SPlog

Frontline workers, according to CUPHD, are: Grocery Store Workers: Baggers, Cashiers, Stockers, Pick-Up, Customer Service. Food and Agriculture Workers: Processing, Plants, Veterinary Health, Livestock Services, Animal Care. Shelter/Adult Day Care Workers. Postal Service Workers. Manufacturing …

Poets Ángel García and Christopher Kempf, two new members of the University of Illinois Creative Writing faculty, will be reading their work via Zoom at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 4th.  Get the link and …

On February 5th at 10 a.m., Japan House has invited Reverend Florence Caplow from Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign to guide you through 10 to 15 minutes of zen meditation. From the Facebook event page: …

This Friday, February 5th from 5 to 7 p.m., and Saturday, February 6th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum will be having a garage sale to clear out some items …

Urbana Free Library’s Seed Lending Library is officially open for borrowing. With over 7,000 seeds available, you’re bound to find something you want to grow. At the end of the season, you can harvest seeds …

Triptych Brewing has a new webstore on Teepublic where you can get all the Triptych merchandise your heart desires. They have several new t-shirt designs, but you don’t have to stop there. You can lay …

It’s February which means it is Black History Month. In honor of Black History Month, Champaign’s Unit 4 schools’ meal boxes will feature items from Black-owned small businesses each week in February.  Today, February 1st, …

Holiday Baking Champion Julianna Jung is teaming up with Pandamonium Doughnuts this weekend for two exclusive doughnut flavors: Maple Sausage Champaign (featured on the show): A yeast doughnut dipped in real maple syrup glaze and champagne …

Resolution #2021-02-005R, a Resolution Committing to End Structural Racism and Achieve Racial Equity, will be presented to the Urbana City Council at their meeting on February 1st. From the press release: “This powerful resolution calls …

Now that new COVID variants are circulating in the United States, it’s critical that we double mask to prevent the further spread of the infection. This means we probably need a few more masks on …

Parkland College’s Giertz Gallery has announced three virtual artist talks for the month of February. On February 2nd, at 6 p.m., Paula McCarty will present an update on her ongoing series Women Who Painted. On …

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts has recently announced a free, digitally delivered four-part concert series by the Jupiter String Quartet. According to the announcement, the Quartet  has “chosen programs with contrasting styles and genres …

Beginning February 1st, WILL-TV will begin airing “Let’s Learn” every weekday from 11 a.m. to noon. The series is for children ages 3-8, and will present “engaging, authentic, and interactive lessons that are accessible to …

If you’ve ever been to a show at Canopy Club and/or attended Summer Camp, you’d probably recognize Mo on the security side of things. He recently released this track, “The Lo Lo song”, which you …

The organizers of the Urbana-Champaign Crochet Coral Reef Satellite invite local crochet enthusiasts to join the January Crochet-A-Thon, on January 30th from 2 to 4 p.m.  According to the recent announcement:  During this Zoom make-a-thon …

Loren Tate, longtime columnist at The News-Gazette, has been named to the 2021 class which will be inducted into the U.S. Basketball Writers Hall of Fame. The announcement was made earlier today, which featured Sports Illustrated‘s Pat …

The Champaign County Museums Network is encouraging you to “virtually visit” their museum partners with the Virtual Visit Challenge. The challenge invites you to explore online resources from Parkland, Champaign County Forest Preserve District, the …

Academy High, an independent school for grade 9-12, is hosting a virtual open house on February 7th at 4:30. From their website: At the Open House, you will meet the Head of School, John Carpenter, …

Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County is hosting a class on affordable home ownership on February 20th at 9:30 a.m. The class is free, and will cover “affordable home ownership opportunities, down payment assistance, and …

Our local goat cheese masters Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery has two award-winning cheeses. Announced last Friday night, the Good Food Foundation hosted the 2021 Good Food Awards which judges more than 2,000 entries of food. …

Wanting to cook a romantic dinner at home for your valentine, but you don’t know what to cook — or how to cook it? Common Ground Food Co-op has you covered with their Valentine’s Day …

While for me, in-person artist talks will always be the cherry on top of the art opening reception sundae, any opportunity to hear from, and learn from, the exhibiting artists is indeed sweet. So this …

Due to COVID-19, all in-person Mom’s Weekend events are cancelled. Here is the statement from Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Dr. Danita Brown Young: “The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily changed the way we celebrate together. …

