Pressing the right buttons at Urbana Night Market

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Emil "The Button Man" Cobb creates a new button for a customer last Thursday at Urbana's first Night Market at the Square at Lincoln Square Mall Thursday evening. Night Markets will be held every Thursday for the next five weeks in the Southeast parking lot, showcasing local artists, craftsmen, and food vendors. Next week, Panc8s will be the featured band for the event, sponsored by The Market and the Urbana Arts and Culture. Cobb creates photo buttons and keychains on the spot from customer social media feeds or phone albums.

Letters to the Editor

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26.2 mile course is back for the Illinois Marathon

URBANA - Ryan Somerfield grabs a quick drink while running down Washington Avenue while running in the Illinois Half Marathon in 2023. The 26.2-mile race was canceled for a second year last April because of the lack of available law enforcement staffing from Champaign and Urbana to provide course security and traffic management. The marathon is back in the race lineup in two weeks, along with the half marathon, 10K, and 5K race on Friday. Somerfield, from San Francisco, finished 29th overall and 8th in his age division with 141 male runners 25-29. He completed the course in 1:18:41.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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Weather cancellations and schedule changes for Jan. 22

This page will be updated as we receive information from businesses, schools, and event organizers. If your business or organization has a change that you would like to inform the general public, email information to editor@oursentinel.com.

Refresh this page to see the latest updates. Newest updates will appear at the top of the page.

 
Unity's home game against Pontiac put on hold

Rocket senior Raegen Stringer is 6 points away from hitting the career 1000-point mark. It looks like she won't have an opportunity to reach the milestone for a few days. The game is rescheduled for a 7 p.m. tip at the Rocket Center on Wednesday.

Unity Youth Wrestling Club cancels practice tonight

Philo Public Library closed

Tolono Public Library will not open today

The Tolono Public Library is closed today. The digital library is always available at https://tolonolibrary.org/virtual-resources.

World Harvest closing at 2 p.m. today

Tennis center closed on campus

This morning Atkin's Tennis Center announced the indoor courts would be closed for the day due to inclement weather. According to notification emailed today: "This includes all court time reservations (RCT and PCT) and Atkins Clinics. If you pre-registered for a clinic this evening, you will receive a refund."

SJO Fine Arts Booster club meeting postponed

Tonight's meeting for the St. Joseph-Ogden Fine Arts boosters has been pushed back to Thursday at 6 p.m. The monthly meeting will be held in the band room and is open to anyone interested in supporting the art, music, and drama programs at SJO.

Bright Beginnings will not be open due to icy conditions

St. Joseph Library closed due to weather conditions

Blend Spot in St. Joseph closed today

Billy Bob's closed due to weather

Billy Bob's Under the Water Tower in Ogden is closed today due to weather conditions.

Remote Learning Day for St. Joseph Middle School

Red Barn Veterinary Service closed

St. Joseph CCD cancels activities due to weather

All practices and events for students at St. Joseph Middle School have been cancelled. The 7th grade boys basketball regional semifinal has been reschedule for this Wednesday at Hoopeston. Tipoff will be at 6 p.m.

The 7-8th grade volleyball game against Edison Jr. High has not been rescheduled at this time.

No practices or games at SJO

All practices and games at St. Joseph-Ogden for tonight have been cancelled. Per the athletic director, SJO's girls'basketball game at Mattoon will not be made up at a later date.

E-Learning day at St. Joseph-Ogden High School

Due to icy conditions this morning, St. Joseph-Ogden High School will utilize an E-Learning day today. A decision on extracurricular activities and practices is expected at noon today.

Urbana boys basketball came cancelled

Urbana's boys basketball game against the Kays of Kankakee for tonight has been cancelled.

City of Urbana offices closed until Tuesday morning

The City of Urbana will close its regular business offices today, Monday, January 22, 2024, at noon. The business offices will open tomorrow at 10 a.m. when weather conditions are expected to improve.

Oakwood Girls Game Cancelled

Oakwood High School's girls' basketball game scheduled tonight is cancelled. A makeup date to be announced.

Urbana City Council meeting rescheduled

The regular meeting of the Urbana City Council scheduled for Monday, January 22, 2024, at 7 p.m. has been rescheduled due to inclement weather. The rescheduled meeting of the Urbana City Council will be held on Monday, February 5, 2024, at 7 p.m.

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Urbana Arts and Culture Commission seeking new members

URBANA - The City of Urbana is currently accepting applications for new members on the Arts and Culture Commission.

Commissioners typically create an Annual Public Arts Program Plan, making recommendations to the city's mayor, city council, staff, and other groups. They also review proposals from individuals and groups for art displayed in spaces owned and maintained by the City of Urbana.

In addition to seek additional funding, including donations, grants, and other support that furthers public arts programs, the Commission develops programs and outreach activities for the city.

The Commission meets regularly on the second Tuesday of each month at 4:30 pm in the City Council Chambers at 400 S. Vine Street in Urbana. The meetings are open to the public.

