The last Art Tuesday for the Atlanta Public Library will be next week! This Art Tuesday will occur on July 26th from 1-3 pm. Call the library at 217-648-2112 to pre-register for ages 5+.
Sonshine Daycare is looking for more fun things to do this summer with the kids! They are open to volunteers that would like to come in to read or color with the children for example. If you have a special talent or hobby you would like to showcase, feel free to contact Sonshine Daycare. If interested, call 309-874-2522.
The 9th Annual Route 66 Race will be on Saturday, August 27th. Participants will walk or run from Funks Grove to McLean in a benefit for the community of McLean. Many fun events and activities will be running throughout the day at the square too! The cost is $45, but to guarantee a t-shirt, you must sign up by August 1st. Registration is open to participate in the race online and via mail.
McLean Community VBS is from July 11-15th from 6-8 pm. VBS will be held at the Village Park. The theme is Castle of Courage. There will be plenty of lessons, skits, crafts, games, music, and snacks during the week. Registration forms can be found online or at local city buildings. Pre-registration is requested, but not required.
The Waynesville Library will have a Doterra Essential Oils Make and Take on Tuesday, July 12th from 6-7:30 pm. Kelly Byrd will be teaching how to make roller bottles of essential oils to improve one's health. Other topics of discussion include immunity, tummy and respiratory relief, sleep, and calming.
The Waynesville Library will have a Doterra Essential Oils Make and Take on Tuesday, July 12th from 6-7:30 pm. Kelly Byrd will be teaching how to make roller bottles of essential oils to improve one's health. Other topics of discussion include immunity, tummy and respiratory relief, sleep, and calming.
Sugar Grove Nature Center is hosting Youth Nature Photography on Friday, July 8th from 9-11:30 am. John Tobias will be teaching students how to use the features of a camera to take pictures of real world nature! Make sure to bring a digital camera, not a cell phone camera. The program is for ages 10-16 and costs $15 for members and $18 for non-members. The registration link can be found on the Sugar Grove Nature Center Facebook page.
McLean Community VBS is from July 11-15th from 6-8 pm. VBS will be held at the Village Park. The theme is Castle of Courage. There will be plenty of lessons, skits, crafts, games, music, and snacks during the week. Registration forms can be found online or at local city buildings. Pre-registration is requested, but not required.
The Atlanta Golf Scramble will be at the North Greens Golf Course on Saturday, July 23rd. Four people will be on each team. The registration deadline is July 10th. There is a team fee, including lunch and the golf cart rental. Cash prizes will be awarded to 1st and 2nd place teams. More information can be found on the Atlanta Christmas Celebration Facebook page.
It’s about Christmas time… for July. Christmas in July is happening in Atlanta this year on July 23 & 24. Saturday it is from 10 am-4 pm and Sunday from 11 am-4 pm. This event is being run at the same time with the 2nd Annual Market Weekend on Route 66. Right in downtown Atlanta the streets will be decorated for Christmas. The tourism director, Whitney Ortiz, writes “it is all like Christmas, just without the cold & snow.” The specific location is Arch Street, known as the former U.S. Route 66.
Lava Lava Luau Vacation Bible School will take place at the Waynesville UMC from 6-8 pm each night from June 27-30. The lesson focuses on controlling personal emotions with God’s help geared towards Preschool-6th grade. There will be skits, games, snacks, crafts, and music. Pre-registration is encouraged on the Facebook page or by contacting Pastor Tami.
Sugar Grove Nature Center is having “Eagles & Hawks & Owls, Oh My!” camp for 8-12 year olds. This will run from 10 am-3 pm on June 28, 29, 30. Special guest, Tamara Hanley of Fractured Feathers Wildlife Rehab will also be there. Registration is available on the website or by emailing mariah@sugargrovenaturecenter.org.
The Bloomington Public Library is partnering with Sugar Grove Nature Center to put on the Sounds of the Beaten Path event. You will learn about the sounds of nature and take a hike to listen to all of them. Please wear appropriate shoes and clothing for a walk in the woods and bring along a water bottle. Registration is required by calling 309-590-6168 and talking to the Adult Services Desk at the library. This event takes place at the Nature Center on Friday, June 24th at 2 pm.
Many recent Olympia High School grads are going on to pursue athletics in college. From a class of only 86 students, 5 females and 4 males will be continuing their athletic careers. Most of them will be staying right here in Illinois, with just a few moving over to the bordering states.
This week’s community spotlight, is on the Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Park District. The Park District is located at 107 N. West Street in McLean. To start off, I interviewed the director, Stacey Reinhardt. She turned over some of the questions to the board president, Jenny Denham, to get more information on the history of the building.
The sports season for OHS in the 2021-2022 school year concluded on Friday. Friday was the state track & field meet for our boys' team. The boys competed in the prelims on Friday but did not end up making it to the finals on Saturday. The qualifying 3200-meter team consisted of Anthony Ragland, Cooper Phillips, Owen Dare, and Brad Schardan. Owen and Brad wanted to save their energy for the 800 so the alternates, Logan Demling and Caden Clark ran instead. The team ran an 8:42.37 relay. Then, Brad Schardan ran the 800-meters at a personal best time of 2:00.20. Owen Dare was right behind him with a time of 2:00.26. Then, Keagan Uphoff did the 300-meter hurdles and had a time of 44.40. With Keagan being just a sophomore, he has a lot more potential to advance further in the coming years. He is off to a great start and ready for more!