McLean County News Briefs

Chronicle Media

Volunteers in action at the Livingston, McLean & Woodford County Meal Packaging Event this spring where they packaged over 20,000 food servings to donate to local area food banks to help feed people in communities. (Photo courtesy of U of Illinois Extension)

McLean County

4-H initiative fights hunger in McLean, Woodford

On April 4, Illinois 4-H passed a major milestone, providing more than one million meals to families as part of the 4-H Feeding & Growing Our Communities initiative. 

Food access is a major initiative of Illinois 4-H.

The efforts began in November 2013, said Bill Million, University of Illinois Extension 4-H youth development specialist. 4-H members evaluate the hunger issues in their local communities and develop strategies to meet the challenges.

One of those strategies has been sponsorship of meal-packaging events. Illinois 4-H works with Illini Fighting Hunger, a U of I student group operated out of Wesley Foundation in Urbana.

“4-H club members purchase bulk ingredients, then measure to fill family-size packages of the soy-based casserole meals,” Million said. “The meals are distributed to local food pantries and service organizations to be distributed to families in need.”

Community organizations and individuals are still welcome to donate to future meal packaging events with a check payable to the McLean County Extension Service Foundation, with a note that the contribution is to be made available for future 4-H Meal Packaging Events.

For more information on donating or getting involved in our 4-H & Extension programming, visit us at go.illinois.edu/LMW or contact us at the McLean County Extension Office (1615 Commerce Parkway, Bloomington, IL 61704) at (309) 663-8306.  

Local Master Gardeners touring Indianapolis Gardens     

Master Gardeners with the University of Illinois Extension are taking the Indianapolis Garden Tour next month and are invited the public to come along for the ride.

The Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Garden houses 10,000 square feet of tropical plants, including palms, orchids, ferns, cacao, vanilla, bananas and coffee.

The park also offers 3 acres of classical European formal gardens, including fountains, manicured flowerbeds and concrete urns. For information on the trip, including registration details, visit go.illinois.edu/RegisterLMW or call the McLean County Extension office at 309-663-8306.    

Bloomington

New solid waste, sanitary/storm water fees in effect    

Three service-related fees have increased as the city of Bloomington’s new fiscal year begins. Solid waste cart fees have increased from $21 to $25 per month for 65-gallon carts, and from $25 to $29 per month for 95-gallon carts.

Also rising is the city’s sanitary sewer consumption fee and fixed fee, which is going from $1.60 per 100-cubic feet to $2.40 for the same metric. T

he sanitary sewer fixed fee has increased from $1.50 to $2.25. Lastly, storm water fixed fees have increased from $1.45 per impervious area unit to $1.89 for the same metric. More information about the changes is available on the city’s website, www.cityblm.org.  

Sewer repair work on Front, Main streets underway    

Workers are in the midst of rehabilitating a sewer main service area along Front Street, from Madison to East streets. The work, which began Friday, May 4, is expected to finish by the end of this week.

Throughout the project, city officials have announced several related occurrences might result from the work, including a possible temporary loss in sewer service and the potential for an odor to enter a building. For information, call the city’s public works office at 309-434-2225.

Historic preservation awards ceremony set

The historic preservation commissions representing Bloomington and Normal are collaborating with the Old House Society for this year’s Historic Preservation Awards.

A ceremony in honor of persons being recognized will take place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, at the McLean County Museum of History, 200 N. Main St. Multiple properties in both communities are being recognized this year for their contributions toward historic preservation. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

City teaming up with NAACP for diversity effort     

The city of Bloomington’s human resources department is teaming up with the Bloomington-Normal branch of the NAACP for an effort officials say is designed to bolster diversity in the community. Membership of the so-called Diversity Enhancement Group will consist of representatives from numerous community agencies.

“We also encourage interested organizations to reach out to us,” Michael Hurt, the city’s talent acquisition and development manager, said in a statement. “We want this group to be as inclusive as possible.”

Normal

Officials reviewing welcoming community ordinance  

Officials in the town of Normal are in the midst of reviewing the municipality’s so-called welcoming community ordinance, a document touching on immigration-related matters. Locally, Normal officials have been working with an organization known as the Keeping Families Together Coalition.

“Staff has worked closely with coalition representatives to draft a unique, Normal-specific ordinance that both addresses coalition member concerns and links directly to the (town’s) comprehensive plan,” City Manager Pamela Reece wrote in a memo. “The proposed ordinance confirms and endorses the Normal Police Department community policing efforts by cultivating strong relationships with all residents and community organizations.” Reese’s full report is available on the town’s website, www.normal.org.

Spring mulch loading hours in effect through May 25  

Normal’s mulch loading site reopened for the season this week. Spring mulch loading hours, in effect through Friday, May 25, will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. The mulch can be picked up at the town’s public works facility, 1301 Warriner St., as supplies are available. For information, call the DPW office at 309-454-9571. Expanded summer hours will begin the week of Memorial Day.

 

–McLean County News Briefs–