Leaf Pickup information from Jacksonville Street Department:
The 2024 Leaf Pick-up will run from November 1 until the end of November. All bagged leaves must be curbside by 8 a.m. Bags can be paper or plastic, but leaves must be in bags.
Music Under the Dome with Diane Deitz and Kevin Aldrich scheduled for November 17:
Please join the Jacksonville Public Library in welcoming the latest performers to the Music Under the Dome series at the library: soprano Diane Dietz and singer/songwriter Kevin Aldrich. The two will be performing on November 17, starting at 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Soprano Diane Dietz is happy to return to the Music Under the Dome concert series. After completing her BA in Music and Fine Arts at Illinois College, she completed an MM in Vocal Performance at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Currently, Diane is a private music instructor of voice/piano and a professional vocalist. She enjoys singing at a variety of venues around the area including Temple B’rith Sholom, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, as well as with the Springfield Choral Society. Local musical theater productions include: Les Misérables (Springfield Muni), Mary Poppins (Legacy Theatre), and Beautiful, the Carole King musical (Hoogland Center for the Arts).
Singer/songwriter Kevin Aldrich is a career educator, novelist, and screenwriter. He is currently a high school teacher at Routt Catholic here in Jacksonville.
The Jacksonville Public Library is located at 201 W. College Ave. Find out more at www.jaxpl.org. The library can be reached via 217-243-5435 or ajones@jaxpl.org.
Virginia Veteran Memorial reveal and open house on November 9:
“We don’t know them all, but we owe them all.”
“It was their duty to serve. Our duty is to remember.”
These are often used phrases causally thrown about, but Virginia residents will have an opportunity to better identify hundreds from their community who have served our country, and the 64 (or more) local soldiers who gave everything while serving their country.
A recent addition at the Virginia City Hall council room is a military tribute to anyone who has ever considered Virginia their home. It honors all who served and those who gave all. Many communities sell name engraved bricks for a walkway or wall, but our goal was to make it a more personal experience by adding available photographs, biographies, and information anyone wanted to share.
Thanks to a few generous donations, it cost nothing to be included. The feeling was, we Virginian’s owed a debit of gratitude to at least know their names, and to honor all who sacrificed to ensure the freedoms we in the United States of America enjoy.
An entire 28-foot wall is dedicated to the soldiers who gave all. They gave their whole future … their opportunity to have a career, a chance to marry and have children, their ability to bring comfort and care to their parents until their end. Everything the future held for them.
They answered the call of their country to serve. They went where they were asked and did what they were asked. Whether they died by drowning while trying to ford a river, died from poor conditions or lack of food and medical attention, died from a flu epidemic fueled by overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, died on the front lines of a battlefield, or merely an accidental death… they answered the call and followed their orders, and we honor their memory.
The posters on the wall share the name and biographical information of each from WWI to present times. There are photographs of every lost soldier from WWII to present.
More than a thousand local men and women who have served in the military are also honored at a nearby table. There are leather bound binders which hold a collection of military photographs, and other service related or biographical information. The scrapbooks also list names of Virginia people who registered their military discharge at the courthouse or were listed in other publications. A small binder contains those Virginians who served in the Civil War, and those lost during that battle.
It will be an ongoing process to continue adding those who have served and will serve in the future. It is hoped the memorial will serve as a reminder to “Always Remember Those Virginians who served their country and those who gave all.”
The Veteran Memorial at the Virginia City Hall will be officially revealed the public at an Open House on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Grants promote ag literacy for Cass-Morgan youth through Agriculture in the Classroom:
The Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) program remains a trusted teacher resource for educating Cass and Morgan County children about connections to agriculture. This week the program received funding to continue classroom lessons thanks to IAA Foundation grants to local county coalitions.
Eighty-one coalitions serving 88 Illinois counties were awarded $647,000 in grant dollars which can be used for materials, training, educational lessons, and activities taking place during the 2024-2025 school year. “Providing these grants ensures teachers have a local connection and access to engaging resources to integrate accurate agricultural content into their classrooms,” said Kevin Daugherty, education director, IAITC.
Last school year, 634,314 students and 48,380 teachers engaged in ag literacy lessons through IAITC. County AITC programs presented 32,232 individual programs throughout the state, an average of 400 per coalition.
Lisa Hadden, the Ag in the Classroom Coordinator for Cass and Morgan Counties, reports that she visits over 500 fourth-graders every month, and at the end of the school year these same fourth-graders take a field trip to Hadden Farms. She also offers to visit other grades as time allows and provides resources to any educator that requests them. In June, a two-day program for teachers is offered where they may earn 16 Personal Development Units. It is a great opportunity for teachers to learn more ways to integrate agriculture into their classrooms.
