The Chambana Volunteer, Jan. 19-26
Spotlight on a Cause:
Champaign County Humane Society
The Champaign County chapter of the Humane Society began in 1903 with a primary focus on helping disadvantaged children and animals. Years later, a group of concerned citizens created Champaign County’s first animal shelter in Bondville, before moving into the Humane Society’s current shelter in 1988. The Humane Society is a unique nonprofit in the respect that is does not receive any sort of funding through the government or other social entities and relies solely on donations from local businesses and individuals. Through such connections in the community, the shelter has been able to find homes for an uncountable number of animals and is able to provide pet-owners with a plethora of resources. Volunteers are always needed at the Humane Society to help provide for the primary needs of the animals, provide foster homes for animals, aid in the adoption process and for special events and fundraisers. An upcoming Volunteer Orientation for the Humane Society is scheduled for Thursday, January 19 and Thursday, February 23 from 6-7 PM at the Champaign Public Library. For more information on how to volunteer or to see current volunteer opportunities, go to http://www.cuhumane.org/volunteers/index.html.

Volunteers Needed:
City of Urbana Zoning Board of Appeals
The City of Urbana is looking for volunteers to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is a commission that has the power and duty to hear and decide minor variances and conditional use requests and to provide major variance recommendations to the Urbana City Council. Members must be citizens of the City of Urbana. Regular meetings are scheduled to be held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Urbana City Council Chambers unless otherwise noticed. For further information, please contacts Robert Myers, Planning Manager, at (217) 384-2440 or for an application, please call the Mayor’s office at (217) 384-2456.
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
What Lincoln Center is to New York and the Kennedy Center is to Washington, D.C., Krannert Center is to the Midwest--a magnificent showcase for the performing arts. Training and certification for ushering and leading tours begin at the start of each University semester. Volunteers interested in ushering, conducting tours of the Center, or helping with mailings and other projects should contact Crystal Womble at 244-0549 or by email at cwomble@illinois.edu.
Upcoming Events
MLK Jr. Celebration Events
A notable quote from Dr. King: “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?’”In honor of MLK Day and the National Day of Service, the University of Illinois has partnered with several other local organizations to provide an assortment of community-wide, free events for two weeks. Events include receptions, film screenings, speakers and workshops, and volunteer opportunities. For a full calendar of events, go to http://inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu/mlk/calendar.html.
Disclaimer: I gather this information based on local community calendars and from colleagues at local service organizations. Some of the wording is based directly on what I receive and research. Please feel free to email me if you have any comments, questions, or have anything you would like to see posted. Thank you. (MER)
Most Recent Culture Comments
@Jason: You’re right about that. I get groceries at Schnucks (they carry what I buy, which I can’t say of any other single grocery store in town), and if they have a beer I’m in the market for it’s usually a quarter or two cheaper per 6-…
Best Neighborhood Bar (& Grill) : Urbana - My ‘hood- the ‘Boom! http://www.boomerangbarandgrill.com Go on a Wing Wednesday or Fish Friday, or see a band play some night. Local blue-collar Urbana terroir galore. My only beer snobbish gripe is lack of a pale hopped ale, but you…
The one thing that’s bothered me for a while about the Friar is that, for most commonly purchased adult beverages, you can actually walk down the strip mall to Schnucks and get them cheaper. It makes no sense, but there it is. I suspect it’s because Schnucks…
Maybe I complained enough in person. One time I even explained to the (wholly uninterested) clerk how to navigate the Illinois Statutes web page, and Savoy’s Municipal Code database I wouldn’t know because I only go there when I want to pay 30% more for anything, which is never.
@Rob: You seem to have the weirdest experiences. I’m in Friar Tuck every other week (don’t tell my mom that I’m a lush). They never fail to ask for my birth date but never my age, they never card afterwards, and they often allow me to use…
This column affords me a long-awaited opportunity. I’ve wanted to write my own column called Fuck You Friar Tuck Liquors. but I always thought it’d be too pithy. Here, I can say Fuck You Friar Tuck Liquors and not feel bothered to stretch it out to 750…
Most Recent Comments
it’s quite choice. looking forward to seeing how it and its patronage grow and develop over the course of the year. could be a neat little ecosystem.
“It was at this point, before he started his business, that working with city employees should’ve raised red flags…” But they didn’t because: 1) The City Clerk’s office originally mis-interpreted the rules, or are indeed re-interpreting them. 2) Champaign’s brick-n-mortar merchants hadn’t yet started whining about The Crave Truck.
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.

Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!