity.

[Joan Crabb]

[AUG. 10, 2002]  BALTIMORE — The "Race to Respond," a cross-country cycling tour in support of International Orthodox Christian Charities, is coming through Illinois this month. The cyclists and their support crew are expected to pass through Lincoln on Aug. 11.

Five amateur cyclists from the United States and Europe participate in the benefit ride, which is to raise awareness and funds for IOCC, the official humanitarian aid agency of Eastern Orthodox Christians. Team members will be available for interviews, even as they maintain an average pace of 130 miles a day.

The 25-day race began Aug. 3 in Keyport, N.J., and is scheduled to conclude on Aug. 28 near San Francisco.

In between the two coasts, the riders will cross 11 states — an estimated 3,500 miles — and reach elevations of 12,200 feet. Starting in New Jersey, the race route covers the hills of Pennsylvania, the Great Lakes states of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, the plains of Missouri and Kansas, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Utah, the desert regions of Nevada and, finally, northern California.

Along the route, the race team will give presentations about IOCC at Orthodox Christian parishes and other stopping points. IOCC expects to raise $250,000 through the race and its associated events.

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IOCC is celebrating its 10th anniversary as the premier humanitarian aid agency of Orthodox Christians, who number 4.5 million in the United States. Since 1992, IOCC has done more than $140 million in relief and development work in 21 countries, including the West Bank, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ethiopia and the Russian Federation.

The cross-country bicycle tour is intended to show how IOCC works to connect communities around the globe. Every day, IOCC is in its own "race" to respond to the needs of people suffering from war, poverty and natural disaster.

To learn more about IOCC or the Race to Respond, see www.racetorespond.org.

[News release]

[AUG. 10, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — On Thursday, first lady Lura Lynn Ryan presented the sixth annual James R. Thompson Awards for Excellence in Craft to four Illinois artisans who specialize in weaving, sculpture, jewelry-making and pasanky, a centuries-old Ukranian craft.

"As first lady, it is an honor to help increase interest in the broad talents of our Illinois artisans," Mrs. Ryan said. "Today’s award recipients were chosen by their peers as the best of a tremendous group of individuals who bring great passion, creativity and care to their work."

Susan kavicky [last name spelled all lowercase] of Island Grove received first prize for her work in fiber. She took her first basketry class in 1987, looking for a portable craft she could take along while her husband was fishing. She became hooked when she learned to harvest, pound, split, size and weave with brown ash. In her work, brown ash basketry is taken to a new form when the traditional wood splint is showcased. Whether the structure is organic or architectural, the satin of brown ash is always the center of attention.

Merit awards were presented to artisans Joyce P. Lopez, Michele Friedman and Vera Samycia.

Ms. Lopez’s sculptures are a rich combination of chromed steel wrapped in French cotton thread. Her work emphasizes a graphic approach with clean design and an unusual combination of materials.

Vera Samycia learned the centuries-old Ukrainian tradition of pasanky from her mother. Her decorated eggs combine her unique style with the rituals, symbols and tradition of pasanky.

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Michele Friedman’s jewelry is influenced by architectural styles of the late 19th century and the 20th century. She conveys her passion for innovative design and architecture through her work with multiple geometric shapes constructed in a variety of materials.

The work of the winners will be featured in September at the Illinois Artisans Shop in Chicago’s James R. Thompson Center. Their work also will be exhibited at The Museum Store at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, the Southern Illinois Artisans Shop in Rend Lake and at the Dickson Mounds Museum Gift Shop in Lewiston.

The Illinois Artisans Program generates statewide and national recognition for the cultural heritage of the craft arts in Illinois.

[Illinois Government News Network
press release]

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