Quick Hits and Questions!

In an online Journal & Topics article -- "Arts Funding Dries Up; Now What?", readers learn of plans by the "arts community" to hold a ""Collaborative Funding Forum" on Tuesday, Oct. 26, at the Non-Profit Center, 720 Garden Street, at 7 p.m."

The PRU Crew feels that's an excellent start to efforts long over-due.

The article goes on to report, "Perry Fisher, president of the Cultural Arts Council, said in a flyer circulated to fine arts members recently. “We are all interested in preserving, maintaining and enriching the arts in Park Ridge. Let’s put our nose to the grindstone, dissolve or hide our respective organizational hats, and work together to foster and nurture all the arts for our town."

The PRU Crew feels that middle phrase, "dissolve or hide our respective organizational hats," is more than a little odd. Have there been instances of artistic ego conflicts and infighting?

The article also reports, "The [cultural arts] council has served as an informal umbrella group and grant coordinator for such groups as the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra, the Fine Arts Society, the Brickton Art Center, and the Historical Society."

Huh.

So in addition to the City's previous contributions to each of those individual organizations, the City also made contributions to the Park Ridge Cultural Arts Council, which then also made "grants" to those individual organizations?

Huh. Double dipping for your pleasure and double dipping for your fun. Emphasis on fun.


In an online Herald-Advocate article -- Funding woes: Teen Center's future hangs in the balance, news readers again learn about further troubles on the fun front.

The article begins with, "The Board of Directors of the Park Ridge Teen Center will meet next week to discuss how -- or if -- the facility will continue to operate without financial support from the city of Park Ridge."

Bummer.

The PRU Crew hopes the Board of Directors of the Park Ridge Teen Center will be able to come up with a way to fund the facility so they can keep it open. After all, we would hate to see 7 out of 8 of the kids pictured in the article, who are reported as being residents of Chicago, not have a place to hang out and play video games.

As the article notes, "Charging teens a fee to use the center may also play into the discussion, she said. Use of the center is now free and teens do not need to be Park Ridge residents to drop in."


The Herald-Advocate provided another online article -- "Park district ponders name changes for buildings" -- full of fun!

The PRU Crew has no opinion on whether or not the Park Ridge Park District chooses to change the names of its' buildings in an effort to better brand themselves.

However, we were pleased to read, "As for the Senior Center, [Executive Director Ray] Ochromowicz is hoping to encourage other uses of the building when the seniors are not there.

"If we want to expand the use of the building, perhaps the name of the building should be addressed as well," he said."

Hey there Big O, we may know of some Chicago teenagers looking for a place to hang out and play video games in the near future! Unless the Seniors take their Wii console and go home.


In our final quick hit at the Herald-Advocate, the PRU Crew read the following article -- "City personnel: Unemployment filing violates ex-director's separation pact".

For our faithful PRU readers who have been paying attention, you know the article is about former Director of Community Preservation and Development, Ms. Carrie Davis.

And if you've been paying close attention, you know the article headline is not quite true. Because if you read the whole article, then you know, "As she was laid off the past summer Davis was paid $25,000 and agreed not to collect unemployment benefits, according to the separation agreement she entered into with City Manager Jim Hock.

Last month Mayor David Schmidt pointed out that the City Council should have voted on the $25,000 expenditure because it exceeded the $20,000 discretionary spending authority the city manager has. The council then rejected a motion to approve $5,000 of the total payment, rendering the separation agreement void, according to City Attorney Kathie Henn."

Is it possible to violate a separation agreement that has been voided by Council action?

Good old Action Ridge, where not all the action is all that good.

Dumbasses. We can't wait to see the legal bills for this stupidity.