All-America City award 'truly, truly' a treasure

It was a truly, truly warm sun beating down Wednesday during a news conference to celebrate Peoria's selection as an All-America City for 2013.

That helped boost the warmth of the reception given those who made it happen as a sizable crowd turned out on the riverfront to cheer the award that was bestowed Sunday at a National Civic League event in Denver.

The standing-room-only crowd (there were no chairs available) cheered loudest when Dr. Tim Cundiff, who chaired the All-America City competition committee for the Young Professionals of Greater Peoria, presented a sign to Mayor Jim Ardis.

The white-on-green road sign read "Welcome to Peoria, All-America City."

The cheers also were loud when the crowd was introduced to Ethan Mosher, declared by the National Civic League to be the National Youth of the Year. The 17 year-old senior at Peoria High School is one of the leaders of the ELITE Drumline that accompanied the delegation to Denver for the presentations by the 20 finalist cities.

"He's a good person, a good neighbor, a friend to all," was how Carl Cannon, founder of the ELITE Corps for Youth in Peoria, introduced Mosher.

Mosher then told the crowd he won't let the honor go to his head. "I'm going to stick with Peoria. I love my city," he said.

It was obvious that sentiment was shared by all the members of the delegation, the civic leaders in attendance and the rest of the crowd entertained by the Drumline and seemingly appreciative of the comments of the speakers.

J.D. Dalphonso informed the crowd that not only did the Peoria promotional video presented to the National Civic League win the YouTube video contest against 10 other cities, it received more than 22,000 views and was seen in 63 countries. He said delegates of other cities present in Denver were impressed. "They kept referring to us as the 'Forever Young Group,'" he said. That was in reference to that part of the video where a couple hundred people marched up Adams Street in Downtown Peoria singing "Forever Young."

Emily Weeks, president of the Young Professionals of Greater Peoria, and Peoria City Councilman Ryan Spain, a member of that group, talked of how the accomplished would not have happened without the support of the city and its citizens. "We couldn't have done it without you," Weeks said.

Spain listed the myriad of sponsors who helped financially and with professional services to get the presentation prepared and the delegation to Denver. They included the Peoria Area of Chamber Commerce, which is the parent of the Young Professionals group, local health care organizations UnityPoint Methodist and OSF Health Care, Caterpillar Inc., PNC Bank, Advanced Medical Transport, Federal Cos., PIP Printing, Simantel Group and AdCo Advertising Agency. He also cited Peoria Disposal Co., Illinois-American Water and the Peoria Rivermen for getting the Drumline to Denver.

"This effort would not have been possible without a coalition of committed groups and people. We've started a movement in our community and we're going to keep it going," Spain said.

Two of the Peoria delegation said they were further energized to keep the work going by the reaction of others in Denver to the Young Professionals of Greater Peoria. Tessa Bonello and Rachel Wadle said they were asked frequently about the group and about the ELITE program.

"People said there was an undeniable energy from our delegation," said Wadle. "In fact, we were the only delegation to receive a standing ovation and we actually received two."

Cundiff, who punctuated his comments using the words "truly, truly" often, praised the efforts of the Young Professionals who put so much into the effort, preparing for Denver and in the Colorado city. He said he was frequently reminded of advice his father would give him while growing up, which was to "always give it all you got, no matter what you're doing."

"We truly did that in Denver. I am proud of our organization and will always treasure this. We were confident going in; we knew we were an All-American city and now the whole world knows," Cundiff said.

The Peoria presentation focused on development, highlighting the Riverfront Museum block; on education, highlighting ELITE, Quest Charter Academy and Peoria Promise; and Healthcare, highlighting the industry growth here, the Bob Michel VA Clinic and the breakthrough research performed here.

Cundiff then read the announcement that was read by the National Civic League jury on Sunday night, after nine of the 10 winning cities had already been named.

"This community involved business, nonprofits and everyday people to dream big to revitalize its downtown.

"This community invested in its youth and veterans.

"This community is a healthcare innovator.

"The All-America City of Peoria, Illinois."

Mayor Ardis noted the All-America City award is not one a city can go out and buy; rather, it's earned by hard work. "On behalf of the city, our hats are off to the young professionals. We do have a lot to be proud of," he said.

He and Cundiff both talked of how the honor of the award can help the city market itself and give it a leg up on competing cities when it comes to attracting business, talented people and tourists.

Peoria was the only Illinois city to win the honor for 2013.

The other 2013 All-America Cities were Birmingham, Ala.; Downey, Calif.; Dubuque, Iowa; Dunn, N.C.; Garner, N.C.; Montrose, Colo.; Norfolk, Va.; Owensboro, Ky., and Thomasville, N.C.

