Search

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION PROVIDED BY VERMILION ADVANTAGE

Inside Vermilion County

April Issue

To view this months issues of “Inside Vermilion County” visit our website!

https://www.vermilionadvantage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/April-2023-Final.pdf

Jobs

Vermilion Advantage Job Board – For current, local job opportunities posted directly by employers, please see the Vermilion County Jobs Board at www.vermilionadvantage.com/job-board – Vermilion Advantage is Vermilion County, Illinois’ electronic resource for career and occupational opportunities, employer profiles, career information, K-16 education programs and partnerships in our area. Learn more about local training through Danville Area Community College and other local training resources. It’s all here. If you need help to be set up as a user on our Vermilion County Jobs Board page to post job openings, please contact Vermilion Advantage at 217-442-6201.

Honors & Achievements

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and a new coalition is spreading the word on how the public can become involved – see news release here

DANVILLE — The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to Danville Area Community College by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 – see news release here

Healthcare

On average there are 123 suicides a day. From 1999-2016 630,000 people died from drug overdose. Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. Adults live with a mental illness. Mental Health Training teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders – Want to take the course? Adult training is April 21 see details here

OSF Healthcare: Healthy Workplace Newsletter – see Spring edition here

Healthcare

Amanda Thoennes, Behavioral Health APRN Joins OSF Healthcare in Danville – see news release here

Education

Illinois Small Business Center at DACC – see upcoming classes & training events here

District 118 Fine Arts – save the date for the April 29 Fine Arts Festival!

DACC Courses & Trainings:

DACC Introduces an Ingenious New Program: The Engineering Hybrid – see news release here

April 20 DACC’s Business & Technology Division Open House – see flyer here

April 21 Connection Cafe Series: Mental Health, Understanding Trauma – see flyer here

May 23 Open House: Advance Your Career In Early Childhood Education – see flyer here

Deadlines to Apply for DACC Summer and Fall 2023 Health Career Programs – see details here

2023 DACC Training Opportunities – see flyer here

DACC Coordinated Engineering Program – see details here

Child Care Resource Services would like to encourage people to learn about the Grants and Scholarships that are available for Early Childhood and Education -see Higher Education Navigator Flyer here; see Early Childhood DACC flyer here; see ECACE Scholarship flyer here

New Member Alert!

Welcome to Vermilion Advantage Rossville Alvin CUSD #7 & Sheridan’s Appliance Center!

Ed Shirley

Ed Shirley is a light in the community, both figuratively and physically. If you have lived in Vermilion County for any amount of time, you have likely been blessed by Ed and his amazing talent. He is the creator and designer of the beautiful light up floats and structures that can be found throughout Central Illinois.

Ed is originally from Minok, Illinois, but has spent the last 27 years in Vermilion County. While living in Minok, he discovered his passion for parading. His high school girlfriend had show ponies that her family would drive in parades. When Ed was asked to help with the parades, he fell in love with it. Although parading soon became his passion, he would later find work in Georgetown, IL as a Water & Sewer Plant Operator. When I asked him what keeps him here in Vermilion County, he simply said, the people.

Ed and his wife Sherry reside in Georgetown, and they are active members of the community. Ed is a retired Water & Sewer Plant Operator (although he continues to be a water operator in Olivet, Hume, Allerton & Royal as well as various mobile home parks throughout central Illinois), he is the President of the Georgetown Fire District, and serves as a Deacon at the Georgetown First Church of Christ. He has 2 grown children and has adopted 2 of his grandchildren. In his “spare time” he and his wife own and operate Shirley’s Custom Lights.

Shirley’s Custom Lights creates floats for parades, as well as structures and signs for various towns and businesses. From Veterans Day to Christmas Day, Ed, his wife, and his parade team do approximately 25-30 parades. These parades span all over. They have been in Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and Illinois. He has also created several structures over the years. You can see over 100 of them on display at the Paris Twin Lake Light Display. It doesn’t take long speaking to Ed to know that he is a very humble man as he could not give enough credit to his wife and his team for helping to make all this possible. As a thank you to his team and a thank you to the towns that he operates in, Ed puts on a free parade going through Olivet, Hume, Allerton and Royal. Dressed as Santa, he hands out candy and puts smiles on faces both young and old.

Throughout my interview with Ed, he became emotional speaking of the many ways his hobby has opened doors and has become a ministry to others. Some people just see a pretty float or structure, but to others it can mean so much more. “Every piece has a different story, every parade is a new adventure but, in the end, we get to light up people’s lives and that is what it is all about.”

