CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement commemorating the first night of Hanukkah, which began Nov. 28 and ends Dec. 5:

"Hanukkah is a joyous holiday that brings friends and family together in celebration.

"The perseverance and resilience of the Jewish people, combined with everything that Hanukkah represents, serve as an inspiration for people of all faiths across Illinois.

"I wish all who are celebrating in Illinois a happy Hanukkah and a wonderful holiday season."

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, as well as the triumph of light and purity. When the Jews tried to purify the Temple upon reclaiming it, there was only enough oil to light the menorah for one day instead of the necessary eight. Miraculously, this small amount of oil lasted all eight days, which is why this holiday is also known as the Festival of Lights.

Earlier today state officials were joined by Rabbi Avraham Kagan and Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz of Chabad Illinois and other leaders of the Jewish community for the state of Illinois' annual Hanukkah celebration. The group lit a menorah to commemorate the first night of this special holiday.

Nearly 1,000 Uninhabitable Homes Across Illinois; 2,441 Homes Damaged by Tornadoes

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today asked President Barack Obama to declare 15 Illinois counties major disaster areas to help people and businesses recover from a violent outbreak of tornadoes across the state on Nov. 17. Governor Quinn requested a federal disaster declaration for Champaign, Douglas, Fayette, Grundy, Jasper, LaSalle, Massac, Pope, Tazewell, Vermilion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, Will and Woodford counties.

"The lives of thousands of people across Illinois were torn apart by this deadly outbreak of tornadoes," Governor Quinn said. "We expedited the damage assessment process in order to submit this request and the required documentation as soon as possible. I encourage President Obama to quickly approve this request and help our communities recover and rebuild."

Governor Quinn made the request after five teams comprising personnel from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and local officials assessed damage in the 15 counties hit by the Nov. 17 tornadoes and severe storms. The teams identified 2,441 homes that were damaged, including 781 homes that were destroyed. The teams completed their assessments in less than four days.

If Governor Quinn's request is approved, people in the approved counties would be eligible to apply for grants and low-interest SBA loans. In addition, affected businesses would be able to apply for low-interest SBA loans.

Representatives from IEMA and FEMA will meet with local government officials beginning in early December to document expenses related to the tornadoes and storms, including emergency protective measures, debris removal and repair or replacement of roads, bridges and other public facilities. That information could be used to support a request for federal assistance to help state and local governments recoup a portion of eligible tornado-related expenses.

Under the Governor's direction, the state continues to support recovery efforts in several communities hard hit by the tornadoes. The State Incident Response Center in Springfield is activated to coordinate deployment of state assets and personnel in response to requests from affected areas.

Trucks and heavy equipment from the Illinois Department of Transportation and inmate crews from the Illinois Department of Corrections continue to assist with removal of massive amounts of debris in communities. IEMA personnel were deployed to impacted communities, where they continue to coordinate with local officials on a variety of disaster-related issues. The state also continues to provide law enforcement officers to assist with security and other issues in affected communities.

Several state and local agencies are helping tornado survivors with a variety of issues at Multi-Agency Resources Centers (MARCs) set up in Washington and Brookport through Tuesday. The Illinois departments of Human Services, Insurance and on Aging have staff at both MARCs, and the Secretary of State's Office will be on hand to help residents with driver's licenses, vehicle registration and other issues.

The American Red Cross will provide client casework, information and referrals. More than 20 local disaster relief agencies will also be there to provide assistance and give people much needed information about their recovery process. Additionally, there will be bulk distribution of a variety of items.

For more information about disaster recovery resources, including shelters and ways to help tornado survivors, visit Ready.Illinois.gov.

Famous Speech Read at Midnight from an Original Copy at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn tonight joined the nation's first reading of the Gettysburg Address on the 150th anniversary of the famous Abraham Lincoln speech. At a special display of an original copy of the document in Lincoln's own handwriting, Governor Quinn and visitors at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield listened as a Lincoln re-enactor read the Gettysburg Address at midnight to kick off the commemoration of the November 19, 1863 oratory that is one of the world's best-known and most-often-quoted speeches. Tonight's commemoration is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to promoting Illinois' Lincoln heritage.

"Every American should know and appreciate this speech that summed up where our nation has been and how we should move forward with a 'new birth of freedom,'" Governor Quinn said. "I am proud that Illinois has one of the few handwritten copies of the Gettysburg Address, and that we are able to use it for the country's first commemorative event on its 150th anniversary."

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) presented its original copy of the address accompanied by an honor guard at the center of the museum, along with a special exhibit of Gettysburg artifacts and dramatic readings from the acclaimed book Team of Rivals.

"There's something special about seeing the actual words that Lincoln wrote down 150 years ago. They connect us to this man who was using all his skills as a communicator, leader and politician to save the nation and eliminate slavery. We hope every Illinoisan and every American takes the time to reflect on this historic speech," Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Director Amy Martin said. The agency administers the ALPLM.

The anniversary events continue through the rest of November 19 with Lincoln re-enactor Fritz Klein delivering the address again at 1 p.m., approximately the same time Lincoln delivered the speech in 1863. Historian James Cornelius will also host two screenings of a short film about the address and then take questions from the audience.

