Forum: High praise for educators
June 5, 2012 8:24PM
Updated: July 7, 2012 8:44AM
High praise for educators
There is so much negativity in the world today, and so many news stories about people who do wrong by our children. I don’t think we spend nearly enough time acknowledging those educators who go above and beyond the call of duty for our kids.
This year, Evergreen Park is losing two such educators. Melanie Michalak, an Evergreen Park High School teacher for 30 years, has retired, and Jeff Nightingale will be leaving Northeast Elementary School after four years as principal. They have had a great impact in my children’s lives.
My 25-year-old daughter spent four years in Melanie Michalak’s choral program, while my 9-year-old son received his first four years of education under Jeff Nightingale. Both of them have inspired my children, helped them gain self-confidence and a sense of self-worth and encouraged them to reach for the stars.
The nice thing about good teachers and principals is they don’t ever really go away. My children will benefit forever from having known these two fine educators, and they will in turn pass on those values to others.
Thank you, Ms. Michalak and Mr. Nightingale, for caring. You will be sorely missed but never, ever forgotten.
Susan Richmeier
Evergreen Park
Quinn should kill bad bill
A late-night vote last week by the Illinois General Assembly has moved a bad idea one step closer to becoming a law. But Gov. Pat Quinn can still stop Senate Bill 3766 and protect our lungs and our pocketbooks at the same time.
The bill paves the way for one company to profit by selling expensive “synthetic” natural gas made from coal and oil refinery waste at a rate almost four times the current price of ordinary natural gas.
At a time when asthma rates are on the rise, particularly among children, this bill will hurt some of the most vulnerable people on Chicago’s Southeast Side, where a huge subsidized gasification plant would be built.
Ordinary natural gas is a readily available, far less expensive, cleaner and healthier way to heat our homes. Signing SB 3766 would be a devastating step backward in reversing recent progress that has been achieved by the imminent closures of the coal-fired Fisk and Crawford power plants. Replacing old and dirty polluters with a new one is a terrible idea.
Brian Urbaszewski
Director, environmental health programs
Respiratory Health Association
Chicago
Illinois’ delusional voters
The Illinois legislative session has ended, and billions of dollars worth of major financial issues still loom overhead like they do every year.
It reminds of the old definition of insanity — repeating the same behavior and expecting different results.
Illinoisans keep re-electing the same people over and over again and somehow they expect different results. So tell me who is crazy?
Michael D. Turay
Crete
Many questions about Crete detention center
On May 21, many citizens of Crete were disappointed with the postponement of a town hall meeting where Crete citizens would have been able to ask questions and state their objections to the proposed immigrant detention center to be run by a private company.
I have several questions to ask Mayor Michael Einhorn, the village board and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Who will be providing sewer, water, police, fire, ambulance and other services to this facility? What percent of the costs fall on Crete? What happens when serious security breaches occur at the center? What does that mean cost-wise for Crete? Lawsuits or higher taxes?
This is to be a “medium-maximum” security facility. Will ICE provide background checks on each detainee? Is that even possible? Nonviolent? Violent? Sex offenders? Mental/physical health issues? This center would be close to three schools. What price is put on the lives of children and residents in the vicinity?
What is likely to be the center’s impact on property values? Would you want a prison in your back yard?
More than 1,000 Crete residents have signed petitions against the center, and many more want to sign them. There is much anger about the lack of transparency and accountability in village government, especially regarding this for-profit prison, which is not wanted nor welcomed by the residents of Crete.
Audrey Gaines
Crete
