SENIOR CENTER BOX LUNCH PROGRAM A SUCCESS

The Bond County Senior Center Box Lunch Program had a very successful year in 2006.  Lunches were delivered to area businesses every Wednesday from February through May and resumed again in October. Coordinator of the Box Lunch Program, Pat Bond, commented on a new expansion to the program.

Originally it was designed to be available to businesses as many can not get out of the office over lunch hour.  Now the Senior Center will be opening up the Box Lunch Program to individuals not involved with a business. People may place their orders on each Tuesday by noon by calling the Senior Center, and then can pick up their lunches between 11am and noon on Wednesday. Bond said that over 50 volunteers are involved in the program, from going to food shows, preparing the lunches and delivering the meals.

Bond County Senior Center Director Anna Oestreich commented on the $7,000 raised from box lunches last year and said that the program has proven to be an invaluable asset to the Senior Center.  She said there was no way they thought they could make up the $60,000 accumulative reduction for services to seniors in Bond County last year.  But all proceeds from this program have gone to the Senior Center and therefore, services have not had to be reduced.

For a menu of each week's box lunch meal, call the Bond County Senior Center at 664-1465.

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CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN ON HABITAT HOUSE IN NEXT FEW WEEKS

On Saturday January 6th the Bond County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity held a ground blessing ceremony at 405 N 4th Street in Greenville for their next Habitat Home.  The Bond County chapter has partnered with Greenville College, the Greenville Free Methodist Church, the St. Paul's Free Methodist Church and the Hillsboro Free Methodist Church to build this home.  GC President Jim Mannoia says construction should begin in the next few weeks with the hope of the house being complete by the end of Spring.  He commented on how this project is great as it keeps all the funds, effort and energy invested in the community and benefits everyone in very direct and tangible ways.

The new Habitat for Humanity homeowner will be providing 400 Sweat Equity Hours that can include preparing food for the work crew, cleaning up at the end of the workday, or doing fundraising.  The new owner will also be responsible for re-paying the cost of the house at a no-interest basis for a number of years.  The Free Methodist Partnership is welcoming the public to volunteer time or contributions. For more information on how you can help, please call 664-7007 or send an email to hfh@greenville.edu.

KC BOARD OF TRUSTEES THANKED FOR JOB CENTER

The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees met Thursday for their regular monthly meeting.  Jim McShane of the Crossroads Investment Board presented a resolution acknowledging the college for meeting the needs of the community with the Centralia One-Stop Center that will accommodate several agencies under the Federal Workforce Investment Act.  Penny Brinkman, Dean of Career and Technical Education, gave a report on the Nursing shortage.  She commented that the KC Nursing Program has played a major role in helping to alleviate the area's need for nurses as this shortage has decreased by 8.9% in the last year.  Since 2000, the number of students admitted into the Nursing Program at KC has nearly doubled.

The KC Board of Trustees also heard a report from Drafting Professor Rich Rittenhouse who reported that the Computer Drafting advisory board has recently recognized that 3D printing technology compliments the growth of solid modeling.  He requested that the board pursue the possible purchase of this equipment, which could decrease production costs and create a partnering opportunity for K-12 educators and others.

The board then recognized former Vandalia City Manager Ron Niebert on his new position as City Manager of Mt. Vernon.   In other action, the board approved the purchase of two-way radios and the summer 2008 calendar.

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ENVIRONMENTAL CORPS SUMMER INTERNSHIP

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has announced that applications for this summer's 2007 Governor's Environmental Corps (GEC) internship program are being accepted through March 30.  More than 550 college undergraduate or graduate students have participated since 1991.  The program is a partnership between state government and Illinois corporations.  The businesses' contributions pay the salaries and expenses of the students who participate in the nine-week program.  This year's internship will run from June 4 through August 3 with salaries set at $1400 per month.  Students who are enrolled in college and have completed their sophomore year, prior to the beginning of the program, are eligible to apply.  For more information, call 217-785-3819.

CITY ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING PREVIEW

The City Zoning Board of Appeals will meet tonight at 7PM at the Municipal Building.  Items on the agenda include a zoning variance request from Vickie Jerrell to allow placement of a privacy fence around her south property line on First Street, the construction of a garage and an additional front yard variance of 12 feet to allow for the fence.  Another zoning variance request will be heard from Howard Wise to allow for construction of a building on East Washington Street that would infringe within the required setbacks.

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BOND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING CANCELED

The Bond County Historical Society monthly meeting that was scheduled for tonight has been canceled.  The next Historical Society meeting will be announced in February.

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OBITUARIES

None to report.

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