Cat Foundation invests toward stopping Ebola

The Caterpillar Foundation announced Monday it will invest $1 million toward addressing the Ebola crisis in West Africa.

The Foundation will provide an additional $1 million to the $7.5 million investment already made to The ONE Campaign for its advocacy work in the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease in Africa, particularly to boost the organization’s response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. 

The donation will sustain response to Ebola crisis and support education and advocacy to strengthen health systems across Africa, the Foundation said.  

 “Our work to address extreme poverty and its symptomatic ills will be deeply affected if Ebola is not stopped,” said Michele Sullivan, president of the Caterpillar Foundation. “As a foundation, we feel there is a human and economic imperative to help ensure that health systems in Africa are strong and resilient. ONE is one of the best organizations advocating on global health issues and has recently been at the forefront of Ebola policy and advocacy efforts. 

“This investment will leverage those skills to ensure the urgency of the Ebola crisis and its damaging effects on global health systems remains a top priority for political leadership and the public. The outcomes will help government officials put healthcare policies and measures into place aimed at protecting the citizens and stopping the spread of Ebola.” 

ONE has responded vigorously to the Ebola crisis, with a particular focus on resource mobilization and donor accountability; communications and advocacy messaging; and social mobilization among its 2 million African members. (RED), a division of ONE, helps to amplify this work through creative and innovative storytelling platforms, the Foundation said.

“As this crisis unfolds, this partnership will allow ONE to continue to advocate for short-and long-term responses to Ebola, acknowledging the effects the disease is having on every sector of society,” said Michael Elliott, ONE president and CEO. “Ebola has not only taken more than 4,000 lives, it has also broken down health systems, closed schools, shut down agricultural markets and hampered economic growth. There’s much to be done to support the countries affected in the short term and then helping them rebuild stronger than before.”

Caterpillar had a small contingent working in Liberia on a special project until July, when they were evacuated because of the Ebola outbreak there, said Caterpillar spokeswoman Lisa Miller. She said the company decided to donate the money to ONE and its efforts in West Africa because that is where the crisis began. “We want to support the effort to go to the root of the problem,” she said.

'November' brings political satire to Corn Stock

The question of whether playwright David Mamet tries to convey a certain message in his comedy “November” isn’t one that worries Bill Liesse too much.

The play, which opens a six-show run at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Corn Stock Theatre’s Winter Playhouse, is political satire at its darkest and Liesse, the director of the five-person comedy, is of a mind that was Mamet’s main goal. “Everybody can read into it anything they want, and I know they do. But I say let’s just laugh for two hours, recognize its absurdity and leave it bipartisan. That’s enough of a message, I think,” Liesse said.

He said he has read where people want to believe Mamet had certain former presidents in mind, mainly George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, when he wrote the play. “I suppose you could find elements of Bush and/or Clinton if you want to read something into it. But I think it’s mostly satire that shows how ugly it can get in that room when there are no cameras around,” Liesse said.

“That room” is the Oval Office, where the two-hour play takes place. It has five characters, all with names that don’t draw any correlations with real people. It has rough language, enough political incorrectness that it smacks of prejudice, some underhanded dealings and a Mamet-way of looking at issues  ̶  in this case, in a closed-minded, absurd fashion.

There is little chance anybody will take it seriously; yet, it may make you wonder just what does go on behind that biggest doors in U.S. government.

Liesse said given the right actors, “there is a small demand on the director to have to connect the writer to the actors.”

Liesse, who is making his directorial debut with “November,” believes he has the right actors in place.

David Cook, a veteran of several plays at Corn Stock’s Winter Playhouse, portrays President Charles Smith, an apparently inept politician who appears on his way out after just one term, unless he can make a scheme or two work in the final week of the campaign.

Another veteran performer, Shannon Orrill, portrays Bernstein, the president’s speech writer who turns one scheme into another to get what she wants, no matter how the president feels about it.  

Yet another Corn Stock veteran, Paul Gordon, portrays Archer Brown, the president’s chief counsel who spends much of his time trying to keep his boss from straying too far from reality.

Alex Van Beek portrays a character known simply as Turkey Guy, the unwitting victim of all the scheming, and Zach Gittrich is Dwight Grackle, a character with an agenda all his own.

“Going into this, before we ever had auditions, I had a very small set of people in mind who could make this piece work. The three leads (Cook, Orrill and Gordon) all were on that list and I got very lucky they came to auditions. The other two were pleasant surprises who do a great job. They all blend well together. We get the humor, the pacing of Mamet,” Liesse said.

He cited Cook for his ability to deliver President Smith the way Mamet intended. “These half words and stops and starts and even the pauses are so perfectly timed, the way they are supposed to be. Add to that the spot-on inflections and it borders on the perfect interpretation of the material,” Liesse said.

When asked to direct “November,” Liesse said he didn’t hesitate. Not only because it is a Mamet piece, but because he has no desire to direct a musical. That’s why he wants to direct in the Winter Playhouse, the small in-the-round theatre where Corn Stock produces edgy pieces. “I love the room. I’m a labber,” said Liesse, referring to the term veteran Corn Stock members still use when referring to the Winter Playhouse  ̶  the lab.

The Winter Playhouse, in the same Upper Bradley Park where the Corn Stock tent is located, was set up as a lab theatre so it could be used as a venue to teach different aspects of theatre to its members, including experimental-type shows and locally written pieces.

