Sojourner Truth (abolitionist and women’s rights activist), Susan B. Anthony (women’s rights activist and pioneer of the U.S. women’s suffrage movement), Eleanor Roosevelt (diplomat, humanitarian, and activist), Amelia Earhart (aviation pioneer and author), Frida Kahlo (painter), Maya Angelou (poet, author, and civil rights activist), and Sally Ride (physicist and astronaut).
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of DeKalb County stand ready to help a child through the court system. Development Manager and Advocate Supervisor, Jessica Sandlund, was guest speaker at this week’s Rotary meeting and explained that CASA volunteers are guardians for children facing cases of abuse or neglect, and the eyes and ears for the judge hearing the case. They also assist in truancy cases. The goal of CASA is to find a stable home environment for the child being served with many going into foster homes.
Last year a total of 217 children were helped by CASA through the involvement of 50 volunteers. Sandlund said an average case lasts two-and-a-half years but some have gone as long as seven to eight years. On the average, a new case of child abuse or neglect is reported every 13 hours in DeKalb County. Sandlund showed a moving video where 13 statements from youth served by CASA were read to put context into the situation they faced.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced a major change in CASA’s operations. Sandlund said everything went “virtual”. This included training, client visits, court sessions, and fundraising. At this time, training for new volunteers will still be through virtual settings. Sandlund said it will take place April 8 – May 13 and includes 30 hours of on-line learning. Volunteers are asked to make a two-year commitment. The CASA signature fundraiser, 50 Men Who Cook, is currently being planned for a traditional in-person event in 2021 (pending COVID-19 protocols).
Sandlund urged Rotarians to become Advocate volunteers, volunteer at an event, or be a CASA ambassador spreading the word about the work done by the non-profit organization. For more details visit their website at www.casadekalb.org.
As more of our residents receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Illinois will operate with a metrics-based pathway toward the fifth and final phase of the Restore Illinois reopening plan, in which all sectors of the economy reopen with businesses and recreation resuming normal operations, and where conventions, festivals, and large events can take place.
Following recommendations from public health experts, Illinois will move forward with a dial-like approach between the mitigations in Phase 4, which currently apply to the entire state, and the post-pandemic new normal of Phase 5. This Bridge to Phase 5 will allow for higher capacity limits and increased business operations, before public health experts tell us it is safe to move to the new normal that Phase 5 will bring.
Like the prior evidenced-based approaches to deliberately lift mitigations that have kept us safe and saved lives, this gradual path to Phase 5 will protect the progress we’ve made while allowing us to reopen the economy.
Once 70% of residents 65 and older have been vaccinated and barring any reversals in our COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths for a 28-day monitoring period, the Bridge to Phase 5 will begin with increased capacity limits in both indoor and outdoor settings. Once 50% of residents 16 and older have been vaccinated and stable or declining COVID-19 metrics are recorded during a 28-day monitoring period, Phase 5 will be implemented, removing capacity limits altogether. All regions of the state will move through these next phases together based on statewide metrics.
While regulations are rolled back gradually, Illinoisans should continue following the public health guidelines that have kept us safe during the pandemic, like wearing a mask in public and social distancing.
Additionally, this updated guidance establishes new capacity limits for settings determined by risk level. In an update to current Phase 4 mitigations, individuals with proof of full vaccination — defined as 14 days after receiving a final vaccine dose — or a negative COVID-19 test (PCR) 1-3 days prior to an event do not count against capacity limits. Following the latest studies on virus transmission, lower risk activities that were either not permitted or allowed at a lower capacity have been expanded in Phase 4.
Posted by Jack Beresford, The Irish Post on Mar 17, 2021
Ireland has a rich and proud tradition for producing the best jokes around. More importantly they are the kind of jokes you can learn and share with your family should the occasion call for it. And what better occasion than St Patrick's Day? Here are 10 of our favourites.
10. The Priest
An Irish priest is driving along a country road when a policeman pulls him over. He immediately smells alcohol on the priest's breath and notices an empty wine bottle in the car. He says: "Have you been drinking?" "Just water," says the priest. The cop replies: "Then why do I smell wine?" The priest looks at the bottle and says: "Good Lord! He's done it again!"
9. The Quickest Way To Cork
Billy stops Paddy in Dublin and asks for the quickest way to Cork. Paddy says: "Are you on foot or in the car?" Billy replies: "In the car." "Well that's the quickest way," says Paddy.