Breaking News: Peoria named All-America City for 2013

Peoria has been named one of ten All-America Cities for 2013 in a ceremony in Denver, Colo., this evening. The award, sponsored by the National Civic League, is given annually to ten communities for outstanding civic accomplishment. Peoria last received the designation in 1989. Peoria also won the All-America Stories Video contest and Ethan Mosher earned the Youth Award.

Peoria's All-America City delegation included members of the Young Professionals Organization of Greater Peoria and Carl Cannon's ELITE Drum Corps, and was led by Tim Cundiff.

To qualify as a finalist for the award, the delegation submitted an application highlighting three outstanding community efforts. Peoria's submission included the Museum block, educational development and medical growth in the community. Once Peoria was named a finalist, the delegation was required to create a video promoting the city culminating with a final 10-minute presentation before the All-America City committee during a three-day event on June 14-16 in Denver, Col.

According to the National Civic League website, the designation helps "by increasing community pride, networking with civic activists from across the country and gaining national recognition. The AAC designation has helped communities win grants and new resources and attract new employers."

Check out the team's presentation:

All-America City win 'impressive and incredible'

It was a tense evening in Denver on Sunday as members of Peoria's All-America City delegation waited to learn if their months of hard work would pay off.

One by one the National Civic League jury that determined the 10 cities that would earn the All-America City designation named the winners and not in any certain order. One by one, as Peoria was not named, the anxiety for the local delegation grew.

After the ninth city was named, said Dr. Tim Cundiff, "I told our group that I guessed they were just saving the best for last. Then when they called out Peoria as the 10th city, it was just 'wow. We did it.'"

"We instantly hit cloud nine and we're still there. Now we can't wait to get home and share it," said Cundiff from Colorado while waiting for the flight home Monday night. “The support we have received from back home every step of the way in this process has been amazing and we are thoroughly grateful to everyone. This is just impressive and incredible.”

Being named one of the All-America City winners, Cundiff added, was like winning a trifecta for the city. Earlier it was named winner of the top online video competition and then Ethan Mosher, a member of the ELITE Drumline that accompanied the local group, was named winner of the All-America Youth Award from among 10 nominees.

Mosher, 17, is a senior at Peoria High School and a member of its orchestra and jazz band.

"We are so very proud of him and the entire ELITE group. It was just amazing, the whole experience," said Cundiff, who led the Young Professionals of Greater Peoria group that took the reins of the All-America City competition and rode it through to completion.

The designation marks the fourth time Peoria has been named an All-America City, but it was the first time since 1989. The Young Professionals group, which is a committee of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, wanted to do something for the city and saw that as an opportunity to bring many factions together to promote the area.

Cundiff told the jury the Young Professionals "recognized we must be the bridge" that connects Peoria's past with its future so that the young people will look for opportunities to stay in Peoria.

Added Ryan Spain, the youthful member of the Peoria City Council who also is a member of the Young Professionals of Greater Peoria, "We believe this shows that the opportunities for growth for our young people are great in Peoria."

Spain and his wife Ashley, also a member of the group, brought their 6-week old baby Vivian along. Cundiff said that fit well with the group's theme that "Peoria is Forever Young."

During the presentation, the video of which can be seen on YouTube, the local delegation was marched into the room by the ELITE Drumline and the founder of the ELITE youth program, Carl Cannon, who wore his hat from his days as a senior drill instructor with the U.S. Army.

The jury was impressed.

From there the group told the story of Peoria "block by block," starting with Museum Square and then including what it offers in health care, for veterans and in education, noting that with Bradley University a student can go from pre-school to a Ph.D without ever leaving Peoria.

The jury showed much interest in the ELITE program, which Cannon explained has grown beyond grade schools but is now in local high schools and even into the halfway house program. At all levels, he said, participants are encouraged to learn to respect themselves as well as others and then to strive for personal improvement.

Asked by a juror to explain how it teaches school-age children to improve themselves academically, Cannon said the program "attacks the middle. In schools you have the top 10 and the bottom 10; we attack the middle, where the majority of students are."

He said ELITE works to get the students in the middle to want to improve and crowd the top while getting those on the bottom to aspire to move up.

Members of the ELITE Drumline then were asked by National Civic League jurors to talk about what the ELITE program has meant to them. Several stepped to the microphone and told about how the program has taught them respect, kept them out of trouble and changed their lives.

On Monday, Cannon said he was like a proud papa as he watched his students before the jury on Sunday, and "then to see their jubilation when Peoria won was something else. I was pretty proud of those kids."

After the presentation on Sunday, he added, he and others with ELITE were approached by delegates from other cities to learn more about the program. "That right there shows there is value in what we are doing. Then the kids got to showcase what they can do. But the neatest thing of all was, during the process, watching our students become the teachers, teaching the members of the Young Professionals organization our mantra and what we're about," he said.

