Hidden Gem?
Quite simply, we don’t know. Can you guess where this building is located? Look at the far ends of each elevation for a clue. If that’s not enough, maybe this vintage pic from NRDS will help.
Go to What Was There and explore more hidden (and lost) Blue Island this Preservation Month. We recommend the app for a unique on-street tour!
CG2 build day on Flickr.
Another successful day planting and building at CG2.
See more pics at Norman Rexford’s flickr
Eat Local with a Blue Island Delivery!
Have you wanted to “eat local,” but didn’t know how? Don’t have time for the farmers markets? What if we told you that organic, local produce is delivered to Blue Island every week?! We’re encouraging everyone to join the local food movement and sign up for produce from Genesis Growers.
Blue Island residents began weekly deliveries of produce, eggs, and chicken from Genesis Growers last year, when we became one of their communities that subscribe to their CSA. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. This means a community like ours supports local, sustainable farming practices by purchasing “shares” in the harvest, which gives you healthy food, grown right here in Illinois using organic methods, and delivered to a home in Blue Island for pick up by the shareholders.
What this means is each week you get a box PACKED with produce. Everything is seasonal, so while there are some things that will grow all summer, other items change with the time of the year. Expect lots of greens, lettuces, root veggies, and other hardy crops. As the season moves on, up come the peppers, the tomatoes, the eggplants, all sorts of surprises. Everything is FRESH from the Earth.
Ready to go farm-to-fork? Here’s how it works:
Blue Island’s Uptown TOD District
Blue Islanders have long enjoyed the conveniences of a central business district and easy connections to public transit. The rest of Chicagoland first took notice with the adoption of our Blue Island Plan for Economic Development. One of the goals of the Blue Island Plan was to adopt zoning and land use regulations that promoted the assets of our Uptown commercial area through Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).
Transit-Oriented Development is simply that: guiding a community’s development so that connections to transit are promoted as one of the many benefits of living in a station area. For Blue Island residents it’s a quick trip to work or an easy way to reach cultural attractions. It’s also affordable, keeping money in your pocket, and good for the environment too.
Supported by a grant from the Regional Transportation Agency (RTA), Blue Island is poised to consider its first major zoning amendment in nearly twenty years. Working with planners and architects at Teska Associates and Ginkgo Planning, who reviewed all the work of the Blue Island Plan, interviewing stakeholders and both the Blue Island Historic Preservation Commission and Plan Commission along the way, a final draft has been prepared for presentation.
Blue Island Posts a Preserve America Success
Preserve America, a grant program launched by First Lady Laura Bush and managed by the National Park Service, has been an unbridled success in Blue Island. This unique program provided the funding to create public-private partnerships that built on history and culture as economic development fundamentals, creating opportunities to promote heritage tourism as a model for stronger communities.
Blue Island launched its Preserve America grant with a call to define our “brand,” creating a logo and tagline - Think Outside the Loop - that will guide our marketing efforts. “Think Outside the Loop” is a terrific fit for who we are and what we do. Blue Island is a creative, independent, and diverse community. We welcome all who want to experience what we have to offer.
Designer and artist Kevin Jones was invited to interpret six themes or “niches” that Preserve America has helped develop.
“Think Heritage”
Explore railroad history, a century of architecture, and the footprint of industry. Blue Island invites you to Think Heritage.
“Think Culture”
Picture diverse neighborhoods, a vibrant arts scene, and engaging cultural programs. Blue Island invites to to Think Culture.
“Think Local”
Discover homegrown foods, authentic restaurants, and family-run businesses. Blue Island invites you to Think Local.
“Think Play”
Enjoy miles of trails, sports and leisure, and outdoor recreation. Blue Island invites you to Think Play.
“Think Green”
Envision tree-lined streets, a transit-oriented community, and a sustainable future. Blue Island invites you to Think Green.
“Think Blue”
Imagine picturesque waterfalls, native landscapes, and leisurely waterways. Blue Island invites you to Think Blue.
So spread the word… tell friends, family, even strangers, it’s time they started thinking about Blue Island!
Thanks to all who supported Preserve America. We were fortunate to work with a number of “Think Local” businesses, including James Street Associates, GL Studios, Franklin Framing, Colyer Signs, and Folgers Flags. Many more “Think Local” businesses, such as Carr Gardens, Shawn Michelle’s, Tenochtitlan, Ultra Foods, Aldi, Darling, Calumet Park Troublemakers, and MetroSouth Medical Center all donated to the grant, helping us meet our matching fund goal. Please support all of our community-minded businesses. We’d like to share a special thanks from the City of Blue Island to Kathryn Warnes at the National Park Service for all her help and support.
10 Resolutions You Can Keep LOCAL!
Get Fit: the classic. After the holidays, don’t we all want to lose a few pounds? Curves offers a free week to get started. And did you know MetroSouth Medical Center has a Fitness Center? Open to everyone 6 days a week, call 708-597-2000 to learn more. And the Blue Island Park District offers something for everyone, from Belly Dancing to Zumba, from Kickboxing to Yoga!