It was with that in mind that Liesse wanted to fill his crew with young Corn Stock members who could use the opportunity to learn skills. His stage manager, for example, is Frank Drew, a high school senior.

“It was kind of an abstract idea that hasn’t worked perfectly because young people have so many other things going on in their lives. But overall I am pleased with how it’s all gone. I’ve enjoyed the process and I’ve learned a lot doing it,” he said.

“November” starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and on Oct. 23, 24 and 25. It starts at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students. They can be purchased online at www.cornstocktheatre.com or reserved by calling (309) 676-2196.

Cat opens new exhibit at Visitor's Center to honor employees

A new exhibit honoring Caterpillar Inc.’s heritage and employees is open at the Caterpillar Visitors Center in downtown Peoria.

The exhibit, titled “Manufacturing Traditions,” opened last Friday and continues through February 2015.

“Manufacturing is the core of our company,” said Kathryn Spitznagle, manager of the Caterpillar Visitors Center. “This exhibit honors the men and women who spend their careers building the world’s greatest engines and machines.”

The exhibit focuses on five key concepts critical in Caterpillar’s manufacturing: Safety, Processes, Quality, Employee Recognition and Training. These concepts are at work every day in Caterpillar’s 125 manufacturing locations around the world.

            The exhibit’s opening comes during October, a month used to celebrate manufacturing and highlight the need for more skilled workers, the company said in a news release.

“There is a great need for skilled positions such as welders and machinists – and there is a shortage of skilled workers, especially here in the United States. And, the roles have changed over the years,” the company said.

“Now, employees must possess the right balance of technical and critical thinking skills to keep up with rapid process changes and new technologies used to design, manufacture and support Caterpillar’s products and customers,” it added.

Manufacturing is not only at the core of Caterpillar’s business, it is the core of the American economy. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) estimates manufacturing supports 17.4 million jobs in the United States, and more than 12 million Americans are directly employed in manufacturing.According to the NAM, manufacturers in the United States perform two-thirds of all private-sector research and development in the nation, driving more innovation than any other sector.

“Today’s manufacturing at Caterpillar is innovative, high-tech and sustainable,” said Spitznagle. “It’s built on the hard work of the most productive workers in the world – our employees. It’s work we’re proud to show every day at the Caterpillar Visitors Center.”

More than 150 artifacts are on display in the exhibit, while more than 60 photos in the digital photo album and a documentary-style video recognize the people “behind the Yellow Iron,” highlighting two employees who received 65 year service pins in 2014. One of them is an East Peoria employee who is still working at age 95.

Home sales improve again in third quarter

Home sales in the Peoria area continued to improve in the third quarter and local Realtors expect growth to continue into and through the winter, according to the Peoria Area Association of Realtors.

Third quarter home sales were up 2.4 percent from the third quarter of 2013. There were 1,440 homes sold during the July-August-September period, compared with 1,411 during the same period last year, PAAR statistics showed.

Combined with improved sales in the first two quarters of the year, including 1,473 sales in the second quarter, the third quarter is evidence of the strength of the area market, said Phil Harvey, newly elected association president.

“We are delighted to report that, like many other areas of the country, the Peoria region market continues to be stable and active. This is a welcome scenario as it benefits both home sellers and homebuyers equally,” Harvey said. “These numbers are reflective of the entire year. Overall we are in really good shape.”

PAAR reported that the median and average sales prices increased during the quarter, as well.

The median sales price — half of the homes being above and half below this price — increased 2.6 percent to $125,219 from $122,000 in the third quarter of 2013.   

The average home sales price was up 5.4 percent, with homes selling on average at $152,407, up from $144,550 in 2013, because of increased activity in the $500,000 and up price range, the association reported. It said that slightly lower inventories of available houses also caused prices to go higher in same price ranges.

Harvey said he is optimistic about the immediate future and doesn’t worry about forecasts of a harsh winter. Acknowledging the fourth quarter is typically the slowest for area home sales, he said, “I think we will continue to see growth into and through the winter months, at least in comparison with last year.”

One reason for his optimism is that the month’s supply of inventory is down 4.5 percent to 6.4 months, meaning buyers still have a good inventory from which to find a house and sellers should be able to find a buyer within a reasonable amount of time.

Another reason for optimism is that mortgage rates continue to be low, which helps all buyers but particularly first-time home buyers, Harvey said. However, he said, there is some concern whether first-time buyers are less able to get in on a healthy real estate market.

Harvey said typically, 40 percent of sales were to first-time buyers. This year, he added, that is down to 28 percent.

Getting that demographic into the market is one of the challenges PAAR members face, he said. That’s because many young, first-time buyers face higher student loan debt than in past years and the cash needed for a down payment is harder to come by.

 “The first-time home buyers need to participate in the programs that are available to help them buy a home. That’s why those programs are there,” he said.

Programs are set up to help with down payment assistance and mortgage financing aid. They include USDA-Rural Development, and IHDA programs such as Building Blocks, Welcome Home Heroes, Smartmove Trio and Welcome Home Illinois.

Interested buyers should contact a Realtor® to find out more or look on the PAAR website for links to these programs, http://www.yourhometools.com, the association said.

In its third quarter report the association said the number of closed sales in September were up 1.5 percent over 2013 and that the average price rose 4.6 percent to $142,587 from $136,290. The median price, however, was down slightly, from $120,750 to $119,500.