County coalition grants are made possible through funding from the IAA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau. The IAA Foundation raises funds for the IAITC program each year, and in addition to county grants, provides funding for Ag Mags, teacher grants, Summer Ag Academies and more.
“Consistent and sustainable funding is key for IAITC to have great results,” said Susan Moore, director, IAA Foundation. “And knowing that so many Illinois students are making stronger connections to agriculture drives our donors to keep making ag literacy a priority, and we are grateful for that.”
Partner organizations of IAITC include Illinois Farm Bureau, Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education, University of Illinois Extension, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Midwest Dairy Association, Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
In addition, annual donors include agribusiness partners and individuals with an interest in supporting the future of agriculture. For information on how individuals can contribute, or to view a listing of all major donors, visit www.iaafoundation.org. For information on IAITC, visit www.agintheclassroom.org.
Author event with Katherine Vaz on her book, ‘Above the Salt’:
This event will be held on November 19 at 6 p.m. at the Jacksonville Public Library. Admission is free.
Join the Jacksonville Public Library in welcoming Katherine Vaz for her homecoming. She was a Visiting Writer at Illinois College while researching her book, “Above the Salt,” a Civil War story set large in Jacksonville, Illinois, about the true immigration of Portuguese Protestants to our community. Her novel was a People Magazine Book of the Week, a Top Three Good Morning America Pick, and a Most Anticipated Fall Book from Goodreads.
She received a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships and is a former Briggs-Copeland Fellow in Fiction at Harvard. She is the first Portuguese American to have her work recorded for the Archives of the Library of Congress (Hispanic Division).
Vaz will present a lively slideshow on her research, which includes many item from Jacksonville and Springfield. She will answer questions and sign books after her presentation.
The Jacksonville Public Library is located at 201 W. College Ave. Find out more at www.jaxpl.org. The library can be reached via 217-243-5435 or ajones@jaxpl.org.
Eric Jokisch to present about playing in the Korean Baseball Organization on November 6:
What is it like to live and play professional baseball in South Korea? Eric Jokisch, a native of Virginia, Illinois, will share his experiences and observations about pitching in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO). He will compare playing in Korea with playing Major League Baseball (MLB).
Jokisch’s program is part of the West Central Illinois Council on World Affairs 2024-2025 series and will be held on Wednesday, November 6 at 7 p.m. in the Burrus Seed Company meeting room, 200 Capitol Way in Jacksonville. There is no charge for attending the program. Jokisch will answer questions throughout his presentation.
In 2010, the Chicago Cubs selected Jokisch in the 11th round of the MLB draft as a left-handed pitcher. He played in the Cubs organization 2011-2014. On September 7, 2014, Jokisch made his MLB debut for the Cubs. While in the MLB, Jokisch pitched 14.1 innings, recorded 10 strikeouts, and had a 1.88 ERA. After playing with several other MLB organizations, he joined the KBO and pitched for the Kiwoom Heros 2019-2023. During the 2024 season, Jokisch played with the NC Dinos.
Jokisch was a 2019 All-Star in the KBO. He had the lowest league ERA in 2020 and was the 2021 league leader in wins. During his time in Korea, Jokisch pitched 812 innings, had 624 strikeouts, 59 wins, and a career ERA of 2.99.
Jokisch graduated valedictorian from Virginia High School in 2007. He attended Northwestern University and was selected 2010 1st team All-Big Ten in baseball. Jokisch pitched a no-hitter on August 6, 2013, as a member of the AA Tennessee Smokies in the Cubs minor league organization.
The West Central Illinois Council on World Affairs has been sponsoring programs in the Jacksonville community regularly since its incorporation in 1982.
Gaslight Square residents send their thanks:
About 18 senior citizens living at Gaslight Square in Jacksonville gathered recently for a fall weenie roast. The group wishes to thank the Olive Branch Cafe for donated food for the gathering. Additionally, the group thanks Steve Morninghi for playing guitar for them.
Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Brings Spirit Fowl 2024 Ultimate Frisbee Tournament:
The Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is excited to welcome the “Spirit Fowl Ultimate Frisbee Tournament” in partnership with Illinois Ultimate. This high-energy competition will feature 4-6 teams across the region, showcasing skill, teamwork and sportsmanship at Community Park on November 29 from noon-5 p.m.
This event aims to bring both experienced players and newcomers together for a dynamic day of play. Teams will compete through “pool rounds” and “bracket matches” with mixed-gender participation required. With an emphasis on inclusivity, the “Buddy Protocol” ensures balanced team compositions and an engaging experience for all.
Participants and spectators alike can expect a vibrant atmosphere, supporting Jacksonville’s thriving sports scene.
Registration is open now through Illinois Ultimate’s official channels.
For more information, or register: https://illinoisultimate.org/e/spirit-fowl-jacksonville-il-2024.
