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JCJ News

Illinois apple orchard succeeds over insect, weather challenges

By PHYLLIS COULTER FarmWeek Two wagonloads of specialty growers were guided through rows of apples at Jonamac Orchard and learned how this year’s crop was saved from frost damage. The U-pick orchard, part of a 105-acre family-owned farm in DeKalb County, consists of more than 20,000 trees growing more than 30 varieties of apples. Spychal…

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Illinois Valley Senior Citizens menu – July 4, 2024

Reservations must be made by 12 p.m. prior to the day you wish to eat. If you have made reservations and cannot attend, please notify the center at 618-498-3483. Whole wheat bread served daily except when noted with (*). 2% milk served daily. The menu may be subject to change based on product availability.

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Let’s Cook! 7.04.24

Whew, it’s been hot! I hope you are all able to stay cool. With this heat, who wants to turn on the oven? And so I have two recipes for pies that don’t require the oven to be turned on. One recipe requires no baking, the other depends on your choice of pie crust. These…

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When and how to pick your vegetables for best quality

By Ken Johnson There aren’t many things more satisfying than going out to your garden and harvesting your produce. All the digging, watering, and weeding you’ve done in your vegetable garden suddenly become worthwhile when you’ve picked your first tomato. One of the advantages of having a garden is that you can pick your vegetables…

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Boaters welcome new public boat docks at Grafton’s Lighthouse Park

Addressing the long-time need for safer public boat docks at Lighthouse Park, Grafton purchased a new dock in early spring. The city consulted with Joe DeSherlia of the Grafton Marina to determine the specifications for a suitable river dock that will adequately serve the many boaters who visit Grafton. Tiger Docks of Wright City, Missouri…

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NGRREC receives $8k grant from Bayer Fund for Annual Water Festival

The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC     ) has been awarded a grant from Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S. This grant will be used toward building a better future by increasing water literacy in the Lewis and Clark Community College District and adjacent communities through its…

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Application period for local park development grants now open

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will accept applications for the next round of Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants between July 1 through Sept. 13. OSLAD is a matching program that provides an advance payment (for development projects only) of 50% of the grant award amount shortly after the grant agreement…

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