BLACKHAWKS GAMEDAY WRAPPED AROUND SPORTS WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS Game 3: Blackhawks at Detroit 6:30 p.m. Monday, NBCSN
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Monday, May 20, 2013 •
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Woodstock students tasked with starting life’s script
CAPS OFF TO CLASS OF 2013 • LOCAL, A3
Alden-Hebron’s small class achieved big things
The only daily newspaper published in McHenry Co.
Separate hearings for districts
LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES NAVIGATE UNCERTAIN TIME
Virtual charter school appeals saw confusion By STEPHEN Di BENEDETTO sdibenedetto@shawmedia.com CARPENTERSVILLE – A state commission’s recent decision to grant individual appeal hearings for all Fox Valley school districts affected by a proposed virtual charter school was in response to a misunderstanding, said the commission’s chairman. Representatives from the 18 school districts that stand to lose tax dollars with the proposed Illinois Virtual Charter School at Fox River Valley attended an Illinois State Charter School Commission meeting Wednesday in Chicago to oppose an apparent recommendation from commissioners that would have lumped the districts into a group appeal
hearing. The districts’ reaction to the apparent recommendation surprised Chairman Greg Richmond, who said that the districts seemed to be reacting to a decision that was not yet made. “There was some uncertainty by the districts on what we were proposing,” Richmond said. “I think some people thought some of the decisions were already made.” Commissioners met last week to outline the structure and timeline of the appeal process nearly a month after all 18 districts, including Carpentersville-based District 300, rejected the proposed charter school.
Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Employee Lucas Shaffer cleans the cymbals Tuesday at the Player’s Bench. The independently-owned music store, which sells instruments, accessories and lessons, will celebrate its 40th anniversary July 15.
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Mom pops
See APPEAL, page A6
survive in shaky economy
Pension debate worries workers
By JEFF ENGELHARDT jengelhardt@shawmedia.com CRYSTAL LAKE – Joe Ornelas remembers crashing in his office at 3 a.m. after another gig in a Chicago bar. The then 24-year-old would wake up just a few hours later, take a shower and do what he could to make the Player’s Bench thrive. Nearly 40 years later, the music shop has grown from one employee to a staff of eight, with 20 teachers available to provide lessons in the numerous studios. Despite the early years of playing gigs four nights a week, teaching private lessons on the side and working at his music shop every day, Ornelas, now in his 60s, never regretted starting his own business. “I still get letters and emails from customers and people who have worked here,” Ornelas said. “The re-
Ill. lawmakers face 2 proposals By REGINA GARCIA CANO The Associated Press SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois agency manager might have to delay retirement. A former university secretary wonders where she’ll have to cancel vacations. A state office assistant fears he won’t be able to afford the medical care his wife needs. Anxiety and anger are growing among state employees and retirees who wonder what will happen to their pocketbooks if lawmakers make expected
changes to the state’s pension systems that could require workers to pay even more toward retirement, increase the retirement age and cut annual increases in benefits. Workers spent their careers paying into their pension funds what the law told them to pay while, for decades, Legislatures and governors shorted and even skipped the state’s required payments. Now the General Assembly is scrambling
Photo provided
Complete forecast on A10
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lationships in here are monumental. It’s what makes independent stores special.” Ornelas’ shop is an increasing
FRIDAY
4TH FRIDAY FEATURES VARIED ARTISTS
FRIDAY: ‘Fast & Furious 6,’ starring Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel, opens in theaters.
Vin Diesel
Paul Walker
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Joe Ornelas
Owner of the Player’s Bench
See ECONOMY, page A6
If Your Dentures Are Not Becoming To You, You Should be Coming To Us! • • • • •
Fourth Friday will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Starline Factory, 306 W. Front St., Harvard. This monthly art event will feature the artwork of new and returning artists, and also includes live music and light appetizers. Admission is $5 a person. For information, call 815-943-4805 or visit www.starlinefactory.com. For more, see page A2.
Dwayne Johnson
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rarity in an economy that has made it difficult for mom and pop shops to start up or stay open. Numbers from the U.S. Labor Department show more than one-third of small businesses launched in 2000 had closed by the turn of the decade. The trend comes as no surprise to Ornelas, who said he likely would not have succeeded if he attempted to launch his business today. He said everything from the cost of paying a mortgage to obtaining a college degree has made it nearly impossible to launch a small business, which already carries exorbitant costs. But owners’ mistakes such as starting too big too fast by leveraging more than they should, or living a lavish lifestyle after the first sign of success, are also to blame, Ornelas said.
See PENSIONS, page A6
LOOKING FORWARD
HIGH
I still get letters and emails from customers and people who have worked here. The relationships in here are monumental. It’s what make independent stores special.
The week’s happenings in news, sports and more. Page 2A Vol. 28, Issue 140
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