With a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation and generous donors, seating areas, interpretive signage, directional signage, mile markers, bike parking, and a parking lot with a fix-it station in downtown St. Joseph will be added to the 24.5-mile trail that follows the former CSX (Conrail prior to CSX) railroad from East Urbana to Kickapoo State Park outside of Danville.

Most site work will be completed in the early fall, so caution is necessary on the trail while work proceeds. No significant trail closures are anticipated as a result of the work. Updates will be posted online at onekrt.org and on the Kickapoo Rail Trail Facebook and Instagram pages.

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The goal of this project is to evaluate the possibility for a new interpretive center to expand educational offerings and harmoniously connect with the natural environment of the preserve. The study will identify programming and potential locations for the new center and its scale, character, and cost. The forest preserve district is working with a team of consultants, including Lake|Flato Architects and MKSK, to facilitate this effort. 

In this meeting, the consultants will describe the project purpose and existing conditions that factor into the project, seek to understand community preferences for the new interpretive center, and share examples of other similar facilities. This first public meeting will be held virtually on July 8, 2020. Following the presentation, next steps will be shared, and questions will be taken. 

Though current state and federal COVID-19 pandemic guidelines allow for gatherings with proper precautions, this meeting will be conducted virtually using Zoom software to ensure the safety of the public. Details about this event will also be shared on the Champaign County Forest Preserve District’s webpage (www.ccfpd.org). 

This public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 8th from 6:00 – 7:00 pm with opportunities to engage digitally via comments/questions virtually. Join via Zoom: For PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device.

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Because summer camps were canceled as East Central Illinois takes precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Forest Preserve decided to bring outdoor summer activities in a different way.

Throughout the summer, bags will include Amazing Pollinators, Old Fashioned Toys and Miniature Gardens. The first bag, Wildlife Biologist, is now available.

Full of activities and crafts, Wildlife Biologist can be ordered through https://apm.activecommunities.com/ccfpd/Activity_Search/828. After an order is placed, CCFPD will send out an email within 24 hours with instructions on how to pick up the bag at Lake of the Woods, Homer Lake or the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve.

For additional information, email Stacey at sclementz@ccfpd.org.

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Beginning July 8, 2020. Homer Lake Interpretive Center will be open from 1:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, with a limit of 10 guests at a time. Masks and social distancing will be required within the facility. Handwashing/sanitizing is encouraged before entering or upon entry to the building. Patrons are asked to check themselves and members of their party for symptoms before arriving and stay home if they are sick. 

Also beginning on July 8, 2020, the Museum of the Grand Prairie will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. The first hour of every Wednesday will be reserved for persons over 65, and other vulnerable groups. 

Patrons will be required to sign up for a time to visit. Sign up times will be available by pressing the register/reserve button on the website www.ccfpd.org. A name and contact information will be required for each registrant in case contact tracing should be required. Visits are scheduled in increments of an hour, and there will be a limit of 10 patrons per hour in order to keep patrons and staff safe and facilitate cleaning. 

Masks and social distancing will be required within the facility. Handwashing/sanitizing is encouraged before entering or upon entry to the building. Patrons are asked to check themselves and members of their party for symptoms before arriving and stay home if they are sick. 

Visitors should note that many hands-on, interactive experiences may be closed, or removed temporarily as required by the governor’s office and local public health officials. The Museum of the Grand Prairie’s Discovering Home exhibit, on the lower level, will be closed until further notice. Bathrooms and popular public areas will be cleaned on a regular basis. 

The Champaign County Forest Preserve District strives to keep its users safe while offering its great educational opportunities. It is likely that we will increase hours in the coming months as the COVID-19 virus statistics improve. Meanwhile, the Museum and Education Department will continue to offer excellent programming on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

The post Museum of the Grand Prairie and the Homer Lake Interpretive Center to reopen July 8 appeared first on .

“The continuing uncertainty of the pandemic and concern for the health and safety of participants made it the right decision, albeit a very difficult one”, stated Mary Ellen Wuellner, the Forest Preserve District’s executive director. “We know this event is a long-standing tradition for the Champaign County community. We look forward to the day when we will be able to safely come together for these fun community celebrations.” 

