Big step in a new direction

Column originally published Feb. 14, 2007

Dear Mom,

Well, it’s official. We’re packing up and moving to Ottawa — Illinois, not Canada — leaving behind family, friends, our church and the first house we ever owned. The house we brought our baby home to, the house we put our meager life savings into, the house I almost can’t bear to leave.

But, duty calls, and after a lot of deliberation, Kristie and I decided this new job is the best thing for our family for the long term. It was a tough call (you know, we leaned on you and Dad for advice), especially since I so enjoyed my time at the Herald and living in Clinton. Yet sometimes you just know when something feels right, like at my wedding, and you realize you’re being led in a specific direction.

I’ll be the associate editor of the newspaper there, working closely with a talented team of reporters, photographers and page designers to produce an excellent local newspaper, something I have a lot of experience doing after four and a half years with the Herald. In that time I’ve seen a lot of changes — pushed hard for more than a few myself — and am really proud of the work we’ve been able to do as a team.

Continue reading "Big step in a new direction."

Wildcat update

Sad news today from the halls of LHS...

In a word, Frank Underbrink was beloved.

The former Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 social studies teacher and world traveler was adored by students and peers during an educational career that spanned four decades, most of it spent in his hometown of Libertyville.

“He’s just one of the most amazing people I’ve ever had the honor of meeting,” said Libertyville High senior Maggie Molitor, who worked with Underbrink on the district’s award-winning Model United Nations program. “I can’t even fathom what it’s going to be like without Mr. Underbrink.”

Underbrink, 72, died early this morning at Libertyville’s Condell Medical Center after a short battle with cancer.

In the days preceding his death, dozens of former colleagues and students visited Underbrink at the hospital. They included Libertyville High Class of 1982 graduate Tom Morello, now a renowned guitarist with the rock bands Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave.

“He infused subjects that in a lesser man’s hands would’ve been dry with vitality,” said Morello, who flew from California this week to see Underbrink. “He’s kind of like an Indiana Jones with more conscience, soul and heart.”

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Read the updated story here.

The nature of editorials

Column originally published Feb. 7, 2007

Welcome to another installment in the random series I like to call “The way we do the things we do.”

Today’s topic: Editorials.

I know I’ve touched on this before, explaining in March 2005 the nature of who is responsible for the words that appear each day on this page under the “The Herald’s Opinion” heading. That column was about the editorial board process — the how. This will be more about the why.

Why do we write editorials? In my opinion — since this is my opinion — one of the main reasons is because everyone else does. Editorials are a part of a daily newspaper readers simply expect, a fundamental element like a sports page, crossword puzzle and classified advertisements.

But why did it get to be that way? When newspapers were started, they were the comprehensive source for everything — news, analysis, commentary, etc. Now, of course, such information is available everywhere via Internet, cable news channels and more. But since C-Span isn’t covering Clinton City Council meetings, local papers remain a fantastic way to get all-in-one information.

Long ago, newspaper publishers didn’t want to tell you only what was happening, but what to think about it. Of course, papers then tended to be openly associated with one political party or populist belief system, many going so far as to put “Republican” or “Democrat” in the publication name.

While that may be true in some cases today, I can say with full honesty that no one at any of our meetings poses questions like “What can we do today to advance the cause of the Bull Moose Party?” Yet, we still like to interject opinions into the newspaper, but try as hard as possible to confine them to the opinion page.

Continue reading "The Nature of editorials."

Family photos

Sorry I've been so lax in getting these photos online. Anyhow, what you're looking at is pictures of the Holland/Ergang Christmas soiree, which was held this year sometime between Christmas and New Year's. A Friday, I think.

There's one picture of Carter by himself (he'll be one year old on Feb. 13) and another of Carter and Jack ticlling the ivories of the Ergang's piano.

(Note the Target trailer, which is quite appropriate for a little boy growing up in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.)

Holland family fun

In case you're wondering how my brother keeps busy:

"DRAKELINE WEEKLY" returns to Des Moines-area cable viewers of The College Channel 16 for a 12-program season Thursday, Feb. 1.

Twenty-three electronic media students are collaborating on the quarter-hour programs airing live at 4 p.m. Each newscast replays at 5 and 7 p.m. and is also live-streamed and archived at www.Drakeline.com. Downloadable iPod versions provide more flexible viewing.

