Mary Davis trial pushed back to January

If everything is so cut and dry, why the extra time to prepare?

Mary C. Davis, 51, of Dunlap was to stand trial on 16 felony counts of official misconduct and theft on Nov. 15. But the two sides told a judge Monday during an unscheduled hearing they needed more time to gather evidence and develop their cases.

The trial is now set for Jan. 10, 2011. Davis remains free on bond pending her trial. She is accused of taking money several times between 2005 and 2007 while principal at Charles Lindbergh Middle School.

The official misconduct charges all allege Davis "knowingly performed an act which she knows was forbidden by law," theft of government property. The theft charges carry a range of one to three years or three to seven years behind bars, depending on whether the amount was more than $300. Source

New District 150 website

District 150 has a new website. They still have some bugs to iron out, but you can get the gist of where they are going with it.

I like that they are clearly trying to sell you on the District. What do you think?

Potential welfare to work program for PHA residents?

The Peoria Housing Authority has decided not to renew the collective bargaining agreement with its trade-union employees. I wonder... do you think the PHA could fill the 14 positions with residents who are currently unemployed? They want their residents to work on receiving training and eventually find a job; this would be a good time to start their own in-house welfare to work program.

Business agents of all trades impacted were advised on Thursday that the PHA plans to send a formal 60-day notice of the intention not to renew the agreement. The current trade union contract expires December 31.

There are currently 14 employees in various trades (plumbing, painting, labor, carpenter, steamfitter and plasterer) that are covered under a consolidated-collective-bargaining agreement with the PHA. Read the entire article here.

A good look for District 150 Administrators

Employees really do appreciate it when the powers that be take the time to actively work to boost moral. Great post from School Daze, worth reposting...

Bus drivers thanked
I had a bus driver call me today. Theresa Hart works at Peoria School District 150 and has done so the past seven years.

She said she was surprised when she got to work this morning, before 6 a.m. mind you, and saw balloons and a banner thanking the bus drivers and bus monitors. Inside the “bus barn,” she said a breakfast of doughnuts, coffee and juice were being served by some of the school district’s administrators.

Read the entire post here.

Therein lies the challenge for District 150

Thirteen hours ago in the pjstar comment section, under the story about the "Dr. Lathan Show", I saw a random comment about the District "cover up" of a gun at school. By the time the story came out in the mainstream media about the alleged gun, the posted comment from earlier already set the tone and makes one think there is more to the story than has been reported on.

From pjstar comments:

peoria78 13 hours ago
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waste of tax payers money. You want people to see the truth well start telling the truth instead of covering things up and sweeping the issues under the rug. Tell the public how yesterday you allowed a child to get on a bus and go home after children at school reported to school officials he had a gun in his book bag. Explain to district 150 parents why police were not called and a parent had to call them to get the ball rolling...explain that one please.

From ciproud:

District 150 Student Brings BB Gun to School
October 19, 2010

A District 150 elementary school student faces disciplinary action after allegedly bringing a look-alike weapon to school on Monday, October 18th. The child is a student at Thomas Jefferson elementary.

Classmates alerted their teachers about what they thought was a real handgun. It turns out it was a BB gun. A district spokesperson will only say that administrators took appropriate disciplinary action based on school board policy.

Economic integration as a school reform tool

In my opinion, to reap the full benefits of economic integration, the parents of the low income student must be motivated to find a balance for their child. Not only do you have to worry about parents at affluent schools hunkering down; you also have to worry about the fact that your child is in essence, living in two worlds. The low income child must have family support and possess a strong sense of who they are and where they want to go. Perhaps then, they can successfully maneuver the duality.

Study of Montgomery County schools shows benefits of economic integration

The idea is easier to apply in areas with substantial middle-class populations and more difficult in communities, such as the District, with large concentrations of poverty. Yet it lends fresh support to an idea as old as the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954: Segregated schools - in this case, separated by economics, not law - are rarely as good as diverse ones at educating low-income students.

Today, 95 percent of education reform is about trying to make high-poverty schools work," said Richard Kahlenberg, senior fellow at the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank based in New York that published the report. "This research suggests there is a much more effective way to help close the achievement gap. And that is to give low-income students a chance to attend middle-class schools."