Uncertainty around Illinois’ timeline to allow large public gatherings contributed to the decision, as did the inability to secure sufficient volunteer assistance to carry out the large event given the COVID-19 safety concerns. 

“It is challenging to secure a sufficient number of volunteers to work the entry gates and handle parking responsibilities in the best of years. In 2020, that task would be nearly impossible,” Wuellner noted. 

The Forest Preserve District plans to resume the fireworks show in 2021. 

The post Mahomet’s 2020 Freedom Fest Canceled appeared first on .

March 12

CUTC Presents Steel Magnolias: Parkland College’s Second Stage Theatre, 7 p.m.

Spring Musical “Guys and Dolls” Performance: Heritage High School, 7 p.m.

March 13

Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center’s School’s Out Swim Days
Public Swim from 1:30 to 9 p.m.

Pot o’ Gold, Oakwood Public Library, 10:30 to 2:30

CUTC Presents Steel Magnolias: Parkland College’s Second Stage Theatre, 7 p.m.

March 14

Read to a Dog: Mahomet Public Library, 10 to 11 a.m.
Books and pups? It doesn’t get much better. Join the Mahomet Public Library and read to a dog in the library! Certified therapy dogs from the Champaign-Urbana Canine Connection will visit the library to promote literacy. All readers and dog lovers alike are invited to grab a book, ruffle some fur, and read to a dog in a judgment-free zone.  

Spring Musical “Guys and Dolls” Performance: Heritage High School, 7 p.m.

Breakfast with St. Patrick: Mansfield United Methodist Church, 9 a.m. to noon

Enjoy a traditional Irish breakfast with St. Patrick before you listen to him tell his own story. This event is open to all families. 

Second Saturday Board Games: Urbana Free Library, 2 to 6 p.m.
Join the Urbana Free Library for this monthly drop-in program for all ages. Choose a game to play from the Library’s collection of board games for adults and families. They have some old classics like Go and Backgammon, as well as new favorites like deck-building Dominion and treasure-hunting Tobago. Never heard of ’em? No problem. They have staff and volunteers standing by to lead demonstrations of how to play. Grab a beverage at the Café and spend an enjoyable afternoon playing games with friends at the Library.

Spanish Story Time, Urbana Free Library, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Come with your children to listen to storytelling in English and Spanish, enjoy traditional songs, and make a craft! Vengan con sus niños a escuchar la narración del libro en inglés y español, disfrutar canciones tradicionales, y hacer una manualidad! For children of all ages and their caregivers. Para niños de todas las edades y sus familias.

Chess + For Kids, Urbana Free Library, 3 to 5 p.m.
Join us on Saturday afternoons for game time: chess, Monopoly®, and many more games will be available. Registration not required. For children ages 5 and up.

The Vermilion County Conservation Foundation will host its 5th Annual Banquet on March 14 at 5 p.m. at Sleepy Creek Vineyards in Fairmount. Tickets cost $35 for one adult and $50 per couple with a youth ticket running at $15. The evening will include dinner, auction, youth and adult raffles and door prizes. All proceeds will benefit the Vermilion County Conservation District. Call 217.442.1691 to purchase tickets.

CUTC Presents Steel Magnolias: Parkland College’s Second Stage Theatre, 2 and 7 p.m.

March 15

Maple Syrup Open House: Forest Glen Preserve, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Forest Glen Preserve is home to a maple grove that began producing maple syrup commercially in 1984.  A peak harvest can produce 4,200 gallons of maple sugar, making Forest Glen Preserve the third largest producer of maple syrup in Illinois.  Each year, school children visit Forest Glen Preserve to witness the modern 30-inch by 10-foot evaporator housed in a building called the “Sugar Bush.” During their visit, they are able to see the maple sugar be turned into maple syrup, and taste the finished product. On March 15, the public is invited to the Maple Syrup Open House to see the “Sugar Bush” building, the syrup-production process and to enjoy a pancake and sausage dinner (adults $6, children under 12 are $3).

