Urbana District 116 holding Family Forum online tonight

URBANA -- The Urbana School District will host a virtual Family Forum tonight via Zoom from 6-7:30pm.

Topic for tonight's discussions, after a welcome back statement and annual review, will focus on the district's goal and the upcoming Equity Audit in October.

The upcoming Equity Audit will help identify areas of strengths and weakness within the district concerning diversity, inclusion, and deficiencies in available educational opportunities for students. Focus groups comprised of families and district staff members will be meet October 17-21.

To join tonight's zoom meeting, the first of this academic calendar year, go to https://usd116org.zoom.us/j/92586421834 on Zoom. The meeting ID is 925 8642 1834.

For more information contact the school district at https://usd116.org/admin/.

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Prep Sports Notebook: Accosta scores SJO's first, Unity volleyball drops heartbreaker

Schweighart, Atkins net 6 kills each

Unity's Emmalee Atkins and Kaitlyn Schweighart put away six kills each in the team's home match against St. Teresa on Monday. Their effort was not enough for the Rockets, who fell to the visiting Bulldogs, 2-1.

JJ LeFaivre, who recorded one block, contributed five kills to the UHS cause. Schweighart also had 11 digs and hammered four aces in the non-conference clash.

The Rockets won the opening set 26-24 and then dropped the next two, 25-17, 25-23.

Spartans crush visiting Tribe

The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team went on a first-half rampage, scoring three goals in the first half of their home match against Judah Christian on their way to a 4-0 victory on Monday.

Sophomore Alex Accosta started scoring effort with an unassisted shot between the post. Later, Aiden Cromwell booted one in to put SJO up, 2-0. Before the midgame break, Ryker Lockhart's pass allowed Collin Thomey to join the goal party.

Will Childers, a senior defensive specialist, also recorded a second-half assist after sophomore Logan Mills found the net for the fourth unanswered score of the game.

The win kicks off a grueling schedule for the Spartans (10-3-1), who play five-consecutive matches this week, four at home. This afternoon, SJO will host Central Catholic from Bloomington for a conference confrontation and are back on the pitch on Wednesday for a non-conference bout against Iroquois West.

On Thursday, the soccer team travels to Rantoul to face the Eagles and back at home again on Friday for a varsity-only match against St. Anne.

Unity loses soccer match, 7-0

In non-conference action on Monday, the Unity soccer team was shut out 7-0 by the Fisher Bunnies. The Rockets travel to Stanford today to take on the Spartans of Olympia high school in another non-league match.

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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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    Rogers named interim president at OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center

    URBANA -- OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center named Erin Rogers, MBA, interim president for the Urbana healthcare facility. Effective today, she replaces Dr.Jared Rogers, who recently retired.

    In her new role she will be responsible for aligning the Heart of Mary Center with OSF HealthCare's corporate vision. She will direct internal operations to ensure that high-quality, cost-effective health care is will always be received by patients.

    Erin Rodgers
    Photo provided
    "I look forward to carrying forward a culture of collaboration and integration that provides a safe and supportive environment for patients and Mission Partners [employees]," Rogers said. "I'm excited about the vision for the future at OSF Heart of Mary and am committed to embracing the Catholic health care heritage and supporting the Sisters’ Mission of serving with the greatest care and love."

    Joining the OSF HealthCare in 2017, Rogers recently served as regional director of business development. Before tenure with the OSF HealthCare Ministry, Rogers spent many years in operations and posesses certification as a Medical Practice Executive. With her ability to build strategic relationships and maintain them, the board of directors anticipates further growth of services provided to the Champaign-Urbana community and the county.

    Rogers earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Illinois State University. She continued her education pursuing a Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education Administration from the University of Illinois and then returned to ISU, where she was awarded with a Master of Business Administration.

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    Guest Commentary: If today was the last day of your life, how would you live it?

    by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

    Life is one day at a time. You don’t have tomorrow. You hope for tomorrow but it’s not guaranteed. We plan for tomorrow. We save for tomorrow and look forward to tomorrow.