As their capstone project, Drake University's radio-television and broadcast news majors plan and produce every aspect of the news magazine.

Broadcast news senior Cari Howard from Davenport, Iowa, produces and radio-tv senior Matt Holland from Libertyville, Ill., directs the first newscast. Jarrett Schneider from Renwick, Iowa, anchors the first show.

Students apply their prerequisite class skills and disciplines to television reporting, photography, editing, program design and deadline studio production. Reporters cover stories across Greater Des Moines but especially those emanating from the Statehouse and Des Moines city government.

Students recast their material for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication's DrakeDigitalNews.com and KDRA-LP "94-1 The Dog."

The first "DRAKELINE" series aired during spring 1993 and won a regional Student Emmy. Until 2005, students produced during alternate spring semesters. The activity now occurs annually.

"DRAKELINE WEEKLY" welcomes story ideas or additional feedback from its viewers through DRAKELINE@Drake.edu.

Two topics appear interesting

Column originally published Jan. 31, 2007

Things are starting to get good at the Statehouse in Des Moines, where lawmakers finally are taking up issues that could impact just about everyone who lives or works in Iowa.

Two issues that surfaced Monday look to provide ample fodder for commentators and interested citizens over the next few months, so let’s not waste another moment.

Issue 1: Lawmakers to review sex offender residency law.

Although a dashing young columnist argued against this law about this time last year, no one in Des Moines seemed to notice. Legislators were awful proud of themselves when they voted to prohibit sex offenders convicted of crimes against children from living within 2,000 feet of a school or day care center. Some towns took it another step, with Dyersville notably banning all such offenders from living in the city limits.

And yet, all of the residency laws failed to draw the connection between where a person gets their mail and where they’re free to travel. Some people want to create safe zones around school and child care centers that convicted sex offenders could not enter without permission.

The obvious question is this: Who’s going to be safeguarding the perimeter of the “safe zones?” And if the answer is no one (which it will be, since the cost of that would be astronomical), then aren’t we just talking about another case of good intentions with absolutely no practical value?

Continue reading "Two topics appear interesting."

Attention ex-Libertyvillians

OK, how many of you have even heard of Hawthorn Melody Farms? I always knew about it growing up, probably because my mom used to go there on field trips when she was growing up in Deerfield, Ill.

Anyhow, this site, Nostalgic Illinois, has a neat little description of what used to be where the mall is today:

The 2000-acre farm was owned by John S. Cuneo, who bought the property from utilities magnate Samuel Insull in 1937. The farm was situated in Libertyville Township on Milwaukee Avenue; in addition to providing milk and other dairy products throughout the midwest, the farm also featured a Children's Zoo patterned after the Bronx Park Zoo, the western town seen in this post card, amusement rides, and a carriage museum. Cuneo sold the dairy to National Industries, Inc. of Louisville in 1967, and the fun farm lasted until 1970. Descriptive material on the back of the post card reads: "A Visit To Ghost Town. This colorful steam train chugs out of Hawthorn Gulch Ghost Town on its way back to the Children's Zoo and amusement rides. Be sure to bring your camera." -Excerpt and photo courtesy of Digital Past.

The Cuneo name should ring a bell, as it's the same Cuneo family responsible for the Cuneo mansion (featured somewhat in the Julia Roberts disaster "My Best Friend's Wedding." Cuneo also owned a buttload of property between MUndelein and Vernon Hills, a good deal of which has been developed into ridiculously ornate homes built as close together as the ones on my street in Clinton... which was developed in the 1930s.

Also of note, assuming I have my history straight, is that when the farm became the mall, Libertyville leaders were content to let the land in question go to Vernon Hills -- and with it millions and millions of sales tax dollars. Oh well, at least we still have our car dealerships.

(Click the link for a few photos).

Kohawk update

Thanks to the wonders of the Google blog search and e-mail alert, I was able to locate this post form a Coe student's blog, which clearly is designed as a class assignment. As slackerish as some of my classes were (golf, racquetball, independent study...) I never got a blog writing assignment. But perhaps that's because blogging wasn't even a concept in 1997-2001. Anyhow, a sample...

