Local blood drives set
The American Red Cross is seeking eligible blood donors. The Red Cross encourages eligible donors to make an appointment to give during National Blood Donor Month by visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.
Upcoming opportunities include:
- Jan. 3, 3-6 p.m. at Revive, 1105 W. Beltline Road in Collinsville;
- Jan. 6, 2:30-6:30 p.m. at Highland Hope United Methodist Church, 12846 Daiber in Highland;
- Jan. 8, 2-7 p.m. at Alton Wood River Sportsmen’s Club, 3109 Godfrey Road in Godfrey;
- Jan. 9, 1-4 p.m. at Villa Rose Senior Living Community, 401 S. Moreland Road in Bethalto;
- Jan. 9, 3-7 p.m. at Alhambra Elementary School, 302 W. Main in Alhambra;
- Jan. 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 30 Hairpin Drive in Edwardsville;
- Jan. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Illinois State Police Department, 1100 E. Port Plaza in Collinsville.
Kids’ activities available at First Night 2014
The 19th annual First Night River Bend will offer a host of activities for children of all ages on New Year’s Eve at the Godfrey campus of Lewis and Clark Community College. Family-friendly entertainment will run from 3-7 p.m. in the newly renovated Hatheway Cultural Center. First Night concludes with a firework show at 7 p.m.
First Night buttons will are on sale at Party Magic and all Liberty Bank locations. Buttons are $10. Children 5 and under are admitted free.
For a complete schedule of entertainers and events, visit www.lc.edu/firstnight.
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.
MCT announces holiday hours
MCT bus service’s holiday hours are:
- 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.
Extension holds seminar
Soil, water and air interactions will be the focus of a Soil and Water Management Seminar sponsored by University of Illinois Extension on Feb. 26. The workshop will be held at the Madison-Monroe-St. Clair Unit Offices in Waterloo and Collinsville. Presentations will be delivered via PowerPoint and web conferencing from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Registration is $50 per person, which includes lunch. The registration deadline is Feb. 21. To register, call the Waterloo Office at 618-939-3434 or the Collinsville Office at 618-344-4230. You may also send your name, address, and payment to University of Illinois Extension, 901 Illinois Ave, P.O. Box 117, Waterloo, IL 62298 or University of Illinois Extension, 1 Regency Plaza, Suite 200, Collinsville, IL 62234.
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.
Speak Your Mind