    Today is what we have. If today is the last day of your life, how is it going? If you knew for sure, how would you want to spend your last precious 24 hours? You wouldn’t be planning next year’s vacation. No, you would want to get in all that you could possibly do. Only you know for sure how you would want to spend your day and everyone is different. Maybe you would spend your day with loved ones or maybe you would want to be strolling in the mountains or by the oceanside. Maybe you would want to spend your day eating ice cream, hamburgers and pizza. If it’s your last day then why not?

    I like ice cream, hamburgers and pizza but my doctor doesn’t recommend them as a daily diet because of the hopes of tomorrow. There are ways that we can shorten our days and too much of what we enjoy is not always very good for us.

    Since life is one day at a time, we can’t go back and repeat yesterday. All the good you did is in the past. All the mistakes you made are in the past. You can spend the rest of your life wishing you could repeat high school, college or an old relationship. Actually, you are better off if you don’t sit around and think about it all the time. It’s good to remember the good memories of family, friends, life’s successes and joys but they are in the past. This often makes us sad because we know we can’t relive some of those great moments of life. It’s best to give thanks for them and move forward.

    Today is a good day to make some more memories – good ones. Living your life today regardless of what you are doing is the life you have. Make the best of it by enjoying your life. Do what you enjoy. Be good to yourself. Don’t beat up on yourself. Don’t live your life fighting with others. Do your work. Find joy in your work or move on to a work that you do enjoy. Find ways to reduce stress and to be happy.

    Keep in mind that you can’t make everyone else happy and don’t take on everyone else’s problems. You probably have enough of your own.

    Be patient. All good things take time if they are worthwhile.

    Finally, just in case you do live a bunch more years, live today in such a way, that you can look back to today and remember it as a good day.


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    Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.


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    Finance, econ students have just a few days left to sign-up for annual futures trading competition

    NewsUSA -- It’s that time of year again: CME Group, the world’s leading derivatives exchange, is calling on college students with an interest in finance to team up and try their hand at futures trading. Registration for its 19th annual University Trading Challenge is now open through Thursday, September 29, and there is no cost to enter.

    Photo: Adam Nowakowski/Unsplash

    As part of the innovative competition, teams of three to five graduate and undergraduate students from the same university are invited to learn expert techniques using a real-time, simulated trading platform provided by CQG, a leading provider of financial markets technology solutions.

    Participants will trade CME Group futures and options contracts across the exchange’s main asset classes -- including interest rates, equity indices, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural products, metals and crypto.

    CME Group will also provide students with educational content and market commentary, in addition to live market data and premium news articles from Dow Jones and The Hightower Report.

    This year’s challenge officially kicks off on Sunday, October 2 and concludes on Friday, October 28.

    "The many uncertainties in today's global economies are driving increased interest in and demand for hedging and risk management strategies," says Anita Liskey, Global Head of Brand Marketing and Communications at CME Group. "We encourage all university students who want to learn about derivatives markets and test their trading skills to participate in this unique, hands-on educational experience."

    Each eligible member of the winning team will receive a $2,000 cash prize*. Additional prizes will be awarded for second through fifth place.

    Student participants will also have the opportunity to attend CME Group’s Day of Market Education. This one-day forum will provide them with an exclusive look into CME Group and the derivatives industry.

    CME Group is committed to educating the next generation of finance professionals on the significance of its global derivatives markets and risk management. In addition to interactive events such as the University Trading Challenge, CME Group also partners with other industry organizations to offer educational tools, such as Futures Fundamentals, a one-stop educational resource that explains the role of futures markets in everyday life. Through interactive features and rich content, the site provides risk management education for learners of all levels and helps simplify complex market topics.

    To register and view details on eligibility, rules, regulations and requirements, please visit: https://www.cmegroup.com/events/university-trading-challenge/2022-trading-challenge.html.

    For social media updates throughout the competition, make sure to follow #TradingChallenge2022. *Eligibility to receive competition prizes is only open to residents in the United States (US), Canada (CA) excluding Quebec, United Kingdom (UK), Germany (DE), Netherlands (NL), Switzerland (CH), Republic of Korea (KR), Taiwan (TW), and Japan (JP).

