Temperatures outside may still be roaring, the CUTC’s Penguin Project‘s production of Disney’s “Frozen Jr.” is sure to provide relief at the end of September.

After working on the show for four months, Hayden Lewis and Madeline Osterbur are ready to take the stage to showcase their talents.

Pediatrician Andy Morgan founded the Penguin Project when he realized that some of his patients were in need of a confidence boost.

By providing on-stage experience with peer mentors, children with developmental disabilities have been able to perform all over the United States, gleaning the same rewards that students their age have enjoyed from performing for years.

The Champaign-Urbana Theater Company (CUTC) began to host the Penguin Project in 2016 with the production of Disney’s “Aladdin Jr.,” Disney’s “Mulan Jr.” followed in 2017 and students had a blast performing Disney’s “High School Musical” in 2018.

Disney’s “Frozen Jr.” brings Elsa, Anna and the magical land of Arendelle onstage with the memorable songs from the beloved animated film. When faced with danger, Anna and Elsa discover their true potential in a story of true sisterly love and acceptance.

Tickets for the Sept. 20-22 Disney’s “Frozen Jr.” shows at Urbana High School are selling quickly. To preorder click here.

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The Spartans will host Pontiac on Sept. 27. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Nominees for homecoming court will be made during the week of September 9 by the student body.  Elections will take place the following week- students will make their selection for the first time using electronic ballots.

List of court will be made available by September 20 to the public, with King and Queen to be announced live at the dance.

Homecoming week 2019 will begin Monday, September 23rd, and continues through the dance Saturday, September 28th.

Dance tickets are $15 each, and go on sale from Thursday, Sep.19^th through Friday, Sep. 27^th of Homecoming week.  All non-SJ-O students being invited MUST be cleared by the office; forms available there.

Class Shirts (powder puff/class colors) are being designed and ordered by each individual class.  See class officers in order to place your order.

Monday:
Activities:  Hallway/school decoration.  See class officers for details.

Tuesday:
Powder Puff football.  All players meet at 6:45pm on the track in front of the home stands.  The Marching Spartans will perform that night as well.  Freshmen VS Juniors starting at 7pm, Sophomores VS Seniors to follow.  Championship game afterward with winners from Game 1 VS winners game 2.  Flag football, faculty officiating. The concession stand will be open with usual football food and drink offerings (usual prices- profits to charity) beginning at 6:30pm.  The whole community is invited; alumni and families of SJO students are encouraged to attend.  Free admission to the game.

Wednesday:
Spartalympics.  Each class competes on the school track from 6:30-8:30 in eight different games.  Games run from fireman carry to hula-hoop pass, parents helping, winning class (w/most points per player wins the event) announced at end.  Free admission to the game.  Friends, family free to attend/watch!  Concessions stand open, regular game prices, money goes to charity,

Thursday:
No activities planned this tonight.  Students encouraged to catch up on classwork, sleep, and healthy communication with family/friends.

Friday:
Activities:  Assembly from 2:05-3pm!  Then, at 4:15 entire SJO community encouraged to support our PARADE as the Spartans proceed down Main Street toward the high school. Immediately following the parade, come help us support the varsity football team. Court introduced during halftime, gathering in front of the stands. Student Council decorating the dance- all day.

     *  NOTE:  Those participating in the parade are asked to arrive at the SJO middle school eastern parking lot by 3:45 so that they might receive marching order of entries and other important information. If any in the community (groups from the Middle school/Jr high for example, area businesses) are interested in participating, please contact Mr., Jeff Kieffer at the high school for more information.

Saturday:
Homecoming Dance will be held in the high school practice gym from 8-11pm.  The community is invited from 9-9:30 for pictures of our homecoming court.  Pictures will be in the band hallway outside the gym; all students/families are encouraged to use north doors.  Refreshments and drinks will be served beginning at 8:30pm.  This year’s theme is “Beach Bash!”

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When Kelly Cooper was running for Village of Ogden Trustee in May of 2017, one of her promises was that she would help bring a community festival back to the town.