Young Artist’s Studio: Mosaic Tiles: Urbana Free Library, 3 to 4 p.m.
Join us for the next installment of our Young Artist’s Studio with local artist Susan Parenti! Susan will help you make your own beautiful mosaic tile to take home and display. This can get messy, please come wearing clothes you’re not afraid to get dirty. Gloves and all materials will be provided. The Young Artist’s Studio is a series of art workshops sponsored by The Urbana Free Library and The Urbana Arts & Culture Program designed to offer youth an opportunity to explore the arts! All events in the series are free and open to the public. For children ages 5 to 11 (7 and under with a caregiver)

Market IN the Square Concert: The Local Session & Shamrock Dance, Lincoln Square, 10 to 11 a.m.
Join the Urbana Arts and Culture Program for Market IN the Square Concerts at the indoor farmer’s market in Lincoln Square as The Local Session, performs traditional Irish music with a 10-piece band while you shop the local market! Following their performance, the Shamrock Academy of Irish Dance will showcase their latest in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

CUTC Presents Steel Magnolias: Parkland College’s Second Stage Theatre, 2 and 7 p.m.

March 16

Quill Writing: Museum of the Grand Prairie, 2 to 4 p.m.
Try your hand at writing with a quill feather and more hand-writing technologies from the past. Take yourself back in time and write a letter like many did centuries ago!

Intro to Letterboxing: Homer Lake Interpretive Center, 2-3:30 p.m.
Ever been on a real-life treasure hunt? Come out to Homer Lake for a lesson on Letterboxing, a popular hobby for all ages that uses clues to lead you to hidden treasures in the woods! FREE. Recommended for ages 10 & up. Register by March 15 at ccfpd.org. For more info: (217) 896-2455 or jwick@ccfpd.org.

Make and Take Spring Break, Urbana Free Library, All Day
Feeling Creative? Come to the Library for our all-day, drop-in craft extravaganza!

Irish Dancing from the Shamrock Academy, Urbana Free Library, 1 to 1:30 p.m.
The Shamrock Academy of Irish Dance will demonstrate traditional Irish dancing. These award-winning dancers will have you clapping and tapping as they jump, spin, and kick to some traditional Irish music. Dancers of all ages and levels will share their joy of Irish dancing with the audience.

Teen Open Lab, Urbana Free Library, 3 to 5:30 p.m.
The Lewis Auditorium at The Urbana Free Library becomes the Teen Open Lab most Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. Music recording, 3D printing, sewing, reading, drawing, crafting, gaming, film-making, or just hanging out. The Teen Open Lab has something for everyone!

DIY Kids, Basketball Hoop Game: Champaign Public Library, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Get ready for the national tournament by making your own mini basketball hoop game.

Urbana Park District’s Indoor Aquatic Center Spring Break Swim
Public Swim 1:30 to 9 p.m., Lap Swim and Water Exercise 6 to 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Story time, St. Joseph Township- Swearingen Memorial Library, 6:30 to 7 p.m.
Join us for a free drop-in story time open to all children! We offer the same program twice, Monday eveing and Tuesday morning, every 2 weeks. Parents/caregivers are asked to stay with children under the age of 3. 

March 17

Fun with textiles: Museum of the Grand Prairie, 2 to 4 p.m.
Do you happen to know how the clothes on your back were made? Or how your bedding was crafted? Come and try your hand at old fashioned textile methods!

Meet the Critters: Homer Lake Interpretive Center, 2-3:30 p.m.
Come meet some of Homer Lake Forest Preserve’s resident reptiles! This program will consist of a brief lesson on reptiles, along with interesting facts about the animals that live inside the Interpretive Center. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet their resident reptiles up close! FREE. All ages. Register by March 16 at ccfpd.org; for more info: (217) 896-2455 or jwick@ccfpd.org.

Story time, St. Joseph Township- Swearingen Memorial Library, 10 to 10:30 p.m.
Join us for a free drop-in story time open to all children! We offer the same program twice, Monday eveing and Tuesday morning, every 2 weeks. Parents/caregivers are asked to stay with children under the age of 3. 

Make and Take Spring Break, Urbana Free Library, All Day
Feeling Creative? Come to the Library for our all-day, drop-in craft extravaganza!

Teen Open Lab, Urbana Free Library, 3 to 5:30 p.m.
The Lewis Auditorium at The Urbana Free Library becomes the Teen Open Lab most Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. Music recording, 3D printing, sewing, reading, drawing, crafting, gaming, film-making, or just hanging out. The Teen Open Lab has something for everyone!

