At the beginning of the month, the Waynesville Library had a horse program open to the public.The horse program was organized as part of the summer reading program. The Waynesville Library is taking place in Off the Beaten Path - Camp IREAD.

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+.

Christmas in July is happening this weekend on the 23rd and 24th! The event will take place on Arch Street in Atlanta. There will be decorations, food, and a huge vendor fair. Saturday hours are 10am-4pm and Sunday from 11am-4pm.

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.

The Mt. Hope Funks Grove Park District has recently installed an outdoor track. One lap around is ¼ mile. No motorized vehicles are allowed. Come out for a walk, jog, or run!

The Waynesville Library is having a Teen Summer Art Club on Tuesday, July 26th from 4-5 pm. Karen Sue Eilts will host a fun summer art project with snacks. Junior high and high school students are welcome.

Instead of Get Your Kicks on Route 66, Get Your 6.6 on Route 66 this year! The 9th Annual Route 66 race is occurring on Saturday, August 27th. The CORE of McLean sponsors the event as a nonprofit organization. All proceeds go to benefit the community of McLean, IL.

The Atlanta Public Library will be having Art Tuesdays for ages 5+. Art Tuesday will occur on July 12th and 26th from 1-3 pm. Call the library at 217-648-2112 to pre-register.

Christmas in July is happening on the 23rd and 24th! The event will take place on Arch Street in Atlanta. There will be decorations, food, and a huge vendor fair. Saturday hours are 10am-4pm and Sunday from 11am-4pm.

The Village of McLean’s monthly board meeting will be on July 11th at 7 pm. This meeting will be held at the Village of McLean Office Building. All are welcome to attend.

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 is having a Teen Summer Art Club on Tuesday, July 12th and 26th from 4-5 pm. Snacks will be provided and all teens are welcome to attend.

The next Comfort & Care group will meet Thursday, July 14th at 6:30 pm. This takes place at the Waynesville UMC. For more information, please contact Cindy White.

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.

The Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Library has multiple positions available. They are seeking a library director, custodian, and part-time library clerk. Wages will be based on experience and qualifications. If interested, email a cover letter and resume to dhdoty@frontier.com.

The Village of McLean’s monthly board meeting will be on July 11th at 7 pm. This meeting will be held at the Village of McLean Office Building. All are welcome to attend.

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.

To kick off summer, there will be an ice cream social at Gingerbreak Park from 7-8pm on Sunday, June 26th. Everyone is welcome to come enjoy some ice cream and cookies. This also gives students the opportunity to sign up for VBS!

During the summer, the Atlanta Public Library is having Storytime Mondays. This event will be held every Monday at 11 am until August 1st.

There will be 4th of July Fireworks at the Atlanta Ball Diamond on July 2nd.

The McLean Community VBS is coming up soon through July 11-15. They are still in need of some items for the week including, crowns, medieval costumes, table cloths, and string lights. Please contact Pastor Tami at the office(309-874-2564) to help out.

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 Waynesville Library is having a Teen Summer Art Club on Tuesday, June 21st at 2 pm. Karen Sue Eilts will host a fun summer art project with snacks. Junior high and high school students are welcome.

On June 25th, there will be a Blood Drive at the Waynesville United Methodist Church from 9 am-1 pm. You may schedule yourself on redcrossblood.org or call Sherie Ross at 217-949-3681. Make sure to bring a photo ID and your blood donor card.

During the summer, the Atlanta Public Library is having Storytime Mondays. This event will be held every Monday at 11 am from June 13th to August 1st.

The Atlanta Public Library will be having Art Tuesdays for ages 5+. The dates are June 14th and 21st and then July 12th and 26th from 1-3 pm. Call 217-648-2112 to pre-register. 

The Independence Day Celebration at the Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Park District is on Saturday, June 25th from 4 pm to dusk. There will be plenty of food, inflatables, games, music, door prizes, face painting, Fireworks, and more!

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.

Summer Reading programs at the Waynesville Library are beginning this week! There will be programs every Wednesday at 2 pm from June 15th-July 27th. All ages 3 and up are welcome to attend. 

On June 25th, there will be a Blood Drive at the Waynesville United Methodist Church from 9 am-1 pm. You may schedule yourself on redcrossblood.org or call Sherie Ross at 217-949-3681. Make sure to bring a photo ID and your blood donor card.

During the summer, the Atlanta Public Library is having Storytime Mondays. This event will be held every Monday at 11 am from June 13th to August 1st.

The Atlanta Public Library will be having Art Tuesdays for ages 5+. The dates are June 14th and 21st and then July 12th and 26th from 1-3 pm. Call 217-648-2112 to pre-register. 

Coming up on Saturday, June 18th is another Cars & Coffee for the Logan County Route 66 Days. Join the club on Arch Street between 8-10 am to pick up the challenge cards! 

The Independence Day Celebration at the Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Park District is on Saturday, June 25th from 4 pm to dusk. There will be plenty of food, inflatables, games, music, door prizes, face painting, Fireworks, and more!

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 grand opening for Missy’s Sweet Shoppe is June 10th! This bakery will take the place of The Palms Grill Café on Historic Route 66. Her bakery will be open Wednesday-Sunday from 8 am-4 pm during the summer. 

The Village of McLean’s monthly board meeting will be on June 6th at 7 pm. This meeting will be held at the Village of McLean Office Building. Anyone is welcome to attend.

“Bluebirds and Blue Birds” is a 1-day camp on Wednesday, June 8th for ages 6-12 years old. This event will take place at Sugar Grove Nature Center from 10 am-3 pm. Registration is available on their website. 

The Waynesville Library is having a Teen Summer Art Club on Tuesday, June 21st at 2 pm. Karen Sue Eilts will host a fun summer art project with snacks. Junior high and high school students are welcome. 

The next Comfort & Care session will be on Thursday, June 9th at the Waynesville UMC at 6:30 pm. For more information, contact Cindy White.

The monthly board meeting for the Village of Armington will be held on June 1st. These are at 6:30 pm at 103 N. Main Street. For questions contact Amanda Dronenebrg, the Armington Village Clerk.