"The conventional wisdom - and I don't want to knock the foundation of it - is that we really need to infuse the poorest schools with lots of resources," said Stefanie DeLuca, associate professor of sociology at Johns Hopkins University, who has studied the issue and read an advance copy of the report. "This study turns that wisdom on its head to some extent. It says, actually, it's who you are going to school with."

Researchers say that poor schools often struggle because they tend to attract rotating staffs of less-experienced teachers and administrators, among other problems. Schools with lower levels of poverty have a range of benefits that include more stable staffs, fewer discipline problems and more support from volunteers. Parents who have one job instead of three also have an easier time being involved. And expectations are usually higher.

"This is not about 'poor kids can't learn,' " DeLuca said. "It's about the fact that we've had a legacy in this country of segregated neighborhoods and socioeconomic isolation from opportunities and the mainstream of life."

Scars from busing battles
But questions about integrating school systems have not been front-and-center since the 1970s, and scars from school busing battles have made policymakers leery of raising such issues again. Most districts nationwide now assign students to schools based only on where they live.

Parents with the means to live close to top-performing schools often have resisted efforts that would send their children to schools with larger numbers of students from low-income families.

A growing number of school districts - at least 60 so far - has in recent years been experimenting with strategies that promote economic diversity. These include magnet schools, student assignment policies that take into account economic status and agreements that give poor kids a chance to attend schools in wealthier suburbs.

Dominique Johnson, 13, who attended an elementary school in the District before moving to a public housing apartment in Bethesda, said the difference was obvious.

"It was a bad, bad school," she said of her old school, shaking her head. "The principal, I don't think she did anything about all the fights. I had this one teacher who would curse at the kids."

At North Bethesda Middle School, she said, she found rules, focus and difficult classes with attentive teachers. Her grades dropped. But after a year or so, they improved.

"Now I understand the work," she said. "I've made friends. The principal is nice. It was harder at first, but at lunch I'd go to classes and the teachers helped me."

Hat tip @ Frustrated. Read the entire article here...

What it sounds like when parents hunker down

I recently moved my child from the catholic school to the public school. I'm shocked that there are classes with 40-42 students! We have so many children that are coming into the area attending our schools and are not local residents.

From what I'm told our hands are tied so I'm told. We work hard to make sure our children are in a safe and positive environment and have the tax bills to prove it. Now we have people who have only a portion of what we pay in taxes bringing in their children in to fill seats and over crowding at our schools. It is WRONG! Especially when I hear that the schools in their area have empty class rooms.

So my children are now in class with kids who are not being taught that you respect adults and how to behave at school. Although my children are not the one that the teacher is yelling at they are still feeling the abuse of it.

I pay too much for this and to have someone come in on a free ride and not support the school by being involved and not teaching their children how to behave makes me very angry. My opinion is that we should not pack them in where kids are sitting around classrooms without a desk because there is no more space.

The no child left behind is a bunch of crap. The school is failing so let's send these kids over here so they can fail there too. No one is thinking. I can't believe the brand new schools for schools with D's and F's on the Illinois Report card while the A and B schools are over crowded and old failing apart buildings.

Someone need to actually take charge and make a real budget and make our future a priority. Kids should not be allowed to leave a school unless there is no room for them. They should not squeeze them in the school doing well. Maybe it is the teacher that needs a change not the student. I see know why the Chicago public school system is failing and I know that I will not be apart of it very long that is for sure.

This area is only going to be filled with those who have to live hear because those of us who don't will be getting out as soon as possible and moving to the burbs.

A Beverly/Morgan Park parent

You never know how your day might end

Yesterday morning, Amy Irving, owner of S'more Couture had a lot to celebrate, as it was two years ago to that date that S'more Couture had it’s grand opening at 2700 Second Street, Alta, Illinois.

On her Facebook page she posted the following:

“I would like to thank each and every one of my valued customers for their support and for helping this little vintage inspired shop survive the economy storm. It has been the honor of my life to own this store, which started as a childhood dream. "

It is unfortunate that a day that started out with such excitement for Amy, ended with the arrest of her husband, a 5th District Councilman. City Councilman Dan Irving, was reportedly booked into the Peoria County Jail on a charge of domestic battery. Irving, 42, of 10708 Alex Drive was arrested at 3:36 p.m. Friday in the 2700 block of Second Street in Alta. Source

Dr. Lathan responds to the Reverend Watson "press release"

Board Members,

In response to Reverend Watson's "press release" here are the actual facts about PHS. To my knowledge, only one blogger has inquired about the press release.

