Urbana home to the new Night Market at the Square

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

A shopper browses earrings at a booth at the Night Market at the Square in the southeast lot at Lincoln Square Mall. Market attendees enjoyed a variety of offerings including chocolates, ice cream, custom pork rinds, and popcorn from vendors, while Samba Soul provided live music entertainment at the free event on Thursday. Night Markets will be held every Thursday for the next five weeks, showcasing local artists, craftsmen, and food vendors. Next week, Panc8s will be the featured band for the event, which is sponsored by The Market and the Urbana Arts and Culture.

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Area libraries receive grant money from the state

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

The Urbana Free Library to receive over $56K to improver technology infrastructure through a Public Library Per Capita Grant from the state.

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SNS - Libraries in Champaign, Urbana, and Oakwood in the 52nd Senate District will receive a combined $196,330 in grants to improve resources for patrons and programming.

Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias announced this week that the Champaign Public Library would receive $131,128 and the Urbana Free Library would receive $56,928. The Oakwood would receive $8,274 in funding from the state. Danville, Rantoul, and Westville would also be recipients of grant money.

The grants were distributed statewide to assist libraries most in need of upgrading their technology infrastructure.

“I am truly delighted by the additional funding allocated to enhance library technology and accessibility here in our home of Champaign-Urbana, made possible by the recent budget I supported this Spring,” said State Representative Carol Ammons (103rd District—Urbana). “Both the Champaign Public Library and Urbana Free Library will receive just over $180,000, which will enrich library experiences and services for community members of all ages, young and old. Literacy unlocks wonder and curiosity in all of us, and I’m pleased that this funding will become a reality for my community.”

Libraries in the district serve over 185,000 people.

“Libraries throughout the state must have the resources and financial support they need to provide high-quality materials and programming to Illinois residents,” Giannoulias said. “Libraries serve as centers for lifelong learning and are critical to providing opportunities for children and adults to enrich their lives.”

The Public Library Per Capita Grants are awarded annually to support local public library services. This year, public libraries received just under $1.50 per person in their service area. Public libraries can use this funding for operational needs, including purchasing materials for their library collections and making capital improvements to their facilities.

Under the new technology grant initiative, eligible public libraries were determined by a review of their local tax base in comparison to the population that is served and also the poverty level of the community.

"Libraries are more than just a place for books—they offer engaging programs and are essential for learning and success at every stage of life," said State Senator Paul Faraci (52nd District—Champaign). "By investing in our libraries, we're investing in our students, adult learners, and the entire community."

Libraries have a two-year window to utilize technology grants for various purposes. These include acquiring hardware and software, expanding online collections and e-resources, purchasing digital devices and mobile apps, enhancing Wi-Fi capacity and internet accessibility, implementing patron self-checkouts, ensuring ADA compliance for library websites, and procuring adaptive technologies to meet the service needs of individuals with disabilities.

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Keeping children out of harms way, firearm safety begins at home

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Approximately 40% of U.S. households with children have firearms, of which 15% stored at least one firearm loaded and unlocked

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StatePoint Media - Firearm violence has become the leading killer of children and young adults under 24, surpassing deaths from vehicle collisions since 2017. And while daily headlines emphasize news of mass shootings, most firearms-related deaths and injuries are preventable and occur in a familiar place -- at home.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is not only calling attention to the sobering statistics, but is also offering tools for families, communities and governmental entities to help prevent gun violence. Parents can learn more at HealthyChildren.org.

Photo: Mike Gunner/Pixabay

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Approximately 40% of U.S. households with children have firearms, of which 15% stored at least one firearm loaded and unlocked, the storage method with the highest risk.

“Firearms are pervasive in America, but we do have reason for hope,” said Dr. Lois K. Lee, a pediatric emergency medicine physician who specializes in injury prevention. “Research has revealed effective ways to prevent or reduce the risks of harm, just as our country did to improve motor vehicle safety. This is a public health epidemic that we can do something about, through a combination of regulation, legislation, education and individual steps like securely storing firearms in the home.”

Pediatric practitioners are encouraged to counsel families, offer mental health screenings and promote secure firearm storage as part of routine visits. As with other consumer products, the AAP supports regulating firearms for safety and notes that national requirements could be established for safe storage, training, licensing, insurance coverage and registration.

State extreme risk protection order laws, also known as “red flag laws,” which prohibit individuals at risk of harming themselves or others from purchasing or owning a firearm by a court order, are also becoming more common.

Evidence shows that the risk of injury or death is greatly reduced when firearms are securely stored, unloaded and locked, with the ammunition locked in a separate place that youth can’t access.

