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28 | December 13, 2018 | The wilmette beacon sound off wilmettebeacon.com A Word From The (Former) President Lorelei McClure: A worthy role model John Jacoby Contributing Columnist I sometimes think about folks I’ve known over the years whom I consider worthy role models for myself and others. Among them is Wilmette resident Lorelei McClure, who just celebrated her 80th birthday on Dec. 6. I’ve known Lorelei since the 1990s when she was Director of the House of Worship for the Baha’is and the leader of the North Shore Race Unity Task Force. During the 1990s, the Task Force sponsored annual walks through Evanston and Wilmette to promote the principle of the oneness of humanity. That’s when I first noticed Lorelei’s qualities of composure, kindness, openness, and commitment that made her an effective advocate for her principal goals — respect and unity among all people, and affordable housing for folks with low incomes. Lorelei was born in Marshall, Texas, the daughter of Eugene and Renee Edmonds. Eugene (a Chicago native) and Renee (a Marshall native) met at Wiley University in Marshall, a college established in 1872 for African- American students. After college, Eugene joined the army as a helicopter pilot and instructor. He’d eventually retire from the army at Ft. Sheridan and entered the teaching profession. Meanwhile, Lorelei and her mother, also a teacher, lived in an apartment at her maternal grandparents’ home in Marshall. Lorelei’s grandfather was a Methodist minister, and Lorelei began her religious life in that denomination. “I’ve always known there’s a Higher Being”, she says, and “I know that we’re not separate from one another — we’re connected through this Higher Being.” When Lorelei was 14, she and her mother joined her father in Chicago, where (her parents believed) she and her younger brother could get a better education. She was an excellent student at Hyde Park High School and (she modestly admits) “quite a dancer,” having received instruction from famed Spanish flamenco artists Rosario and Antonio and Afro-Cuban tap artist Jimmy Payne. She pursued her dancing and acting interests at the Universities of Iowa and Chicago. She graduated from the U. of C. in 1961. In 1959, Lorelei married her high school sweetheart, James McClure, Jr., a physician. By 1967, they had four children and lived in Evanston, her hometown until 2007. But her interest in performing wasn’t quenched. In 1971, while earning a master’s degree in theater from Northwestern University, she hosted a Sunday morning TV show, “Whys? . . . And Otherwise!” on WMAQ Wilmette resident Lorelei McClure became an octogenarian on Dec, 6. Photo submitted Chicago. It was an educational program that delved into subjects suggested by kids. A year and a half later, she became involved with a children’s theater company (Truck, Inc.) that introduced Shakespeare to youngsters at schools and fairgrounds. After four years with “the Truck”, Lorelei returned to full-time parenting, supplemented by studying for a doctorate degree in comparative literature at the University of Chicago. But her desire for a doctorate waned, and her search for spiritual fulfillment grew. After five years of study, she chose the Baha’i faith because of its core belief — “humanity is one.” I won’t detail Lorelei’s many efforts to promote interracial harmony and affordable housing. They’re matters of record. But it’s important to understand the qualities that make her influential: “I truly believe that love is the force that creates oneness,” she say. “We Please see JACOBY, 29 LetterS to the Editor Arming teachers is foolish I just read your cover story (Nov. 21) for this week about arming teachers, which is not just a local or state-wide issue, but a national issue. Our school board president, Mark Steen, summed it up when he said: “If you put a gun in a school there has to be an adult responsible for that gun that has absolutely no other primary job junction than public safety … Putting people in place who have dual responsibilities … is foolish.” I don’t think it can be said any better than that. Russ Light Wilmette resident THE NORTHBROOK TOWER District 27 tax levy calls for near 4 percent increase Final approval of the 2018 property tax levy of $27,483,734 for Northbrook School District 27 is set for the Thursday, Dec. 20 meeting of the Board of Education following a public hearing at the board’s Thursday, Dec. 6 meeting. Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Dr. Kimberly Arakelian said the levy is 3.98 percent higher than that of 2017. The levy combines the 2017 Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 2.1 percent plus a 1.88 percent increase to account for potential new property that can be added to the tax rolls. Arakelian pointed out that although the state doesn’t require a public hearing unless the levy is 5 percent or higher than the previous year, it is common practice for District 27 to hold the hearing in Kudos to reporter for Kenilworth coverage On Nov. 29, you published an article written by Fouad Egbaria regarding Kenilworth’s budget hearing. I am writing to compliment the work of Fouad on this story. During the Village Board meeting, I presented a fair amount of detailed information regarding our budget and the police pension plan. I read the story that he published (with editorial help I assume), and found myself impressed with the way he understood the details and presented the information in a clear manner. Our work keeping with its policy of transparency. No members of the public came to the hearing to comment on the levy that was discussed by the board at its Thursday, Nov. 18 meeting. At that time the board recommended approval. Arkelian said she is monitoring “key issues” that could impact the tax levy in future years: state sources of revenue; the cost of pension obligations shifting to employers; and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Reporting by Neil Milbert, Freelance Reporter. Full story at NorthbrookTower. com can tend to be a bit difficult to explain in a way that someone can capture the essence of our goals and work in a few inches of text. I feel that Fouad did a great job conveying the relevant portions of our meeting in a clear and understandable way for your readers. In my years of doing this work, I have not always had the pleasure of working with journalists that seem to have that talent. I appreciate his efforts to get the story right on a regular basis. Patrick Brennan Kenilworth Village Manager THE GLENVIEW LANTERN Glenview Village Board to reconsider minimum wage, sick leave ordinances Jan. 3 The Glenview Village Board opted out of Cook County’s new minimum wage and sick leave ordinances last year, but during the Nov. 6 general election, village residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of changing course. According to Cook County election results, approximately 76 percent of voters in precincts that include at least a small section of Glenview registered their support for a $13 hourly wage starting by July 2020, while 82 percent backed a proposal to provide employees in the village with paid sick time benefits. The questions on the November ballot read: - Shall the minimum wage in your municipality match the $13 per hour Cook County minimum wage law for adults over the age of 18 by July 1, 2020, and be indexed to the consumer price index after that? - Shall your municipality match the Cook County earned sick time law, which allows for workers Please see Neighbors, 29
wilmettebeacon.com SOUND OFF the wilmette beacon | December 13, 2018 | 29 Social snapshot Top Web Stories From WilmetteBeacon.com as of Dec. 10 1. Police Reports: Wilmette vacuum thieves nabbed after trying to return stolen goods 2. Wilmette’s Valley Lodge Tavern shows support of veterans at Code Platoon event 3. Boys hockey: New Trier, Loyola battle on the ice for charity 4. Ex-North Shore teacher pleads not guilty to 64 child porn, sexual assault charges 5. Wilmette’s North Shore Squares promotes square dancing Become a member: wilmettebeacon.com/plus FROM THE EDITOR Wilmette on display at Botanic Garden Eric DeGrechie eric@wilmettebeacon.com Last year at this time, my wife and son, who was 1 at the time, visited the Chicago Botanic Garden for the Wonderland Express. Though they took photos and my wife described to me how special the display is, I needed to see it for myself. Luckily, through the kind gestures of a coworker and the staff at the Chicago Botanic Garden, I got to do that with my family last weekend. A frequent visitor to the Glencoe attraction, I’m always amazed at all of the cool exhibits they have to offer and the Wonderland Express is no exception. In addition to recreating many Chicago landmarks in the exhibit, just outside of Wonderland Express is a train display that pays tribute to the North Shore. Among the stops on the train tracks is Wilmette’s Bahai House of Worship. An electronic train drives past a model of Wilmette’s Bahai House of Worship at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. Eric DeGrechie/22nd Century Media Pretty cool stuff. Wonderland