1) All principals and Central Office administrators in the District, who were not already on multi-year contracts, have been offered one-year contracts. There were no exceptions. Any ongoing multi-year contracts prior to my arrival must be honored. New principals were offered multi-year contracts.

2) Textbooks are an ongoing issue throughout our District. Several years ago, we evaluated our textbook process as a Six-Sigma project. We improved the process, but our high student mobility rate is an issue. To correct his letter, the first Peoria High textbook request sent to the warehouse was dated August 19, not August 1. The warehouse has filled all of the received textbook requisitions that are able to be filled.

3) There are only two plumbing work orders outstanding for PHS. A Sept. 30 work order for a leaking drinking fountain and an Oct. 5 work order for two toilets – one fills slowly and the other has a broken flush handle.

4) I am developing a schedule to meet with all parent groups to introduce myself and allow time for Q&A.

5) We have been working collaboratively with the City to address the after school safety issues:

a) The posting of new signs on North Street indicating "No Stopping or Standing" and indicating no left turn onto North Street between the hours of 2:00 & 4:00 PM Monday through Friday.

b) Requesting support from the Parking Enforcement Division to assist in the enforcement of parking violations.

c) The installation of gates that will prevent vehicles from exiting designated entrance / exits.

d) The moving of the public bus stop form Richmond/North to Nebraska/North

e) The purchase of video cameras to tape student dismissal and after school activities.

f) Conduct school assemblies at all high schools regarding sidewalk safety.

Grenita F. Lathan, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Peoria Public Schools
3202 N. Wisconsin Avenue
Peoria, IL 61603

Watch Groups help or hinderance?

In this era of school reform, school district watch groups serve an important purpose. They can be a godsend to the otherwise uninformed parent and public. However, they must be ready to give an unbiased and informed opinion.

They call themselves the District Watch Group (DWG). They are influential amongst parents and teachers and they meet every week to discuss the Agenda for the upcoming BOE meeting; to catch up on “news” from folks in the trenches; and to plan their “problem solving” for presentation at the next BOE meeting.

The founders of the DWG, "Sherry" (Sharon&Terry) are retired District 150 teachers and they are well known throughout the community. At the BOE meetings, when they step up to the podium, you can visibly see BOE members bristling (some more than others).

After they are finished speaking, they want immediate feedback from the Superintendent and BOE members. If every issue raised is not addressed (and even when they are), the real talk begins on the blogs and the issues not directly addressed at the BOE meeting, seem to instantly become fact.

Lately, the Superintendent and BOE members appear to be doing some push back on the negativity. However, when BOE members comment on the blogs, all it appears to do is open up a new can of worms. Civility is sparse, condescension is rampant, the answers never appear to be enough and the rumors continue to morph.

One of the founders of the District Watch Group, recently posted here that Dr. Lathan, District 150's Superintendent, has placed a personal call to her. Apparently, Dr. Lathan has even pulled other top level Administrators in on a conference call, in an effort to address DWG issues and to put a stop to the negative information that is circulating, but unfortunately, the answers never appear to be enough.

Watch Groups are nothing new and they really can serve a purpose of keeping citizens informed and officials on their toes. What is new are blogs. Blogs bring a whole new level for folks to get their message across. Unfortunately, the message is all to often off putting and in many cases nothing short of bullying of whatever official, or issue that may be on the "Agenda".

What should the District and BOE do? Can they afford to not publically respond to mis-information that may be circulating on blogs? If the District and BOE does publicly respond, how exactly should they do that, without appearing to be susceptible, when their answers simply won't suffice? At what point should they just throw up their hands and let it go?

UPDATED - PHS parent speaks out against negative press

I have been informed by very reliable source that many of the statements made in the letter sent by Rev. Watson to local bloggers holds many inaccuracies and in some instances, is simply untrue. The letter is printed in it's entirety here.

While I still believe that the mainstream media often has a rush to judgement about negative news about certain schools, I do have a problem believing that certain BOE members (who have been very responsive in the past), or Dr. Lathan ignored this group of parents. I noted in a previous post that at the September BOE meeting I only saw one parent from PHS come forward to speak to the BOE.