Unfortunately, 40% of U.S. households with children have firearms, of which 15% are stored in the least secure way. One study demonstrated that if 20% of parents who currently store their firearms unlocked instead stored their firearms and ammunition locked away separately, there would be an estimated decrease of up to 122 pediatric firearm-related fatalities and 201 injuries annually nationwide.

Because having firearms at home substantially increases the risk of suicide, homicide and unintentional shootings, the AAP also suggests that families consider storing firearms outside the home completely.

Just this week, a 14-year-old suspect took a weapon given to him as a gift from his father to school and open fired, killing four people.

“Even when they’ve been trained not to touch firearms, we know that young children are curious and will often pick up a firearm–and even pull the trigger–if they find it,” Dr. Lee said. “Make sure, wherever your child is going this summer for playdates and vacation–including the homes of relatives–that you ask about how firearms are secured in the home.

“You can frame this as a safety conversation and talk about food allergies and car seats, and then ask about how firearms are stored. But also think about other options if you have concerns–perhaps offer to meet at a park or museum, or invite their child over to your home to play.”

Between 2015 and 2022, there were at least 2,802 unintentional shootings by children age 17 and younger. These resulted in 1,083 deaths and 1,815 nonfatal firearm injuries, nearly all among other kids. And at least 895 preschoolers and toddlers found a firearm and unintentionally shot themselves or someone else during this time.

“Ultimately, we will need a multipronged approach to substantially decrease firearm injuries and deaths among U.S. youth,” Dr. Lee said. “This is a public health epidemic that requires urgent, deliberative action. We must do better–our children deserve it.”

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Catching up, new device touted to improve pandemic learning loss

Some children experienced an academic and developmental delay due to the pandemic. A new device from Animal Island Learning Adventure assists with improving literacy, problem solving, and creativity in young children.

Thomas G./Pixabay

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NewsUSA - A year after the coronavirus pandemic turned education upside down, educators and parents are assessing learning loss and the need to help young children get on track and meet milestones they may have missed because of closed or limited daycare centers and preschools.

Many preschoolers missed out on not only academic development, but also social/emotional education with opportunities for engagement and support.

The Animal Island Learning Adventure (AILA) Sit & Play interactive device offers a unique and effective solution to the challenges of promoting early childhood development at home and in the daycare or preschool setting.

AILA is a hands-free device designed as an early education tool for children ages 12 months and older to build the skills they need to proceed to school. The content is attentive, supportive, and responsive; it meets children where they are, and gets them where they need to be. The curriculum includes literacy, numeracy, problem solving, story time, collaboration, communication, creativity, and music, and addresses social as well as academic development. Children are engaged in active, not passive, screen time.

"What is really rewarding is to impact people's lives in education early on," says Helen Fu Thomas, CEO of DMAI, Inc.

"Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, AILA helped tens of thousands of American households and many daycare centers educate the toddlers and preschoolers effectively," she adds. AILA is the no. 1 New Release on Amazon in the Toddler Electronic Learning System category.

Daycare providers can use AILA as a simple solution to help combat pandemic learning loss.

"I work with inner-city kids from middle- and low-income families," says Maria Benjamin, director of the Next Generation Learning Center in Richmond, VA. "These families deserve the best. I believe they can have a promising beginning and a good foundation of learning, and I'm very thankful they can get a head start with AILA."

AILA has no advertising or inappropriate content, and requires no subscription fees. An accompanying app lets parents set content and check in on their child's progress and activities remotely.

Visit animalisland.us for more information and for a special offer on AILA Sit and Play.

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It doesn't get any more DeLIXcious than a Night Market at the Square

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Jill Van Voorst, owner of DeLIXcious, talks to customers about her custom-made chocolates at the Night Market at the Square. The Market teamed up with Urbana Arts and Culture to create a new weekly outdoor event from 6 - 9 pm until October 10. While produce vendors will be limited weekly, the event features arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, snack booths, and live music starting at 7 pm every Thursday. Works of art, DeLIXcious' selection included Milk Chocolate Hazelnut, Peanutbutter Salted Caramel, Vanilla Buttercream, Expresso Ganache, and Salted Caramels. The booth will return in two weeks on Thursday, September 19.

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Samba Soul take the stage at Urbana's Night Market

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Vivian Felicio performs with Samba Soul at Urbana's first Night Market at the Square at Lincoln Square Mall Thursday evening. Playing select classical Brazilian and contemporary songs from Elis Regina, Joao Gilberto, and other popular Brazilian musical artists, the five-member band entertained over a thousand shoppers and area residents, enjoying the mild weather and outdoor market. In addition to Felicio, the band includes George Turner on guitar, bass player Armand Beaudoin, saxophone player Chip McNeil, and the talented Ricardo Flores on drums. Night Markets will be held every Thursday for the next five weeks. The market will include live music, food trucks, and vendors offering food and artwork. Next week's entertainment features Panc8s.

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