This year marks the 200th since Illinois became a state and a few upcoming Southland happenings have joined the events and projects throughout the state that are officially linked to the state’s big anniversary. The statewide celebration will culminate with a grand bicentennial birthday party Dec. 3 ath the United Center in Chicago.
Close to home officially endorsed Illinois bicentennial events large and small are taking place throughout the spring and summer.
Chicago Ridge Butterfly Garden
The opening of a butterfly garden outside the Chicago Ridge Village Hall is tentatively scheduled for May 20.
Village Clerk Barbara Harrison said that date may have to be pushed a week because of the late start to spring.
The planting will be done by girl and boy scouts and local student volunteers, she said.
The garden will be filled with native pollinator plants, as well as milkweed, and will be designed to attract birds and bees.
But Harrison said organizers are most hoping to attract large numbers of one small insect.
That is the monarch butterfly. As the monarch is the state butterfly it’s providing the project’s bicentennial bona fides.
The garden also will have signs installed that will inform about the monarch butterfly and explain the importance of these types of gardens.
“We tried to make it very educational and very pretty,” Harrison said.
She said it’s important more native pollinator plants are planted to encourage the endangered butterfly and bee populations in the Prairie State, adding gravitas to the garden’s beauty. As Illinois is in the heart of the nation’s bread basket, pollinating insects take on an even larger role, as they’re essential in crop production of local farmers.
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Even little projects such as Chicago Ridge’s bicentennial effort can pack a punch, she said.
“It’s not a huge garden but it’s powerful,” Harrison said.
Glenwood Veterans’ Memorial dedication
The village’s Veterans Bicentennial Memorial will be dedicated with a program Saturday.
The memorial, at Main and Rebecca streets near the Glenwood Post Office, will consist of flags from all branches of the military, as well as a U.S. flag, an Illinois bicentennial flag and the village flag.
It also includes benches donated by Robinson Engineering and Comcast.
“It will be a nice place for people walking down Main Street to sit down and talk,” said JoAnne Alexander, director of the village’s senior center. “We’re lucky to have it put in before summer.”
She said the plan is to eventually plant a flowers garden around the memorial.
Alexander said the flags were once situated on a bridge in the village that had to be moved ahead of an Illinois Department of Transportation construction project.
Saturday’s program, which starts at 10 a.m., will include the raising of the village flag by Mayor Ronald Gardiner.
Several elected officials plan to be on hand, including State Rep. Anthony DeLuca and State Sen. Napoleon Harris.
State history in song in Hazel Crest
The South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society in Hazel Crest is marking a milestone along with the state as it celebrates its 50th birthday this year.
On May 12 performer David Drake will give a presentation at the group’s research library at 3000 W. 170th Place.
Drake will perform a multimedia musical history of Illinois starting at 10 a.m.
Birthday cake will be served after the program. The fee is $3 for non-members.
Main street photos displayed in Lansing
On May 15 at the library, photographer John Lynn will give a presentation about his 30-year project discovering the many “main streets” in mostly small towns in Illinois.
He will talk about the charms, traditions and personalities of many Illinois towns.
The program starts at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required at the library, 2750 Indiana Ave. or online at lansingpl.org.
A complete listing of all the events and projects marking the state’s bicentennial is at Illinois200.com.
Frank Vaisvilas is a freelancer for the Daily Southtown.