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Chicago Tribune
03-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
After nearly a quarter century helping run the La Grange library, a chapter is ending for longtime trustee
After dedicating her entire working life to libraries, La Grange Library Trustee Becky Spratford has decided that after 24 years, it's time to end the chapter and retire. Spratford is no longer a librarian and is retiring from her board role, but she said she's still committed to serving the community. 'I feel really good about stepping away,' Spratford said. 'I'm going to stay involved because I love the library. I'm very involved with Pillars (Community Health), my husband and I are extremely involved, both financially and with our time.' Spratford was born in New Jersey and went to Amherst College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in American Studies and met her husband, Eric Spratford, now a doctor practicing out of Westchester. They married in 1998 and moved to La Grange the same year, where she began working for the law libraries of two separate law firms in Chicago. 'It was a really fun time to be in law libraries because it was the end of the Twentieth Century,' Spratford said. 'Westlaw, Lexis, all the databases for them to use … it was the switching from doing the book research to computer research and we were the ones that had to do it for them. So we were involved in all the fun stuff. It was a great training ground when I went to Dominican to get my masters degree in Library Information Science.' In the Summer of 2000, Spratford got her first official job as a certified librarian at the Berwyn Public Library. But she was also looking for an opportunity to give back to the community, which led her to throw her hat into the ring for an open seat on the La Grange library's Board of Trustees. 'I was looking for places to volunteer,' she said. 'I noticed in the fall that the Citizens Council was looking for someone to run for the Library Board, and I thought, well, I'm going to try this. I never thought of myself as a politician, but I'm not a politician if I'm helping the library.' In 2001, she won her first of six terms, serving at different times as trustee, board secretary, treasurer, vice president and president. Spratford is also a member of the Illinois Library Association and the La Grange board's liaison to that organization, as well as the Reaching Across Illinois Library Association and a member of the American Library Association. She also previously served on the ILA Conference Planning Committee and participated in training for the Illinois Trustee Forum. No matter what office she held, she always took time to serve on the Finance Committee. 'My goal was to always be efficient and effective with everyone's money,' Spratford said. 'Efficient without ever going over (budget), but also effective, because I understood that when staff would come and say 'we need this,' I was able to ask questions that really got to the heart of the service for the patrons.' Over the years, Spratford kept running for reelection because, as she said, because 'either no one was running, or something big was happening.' Some of those big things involved participating in searches for three new library directors, as well as several strategic planning processes. Another was the process and construction of a new library building in 2007. 'Our building was small and our community was growing,' Spratford said. 'La Grange had been going through some down times, and we were coming back. It wasn't just that the old library was tired, it was too small.' A new building required a significant infusion of cash, which, due to the Illinois property tax cap, required a referendum. Spratford said she was proud that during the time the main building was closed, she was in charge of the relocation of services to a location on Shawmut Avenue and the library operated without a break in service. 'We were able to relocate the library and have every book come there and every service still go,' she said. Spratford stressed the financial efficiency of the board in the roughly 20 years since the building opened. 'For those first 20 years we made sure we saved some money, so that's how we renovated the first floor,' she said. 'We're looking now at doing some renovations on the second floor. 'One of the things I made sure we did was we did an assessment of every system here and we have enough money that if every single system failed, the roof, the boiler, all the systems, we can fix it. You can't forget about those things … our job is to keep this building open and running.' Spratford said that she wanted to serve on the Board until the original building bonds were paid off, which happened earlier this year, saying 'it was my time to go when the building was paid off.' She might be retiring from the Board of Trustees, but she will definitely stay busy with freelance writing and her business. The roots of Spratford's business — RA for All — date back to when she was first hired as a full-time librarian at the Berwyn Public Library. 'I started at the Berwyn Public Library in a department called Readers Advisory,' she said. 'It's basically reading recommendations for adults. Spratford's web page, announces the business's purpose on its main page: 'Training Library Workers to Help Leisure Readers.' Spratford also edited a book coming out shortly, 'Why I Love Horror,' a collection of essays from 16 of the country's most distinguished writers of horror fiction. And, just in case she's not busy enough, there's also one final library matter she wants to address. 'One of the things we're missing here that other libraries of our prestige and size and use have, is that we don't have a foundation,' Spratford said. Separate from the Friends of the Library, she said a foundation would be a 'next step; it's a larger thing. It's more of an endowing organization that ensures the financial health of the library. The director and I have already had talks with local people who are involved with foundations. We'd love to have that start in 2027, at the twentieth year anniversary of opening the building … it's going to be a multi-year process.'