In an e-mail sent to local bloggers, Rev. Watson states the following:

We have repeatedly asked for Board Members to come meet with us to discuss our issues and no response. We have contacted Dr. Lathan as far back as May, and had no response. If The Chamber of Commerce or any other organization deemed important by the B.O.E. or Superintendent requested their presence, they would attend. We, as parents, are tired of groups/members of the public that have no children at PHS spreading false rumors and accusations against our children and school staff. We felt the closure of a high school was a mistake but we have to make the best out of the situation. Those in the public that are spreading rumors, we ask you to stop because it does nothing but harm all the students of PHS. There is much truth to the adage if you can’t say something positive, say nothing at all. You are there to represent all the students of District #150 and set an example. How do you think our students feel after hearing these unwarranted accusations? Remember, the Board voted to close Woodruff and now it is a Peoria High problem? It might behoove you in the future to have solutions before decisions are made.

We also are offended by the fact that nothing was done by the Administrative staff to prevent these stories from exacerbating on Channel 25 and in the Peoria Journal Star. Stories like this could likely be ran about every school in America, but the Board and Administration reacted to the stories by recommending staggering dismissal times, etc., in essence, blaming PHS. Again, more assumptions about our Peoria High students. We understand that there will happenings, but it is not exclusive to Peoria High. These incidents occur across every school, across every city, across the nation.

In summary, we feel we are receiving disparate treatment as issues are ongoing at the other schools, yet they do not receive the unwarranted attention that has been thrust upon the Peoria High School community. The Board of Education and the Superintendent have failed to address and plan regarding the issues mentioned above. We do not appreciate the inaccurate perception that is being portrayed to the general public about our school and we are extremely disappointed and frustrated with the lack of information and support that we have received. Randy Simmons and his staff are the best of the best and we expect to be treated as such, which provides for a domino effect to the education and fulfillment for the PHS students. Our children deserve no less.

We have asked for School Board involvement and been ignored. We have asked for District150 Administration involvement and been ignored. We will no longer be silent about the injustice being perpetrated against PHS and our children. Let all who read this know if you want your child to be taught by the best and cared for by the best then PHS is the right place for your child!

Related articles: Urban legend - the #150 Marauders; Are our schools safe?; Our school is better than your school

