Cherries are the Star of Valentine’s Day Treat

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•January 24, 2024• Tart, red cherries and Valentine’s Day seem to be the perfect pair. Not only do cherries align with a Valentine’s Day color scheme, they even resemble little hearts when hanging from their stems.  Celebrating Valentine’s Day involves many different traditions, and enjoying decadent desserts is among them. Purchasing ready-made treats from a local bakery is one way to indulge in a sugary confection, but crafting a recipe at home is another way to show that special someone how much you care. … Read More

Personal Assistant Training

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•January 24, 2024• Soyland Access to Independent Living, SAIL, will hold a Personal Assistant Training for people interested in working as a Personal Assistant on Thursday, February 15, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Elizabeth Titus Memorial Library, 2 Water Street, Sullivan. Personal Assistants are em-ployed by people with disabilities to perform household chores and personal care tasks in their homes and are paid by the State of Illinois through the Department of Rehabilitation Pro-gram. A reservation is needed to attend the Personal Assistant Training. For more information about the Personal Assistant Training or to re-serve your seat, contact Emily … Read More

A Matter of Balance Program Seeking Coaches

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•January 24, 2024• A Matter of Balance, an award winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels, is hosting a coaches training on Wednesday, February 21, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 204 W. Prairie Avenue in Decatur. Lunch will be provided. Criteria for leadership include good communication skills, enthusiasm and dependability, willingness to lead a small group and interest in working with older adults. Training expectations are attend eight hours of coach training and earn A Matter of Balance Certification, attend 2.5 hours of coach training update annually and agree to coach one … Read More

Seth Dunscomb New Years Opener Held in Decatur

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•January 24, 2024• by Jaime Perrott The Sullivan Blue Dolphins had the honor of co-hosting the 2024 Seth Dunscomb New Years Opener held at the Decatur Family YMCA earlier this month. This annual meet is held in memory of former Sullivan graduate Seth Dunscomb, son of Richard and Connie Dunscomb. Dunscomb was a 1993 graduate of Sullivan High School and swam at The Sullivan Civic Center as well as with the Decatur Swim Club. After high school he went on to swim at the collegiate level for the University of Kansas. At the age of 21, Dunscomb, a senior and … Read More

The Rules About Leap Years

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•January 24, 2024• It’s widely accepted that a year is 365 days long. However, that statement is not entirely accurate. In fact, it takes Earth a little more than 365 days  (365.24223 days to be precise) to orbit the sun. A calendar cannot accommodate that small distinction every year. In order to ensure that seasons do not start drifting from the difference between the Earth’s rotation and the time it takes to get around the sun, leap years were established to keep the calendar more consistent and working like clockwork. The first modern leap year took place in 1752. … Read More

Learn tips for a Healthy Pregnancy and Toddler Nutrition

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•January 24, 2024• Cheri Burcham Extension Educator University of Illinois Extension I want to share an article written by Illinois Extension Media Communications Coordinator Herbert Chavez about an upcoming opportunity starting in February called Nurturing Foundations. Herbert writes: The 1,000 days between a person’s pregnancy and their child’s second birthday offer a unique opportunity to build a healthier and more prosperous future, so knowing how to care for mother and baby during this period is vital. The University of Illinois Extension Integrated Health Disparities team, in collaboration with Carle Illinois College of Medicine and Avicenna, offers the Nurturing Foundations series, … Read More

Capitol Briefs: State Police Report Fewer Deaths on Illinois Highways in 2023

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•January 24, 2024• By Jennifer Fuller Capitol News Illinois jfuller @ capitolnewsillinois.com  Fatal crashes on interstates and expressways in Illinois fell by 7 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, and shootings were down more than 30 percent. Illinois State Police report the declines came at the same time troopers were beefing up their enforcement on the state’s transportation arteries. Arrests were up 3 percent, gun recoveries up 12 percent, and vehicle recoveries were up 7 percent. … Read More

Seasonal Respiratory Viruses Continue to Impact Illinois Following the Holidays

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•January 24, 2024• While more than half of the counties in Illinois remain at an elevated level for COVID-19 hospitalizations according to CDC data, the state’s overall respiratory illness level has decreased in recent weeks and is at Low in the most recent available data, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced. The CDC’s latest update of its COVID Data Tracker indicates that as of the week ending January 13, the state of Illinois is at Medium level for COVID-19 hospitalizations for a fourth straight week with a total of 1,393 hospitalizations reported during the week. A total of … Read More