Knecht speaks to Lions Club
Beth Bray Knecht will speak to the Danville Lions Club at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 26.
She will speak about mental health first aid.
The Lions Club meets at Spanky’s Banquet Hall, 409 East Main Street in Danville.
Oakwood High performs “Our Town”
The Oakwood High School drama department will perform “Our Town” this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Oakwood High School Gymnasium.
The performances on Friday and Saturday are scheduled for 7 p.m., while Sunday’s performance will be at 1:30 p.m.
Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for students and children 5-and-under are free.
Step Up meeting set for Friday
A Step Up Vermilion County meeting is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Friday, March 27 at the Second Church of Christ, located at 3350 E. Voorhees in Danville.
This month’s meeting will include information on community needs and resources from Crosspoint Human Services, a United Way update, and information on Home Visiting Services from iGrow. There will also be discussion sessions on substance use disorder, mental health and family & parenting. The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois will also award a $1,000 grant to a local non-profit organization in attendance.
For more information, contact Terri White by email at terri@whitessmith.us.
DSO presents chamber concert
The Danville Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is excited to present “The Tale of Poor Tom,” a multi-media chamber concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 27 in the Dick Van Dyke Auditorium on the campus of Danville High School.
Tickets are available for the March 27 performance. General admission is $25, while students, including college, can buy tickets for $10.
Warning — this show is not intended for younger audiences.
Tickets may be purchased online at danvillesymphony.org or by calling 217-443-5300. Tickets are also available at the DSO office at 715 West Fairchild Street in Danville from 1-5 pm, Monday through Friday.
Jaguar Players host female musical revue
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Jaguar Players at Danville Area Community College (DACC) will present “Nothin’ Like a Dame – HERstory: A Celebration of Women in Broadway,” an all-female musical revue featuring beloved Broadway songs performed by talented women from across Vermilion County.
Performances will take place at 7 p.m. March 27 and 28 and 2 p.m. March 29 in the Bremer Center’s John & Kay Shaner Theater on the campus of DACC.
Ticket Prices are $20 for general admission, $15 for DACC employees/retirees as well as seniors and $10 for students, any age.
Technology classes for older adults
Teaching older adults about staying safe online, video chatting and choosing a new computer are just classes offered during a series of free classes at CRIS Healthy Aging, located at 309 N. Franklin St. in Danville.
The classes will run from 1 until 2 p.m. on Fridays until May 1.
Paced for beginners, classes cover a wide range of topics. The AARP Senior Plant Division provides curriculum for each class. Attendees may take as many classes as they wish or choose only classes that fit their needs.
No registration is needed. The next session, Staying Safe Online will be on Friday, March 27.
For information, go to their website CRISHealthyAging.org or call the office at 217-443-2999.
DACC hosts Easter Egg Hunt
Danville Area Community College’s Corporate and Community Education department will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 28.
The egg hunt is open to children of all ages; the lawn between Lincoln Hall and Clocktower Center will be sectioned into age-division areas, with more than 10,000 eggs available in total.
The annual Easter Egg Hunt at DACC is free and open to the public. Special appearances are planned by Mick Jaguar and the Easter Bunny.
Event set for Westville Library
The Westville Public Library has one final event scheduled for the month of March.
The Vermilion County EMA Weather Preparedness Program will be at the library from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31.
Coffee Talk at Hoopeston Library
Illinois Extension and OMNI 4 All will be hosting Coffee Talk at the Hoopeston Public Library, located at 110 N. Fourth St. in Hoopeston.
This series will teach participants on eating to support cognitive function, medication safety, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and general brain health education.
Sessions will be held 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the first Thursday of the month until June.
The second part of the series, nutrition for brain health, is set for April 2 , and after that will be medication safety on May 7 and the series will conclude on June 4 with Brain Health.
Coffee will be provided by the Hoopeston Public Library.
For more information, visit the Illinois Extension website at go.illinois.edu/coffeeHPL
Easter buffet at O’Shaughnessy Hall
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, are hosting a joyful Easter Sunday buffet in the beautiful and historic O’Shaughnessy Dining Hall.
Seating for the breakfast will begin at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern) and the breakfast menu includes honey glazed ham, scrambled eggs, bacon, hash brown casserole, biscuits and gravy, assorted muffins and pastries, warm cinnamon rolls, fruit salad and a waffle station, which will include toppings, whipped cream and butter.
Seating for the luncheon will begin at 12:30 p.m. (Eastern) and the lunch menu will include honey glazed ham, Tuscan chicken, brown sugar and honey glazed carrots, whipped mashed potatoes with white gravy, hash brown casserole, yeast rolls with whipped butter, strawberry cupcakes with pastel icings, mini carrot cakes with cream cheese glaze, pudding cups with bunnies, assorted cookies and brownies in addition to fruit salad, orzo salad and garden salad with ranch and balsamic dressings available.