Interested Urbana residents can apply by completing the FillableBoardApplication and emailing to vlkrishnan@urbanaillinois.us.

For more information, contact Vivian Krishnan via email at vlkrishnan@urbanaillinois.us or by phone at (217) 328-8265.


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Urbana to host free Shakespearean play at the Boneyard

URBANA - Looking for a classy date-night idea this weekend? The Starling Shakespeare Company will give a free performance of Julius Caesar on Friday, July 21, at the Boneyard Creek Park located next to 25 O'Clock Brewery.

Through a partnership with the Urbana Arts & Culture, the traveling group composed of a cast of just five actors present a 90-minute interpretation of the legendary playwright from Stratford-upon-Avon in the United Kingdom.

The performance looks at the political turmoil of ancient Rome and chronicles the betrayal of Caesar, led by his most-trusted allies.

Tickets must be reserved in advance online here on Event Bright.

Before the show, join the actors for a workshop from 5-6 pm on classical stage combat. The workshop is also free to the public. Participants will learn performance fighting techniques and how to make them realistic for audiences. The class will also stress the safety protocols necessary for choreographing fight scenes.

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CATsNAP benefit raises money to address cat overpopulation and pet healthcare

Elena Negruta and Ingrid Kammin
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
URBANA - Vocalists Elena Negruta and Ingrid Kammin preform a classical piece at the The CATsNAP Benefit Concert on Sunday afternoon at the Rose Bowl Tavern. The three-hour fundraiser also featured performances from the Church Street Ramblers, the Peter Tijerina Quintet, and Tania Arazi Coambs Trio. CATsNAP is a local cat shelter whose mission is to reduce pet overpopulation and improve the welfare of animals in Champaign County. The organization offers referrals for a low income spay/neuter service, assists with pet adoptions, and provides educational material to help pet owners care for their furry family members.
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Cohen Building hosts Holiday Sale & Open House

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C-U Pride Fest Parade Saturday

URBANA -- The annual Champaign-Urbana Pride Fest Parade will be held this Saturday, October 1, starting at 11am in Urbana. The route will start on the corner of Busey and Green Street and head east on Green to downtown Urbana.

Judges for this year's parade are Xander Hazel, Executive Director of the Champaign Center Partnership, long-time local radio personality Diane Ducey, and Berry Stevenson, the Executive Director of the Greater Community AIDS Project. Judges will review entries as they pass from under a tent on the corner of Race and Elm.

This year's awards include the Best Float/Vehicle, Best Marching Group, and an Overall Best of Show. Winners will be announced at the Fair Stage in downtown Urbana at 12:30pm.

Parade route

C-U Pride Fest parade route

The parade route will terminate near downtown Urbana at the Pride Fest Fair, which starts at noon until 4pm. In addition to live entertainment, dozens of local artists displaying their work will be onhand, informational booths for community groups about the activities or services, pop-up vendors, and food from the downtown restaurants.

For more information on Saturday's parade and Pride Week activities contact Uniting Pride of Champaign County at info@unitingpride.org.

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City of Urbana application window open for government rescue plan dollars

URBANA -- Applications for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds available through the City of Urbana are accepted now through November 16. Urbana has $12.97 million to distribute to help those affected by the Coronavirus pandemic that started in March 2020.

"The city is seeking applications for organizations that will provide services meeting the funding goals. Rather than households or businesses seeking individual assistance, applicants should be organizations who will use the funds to facilitate one of the funding goals," according to the City of Urbana website.

The goals include:

  • Public Health and Safety
    • Improve accessibility of public recreation space and youth programming
    Increase support for community violence interventions

  • Adequate and Affordable Housing
    • Reduce housing costs for those that need it most

  • Human Rights and Social Services
    • Increase availability and affordability of mental health services
    Increase availability and affordability of food

  • Economic Recovery and Development
    • Increase job training and placement opportunities
    Provide relief and support for local businesses

  • Sustainable Infrastructure
    • Invest in infrastructure to increase community health, safety, and future resilience

    In the city's distribution plan, individuals or families that need help paying rent or businesses desiring assistance covering their expenses do not qualify for the program. Instead, funding from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program, a component of the ARPA passed in March 2021, will be given to organizations with programs that assist with individual housing or provide small business assistance. There is no minimum or maximum funding amount, and the money can be utilized to cover expenses necessary to meet the city's stated goals.

    Participating organizations can use the money for "facility investments, personnel, direct assistance to community members, internal capacity building, and administrative costs."

    To apply for funding go to https://ccrpc.gitlab.io/urbana-arpa/apply/.

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    Photos this week

    Photos from St. Joseph-Ogden's November 2022 playoff football game against Olympia. Despite a solid team effort against a high-powered offense and much-improved football program, SJO's football season came to an unfortunate end after a 60-28 road loss to the Spartans.

    See the entire photo collection from the here