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    Heart attack risks increase as people with HIV and hepatitis C age, according to recent study

    by American Heart Association
    DALLAS -- As people with HIV age, their risk of heart attack increases far more if they also have untreated hepatitis C virus, even if their HIV is treated, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

    Since the introduction of antiretroviral therapies to treat HIV in the late 1990s, the lifespan of people with HIV has increased dramatically. However, even with treatment, studies have found the heart disease risk among people with HIV is at least 50% higher than people without HIV. This new study evaluated if people with HIV who also have hepatitis C – a viral liver infection – have a higher risk of heart attack.

    "HIV and hepatitis C coinfection occurs because they share a transmission route - both viruses may be transmitted through blood-to-blood contact," said Keri N. Althoff, Ph.D., M.P.H., senior author of the study and an associate professor in the department of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. "Due in part to the inflammation from the chronic immune activation of two viral infections, we hypothesized that people with HIV and hepatitis C would have a higher risk of heart attack as they aged compared to those with HIV alone."

    Researchers analyzed health information for 23,361 people with HIV (17% female, 49% non-Hispanic white) in the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD) between 2000 and 2017 and who had initiated antiretroviral treatment for HIV. All were between 40 to 79 years of age when they enrolled in the NA-ACCORD study (median age of 45 years). One in 5 study participants (4,677) were also positive for hepatitis C. During a median follow-up of about 4 years, the researchers compared the occurrence of a heart attack between the HIV-only and the HIV-hepatitis C co-infected groups as a whole, and by each decade of age.

    The analysis found:

  • With each decade of increasing age, heart attacks increased 30% in people with HIV alone and 85% in those who were also positive for hepatitis C.
  • The risk of heart attack increased in participants who also had traditional heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure (more than 3 times), smoking (90%) and Type 2 diabetes (46%).
  • The risk of heart attack was also higher (40%) in participants with certain HIV-related factors such as low levels of CD4 immune cells (200cells/mm3, signaling greater immune dysfunction) and 45% in those who took protease inhibitors (one type of antiretroviral therapy linked to metabolic conditions).

    • "People who are living with HIV or hepatitis C should ask their doctor about treatment options for the viruses and other ways to reduce their cardiovascular disease risk," said lead study author Raynell Lang, M.D., M.Sc., an assistant professor in the department of medicine and community health sciences at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.

    "Several mechanisms may be involved in the increased heart attack risk among co-infected patients. One contributing factor may be the inflammation associated with having two chronic viral infections," Lang said. "There also may be differences in risk factors for cardiovascular disease and non-medical factors that influence health among people with HIV and hepatitis C that plays a role in the increased risk."

    According to a June 2019 American Heart Association scientific statement, Characteristics, Prevention, and Management of Cardiovascular Disease in People Living With HIV, approximately 75% of people living with HIV are over the age of 45. "Even with effective HIV viral suppression, inflammation and immune dysregulation appear to increase the risk for heart attack, stroke and heart failure." The statement called for more research on cardiovascular disease prevention, causes and treatment in people with HIV.

    "Our findings suggest that HIV and hepatitis C co-infections need more research, which may inform future treatment guidelines and standards of care," Althoff said.

    The study is limited by not having information on additional factors associated with heart attack risk such as diet, exercise or family history of chronic health conditions. Results from this study of people with HIV receiving care in North America may not be generalizable to people with HIV elsewhere. In addition, the study period included time prior to the availability of more advanced hepatitis C treatments.

    "Because effective and well-tolerated hepatitis C therapy was not available during several years of our study period, we were unable to evaluate the association of treated hepatitis C infection on cardiovascular risk among people with HIV. This will be an important question to answer in future studies," Lang said.

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    Prep Sports Notebook: Unity top in XC, SJO soccer post another win

    Rockets take 4th place at Reed-Custer Lady Comets Classic

    BRAIDWOOD -- Unity won one match, tied two, and lost two at the Lady Comets volleyball tournament on Saturday.

    The Rockets fell 2-0 to Maroa-Forsyth and De La Salle in close contests. The Trojans prevailed 25-23, 25-14, and the Meteors from Chicago squeaked by UHS, 25-18, 25-20.

    The team split sets against Putnam County, losing the first by three, 25-22, and storming back to take the second set, 25-18. Kaitlyn Schweighart, who finished the tournament with 18 kills and 58 digs, and the Rockets also split sets in their confrontation with the Momence volleyball program, 17-25, 25-16.

