GuideStar is great for researching charities and, if they pass muster, donating to them on-site. It’s a gathering place for data on other nonprofit organizations, too — apparently for any that file IRS Form 990, which is marked “Open to Public Inspection.” One I looked over recently is DeKalb Corn Fest, Inc., a group that…
Where’s Wogen?
Last night at the Council meeting I asked 3rd Ward Alderman Victor Wogen to state for the record where he is living now. This seems fair; after all, I had to submit my address to speak at the meeting. Astoundingly, instead of answering he looked to the attorney for help, and she said he didn’t…
High School Construction Contracts
Here is the list of contracts awarded for the construction of the new DeKalb High School. School Board President Mike Verbic sent it to me and a few others in late July, but I didn’t put it up then because I expected it to show up on the revamped District 428 website. Well, either they…
Just the Facts: Obama’s Speech in District 428
I received two e-mails very early this morning that Dr. Evil Briscoe, Superintendent of Schools for District 428, has ordered all the school principals not to show President Obama’s speech to schoolchildren tomorrow morning. However, according to recorded school auto-calls placed to district families a bit after 10 a.m., the speech will be shown throughout…
P.E.T. Does It. Why Won’t ReNew?
Last week I submitted a FOIA request to the City of DeKalb to review meeting minutes from the Preservation of the Egyptian Theater (P.E.T.) organization. Today I stopped by the Municipal Building to pick up two years’ worth, which translated to minutes of 17 meetings. Such accessibility is made possible by a provision of P.E.T.’s…
Redistricting Open Thread
A couple people asked, “How do we get more of the community to attend these [redistricting] meetings?” It’s a tall order in view of the recent past. For what it’s worth, though, I will tell people that the discussion so far appears to be generally open to input of all sorts and free of predetermined…
Stone Corner Farm
John and Cindy Barnhart bought an abandoned 7-acre farm southeast of Oregon and began growing vegetables on it. Open for business four years now and certified organic, Barnhart’s Stone Corner Farm Market is certainly about the land and the food, but it’s also about stewardship of a singular piece of local history. Photography by Janet…
“Lagaan” = Land Tax
In (dis)honor of the looming property tax deadline, I am watching the Bollywood movie “Lagaan” again this weekend.
‘Grade’ the “Northern Star” Editorial
“Human services organizations should not be cut from funding”, by the Editorial Board of the Northern Star, Friday, August 28, 2009 Cartoon A Theme A Persuasion A Accuracy of Price Tag on Sidewalk from Nowhere to Nowhere B+ (Well, look what they have to use for a source!) Knowledge of How City Budget/TIF Works C…
Congrats to Our Firefighters
Congrats to our firefighters on reversing the lay offs! I decided I would keep running the DeKalb Rescue Me Now blog anyway because the Fire and Police Departments seem below a skating rink, a sidewalk from nowhere to nowhere, the brick building mania, spending TIF money like drunken gamblers, and the airport in priorities. When…