•November 9, 2022•
Cats are beloved pets across the globe. In 2020, there were roughly 53 million cats owned as pets in the United States and Canada combined.
Cats are admired for their can-do attitudes. They’re independent, quirky and often clever. While some people may describe cats as aloof, plenty of pet cats desire daily affection and cuddle sessions with their pet parents.
It’s important for cat owners to familiarize themselves with common feline behaviors and personality traits. That familiarity can help cat owners recognize when something may be “off” with their cats. While cats are good at self-care, there are times when owners must step in and offer assistance.
Here’s a look at common conditions that can affect pet cats. Read More
Celebrate National Family Caregiver Month in November
•November 9, 2022•
Cheri Burcham
Extension Educator
U of I Extension
We all know someone who is providing care for someone else. They may be caring for an older parent, a disabled adult child, or a spouse suffering from a traumatic injury or chronic illness. Even parents raising children are considered caregivers. Caregivers give of themselves without expecting anything in return, and they rarely think of themselves first.
National Family Caregiver Month is coming up in November. According to the 2020 update from the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 update, nearly 48 million people in the U.S. provide care for someone over the age of 18. 61% of them continue to work while providing care. Although there tends to be an average profile for caregivers, their population is greatly diverse representing both genders and all races, cultures and ages. It is a rewarding experience for most, but also has many challenges. Caregivers experience many difficult emotions along their journey and can also experience many losses including loss of privacy, freedom, money, identity and work. Read More
Give Me Your Eggcorns, Your Mondegreens, Your Malapropisms
•November 9, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer
Has anyone ever pointed out to you that something you’ve been saying for most of your life is not ... quite ... right?
While singing along to a song from your youth have you come to realize the lyrics you thought you knew were, well, something quite different?
I’ve been there and done that more than I’d like to admit.
Being the oldest child of parents who preferred Beethoven, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky and Mozart, which are woefully short on lyrics, and Doris Day music, whose lyrics I’d like to forget, I was on my own to develop musical habits.
I had no older kids’ records to listen to. My wife is the youngest of seven, and she was fortunate to have Steppenwolf and a variety of bands and contemporary singers wafting throughout her family’s small Chicago Georgian as soon as she was loosed upon the world. For her, an introduction to music of the ’60s was inescapable. Read More
Remember When? 11-9-2022
25 Years Ago This Week
Bethany elementary students marched to the cemetery and watched a 21-gun salute as part of a day-long learning program about Veteran’s Day. Sullivan students were also visited by veterans and observed a flag ceremony.
About 75 Sullivan Community Education Foundation board members, donors and teachers gathered at Sullivan High School for the unveiling of the charter donor and memorial plaques. Read More
No Matter How You Slice Them, Apples are a Fall Favorite
•November 2, 2022•
by Susan Glassman and Lisa Peterson
Illinois Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educators
Brisk, fall weather brings crowds of Illinoisans to apple orchards to enjoy the crisp, juicy flavor of their favorite in-season apples.
“Whether fried, dipped in peanut butter or caramel, made into cider, or baked into a pie, apples are a delicious, sweet treat,” says Lisa Peterson, University of Illinois Extension nutrition and wellness educator. “And it’s easy to preserve your fall apple harvest by making homemade apple pie filling.”
To enjoy the fresh flavor of apples later in the year, Peterson recommends making apple pie filling now and preserving by water-bath canning or freezing to make into a pie later. It takes an estimated two pounds of apples, or one quart of canned apple pie filling, to make an 8- to 9-inch apple pie, Peterson says. “When canning, always follow a tested, research-based recipe,” says Peterson. “Apple pie filling is no exception.” Read More
Fall Weather Brings Motorists Out During Harvest; Extra Precautions Needed
Photo by Illinois Farm Bureau photographer Catrina Rawson
The fall harvest season is a busy time for Illinois farm families. Drivers should be on the lookout for large farm equipment and other slow-moving vehicles on the road and use caution while navigating around them.
•November 2, 2022•
By Richard Guebert Jr.
Illinois Farm Bureau President
The nip in the air of a cool fall morning and crunch of leaves underfoot are hallmark characteristics of autumn weather in Illinois. For many Illinoisans, these indicators prompt a visit to a local pumpkin patch or apple orchard. For farmers, they mean it’s time to head to the field down the road for harvest, with hopes that other drivers use caution while navigating around large farm equipment.
With so many people traveling on rural roads this season, it takes every motorist acting responsibly to ensure each of us gets home safely at the end of the day.
If you’ve never ridden in the cab of a combine or tractor, you may not know how difficult it can be for farmers to see other vehicles while maneuvering from field to field. Limited visibility means that when other drivers on the road get in a hurry and fail to slow down or choose to quickly pass our equipment, situations can become treacherous and, in some cases, deadly.
So how can drivers stay safe around slow-moving vehicles? Read More
New Illinois: Creating a New State Separate from Old Illinois and Chicago
•November 2, 2022•
On Friday & Saturday, November 11 & 12, 2022, New Illinois will hold the second session of a constitutional convention for the proposed new state. The event will be held at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham. The Friday evening and Saturday morning presentations will be open to the public.
Speakers will include:
· Ted Dabrowski, nationally known financial expert and president of Wirepoints
· Mark Alan Motsinger, Southern Illinois historian and Advisory Board Member of the Illinois State Historical Society
The idea of splitting the State of Illinois goes back decades. Mark Alan Motsinger will explain the roots of the divide between downstate and Chicago and bring the story to life. Read More
Give Life with Blood and Plasma
•November 2, 2022•
Financial donations and volunteering are popular ways to give back to nonprofit organizations. However, there are many additional ways to give back, including donations that can help save lives.
Donating blood can be a worthwhile effort for someone looking to make a difference. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood or blood products. When people think of donating blood products, they may think about donating whole blood. However, there’s a need for other components, namely plasma. Here’s a deeper look at what’s involved in the blood and plasma donation process. Read More
Lake Land College Adult Education to Host Free BNA Class
•November 2, 2022•
Lake Land College Adult Education will be hosting a free basic nursing assistant class in spring 2023 in Marshall. The class is an opportunity for those interested in healthcare professions to begin a career in the field.
A mandatory orientation for the class will take place November 14 from 4 - 7 p.m. at the Lake Land College Marshall Eastern Region Center at 224 S. 6th St., Marshall, Illinois 62441. Read More
Christmas Extravaganza
•November 2, 2022•
The HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Partners’ annual Christmas Extravaganza will be held on Thursday, November 10 from 7 a.m.to 2 p.m. The Partners’ artisans will offer an assortment of hand-crafted items along with additional vendors from various businesses. The famous Partners’ Bake Sale will provide a vast selection of goodies and the Santa’s Closet will offer gently used Christmas décor. Three raffle opportunities will be available including a hand sewn quilt, a decorated sled and a “money” tree. Come join in the fun! A parking lot shuttle will be available for easy access to the main lobby. If you would like to join the Partners of St. Mary’s Hospital, please contact Shelli Brunner at the HSHS St. Mary’s Foundation at 217-464-2520 or by email at shelli.brunner@hshs.org