    UHS' only victory on the five-match day was 25-23, 25-11, win over Mendota.

    Junior Ruby Tarr had 33 assists and made 22 digs during the tournament. Meanwhile, Jayci McGraww booked 31 assists and five digs, and Julia Ping helped the team's defensive effort collecting 35 digs and nine assists.

    The Rockets are back in action two days next week at the Rocket Center. Starting Monday, Tarr & Co. host the Bulldogs of St. Teresa and then play a conference showdown against the Monticello. The Sages are 0-2 in conference play with straight two-set loses to St. Thomas More and Paxton-Buckley-Loda this season.

    Spartans one win away from 10th

    GEORGETOWN -- The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team rallied back from a one-goal first-half deficit with two goals to beat Georgetown-Ridge Farm-Westville, 2-1.

    The Buffaloes produced the only score in the first half despite numerous opportunities for SJO. A pass from freshman Ryker Lockhart gave Collin Thomey the opportunity to tie the game 1-all in the second half. Later, Lockhart put the ball between the post around the GRFW keeper to give the Spartans the go-ahead goal. Spencer Wilson got credit for the assist for the 9-3-1 Spartans.

    Senior Hunter Ketchum and backup keeper Jacek Slowikowski, each guarding the goal for a half, made two saves each.

    Luke Barney nailed the first goal of the game for the Buffaloes.

    Unity outscored, 2-0

    Tolono -- The Rockets' soccer team fell 2-0 to visiting Illinois Valley Central Saturday morning. The Grey Ghosts improved to 1-4 in conference play after scoring a goal in each half of the Illini Prairie Conference match.

    Unity (2-13, 0-6) hosts Fisher on Monday at home. Opening kick is slated for 4:30p.

    SJO 4th, Unity 9th at cross-country meet

    St. Joseph -- St. Joseph-Ogden's Jack Fisher turned in a team-best 16:10.32 finish to help the Spartans finish fourth out of 28 participating teams after running in the 50th installment of the Spartan Classic.

    The Rockets, who finished ninth in the team standings, were paced by Brendan Graven. He completed the 3-mile course in 16 minutes and 38.58 seconds Saturday morning. Urbana University High's Pieter Duursma led the Illinek's effort to the finish line, circumventing the course for a 34th overall finish at 16:51.57.

    The St. Teresa boys' team won this year's team title with 60 points. El Paso-Gridley finished in second place with 92 points, and third place went to Tuscola with 113 points.

    Unity girls when Spartan Classic title

    St. Joseph -- The Rockets cross-country team finished first out of 27 teams at this year's Spartan Classic. Uni-High finished in third place with 149 points behind El Paso-Gridley's 97-point second-place effort. Unity's top-five runners finished the 3-mile course under 19 minutes or better for an impressive 38 points.

    The St.Joseph-Ogden harriers finished in seventh place in the team standings.

    Rockets' Erika Woodard, a junior, won the individual title crossing the finish line first for the ladies with a time of 17:12.28. Senior Kate Ahmari, who led the Illinek program around the course throughout St. Joseph, finished at 17:49.40 in 3rd place overall. The Spartans top runner, sophomore Savanna Franzen, clocked in at 18:02.08 for a 6th place finish overall.

    Attention area high school coaches

    If you are a coach at Unity, Urbana Uni-High, Urbana High School or St. Joseph-Ogden, send us your box scores, statistical leaders for each game, and other info via email to sports@oursentinel.com or editor@oursentinel.com.

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    Spartan soccer team loses battle at STM

    St. Joseph-Ogden defender Garrett Siems pushes the ball up the field in the second half. The Spartans fell 2-0 to the Sabers on the road on Thursday. Siems and his SJO teammates, with a record of 8 wins, 3 losses and a tie, hit the field again for a non-conference contest at Georgetown-Ridgefarm on Saturday, September 24. Match time scheduled for 9a. Then on Monday, the team will host Judah Christian with the opening touch at 4:30pm. See more photos from this game.
    Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

    Search the PhotoNews Media archives for more photos:

    Search by athlete's name, team, school and more

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    Recipe: Chipotle Chicken Flatbread fest

    Family Features -- When dining outside with your loved ones, there are few things better than a tasty dish the whole family can enjoy. This Chipotle Chicken Flatbread makes for a perfect al fresco meal.

