11-25-2008

 

YOU'RE INVITED TO "COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS"

 

"Come Home for Christmas" is the theme for the activities on the Greenville Square on Friday, November 28^th. All the festivities start at 5:30 PM. Martha Iller has been a big part of putting the first annual "Come Home for Christmas" event together.  She told us the schedule of events. The Greenville High School Choir will be on hand to lead the caroling. Each business on the square will have a holiday event to offer to the community and Cheri’s Garden Room is offering a bow tying seminar along with a Christmas wrapping demonstration.   There will be a trolley available to transport event goers to the Senior Center where a one act play of Scrooge will be performed.  At 8:30 there will be caroling around the piano and at 9:30 a Christmas movie will be on the screen at the Globe Theatre. Bring your family and "Come Home for Christmas" on the square in Greenville, this Friday night.

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LOCAL MUSUEM RECEIVES GRANT

 

Congressman John Shimkus announced recently that Interstate 70's new landmark, the American Farm Heritage Museum, is getting a boost from a 9,800-dollar federal grant.  The Community Facility Grant comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and will be used to install restrooms, a new septic system and a food preparation area at the Greenville non-profit museum.  Since being formed in 2002 to preserve the history and cutural heritage of agriculture, the museum played host to tractor shows, swap meets, and festivals, and this coming winter will be the host of the Christmas Lights Wonderland.

 

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FUNDING RESTORED FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ADDICTION TREATMENT

 

Governor Blagojevich recently signed a bill, passed earlier by the General Assembly, to restore $175.9 million in funding for several reductions made earlier this year.  Funding will now be available for substance abuse treatment centers, Department of Child and Family Services frontline staff, the Regional Transit Authority reduced fare subsidy, and other core services.  The plan also includes passage of the Emergency Budget Act, which would give the Governor and other constitutional officers added authority to help them make additional cuts, a request to Congress for increased federal stimulus aid, and further administrative reductions in the agencies.

 

 

WINTER WEATHER MAY EFFECT YOUR HOME AND VEHICLE

 

While the official start of winter is still almost a month away, history shows that treacherous winter weather in Illinois often starts in November.  November 16-22 is Winter Storm Preparedness Week and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service are offering several tips to help you prepare for dangerous winter weather.

 

A basic home preparedness kit should include a three-day supply of non-perishable, high-energy food and a gallon of bottled water per family member, per day, for three days.  Your kit should also include a radio and extra batteries, flashlight and batteries, first aid kit, and extra medications and special items for babies, the disabled and the elderly.

 

Now is also the time to put together a survival kit for your car.  Your car kit should have a cell phone and charger, first aid kit, water and non-perishable food, boots and extra clothing, and a blanket.  Keep a sack of sand or cat litter, shovel, windshield scraper and brush, toolbox, towrope, booster cables, a compass, and road maps.

 

For more on winter preparedness, check the Winter Storm Preparedness Guide on the IEMA website.

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SHIMKUS SALUTES CLINTON COUNTY PARISHES

 

Congressman John Shimkus recognized the 150^th anniversaries of St. Dominic's in Breese and St. Mary's in Trenton by entering statements into the permanent Congressional Record of the United States House of Representatives on November 20.  The statement about St. Dominic's Parish included historical information that the original parish began with 70 Catholic families and today has grown to 867. One of St. Dominic's greatest accomplishments was the establishment of Mater Dei High School.  Shimkus sent congratulations to the faithful people of Clinton County.

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MONEY RESTORED TO BUDGET MAY KEEP SITES OPEN

 

The end of the month does not look to be the end for state parks and a number of social service agencies and their programs.  Governor Blagojevich has restored about 175-million dollars to the state budget, to avoid deep cuts he threatened earlier in the year.  The specifics are still being worked out, but the Governor's office says the money should spare the dozen or so state parks targeted to close at the end of the month.  Another dozen or so state historic sites do not look to be so lucky. The administration warns there are still "possibilities" that could put the parks back in danger.  The Governor says in a release explaining his sudden change of heart,  "While difficult decisions still need to be made, they also need to ensure that they continue to provide core services to Illinoisans." Lawmakers swept about 230 million dollars for the Governor to avoid all of the threatened cuts, but Blagojevich says he still has "concerns" about using all the money.