4 year old shot this morning as shooting tally continues to climb

Child Shot in Peoria
October 14, 2010 - An early morning shooting has injured a 4-year-old in Peoria. Police say someone fired shots into a home on West Proctor Street around 4:30 this morning, hitting the child.
Shots fired at house in Central Peoria
Oct 12, 2010 - A Central Peoria man awoke to the sound of gunshots about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday outside his house.
Group fires gunshot as police officer watches
Oct 08, 2010 - A group of teens apparently accidentally fired a gunshot Thursday night as a police officer watched them.
Shots fired at three men walking in East Bluff
Oct 04, 2010 - Three men were shot at while walking in the East Bluff on Sunday night, according to police reports.
Peoria man reportedly shot in the lower back
Oct 01, 2010 - A 27-year-old man was shot in the lower back Wednesday. About 8 p.m., Jeroid Lindsey was shot in the 3800 block of Verner Drive.
Peoria man shot in leg during fight outside home
Oct 01, 2010 - A 29-year-old man was shot in the leg Thursday Byron Brock was shot about 2:45 a.m. at 2401 W. Garden St.
South Peorian shot during home invasion
Sep 30, 2010 - A South Peoria man was shot in the leg early Thursday during a home invasion in which intruders apparently took nothing, including money the victim threw at them.
Man shot in back during fight
Sep 29, 2010 - A man was taken to Proctor Hospital after being shot in the lower back about 8 p.m. Wednesday near the 3800 block of Verner Drive.
Dozen shots fire into crowd of fighting females
Sep 28, 2010 - No one was injured Sunday evening when about a dozen shots were fired into a crowd of fighting females in South Peoria.
Peoria police respond to call of gunshots on Sunday
Sep 26, 2010 - Several shots were fired Sunday night in the southern part of the city. Police received a call about 8:40 p.m. of gunfire and responded to West John H. Gwynn Jr. Avenue and Village Green Court.
40-year-old man shot in the leg in South Peoria
Sep 25, 2010 - A man was shot in the leg early Saturday in South Peoria. The 40-year-old victim told police he was standing near the intersection of South Griswold and West Garden streets when a man walked up and shot him in the leg a few minutes after midnight
Gunshots strike house and SUV parked nearby
Sep 22, 2010 - Gunshots struck a house and the sport utility vehicle parked in front of it about 7:35 p.m. Wednesday in the 1700 block of South Livingston Street.
Shots fired in parking lot in Peoria; suspects flee
Sep 18, 2010 - Multiple shots were fired about 1 a.m. Saturday in a parking lot at West Oakcrest Drive and West Fallen Oak Lane.
Police respond to reports of shootings
Sep 13, 2010 - A flurry of reported gunfire in the city between 9 and 10 p.m. Sunday left at least one man shot.
Police: Two men shot in South Peoria
Sep 04, 2010 - Two men were shot early Saturday morning in South Peoria The shooting happened in the 2300 block of West Lincoln Avenue about 1 a.m., when officers responded to a call of shots fired but found no victims.
Peoria home fired upon; neither occupant was hit
Aug 20, 2010 - A North Valley house was shot at several times Thursday evening. Residents of 517 Vine St. were inside about 5:45 p.m. when they heard four or five shots fired at the house from its rear.
Task force makes 'staggering impact'
Aug 16, 2010 - An "extremely quiet" month aided by a "supportive community" has shut down areas of the city known as "hot spots," where shootings and gang violence were prevalent earlier this summer, Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard said Monday. "There is no hot spot," he said.
2 Peorians wounded in drive-by shooting
Aug 09, 2010 - A nearly three-week respite from street violence ended early Monday when two people were shot outside a West Bluff home. The incident brings to 89 the number of gunshot victims recorded in the city this year, though that figure has not risen as steadily as during the first part of the summer - since a police task force was formed to combat gun violence nearly four weeks ago.

Things that make you go hmmm...

I really do miss watching the BOE meetings on television. Lately, I have had to actually GO to BOE meetings, because they are no longer aired. Unfortunately, Diane & Co. are on hiatus for a little bit, so there have been no BOE meetings uploaded on ciproud since late August.

For the reasons mentioned in the paragraph above, I was in attendance at tonight's BOE Meeting. I, too, noticed what the Superintendent didn't respond to...

From comments - Sharon Crews:

"Now for the latest 150 rumor. I have heard that the district is no longer keeping tardy records for students—which would, also, mean no consequences for being late to class. Is this rumor or fact? Is this a policy on which the board will vote—I certainly want to see that show of hands. Will the students be led to believe that they will suffer consequences? They will figure it out; I’m all for them finding out right now so that the chaos will be apparent immediately. Students respond to honesty; they will take advantage of dishonesty."

After the public comments at every BOE meeting, Dr. Lathan is given time to address any comments made by the speakers. I believe this time was instituted partly due to Jim Stowell's complaint that we speakers often make incorrect statements, etc., that need to be addressed. That is why I labeled my comment as a rumor to be dispelled.

Well, Dr. Lathan commented on several issues brought up by speakers, but nothing about mine. Therefore, am I to believe that the rumor is not a rumor at all but fact. Terry, also, commented on how unusual it is that there have been no suspensions on the board agenda for at least the last two meetings. Yet one teacher spoke about the chaos that is occurring regularly at her school. What is replacing suspensions as a consequences for inappropriate behavior?

Teacher Smashes Up Classroom

The laughter is just as disturbing as the meltdown...

A teacher had to be escorted from school in handcuffs after smashing up furniture in front of a classroom full of jeering children. Donald Wood appeared to suffer a nervous breakdown as he struggled to control his teenage pupils at McGavock High School in Nashville, Tennessee.

Mobile phone footage recorded by one of the youngsters showed him throwing two tables, a bin and a chair during an algebra lesson.

The video starts with Mr Wood - who has been a teacher for 17 years - telling the pupils to "shut up". The classroom erupts as he is taunted by the hysterical students.

He then waves his arms and says: "If you can be absolutely quiet...if you can shut your mouth...you can shut your mouth and you can listen in absolute silence… "Do you know why? Cause I have the absolute…" "Power?" screams one of the youths.