DIY Kids, Cup Stacking Challenge: Champaign Public Library, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Stack plastic cups into mega towers and take it down faster than anyone else. Are you up for the challenge?

The Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Urbana Sipyard, 5 to 7 p.m.

Urbana Park District’s Indoor Aquatic Center Spring Break Swim
Public Swim 1:30 to 9 p.m., Lap Swim and Water Exercise 6 to 8 a.m. and 11
a.m. to 1 p.m.

March 18

Beach Blanket Bingo: Mahomet Public Library, 12 to 1:30 p.m.
You bring your lunch and a beach towel; the Mahomet Public Library will provide beverages and a dessert! After lunch, there’ll be Bingo for prizes. Space is limited; please register.

Butter Churning: Museum of the Grand Prairie, 2 to 4 p.m.
We need your help churning this treat! Join us as we create butter using various methods that require just a little cream and no electricity!

Survival Day: Homer Lake Interpretive Center
Sign up for one or both of these programs to learn the basics of surviving in the woods! Recommended for ages 8 and up. FREE. Register by March 17 at ccfpd.org; For more info: (217) 896-2455 or pleiter@ccfpd.org.
Fire By Friction: Interpretive Center, 10-11:30 a.m.
Before the convenience of matches and lighters, how did we start a fire? Try out old-fashioned fire-making skills like flint & steel and the bow drill in this exciting program.
Survival Shelters: West Lake Trail (north parking lot), 2-3:30 p.m.
Could you survive a night lost in the woods? The first step is building a shelter to keep you warm and dry. After a short introduction, we’ll practice making shelters.

Make and Take Spring Break, Urbana Free Library, All Day
Feeling Creative? Come to the Library for our all-day, drop-in craft extravaganza!

Teen Open Lab, Urbana Free Library, 3 to 5:30 p.m.
The Lewis Auditorium at The Urbana Free Library becomes the Teen Open Lab most Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. Music recording, 3D printing, sewing, reading, drawing, crafting, gaming, film-making, or just hanging out. The Teen Open Lab has something for everyone!

The Magic Lantern, Urbana Free Library, 6 to 7 p.m.
The Magic Lantern Part 2 is the second installment of an ongoing series of interactive animation projects which explore the art of animation through various, animation-viewing contraptions of the old and the new. The presentation will be divided into two parts. The first half will showcase various animated shorts by visual artist, EKAH. In the second half, the artist will give a live presentation of animated sculptures created from modern tools such as 3D printing and laser-cut wood panels.

DIY Kids, Space Lander Challenge: Champaign Public Library, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Design and build your own space lander then test it to see if your marshmallow astronauts stay inside.

Urbana Park District’s Indoor Aquatic Center Spring Break Swim
Public Swim 1:30 to 9 p.m., Lap Swim and Water Exercise 6 to 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

March 19

Candle Dipping: Museum of the Grand Prairie, 2 to 4 p.m.
During the 19th century, candles were the most common form of interior lighting. Dip a wick in some candle wax and take home your very own classic candle!

Vendor Fair: The Glenwood Assisted Living of Mahomet, 4 to 6 p.m.
We will update this listing with Vendors when they are finalized. 

Prairie Skies: Staerkel Planetarium, 10 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m.
Take a live-narrated tour of the wonders of tonight’s sky accompanied by some of the legendary stories of the ancient sky. Find out what constellations and planets are visible tonight and how to find them. This show is undated and is intended for all ages. Adults $6, Senior/Student/Youth $5, FOSP members FREE

Sunstruck: Staerkel Planetarium, 11 a.m. to noon
School is out for Spring Break! Why not visit the planetarium for special midday showings of the fulldome programs Sunstruck and Out There? If weather permits, we’ll also do some safe solar viewing with special filters. Adults $6, Senior/Student/Youth $5, FOSP members FREE

Out There: Staerkel Planetarium, 2 to 3 p.m.
Why not visit the planetarium for special midday showings of the fulldome programs Sunstruck and Out There? If weather permits, we’ll also do some safe solar viewing with special filters. Adults $6, Senior/Student/Youth $5, FOSP members FREE

Make and Take Spring Break, Urbana Free Library, All Day
Feeling Creative? Come to the Library for our all-day, drop-in craft extravaganza!

