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Aaron Woodard at the 2025 Gala Celebration held at Lorenzo R. Smith School. Photo by Louise Campbell-Anthony Aaron, age 24 - “I believe the reason I was hired to the line and selected to go to China is that I told them I had taken 4 years of Spanish. That I was diligent at practicing my Spanish when I was at DePaul and with the CDC. While with the CDC, I practiced it to bridge the gap with our Latino community. I also told them I’m trying to learn Chinese. ” Aaron came to Hop

Source: By Pat Leonard, June 12, 2017 - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/the-beauty-and-biology-of-egg-color/ From the Summer 2017 issue of Living Bird magazine. Subscribe now . Fish do it. Frogs do it. Even insects lay eggs with color. But birds do it best. Only birds produce eggs in such a wide range of eye-pleasing shades and intricate patterns on the hard surface of their eggs. Like gems in a jeweler’s window, they vary in base color, how shiny they are, and whether t

Gloria Hamilton, mentor for C.R.A.F.T. “I have worked with Center for Re-Creation and Family Training (C.R.A.F.T) for over 25 years. I am a board member and a staff member. I mentor junior high school students (6th - 8th grade) at Lorenzo R. Smith School. I encourage students in life skills, self-esteem and character education. C.R.A.F.T has been instrumental in helping me achieve my long-term goal of empowering local youth to reach their full potential and help them strive

PHP, if you see dead whole trees or trees with rolled, twisted, or cupped leaves [see picture], it may be caused by chemical or herbicide drift. Over 70% of PHP is farmed by large commercial Ag producers with little local regulations and oversight. Unfortunately, the heavy reliance on toxic pesticides, herbicides, and artificial fertilizers affects PHP residents, wildlife, and the landscapes at multiple levels. Drifts can spread in a 1-mile radius . Herbicide-impacted trees.

e-Bird App and form for PHP to get ready for bird migration in April- May. Please, take the Bird Migration Survey Click link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaq3qLlLpzSCNgoB9_TLQ_dwZ9zDBdWCfnlLDTQQPhd-tc2g/viewform?usp=send_form

We are in a serious housing and affordability crisis. Before we can find solutions, we must first understand the problem. The following information can bring light to reality. Out of Reach Housing Stats for IL Source: https://nlihc.org/oor/state/il Click on the link and see the document below to learn more: https://nlihc.org/oor/state/il

Register TODAY! https://forms.gle/Rd84ozK4putSHHGEA The tournament is published in the Illinois Chess Association and nationally via the United States Chess Federation email system. The OKAN Chess Tournament will be on March 28th, 10 AM - 2 PM at: 4 Rounds Swiss G/15;d5. Awards will be Trophies 1st - 5th Place. Get Ready with Wednesday Night Chess!

The PHP Farmers Conference on March 7th was well-attended and full of conversation! Thanks to Marty Travis of Down at the Farm, an aggregated wholesale marketplace. Also, a big thanks to Wand Larry xxx for sharing an international market opportunity in China that is coming up in May!  Please see the links to the contracts and information for both if interested. Produce Safety Alliance [PSA] and ServSafe Training took place Feb. 8th and Feb 21st with the University of IL and

Data Centers: Environmental and Community Impacts and the Path Ahead March 5, 2026 | 7:00 pm | On Zoom Register Here: Link Suddenly, data centers are a hot issue all over Michigan. Twenty new data centers proposals are being pushed in our state by big and wealthy tech interests, at least half of which are huge hyperscale centers. Communities are wary and people are protesting. How will new centers affect electricity demand and rates, water usage and water rates, and clea

Hair extensions used primarily by Black women contain a “shocking” range of dangerous chemicals, including breast carcinogens, new research shows. Source: By Liza Gross February 11, 2026 https://insideclimatenews.org/news/11022026/unregulated-hair-extensions-harmful-chemicals A hairdresser braids a client’s hair with synthetic hair extensions in Lusaka, Zambia, on Aug. 15, 2023. Credit: Lillian Banda/Xinhua via Getty Images Elissia Franklin is an analytical chemist with an in

Speaking to world leaders at Davos, He Lifeng invited other countries to “embrace the opportunities” of Chinese-made renewable energy technologies. Source: By Dylan Baddour January 21, 2026 https://insideclimatenews.org/news/21012026/economic-interests-drive-chinese-climate-leadership-amid-u-s-retreat/?utm_source=InsideClimate+News&utm_campaign=cd17967840-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_01_24_11_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-cd17967840-330597778 China's Vice-Premier He Lifeng

While oil exploration has occurred in the broader Kankakee Valley area, including attempts near Pembroke Township, no commercially viable oil fields or significant ongoing oil production have been established in Pembroke Township or Kankakee County. Relevant Oil Facts Exploration History: Oil exploration has a history in the Kankakee Valley region. An account from the early 20th century describes an oil well being drilled near Thayer (likely in Indiana, but in the general re

Source: by Ethan Rodriguez | October 20, 2025 https://www.acrevalue.com/resources/blog/can-a-property-owner-block-an-easement-a-comprehensive-guide/ Navigating property rights can feel like learning a new language. Between ownership boundaries, access rights, and legal restrictions, few topics create as much confusion as easements. These legal agreements shape how land is used every day, from where utilities run to who can drive across a private road. For many property owners

Source: https://www.momentumminerals.com/who-owns-my-mineral-rights If you’re a landowner asking, “Who owns my mineral rights?”—you’re not alone. The world of mineral rights can be a maze of legal jargon and historical twists, leaving many property owners scratching their heads. Whether you're considering leasing, selling, or simply curious about your rights, understanding mineral ownership is essential. What Are Mineral Rights? Mineral rights refer to the ownership of resour

Energy efficiency is a process that reduces the amount of energy or fuel required to produce a product or service, or to heat and cool...

UPDATES as of 9.27.2025. September 22, 2025 - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources arrived in Pembroke Township to investigate...

Our first Workshop Wednesdays event, Holistic Health Workshop, with Herbalist , Entrepreneur, and CDC Board Member, Marc Haygood, was a...

Kachi Energy Company (KEC), based of Elgin, Illinois, is proposing to develop a 46-megawatt (MW) solar farm in Pembroke Township on the...

Next Volunteer Day @ OKA'N is October 18th. Thanks to Olivet students for the "Get-it-Done" attitude on Volunteer day last Saturday....

To all who attended the PSCC Regional Conference: The regional Prairie State Conservation Coalition [PSCC], Living Lands of Kankakee...