Cost for adults is $30 while cost for children 10 and under is $15 and children 2 and under will be admitted free.
The public is also welcome to stay for Easter Mass, scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. (Eastern), in the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
The registration deadline for either the breakfast or luncheon is March 27.
Purchase tickets online for either meal at Events.SistersofProvidence.org or by calling 812-535-2946 or emailing lrobinette@spsmw.org.
Nominations for AMBUCS First Citizen
The Danville Chapter of AMBUCS is currently seeking nominations for our 93rd annual First Citizen Award.
This is an opportunity to nominate someone who has made a positive impact in our community through their selfless dedication to making Danville a better place. Past recipients of this award have committed themselves to strengthening the bonds in our community by establishing innovative programs and projects, encouraging others, or consistently serving selflessly beyond their professional capacity.
To nominate someone go to the AMBUCS website https://www.danvilleambucs.com/projects/first-citizen-banquet/ where you can download and fill out the form attached and send it to pjhalloran@gmail.com. Or you can mail the form to AMBUCS First Citizen, c/o Patrick Halloran, 15821 E. 2150 N. Rd., Danville, IL 61834
Any questions about the First Citizen Award or Danville AMBUCS, you can email pjhalloran@gmail.com.
Flag sales for Memorial Way
The Danville Rotary Club has lined Vermilion Street in Danville with American Flags to honor our heroes over Memorial Day Weekend for the last 25 years.
Each flag costs $5 and allows an individual to honor someone special to them with an American Flag and a card. The cards can note a branch of the military and any awards received (Purple Heart, Silver Star, etc.) While most flags honor past or present military service personnel, anyone can be recognized. If the name is blank, Rotary will select heroes chose by the War Museum to memorialize. Corporate sponsorships are also available. Proceeds from the flag sales will support Rotary community service projects and scholarships for veterans and their familes.
Flags can be purchased through the Rotary website https://rotaryflag.com/ until May 18.
Noon Rotary meets at noon on the first Monday of every month at WorkSource Enterprises. All are welcome and encouraged to join.
For more information, please contact, Stephanie Yates of the Danville Noon Rotary Club by email at yatess@danville118.org or by phone at 217-444-1038
New season for seed library
Spring is the time for gardeners to start making plans for their yards and gardens.
The Hoopeston Seed Library, ending its fifth year and located at the Hoopeston Public Library, offers a variety of garden seeds free to community members.
The purpose of a seed library is to share seeds, so the library welcomes donations from patrons of new or excess seeds.
Seed donation can be dropped off at the front desk during regular library hours.
Vermillion County hosts beef raffle
The Vermillion County (Ind.) Board of Commissioners announced a Quarter Beef Raffle for Vermillion County (Ind.) residents.
The raffle is possible through a partnership with Ellis Beef Genetics and it’s an opportunity to enjoy premium, locally raised beef sourced from cattle raised on county-owned pasture. The Quarter Beef Raffle will be held annually for the next 30 years.
Entry fee for the raffle is $20 non-refundable application fee, payable at the auditor’s office. The winner will be drawn live at next commissioners meeting on Tuesday, April 7. The application deadline is Friday, April 3
5K race set for BOV Festival
Balloons over Vermilion is going to kick off the 2026 Festival with the inaugural “Up & Away 5K” at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 6 at Kennekuk County Park.
Runners and walkers are invited to take part in the scenic course, and after the race, participants and others can enjoy a relaxing yoga session led by Merrit Spicer of Yoga on the Go. The one-hour session will being around 9 a.m.
Cost for the race is $40 before April 15 and it goes up to $45 after. Participants will receive an official race T-shirt, a race bib number, a medal and free admission to the post-race yoga session. Non-race participants can join the yoga session for $10.
Registration details and additional event information can be found at their website BalloonsOverVermilion.com/up-and-away-5k.
Applications for Apple Fest accepted
Applications are now being accepted for the 35th annual Covington Apple Fest to be held on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Spaces are limited for this event so we are encouraging securing your booth placement early.
To obtain an application and form please email Amy Thompson at amyjothompson18@gmail.com.
VFW serves tenderloin dinner
The Covington VFW Post No. 2395, located at 1212 Liberty Street in Covington, Ind., is serving a tenderloin dinner from 5-7 p.m. (Eastern) on Friday, April 3.
The menu includes tenderloin (grilled or barbecued) sandwich French fries, baked beans and dessert.
The cost is $12 for adults, $10 for veterans. Dine in or carry out. Proceeds support the Post and its activities.