Thank you, Ed Shirley, for illuminating Vermilion Country with your amazing talent and your generous heart.

Written by Jodie Ingram

To nominate someone who inspires you, click below!

Click Here

Announcements & Community

BIGG Tip of the Week: Is Your Vision of Success Sabotaging Your Success?

Research shows that the more people fantasized about a better job, the less likely they were to get it. And if they did, they got paid less. People who pictured the challenges were more likely to succeed. So don’t visualize yourself reaching your goal. Instead, see yourself overcoming the obstacles to achieving it. It leads to BIGG success! Get more tips from BIGG Success here.

Doug Ireland – Prudential Advisors

Have misconceptions about life insurance? Read on to see if some of them are listed here. Why Life Insurance Is Worth Your While at Any Age – Life Happens

Leadership Tomorrow is seeking sponsors for The Amazing Race – see flyer here

City of Danville CDBG-CV Small Business Assistance Grant Program – see news release here

Motley Food Menu Options

see menu here. Visit https://www.facebook.com/MotleyFoodDanville/.

Introducing a New Event Center in Vermilion County called Blue Heron Ranch – see flyer here

Rotary Memorial Way Flag Sales – see details here; see corporate sponsorship form here; see memorial way flag form here

The Three Kings of Peace is offering rewards to help Danville Police bring justice to unsolved homicides – see news release here

SBA Working Capital Disaster Loans for Small Businesses in Illinois Affected by the 2022 Drought – Submit Completed Loan Application no later than April 26 – see news release here; see Fact sheet here

The Lions Club of Danville is collecting used sneakers to be recycled – see news release here

The City of Danville is pleased to announce the incoming of Sonic Drive-In and separate Jimmy John’s – see news release here

Illinois Housing Development Association’s Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP) is a court-based rental assistance program for people who are facing eviction and are in court proceeding – see program information here

ECICAA Announces the Start of the Energy Assistance Program

see news release here

Mimi’s Kitchen & Catering Menu Options

see buffet pricing here

see appetizer menu here

see entrée menu here

see dessert menu here

Healthy Eating Options menu here.

Visit www.mimiskitchen-catering.com

Be a voice from Vermilion County community to discuss Early Childhood service needs – see flyer here

Vermilion County Conservation District 2023 Camp Programs – see flyer here; see program registration here

The Vermilion Conservationist Spring 2023 – see here

East Central Illinois Community Action Agency VOCA Newsletter – see April edition here

SAVE THE DATE Vermilion Regional Airport is pleased to announce the return of the very popular “Cheeseburger Night” – see news release here

Need Help Finding & Affording Quality Child Care? Child Care Resource Service is here to help – see flyer here; see who we are and what we do here; see higher educational navigator flyer here

See the latest news on Bresee Tower here

Danville Dans Looking to Give Back to Community – see news release here

City of Danville is excited to continue its efforts to preserve, maintain and replace its roads in 2023 – see news release here

Upcoming Member Events

April 21 Connection Café Series Mental Health – see flyer here

April 21 East Central Illinois Community Action Agency Hosts Its 58th Annual Business Meeting & Fundraising Dinner – see news release here

April 21 Meet the Mayor at Liberty Estates – see flyer here

April 22 Survivor Resource Center – Walk a Mile in Her Shoes – see flyer here; team registration here, single participant registration here

April 22 Beer Tasting Event with Food Pairing at the Danville Boat Club – see flyer here

April 22 Turtle Run Golf Club Food Fore Golf Event – see flyer here

April 22 DEA National RX Takeback – Turn in unneeded medication for safe disposal – see flyer here

April 28 You’re Invited to Celebrate Women’s Care Clinic – see flyer here

April 29 Health Alliance Medicare Moments at the Little Lorraine Theater – see flyer here

April 29 Boys & Girls Club of Danville Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser – see flyer here

April 29 Join Boxcar Books & Vinyl for Independent Bookstore Day – see flyer here

April 29 Crafts & Tea for Mom & Me at the Vermilion County Fairgrounds – see flyer here

April 30 A Teddy Bear Tea Party at the Danville Boat Club – see flyer here

May 4 OSF Presents A Healthy Workplace Event at the Danville Country Club – see flyer here

May 6 Hoops Against Violence – see flyer here

May 13 Free Electronics Collection Event – see flyer here

May 19, 20, & 21 DLO Performs, Seussical, at The Fischer Theater – see details here

