Prairieland United Way launches “100 Kids, 100 New Readers”
Join us for Imagination Library Enrollment Day. Prairieland United Way invites families across its four-county service area to celebrate the joy of reading on Friday, September 25, with a goal of enrolling 100 local children in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in one day.
The special event, “100 Kids, 100 New Readers,” is designed to raise awareness of the free early literacy program and encourage families to enroll their young children.
Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, enrolled children receive a free, age-appropriate book delivered directly to their home every month, from birth until their fifth birthday. There is no cost to participating families.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up surrounded by books,” said Karen Walker, executive director of Prairieland United Way. “The Imagination Library makes that opportunity incredibly simple. A child can receive a new book in the mail every month, and families can build a home library, one book at a time. We want September 25 to be a day when our community comes together to put even more books into the hands of local children.”
Prairieland United Way partnered with Bound to Stay Bound Books Foundation to launch the local Imagination Library program in 2024 to help increase access to books and encourage a love of reading among young children. The program has reached approximately 45% of the eligible population since its first year, demonstrating the community’s interest in providing children with early literacy opportunities.
Community members can help by:
- Sharing information about the program with parents, grandparents, caregivers, childcare providers and others.
- Encouraging families to participate in the September 25 enrollment day.
- Helping spread the word on social media using “100 Kids, 100 New Readers.”
“Sometimes something as simple as putting a book in a child’s hands can make a lasting difference,” Walker said. “We hope families will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and that our entire community will help us reach our goal.”
Enrollment information and additional details about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library are available through Prairieland United Way. Contact them at 217-245-4557.
Jacksonville Area Museum community art project open to the public Saturday
One hundred eight-by-eight-inch canvases created by area artists and assembled into one large work of art will debut to the public on Saturday, September 19 at the Jacksonville Area Museum. The completed work of art is part of a larger exhibit titled “The Geography of Memory: Jacksonville in Art,” also opening that day, which will highlight artwork of Jacksonville by Jacksonville area residents.
The individual canvases came with a small square image that depicts a piece of a larger image. Participating artists were asked to interpret the image they were given on their individual canvases, which will be combined with the 99 other canvases to reveal an image celebrating the Jacksonville area. Each artist worked only on one-one hundredth of the finished piece of art without knowing what the final, larger image depicts. That larger image will reveal itself only after the 100 individual canvasses are assembled side by side.
“Imagine a checkerboard where each square is an individual work of art, and when placed together on the board those squares make a much bigger and recognizable work of art,” said Jacksonville Area Museum board member and event coordinator Marcy Jones. “This has been a very enjoyable process, and we invite the pubic to see the end result as well as dozens of other pieces of locally-produced art starting on Saturday, September 19.”
The canvasses will be assembled for participating artists during a private reception on Friday, September 18.
“The Geography of Memory: Jacksonville in Art” may be seen at the Jacksonville Area Museum, located at 300 E. State Street. The museum is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit jacksonvilleareamuseum.org or connect with the Jacksonville Area Museum on Facebook for more information or to find out how to become a museum member or volunteer.
Rotary Club invites community to 15th annual Oktoberfest
The Rotary Club of Jacksonville invites businesses, organizations, groups and individuals to participate in its 15th annual Oktoberfest fundraiser.
The event will take place at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Jacksonville on Saturday, September 19, from noon to 7 p.m.
The celebration of “all things German” will kick off at 12:30 p.m. with a traditional Willkommen (welcome) ceremony and “Tapping of the Kegs.”
The day will be jam-packed with entertainment. Enjoy live music provided by Tony Blazonczyk’s New Phase polka band and local favorite band, Trio DeGroove.
Oktoberfest Committee Chair Kim Brogdon said, “This is a family friendly event.
There will be a Kids’ Korner with lots of fun, free activities from 1-6 p.m. Face painting will be available from 2-4 p.m. (no cost, but donations accepted). Musical chairs will take place in front of the stage at 2:30. Signups begin at 1:30, with just 10 spots available. Ribbons will be awarded to first, second and third place. Other free games will be available from 1-6 p.m. for kids to play with friends and family, including hillbilly golf, washers, cornhole, yard Yahtzee and jumbo Jenga.”
Games, activities and contests for adults will occur throughout the day, including a Toss for Autism bags tournament, a keg toss contest, stein endurance (AKA mug-holding) contest, and — new this year — a yodeling contest. And it wouldn’t be Oktoberfest without the ever-popular dachshund races.
A variety of German beers, wines and wine slushies will be available by the glass (or stein) and delicious German-themed food will be served.
Tickets ($4 in advance or $5 at the gate) are available now from any Rotarian.
Rotary President Craig Albers said, “Thanks SO much to the major sponsors of our Rotary Club of Jacksonville Oktoberfest: Village of South Jacksonville, Rabbi Rob and Lauren Thomas, Bob Ridings Westown – Jacksonville, and Grojean Insurance Agency, Inc. We deeply appreciate the support of these major sponsors and ALL of our sponsors.”
