Events

Wild Lights at Miller Park Zoo

See the Zoo at Night.. Wild Lights will be TWO weekends this year! December 4th, 5th, 11th, and 12th 5:00 – 8:00 pm No vendors, contact games or activities. This year Wild Lights will be a Christmas lights viewing opportunity. Admission: $5 for non-members, FREE for Zoo members Tickets/Reservations are being sold/made now for time…… MORE

Mrs. Kringle’s Bakery & Christmas Shoppe

Colfax United Methodist Church Mission Committee will be hosting their annual Church Bazaar, aka Mrs. Kringle’s Bakery & Christmas Shoppe. This will be held on Saturday, December 5th starting at 8:00 am. We will have baked goods, Christmas crafts and gently used decor. Take-out lunch will be served from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm and…… MORE

Christmas Gets “Fired Up” in Champaign

Christmas Gets “Fired Up” in Champaign Looking for a unique way to make Christmas shine this year? You can help Central Illinois artist Jason Mack build the world’s largest glass Christmas tree by donating clear and green bottles, jars and vases. Between Dec. 5-20, you can bring your donations to 502 N. Neil St. in…… MORE

Wild Lights at Miller Park Zoo

Illinois Symphony Orchestra Sundays at Six Recital Series

Illinois Symphony Orchestra Sundays at Six Recital Series: December 6, 2020 at 6:00PM (ilsymphony.org) Be inspired by the talented talented musicians of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra during our Sunday at Six Recital Series! The ISO Percussion ensemble will perform a in tonight’s recital. Experience this virtual LIVE event through Facebook LIVE or through YouTube. After…… MORE

Foster Tree

Did you know there are kids in our community who face Christmas without a family? For the hundreds of kids in the foster system in our county, this is their reality this holiday season. These are kids who have suffered from abuse, neglect and the trauma of being removed from their homes through no fault…… MORE

Wild Lights at Miller Park Zoo

Illinois Symphony Orchestra Sundays at Six Recital Series

Illinois Symphony Orchestra Sundays at Six Recital Series: December 20, 2020 at 6:00PM (ilsymphony.org) Be inspired by the talented talented musicians of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra during our Sunday at Six Recital Series! Erin Rafferty, Principal Viola for the ISO, will perform tonight’s recital. Experience this virtual LIVE event through Facebook LIVE or through YouTube.…… MORE

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…