Mattoon Public Library

Mattoon Library offers story times for children. On the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month, the group for children under 3 meets. Every Tuesday, the group for ages 3 and up meets. They also have book clubs and other events for people of all ages. Check out their events calendar to see what they have to offer here.

Playgroups/Parent Groups

There are a few groups in the area that some of you may be interested in. One of my favorites is MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). We meet at First Baptist Church in Mattoon on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month during the school year (starting on Sept. 19th) from 6:15 to 8:15 pm. The moms get together for a meal and some fun activities and get a chance to talk to each other while the children are nearby in classrooms eating their meal and having fun with other kids. Child care is provided. There is a yearly membership fee of $23.95, but they do offer scholarships based on income. They also have a  group called Teen MOPS that is for young moms under 21. It meets every Thursday during the school year from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

Another awesome group in the area is Moms for Moms. This is a parent-child playgroup that meets weekly on Wednesday mornings in various places. We usually do a potluck or pack a lunch and occasionally travel to fun destinations nearby. About once a month, there is a theme party and the kids play or do crafts while the moms visit. There is a yearly membership fee of $15 to cover expenses for craft materials, plates and eating utensils, etc. For information about joining this group, send me an email at kersh_marilyn@yahoo.com.

Parent to Parent is a monthly parent support group/playgroup that meets in the Education Center at Sarah Bush Lincoln on the first Tuesday of each month from 6-7 pm. They offer a variety of activities such as special guest presentations, discussion groups, Santa visits, and others involving relevant topics for moms and dads, or those expecting.

For children with special needs (autism, developmental delays, sensory disorders, ADHD, etc.), CIATS (Central IL Autism Therapeutic Services) offers a playgroup. For more information, call Vivian Skelley at 217-821-1752.

Races for All Paces at SBLHC

Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center is hosting "Races for All Paces" on Saturday, May 7th. Registration is May 6th. To see the schedule of events (open to all ages), go here.  

Medals will be given to all finishers and T-shirts are guaranteed for all runners registered by April 15. All registrants participating will be entered into a drawing for cash & other prizes. There will be an award ceremony following the Toddler Trot and Diaper Dash. Course support (including water, Gatorade, food, and porta-potties) will be available at various stages of all events.

For more information or to register, contact Suzanne Logue at (217) 258-4195.

Earth Day Festival at DHNC

Douglas-Hart Nature Center is holding an Earth Day Festival on Saturday, Apr. 23 from 7 am to 2 pm. The schedule is as follows:
7-noon: Reduce, reuse, recycle rummage sale
9-11: Volunteer for conservation project
noon-1: plants seeds to take home
10-2: crafts and games
Refreshments will be offered from 10-2.

Festival of the Young Child

The Festival of the Young Child will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 16 at the Cross County Mall, Mattoon.
There will be many hands-on activities, games, balloons and art projects for young children. There also will be entertainment throughout the day.

The schedule is as follows:
- 10 a.m., Mattoon Academy of Gymnastics & Dance;
- 10:50 a.m., St. John's Lutheran Preschool;
- 11:15 a.m., Percy's Tae Kwon Do;
- 12:10-12:45 p.m., Mitch's Karate USA;
- 1:30 p.m., Margene's Dance Studio.
The YMCA will present its Healthy Kids Day at the festival.

The event is free and for the entire family. For information call Jackie Swango at EIU Child Care Resource at Referral, 581-6991.

The Week of the Young Child is celebrated across the country by hundreds of local organizations working to improve opportunities for all young children.





(from jg-tc.com)

"Eggstravaganza" at Life Span Center

An Easter Eggstravaganza, hosted by the Life Span Center, will be held April 22. The day's events will begin at 10 a.m. and end at noon.

There will be Easter egg hunts for children (toddler-age 5) and children (ages 6-12). Adults will hunt for gift certificates from restaurants and businesses throughout the community. In the Easter eggs for the kids, there will be appropriate candy for their age group.

