SIUE offers tour of Cuba
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Photographers Tour of Cuba is scheduled for March 9-15, 2014. It is the first tour to Cuba available to people in the greater St. Louis area. Travelers will experience a rare opportunity to explore Cuba from a photographer’s perspective. The tour is designed for amateurs, professionals and anyone interested in photography. The group of 24 individuals also will meet with professional Cuban photographers.
A tour guide and translator will lead the group. Highlights will include the Hotel Plaza in Old Havana, exploring Havana and the Morro-Cabanas complex, traveling to Cojimar, Regla and Fototeca (the Cuban photo archives). More information is available at siue.edu/cubatrip.
Prices are based on a Miami departure. Travelers must make their own arrangements to get to Miami for the flight to Havana, which leaves at 1 p.m. March 9. All prices are based on double occupancy: $3,000 for general community members; $2,800 for SIUE alumni basic members or SIUE faculty/staff; and $2,600 for SIUE alumni premium members or SIUE students. A $500 nonrefundable deposit is due Jan. 9 to reserve a spot. Final payment is due Feb. 7. Payment should be made to SIUE Office of Educational Outreach. The trip is restricted to those 18 years old and older. The trip is offered through a partnership between the SIUE Alumni Association and the SIUE Office of Educational Outreach.
Call Cathy McNeese (cmcnees@siue.edu) at 618-650-3208 in the SIUE Office of Educational Outreach or Photographers Tour of Cuba Coordinator C. Otis Sweezey (osweeze@siue.edu) at 618-650-2360.
Blood Center holding drives
The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center is holding several upcoming blood drives, including:
- Dec. 20, Scott Credit Union, 12455 Illinois Route 143, Highland, 2-6 p.m.
- Dec. 26, Scott Credit Union, 501 Edwardsville Road, Troy, 1-5 p.m.
- Dec. 27, Scott Credit Union, 1067 Illinois Route 157, Edwardsville, 2-5 p.m.
Visit www.bloodcenter.org.
American Red Cross December blood drives
The American Red Cross is holding the following blood drives in Madison County this December:
- Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2-6 p.m. at Culver’s, 6724 Old Troy Road, Edwardsville.
- Thursday, Dec. 19, 3-7 p.m. at GC Cuisine and Crystal Gardens, 1230 University Drive, Edwardsville.
- Friday, Dec. 20, 1-5 p.m. at Alton Square Mall, 200 Alton Square, Alton.
- Saturday, Dec. 21, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Rivers of Life Christian School and Community Church, 3131 23rd St., Granite City.
- Dec. 26, 2-6 p.m. at Wood River Public Library, 326 E. Ferguson, Wood River.
- Dec. 26, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Alton Memorial Hospital, 1 Memorial Drive, Alton.
MCT announces holiday hours
MCT bus service’s holiday hours are:
- Dec. 24: normal bus service.
- Dec. 25: no bus service.
- Dec. 26: normal bus service.
- Dec. 31: normal bus service.
- Jan. 1: no bus service.
- Jan. 2: normal bus service.
Call 6180797-4636, or e-mail info@mct.org.
Green industry conference announced
The Gateway Green Industry Conference will be held Jan. 14-15 at the Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville. The educational program has a track for sports turf, golf, landscape, arborist, plantscape, parks and recreation as well as green industry. Those who work in lawn care, landscaping, nursery, a garden center, golf course or any other grounds-related industry, can get new ideas and research-based information at the conference. Registration for the two days is $100 or $80 for one day if completed by Jan. 3. The fee includes lunch. Registration fees increase after Jan. 3. There is also a trade show featuring many local businesses that is free to the public.
To obtain a copy of the Gateway Green Industry Conference brochure and registration form, contact U of I Extension office at 618-344-4230 or web.extension.illinois.edu/mms. Online registration is available.
Pest workshop to be held
University of Illinois Extension’s Madison-Monroe-St. Clair Unit will be offering the Illinois First Detector Invasive Pest Workshop on Thursday, Jan. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Collinsville Branch office located at 1 Regency Plaza Drive, Suite 200, Collinsville.
This workshop will include sessions devoted to emerging and current oak threats in Illinois. A session will be included on invasive plants introduced as ornamentals, such as burning bush, Bradford pear, and Japanese barberry, along with a discussion on non-invasive alternatives. In-depth training sessions will highlight identification, symptoms, management, and much more. New this year will be a session devoted to how safeguarding and regulation plays a role.
Cost for the program is $40, which includes on-site lunch and training materials. To register send $40 payable to University of Illinois Extension to 1 Regency Plaza Drive, Suite 200, Collinsville, IL 62234. Online registration or a conference flyer is available at www.extension.illinois.edu/mms. Registration deadline is Jan. 13.
Call Sarah Ruth at 618-344-4230.
Bike Expo in late January
The 2014 Midwest Bicycle Expo and Swap Meet will be 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Gateway Center, 1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville. Admission is $5; free for children under 10. The exp includes vendors, a bike corral (an area for guests to place their items for sale), and a classic bike show ($5 per entry). Pre-register at trailnet.org to be allowed in a half-hour early at no extra cost. Attendance prizes will be drawn; for every two tires or four tubes brought in for recycling, an extra entry is added for a special drawing.
This year’s event includes a kids’ corner with a bounce house, an area for test rides, shuttles from the nearby MetroLink station, mini-clinics and fashion shows.
Gardener program accepting applicants
Area lawn and garden enthusiasts can get intensive horticulture training in exchange for volunteer hours through University of Illinois Extension’s Master Gardener program. The training program consists of weekly sessions that run from January through April. Participants get more than 60 hours of in-depth instruction on such topics as soils; botany; insect and disease control; flowers, trees, shrubs and other ornamentals; fruit and vegetable production; turf grass; basic landscaping and a wide range of other topics. An internship of 60 hours of volunteer horticulture-related service completes the training requirements. Some Master Gardeners answer lawn and garden questions from homeowners. Others help design and operate demonstration gardens for the public and some make presentations to local schools and civic groups. The Master Gardener training will be held on Tuesdays, Jan. 7, through April 15, and rotates between Madison and Monroe counties. At all locations, classes run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration for the program is $225, which includes a copy of the Illinois Master Gardener manual.
Call Sarah Ruth at the Madison-Monroe-St. Clair Extension Unit at 618-939-3434 or 618-344-4230; or visit web.extension.illinois.edu/mms.
Volunteers needed to help with taxes
It may not be tax season yet, but the time to sign up to volunteer to help with tax assistance is now. United Way of Greater St. Louis’ tax coalition partners want to pair volunteers with low-income and elderly residents for tax assistance from late January through April 15 at various locations in the region.
Trainings take place during January 2014 at various times and locations in Madison and St. Clair counties. Volunteers must attend one or more certification trainings in order to greet, interview or prepare taxes. Previous tax assistance experience is not required. Registration in advance is required; contact the Gateway EITC Community Coalition at 314-539-4062 or info@gatewayeitc.org; Friendly Community Tax Coalition at 314-691-9500 or visit stlvolunteer.org/VITA. There are various volunteer positions available, with varying degrees of tax knowledge necessary.
The purpose of the coalitions is to offer free Earned Income Tax Credit preparation and education to low-income residents.
County offers help for energy bills
Madison County has obtained funding through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development to assist low-income county residents with the cost of home energy bills. Applications will be taken through May 31, 2014, or until funds are depleted.
The Madison County Community Development Energy Assistance Office administers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and can help residents with the application process.
Call 618-296-6485 to get information about local offices where applications can be filled out.
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