This week, Bloomington’s Miller Park Zoo has reopened all its indoor exhibits, except the parakeet enclosure. You can now visit (with a mask and physical distancing) and all sorts of animals, and don’t have to …

To help celebrate the IMC’s 20th anniversary, from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27th, Mother Nature will give a free (virtual) performance and then be in conversation with Blair E. Thomas. Titled “Black …

On Thursday, January 28th, the Champaign County Continuum of Services Providers to the Homeless (CSPH) will do a point-in-time survey to determine the number of homeless individuals in Champaign County. There are 30 volunteers, who will …

The Land Connection just posted a series of helpful vegetable prep videos on Instagram called Taidghin Teaches. In these videos, Taidghin O’Brien shares how to cut and store bok choy, butternut squash, celery, eggplant, fennel, kohlrabi, …

Allerton Park and Retreat Center had The Dome before it was the thing to do. A year ago, they put The Dome in the park as a way to enjoy a few hours immersed in …

The Board of Trustees announced last week they would be freezing tuition rates for incoming in-state freshmen and non-resident undergraduates for the 2021-22 academic year. From the press release:  The U of I System has now …

The Volunteer Income Task Assistance Program offers an opportunity for low to moderate income households, seniors over the age of 60, limited English speaking taxpayers, and those with disabilities to receive help preparing their tax …

The movement to make the kingfisher the U of I mascot now has a home on the internet, on it’s own website. You’ll find links to resources for supporting this cause, getting involved, and any …

The University of Illinois Graduate Employees’ Organization is teaming up with UC Books to Prisoners for a book drive January 24th through February 14th. Donated books are distributed to Champaign County jails. There are several …

Humanities Research Institute at the University of Illinois has a new podcast, Off the Shelf: Revolutionary Readings in the Time of Crises, hosted by Augustus Wood. The podcast will feature conversations with Black scholars on campus.  The …

For small businesses and nonprofit organizations trying to navigate applying for financial assistance, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering several webinars to aid in that process.  The sessions will be led by director …

If you are out and about today, it’s a good day to swing by Espresso Royale on Neil, Oregon, or at Village Green, to get yourself some coffee or tea or a pastry, and toss …

For the most part, Champaign Public Library has limited itself to exclusively virtual and curbside services, but with Region 6 of Illinois going moving to Phase 4 mitigations, things are changing. Today, they announced their …

With the new City of Urbana Poet Laureate, Ashanti Files, installed in her post, Urbana’s Arts & Culture Program continues to seek it’s first ever youth poet laureate.   According to the CIty of Urbana’s Arts …

The Champaign Unit 4 Schools Board of Ed has selected Sheila Boozer as the new superintendent. Boozer is currently the Director of Teaching & Learning and Technology in Springfield District 186, and will assume her …

Starting January 22nd, Leonhard Rec Center is reopening. The walking track, weight room, and pickleball in the gym will be open. Reservations are not required, but masks are: Walking Track: NO Reservations or time limits. …

Looking for a fun family-friendly project for young artists this winter? The Young Artist’s Studio has announced a Chinese paper fan-making workshop to be held on Sunday, February 21st from 3 to 4 p.m.  Register …

As Region 6 moves into Tier 1, and possibly just regular old Phase 4, Urbana Park District is phasing in some of their indoor activities and programming. Here is their plan: Now – People can …

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has another round of vaccination clinics scheduled for next week, this time for anyone 65 and older. They will be held at the iHotel and former Dress Barn, as others have …

If you were anywhere on the interwebs yesterday, you surely saw the glorious array of Bernie memes, stemming from a shot of him from the inauguration, sitting in his parka and mittens. Boswell Hutson, founder …

A Taste of Both Worlds will open in Urbana tomorrow, Friday, January 22nd. Featuring foods like pork bánh mì sandwich, steamed buns, short ribs, fried rice, and halo halo, this new fusion restaurant joins King …

2020 was a nice year for HUM, and it looks like 2021 has a few good things in store as well from the crew. They released their outstanding new record, Inlet, their first record since 1998, to …

The University Library is hosting an online event on Thursday, January 28th from 12 to 1 p.m. that will cover the basics of preserving books, papers, and photographs. The program will be presented by Jennifer Hain …

In a press release last week, MTD announced that is changing (read: limiting) bus service to the U of I campus this spring semester, beginning January 24th. Reduced services highlights are below. Spring Semester MTD …

Champaign Central High School will be adding fields for soccer, band, and softball as part of their North Fields Project, which is slated to begin construction in the spring of 2022. This video lays out …