    Photo provided

    Prepared along with a fresh salad or simply enjoyed by itself, this flatbread is simple to make and even kids will love adding the toppings and sauce. It’s colorful and fresh, making it a perfect addition to get-togethers on the patio.

    Plus, the cooking time is only 16 minutes, which makes this a quick and delicious solution to defeat.

    For more al fresco recipe ideas, visit Culinary.net.

    Chipotle Chicken Flatbread


    Adapted from butteryourbiscuit.com

    2 flatbreads
    2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
    1 clove garlic, diced
    4 chicken tenders, cooked and cubed
    1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
    salt, to taste
    pepper, to taste
    1/2 cup ranch dressing
    1 1/2 teaspoons chipotle seasoning
    2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, chopped


    Here's how you put it together for your next meal:

    Start by preheating your oven to 375 F.

    Place parchment paper on baking sheet and add flatbreads. Sprinkle cheese on flatbreads. Top with garlic, chicken and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bake 16 minutes until cheese is melted.

    In small bowl, mix ranch and chipotle seasoning.

    Drizzle ranch dressing on flatbread and sprinkle with cilantro leaves.

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    If you want that side gig to be a success, you need a solid plan

    Photo: Desola Lanre-Ologun/Unsplash

    NAPSI -- Congratulations! You’ve decided to start a business — you’re about to embark on an exciting and challenging journey. Before you dive in headfirst, however, it may pay to take time to understand how to start a business the right way and what it takes to make your new gig, be it a side one or fulltime, a total success.

    Here’s Everything You Need To Know About How To Start A Business

    Whether your startup is creating something new in the marketplace, improving upon an existing product or anything in between, founders need three key elements to get started. When you’re ready to kick off your startup, be prepared with the following:

    1. A Clear Understanding of Your Purpose: Why are you embarking upon this business venture? And why now? Get clear on your WHY. It may seem obvious but if you don’t understand why you’re starting your business, neither will your customers.

    Your WHY should reflect your business’ purpose—its reason for existence. For example, maybe you recognized an unmet need in your community or perhaps you improved upon an existing product. It’s important to be clear about the intention of your business and the value you provide to customers.

    2. A Business Plan: Would you go on a road trip without a map? The answer is probably no. You need directions to get where you’re going. The same rule applies when starting a business.

    With a business plan, you can plot a course from startup to success. Plans typically include:

  • A summary of your business, including the product or service you’re selling, your mission statement and current team members.
  • A breakdown of your product or service, including what makes it viable in your market.
  • Market research that demonstrates an understanding of your industry and your competition. Research your biggest competitors to understand what makes them successful.
  • A SWOT analysis that delineates your business’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
  • A compelling marketing strategy that illustrates how you’ll attract and retain customers.
  • Financial projections that show potential investors the viability of your business. Include a financial forecast for the next one, five, or even ten years.

    • As you work through your business plan, check out SCORE’s Startup Roadmap. It offers a step-by-step online guide to help you create a thorough plan for your new business.

    3. A Strong Support System: Your business is more likely to be successful with a support system. Surround yourself with people who can offer guidance, encouragement and constructive criticism.

    That may be friends or family who have a strong understanding of your market, experience running a business, or members of your professional network willing to give you their time and perspective.

    Identifying a mentor is one of the best moves an entrepreneur can make. And the reasons are well-founded. Small business clients who receive more than three hours of mentoring report higher revenues and increased business growth, according to SCORE data.

    Mentors are often business professionals with experience operating a healthy business who can guide you through your entrepreneurial journey. They act as a sounding board as you grow your business, connect you with resources and provide advice when you hit bumps along the way.

    As you prepare to launch your business, SCORE can connect you with a mentor to help you along your journey. With expertise in all aspects of starting and growing a business, SCORE mentors can guide you to resources and tools that can help you succeed.

    To learn more or find a find a mentor, visit www.score.org/find-mentor.

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