Teen Open Lab, Urbana Free Library, 3 to 5:30 p.m.
The Lewis Auditorium at The Urbana Free Library becomes the Teen Open Lab most Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. Music recording, 3D printing, sewing, reading, drawing, crafting, gaming, film-making, or just hanging out. The Teen Open Lab has something for everyone!

DIY Kids, Lava Lamps: Champaign Public Library, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
The Champaign Public Library’s most popular DIY project returns! Make your own lava lamp with food coloring, glitter, and Alka-Seltzer tablets.

Urbana Park District’s Indoor Aquatic Center Spring Break Swim
Public Swim 1:30 to 9 p.m., Lap Swim and Water Exercise 6 to 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

March 20

Civil War Craft & Activity Day: Museum of the Grand Prairie, 2 to 4 p.m.
The Civil War was an influential time in United States history. Join us for a day of fun and learning as we provide hands-on activities to bring this period in history to life!

Make and Take Spring Break, Urbana Free Library, All Day
Feeling Creative? Come to the Library for our all-day, drop-in craft extravaganza!

Teen Open Lab, Urbana Free Library, 3 to 5:30 p.m.
The Lewis Auditorium at The Urbana Free Library becomes the Teen Open Lab most Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. Music recording, 3D printing, sewing, reading, drawing, crafting, gaming, film-making, or just hanging out. The Teen Open Lab has something for everyone!

Princess Party, Urbana Free Library, 3:15 to 4 p.m.
Join the Urbana Free Library for princess-filled stories, songs, crafts, and treats. If you would like, come dressed as a princess.

Urbana Park District’s Indoor Aquatic Center Spring Break Swim
Public Swim 1:30 to 9 p.m., Lap Swim and Water Exercise 6 to 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

March 21

Makerspace, Jr., Urbana Free Library, 2 to 4 p.m.
Would you like to try a 3D printer, drawing tablet, vinyl cutter, sewing machine, or guitar?  Do you like making things out of recyclable materials? Are you thinking about making a gift to give someone?  You can do all of this and more when you join us for an afternoon of makerspace fun – just for elementary age students!

Chess + For Kids, Urbana Free Library, 3 to 5 p.m.
Join us on Saturday afternoons for game time: chess, Monopoly®, and many more games will be available. Registration not required. For children ages 5 and up.

Urbana Park District’s Indoor Aquatic Center Spring Break Swim
Public Swim 12 to 5 p.m.

March 22

Urbana Park District’s Indoor Aquatic Center Spring Break Swim
Public Swim 12 to 5 p.m.

The post Things to do nearby over St. Joseph-Ogden Spring Break appeared first on .

There are significant dates one learns during their time in American History class:

The Declaration of Independence was passed by Congress on July 4, 1776;
The United States Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787;
The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act entered the statute books on March 25, 1807;
World War I ended on Nov. 11, 1918.

The dates reflect a moment in time when there was a change in the way things operated in the United States. But the story of the years before and the years after is one that is often untold.

The same holds true for Aug. 18, 1920. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified and women were granted the right to vote; a right their male counterparts had enjoyed for more than a century.

The century prior to 1920 and the century after 1920 are full of rich stories about how the Women’s Suffrage Movement came to be and how, in some ways, women continue to fight for their rights even today.

On March 7, 2020, the Champaign County Forest Preserve District’s Museum of the Grand Prairie will open its annual exhibit, “How Long Must Women Wait: Women’s Suffrage and Women’s Rights in Champaign County?” to tell the unknown stories of how advocates in Champaign County helped propel the national movement for equal rights and responsibilities as American citizens.

“It’s a national movement but it’s also a very local movement,” Museum and Education Department Director Barbara Oehlschlaeger-Garvey said.

The Museum’s exhibit follows stories of women who were working towards their right to own land and to vote, among other issues from 1850 to the current day.

“There were ladies that were forming women’s clubs in the late 19th century, names you know like Julia Burnham and Mary Busey, who were strong supporters of women’s suffrage. Those women also realized that they had an obligation to make positive social change.

“That’s why they were interested in creating the first hospital in the county and the first library; actually both Urbana and Champaign’s libraries were founded by ladies who were strong in the suffrage movement.”

Oehlschlaeger-Garvey’s team collected information from Champaign County’s Jane Patton’s estate to tell the story of a widowed woman becoming a property owner — something she could not do a decade prior to her husband’s passing.

“We don’t know whether she was involved in the (women’s suffrage) movement at all or not, but what we do know is that when she moved here in the 1850’s they built a log cabin, they lived at the edge of the prairie and they had 8 or 10 kids,” Oehlschlaeger-Garvey said.

“She worked really hard. When her husband died in 1880, he had a lot of debt. She paid off all the debt. And by the time she passed away, she acquired 2500 acres. She was an exceedingly successful lady.

“It is reported that she was present at 102 births. So she was also, you know, a community helper.

Oehlschlaeger-Garvey added that there are a lot of women’s stories like Patton’s that can be found, both at the Museum and in local papers and documents.

“We talked about her as the typical woman’s life; somebody who made a difference, but didn’t get noticed,” she said.

Talks of women’s voting rights made it to a conversation in 1870 when the Illinois constitution was up for amending. The measure failed.

Women were, though, granted the opportunity to run for any school office not created by the Illinois Constitution by 1873.

By 1891, women were given the right to vote for school officers. Women who voted were given a separate ballot and ballot box in which to vote.

While women are still fighting for their voice and rights, in some ways, Oehlschlaeger-Garvey said that many of the conversations that started on the national level could be heard in Champaign County, too.

“Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass all came to the area all speaking about the rights of women and minorities,” she said.

The conversation about women’s rights began to spark a small, but potent anti-suffragette movement in the early 1900’s.

“There were a lot of cartoons and things that mocked women for wanting to vote,” Oehlschlaeger-Garvey said. “Some people felt threatened.”

According to Oehlschlaeger-Garvey, that group was small, though.

“It’s actually kind of more hard to find people who are against (women’s rights),” she said.

Women took the first steps in using the American right to free speech by marching through Washington, D.C. in 1913 to “march in a spirit of protest against the present political organization of society, from which women are excluded,” the day before President Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration.

The Museum’s exhibit showcases Champaign’s Lillie Belle Sale, Eliza Vincent and Edith Dobbins, who attended the march.

The procession organized by the suffragists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns for the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), sought to create a visible display of support for women’s rights.

“They invited contingents from every state, and from all over the world to participate in this parade,” Oehlschlaeger-Garvey said. “And the estimates are wonky: some people say it was 5,000, some people say it was 10,000 people.

“It kind of took the power out of all the inauguration festivities.”

When Sale, Vincent and Dobbins returned home, they helped form the Twin City Equal Suffrage League, which eventually became the League of Women Voters.

Oehlschlaeger-Garvey said some of the long call for change echos what some continue to fight for today.

“People were involved and it mattered to them,” she said. “Now, it’s just that we’re in the middle of it, so we don’t see it.”

By June 26, 1913, Gov. Edward Dunne signed the suffrage bill into law, giving Illinois women the right to vote for President.

While states west of the Mississippi River had granted women the right to vote prior, Illinois became the first state east of the Mississippi to allow women (1,600,000) to vote, doubling the number of voters in the United States, according to Oehlschlaeger-Garvey.

“So by allowing Illinois women to vote, he doubled the electorate,” she said.

While women in Illinois could vote for presidential electors, mayor, aldermen and most other local offices, they could not vote for governor, state representatives or members of Congress because that would have meant that the state had to ratify their constitution.

Many women, for the first time since getting married, were required to use their “Christian name.

“Women didn’t really have personalities, outside of their husbands until this point, but then they needed to know what their actual name was to identify them as people,”  Oehlschlaeger-Garvey said.

Women still had to vote at a separate ballot box, though.

Oehlschlaeger-Garvey said women became increasingly disheartened that they were playing vital roles in ensuring the country continued to thrive even when their husbands and sons were fighting in WWI, but were not able to vote.

“They were not able to vote about things that are concerning people who are making decisions about the war,” she said. “So that was one big push that probably helped suffrage.”

Frustrated with the slow-moving process at the National level, the National Woman’s Party’s (NWP) Alice Paul organized a group to protest at the gates of the President’s house on Jan. 30, 1917.