Historians will gather on November 20 for a roundtable to discuss the speech's significance, followed by a dramatic presentation about other important speeches that have built on the legacy of the Gettysburg Address. Workshops explaining the impact of the Gettysburg Address on people from different walks of life will be offered and a live webcast about the address will be available to schools nationwide.

The ALPLM's Papers of Abraham Lincoln project has produced a booklet exploring the issues Lincoln wrestled with between the Battle of Gettysburg and his speech. On Lincoln's Mind reproduces documents to and from Lincoln, with commentary on their significance. The booklet will be given away throughout November 24.

The ALPLM's copy of the Gettysburg Address is known as the Edward Everett copy. Everett was the main featured speaker at the November 19, 1863 Gettysburg Cemetery Dedication and spoke for two hours, as keynote speakers were expected to do at the time. Then President Lincoln delivered his two-minute, 272-word speech. The day after the Address, Everett wrote to the President: "Permit me...to express my great admiration of the thoughts expressed by you, with such eloquent simplicity and appropriateness, at the consecration of the cemetery. I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central ideas of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes."

Lincoln's reply the same day was characteristic: "Your kind note of today is received. In our respective parts yesterday, you could not have been excused to make a short address, nor I a long one. I am pleased to know that in your judgment, the little I did say was not entirely a failure."

Everett requested a copy of Lincoln's speech to be included in a book along with Everett's remarks and auctioned in New York for the benefit of wounded soldiers. Upon his return to Washington, Lincoln wrote out his speech and sent the document known as the Everett copy to the Massachusetts governor. This is the Address now owned by the ALPLM. The original copy of Everett's oration was purchased at the same time as the Address and is held in the ALPLM's  collections.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is home to a collection of more than 52,000 items related to the 16th President, from a handwritten copy of the Gettysburg Address to family heirlooms to popular art. The collection is available to researchers, and select items are displayed in the museum's Treasures Gallery.

For more information about Gettysburg Address 150th anniversary events, visit GettysburgAddress150.com.

State-Funded Preservation Now Project to Create 500 Jobs in Chicago and Peoria 

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced the state's Preservation Now program will finance the preservation of approximately 600 affordable rental units for seniors and people with disabilities in Chicago and Peoria. The project is expected to create more than 500 jobs and is part of the Governor's agenda to ensure quality affordable housing for working families, seniors and people with disabilities across Illinois.

"This project will preserve critical affordable housing options for hundreds of families while creating 500 jobs," Governor Quinn said. "Today it is more important than ever that we maintain reasonably priced rental homes for all residents, no matter what challenges are, and the Preservation Now program is key to making that happen."

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) administers the Preservation Now program to preserve affordable housing across the state. IHDA board members on Friday approved financing for the first two projects under the program: 478 apartments in four developments in Peoria and a 100-unit development in Chicago.

"Governor Quinn's commitment will safeguard the affordability of these developments by extending existing U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development project-based rental subsidies by an additional 20 years," IHDA Executive Director Mary Kenney said. "Under Governor Quinn, IHDA has provided more than $3 billion to create or preserve approximately 18,600 rental units across the state."

Work is expected to be completed by next fall.

Peoria Developments:

231-unit Parkview Estates - 2401 N. Gale Ave.

97-unit Reservoir Estates - 3336 W. Kiva Court

75-unit Hurlburt House - 818 W. Hurlburt St.

75-unit Schlarman House - 707 NE Madison Ave.

IHDA will provide approximately $30 million in low-interest loans and other financing to rehabilitate 478 units in four developments in Peoria. An estimated 400 construction and post-construction jobs will be created.

Developer Wallick Asset Management will replace roofs, windows, siding and exterior doors. Green and Energy Star upgrades include windows, doors, appliances, low-flow water devices, lights and flooring. Site improvements will provide new paving and striping, landscaping upgrades, upgraded recreational spaces and fencing repairs. The planned scope of work will dramatically upgrade these developments, preserving these affordable housing units and their vital rental subsidy.

Chicago Development:

Evergreen Towers I - 1333 N. Cleveland Ave.

IHDA will provide approximately $18 million in low-interest loans and other financing toward the acquisition and rehabilitation of Evergreen Towers, a 100-unit high-rise apartment building for seniors in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. An estimated 120 construction and post-construction jobs will be created.

In partnership with Voice of the People in Uptown and Near North Development Corp., developer Daveri Development Group will modernize the apartments with green and sustainable features designed to increase resource efficiency, reduce environmental impacts and yield cost savings through a long-term reduction in operating expenses. Green features will include a photovoltaic solar system (PV), solar thermal water system, Energy Star appliances, high-efficiency lights in common areas, and low-flow plumbing.

The Preservation Now program aims to preserve project-based rental subsidy in existing developments by encouraging the acquisition and rehabilitation of properties by owners agreeing to extend the existing rental subsidy contracts related to the development. Approximately $245 million in project-based subsidy will be preserved over the next 20 years as a result of Preservation Now.

Preservation Now has made available Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund and other resources, which are anticipated to leverage up to $100 million in IHDA bond volume cap to support preservation efforts. Trust Fund revenue is generated from half of the state real estate transfer fee.

###