Along with the Easter egg hunt, there will be Easter crafts, egg decorating and a guest appearance from the Easter Bunny.There will be an area designated where participants and parents can take their own photos. A light lunch will be served.
The Easter Eggstravaganza, LifeSpan Center's first, is open to children ages infant through 12. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Eastern Illinois University student intern Katie Connolly is planning the event.

Registration is needed by April 20. To register, call 639-5150.








(From jg-tc.com)

Billy Goat Gruff at DHNC today

Billy Goat Gruff at Douglas Hart Nature Center today at 4pm - 5:30pm for ages 5-9. They'll be playing an ogre game and making a craft. $2 for members, $4 for non-members.

Fun and Healthy event at Carl Sandburg Elementary

Activities with healthy messages are scheduled for an event at Carl Sandburg Elementary School next week.
The event scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday will focus on ideas for fun and health, an announcement said. It said students who attend Mark Twain and Jefferson elementary schools as well as Carl Sandburg can attend.
The announcement said representatives from Eastern Illinois University, Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, the American Cancer Society and others will conduct interactive programs. Included will be how to grow a pizza garden, staying safe in the sun and ideas for getting picky eaters to enjoy nutritious foods. There will also be prizes awarded.
The announcement also said anyone with questions can call Carl Sandburg Assistant Principal Rob Ulm at 294-1036. The school district's Wellness Committee and the Joint PTA are helping to sponsor the event, it said.



(from jg-tc.com)

Home Depot Kids Workshop

On the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Home Depot offers a free kids building workshop for ages 5-12. This weekend (April 2), they are doing a painted planter/basket. For more info, go here.

Natural Health & Wellness Fair

A Natural Health and Wellness Fair will be held on Saturday, April 09, 2011 from 10am-9pm at the Cross County Mall in Mattoon. The benefits of  natural health care will be highlighted. It will give more information about how natural treatments can offer safe, less expensive, and effective alternatives for the health and wellness needs of the average American.

For more information, call or email:
217-962-1764
dslvdg@aol.com

Martha from Martha Speaks at Festival of the Young Child

Bring a camera to the Festival of the Young Child at Cross County Mall on April 16th to get a picture of your child with Martha from the PBS show "Martha Speaks" from 10 am to 12 pm and 12:45- 2 pm (Martha will take occasional breaks throughout so she may be unavailable at times). The first 200 kids attending will receive a free book courtesy of WEIU Educational Services.

Single Moms Day Out in Oakland

Sat. April 16th from 10 am to 3 pm at the Hub in Oakland (brick building on SE corner of Washington and Walnut).
Enjoy a FREE day of pampering, lunch, and time with other single moms. Childcare is provided for kids under 10. This event is sponsored by the Oakland Christian Church and Oakland residents and businesses.

Registration is required, as there are a limited number of spots available. Call Janette at 346-2157 to register (leave a message if no answer).

The SBL Dental Bus will also be there providing free services, so when you register be sure to provide your address if you are interested in receiving services so that you can be sent paperwork prior to the event.

YMCA Healthy Kids Day

This national event is held annually by YMCA's all over the country. Healthy Kids Day is a great way to celebrate kids and their health. Kids have never had so much fun learning about healthy lifestyles, having their blood pressure checked, flexibility tested, weight and height taken, and vertical jumps recorded.

The Mattoon Area Family YMCA celebrates YMCA Healthy Kids Day annually in conjunction with the Festival of the Young Child held at the Cross County Mall.
Visit us on Saturday, April 16 for Healthy Kids Day 2011







(from http://www.mattoonymca.org/healtkd.asp)

EIU Celebration: A Festival of the Arts

Celebration: A Festival of the Arts is scheduled for the weekend of April 15-17, 2011. An Eastern Illinois University tradition since 1977, the three day festival will take place on the Booth Library Quad next to the new Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The fun gets underway on Friday when the food booths open for lunch and the first band begins to play on the outdoor stage. The first day of Celebration features entertainment geared specifically with Eastern's students in mind.