Local Sponsors Needed – DLO Musical Theatre production of Seussical the Musical is hoping to do another giveaway full of local goodies. We love supporting small businesses in the area and are looking for donations for a big gift basket

May 20 STEP into Spring Event – see flyer here

Danville Public Library – see upcoming events here

112 Wine and Coffee Shoppe:

Shoppe Hours: Monday-Thursday: 6:00AM-10:00PM; Friday & Saturday: 6:00AM-11:00pm & Sunday: 8:00AM-2:00PM

American Legion Post 210:

Friday Dinner served 5:00PM-7:00PM with options of beer battered fish, shrimp, and a variety of sandwiches

Big Thorn Farm & Brewery:

Bar Hours: Friday 3:00-9:00PM, Saturday Noon-9:00PM, Sunday 10:00AM–4:00PM
Enjoy our delicious craft beer, great food, and one-of-a-kind Greenhouse Bar setting.
Families always welcome and dogs are welcome as well but must remain on leashes

Boxcar Books & Vinyl:

We have a club for that! The Donut Club grades 5-8, The Coffee Club grades 8-12 and the Adult Book Club.
Check out our Rail Mail Book Subscription Boxes. Choose your genre and the number of months you’d like to subscribe and we will ship you a new release book and bookish gifts each month!
For more details visit our website here

Danville Boat Club: (15750 Boat Club Road)

Big Burger Tuesday Members & Invited Guest- Doors Open at 5 orders taken starting at 5:30PM: Several burger, shrimp, and chicken options.
April 22 Beer Tasting Event with Food Pairing – see flyer here
April 23 Breakfast on the Lake – see flyer here
April 30 A Teddy Bear Tea Party – see flyer here

Fischer Theatre:

April 21 Everything Everywhere All at Once showing at 7:00PM
April 22 Everything Everywhere All at Once showing at 2:00PM & 7:00PM
April 28 The Whale showing at 7:00PM
Visit atthefischer.com for ticket information

Gao Grotto:

Friday Night Cook 5:30PM-7:30PM menu will be as follows; cheeseburger/hamburgers, chicken strips, pork fritters, and grilled chicken sandwich. All meals come with 2 sides; fries, onion rings, coleslaw, and beans
Dixie Flyers Band will be playing in the hall from 7:00PM-9:00PM
Come on out and dance the dust right off them boots!

Sleepy Creek Vineyards:

Mondays: Yoga & Wine with Linda every Monday; Doors open at 5:30PM Class begins at 6:00PM, Cost is $10
Tuesdays: Yoga & Wine with Mandy every Tuesday; Doors open at 5:30PM Class begins at 6:00PM, Cost is $10
Wednesday: 12:00PM-7:00PM For a limited time, Wine Down ALL DAY Wednesday. $5 any glass of wine, small slushy, or small sangria. Take a mid-week break to relax and unwind!
Fridays: Wieners & Wine Friday 5:00PM-8:00PM
April 22 Food Truck On-Site: Up In Smoke BBQ 4:00PM-8:00PM
April 22 After Dark Music Series: Total Sacrifice 8:00PM-10:00PM
April 23 Mother’s Day Minis Message L&S Photography to Claim your time slot!
Sundays: Winey Mary Bar Every Sunday Noon-6:00PM
Sleepy Creek Hours: Sunday-Tuesday Noon-6:00PM; Wednesday-Thursday-Saturday Noon-7:00PM & Friday Noon-9:00PM. Please visit our Facebook page at Sleepy Creek Vineyards or online at www.sleepycreekvineyards.com for updates

Turtle Run Golf Club:

2023 Turtle Run Golf Events here
2023 Couples Golf Events here
April 22 Food Fore Golf Event – everyone is welcome to participate! See flyer here
May 3 – August 9 Wednesday Night Golf League – see flyer here
May 11 – August 24 Thursday Night Ladies League – see flyer here
May 26 BHRA 4 Person Golf Scramble – see flyer here
For membership information and golf rates, please visit our website at https://turtlerungolfclub.com/

VFW Post 728: (8 Pine Street, Danville)

Fridays: fish fillet dinners and Bill’s seafood chowder will be served from 5:00PM-8:00PM/ Dine in and carry-outs available
Sundays: Family bingo every Sunday promptly at 2:00PM. Children are welcome, but be 18 years of age to play. A Sunday lunch special and a variety of sandwiches and snack foods are available.

Westville American Legion Post 51: