'Other Desert Cities' brings family drama to Corn Stock

Every family has its dirty laundry, but it is only that of the rich and powerful that make headlines when made public. The collateral damage is often even more devastating and embarrassing.

That is the basic premise of “Other Desert Cities,” the drama that opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Corn Stock Theatre’s Winter Playhouse in Upper Bradley Park.

Directed by Paul Gordon, the five-person play written by Jon Robin Baitz centers on the Wyeth family of Palm Springs – a family that has already had to overcome tragedy that nearly destroyed it and its reputation only to learn that tragedy is about to be replayed in a tell-all book by one of their own.

As the parents fight to stop their daughter from publishing this book, more family troubles bubble to the surface until a twist, in the form of a long-kept family secret, is revealed.

It takes place on Christmas Eve 2004, the daughter’s first visit home in six years, but there are no gifts in Santa’s bag this time. “So much for yuletide cheer,” one of the characters retorts as the drama unfolds when the book is unveiled.  

“Other Desert Cities” was a Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalist and Tony Award nominee that may make audiences wonder if the author based it on a real family with real secrets to which he was privy.     

Kerri Rae Hinman portrays the daughter, Brooke Wyeth, who said she wrote the memoir of the events  that changed her life because “it’s all I have.”

Doug Orear portrays Lyman Wyeth, the patriarch who once was a film star before getting into politics and becoming an ambassador during the administration of family friend Ronald Reagan. His wife Polly, the keeper of the family secrets and thus the chief antagonist, is portrayed by Helen Engelbrecht.

The son, Trip Wyeth, who attempts to keep the peace but finally becomes enmeshed in the drama. is portrayed by Andrew Rhodenbaugh. Silda Grauman, Polly’s alcoholic sister with a sharp wit and sharper tongue until her own secret comes out, is portrayed by Cindy Hoey.

“These are all local theatre veterans and I was so fortunate to entrust these roles to such talent. Seeing these five on stage together is itself worth the price of admission; seeing them perform such a tense and tight drama is more so,” Gordon said.

“Other Desert Cities” runs Friday and Saturday, Jan. 23 and 24, at 7:30 p.m., then on Jan. 29, 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 1 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students. They can be purchased at the door or reserved by calling 676-2196.

Cat will move jobs to Mapleton after closing two southern facilities

Caterpillar Inc. announced Thursday it will move about 200 jobs to its foundry in Mapleton when it shuts down two southern plants within the next two years.

The company also announced it is contemplating moving some of its component production from Joliet to a factory in Mexico and will make the final decision within the next month or so.

The southern plants that will be closed are the Toccoa, Georgia foundry and the seals factory in Franklin, N.C. Seals production will be consolidated at Mapleton. All are part of the Reman, Components and Work Tools Division.

While the Mapleton foundry will see an increase of up to 200 jobs by the end of 2016, the move will displace approximately 275 workers in the Toccoa and Franklin facilities, the company said in a news release.

Consolidating production to an existing location in close proximity to several of Caterpillar’s largest prime product manufacturing facilities and its global parts distribution headquarters and warehouse will enable the company to reduce shipping costs and drive efficiency by utilizing existing assets, the company said. Both the Franklin and Toccoa facilities produce seals used in Caterpillar machines manufactured around the world.

“This decision is not a reflection of the dedication that our Franklin and Toccoa employees have demonstrated, but rather about improving efficiency across our component manufacturing footprint and locating seal production much closer to our supply base and several large facilities that use these components,” said RCWT Vice President Greg Folley.    

The final transition for the consolidation is expected to be completed within the next two years. The company will work with employees to determine interest in positions at other Caterpillar facilities where applicable.

Displaced employees will receive severance packages from the company and outplacement services from appropriate agencies to ensure they have support during this transition, the news release said.

Regarding operations in Joliet, the company said it is contemplating plans to restructure part of its manufacturing facility there for competitive reasons.

The company’s Advanced Components and Systems Division (ACSD) on Thursday today informed employees at its Joliet facility that it is considering moving some of its component manufacturing from Joliet to a sister ACSD facility in Monterrey, Mexico. If the company proceeds with that, it would impact approximately 230 full-time production positions in Joliet, and the transition of production would begin in 2016.

The Joliet facility manufactures hydraulic components, including gear and engine oil pumps, valves, truck struts and truck hoist cylinders, which are distributed to other Caterpillar facilities and dealers around the world. The contemplated decision involves two components produced in Joliet – specifically, gear/engine oil pumps and valves – and would better position ACSD for long-term competitiveness, the company said in the news release.  

“We recognize that this decision, if finalized, will be difficult for our employees,” said ACSD Vice President Jean Savage. “We value and appreciate our employees’ hard work and their dedication to producing quality components. In studying the global landscape for producing these types of components, it is becoming clear that the Joliet location is not as competitive for these particular components.”

More than a third of workers get MLK Holiday

Thirty-seven percent of American employers will provide a paid day off for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, according to Bloomberg BNA's Holiday Practices Survey of more than over 350 human resource professionals.

The figure represents a high-water mark for the survey, which was first conducted in 1986, and marks a slight uptick from last year's previous high (35 percent).

"After three decades as a federal holiday, getting Dr. King's birthday as a paid day off has increased slowly and steadily in prevalence but it remains the exception rather than the norm for the majority of American workers," saidMatt Sottong, Bloomberg BNA's Director of Surveys and Research Reports.

"Among federal holidays, Bloomberg BNA research found that six others are designated as a paid day off with greater frequency —New Year's Day and Thanksgiving Day(both at 98 percent), Christmas Day, Independence Day, andLabor Day (all at 97 percent) and Memorial Day (96 percent). Dr. King's birthday remains on par with President's Day(35 percent) as a paid holiday for workers and is more likely to be declared a paid day off than Veteran's Day (22 percent) andColumbus Day (16 percent)," he said.

