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Post by evaryman on Sept 18, 2013 14:43:44 GMT -6
I’ve spent my life as an observer of many things, but mostly I’ve observed people. I’ve had the good fortune to have lived in a variety of places, all very different, one from another. I’ve called home one of the most urban settings in America, and some of the most, so-called, economically challenged rural areas of our nation have also been my home.
For the past 11 years I’ve called Streator home. And the negatives that are so regularly mentioned by our citizenry are, from my observations real and true. Broken families, physical and sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse and just plain old hopelessness are here, and in no small amount. But, there is much more to our community than those realities.
My neighbor came over to talk to me about her children recently. Both are completing degrees, and both are engaged and there will be two weddings within a few months time in the spring. Three of these four young people are Streator born and bred. One child will have a teaching degree and is marrying a fellow who is also a teacher, another is completing an engineering degree and is marrying a soon to be medical doctor, all four plan to work as close to Streator as possible and will live in our town. I know of well educated and hard working folks, who are earning considerable monies, who drive an hour or more daily, in order to live and raise their families in Streator. There are young men who weren’t able to come “home”, but they earned degrees and certificates and work as tradesmen. Another young man earned a degree and is a respected officer in another state. I have younger “used to be neighbors” who have joined the military and are serving our nation and have plans for the future. I could go on and on about the capable and hardworking people that I’ve met since moving to this town, but I think you get my point.
Too often we and I do mean we, me included, choose to see the sky as half cloudy, when in actuality there is sunshine and blue skies to be seen. I agree that there could be some improving of attitudes and a higher degree of integrity displayed in our town. Honestly, in some regards situations do exceed any that I’ve encountered in past, but there are good circumstances that also exceed any I’ve encountered elsewhere. Circumstances that we need to focus on and appreciate, not just for the sake of the youngsters in our town, but for ourselves as well.
There are the young tradesmen who are being forced to go elsewhere to find work. But the critically important point is that they are young people who were born and brought up in our town. They are not slackers and living off of the system, they are doing what is necessary to go where they can find work, and that makes me very proud of them.
I’ve chosen in this rant to look at the younger working people because I believe they represent what the recent efforts of Streator-ites have accomplished. There is a ton of history connected with our town, and more outstanding people in our past than I can name, people who “spawned” in Streator, and played on our sports teams. And where else can you go out on a weekday afternoon with a need, and at the end of the day have over $5,000. toward that worthy cause besides Streator. The people in Streator are generous, ready to lend a hand, thrifty but cautious. The whole county has been enjoying free ramps for the handicapped because of a quiet little group of fellows, for the past 35 years or so. “Why?” some, may ask, I say it’s because these people really care, and are willing to put a shoulder to the plow and get the work done. But, if they haven’t ever been introduced to you they may not speak to you, but that is a cultural matter, and can be traced back to Victorian times, and for whatever reason it’s a social matter that ‘stuck’ here. I’ve chosen to accept the differing mores and social attitudes, and to look and find the beauty in these people who have history and pride in our town that is their home. (not always easy to understand, but it takes an effort to find any good thing in life) If you’ve made it this far, you deserve a reward for your perseverance, I’ll buy you a beverage next time we meet!!
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Post by oldtimer on Sept 18, 2013 15:30:49 GMT -6
I KNOW that there are all sorts of people who live in Streator who have BIG hearts! It's something that comes with living in a small town, but it's even more than that in Streator. People do genuinely care about each other and that's awesome!
I BELIEVE that there are all sorts of people who live in Streator who are bored! It's something that comes with living in a small town. That boredom leads to drinking and drugs and everything else that goes with those two things. "Idle hands are the Devil's Workshop" is a term I like to use when talking about Streator. People who don't get involved in something (i.e. their kids, grandkids, volunteering, etc.) don't have much else to do, but crawl into a bottle or put a needle in their arm.
Don't get me wrong, Streator is my hometown and I love it!
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Post by OutlawwithaSnipeSniper on Sept 18, 2013 15:37:35 GMT -6
Beautifully stated Eva, I came here 25 years ago next April, and can only say I have seen the slide a bit longer. I don't believe it is necessarily even just Illinois, because my home town in Indiana is suffering the same fate.
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Our Town
Sept 18, 2013 16:15:49 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by cityslicker on Sept 18, 2013 16:15:49 GMT -6
Some of this town's citizens, care. They care about looting other people's possessions, just ask the tornado victims , by Oakland Park. With the unemployment rate so high, they were and are, easy pickings. Lock your doors and get inside before darkness falls upon you.
