Bringing a locavore movement to Belvidere | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Libby Parker

Locavore is a word that was coined in 2007 by Jessica Prentice, a chef, author and founding member of a community supported kitchen in Berkeley, CA.  It defines a person who eats fresh produce from local farms

Chamberlain has a dream – a future goal of starting a storefront market in downtown Belvidere.  But it doesn’t stop there.

“We would like to reinvigorate the downtown economy through a locavore movement,” he said.  “It can also help the food pantry.”  The plan would include attracting sellers of wool and other products from farms, as well.

“The idea is conversational at this point.”

Chamberlain and Boone County Associate Planner Gina DelRose will be putting their heads together to produce some printed materials that will outline their ideas for the project.

“By growing season next year, we are hoping to have a good idea of who would want to participate,” he said. “If we can start a vibrant enough locavore movement, it would be a great draw to have a locavore restaurant.”  He likes the idea of the storefront having a certified kitchen for all of those who join the locavore movement.  Cooks could preserve their fruits and vegetables here to offer to the public.

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  Bringing a locavore movement to Belvidere | Belvidere Daily Republican

ATTN Fair Goers: Stop by the Democratic Tent and fill out a survey on Boone County politics

 

The survey consists of ten questions regarding your school district and local political issues.

The  Boone County Journal has tentatively agreed to publish the results the week after the fair.  Only surveys completed at the tent will be counted.

 The ten questions are shown below.

Questionnaire for the 2013 Boone County Fair

1. How well does your school district prepare students for college and the work place? 

• A. Does both jobs very well
• B. Prepares students for college but not work place
• C. Prepares students well for the work place but not for college.
• D. Does not prepare students well for either college or work place
• E. Does an excellent job only in some area such as____________________

Please supply your public school district number.  ____________________   (District 100--Belvidere; District 200-- North Boone; District 205--Rockford;  Others-- please supply name or number) 

2.  If you were going to convince someone to move to Boone County, which of the following reasons would you use?

Please number the reasons in order of importance  1-9 using a “0” for reasons you would not use.

• A. ______________Good Quality School System
• B. ______________Rural Environment
• C. ______________Low Taxes
• D. ______________Proximity to Chicago and collar counties
• E. ______________Inexpensive Housing
• F. ______________Job prospects in Boone-Winnebago Counties
• G. ______________Recreational Opportunities
• H. ______________Friendly accepting neighborhoods
• I. _____________The County Fair and other local events

--CIRCLE YOUR ANSWER or Fill in Blank--

3. Do you think that the current county open burning ordinances are strict enough? Yes or No?  Don’t have an opinion.

4.  Does Boone County need a soup kitchen for the homeless?   Yes or No?  Don’t have an opinion.

If yes, in what community should it be located?   __________________

5. There currently is a county wide Public Safety Sales Tax of ½ cent. It is schedule to stop in 2018.  In the past several years this sales taxes paid not only for principle and interest on the Public Safety Building but for salaries and Jail expenses.

A. Do you favor a continuation of this tax after the building is paid off in 2018?  Yes or No? No Opinion

B. Would you support a referendum authorizing continuing this tax after 2018?  Yes or No? No Opinion

6. Under proper regulation would you be in favor of wind energy projects in Boone County? Yes or No? No Opinion.

7. The Federal and State government should subsidize low cost pre-school learning programs.  Agree or Disagree?  No opinion.

8.  Ida Public Library is the only public library in the county.  Most county residents outside of Belvidere must pay a fee to have a library card.  Would you support a tax referendum to extend “feeless” library service to the rest of the county?      Yes or No?  No opinion.  I am a City of Belvidere resident. Yes or No?

9.   Most Boone County Sheriff’s deputies are provided a squad car to take home during their off time shift.  Do you agree with this policy?  Yes or No?  If you believe the policy should be modified in some way, how?

10.  What do you believe is the most important issue facing Boone County? 

Survey helps develop plan for feeding the hungry | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

Surveys from two of those three locations have been tabulated, with responses from 233 of the families. Here’s some of what they were saying:

Most, 84 percent, were in long-term housing with 14 percent in short-term housing and 2 percent being homeless. Twenty-six percent had jobs.

“There’s a huge issue in employment,” said Danice Loveridge, president of the Homeless Project task force, who presented the results at the July 26 meeting.

In addition, 50 percent were on Food Stamps; 74 percent have primary health care physicians, about the same for their children; 58 percent visit the dentist regularly; 80 percent have their own transportation; and 19 percent use public transportation.

Read more by clicking on the following:  Survey helps develop plan for feeding the hungry | Belvidere Daily Republican

Engineer sees replacement of many bridges in next decade | Belvidere Daily Republican

Lundin’s proposed budget is $1.110 million, a slight decrease from this year spending plan of $1.112 million. New initiatives, totaling $429,200, include $185,000 for right of way purchase at the Irene Road interchange at Interstate 90 and $180,000 for a new tandem truck with box, snow removal wing….

Each of the four workers will be paid $19.62 an hour, 48 cents an hour higher than in the current fiscal year, with the crew chief going from $20.19 an hour to $20.69.

Health insurance for those five unionized employees amounts to $101,018.

The administrative assistant also is hourly, with her pay rate increasing from $20.79 an hour to $21.31. The county engineer has a salary, which is proposed for $96,740 next year.

Read more by clicking on the following:  Engineer sees replacement of many bridges in next decade | Belvidere Daily Republican

Boone County real estate transactions recorded during July 22-26 | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Boone County real estate transactions recorded during July 22-26

Written by Administrator Both comments and pings are currently closed.