It had been a few years since they had anything like that in town. “I wanted to bring liveliness and some activities back to the community.” 

After getting elected, Cooper jumped in feet first and she, along with a committee, helped make the Ogden Street Fest happen. 

This year the Ogden Street Fest is on August 24th. It is the second Street Fest that Cooper has helped organize. 

This year features fun activities such as a car show, a gun raffle,a kiddie tractor pull, a 5k/1k run, a softball tournament, a rock climbing wall, a dunk tank, a flea market, laser tag, a bags tournament, and much more. 

To cap off the day, there will be a beer tent featuring Big Guns, an 80’s hair metal tribute band, in front of Billy Bob’s.

There will also be a pancake breakfast at the Ogden Masonic Lodge from 7-11 am. 

Cooper started planning this year’s festival right after last year’s ended. 

“It’s a lot of stress, and it’s a lot of work, but when you see the end result – people like it and people have fun, it’s very rewarding.”

One of the big draws is the car show. Last year, there were eight other car shows on the same day but the Ogden show still managed to draw a crowd.

“Last year was my first year doing it, and we ended up with 72 cars and bikes. I’m hoping to grow it.”

The car show is from 9-11, with awards later in the afternoon. 

The Mustang Stampede 5k/1k run is organized by the PVO Track and Field team. All of the proceeds will go to support the team this upcoming year.

The adult co-ed softball tournament still has room for a couple more teams. Rules and information for that can be found here.

There is also room for more vendors at the flea market. 

Cooper is thankful for the local businesses who sponsor the fest. They help make it possible to bring this fun event to the community. 

“My favorite part is seeing the enjoyment that everyone gets from it. It is a lot of work, don’t get me wrong, but seeing people have fun with it is my biggest thing.” 

“My main goal is to have people have fun and have a good time and come back next year.”

A complete list of sponsors, events, and other information can be found at the Ogden Street Fest event page on Facebook. 

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May 26

Royal
The Royal American Legion will host a Memorial Day Service on Sunday May 26 at Kopmann cemetery at 10 and then in Royal at 11. This service is weather pending.

May 27

Homer

The Homer American Legion and Legion Auxiliary host their annual Memorial Day Service on Memorial Day.  The ceremony begins with an 11 am service at GAR Cemetery and is followed by a wonderful smorgasbord at the Village Hall. 

Ogden

Service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the American Legion Park, corner of East Main and North East Avenue, Ogden. In case of rain, the event will be at the Ogden United Methodist Church.

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Established in 1956, National Bike Month, which is recognized in May, is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to give biking a try.

On May 1, Champaign County Bikes, the local bicycle advocacy group that organizes Bike to Work and Bike to School days throughout Champaign County, will encourage residents of area communities to set down the keys to their cars and enjoy all the benefits that come with riding a bike.

Ten years ago, Bike to Work Day was celebrated by employees throughout the City of Champaign biking to work. In 2019, Champaign County Bikes has grown the vision for Bike to School and Bike to Work Day by including 14 towns throughout the county.

This year’s theme, “Champaign County Trails-Connecting Communities & People” highlights multi-use trail systems that are being established throughout Champaign County to help people experience the world both on foot and by bicycle.

Champaign County Forest Preserve District Planning Director Jon Hasselbring said that trail system being established provides an alternative safe, off-road line for transportation.

“They are great for beginners, and help people build skills and confidence to ride in other settings, such as bike lanes alongside vehicular traffic,” he said.

“Trails allow people to slow down and experience the sounds, sights, and smells of nature. When people commute via trails, they use less fossil fuels, and help to reduce carbon monoxide emissions.”

The Champaign County Forest Preserve has worked alongside the Village of Mahomet to develop multi-purpose trails to serve local residents with places to run, bike and explore.

In 2016, the Champaign County Forest Preserve opened 6.7 miles of the Kickapoo Rail Trail from Urbana to St. Joseph in order to give people a path between the two locations. The CCFPD will continue to develop the 24.5 mile trail, which will end up at Kickapoo State Park in Vermilion County.