As I walk across campus at Coe College, I am now warped in trying to see who people are as I pass them. Sounds strange, yet its intriguing and keeps me interested. What are these peoples identity outside of being a student at Coe College? Are they aunts, uncles, best friends, mothers or fathers, employees, babysitters? Did they have braces to make their teeth so straight? Looking around at other people, I started thinking about how they perceive me. My assignment is to describe my identity, whom I identity with, I thought a good start would be to try to see other peoples identities. But now, it’s my turn, to describe MY identity.

You can read the whole post (until the smiley face wrecks the font) here.

Wildcats update

For those of you who weren't there or can't quite figure it out, what you're looking at is a picture of me with a bunch of my high school friends (and spouses) at the Dec. 26 wedding reception for Jon Feinberg and Shannon Juengst (of Post-Schn-ulations fame (see link at right).

Pictured are Amanda and Eric Hjerpe, Nick and Alexis Ergang, Shannon and Jon, Gretchen Kemp, Scott Holland, Stephanie and Rick Peterson, and Juliana Van Winkle. Kristie was absent because she had to stay in Clinton to work a few more days; Jack was either playing Shannon's nieces or breaking into the bar. Anyhow, he's also pictured on this post. The Hjerpes also have a blog linked to on this site (It's My Life), though flooding has limited their access. Still, they have a cute baby, as do Nick and Alexis. I have good pictures of Carter from Christmas, but I'm wicked bad at getting those things online. One of these days...

I've been told Gretchen has a MySpace page and that J also has a blog, but I have no proof. Stephanie sends out frequent e-mail updates (usually posted here) and I think that pretty much covers everyone.

To see the other 161 photos from this faboo party, click right about here.

Also, those of you who were at this party and also took pictures of me or Jack are contractually obligated to either e-mail them to me or post them online somewhere.

Happy Thursday.

Not so wise words

It's all about syntax.

The Austin Toros of the NBA Development League put up with some unneeded Bull-loney when their now-suspended mascot lost his head -- figuratively and literally -- and nearly cost the team its game against the Colorado 14ers on Wednesday night.

The mascot, known as Da Bull, prematurely ran onto the court and hung from the rim with .4 seconds remaining, apparently to punctuate center Loren Woods' breakaway dunk that gave the Toros a four-point lead over Colorado.

While hanging from the rim, the Toros detailed in a news release Thursday, Da Bull collided with a Colorado player. At the point of contact, the mascot's head, to his horror, fell to the floor.

Had my head fallen to the floor, I to would be horrified.

Read the whole story here on ESPN.com

Stuff you didn't know

Maybe you did know about this, which I also found out about at Eric Zorn's blog.

Washington, DC radio host Jerry Klein of WMAL was commenting on the Muslim Imams kicked off a flight. Klein suggested that all Muslims in the United States should be identified with a crescent-shape tattoo or a distinctive arm band, the phone lines jammed instantly.

Among the callers:

“Not only do you tattoo them in the middle of their forehead but you ship them out of this country … they are here to kill us.”

and:

Another said that tattoos, armbands and other identifying markers such as crescent marks on driver’s licenses, passports and birth certificates did not go far enough. “What good is identifying them?” he asked. “You have to set up encampments like during World War Two with the Japanese and Germans.”

Finally a half hour into his show, Klien revealed the game:

“I can’t believe any of you are sick enough to have agreed for one second with anything I said. For me to suggest to tattoo marks on people’s bodies, have them wear armbands, put a crescent moon on their driver’s license on their passport or birth certificate is disgusting. It’s beyond disgusting.

Because basically what you just did was show me how the German people allowed what happened to the Jews to happen … We need to separate them, we need to tattoo their arms, we need to make them wear the yellow Star of David, we need to put them in concentration camps, we basically just need to kill them all because they are dangerous.”

See the original post, and a few reader comments, here.

Time Killer

You paid attention during 97% of high school!

85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?

I think my knowledge of religion stuff gave me an unfair advantage. And someone may have helped me calculate the area of that triangle. Thanks to Eric Zorn for the link.

Attention ex-Libertyvillians

Want to know what the village board of your hometown is up to? Raising money, of course.

When they are conducting business, the Libertyville village board has a dress code and maintains a suit-and-tie decorum.

But as the “village people” calendar shows, they’re not as formal as one might think.

That nickname has been around for years, an obvious reference to their role as elected village officials. But since early December, the designation has veered into the disco era of the late 1970s.