BOONE COUNTY – Following is a list of the Boone County real estate transactions recorded during July 22-26.

Recorded July 22

207 Bear Dusk Way, Belvidere, $135,000, Jose G. Vasquez, MKM Rental, LLC.

8477 Center Court, Belvidere, $150,300, Albert W. Williams and Susan J. Williams to Mariusz Maka.

1115 9th Ave., Belvidere, $40,000, NationStar Mortgage, LLC to Equity Trust Co.

157 Rivers Edge Dr., Unit 34A, Cherry Valley, $147,000, Thomas G. and Suzanne L. Williams to Dennis and Lisa Johnson.

Recorded July 23

1348 Caswell St., Belvidere, $77,000, Steve Neubert, Executor, to Jennifer Koehn.

503 W. Lincoln Ave., Belvidere, $161,971, Judicial Sales Corp. to Secretary of HUD.

4442 Countryside Estates Dr., Poplar Grove, $55,400, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to Susan Burton.

Recorded July 24

120 Ogden St., Belvidere, $79,000, Adam E. Tegen and Jenny L. Tegen to Emanuel L. Bud and Thelma S. Bud.

1375 Willowbrook Dr., Belvidere, $73,101, Judicial Sales Corp. to American Homes 4 Rent Properties Five, LLC.

4214 Hearthstone Ave., Belvidere, $68,001, Judicial Sales Corp. to American Homes 4 Rent Properties Five, LLC.

Recorded July 25

131 Pembroke Road SW, Poplar Grove, $2000, Dennis J. Moss and Sheila A. Moss to Roger W. Fidder and Mark A. Fidder.

1586 Kirby Ct., Belvidere, $280,107, Specialized Loan Services LLC to Seven Oaks Consulting and Management LLC.

12732 Vestas Place, Belvidere, $265,000, Ronald W. Allen and Donna L. Allen, trustees, to Michael C. Morris and Kristi E. Morris.

1535 Maryland Court, Belvidere, $90,000, Secretary of HUD to Miguel Zepeda.

1004 Logan Ave., $40,100, Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to Sabahudin Ejub and Atjena Ejub.

Recorded July 26

Vacant Land, River Bend, $856,845, Susan-Mijanovich-Key Trust to Grant 5 LLC.

608 E. Locust St., Belvidere, $84,900, 1st Property Investments, LLC to Jeremy S. Havens.

1586 Kirby Court, Belvidere, $280,107, Seven Oaks Consulting and Management, LLC to Paul C. Stahmann and Emily W. Stahmann.

107 Gables Dr., SW, Poplar Grove, $37,555, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Adriana De Loera.

1208 S. State St., Belvidere, $38,000, Secretary of HUD to Christopher A. Jones and Shana Runge.

530 E. Lincoln Ave., Belvidere, $108,498, Intercounty Judicial Sales to Secretary of HUD.

150 Sundance Trail, Capron, $174,496, Judicial Sales Corp. to Secretary of HUD.

Taken from:  Boone County real estate transactions recorded during July 22-26 | Belvidere Daily Republican

Illinois state fire marshal withdraws sprinkler mandate proposal - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

Larry Matkaitis announced today he is withdrawing a proposed rule change that would have mandated automated sprinklers for new home construction across the state.

"Since we began this process, we conducted numerous meetings with local officials, legislators, fire safety professionals, community leaders and residents who have all expressed a desire to strengthen Illinois' fire safety," he said in a statement released today.

"In the course of this process, it's become clear that any proposed state rule needs additional refinement."

Click on he following for more details from RRStar:  Illinois state fire marshal withdraws sprinkler mandate proposal - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Here is the post for the pro-sprinkler movement:  http://www.iafpd.org/FCdocs/Residential%20Sprinkler%20Movement.pdf

Long-closed Belvidere landfill continues to be costly | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

 

Long-closed Belvidere landfill continues to be costly There are 22 monitoring wells at various points around the old garbage dump.

Now there is more expense for the county, $58,760 to have TRC improve the leachate extraction system. The board at its July 17 meeting approved that expenditure, with $25,000 being spent in the current fiscal year and $33,760 in the 2013-14 fiscal year. …..

 

Terrinoni told the roads and capital improvements committee at its July 2 meeting that he felt a shiver in his spine when it was suggested the chromium problem could mean the monitoring wells are failing.

“They’re not saying that now,” he said….

Water, sewer connection fee

BELVIDERE – The Boone County Board is asking the city of Belvidere to waive an $11,000 connection fee it assessed for connecting the Maple Crest nursing home to its water and sewer system.

That action came in an 11-0 vote at the board’s July 17 meeting.

City-county coordinating committee member Bill Pysson first suggested the reduction in cost during the July 10 meeting. “We’re not asking for a lot,” he said.

His suggestion went to the full board one week later.

“The original project (cost) was paid by the county and a grant,” District 2 board member Paul Larson said. “Our opinion is the county already this and that this (charge) is redundant.”….

 

Farming county land

BELVIDERE – The Boone County Board has concurred with a recommendation from the roads and capital improvements committee to bid out 68 acres of county farmland for the 2015 crop year.

The 10-0 vote, with one abstention, came at the board’s July 17 meeting.

Gerald Hulstedt currently is renting the land, off Illinois 76, for $250 an acre. He has been renting that property for 53 years, county board Chairman Bob Walberg said.

Click on the following for all of the details;  Long-closed Belvidere landfill continues to be costly | Belvidere Daily Republican