While not a federal holiday, the Friday after Thanksgivingis given as a paid day off by nearly twice as many employers (73 percent) as Dr. King's birthday. Among other non-federal holidays, 37 percent of organizations provided a full paid day off for Friday, Dec. 26, with nearly as many (34 percent) provided a full paid holiday for Wednesday, Dec. 24 in 2014.

Non-business Organizations Most Likely to Provide a Paid Day Off

As with previous years' surveys, employees in nonbusiness organizations such as government and educational institutions are far more likely to be given Dr. King's birthday off with pay than those working in manufacturing and nonmanufacturing enterprises. 

More than six in 10 non-business establishments (62 percent) are planning to give the day off with pay. By comparison, 34 percent of non-manufacturing businesses will give workers a compensated day off, and a mere 10 percent of manufacturing establishments will follow suit.

Differences among Organizations by Size and Union Status

Large companies are somewhat more inclined to give workers the day off than smaller ones. 

Forty-four percent of large companies (1,000 or more employees) will grant a paid holiday to workers, and 34 percent of smaller organizations will do likewise.

Forty-four percent of organizations with unions will receive a paid day off for the King holiday, compared with 35 percent of non-unionized establishments. 

Organizations that Grant a Paid Day off More Likely to Sponsor Commemorative Events

Nine percent of responding organizations will offer programs or events designed to commemorate Dr. King's achievements, virtually unchanged from the past two years (10 percent in 2014 and 11 percent in 2013).

Seventeen percent of employers who will grant a paid holiday in 2015 will also hold programs or events to recognize Dr. King's achievements. By contrast, only 5 percent of companies that opt not to make January 19a paid holiday will provide opportunities for employees to commemorate Dr. King in some organized fashion.

I've Decided motivation conference kicks off campaign

Kim Martin recognizes that most of us have dreams of improving ourselves, our looks, our lots in life, our homes … whatever it may be. She hears it and sees it each day at Curves Peoria, the fitness and nutrition center she owns.

She was there herself, once. She is now a successful business owner. And that is also why this Alabama native and Peoria transplant is ready to help others realize their dreams and achieve their goals through motivation and resources they otherwise may not know about.

Martin has started I’ve Decided Because I Can, a campaign aimed at individuals  ̶  men and women  ̶  who may need a gentle push or a good kick in the tail to get them moving toward completing their goals. The first step, she said, it to change one’s mindset from “I’ll try” to “I’ve decided”. It is a process people need to know about before they can be successful, Martin said.

“I want to motivate people to make a lifestyle choice, to realize their dreams don’t have to be only dreams. They can do it, they can reach their goals with the right motivation and the resources they need to take those important steps to success,” she said.

Her first endeavor is the I’ve Decided Motivation Conference, which is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Peoria Civic Center. As of midday Thursday more than 300 had registered for the conference, which costs $69 for one or $99 for two people. Pre-registration is available and encouraged at www.ivedecided.org.

Martin said 15 percent of the proceeds from the conference will be donated to South Side Mission.

Keynote speaker will be comedian and motivation speaker Derrick Tennant, whose topic is “Thinking on the Right Side.”

Other speakers will be Martin, who will teach her D.E.C.I.D.E. method of self-mprovement; local breast cancer survivor Katie Parker, Tess Denton, Daryl Carlson (founder of Your Brain Unlimited), and pastor and “coach” Mark Doebler of Second Chance Church. There also will be a panel discussion headed by Gina Morss-Fischer and a panel of local success stories.

To date 25 businesses have signed on to I’ve Decided as resources that participants can tap while take the steps toward achieving their goals. These resources are in a variety of areas, including health and fitness, nutrition, financial well-being, music, house and home, medical, performance coaching, and real estate. Martin welcomes other businesses to join on, as well.

“I feel like I have some information that can help people reach their goals and the same is true for many, many other businesses. They can be valuable resources. Like me these are other very passionate local business owners. Also like me, they have limited fund to market themselves, so they are using this opportunity to join with others to help others,” Martin said.

That fits in with the I’ve Decided mission statement: "I’ve Decided is a campaign powered by area businesses and organizations. Our goal is to lead by example, provide ongoing resources, and motivate the people of our community to successfully complete a positive lifestyle choice. This community-wide effort of personal improvement will impact positive change throughout our city."

Martin said there have been some misperceptions about the conference she wants to clear up. Since she owns two Curves franchises many people thought the conference was all about health and fitness. “It certainly is a part of it, but by no means is it the only focus. We have a dream list on our website that runs from taking care of yourself to going back to school to learning to play an instrument to starting a business. Another misperception was that it is for women. It is for anybody. In fact there are as many men signed up as there are women,” she said.

The dream list, to which Martin invites participants to add their own, includes a large range of goals.

Martin’s personal motivation, she said, was the desire to help others reach their goals. “I feel that if you want others to be good at something, teach it. If you want to be good at something, teach it. I feel this was something I was supposed to do and I want to be successful myself,” she said.

She knows of no other businesses with the same concept and hopes this is something that can catch on. “I already motivate and encourage people every day and there are others that do, as well. Maybe this can catch on. I am a dreamer. I believe a good idea can go a long way,” she said.

Martin said this conference will be only the first of many events she will schedule with motivating people the prime reason. They will include sessions on training for your first 5K, creating your own vision board, learning to manage your finances and health and nutrition.

For more information about the conference and about I’ve Decided, visit www.ivedecided.org.