Edinburgh Reporter
29-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Alexander in Taiwan for talks
The MP for Lothian East, Douglas Alexander, is in Taiwan for talks in his role as Trade Minister on Sunday and Monday. The visit is part of the UK's longstanding although unofficial relationship with Taiwan and is aimed at improving bilateral trade, worth £9.3 billion in 2024. It comes a week after the Government announced its new Trade Strategy intended to secure UK business and trading relationships. Mr Alexander said: 'We share a long-standing trade relationship with Taiwan and our trade reached an all-time high last year, but we know there are still more opportunities for British businesses to take advantage of opportunities in this dynamic economy. 'The new Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) Pillars will help us boost trade in some of our growth-driving sectors, delivering economic growth and helping put more money in people's pockets as part of the Plan for Change.' Digital trade pilots were completed with UK wafer company Clas-SIC Wafer Fab and the Kimbland Distillery in Orkney and Skene Scotch Whiskey as the UK tries to streamline trade with Taiwan. Mr Alexander will witness the signing of a trade agreement between the two countries which will be conducted by British Representative Taipei, Ruth Bradley-Jones, and the Representative at the Taipei Representative Office, Vincent Chin-Hsiang Yao. Douglas Alexander photographed when he was Scottish Labour Party candidate for Lothian East in 2024 Like this: Like Related
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
'We were the silent victim' - children with parents in prison form new panel to help kids
Pillars youth panel Ngā Rangitira Apōpō pictured with Minister for Children Karen Chhour and Chief Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad. Photo: RNZ / Lillian Hanly Rangatahi impacted by a parent in prison say more needs to be done to ensure they are not punished for the crimes of their family members. They have formed a youth advisory panel - Ngā Rangatira Mō Apōpō - which met with Children's Minister Karen Chhour on the steps of Parliament. They handed her an open letter calling for the establishment of a whānau navigator role in criminal district courts to help those left behind when someone is sent to jail. About 20,000 children are impacted by whānau incarceration in Aotearoa. Children who - while they have done nothing wrong - are nonetheless punished. Courtney is one of them. "Me and my siblings lost both of our parents in the justice system at the same time and we didn't know till my older sister got a very unfortunate call from my family's lawyers and after that, our Nana was left in charge of us four kids. "We didn't have any support, we were left in the dark, we didn't even get to call our mum or dad or see them for ages." Four children's lives turned upside down. Pillars chief executive Tuhi Leef and Youth panelist Courtney. Photo: RNZ / Louise Ternouth Courtney is part of the Ngā Rangatira Mō Apōpō youth advisory panel run by Pillars, which gathered at parliament asking the government to do more to help those like her family. She said the rangatahi felt while their parents broke the law, it was not fair they were made to suffer due to uncertainty and a lack of support. "All the stories on that panel, all our backgrounds, it's all different, but we all can agree that we were the silent victim and it was horrible not knowing what was happening. "We all have forgotten what our parents looked like or what their voices sound like because of some lack of communication, yeah, I don't want that for anyone else." The letter presented to Chhour makes the case for a whānau navigator role in criminal district courts. Whānau navigators would help families to access wrap around services, and ensure they are informed of their rights around prison visits and communication with their whānau member in detention. Minister of Children Karen Chhour gathers with rangatahi impacted by a parent in prison at parliament. Photo: RNZ / Lillian Hanly A similar 'kaiarahi' role has been established in the Family Court and Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court. The panel is being supported by the group Pillars, which helps children and whānau of prisoners. Researcher and youth advocate Corrina Thompson said it was essential a whānau navigator was in place as soon as someone entered the judicial system. "Far too often, children are largely invisible from the point of arrest, right through court proceedings, through to prison and sometimes it's not until the person arrives in prison that the fact that that person is a parent with children is even known. "That point between a first appearance in court and prison can actually be a really long time for a lot of people months, in some cases years." Thompson noted that the government's tough-on-crime approach also impacted innocent families of offenders. "There is not just here in