On Tuesday, March 23, City Council appointed a 7-member Urban Forestry Board to assist Council and Staff with forestry and landscaping issues in Blue Island.

A first event to watch for is the planting of a tree in honor of Arbor Day. This will be an important step in getting Blue Island recognized and designated as a Tree City, USA. Forestry Board members in cooperation with the Community Development Department and Public Works will be planning and coordinating this event for April.

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Blue Island residents can now check in to see the latest 2010 Census mail participation rate information. From now through May 3, 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau will publish daily mail participation rate data in the form of maps and tables at 2010census.gov. The data are tabulated based on the number of forms that are mailed back.

We challenge Blue Islanders to top our Census 2000 mail participation rate. You only have a few short weeks to complete and return your census form, so please take 10 minutes and fill it out. We are already lagging behind neighboring communities, with among the lowest rates in the area. Filling out and mailing back a census form has great implications. Data collected during the 2010 Census will provide critical information about who we are as a community and identify our needs for the future.

Census data are used to reapportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and for the subsequent redistricting of state and local governments. Census data also help to determine how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to tribal, state and local governments to fund services for people in need. Data from the 2010 Census will help establish locations for hospitals, senior centers and facilities for people with disabilities. Data will also help forecast transportation needs, such as new roads and public transit options.

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The City of Blue Island, along with co-sponsors Blue Island American Legion Post 50 and MetroSouth Hospital, invite all Veterans to our second annual expo.

The Veterans Expo will be held at the City Council Chambers, 2434 Vermont Street on April 10th from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. An all-American lunch will be served. All Veterans are welcome to find out about benefits due them, and to meet other Veterans.

To learn more contact Jim Reihel at 708-597-4412 or Rita Pacyga at 708-388-5735, or email vet_info_expo@comcast.net with any questions.

The following will be on hand with information and giveaways:
American Legion Post 50
City of Blue Island
MetroSouth Hospital
American Legion Dept. of Illinois Service Officer
American Legion, 8th District
Veteran Resource Center
Moraine Valley Community College
Illinois Dept. of Veteran Affairs
Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetary
Veterans Outreach Program of Illinois
Hines Hospital
Seniors Suites
Kaplan University
Illinois Dept. of Employment Security
American Legion Riders, Post 991
Blue Island Public Library
DeVry Unversity

Blue Islanders Encouraged to Complete and Mail-Back 2010 Census Form

Today, the U.S. Census Bureau distributed the 2010 Census to more than 130 million addresses across the nation. Mandated by the U.S. Constitution and conducted every 10 years, the census counts every man, woman and child. Mailing back the census form is the easiest way to participate in the 2010 Census, and every household should complete and mail back the form upon receipt.

“The 2010 Census is important to our community’s future. The data gathered will determine funding for vital local services as well as representation at all levels of government,” said Mayor Donald E. Peloquin. “To ensure an accurate count, join me in taking 10 minutes to fill out the form and mail it back.”

Households served by the United States Postal Service will receive their forms in March 2010. Census workers will hand-deliver forms through April 2010 in all other areas. One of the shortest census forms in U.S. Census history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete.

Every person living in the residence, both relatives and nonrelatives, should be included on the form. People should be counted in the residence where they live and sleep most of the time.

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The Blue Island Police Department is proud to announce that the City’s tobacco retailers were in 100% compliance during a recent tobacco enforcement campaign. The Police Department, under close supervision of Detectives, sent covert minors into tobacco selling establishments and the minors attempted to purchase tobacco products. Every establishment licensed to sell over the counter tobacco products was targeted. Every business declined to sell the tobacco products to minors.

The Police Department’s tobacco enforcement program is funded by a grant from the Illinois Liquor Control Commission and encompasses both education and enforcement. Research indicates that the majority of adolescent smokers report having purchased their own cigarettes despite the existence of legislation forbidding this. The City of Blue Island is proud of its business community’s commitment to protect minors from the dangers of tobacco products.