The Blue Island FORUM, Blue Island Historical Society, the Historic Preservation Commission, and City of Blue Island are once again asking neighbors and visitors to nominate Blue Island’s best homes and businesses for the annual Cavalcade of Pride awards.

This year the awards celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Olde Western Historic District and the Historic Preservation Commission – that’s thirty years of landmarks!

Homes, apartments, gardens, businesses, and even whole blocks are eligible for a Cavalcade award! So don’t delay, download this form and nominate today!! Visit our Cavalcade page for photos from past winners.

Homeowners: are you working with certified contractors? Tradesmen: want to be certified, but couldn’t afford the costly training?

Federal Law requires those working on homes built before 1978 to be certified for lead-safe practices. As a service to the local trades, the City of Blue Island in partnership with OAI, Inc.will be hosting a Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Certification course. A special class has been organized in Blue Island:

Saturday, July 23
8:00am-5:00pm
City Hall East Annex
2434 Vermont Street
Blue Island, IL 60406

Contractors are required by Federal law to be RRP Certified when working on any building that may contain lead.  Given the age of Blue Island’s housing stock, this is 90% of our homes!  Unfortunately, the cost of this certification is often out of reach for local craftsmen.  Through a grant, OAI will be able to provide it at a substantial discount, only $65.

Registration will be handled by Wendy Chan (Deep Earth Education Projects/OAI, Inc.).  Download the registration form here and return to Wendy Chan - you’ll be sent a confirmation email with an invoice and a link to pay via credit card.  Credit card payments will be made to Deep Earth Education Projects via the online invoicing system. If the class is already full, we will give you a call regarding an alternate date.

Your Help is Needed to Protect Blue Island’s Ash Trees

Volunteers Needed to Protect Our Ash Trees

Blue Island’s Urban Forestry Board is looking for volunteers to help with a city-wide inventory of our Ash trees. No experience needed.

When: July 23-24, 2011
Where: Throughout Blue Island
Contact: Perry Recker

What will volunteers do?

Volunteers will be assigned to work in teams of 2 – 4 people with a trained leader from the Forestry Board.  Ash trees will be identified on a block by block basis starting in various areas  of the city. It is expected that each team should be able to cover 2 to 4 blocks in 2hrs.

For additional details, including schedule… (more…)