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Our Town
Sept 18, 2013 17:24:16 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by oldtimer on Sept 18, 2013 17:24:16 GMT -6
Some of this town's citizens, care. They care about looting other people's possessions, just ask the tornado victims , by Oakland Park. With the unemployment rate so high, they were and are, easy pickings. Lock your doors and get inside before darkness falls upon you. Oh city slicker you are so mean. Nobody can believe that you have the nerve to say the things you do! Say something else that will shock us. Were always waiting for your next amazing post. Please, don't make us wait.
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Post by job on Sept 18, 2013 17:43:34 GMT -6
As usual, Eva your comments are right on the mark.
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Our Town
Sept 18, 2013 18:11:53 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by oldtimer on Sept 18, 2013 18:11:53 GMT -6
Some of this town's citizens, care. They care about looting other people's possessions, just ask the tornado victims , by Oakland Park. With the unemployment rate so high, they were and are, easy pickings. Lock your doors and get inside before darkness falls upon you. Oh city slicker you are so mean. Nobody can believe that you have the nerve to say the things you do! Say something else that will shock us. Were always waiting for your next amazing post. Please, don't make us wait.
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Post by toshiko on Sept 18, 2013 20:16:51 GMT -6
Some of this town's citizens, care. They care about looting other people's possessions, just ask the tornado victims , by Oakland Park. With the unemployment rate so high, they were and are, easy pickings. Lock your doors and get inside before darkness falls upon you. Yes some ppl did loot our property. So, we cared enough, to man our own street for a month or more!!. Caught 2 looters and the robbers of a local pub. Our street was barricaded every noc and we 'policed' it ourselves, w/ permission and over sight by the local police and ILEA!! There was NO easy pickins here. We banned together as a neighborhood, the few of us here, and we are stronger and prouder for it.
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Post by BTrendy on Sept 18, 2013 21:21:17 GMT -6
Do you have a literary degree, Eva? You have such a gift for writing. You should consider the Write Team at the Times.
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Post by chevypower on Sept 18, 2013 22:37:18 GMT -6
I’ve spent my life as an observer of many things, but mostly I’ve observed people. I’ve had the good fortune to have lived in a variety of places, all very different, one from another. I’ve called home one of the most urban settings in America, and some of the most, so-called, economically challenged rural areas of our nation have also been my home. For the past 11 years I’ve called Streator home. And the negatives that are so regularly mentioned by our citizenry are, from my observations real and true. Broken families, physical and sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse and just plain old hopelessness are here, and in no small amount. But, there is much more to our community than those realities. My neighbor came over to talk to me about her children recently. Both are completing degrees, and both are engaged and there will be two weddings within a few months time in the spring. Three of these four young people are Streator born and bred. One child will have a teaching degree and is marrying a fellow who is also a teacher, another is completing an engineering degree and is marrying a soon to be medical doctor, all four plan to work as close to Streator as possible and will live in our town. I know of well educated and hard working folks, who are earning considerable monies, who drive an hour or more daily, in order to live and raise their families in Streator. There are young men who weren’t able to come “home”, but they earned degrees and certificates and work as tradesmen. Another young man earned a degree and is a respected officer in another state. I have younger “used to be neighbors” who have joined the military and are serving our nation and have plans for the future. I could go on and on about the capable and hardworking people that I’ve met since moving to this town, but I think you get my point. Too often we and I do mean we, me included, choose to see the sky as half cloudy, when in actuality there is sunshine and blue skies to be seen. I agree that there could be some improving of attitudes and a higher degree of integrity displayed in our town. Honestly, in some regards situations do exceed any that I’ve encountered in past, but there are good circumstances that also exceed any I’ve encountered elsewhere. Circumstances that we need to focus on and appreciate, not just for the sake of the youngsters in our town, but for ourselves as well. There are the young tradesmen who are being forced to go elsewhere to find work. But the critically important point is that they are young people who were born and brought up in our town. They are not slackers and living off of the system, they are doing what is necessary to go where they can find work, and that makes me very proud of them. I’ve chosen in this rant to look at the younger working people because I believe they represent what the recent efforts of Streator-ites have accomplished. There is a ton of history connected with our town, and more outstanding people in our past than I can name, people who “spawned” in Streator, and played on our sports teams. And where else can you go out on a weekday afternoon with a need, and at the end of the day have over $5,000. toward that worthy cause besides Streator. The people in Streator are generous, ready to lend a hand, thrifty but cautious. The whole county has been enjoying free ramps for the handicapped because of a quiet little group of fellows, for the past 35 years or so. “Why?” some, may ask, I say it’s because these people really care, and are willing to put a shoulder to the plow and get the work done. But, if they haven’t ever been introduced to you they may not speak to you, but that is a cultural matter, and can be traced back to Victorian times, and for whatever reason it’s a social matter that ‘stuck’ here. I’ve chosen to accept the differing mores and social attitudes, and to look and find the beauty in these people who have history and pride in our town that is their home. (not always easy to understand, but it takes an effort to find any good thing in life) If you’ve made it this far, you deserve a reward for your perseverance, I’ll buy you a beverage next time we meet!! I wanted to quote you so people can read it again, that's how nice and from the Heart that post was, very nice and so true. It's how people look at things that makes the difference (if it wasn't for the nail) the horse wouldn't have shoes.
