Category Archives: Uncategorized

Preview The Brew At Fat Jack’s

Preview The Brew At Fat Jack’s

Posted on July 14, 2016

Preview the Brew, July 30th 12-3PM at Fat Jacks Last year at Bruegala there was a survey for attendees to take and we got some great feedback on Bruegala.  One of the biggest pieces of feedback was that there really seemed to be a disconnect for many attendees between the beer and wine and the…… MORE

The lawsuit that brought down the Klan

The lawsuit that brought down the Klan

Posted on July 10, 2016

In 1981, two young Klansmen in Alabama murdered 19-year-old Michael Donald. The violent incident was sparked by a call from Alabama leaders of the Ku Klux Klan who were outraged by the mistrial of an accused cop killer. The jury failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a black man accused or killing…… MORE

Local swimmers making Waves

Local swimmers making Waves

Posted on July 8, 2016

The Bloomington-Normal YMCA Waves program has been around awhile and has a storied history, but has perhaps never seen two rising stars quite like swimmers Grace Ariola, of Normal Community High School and Melissa Pish of Normal Community West High School.… 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…