Legislators lend helping hand to Gifford Street High classes

Gifford Street High School history teacher Rod Watson taught his students an impromptu lesson last week: sometimes, all you need to do is ask.

When Watson was told there wasn't enough money to take his American history and civics classes on a trip down to Springfield, he called state Rep. Ruth Munson, who in turn called state Rep. Fred Crespo and state Sen. Michael Noland. Together, the legislators financed last week's $1,500 coach bus trip with campaign funds.

Hoping to show the 50 students the House in session, Watson and his classes arrived to find the House in recess.

On a whim, they walked over to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office and asked for an audience. Minutes later, a visit with the governor was granted.

Blagojevich "didn't grandstand. He talked to the students about standardized testing, gambling expansion, and speaking English as a second language," Watson said,

Watson's primarily Hispanic students were impressed to hear that Blagojevich spoke Polish before English, and faced some of the same language barriers they had, he said.

The visit, Watson said, lasted for nearly an hour. The bus ride back to Elgin was filled with phone calls to parents saying "Guess who I just met?"

With the recent primaries, Watson said he couldn't have asked for a better chance at bringing American government to life.

Art exhibit: Vision 2008, an art competition and exhibit featuring the artwork of U-46 high school students, has opened at First Community Bank, 50 Tyler Creek Plaza in Elgin. The 150 paintings, photographs, sculptures and drawings will remain on display through March 7.

Spartan Terrace reopens: Spartan Terrace, the upscale restaurant run by students of the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Institute of Elgin at Elgin Community College, reopened Tuesday.

Entrees are prepared by student chefs under the watchful eye of Mark Bosanac, the associate professor and certified executive chef who grades their edible work.

For $7 to $9, you can eat like you're at the Ritz. Items include duck with fig sauce, scallops and bacon, and chicken ballontine.

The restaurant is located in the Culinary Arts Center on the ECC main campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Reservations for lunch are recommended and available by calling (847) 214-7382, or by going online to www.elgin.edu/ spartanterrace.