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.

Stay up-to-date with the Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail (there’s a meeting next week!) or watch this video featuring Steve Buchtel.

City offices will reopen at their regular time on Tuesday, February 16th.

The City of Blue Island wishes you a safe holiday weekend.

More than 100 MetroSouth Medical Center staffers tossed off their sterile booties, donned cowboy boots and line danced to the tune “Achy, Breaky Heart,” made famous by Billy Ray Cyrus. The un-rehearsed electric slide dancing and freestyle moves were done to promote the hospital’s “Know Your Numbers by Heart” campaign to raise awareness of heart disease prevention.

The hospital’s “Know Your Numbers by Heart” campaign kicks off Saturday, February 6, from 10am to 1pm with an open-to-the-public event and free heart screenings in the lobby of the hospital, located at 12935 Gregory Street. The event features heart-healthy recipes from south side restaurants, and appearances from TV celebrities and local VIPs who will share their own heart numbers. More free screenings are also scheduled at various locations on the southside during February. To register, call 708-489-7927. For a complete list of screenings, visit www.metrosouthmedicalcenter.com.

“With heart disease still the number one cause of death in this country, our hospital wanted to create awareness for this growing cause for concern,” explains Dr. Robert Iaffaldano, MetroSouth Medical Center interventional cardiologist. “We put our hearts on the line every day taking care of patients and hopefully this video will encourage even just one person to get a heart screening.”

The video was shot in-house in one day and features employees from all departments in the hospital. It includes a “howdy” cameo by MetroSouth Medical Center CEO Dr. Enrique Beckmann, toe-tapping cardiologists, patients who wanted to show off their country western steps and a nurse twirling a stethoscope like a lasso.
The three-minute “Red Heart Dance” video has been uploaded to YouTube and is posted on the hospital’s website.

An Amendment to the Environmental Assessment can be viewed online at http://www.dot.il.gov/desenv/env.html#I294.

Click Here to download the Notice of Availability and Public Meeting from IDOT.

The Blue Island Public Library is hosting a Remembering MLK event at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Christ Memorial United Church of Christ, 2440 York St.  Writer, actor and social satirist Aaron Freeman will headline an event honoring the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.  Freeman, who also appears on National Public Radio and PBS, will read selections from King’s speeches. The Advocate Church Music Ministry will perform. A reception will follow. The event is free, but reservations are requested. Information: (708) 388-1078, Ext. 30.

A great way to mark this holiday is to volunteer in your community – seek small ways to make a difference. There are many opportunities all around. Sites like Serve.gov or VolunteerMatch provide a place to search, or pick up the latest issue of StreetWise, which features a guide to non-profits, many of them in our area. Ask your churches, your hospitals (see this article about a Doctor at MetroSouth making a difference in Haiti), your schools… you’ll never know how good you feel about it until you try it!

From left to right: Mike Olsen, Windjammer Marina Owner; Ken Pohlman, Commodore, Temulac Boat Club; Bill Umgelder, Vice Commodore, Temulac Boat Club and; Pam Frasor, Blue Island City Clerk.

Members of the Temulac Boat Club in cooperation with the Windjammer Marina in Chicago collected toys before the holidays and donated them to Angel’s Touch in Blue Island.  The Temulac Boat Club meets at the Windjammer Marina and helps Blue Island with our Light Up the River Event and collegiate rowing regattas!  Thank you Temulac Boat Club and the Windjammer Marina!

P.S.  You don’t even need to own a boat to become a member of the Temulac Boat Club or to visit the Windjammer Marina!  To find out more visit www.temulac.com.

By participating in the census, you can help create a better future for you and those important to you. Complete and return your form when it arrives. To learn more, visit 2010census.gov.

By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure & are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.

Required once every 10 years by the U.S. Constitution, the census counts everyone living in the United States, both citizens and noncitizens. Census data are used to reapportion the U.S. House of Representatives, re-district each state and determine the distribution of the Electoral College. Census data also directly affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to state, local and tribal governments. Census data are critical in determining locations for new hospitals, improving schools, building new roads, expanding public transportation options, creating new maps for emergency responders and much more.

2010 Litho from CARR home.garden.holiday

Fireworks at our 2009 Rock-Around-the Clock New Year’s Eve Celebration were made possible by generous donations from:

Ken Young Food Distributors; G&W Electric; Korbakes Liquors; Beggar’s Pizza; Double Play Saloon; Fraternal Order of Eagles #1332;    Restorante Tenochtitlan; the Blue Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the Addison-Miller Family;  Mail Managers (the Brienzo Family);  Greg Lochow (Franklin Framing);  Three Sister’s Antiques Mall  (the Murphy Family); the McDermott Family; the Poulsen Family; the Sklom Family;Tom Hawley & Tom Mantel; and Andrew Knoell and Earl Summers.  We are expecting a few additional donations and will update the website as these come in.   A huge thanks to all.

11a-2p – Lunch with Santa; Memorial Park Field House; SOLD OUT! WAY TO GO SANTA!!

12-2p – Children’s Christmas Party, Blue Island Rec Center; Donation

2:30p – Christmas Movies at the Library, Blue Island Public Library; Free

5:30p – Christmas Light Parade Western Ave, Prairie to Grove; Free

6:00p – Friends of the Library Holiday Open House, Blue Island Public Library; Free

6:30-8p – Carriage Rides, Park at York & Western

6:30-8p – Pictures with Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus, Forever Photos 12945 Western

And visit the open houses at our local merchants – don’t forget how important it is to Buy in BI this season!!

Franklin Framing will open at 6:00 with an exhibit of photos of Greece by George Poulos and art by local artists, including Beverly’s Ethel Wirtshafter. Cornerstone Gallery, at 13168 Olde Western has a great show that opens at 7:00. Plus, there will be open houses at Carr Gardens and Flowers by Cathé.