Hasselbring said that CCFPD trails see increased use throughout the month of May. He hopes that with the focus being put on the way trails throughout the county bring people together and encourage them to experience nature in a new way, more people will get out and use the trails throughout the spring, summer and fall months.

“Trails have many benefits,” he said. “They improve the health of users. When combined with natural resource restoration projects, they improve the health of our ecosystems as well. They can increase nearby property values and stimulate economic activity. Simply put, trails improve quality of life.”

Champaign County Bikes Executive Director Jeff Yockey said that each year roughly 20 percent of participants are experiencing their first time biking to work or school.

Some riders join co-workers who ride their bikes to work often while others make it a family affair by dropping their children off at school on bicycle before heading off to work.

To encourage people to ride, Champaign County Bikes partners with local business owners to provide stops for the bicyclists to grab a T-shirt, learn more about the benefits of cycling, grab a snack or get a free tune-up (at some locations).

St. Joseph’s Wheelhouse will have breakfast foods available for cyclists, coffee or water during the morning hours.

This is the second year the Wheelhouse has been involved in Bike to Work and School Day. Yockey contacted owners Ryan and Abbie Rogiers in 2018 about being part of the event in 2018 when he learned that the bicycle-themed restaurant was right along the Kickapoo Rail Trail.

Abbie said she and Ryan were excited to be part of the event because they love their community and bicycles.

Last year, several students stopped for banana muffins on their way to school.

“It was a beautiful day!” Abbie said. “We had several kids who came and ate, or took food to go , and then continued on their bikes to school.”

An avid bike rider during her childhood, Abbie remembers what it was like to ride down the road during the summer months with the breeze blowing in her hair.

She hopes that students learn about the freedom a bicycle brings but that they also learn something from the education component provides by Champaign County Bikes.

“I hope we can encourage kids, and adults alike to feel (or remember) the simple joy of riding a bike,” she said. “There is something special and fulfilling about riding a bike on a nice day, Made even better with friends.”

She hopes that adults take away something from the event, too.

“I hope adults passing by the event will be reminded to be cognizant of the cyclists in our town,” she said.

“But ultimately, I hope that people will consider riding bikes instead of driving cars, when they can. It is such a benefit to the environment, it’s great exercise, it frees up parking spaces downtown, and it’s a lot of fun!”

Yockey said that the partnership between cyclists and business owners is a healthy one.

“To see cyclists in a community, it’s a sign of a good quality of life when you see people walking on the streets and riding on the streets.”

Yockey, who lives a mile-and-a-half from the University of Illinois in Urbana said he can get anywhere on campus within seven minutes of his home.

“For many people it’s one of the quickest and most convenient modes of transportation,” he said.

Yockey admits that sometimes it does take him longer than seven minutes travel time when he stops to talk to his neighbors along the way.

“Most trips that people take are less than 3 miles; and that is a very doable distance on a bicycle,” he continued. “You get to enjoy the outside, you get some activity in your life, it’s fun: listening to the birds, seeing the changes. The world is a pretty sweet place and you can enjoy it when you’re outside and traveling at a slower pace.”

Sometimes the slower pace of cyclists and pedestrians in comparison to cars or trucks can cause accidents. But Champaign County Bikes wants everyone to know that the road belongs to everyone.

That’s why this year’s t-shirt that will be available for those who register, includes a graphic of Albert Einstein and Jean Driscoll.

“We’re advocating for users of roadways: bicyclists, wheelchairs, pedestrians,” Yockey said.

“The roads belong to everybody. We just need to be graceful and thoughtful to other road users.”

Champaign County Bikes also hopes to use May 1 as a way to raise money for the groups advocacy.

The volunteers spend time both at events and in the schools educating youth and adults about the importance of riding bikes. Donated money also goes towards the development of future trails throughout the county.

To register for Bike to Work or Bike to School Day visit http://cubikemonth.weebly.com/register.html.

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