"I've got it, and I know it," the teacher replies. "And guess who else knows it?" Mr Wood then knocks over a table, and strolls over to the other side of the room and upturns another desk.

"Do you know who started the fire? Do you know who started the fire in this school?" he asks. A student says something inaudible, and Mr Wood replies: "No - me!" He then hurls a metal bin to the floor as pupils flee in terror.

"Once everybody started running out he picked up a chair and threw it out the window and it shattered," pupil Joshua Jenkins told NewsChannel. The commotion could be heard in nearby classrooms and the teacher was removed from the school in handcuffs.

"He was very agitated, very scattered and he didn't make any sense," said the school's principal Robbin Wall. "We are very fortunate that none of our students were injured or hurt."

Mr Wood was taken to hospital for treatment, and has been suspended as investigations continue into the incident.

Happy Columbus Day!

Schools may be closed today, but we got some home schoolin' goin on.

Richwoods students suspended after drinking party

You may recall that I overheard a young lady from the Richwoods Dance Team and her mother talking about fights, off campus, after the Richwoods vs Notre Dame game. An Anonymous commenter hastened to inform me that there were no fights amongst the Richwoods children. Even though there were no reports of fights at this party, I wouldn't doubt that there are plenty of fights that go unreported at such events. Unfortunately, these exclusive drinking parties are the norm in the suburbs and as a result, are much more difficult for the PPD to get a handle on.

Up to dozen athletes receive suspensions for being at weekend party.

PEORIA — As many as 10 to 12 student-athletes at Richwoods High School will finish out their respective season on the sidelines after they received tickets for possessing or using alcohol while at a weekend drinking party.

Twenty-two city ordinance violations were issued to teenagers for possessing and/or consuming alcohol Saturday at a home in the 4000 block of West Hollow Trace, according to Peoria police.

Names of the students are not available as they are juveniles, but Peoria police relayed the names to school officials, District 150 spokeswoman Stacey Shangraw said.

Letters went out to those students, notifying them and their parents that students involved in extracurricular activities may not be able to participate for up to an entire year, Shangraw said.

Peoria District 150’s extracurricular competition code, revised about three years ago, carries greater penalties than held at many other school districts, especially for first offenses.

The first offense for the use, possession or transportation of illegal drugs or alcohol results in an automatic suspension from all activities and practices covered by the code for one calendar year from the date of the incident, the policy states.

“We have a policy and we’re just following through on that,” Shangraw said of letters that were sent to parents from Richwoods’ athletic director. “Extracurricular activities are a privilege and strictly voluntary.”

Read entire story here...

Mary Davis honored with bench? UPDATED

... the plaque has been removed (October 4, 2010).

Today, a commenter claiming to be Julie McArdle's husband, posted on Peoria Chronicle that Mary Davis has been honored with a bench at Lindbergh School.

The post:
"A bench was permanently installed near the front entrance of Lindbergh Middle School on Friday Oct 1st 2010. There is a nameplate attached to the bench that reads, “Simply the Best, Ms. Davis”.

As Julie McArdle’s husband, I am disappointed that given the circumstances, “the powers that be” would allow this to happen."

In October of 2009, Mary Davis, who had been on paid leave since September from her position as District 150 academic officer, was fired with a BOE vote of 5-0. Board members David Gorenz and Jim Stowell were not present for the vote. The BOE vote came four days after Davis, pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts of official misconduct and theft. While principal at Charles Lindbergh Middle School, Davis is alleged to have taken money from the school two times in 2005, four times in 2006 and two times in 2007.

Davis served as Lindbergh principal five years before becoming District 150 academic officer in 2008.

Questions have been raised as to who authorized the bench to be installed on school grounds. After a quick review of the Lindbergh website, the only reference I could find to a bench is an April, 2010 notation in the PTO minutes under New Business:

NEW BUSINESS - Class gift/letter-MELANIE GRAY
For the 8th grade class gift, a suggestion was to collect money for landscaping and possibly a bench. Melanie and Bill Gray are purchasing a decorative rock and paying for the engraving for the Class of 2010.

Was the purchase and installation of the bench simply an 8th grade class wanting to commemorate a Principal for whom they had fond memories? Hopefully the Police line tape will be removed before the children return to school on Monday.

Hat tip to Sharon Crews for the photos.