Local Florist and West Bluff neighborhood resident/advocate Dan Callahan is the recipient of the 2015 West Bluff Council “Pillar of the West Bluff Award.” Callahan, who was nominated by activist and Moss-Bradley Neighborhood resident Marjorie Klise, is a long-time West Bluff resident and owner/manager of Gregg Florist. Callahan is equally known for his work on various green projects throughout the Moss-Bradley neighborhood and his advocacy for historic preservation in Peoria. The Pillar Award is presented each year to recognize individuals for outstanding service to the West Bluff area.
“Dan is one of those people who have truly made a strong contribution to our area,” said West Bluff Council vice president Conrad Stinnett. “Whether helping the Moss-Bradley neighborhood with his unique green thumb or advocating for historic preservation, Dan is involved and we are better for it. His enthusiasm and ideas are inspiring. The members of the West Bluff Council are very pleased to recognize him this year.”
4-H Clubs honored for work in two neighborhoods. Many people hear “4-H” and may think of cows and pigs, pies and quilts, but two Peoria 4-H groups were among 20 statewide recently honored for outstanding work toward community improvement in the city.
The New Directions 4-H Club and the Bountiful City Kids 4-H Garden Club both were recognized for landscaping and community-garden projects, respectively.
New Directions 4-H Club is planting flowers at Day Spring Park in the Columbia Terrace North neighborhood. This is the second year the club has received grant money to help beautify the park.
The project coincides with that neighborhood association’s Earth Day celebration and annual neighborhood cleanup day. Members of the New Directions 4-H club meet monthly at the park and will water and weed the flower beds throughout the year. About 600 hours will be spent on the project.
The Bountiful City Kids 4-H Garden Club in the East Bluff neighborhood is engaging with inner-city youth in an effort to teach skills and activism through community gardening. Working together, youth will learn how to cooperate, obtain garden skills, identify a variety of fruits and vegetables and nutritional facts, and share their harvest with the community. About 550 hours will be spent on the project.
Each club is receiving $250 to help them continue their projects for a second year. The Community Improvement Grant Program is sponsored by 1st Farm Credit Services, which provides grants for 4-H Clubs and FFA chapters that complete outstanding improvement projects in their communities.
State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth visiting Jackson Corners. State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth is scheduled to be the guest speaker at the Jackson Corners Neighborhood Association’s monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. July 2 at the Children’s Advocacy Center, 501 E. Gift in Peoria (on the upper level of the Coroner’s office building.) For more information, phone 682-4689.
Associations working for ‘Night Out Against Crime.’ Peoria’s registered neighborhood associations are working on taking part in the Aug. 4 National Night Out Against crime in their areas. Groups are eligible for reimbursement for event expenses. For details on participating or for reimbursement, contact Peoria Neighborhood Development Specialist Steve Fairbanks at 494-8250.
Jubilee College Open House. A Salute to Jubilee College Historic Site will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 8. This year marks the 175th anniversary of the founding of the college in Brimfield. The open house will include tours of the historic college building, cemetery and grounds. For more information, contact Patricia Melaik, chairwoman of the event. For more information, call her at 217-836-2554 or email bluecob5@yahoo.com