Celebration offers a wide range of arts activities for all ages. The festival typically includes a children's art area, demonstrations, an International Fair, storytelling, a delicious lineup of food vendors, and lots of live music. On Saturday and Sunday the annual fine arts fair welcomes a wide array of artisans selling hand-crafted works of art ranging from jewelry and stoneware to paintings and sculptures.

Festival admission and parking are free, and the grounds are handicapped-accessible. Celebration: A Festival of the Arts is hosted by Eastern's College of Arts and Humanities and supported by the City of Charleston, the Illinois Arts Council, Consolidated Communications, and the Campaign for Celebration.

For information, call the Celebration Planning Office at 217-581-2113 or drop an e-mail to decrews@eiu.edu.






















(from EIU's website)

Easter Egg Hunts for children and adults to be held in Charleston

Children's Easter Egg Hunt

We will have lots of eggs for the children to find and they can meet the Easter Bunny. This is a FREE event that is scheduled for Saturday, April 16th and takes place at Morton Park. The first age group is for 1-2 year olds and they will hunt for eggs from 9:10-9:25 a.m.; 3-4 year olds from 9:25-9:40 a.m.; 5-6 year olds from 9:40-9:55 a.m.; 7-8 year olds from 9:55-10:10 a.m. and the 9-10 year olds from 10:10-10:25 a.m.

Adult Nite Lite Egg Hunt

Are you tired of seeing the kids having all the fun? Well, here is chance to hunt the eggs too! Bring your own flashlight and basket for the opportunity to hunt eggs that are filled with candy and prizes from local merchants. This is scheduled for Saturday, April 16th at 8:00 p.m. in Morton Park. This is for anyone 11 years old or older (11-16 year old must be with an adult) and the cost is $6.00 per person. You must be registered by 7:45 p.m. to get into the hunt.

(Info from Charleston Parks and Rec. website)

DHNC Pancake Breakfast March 12th

Pancake and Sausage breakfast at Douglas-Hart Nature Center from 6:30-11 am. Adults $6/children $5.

Home Depot Kids Workshop~Race Car

Designed for ages 5-12, the Home Depot's Kids Workshop runs tomorrow (March 5) from 9 am to 12 pm. They will be building a race car. Go here for more info.

Kirk Cameron Marriage Conference

Kirk Cameron's Marriage Conference is coming May 21st to Mattoon, IL.  Tickets are on sale now at First Baptist Church in Mattoon, IL. Call 217-234-7716 to reserve get your tickets.

For more information on what the conference is about, check out: http://www.feedyourfaith.org/.

Spring Break Camp

From Charleston Parks and Recreation Department's Facebook page:

We are offering an opportunity this year for Spring Break! If you will be in town & need activities for your child/children to do that week, consider Service Spring Break Camp. This runs March 14th-18th at Carl Sandburg School & the cost of the week is $100.00/child or you can use the daily drop in rate of $25.00 if that fits your schedule. It runs from 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Call 345-6897 for more details.

DHNC youth St. Patrick's Day activity: Avoid the Pinching

Avoid the Pinching

Sunday, March 6, 1-3 p.m.

Avoid getting pinched this year by preparing your St. Patrick’s’ Day get-up! Make a clover charm necklace and a green tie dye t-shirt while learning about the history of St. Patrick’s Day and the mysterious four leaf clover. $4 for members, $6 for non-members. Youth program. Registration required.

To register for any of these classes call the Nature Center at 217-235-4644 or click here to register through email. Please include your name, number of participants, phone number and the program you are interested in registering for.

(from dhnc.org)

Teddy Bear Party

This party is for teddy bear loving children ages 3-5 yrs. old. They will read a bear story, create a bear craft, talk about their favorite bears (real and stuffed), and even have a bear snack. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite teddy bear to show to everyone. The program is on Feb 26th from 9:30-10:45 a.m. and the cost is $10/child.