Go Green: Walk and Bike! Pair this one with “Get Fit” and you have a resolution two-fer! Now doesn’t that feel good? Taking transit is another great way to get around town, so next time you’re headed to the Loop for work or play, hop on Metra. Over 100 trains depart and arrive in Blue Island daily!
Save Money: Great Lakes Bank has been in business in BI for 115 Years! You don’t last that long if you don’t know how to do once thing well—save money. See the bankers at Great Lakes or any of our other banks, such as First Midwest or Charter One and stash your cash here in the Island!
Learn Something New: Head straight over to Moraine Valley’s Blue Island campus, when they opened all new classrooms and a student lounge this past fall. Looks fab! Nearly 70 courses are offered, and tutoring is available in math, English, computers, and literacy. The Spring 2012 semester starts January 21.
Eat Healthier: Feed yourself, your family, and friends right in 2012 by joining one of Blue Island’s Community Gardens. Located at Memorial Park and the Tommy A. Brown Sports Association, gardeners will start in the spring with seedlings. Or inquire about a CSA in town, like last summer’s bounty from Genesis Growers.
Spend More Time with Family: You can’t go wrong here. We like time together outdoors at the Hart Park Ice Rink. The arts provide an enriching experience for both you and your kids, so plan for a night of live theater with Stray Dog Theatre Compay, visit Cornerstone Gallery at their next open house or just stroll by our fav pop-up, 12840 Gallery. Support the music program at Eisenhower HS by attending their next concert. Or look for lectures, book signings, and more at the Blue Island Library and Historical Society.
Be Less Stressed: Slow down. Why drive to the big box store? Think first: can I buy it in Blue Island? See the Chamber of Commerce website for a list of member businesses and you might be surprised how far your dollar goes in BI! Reward yourself with a sweet treat at Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream. Who can be stressed with a smile on their face?!
Volunteer: It’s hard to beat the good feeling of helping others. Give a call to any of our local institutions, such as the Salvation Army. Want to help our kids succeed? Volunteers are needed at District 130, where you can help read to students, assist in the library, act as a mentor, help out in the main office, assist in the lunchroom or at recess, and much more.
Clean Up the Clutter: Overwhelmed at home or in the office? Head down to Jebens on Olde Western. With 135+ years of experience, there isn’t a problem these pros haven’t seen—and they have the supplies to do it right. Not the DIY type? Hire a local carpenter to build the closet of your dreams!
Support Blue Island: want to do more for your hometown? There are so many ways! Get to know your neighbors better by starting a cooking club. Shovel the snow this winter for someone you know could use the help. Share a great story or photos of Blue Island on facebook. Review our restaurants and shops on yelp!
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together” (Van Gogh). There are many ways, most of them simple and small, that we can do our part to help build community. Let’s all resolve to make Blue Island a better, healthier place to live in 2012.
Planning Locally for Livability
Watch for local stars in the latest in the GO TO 2040 video series, which highlights the benefits of municipalities’ planning comprehensively.
The video focuses on comprehensive plans in development by Blue Island and Campton Hills, and on the sustainability plan prepared by Park Forest. These projects benefit from the CMAP Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program, which is supported by a three-year, $4.25 million HUD Sustainable Communities grant that funds CMAP staff assistance to help local governments, nonprofits, and other organizations to help implement the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan.
GIVE Local on DonorsChoose.org
The holidays are a wonderful time of the year, filled with cherished memories and tradition. It’s when we share gifts with those we love and care about most.
We’d like to do more, reaching out and helping those who have asked.
DonorsChoose.org provides a great platform for reaching children in Blue Island schools. Their motto: “Teachers ask. You choose. Students learn.” The kids in classrooms taught by Mr. House (Whittier), Mrs. Sheehan (Eisenhower), Mr. Antos (Eisenhower) and Mr. McCann (VMMS) are all waiting for donations from you! CLICK HERE NOW TO VIEW! By helping fund these proposals you can be confident you are making a difference in Blue Island.
Calling All Photographers - Enter the Blue Island Photo Contest
To celebrate their 10th anniversary, Franklin Framing is holding a Blue Island photo contest - now through 11/28. Winners will be displayed at their Open House on 11/3. The party starts at 6pm, immediately after the Light Parade on Western Avenue.
Photography Contest Details
Deadline: Monday, November 28, 2011 - 5pm
How to Enter: Email your digital file to greg@franklinframing.com or drop off a glossy print at the shop.
Entry Categories:
- Buildings & structures
- People
- Gardens
**Limit 1 per category. Your image must relate to Blue Island.**
Prizes:
- 1st prize - free framing of the winner
- 2nd prize - $100 framing gift certificate
- 3rd prize - $50 framing gift certificate
Questions?: Call 708-389-0000