New Zealand, but internationally very strong evidence to say that if we want to get tough on crime, we have to get strong on housing, strong on support, strong on culturally responsive intervention prevention, rehabilitation not being tough or soft on people." Rangatira Mō Apōpō youth panel gather on parliament's steps to advocate for justice reform. Photo: Supplied / Pillars If there is government support for the proposal, Pillars and the youth panel are hoping a two-year pilot can be rolled out at district courts. Chief Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad has added her support to the idea. "Children with parents and whānau who are in prison they should be supported to fulfil their full potential and have all of their rights and needs met. "This particular advocacy and idea that Ngā Rangitira Mō Apōpō has brought forth is a tangible way for us to make these children visible and I really want to see the government take it forward and implement it in action." The Ngā Rangatira Mō Apōpō panel pitched a similar idea in 2022, which they said received support in principle from the previous Labour government. As for Wednesday's proposal, Chhour said it was still early days. "I'm not going to make any commitments to supporting the changes what I'm saying is, that I've met with them I've spoken with them... and there's room to have conversations about what that could look like." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pride Month event organizers see increased engagement amidst anti-LGBTQ+ activity
Organizers are preparing to celebrate Pride Month in Des Moines through Capital City Pride's Pridefest. (Photo by Tom Foley/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Pride Month event organizers in Iowa are seeing an increase in participation amidst national and state activity targeting the queer community. 'People in the community that are passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion and are passionate about the LGBTQ+ community are showing up because they know this is an important time,' said Wes Mullins, executive director of Capital City Pride. Every June, celebrations of Pride Month focus on self-affirmation, dignity, equality, increased visibility and connections within Iowa's LGBTQ+ community, and Capital City Pride's Pridefest is the largest LGBTQ+ annual gathering in Iowa. The focus is on the so-called 'Five Pillars of Pride,' which are education, family, health and wellness, community and celebration. Each year, Pridefest hosts the Pride Stride 5k — an event that in previous years never had more than 500 participants. This year, there are more than 750. Additionally, all of the available vendor spaces at Pridefest have been booked for the first time in the event's history. 'One of the hardest things in the LGBTQ+ community is combatting a sense of isolation and loneliness,' Mullins said. 'With the political attacks on the LGBTQ+ community that have been happening, it's even more important to make sure people are able to connect.' Earlier this year, Iowa became the first state to remove civil rights protections from a protected class by removing 'gender identity' as a protected characteristic under the Iowa Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, education, credit and public accommodations. After the law goes into effect on July 1, transgender Iowans will no longer have those protections under the state's Civil Rights Act. Mullins calls the revisions to the Iowa Civil Rights Act an 'embarrassment.' PHC Iowa, a healthcare provider, has already closed all gender-affirming care clinics to avoid losing federal funding. A 2024 study found that state-level, anti-transgender laws can cause up to a 72% increase in suicide attempts among transgender and non-binary youth. 'I think people have whiplash in Iowa City, seeing the things happening at the state or federal level and they say, 'that's not my community, that's not what's happening here,' but the reality is that is happening to a lot of other folks,' said Andy Owens, executive director of Iowa City Pride. House File 856, a bill signed into Iowa law on May 27, prohibits public entities from engaging in certain activities relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The new law also prohibits any state organization from attempting to promote a policy or activity that references unconscious or implicit bias, cultural appropriation, transgender ideology, group marginalization, anti-racism and many other related concepts. Owens says the dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion on a state and federal level has had an impact on many young people in need of support. 'When offices that are dedicated to support and advocacy disappear, then resources become more scarce,' he said. 