You can register through the Charleston Parks and Rec. Department or online here.

"MY Nights" at the YMCA

Saturday, February 19, 2011
7pm-9pm
Mattoon Area Family YMCA
Mattoon , IL, 61938


MY Nights is a program that provides the middle school students in our community a safe place to interact with others their age through fun and games. There will be fun games, food, music, video games, and an inflatable obstacle course! The cost is $4.00, and you can register your child a few different ways. Tickets for the event will be sold at the Mattoon Middle School on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Registration can also be done online or at the Member Service Desk.
(217) 235-9622
mailto:bfairchild@mattoonymca.org

Shake it for SACIS

Shake It For SACIS is an event where people can come to learn different types of dance. The EIU Pink Panthers will be performing - you will have an opportunity to dance with them too.  There will also be Zumba dance instruction available for kids. This event will be held March 25th at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Education Wing from 6-9:30 p.m. The evening will be separated into three different dancing sessions with dollar dances at the end (like at a wedding). There are performances, prizes, raffles and all sorts of other fun stuff. It should be a ton of fun for everyone! 

Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Service (SACIS) is a not-for-profit social service agency that  provides counseling and advocacy services to people who have experienced sexual victimization and to their significant others.  All the services are free of charge, but SACIS needs your help to continue to provide these services. The agency has suffered from the state and federal budget cuts. The state cut 27% in grant funding during the last two years, and federal stimulus money will end in June. Helping SACIS is easy.  Please consider helping to keep SACIS in operation by attending this event. SACIS also accepts non-financial donations of office supplies. Check out their website here.

Abe Lincoln's birthday

Celebrate Abe Lincoln's birthday at Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site on Saturday, February 12th, from 10-4 p.m. Volunteers will portray Lincoln's family. The site is located about eight miles south of Charleston and is open Wednesday through Sunday during the winter months. For more information call 345-1845 or online here. 

Daddy-Daughter Dance

The Charleston Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a Daddy-Daughter Dance. There are still a few days left to register (ends Friday at 1 pm). The dance is Friday, Feb 11 from 7-8:30 at the Jefferson School Cafeteria. They will provide a DJ and have punch, cookies and candy.  Everyone will get their picture taken to remember this special event.   The cost is $22.00 per couple and $9.00 for each additional child.

To register online, click here.

New events added to DHNC website

Douglas-Hart Nature Center has posted upcoming events for February and March on their website. View the complete list here.

Home Depot Free Kids Events

On the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Home Depot offers a free kids building workshop for ages 5-12. This month they are doing a heart shelf. For more info, go here.

Isaak's Family Fun

Looking for something to do on the weekend that is great for the whole family? Check out Isaak's Family Fun, located on Old State Road in Mattoon. They have a play area for young children, an awesome climber/ball pit area for kids 3-12, an arcade with lots of cool games, a black light golf course, and a laser tag arena. They also have areas set up to accommodate seating for parties.

We just had my son's 3rd birthday party there last weekend, and I would have to say that the place was a hit for everyone who attended. Everyone had something fun to do, from the babies to the adults. I definitely recommend checking this place out. They have some great party packages, or you can just come in to enjoy what they have to offer.

Their hours are:
Fridays 5:30pm to 10:00pm
Saturdays 1:00pm to 10:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Other times may be posted such as holidays, school breaks, extended hours, etc.
You can also schedule private parties during their non-business hours.

Check out their website here.

"Great Mouse Races" fundraiser for Mattoon Public Library

What are "Mouse Races?"
The mouse races themselves are a fun filled event where patrons make use of “racing chips” to place wagers on the outcome of a six mouse race. Racing chips can be purchased for $2.00 a chip the night of the event. Also taking place: Mouse Roulette, 50/50 Raffle, and Silent Auction.