8. One Last Shot
Paudie goes into a bar and orders seven shots of tequila and one Guinness. The barman lines up shots and goes to get the Guinness. When he comes back with the pint, all seven shots are gone. The barman says: "Wow! You sure drank those fast."
Paudie explains: "You would drink fast too if you had what I have." The barman asks: "What do you have?" The guy reaches into his pocket and says: "Fifty cents!"
7. The Car Park
An Irishman is struggling to find a parking space. "Lord," he prayed. "I can't stand this. If you open a space up for me, I swear I'll give up the Guinness and go to mass every Sunday." Suddenly, the clouds part and the sun shines on an empty parking spot. Without hesitation, the Irishman says: "Never mind, I found one!"
6. Taking Out An Advert
"Is that the Ballycashel Echo?" asks Mick. "How much would it be to put an ad in your paper?" "Five pounds an inch," a woman replies. "Why? What are you selling?" "A ten-foot ladder," said Mick before slamming the phone down.
5. Three Brothers
An Irishman goes into a bar in America and orders three whiskeys. The barman asks: "Would it be better for if I put all three shots in one glass?" The Irishman replies: "No! I have two other brothers back at home, so every time I come into a pub, I order a shot for them both." The following week, the Irishman orders just two whiskeys. The barman asks: "Did something happen one of your brothers?" "Oh no," replies the Irishman. "I just decided to quit drinking!"
4. Man's Best Friend
Gerry Connors walked his dog through the village every day. One day Mr Connors is on his walk without the dog. His pal Billy sees him and asks: "Where is your dog?" Mr Murphy answers: "I had to have him put down." "Was he mad," asks Billy. "He wasn't too pleased," Mr Murphy replies.
3. Visiting The Doctor
Dr O'Mahony tells his patient: "I have bad news and worse news, John." "Oh dear," John replies. "What's the bad news?" asks the patient. The doctor replies: "You only have 24 hours to live." "That's terrible," says the patient. "How can the news possibly be worse?" Dr O'Mahony replies: "I've been trying to contact you since yesterday."
2. Digging A Hole
Two Irishmen were working in the public works department. One would dig a hole and the other would follow behind him and fill the hole in. After a while, one amazed onlooker said: "Why do you dig a hole, only to have your partner follow behind and fill it up again?" The hole digger wiped his brow and sighed, "Well, I suppose it probably looks odd because we're normally a three-person team. But today the lad who plants the trees called in sick."
1. The Grieving Widow
A sobbing Ms Murphy approaches Fr O'Grady after mass. He says: "So what's bothering you?" She replies: "Oh, Father, I've terrible news. My husband passed away last night." The priest says: "Oh, Mary, that's terrible. Did he have any last requests?" "Certainly father," she replied. "He said: "Please Mary, put down that damn gun."
March 16, 1751 – James Madison, the fourth U.S. President, is born in Port Conway, Virginia. He played an important role in formation of the U.S. Constitution and was President during the War of 1812.
March 15, 1767 – The seventh U.S. President, Andrew Jackson, is born in a log cabin in Waxhaw, South Carolina. He was a hero from the War of 1812 and in politics he helped form the new Democratic Party.
March 18, 1837 – The 22nd and 24th President, Grover Cleveland, is born in Caldwell, New Jersey. He is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms in office.
March 14, 1879 – Albert Einstein is born in Ulm, Germany. His theory of relativity led to new ways of thinking about time, space, matter, and energy. He won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1921.
March 15, 44 B.C. – Julius Caesar was assassinated in the Senate chamber in Rome by Marcus Junius Brutus and fellow conspirators. His death is immortalized by playwright William Shakespeare and the line “Et tu, Brute?”.
March 17, 461– Ireland, and eventually anywhere in the world where the Irish gather, pays homage to the death of St. Patrick of Ireland, the fifth century missionary and later bishop who brought Christianity to Ireland’s masses.
March 18, 1974 – The five-month-old Arab oil embargo against the U.S is lifted. The embargo was in retaliation for the American support of Israel during the Yom Kipper War of 1973 in which Egypt and Syria suffered a crushing defeat. The embargo caused U.S. gas prices to soar 300%.
March 19, 2003 – The U.S launched an attack to topple Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Troops made rapid progress and conquered the capital, Baghdad, in just 21 days ending Hussein’s rule.