'That hurts.' Another bill, House File 51, targeted drag shows, defined as shows in which a performer 'exhibits a gender identity that is different than the performer's gender assigned at birth.' Initially, the bill provided that anyone who brought a minor to one of the performances could be charged with a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. The bill was later revised to include an 'obscene performance' definition and to make it a misdemeanor offense to take a minor aged 13 or younger to one of the performances. Owens says in its original form the bill was 'not an easy pill to swallow' and sparked fears that the organization would not be allowed to have outdoor drag performers during the festival. However, due to revisions in the bill's final language, Iowa City Pride will proceed as planned. Iowa City Pride is one of the oldest Pride organizations in the country, founded just a year after the Stonewall riots in 1969. Owens said this is a 'challenging' time for Iowans on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, especially trans individuals. However, he added, these times also provide 'an opportunity for us to recalibrate' and maximize support. He said Pride organizations are 'working even harder' to stage more events, support the community and work with other Pride organizations and advocacy groups throughout the state. Mullins said Capital City Pride has also tried to partner with other organizations, such as lobbyists and legislative organizations — at least to the extent they can, given CCP's status as a non-profit organization. As part of its work, CCP is connecting isolated individuals to mental health services and community organizations 'in the midst of these attacks.' Owens said he feels anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and protest have been 'drowned out by the voices of people who are supportive.' He says this year's Pride festival is 'shaping up to be the biggest one' Iowa City has ever had. Additionally, ICP has started an unofficial partnership with Coralville to expand their Pride organization and expand their community's work beyond Iowa City. When asked how the community can support their work, both Mullins and Owens said the same thing: show up and donate. As nonprofit organizations, much of CCP's and ICP's revenue consists of donations — but both organizations stress the importance of being present for Pride events. Mullins also suggests that people check in on friends and family who are members of the community to ensure everyone feels connected. The Capital City Pridefest has events all month. The festival this weekend provides a family and youth zone for children, a teen zone, a pet pageant for 'four-legged friends,' and a 'Pride Ride' bike ride for members of the Iowa cycling community. The Iowa City Pride festival will take place on June 21 from noon to 10 p.m.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Pune teen captures 7,000-year-old cosmic light in space; pic goes viral. Who is Prathamesh Jaju?
A passionate astronomer and photographer's breathtakingly beautiful photograph of the ' Pillars of Creation '—three colossal, towering structures composed of gas and dust, mainly hydrogen, helium, and traces of heavier elements, rising like cosmic sculptures within the vastness of space—has taken the Internet by storm. The photographer, named Prathamesh Jaju , shared the astoundingly lovely picture on the space subreddit. Within moments, the picture went viral, gaining over 33K likes. What Are The Pillars Of Creation? The Pillars of Creation are majestic formations of interstellar gas and dust nestled within the Eagle Nebula , situated approximately 7,000 light-years from Earth. Located in the Serpens constellation, these towering columns serve as cosmic nurseries where new stars are born. But here's the fascinating part—because they are so far away, the light we see from them today actually began its journey toward Earth 7,000 years ago. This means we are not witnessing the pillars as they currently are, but rather as they appeared millennia ago. At the speed of light, it would take a human 7,000 years just to reach them, making direct exploration impossible with current technology. Scientists believe that the Pillars may have already dissipated, possibly destroyed by a nearby supernova, but their ghostly image lingers in our skies due to the time it takes for their light to reach us. It's a breathtaking reminder that when we gaze into the depths of space, we're essentially looking back in time—observing celestial history frozen in light. Mind-boggling, indeed. Who Is Prathamesh Jaju? Prathamesh Jaju is an amateur astronomer and astrophotographer from Pune, India. He began practicing astrophotography in 2018, at just 13 years old, driven by a deep fascination with the night sky. His uncle recognized this growing passion and gifted them a Skywatcher 150P telescope paired with an EQ3-2 mount. Since then, he has spent years capturing stunning images of the night sky and various celestial objects, steadily honing their skills and deepening their connection with the cosmos. As per his LinkedIn profile, he is an alumnus of the Savitribai Phule Pune University.