This event is set to take place on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at Days Inn,  300 Broadway Ave East in Mattoon. The doors open 6:30 p.m. and the first race starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. Go here to order or for more information on becoming an event sponsor. A single ticket is $15.00 or a pair of tickets is $25.00. Ticket price includes Hors d’oeuvre buffet from Don Sol. A cash bar will also be available.










(Info from MPL website)

Parent to Parent group cancelled for February

Due to the horrible weather conditions, the Parent to Parent support group at Sarah Bush that was scheduled for Tues. Feb. 1st has been cancelled. Stay safe everyone!

Bus trip to Indianapolis Children's museum

Charleston's Parks and Recreation Department is providing the opportunity for families to take a bus trip to the Indianapolis Children's Museum on Monday, February 21, 2011. (That's President's Day, so there is no school.) The bus will leave from the Rotary Pool parking lot at 8:00 a.m.  An adult must accompany children under the age of 14 but the trip is open to all ages.  The cost is $25.00. To register online, go to www.activenet.active.com/charlestonrecdept.

Also, check out the museum's website at www.childrensmuseum.org.

Teen MOPS seeking new members

Teen MOPS is a wonderful support group for young moms under 21. It meets every Thursday during the school year from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at First Baptist Church in Mattoon. They are trying to get the word out and to increase the number of moms in the group.

They are currently having a membership drive and are going to be offering giveaways at every meeting, starting tomorrow. There will also be special welcome packs for moms that are new to the group. If you bring a new mom to the group, you will both get ...extra MOPS bucks -- and an additional gift. 

If you know a young mom that would benefit from being a part of this awesome group, please pass on the information.

Dinosaur Kingdom

It's prehistoric fun for everyone!  Learn about the dinosaur kingdom through arts and crafts and creative learning.  Each week focuses on a different dinosaur.  This is for 4 - 6 year olds and it meets on Thursdays from 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. in the Charleston Parks and Recreation Department Conference Room on the second floor in City Hall.  The next scheduled class is to start on February 3rd and the cost is $24.00.

To register online, please click on the following link www.activenet.active.com/charlestonrecdept

(from Charleston Parks and Rec. website)

Opinion Outpost

At the bottom on the left side of the blog, I added a banner for Opinion Outpost. This is my affiliate link, so I will automatically earn a dollar for anyone who signs up through that link. This is a survey program that I have been a member of for over 3 years and I definitely recommend it. It is by no means a "get-rich-quick" scheme, but it is an extremely easy way to earn a few extra bucks by taking surveys in your spare time. Most of the surveys are very simple, and you only complete the ones that you want to, when you want to. It is very easy to reach payout. You can request payment once you reach $3, which is usually the equivalent of only a couple of surveys. I have cashed out many times through them. I would really appreciate it if you would sign up through my link if you are interested. Thanks!

Lincoln's Final Meal

Lincoln Log Cabin is hosting Lincoln's Final Meal on Saturday, Jan 29th. Reservations are required. Call 345-1845 to reserve your seat.

 

 

(info from Charleston Tourism Office)

Safe and Snug Car Seat Class/Clinic

7 - 9 p.m. Tuesday, January 25, 2011 in the Adams Room - Lumpkin Family Center for Health Education at Sarah Bush Lincoln.

While proper use of child safety seats help keep children safe, more than 80 percent of car seats in the United States are improperly used and/or installed. To help protect children, the Mattoon Police Department and Sarah Bush Lincoln are hosting "Safe and Snug," a car seat safety class and clinic, from 7 to 9 pm Tuesday, January 25, in the Lumpkin Family Center for Health Education.

Car seat safety information will be provided by Mattoon police officers who are also certified car seat technicians. A discussion and question and answer period will be included. Parents or expectant parents are asked to bring their vehicle with their child's car seat installed in it if possible. A car seat technician will assess it, ensuring that it is properly installed, and that it is the right seat for your child.

While most children harmed during motor vehicle accidents are unrestrained or improperly restrained, appropriate laws can help encourage parents to protect their children. The state of Illinois requires that all children from birth through eight years old must be properly restrained in an appropriate car seat, and it should be checked by a state-certified car seat check to ensure it is properly installed.