What the All-America City designation means for the city goes beyond bragging rights, said two civic leaders who were involved in getting the presentation ready but did not go to Denver.

"This is another feather in our cap for when we try and win over conventions or event planners to come to Peoria," said Don Welch, president and CEO of the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. "I haven't done any studies personally to see how it has helped other All-America cities but it has to help because a city doesn't win that designation unless it has a lot going for it. And we do."

Renee Charles, director of marketing and media relations for the Greater Peoria Business Alliance, called the designation "another important tool" when the Peoria region tries to recruit companies or workers to Peoria.

It also, she added, was a good display of the type of energy and work ethic the young professionals here possess. "It showed we do work well together in Peoria and what we can accomplish," she said.

Broadway, film vet comes home to perform in Peoria

Steve Vinovich gives the kind of advice that matters most, that which comes from experience. That's why he tells wanna-be professional actors to be willing to work hard, sell themselves and learn to take rejection and keep coming back for more.

"It all comes down to how much you want it. If you're ambivalent about it then don't bother. The real work in acting is getting the job. The job is the cookie," said Vinovich, a Peoria native and veteran of Broadway, film and television.

"Talent isn't enough any more. You have to sell yourself, you have to do the business of the business. That is definitely part of it now."

Vinovich, now living in New York City, is in Peoria as the guest of Corn Stock Theatre. He will be performing the lead role of Charlie in Corn Stock's production of the Larry Shue comedy "The Foreigner," which will be performed in the tent in Upper Bradley Park June 21 through June 29.

Enter Vinovich's name on Google and you will find an impressive listing of acting credits and images that have made up a professional career spanning more than 40 years.

His name isn't one that is quickly recognized and his face is one people know they've seen but they can't quite remember where. But make no mistake; he's good enough and has done enough he doesn't need to worry about finding work and it's been that way for a long time.

"In his business, that's being at the top," said Doug Day of East Peoria, who once performed in New York and was responsible for bringing Vinovich to Corn Stock. "There are an awful lot of people who wish they could get there."

Vinovich, 68, is quick to acknowledge the accomplishment. "I've been retired and doing what I want to do for 40 years," he said, grinning broadly. "I have been incredibly lucky. I've gotten to do probably 80 percent of the theatre roles I have wanted to do on the professional stage; I've done film and TV. I've done a little bit of everything, really.

"I don't consider myself a star by any means. Oh, I would've liked to be a star, to some degree, though I wouldn't want to be one of those big stars like a Brad Pitt who can't even walk down the street without being bothered. But I do get recognized sometimes, which is fun. And I have made my living as an actor and that is rare. Like I said, I've been lucky," he said.

Vinovich is the son of Jennie Kuhel and Stephen J. Vinovich. His father, like others in his family, was in the insurance business and he spent his childhood on the South side of Peoria. He graduated in 1963 from Spalding Institute. (Recently he attended his 50th Class Reunion and got in a round of golf with a couple high school classmates, including U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.)

It was while in school in Peoria he began entertaining his friends and family with puppet shows. Once he memorized a Bugs Bunny cartoon and performed all the parts. "I got hooked on performing then, I guess."

He attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana with plans to earn a degree and get into broadcast journalism. But after an instructor saw him in an oral interpretation class, he was asked to play the lead role in a play on campus. "I became a name on campus and that's all it took, really. I knew what I was meant to do, what I wanted to do," he said.

From there he went to Los Angeles, began acting and earned a master of fine arts degree at UCLA. Later, he was asked to audition for the Julliard School, considered the top performing arts school in the country. Believing he was auditioning to be part of an acting company he was offered a full-ride scholarship and accepted and earned his second master of fine arts degree.

He stayed in New York and performed in shows on Broadway and off-Broadway. He also performed in New York-based soap operas and did more than 200 television commercials. "That was how actors supplemented their income, doing soaps and commercials. Of course, now there are no longer soaps in New York and not nearly as many commercials are shot there. So it's much harder for young, struggling actors."

Among his Broadway appearances Vinovich created the role of Ben in "Loose Ends" in 1979 and portrayed Eddie in the Neil Simon classic "Lost in Yonkers." Off-Broadway and regional shows included "Twelth Night", "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Poker Session."

In 1982 he married Carolyn Mignini, an actress and singer, and in 1986 they moved to Los Angeles, where their two sons live. It was then Vinovich's television and film career started.

His television credits include episodic appearances in "Three's Company," "Remington Steele", "Hill Street Blues", "The Hogan Family," "Married ... with Children", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", "ER", "Home Improvement" and "Matlock." He was a regular on the series "Valeries" and "Raising Miranda."