Yes, that’s Mayor Jeff Harger sporting brown buckskins and a headdress that dips below his waist as the American Indian chief character. Trustee Bill Westerman, as the cop, wields a billy club as if he means business.

Trustee Bob Peron donned chaps as the biker-type guy. A sailor, construction worker, cowboy and members of the military round out the characters based on the Village People concept group, whose hits include “Macho Man” and “YMCA.”

Calendars available at village hall and local business have sold well, and about 170 of the 200 prints were purchased for $20 apiece. But what began as a fundraising idea for MainStreet Libertyville Inc., the downtown revitalization group, has taken on a life of its own. ...

Calendar sales have slowed and as it is nearly the end of January, another printing doesn’t seem likely, according to MainStreet director Randy Nelson.

Proceeds will be used to educate residents on a proposed historic preservation ordinance.

Read the full Daily Herald story here, and see a WBBM (CBS channel 2) video of the story here.

Wildcat update

I'm pretty lazy. This dispatch from Stephanie (Velander) Peterson came in on Jan. 10:

Hi friends!
I'm nearly three weeks into my new job and all is going well. Some students warmed to me immediately and others will take awhile, I think. I'm finding it a smooth transition to be writing lesson plans and grading 8th grade level work, which is VERY nice. I'm thankful for the past experience I've had at RFIS that has prepared me for stepping into this role.

In exciting news, if you haven't heard, Rick is in Oman with a group of students from his class at seminary. They are learning about Islam and Christianity in the middle east as they meet with different religious leaders and missionaries. Sadly, he's gone for 10 days!!! You can pray that I would get good rest while he's away as I usually have trouble sleeping when I'm alone in this big house. There are two people upstairs, but we live on the first floor and I get wigged out easily. ;-) If you want to read about the things Rick is doing or see pictures (when they post them), you can check out their xanga site: http://www.xanga.com/omancrew/

That's all for now folks! I start another grad class tonight, so I'm off to GR with a 45 minute commute either way. (Fabulous!)
Love,
Steph

So there you have it.

The Super Bowl muffle

Column originally published Jan. 24, 2007

Hey, did you hear the Bears are in the Super Bowl?

The only practical way you haven’t heard yet is if you’ve just woken from a minimum four-day coma and this happens to be your first contact with the outside world, in which case I’m very flattered.

Now that we’re all up to speed, I’m sure you’re assuming that as a native of the Chicago suburbs and general sports fan, I must be on cloud nine right about now, basking in the glow of a championship season and counting down the days to the big game in Miami. In reality, my excitement is somewhere between when I learned “ALF” would be available on DVD and the day I got my college acceptance letter.

It’s not that I’m not excited about the Bears, it’s just that I don’t have the energy to live and die with more than one sports team. And when I say live and die, we’re not too far from reality. When the Cubs honked games six and seven of the 2003 National League Championship Series, I was almost physically ill.

If the Cubs continue to be sort of good but not good enough for the next 50 years — and really, who would be surprised? — I fully expect my death certificate to include a sentence like: “Cardiac arrest related to shortstop missing the cutoff man allowing winning run to score from first base on a sacrifice bunt gone horribly, horribly wrong.”

I want the Bears to win. Pressed to name a favorite NFL team, I would always pick Chicago (although I used to always play as Tampa Bay during dorm room sessions of “Madden 64” with my roommate). But having a favorite team and having a deep, abiding passion are two very different things.

Continue reading "The Super Bowl muffle."

Bend it like Barackham

Column originally published Jan. 17, 2007

The curious lives of David Beckham and Barack Obama may never intersect outside of my brain, but the prominence of these two in the national news of late has me wondering more than ever about the forces that motivate humans and guide our lives.

Beckham, the international soccer star with the superhot wife and skills so unique that his name was used in the title of a major motion picture, agreed to play with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer for a compensation package reportedly worth $250 million.

Obama, the first-term Democratic Senator from Illinois who rose to national prominence with a keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, made it beyond clear Tuesday that he will run for president in 2008.

So I ask you, which is more baffling — MLS for believing Beckham will get the casual American sports fan to give a rip about soccer, or Obama for believing voters will think three-plus years in the U.S. Senate is enough experience to earn him the keys to the White House?

