Latest news with #9thAnnualChampaign-UrbanaAreaRestaurantWeek
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Yuengling beer fills up glasses for the first time across Illinois
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Monday was a big day for some beer drinkers. It was the first time that Yuengling was filling up glasses across the state. Bunny's Tavern was the first place in Urbana to offer it to customers. Some people got to the bar at 7 a.m. to get a free pint glass and a much-anticipated taste of the beer. 9th Annual Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week celebration This came after Yuengling announced last year that they'd start distributing in Illinois. 'For the first 30 days, Yuengling will only be available in bars and restaurants,' Bunny's Tavern General Manager Ben Manns said. 'It's not going to be available in stores until, my understanding is, March 1, so until then, you have to come out to a bar or restaurant if you want some Yuengling.' Manns said it makes sense that Bunny's Tavern is the first to serve the beer in the city. That's because they are the oldest bar in Urbana and Yuengling is the oldest brewery in the country. Pia's Sports Bar in Champaign is also pouring up the beer. Yuengling said they'll be on shelves across the state in the coming weeks Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Urbana Black History Month kick-off honors a legacy, fosters learning
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — It's not quite Black History Month yet, but some in Urbana are getting a head start on what they say should be celebrated and studied year round. The Dr. Williams Elementary School in Urbana was filled with applause before their Black History Month kick-off even started. Phone screens were in the air, ready to record the performances ahead. 9th Annual Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week celebration Performed dance steps and songs had a purpose beyond entertainment. They told a story of labor and love. 'If we don't teach our babies the importance of who they are, why they are and what they can become, no one else will,' Urbana Schools Family Engagement Director Dionne Webster said. This was the fourth kick-off at the school. It's in honor of a former employee who died in 2021. 'My mom is Janice Mitchell,' her daughter Jeniece Mitchell said. 'She was a community advocate. She was one who heavily believed in African American students learning about their history.' Janice's legacy lives on at the Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center, which Jeniece now runs. UNCC students of all ages took to the stage to show off what they've learned from the center's mentors. Early voting opens for Urbana primary election 'I've been working with these kids the last two, three months,' mentor Sirah Uwejeyan said. 'Just being able to see them succeed, and the pride they had on their faces just to get it done, it was just amazing.' She said the moves, claps and choreography can give the kids a sense of self, and the confidence to realize their potential. At the center of it all, though, there's a presence that guides a community and continues to influence generations. 'I absolutely felt my mom here with me today,' Jeniece said. 'Every year when we do this, I feel like her spirit is here.' She said she hopes people left the event inspired for the month ahead. Organizers said the kick-off will be back next year at the same time, in the same place. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Illinois celebrated for clean energy efforts
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Sunday was International Clean Energy Day, and Illinois is being celebrated as the state that came out on top as the national leader. Almost 100,000 solar installations are scattered across the state. That creates enough electricity to power almost 550,000 homes. 9th Annual Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week celebration Beyond the environmental benefits, experts say clean energy is becoming more financially friendly. Laurel Passera, Coalition for Community Solar Access senior policy director, said prices to install solar have dropped more than 40% in the last decade. She said now is the time to give it a shot, either as an individual or as part of a community. 'A lot of people are really surprised when they start doing a little research in finding out how easy it is to go solar,' Passera said. 'Community solar, in particular, requires signing a contract that's about as difficult as signing up for Netflix. If you're all at interested, take a look and you may be pleasantly surprised at how much you can save.' As clean energy efforts continue to evolve, Passera said more work needs to go into energy storage. That would allow Illinois to better utilize wind and solar energy when the sun isn't shining and there isn't a strong breeze powering wind farms. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Monticello ‘Business Bootcamp' helps entrepreneurs get a head start
MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA) — Monticello is investing in local small businesses, and the City said it's paying off. Monticello has been hosting small business training sessions at no cost to participants for years. Now officials said they've gone from around 70% of retail space not being used to only one building sitting empty. Ginger Ale's in Savoy closes permanently Plenty of people want to own their own business — but where do you start? The City of Monticello's Economic Development Office said they're here to help with their small business bootcamp program. 'I think it was definitely beneficial,' Sage City Market owner Wes Hornback said. Monticello officials said the City is filled with thriving small businesses. But it hasn't always been this way. 'Three or four years ago, we had a 30 to 40% occupancy rate in first floor retail space in our downtown,' Director of Community and Economic Development Callie McFarland said. 'We have one empty building right now.' She credits part of this growth to the Monticello Bootcamp program. 'It's kind of a five-week snapshot of all things that people should be thinking of when they run a business,' McFarland said. 9th Annual Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week celebration The program has been going on for ten years now. Many of the businesses in Monticello have been through it. 'Going from just a small little business or a hobby type thing to a legit business, there's a lot of things that you don't think about,' Hornback said. At Sage City Market, you can get farm fresh produce and meats. Hornback said they made the transition a little more than a year ago moving from going to farmer's markets – to having a physical location. 'Going through the bootcamp really helped open up our eyes to all of those little things and be able to really develop a plan and an approach to, you know, get to open,' Hornback said. But, Hornback said it's not just the knowledge that's valuable — it's also the network you create. And with the new tools he learned — Sage City is having success. 'So far have been very happy with how everything is going,' Hornback said. 'We keep growing every month, which is really the goal and what I want to do.' And Monticello is too. McFarland said this growth has been great for the rural community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ginger Ale's in Savoy closes permanently
SAVOY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Ginger Ale's in Savoy will close permanently, the business announced on Sunday. Ginger Ale's Champaign County took to Facebook around 8 a.m. to inform the community of the closure. 9th Annual Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week celebration With much mindful reflection and prayer, as well as gratitude in our hearts for the blessed opportunity we have had to serve you, we have made the difficult decision to close the Savoy location permanently. We have absolutely loved serving this wonderful community and will miss you all dearly! Ginger Ale's Champaign County Ginger Ale's opened a location in Savoy in the summer of 2023. They served food from a limited menu, including pretzels, sandwiches and nachos, but were known for their specialty sodas. WCIA has reached out to Ginger Ale's for comment and is waiting to hear back. In Central Illinois, locations in Mattoon, Charleston and Effingham remain open. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