Albers continued, “Visit jacksonvillerotary.org/oktoberfest for the full schedule and event information. You can also Like and Follow our Oktoberfest event and “Oktoberfest – Rotary Club of Jacksonville, IL” page to get all the latest updates on our September 19 Oktoberfest. Following that page will allow you to see up-to-the-minute photos of our event throughout the day.”
JMH security officer receives Lifesaver Award
Trevor Huffman, president and CEO of Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, presented Memorial Health Security officer Brenten Buchanan with a Lifesaver Award for his quick response when a baby was locked inside a vehicle accidentally during nearly 100-degree heat.
“Brenten showed remarkable calm in a scary situation, and we are thankful for his quick response that most likely saved a child’s life,” Huffman said.
On Aug. 31, Buchanan arrived within minutes of being dispatched and used a special tool to unlock the vehicle, which was located in a hospital parking lot.
He checked the baby’s breathing before helping the mother and child get inside the hospital, where the baby was taken to the Emergency Department for evaluation. Mother and baby later returned home.
Buchanan has worked at JMH for ten years, the first two with Environmental Services and the last eight with Security. He was grateful for training on how to handle stressful situations without freezing up.
“It was nerve-wracking,” Buchanan said. “But I didn’t let it stop me from my main objective coming out of the office, which was to get that baby out of the car, breathing and OK.”
Jacksonville Area Museum annual membership drive underway
The Jacksonville Area Museum’s five-year anniversary is coming up in September, and the museum has launched its annual membership drive to make sure the not-for-profit institution can remain open for many more years to come.
Museum members receive advance viewing of new and traveling exhibits, the first chance at admission for ticketed and special events, and members-only programs. Annual membership levels include Student, $25; Individual Sustaining, $45; Silver for families or couples, $60; Gold, $75; and Platinum, $100. Annual business membership levels include Sustaining, $150; Silver, $250; Gold, $350; and Platinum, $500. Gold and Platinum members in both the individual and business categories will receive recognition on the museum’s donor wall.
A complete membership application is available at jacksonvilleareamuseum.org; click on “donate & support,” and then click on the membership form tab.
The Jacksonville Area Museum uses original artifacts, storytelling exhibits and the building itself, as well as items from the MacMurray College Foundation and Alumni Association collection, to show people of all ages and backgrounds why the Jacksonville community has been and continues to be one-of-a-kind.
The museum is located in the old Post Office building at 301 E. State St. in Jacksonville, and its regular schedule is Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. There is no admission fee but a donation of $5 is suggested to keep the museum operating.
Visit jacksonvilleareamuseum.org or connect with the Jacksonville Area Museum on Facebook for more information or to find out how to become a museum member or volunteer.
Illinois College announces47th season of Fine Arts Series
The 2026-2027 Fine Arts Series brings nationally and internationally recognized performers to Jacksonville for a season of jazz, vocal music, storytelling, early music and more.
Illinois College will celebrate the 47th season of its Fine Arts Series with a diverse lineup of performances featuring nationally and internationally recognized artists, family-friendly programming and the return of the admission-free Engelbach-Hart Music Festival.
The season opens Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in Rammelkamp Chapel with Stella Cole, a Central Illinois native and rising vocal star known for her interpretations of the Great American Songbook. Now based in New York City, Cole brings a fresh approach to classic standards through expressive storytelling and a style that combines the traditions of jazz and popular song.
Before the opening concert, guests are invited to celebrate the start of the season with cookies on the quad in front of Rammelkamp Chapel beginning at 6 p.m.
The Fine Arts Series’ popular Family Night Series returns Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 6:30 p.m. with Tales at Twilight on the Historic Upper Quad. Jacksonville musician and storyteller Mike Anderson ’74 will be joined by St. Louis storytellers Sherry and Bobby Norfolk for an evening of spooky seasonal tales. Audience members will rotate between three campus locations to hear each storyteller. Adult admission for the family program is $5, while students and children are admitted free.
The Engelbach-Hart Music Festival returns Nov. 6-8 with three concerts offered free to the community. CreArtBox, a New York-based chamber music and multimedia ensemble, will open the festival Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. The ensemble combines classical and contemporary repertoire with visual art, stage design and spatial storytelling to create immersive concert experiences.
The festival continues Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. with the annual Illinois College Faculty Collage Concert, showcasing the talents of IC music faculty. The weekend concludes Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. with The Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project, featuring Afro-Cuban rhythms, improvisation and Latin jazz.
The Fine Arts Series continues in the spring semester with the return of Istanpitta on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m. The early music ensemble performs Medieval and early Renaissance repertoire on historically informed instruments, including vielle, recorder, lute, harp and hand percussion.
On Friday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m., internationally acclaimed organist David Jonies will perform in Rammelkamp Chapel. Jonies serves as director of music and organist at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago and has performed at cathedrals, concert halls and festivals throughout Europe, Asia and North America.