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Post by Lucky1 on Sept 19, 2013 7:59:07 GMT -6
Good morning Eva - what a wonderful post to read this morning. I am so happy you can see the good our town has produced. I will take you up on a cup of coffee. Hope it will be soon. I know your grandchildren and my grandson have thrived here in our town. I am not sure if my grandson will return to Streator after college but he got his start in life here and it was a good one. I know times have changed since we were youngsters and I have seen the sad changes in our town and our country. I have also seen the way people help each other and support each other. I pray that someday the economy will take a turn for the better. I would hope for jobs to return here but our location is just not practical for most companies to consider us. Manufacturing jobs are gone. I have always felt that if we had high speed rail transportation to Chicago that people might want to locate here and commute. Our cost of living is so much lower than the suburbs. Just a wish though. I just wanted to thank you for finding the sunshine and blue skies here. I grew up here and it is great to find someone who was not raised here seeing the good that I grew up with.
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Post by longarm on Sept 19, 2013 8:25:41 GMT -6
No one knows me but I am a neighbors to someone in Streator. I attend on of your churches. My grandchildren attend schools in Streator.
Big deal you say. Well I was one of the persons described about 35 to 40 years ago. I was employed at O-I. I got a bachelors degree and got married to a young lady in Streator. Although I was educated, I could not get a job worth a darn. And especially in Streator area.
So I decided to go back to college at night. I still worked 7 to 3:30 everyday, 6 days a week and I drove to ISU in NOrmal, Illinois and took night classes. I left at 4:30 PM to be in class at 6 PM. Classes went to 9 PM. Drove back home. So for 2 years I worked from 7 AM to 11 PM. I got an "A"average
It's a long story but a company from MA. with an office in Chicago hired me and we moved to Chicago for 2 year. The company moved me to Ottawa for 9 years. Then we moved back to Streator to be near our aging parents. My salary was based as if I lived in Chicago. I was employed with the same company until I retired.
There are opportunities. A person who moves with their company are usually the ones who are promoted and well paid. It is hard work.
Streator does not have any growth. We need to train our children and educate them so they can leave the nest and take on the world.
Ask yourself, how jobs require a college degree in Streator. But we can still house some really good people.
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Post by BTrendy on Sept 20, 2013 7:56:39 GMT -6
I had such a nice experience in the dentist's office yesterday. There were me, my children and 3 elderly patients waiting. They were chatty, and wanted to know my name, my maiden name, where I went to school, where my children went to school, what church I attended and lots of other mundane questions. Through conversation the one elderly gentleman realized he had worked with my grandfather at Libby Ownens. He retold the story of the bank robbery way back when in Ransom, and how my great uncle and other men had grabbed guns and chased the robber out of town. He told stories of a woman baking pies for the men in the fields and burnt her house down. Stories of losing his wife, finding a new companion, and the tragic loss of his grandson last year that was largely publicized in the media. It was really nice to realize all the little coincidences we shared being a part of this community. One thing being that we all agreed Oogies had the best tenderloins. I'm glad I put my phone down and had such a nice time. :-)
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Post by dumdave on Sept 20, 2013 8:18:12 GMT -6
There are so many reasons why I moved back HOME after my diaspora of 40 years. Eva explains my feelings on why.
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Post by Anonymous on Sept 20, 2013 9:33:48 GMT -6
I had such a nice experience in the dentist's office yesterday. There were me, my children and 3 elderly patients waiting. They were chatty, and wanted to know my name, my maiden name, where I went to school, where my children went to school, what church I attended and lots of other mundane questions. Through conversation the one elderly gentleman realized he had worked with my grandfather at Libby Ownens. He retold the story of the bank robbery way back when in Ransom, and how my great uncle and other men had grabbed guns and chased the robber out of town. He told stories of a woman baking pies for the men in the fields and burnt her house down. Stories of losing his wife, finding a new companion, and the tragic loss of his grandson last year that was largely publicized in the media. It was really nice to realize all the little coincidences we shared being a part of this community. One thing being that we all agreed Oogies had the best tenderloins. I'm glad I put my phone down and had such a nice time. :-) Some of my best conversations are with strangers while out and about in this town. If a fellow shopper strikes up a conversation with you while you are at Kroger, chances are it's me. (You know me, BT, so that doesn't apply to you. lol)
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