The group became known as the “Silent Sentinels,” as they stood at their posts for almost three years.

The group sought to influence Wilson’s opinion, seeking his endorsement to sway members of Congress from the Democratic Party to vote for the amendment’s passage.

Instead, the group became a nuisance to Wilson, and were later arrested on charges of obstructing traffic.

The women continued to take their stand at the White House gates and later in Lafayette Square until June 4, 1919 when the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed, both by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The Museum of the Grand Prairie’s exhibit also tells the story of prohibition, which many suffragette supporters were in favor of. Prohibition actually went into effect before Women’s Suffrage on Jan. 17, 1920.

“It’s because all that movement was going in the same direction,” Oehlschlaeger-Garvey said. “There were women that were pushing toward the same thing.”

The Museum staff knows that that movement did not stop with the passing of equal rights and responsibilities in the 1920’s. The exhibit also showcases the women’s liberation movement of the 1970’s, the continued fight for equal pay and the Women’s March on Washington D.C.

The Museum’s March 7 opening will begin with a short welcoming reception and exhibit preview from museum staff at 1:30 p.m.

Beginning at 2 p.m., students from Eastern Illinois University’s Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program will provide short first-person interpretations of a 19th century suffrage supporter, a female Irish pirate and the first woman who ran for Congress.

The Champaign County Forest Preserve will continue to celebrate women throughout 2020 with their Speakers Series and their Summer Concert Series, which will feature only female artists.

Oehlschlaeger-Garvey said that like the book “The Heartland: An American History” by Kristin L. Hoganson suggests, “there’s this perception that the Midwest have always been like nowheresville, but really it’s always been like that part of the whole big national engine.”

Wednesday, April 29
HISTORY ON TAP: WOMEN, ALCOHOL, AND THE VOTE
25 O’Clock Brewing Company, 208 W Griggs St, Urbana, IL, 7 p.m.
Lecture presented by Barb Oehlschlaeger-Garvey, Director of the Museum and Education Department
at the Champaign County Forest Preserve District
Did you know that Prohibition was instituted by the 18th amendment and women were allowed to vote by the
19th amendment? Prohibition was ratified in January 1919, Woman Suffrage in August 1920. Some suffragists
promoted Prohibition and that may have pushed forward their voting rights. Ironically, we can now toast
women’s right to vote at this “History on Tap.” It will include a short talk, slide show and discussion about the
national movement and local players. “History on Tap” is a new series that travels the county to some of the
area’s finest establishments for learning and libatious liquids.

Saturday, May 30
CASTING A HISTORIC VOTE: SUFFRAGE IN ILLINOIS
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 2 p.m.
Lecture presented by Jeanne Schultz-Angel, historian and Director of Learning Experiences at Naper
Settlement in Naperville, Illinois
Prior to 1920, women were denied the vote in the majority of elections in the United States. The struggle for
enfranchisement began with the birth of our nation and was strategized differently in our local, state, and federal
elections. Despite what people today believe to be a straightforward goal, the path to women’s suffrage was
infused with sexism and racism and triggered a fear of feminism whose roots are still seen today.

Sunday, June 7
HISTORY BROUGHT TO LIFE: ELIZABETH CADY STANTON
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 2 p.m.
First-person Interpretation presented by Laura Keyes, historian, author, and professional actor, will
portray Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for equal rights for women for over fifty years, and upon her death in 1902 she
left behind a legacy of her crusade for female equality and myriad writings that would inspire feminists for over
a century to come. Hear from Mrs. Stanton in 1866, when the Civil War was over, but the battle for Women’s
Suffrage was just beginning. Join us for this engaging first

Sunday, July 19
SONGS AND STORIES FROM THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT IN CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, 1973-
1983
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 2 p.m.
Musical presentation provided by Kristin Lems, singer-songwriter and founder of the National Women’s
Music Festival
Champaign-Urbana was the home of great activism and activity on behalf of women’s rights in the decade
between 1973-1983. There were ERA rallies, a rape crisis center, a women’s escort service to take women home
safely after parties and events, and groups from the Abortion Rights Coalition to Gay Illini to Housewives for
ERA. Kristin Lems will share songs and stories from those days along with precious (to her!) artifacts including
t-shirts, posters, and buttons.