Sarah Bush Lincoln recommends that car seats be checked prior to an expectant mother's 36^th week of pregnancy when possible. However, new parents who would like to have their infant's car seat checked are encouraged to attend as well. The car seat clinic is free, but expectant and new parents must register. The class is limited to 16 car seats. To pre-register, call the Office of Perinatal Education at Sarah Bush Lincoln at (217) 258- or 348-BABY (2229) or page Pamela Hood, RN, at 1-800-702-0376 between 10 am and 7 pm.

Register for the Safe and Snug Car Seat Class

Little Pink Panthers Clinic scheduled Feb. 5 at EIU Student Rec. Center

Sessions are open to any child age 4-12 in grades pre-K through grade six who are interested in learning and performing a routine with the Pink Panthers during half-time Feb. 5 for either the 4 p.m. women's basketball game or the 6 p.m. men's basketball game.

Each group will perform a dance facing the west side of Lantz Gym.

The performance for pre-K through second grade (ages 4-7) will be at the women's 4 p.m. game. Clinic registration will be at 9:30 a.m. at the Lantz Gym Fourth Street entrance. The clinic will be held from 10 to 10:50 a.m. Pick-up time and location will be at 10:50 a.m. at the Student Rec Center.

Participants in session two for third-sixth grades will perform at the men's 6 p.m. game. Registration will be at 10:30 a.m., Lantz Gym Fourth Street entrance. Clinic time will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pick-up time will be at 12:30 p.m. at the Student Rec Center.

The fee for those who sign up on or before Wednesday is $15. After Wednesday, the fee will be $20. The fee includes a Pink Panther T-shirt, which must be worn for the performance; dance instruction; and free admission to the basketball game.

DVDs of the event will be available for purchase on game day.

Children should wear comfortable shoes and clothing, such as tennis shoes, stretch/jogging pants and T-shirt.

During the clinic, parents may wait for their child in the Student Rec Center lounge area. No adults will be allowed in the clinic rooms during dance sessions.

For more information about the clinic and registration, call Lisa Dallas at 581-3716 or lmdallas@eiu.edu.

(Info from www.jg-tc.com).

Registration for spring classes at Tarble Arts Center (ages 4-adult)

The spring session of art classes and workshops for ages 4 through adult will be offered through the Tarble Arts Center, Eastern Illinois University, beginning the week of Feb. 21.

All courses are open to both Tarble Arts Center members and non-members, with most workshop fees including both instruction and supplies. Tarble members receive a 20-percent discount on course fees. Of special note to teachers, adult and multi-age workshops may be taken for Continuing Education Units for teacher recertification.

Registration deadlines begin Feb. 18; registration may be taken in the Tarble Arts Center Office, by mail, or online at http://www.eiu.edu/~tarble/.

To receive a brochure, interested persons may contact the Tarble Arts Center at 581-ARTS (2787) or tarble@eiu.edu. A PDF of the brochure is available on the Tarble Arts Center website listed above.
Offerings for children include "Elements of Art" for ages 4-5, "Paper Creations" for ages 6-8, and "Functional Art" for 9- to 14-year-olds.

Adult classes, for ages 15 and over, include "Creating Textures in Watercolor & Ink," "Glass Bead Making," "Artists' Journals" and a shirt workshop co-sponsored with the EIU School of Continuing Education, "Basic Basket Weaving."

In addition, a multi-age clay workshop, "Theme Boxes," is being offered for ages 12 and over.
The Tarble Arts Center offers year-round community art instruction for both children and adults. Through its collection, changing exhibitions, qualified instructors and other resources, Tarble courses offer a unique opportunity to study art.

The Tarble Arts Center, a division of the College of Arts & Humanities, is partially supported by the Tarble Arts Center Endowment/EIU Foundation and membership contributions. The Tarble is located on south Ninth Street at Cleveland Avenue, on Eastern Illinois University's campus in Charleston.