Express runs through Jan. 6. Visit chicagobotanic.org. JACOBY From Page 28 don’t understand the force and necessity of love. I meet every person, every situation, with an expectation that I’m connected. Then, it’s up to me to find middle ground. “I don’t argue. I don’t walk away. I just try to understand. What am I missing? If you win a point by forcing someone from a belief or stance, it’s not a permanent win, because it’s going to come back. The negativity is still there. I had to learn patience. It’s a process. You can’t do everything in one step. I’ve always been flexible, but I’ve learned to apply flexibility to a broader sphere.” Let’s learn from Lorelei. And congratulate her on 80 years of a good life!. Wilmette Park District posted this photo on Dec. 6 with the caption: “Santa and his crew are totally jazzed about the great effort you’ve all be putting in for the Holiday Hustle - keep up the strong work!” Like The Wilmette Beacon: facebook.com/wilmettebeacon “We are thrilled to report that on #GivingTuesday we raised $155,000! This is A NEW REGINA RECORD for funds raised on #GivingTuesday! Each + every one of your donations will have a direct impact on our students. Did you miss the day + still want to donate?” @ReginaDominican, Regina Dominican, posted on Nov. 29 Follow The Wilmette Beacon: @wilmettebeacon go figure 64 An intriguing number from this week’s edition Number of child porn, sexual assault charges ex-Loyola teacher pled not guilty to, Page 6 Neighbors From Page 28 to earn up to 40 hours (5 days) of sick time a year to take care of their own health or a family member’s health? As a whole, approximately 84 and 89 percent of Cook County voters, respectively, supported opting into the ordinances. Reporting by Chris Pullam, Freelance Reporter. Full story at GlenviewLantern. com. THE WINNETKA CURRENT Assisted living and memory care facility unanimously rejected In front of a packed crowd at Northfield Village Hall, the Village Board unanimously rejected a special-use ordinance to allow for an assisted living and memory care facility at 1622 Willow Road at its Dec. 4 meeting. The facility was proposed to have 44 units, with 33 assisted living apartments and 11 memory care apartments. Trustee Tom Roszak felt this was not the right location for this facility next to a residential neighborhood. “These uses are not compatible,” Roszak said. “Having an assisted living and memory care facility next to these 200 homes is not compatible. It would cause extreme hardship on the neighbors. I just think it should be in a more appropriate location and not in this location.” Trustee Greg Lungmus concurred with his fellow trustee Roszak that this was not the right place for this facility. “I think there’s a need for a facility like this and I’d like to see one built in Northfield, but not in this location,” Lungmus said. “I’m excited about the idea that this building could be reutilized, but at the end of the day, I really have trouble with the structure itself being used as a memory residence, so I just don’t see it working.” Trustee John Gregorio was concerned with the impact this project would have on the adjacent residential neighborhood. “I just have too many issues with the parking, deliveries, traffic, traffic safety and ambulance calls,” he said. “They talked about a couple a week, that’s 100 a year. Most streets in Northfield, you see two a year. I can’t support something that requires a resident of Northfield to have a semi blocking their garage.” Twenty-two Northfield residents voiced their thoughts on the proposal during public comment, with 20 people against the project and two in favor. Reporting by Todd Marver, Freelance Reporter. Full story at WinnetkaCurrent. com. Sound Off Policy Editorials and columns are the opinions of the author. Pieces from 22nd Century Media are the thoughts of the company as a whole. The Wilmette Beacon encourages readers to write letters to Sound Off. All letters must be signed, and names and hometowns will be published. We also ask that writers include their address and phone number for verification, not publication. Letters should be limited to 400 words. The Wilmette Beacon reserves the right to edit letters. Letters become property of The Wilmette Beacon. Letters that are published do not reflect the thoughts and views of The Wilmette Beacon. Letters can be mailed to: The Wilmette Beacon, 60 Revere Drive ST 888, Northbrook, IL, 60062. Fax letters to (847) 272-4648 or email to eric@wilmettebeacon.com. www.wilmettebeacon.com
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