Sunday, August 16
AN AFTERNOON WITH SUFFRAGISTS
Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, 2 p.m.
First-person Interpretation presented by Volunteer docents from the Champaign-Urbana Alliance
Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Did you know that on August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment was officially ratified allowing women the basic
human right to vote? Join us and help celebrate this month’s historic 100-year anniversary! History will come to
life during this one-act reading play portraying the famous suffragists Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul, and Inez
Mulholland.

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The trails within forest preserves of Champaign County are often filled with runners, hikers and bikers throughout the day.

But at night, when the people gather inside their homes, foot traffic on the trails quiets.

Part of this is because the Champaign County Forest Preserve parks are only open during day time hours. But on January 9 and 10, Homer Lake Forest Preserve will open their gates for an annual January full moon hike from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

“These programs offer an opportunity for a new experience”. Jennifer Wick, Public Program Specialist for the Champaign County Forest Preserve, said. “Hiking in the evening is a really great experience, and there is a lot to take in. It’s just as exciting as daytime; there are different things to observe at different times.”

Wick begins the hike with a brief presentation indoors. As participants venture onto the hiking trails outdoors, she encourages them to not use artificial light so that the group can talk about how other senses will be heightened when vision by moonlight is limited.

During the family hike on January 10, Wick plans interactive activities so that children can learn more about night vision for humans and wild animals.

The adult hike on January 9 is a little longer walk where visitors will take time to look up at the moon, view constellations, and maybe even experience wildlife.

“Out here at Homer Lake, it’s just going to be darker than it is in town because we don’t have a lot of lighting throughout the park and we are also a little bit outside of town,” Wick said. “You’re just able to see more of the night sky.”

“If you live in Champaign- Urbana, you can’t see the stars very well, even on a clear night. Being out here gives them an opportunity to really get to see the stars in the sky.”

Being removed from town and traffic also offers visitors an opportunity to hear more, too.

“It’s really just a no interruption experience to listen and observe nature at night,” Wick said. “Whereas it might seem like there is nothing going on, there actually is a lot to hear and see at night.”

A $3 fee is charged for persons over the age of 2. Pre-registration is required, as there is a limited number of spaces, and can be completed by visiting ccfpd.org.

*The forecast currently calls for rain on both program dates. If rain is not in the forecast, the forest preserve will still hold the programs, but that may still mean overcast skies. You can check the Homer Lake Interpretive Center Facebook page for program updates and cancellation notices, or call the interpretive center at 217-896-2455. Those who have registered will be notified of any cancellations. If rain is in the forecast, the event will be canceled and will not be rescheduled.

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Santa has come, the presents have been unwrapped and the family ornaments have been taken off the tree.

Those with an artificial tree will pack it up for next year, while those with a live tree figure out what to do next.

The sooner a live tree can get out the door, the less likely it is to become a fire hazard. One of every four home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems or because the tree is too close to a heat source.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, Christmas tree fires cause an average of three deaths, 15 injuries and $10 million in property damage each year.

Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home.

While chopping up a live tree and taking it to a land waste facility is an option, the reality is that there are several ways to dispose of it that will benefit the environment.

The Champaign County Forest Preserve District offers tree recycling options.

The Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Homer Lake Forest Preserve and Middle Fork River Forest Preserve will accept Christmas Trees for recycling from Dec. 26 through Jan. 18. Only undecorated live Christmas trees will be accepted.

Some of the trees are chipped for mulch, but others are placed in the lake to be used as an artificial habitat for aquatic species, especially fish. The trees provide protection, food and shade for young fish. In contrast, they also provide great ambush points for predatory fish such as Large Mouth Bass. The structures are hotspots for breeding and spawning.

Birds also benefit from repurposed live Christmas trees.

By placing your tree in the yard, away from your home, birds can find refuge from the bitter cold in the branches of the tree. Fresh orange slices and popcorn can be used to attract the birds.

It is important to make sure all decorations have been removed from the tree, though.

After a year, the limbs will become brittle and can be taken off by hand or in a chipper.

The chipped wood can be used as mulch for the garden or spread on hiking trails.

Indoor burning is not recommended. The sap from the fresh tree can create a fire hazard in your chimney or vent piping.

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