The season continues Saturday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. with ~Nois Saxophone Quartet, one of the country’s premier
contemporary saxophone ensembles. The program will feature a range of works written for the ensemble as well as the world premiere of a new piece by Illinois College Professor Emeritus of Music Timothy Kramer.
The 47th season concludes Sunday, April 4, at 4 p.m. with Lyyra, an all-women vocal ensemble from The VOCES8 Foundation. The ensemble performs music spanning centuries and traditions, from choral works and folk-inspired repertoire to contemporary compositions and new arrangements.
Adult season tickets are available for $70, a $35 savings over purchasing tickets individually. Adult tickets to individual concerts are $20, except for Tales at Twilight, when adult admission is $5. Students of all ages and children are admitted free of charge to all Fine Arts Series concerts.
For more information, to purchase season or individual tickets, or to make a donation to support the Fine Arts Series, contact Jennifer Phebus ’07 at 217-245-3192 or jennifer.phebus@ic.edu. Additional information is available at ic.edu/fas.
JMH Auxiliary to host Fall Fling Fundraiser Sept. 30
The Jacksonville Memorial Hospital Auxiliary will host its annual Fall Fling fundraiser, Harvest Rays & Brighter Days: Gathering to Shine Even Brighter, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Twisted Tree Music Hall, 1601 E. Morton Ave., Jacksonville.
The casual fall evening will feature a tasting menu curated by local chefs paired with a wine tasting experience. Guests will also enjoy live music by Jeff Newman, a fall centerpiece silent auction, a commemorative hand-painted glass, a cash bar and a wine pull.
Proceeds from the event will be used to improve the overall patient experience at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, including support of the hospital’s newly implemented Sunshine Cart program. Volunteers visit patient rooms with the Sunshine Cart offering complimentary comfort items for rest, relaxation and emotional care to make their stay easier.
“To support this annual fundraiser is to support our community hospital, which is so vital,” said Pat Manker, president of the JMH Auxiliary.
The Jacksonville Memorial Hospital Auxiliary has long supported initiatives that enhance patient care and comfort. Funds raised through Fall Fling will help continue those efforts while creating opportunities for community members to connect and give back.
Happy Trails 5K Trail Run to benefit WIYC
A scenic Oct. 10 fundraiser invites runners and walkers to enjoy the woods along Lake Jacksonville.
Western Illinois Youth Camp will host the Happy Trails 5K Trail Run on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at the camp, 2244 4-H Club Lane in Jacksonville. The event begins at 9 a.m. and welcomes runners, walkers, families and outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels.
The scenic 5K course will guide participants through the camp’s wooded trails and along Lake Jacksonville, combining natural terrain, fresh air and waterfront views. Whether participants are pursuing a personal best or enjoying the route at a relaxed pace, the event is designed to provide a welcoming outdoor experience from start to finish.
Proceeds from the event will support Western Illinois Youth Camp and help sustain day and overnight camp opportunities for young people throughout the area. Contributions help the camp continue providing an outdoor setting where campers can build friendships, learn new skills and create lasting memories.
Registration is $30 per participant. Those who register by Oct. 1 will receive an event T-shirt. Participants can register and find additional event information at wiyc.net. Please direct questions to contactourcamp@gmail.com.
Community members are invited to lace up, hit the dirt and spend a fall morning supporting local youth. Participation in the Happy Trails 5K will directly contribute to meaningful camp experiences while bringing runners and walkers together in a scenic setting.
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Illinois College mechanical engineering degree program earns accreditation
Illinois College’s bachelor’s degree program in mechanical engineering has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, a nonprofit, ISO 9001-certified quality assurance organization.
Through the accreditation of academic programs, recognition of credentials and assessment of student learning, ABET supports excellence in education worldwide.
ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.
“ABET is internationally recognized for having rigorous engineering standards,” said Josiah Kunz ’12, assistant professor of physics and engineering.
“Accreditation recognizes the exceptional talent of our students, and indeed Illinois College as a whole. A big part of that was demonstrating that our students are ready for the engineering industry. For example, we have various alumni at NASA, as leaders in the energy sector, and as CEOs of their own companies.”
Sought worldwide, ABET’s voluntary peer-review process is highly respected because it adds critical value to academic programs in the technical disciplines, where quality, precision and safety are of the utmost importance.
Developed by technical professionals from ABET’s member societies, ABET criteria focus on what students experience and learn.
ABET accreditation reviews look at program curricula, faculty, facilities and institutional support and are conducted by teams of highly skilled professionals from industry, academia and government, with expertise in the ABET disciplines.
ABET currently accredits 4,773 programs at 930 colleges and universities in 41 countries and areas as of Oct. 1, 2024.
More information about ABET, its member societies and the accreditation criteria used to evaluate programs can be found at abet.org.