Film credits include "The Mechanic", "Romancing the Stone", "Mannequin", "Awakenings", "The Santa Clause" and as the voice of Puffin in all three "The Swan Princess" films.

All told he did more than 90 guest shots on television.

Still, Vinovich said, his preference is theatre. He still has a few roles on his bucket list, including Willie Loman in "Death of a Salesman."

His love for theatre is why he moved back to New York City a few years ago, even though he and Carolyn keep a home in Los Angeles. Television and film roles were becoming less frequent and he believes there is still plenty he can do on the stage. He's open to Broadway, Off-Broadway or regional theatre.

This spring Vinovich did a two-month stint as Ben Franklin in a regional production of "!776" and when he returns to New York after his Corn Stock show closes he will appear Off-Broadway in the play "Old Jews Telling Jokes."

"When I came back to New York it's like I was starting over. And really, I am, because I've outlived most of the producers and casting directors who knew me when I was there before. It's a whole new breed, a whole new game. It's harder for agents, too, because nobody talks to each other anymore. They email or text each other. But I'm getting on stage and that's all I want to do," he said.

"I definitely prefer theatre. It is there where you really have control over your work, which is really the only thing an actor really can control. Theatre is the actors' medium. When the curtain goes up, there's no stopping after 45 seconds to shoot another take or what have you. It's you, your cast and the audience. There is nothing better."

Vinovich said he has no regrets and would never discourage anybody from going for a career as an actor if they have talent. He said he has seen talent in Peoria since he started working on "The Foreigner." That includes his cast mates in that show.

"I'll tell you, these guys are really good. They are as good as many of the actors I work with professionally. It has been a pleasure working with them," he said.

The pleasure, said Day, his friend from college and roommate for a while in New York, has been for the Corn Stock organization and the cast of "The Foreigner." Day portrays Froggy in the production.

"Steve is making us all better because we are watching a real pro at work every night. That's a big reason I suggested we bring in a guest artist because it is a nice way for Corn Stock to celebrate 60 years and it's a nice gift to our audiences and to the other actors to get to see him work. He has been incredibly patient with us, too, waiting for us to catch up with him. It has been a pleasure work with him," Day said.

Even though he and Vinovich have been close friends since 1966 it is the first time they have performed together, he said.

Day said few people know Vinovich passed on a chance to go to China to perform so he could do the Corn Stock production. "He said he'd been to China before, but he'd never played Peoria as a professional before."

Jeff Sloter, who is directed "The Foreigner," had similar sentiments. "In short, working with Mr. Vinovich has been a privilege and an eye-opening experience. Rarely do folks in flyover country get to work with someone of his professional stature," he said.

"Repeatedly, I have been asked, 'Is this guy really that good? Can you really tell the difference?', to which I reply, 'He's better!' The experience has been both challenging and rewarding. Challenging in that Steve causes all of us to work at a higher level than we ever imagined we could. Rewarding because Steve is incredibly patient, easy to work with and openly shares his wealth of knowledge on how to do the work. He has raised the bar and shown us how to jump over it," Sloter said.

Also, he added, Vinovich has been "easily accessible, approachable, friendly, and supportive to me personally. I remember during our early conversations him telling me to stop stressing out. Excellent advice and he has made it possible. He has also shown the same kindness to the entire production company. It is one thing to be at the top of your profession and quite another to be a regular guy. Steve is both."

Vinovich said he appreciates those kind of sentiments and added he knows it's important to be kind and friendly with co-workers. Among his favorite co-workers, he said, have been Brian Cranston, now making it very big as the star of "Breaking Bad," Christine Baranski, who was a classmate at Julliard, and the late Lynn Redgrave, with whom he co-starred in "Twelth Night." He also mentioned Don Knotts and John Ritter "as two of the nicest, kindest guys I ever had the pleasure of knowing."

Those actors, he added, maintained their humility despite their success and he said he believes that is important for young actors coming up. "Maintain your humility and be very grateful. And don't be afraid of rejection or even of being embarrassed. It makes you stronger," he said.

His favorite review from the many he has received was one most would be embarrassed about, let alone be willing to share. "The show was 'Pipe Dream' and it was a flop. One of the reviews of my performance suggested I leave New York on the next plane," he said, laughing. "It remains one of my favorites."

One final piece of advice Vinovich would share with young actors is to learn to sing and dance as well as act. "Learn to do as much as you can. The more tools you have the better off you are. Kids today can do it all and its frightening to guys like me. When I started it was like being on a football team, where every person had a specific role to play. It's not like that now so you have to do many things well. That includes doing musicals," he said.

"Bob Fosse once told me, 'If you can do a musical, you can do anything.' He was right. So do the work; don't be lazy. If you want it bad enough, and you have talent, you can do it."