(From http://www.jg-tc.com/)

Salvation Army Character Building Programs

From their website:


Character Building Programs

Have your child spend a SAFE and FUN afternoon after school in our Character Building Programs!
Similar to scouting, our Sunbeam (girls ages 5-11) and Adventure Corps (boys ages 5-11) kids earn badges
and learn life skills all while having a lot of fun! For more information please read brochure enclosed in
your child’s backpack. The programs are FREE and we provide transportation from school to our gym.

We also provide a Supper Club and King’s Kids Devotions following Sunbeams and Adventure Corps.
We will have supper and learn about God and how to build His kingdom!

See schedule for times below:

3:30-4:00 - Help with Homework
4:00 -5:00 - Sunbeams and Adventure Corps
5:00-5:30 - Supper Club
5:30-6:15 – King’s Kids Devotions

If your child is interested in joining us please give us a call to let us know so we can be sure to pick them up
at school. It is also very important that you let your child’s teacher know they will be riding with us on
WEDNESDAYS.

Programs going on NOW!

Princess ball at Salvation Army

Here is the invitation from their website:




Prince Charming requests the presence of Ladies of all ages: sisters, mothers, daughters, and friends to attend this FREE event
being held at the Salvation Army Palace
1300 Richmond Ave.
On the 28^th day of January
In the year of our Lord 2011
At 6:00pm.
formal attire is requested and some will be
provided for those who RSVP by the 21^st day of January.
Appointments can be made for the services of the handmaidens of hair
and beauty by calling Lady Erin at 234-3915 Ex. 223

Ben Franklin's Birthday Party/Story time at Booth Library

Happy 305th Birthday, Benjamin!

Saturday, January 22,
10 o' clock, Ballenger Teachers Center

The Ballenger Teachers Center will celebrate Benjamin Franklin's birthday through a variety of crafts and stories. The celebration is expected to last about one hour. Find out the "Ben"efits of being Benjamin Franklin! Children ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult, are invited.

Additional story times for Spring 2011 are: Saturdays, January  29; February 5, 12, 19, and 26; and March 5. All story times begin at 10 a.m. and last about an hour. Please contact Ann Brownson at aebrownson@eiu.edu or 581-8442 for further information.

Teen movie night

Mattoon Library hosts a monthly teen movie night. The next one is February 8th at 5:30 pm. Call  (217) 234-2621 for more details.

Charleston Carnegie Public Library

The Charleston Library offers a few different family story times geared toward children ages 2-7. They also have other events that would be fun to check out, such as a make-and-take craft day. You can view their events here.

It's fun to play at the...YMCA!

The Mattoon Area YMCA offers a lot of things for people of all ages to do. They also offer membership and program scholarships that are based on income. Check out their program listings here. http://www.mattoonymca.org/progg.asp

LifeSpan...not just for old people

You can find a listing of all of the events that they offer here. http://www.colescouncilonaging.org/lifespanevents.html. Most do require prior registration, but they offer a lot of different things that are family-friendly. Call 639-5150 to reserve a spot.

Charleston Recreation Department Programs-UPDATED

The City of Charleston offers a variety of recreation programs for people of all ages. Check them out here, where the programs are categorized by age/interest: http://activenet5.active.com/charlestonrecdept/

Douglas-Hart Nature Center programs

Douglas-Hart Nature center offers a wide variety of activities throughout the year for people of all ages. Here is where you can find upcoming programs, classes, and events:  http://www.dhnature.org/ProgramsandClasses.htm

New blog with improved accessibility to events

I have decided to supplement the Facebook group with a blog. Here you will find a monthly calendar (always found near the bottom of the page) that I will do my best to keep updated. I will also share other things that I believe could be of use to the group's members. Feel free to support my efforts by making a donation with the PayPal link in the sidebar or by browsing and clicking on the AdSense links that are provided by Google. Please help me keep this site up and running. Thanks for all of your support!