The Beckham situation clearly is more ridiculous. If the guy wants to get his money, and if the Galaxy are willing to pay him, that’s capitalism at its finest. But the fact that I had to use the Internet to learn the name of LA’s MLS team is pretty telling about the state of soccer in this country.

Continue reading "Bend it like Barackham."

Where to put your money

Column originally published Jan. 10, 2007

Let’s play the “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” game.

The rules are quite simple, but rest assured — no actual money is involved. Rather, it’s an exercise in examining how firm your beliefs really are.

For example, it’s easy for me to argue that people who own property along South 18th Street should be assessed for upgrades to the road. But would I feel the same way if the topic were my street?

Most certainly. It’s about the good of the city… but it’s also easy for me to take that stance since we bought a house on a street in very good condition with curbs and sidewalks. I don’t think the assessment issue will hit my block for a very long time.

I call it the PYMWYMI game because I think it’s a good way of ending arguments. When people were calling into sports talk radio shows and saying it was imperative that the Bears beat Green Bay on the last day of the NFL regular season, despite already having guaranteed the best record in their conference, only one question was needed: Would you like to see the Bears beat the Packers if it cost the Bears a chance winning the Super Bowl?

Well, PYMWYMI. If you answer yes, you’re not a real Bears fan. A real Bears fan wants the team to win the Super Bowl above all else. Other wins may matter, but not as much.

Continue reading "Where to put your money."

Wildcat update

Today's news from Josh Carstens:

Hey, Scott. Just thought I'd shoot off a quick note to you. I've been keeping up with your blog and wanted to throw a piece of LHS Alum news your way. Lena (my wife) and I are expecting a child this July. Like Jess said a few months ago when she and Derek announced they were expecting, this was one of the hardest things to keep quiet. But, I shout it from the rooftops. And in keeping with the spirit of comedy, I found my next t-shirt. It reads: "My Boys Can Swim." Okay, so either that one or "I'm the Milkman." I"m just not sure which...

-Josh

So there you have it. Congratulations!

Making a list, checking it twice

Column originally published Jan. 3, 2007

Based on the results of last week’s online reader poll, I’m certainly not alone when I say I have no New Year’s resolution.

At the time of this writing (Tuesday afternoon), “no resolution” and “lose weight” were tied, each with 34.01 percent of the 141 votes cast. I used to try to lose wait, now I focus on maintaining. My weight’s pretty normal, as far as I can tell, and I haven’t grown out of the pants I bought three years ago, so that’s good news.

I just wish I could turn some of the pudge from the middle into anything resembling an upper body muscle. But, until they figure out a way for chasing a 2-year-old around the living room to convert microwave popcorn calories into 24-inch pythons… well, me thinks I’ll play the hand I’ve been dealt.

But just because I don’t have a resolution for myself doesn’t mean I can’t come up with some for other people. As I wrote in January 2005 — it’s always more fun telling someone else what to do than actually getting off your own butt and making something happen.

In this case, I’ll be crafting a list of goals for the Clinton City Council. And yes, I do know that the council crafts its own list at a planning session each January. This is just a list of what I think the council’s priorities should be. If you don’t care what I think, then head on over to page 4B and work on the Cryptoquote. It’s a doozy.

Continue reading "Making a list, checking it twice."

How we got our top 10

Column originally published Dec. 27, 2006

Welcome to another installment in the random series I like to call “The way we do the things we do.”

This week’s topic is our annual year in review section. “A Look Back: 2006” will be inserted in Friday’s Clinton Herald. Since the section typically generates a few of the same questions each year, I thought I’d try to answer them pre-emptively.

First — Why isn’t the section coming out on Dec. 31? Well, this year that’s a Sunday, and we don’t print a Sunday edition.

OK then, why isn’t coming out on Dec. 30? Well, for the formal answer, you’d have to check with our mailroom. We can only put so much stuff in one bundle each day. Saturday’s paper always has an A and B section, and almost always has a C and D section, which is a news section we put together late Thursday or Friday paired with the classified ads for Saturday.

These early editions, called pre-runs, are mandatory since our printing press can only run two sections simultaneously, and there’s very limited space for full-color advertising (the front and back page of each section).

Running two sections earlier in the day allows us to put all four sections together.

Continue reading "How we got our top 10."