The Huntley Farmside

              Heritage Fair — see inside Letters to the Editor — see inside
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The HimtleY Famiside
Thursday, July 16,1998
A Press Publications newspaper mr serving the Huntley community
Volume 37 Issue 66
Library construction starts with ceremony
Steve Brosinski
Press Publications
Shaded beneath a tent from the moming sun, scores of peo¬ ple smiled brightly as the long- awaited groundbreaking cere¬ mony was held for the new $2.6 million Huntley Library on Ruth Road.
Huntley Area Library Board President Michael Fleck com¬ mended all those who con¬ tributed towards making the new library possible.
"Eight years ago, we decided if we were going to pay for a new library, then we should pay for our own," Fleck said. "I want to say thanks to the village of Huntley and the village of Lake in the Hills, but most of all I thank the patrons of the library and the voters who supported our efforts."
The major source of funding for the library comes from a $2.4 million referendum voters approved in 1997. The new 15,000-square-foot building was designed to appeal to peo¬ ple of all ages, and especially to children, he said. Construction is set to begin in July, with a grand opening in late spring.
"We're not just building a bigger library, but what the younger generation calls a 'way cool' library."
Secretary of State George Ryan said he was pleased to see Huntley receive the $250,000 "Live and Leam" grant. Ryan, who is the state librarian, approved the grant that will be used to construct a larger build¬ ing than originally planned.
"Libraries are now a commu¬ nity center and a crossroads to the community," Ryan said. "A library is not just a place to sit around and be quiet."
Since the program began six
Photos by Steve Brosinski Above, Secretary of State George Ryan (second from the right) joins members of the Library Board in tossing a symbolic shovel of dirt. Huntley Area Library Board President Michael Fleck (below) speaks at the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new library on July 9.
years ago, Ryan said the state has provided $60 million in "Live and Leam" grants. This year, the state allocated $3.4 million in grants to 50 commu¬ nities. Only 18 of the grant requests were for a full $250,000, said Ryan's spokes¬ woman Cathy Ritter.
The new library's central "community living room" will be dedicated to the late Henry Ackmann, who served as village president in the 1940s. Ackmann's grandchildren sold the seven-acre parcel for $16,500 an acre less than the appraised value, trustee Janice Schadt said.
The new library will feature vaulted ceilings, a gazebo- shaped conference room and a children's room for puppet shows.
Schadt,   the   former  board
see Ceremony—page 2
Ryan vows to raise new funds for education
Steve Brosinski
Press Publications
After speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new library, Secretary of State George Ryan took time to do a lit¬ tle campaigning.
He said if he becomes govemor next year then he would seek nearly $500 million in new revenue for education. With a current budget surplus in excess of $1 billion, state offi¬ cials are predicting a simi¬ lar excess next year.
Ryan, the Republican candidate for govemor, said he would like 51 cents of any projected sur¬ plus spent on education.
"For education, my opponent wants to raise income taxes by 18 to 25 percent," Ryan said about the Democratic candidate, U.S. Rep. Glenn Poshard, D-Marion. "I want to use new tax dollars that are coming in overwhelming record numbers into the state treasury for educa¬ tion. This is new growth money."
Ryan said the new funding for education should be used to decrease class size.
"I think we have to hire 10,000 new teachers in
see Ryan—^page 2