The National Covid Center opened at Cass and Eastern Ave. a week ago to provide urgent COVID lab services to the community. The Addison, Il based company has 1 site in Joliet and is affiliated with the Illinois Department of Health, according to Mr. Taki a senior executive for the center. They are CLIA certified and follow the CDC COVID-19 recommendations to provide a safe environment for all patients who wish to get tested. This information was posted on their website. Taki said, “the center is not a pop-up site,” and that they set-up sites in communities that don’t have access to testing.
said
Posted inTimes Weekly News
White House announces the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking
The updated National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking responds to this predatory behavior by addressing the needs of underserved individuals, families, and communities. As such, officials said it reflects the administration’s commitments to gender and racial equity by taking action against the systemic injustices that communities experience, including underserved populations.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Toys For Tots Caring4Christmas giveaway
TTW Staff On Saturday, December 18, Igniting The Fire Prayer Ministry and Hope & Diving Purpose Transitional Living Home, Inc celebrated its 1st Annual Toys For Tots Caring4 Christmas toy give a way, to help single mothers and families who are experiencing financial instability during this Holiday season. Every child should have a happy Christmas, said Prophetess Ora Holloway, owner of Igniting The Fire Prayer Ministry.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Preserving the sounds of some of Joliet’s history
Soon anyone will be able to “hear” what life was like 50 years ago in Joliet and it won’t be from someone reading a book, but from people who lived through some of the hard times of the early 20th century. The Joliet Junior College Library and Joliet Area Historical Museum (JAHM) have teamed to digitize 55 audio recordings that offer first-hand accounts of life in the Joliet area during the first half of the 20th Century. The project, which consists of more than 3,300 minutes of audio cassette reels, was funded by the JJC Foundation, with support from the nonprofit Experimental Sound Studio in Chicago. The audio comes from interviews conducted 50 years ago with residents born near the beginning of the 20th Century. The digitization is an expansion of the library’s recent transcription of the interviews. “Listeners will hear about the hardships faced by individuals and families and also a broader perspective on the Great Depression and the world wars,” said Amy Chellino, archive specialist with the JJC Library. “The interactions are timeless conversations between generations and are reminders of the ephemeral moments we have in our lifetimes.”
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Illinois Lottery player is finalist for “Powerball First Millionaire of the Year “drawing
TTW Staff
A Lottery player from Aurora could ring in the New Year $1 million richer after being selected as one of the finalists in the “Powerball® First Millionaire of the Year” drawing!
And the winner is going to be drawn live on air, just after midnight on New Year’s Eve, as part of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2022” Linda Perkins from Aurora, IL is one of five finalists who were randomly selected, in a preliminary drawing, from a national pool of lottery players from across 29 U.S. lotteries. “I learned that I won from an email in the middle of my workday, so I was really shocked,” said Perkins. “I can’t believe it; I’m still having a hard time believing this – I’m in total shock.”
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Economic development takes center stage in Will County
Business means jobs and officials from the Will County Center for Economic Development (CED) understand that in a big way. The CED is geared up to present its Annual Report to Investors on Friday, Dec. 3 at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. “We’re really excited about this year. This is the first time our investors group, guests and friends are going to be meeting in person since March 2020. We’re really looking forward to that crowd interaction and getting a chance to get in front of people.” John Greuling, President and CEO of the CED said.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Rental assistance applications open on December 6th
TTW Will County residents and landlords will have another opportunity to apply for up to $25,000 in rental assistance through the Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP), which will begin Monday, December 6, 2021, through January 9, 2022. “Over the past year, we have been able to provide over $23 million in rental assistance for Will County tenants and landlords who have been impacted by COVID-19,” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “I am pleased that we are able to open a new application window to help families who are still in need of assistance and provide landlords relief from past due rent.”
Posted inTimes Weekly News
USF joins State program to help recruit, retain teachers of color
There are 24 Illinois colleges and universities, including the University of St. Francis (USF) that have volunteered for a pilot program to develop plans to recruit and retain future teachers of color. According to The Illinois State Board of Education (SBE), the pilot will help establish best practices ahead of ISBE requiring all 54 Illinois educator preparation programs to develop plans next year. “The diversity of Illinois is one of our state’s greatest strengths – including in our classrooms,” said Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. “By recruiting faculty of color who share their students’ lived experiences or expand their perspectives, our schools can empower more students to achieve their goals and pursue their passions. This pilot program is just the beginning of ISBE’s recruitment efforts, and I commend the leadership of the 24 colleges and universities who have volunteered to spearhead this initiative with us.” “I applaud the 24 colleges and universities that have volunteered to lead the way in breaking down barriers for people of color to join the teaching profession,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “All students, and especially students of color, benefit from having diverse educators throughout their school experiences. My own mentors in my career have been people of color like me. When the role models and people in positions of authority in our lives look like us, that shapes our perception of our place in the world in a positive and powerful way.”
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Will County CED to unveil Annual Report to Investors this Friday in Bolingbrook
The Will County Center for Economic Development will present its Annual Report to Investors on Friday, Dec. 3 at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. The event is “back in person in 2021,” officials said. Last year’s event had to held virtually due to the COVID pandemic.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Local families are looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday
Unlike last November’s small gatherings, this week’s Thanksgiving celebrations across the country have many people saying “go big or go home.” As many in this country have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, residents in Will County are confident celebrating the holiday with family and friends will not cause medical issues for them. Marisha Jackson of Joliet said she plans to go all out this Thanksgiving. “Besides my family, I am having my cousins, aunts and uncles over,” she said. “I love to cook so this holiday is ideal for me. Last year, it was just my husband, myself and our two children. I would rather cook for a large group than a few. It makes the holiday much more special when we can pass the food around and share laughs.”
