Pictures and Video from the Will County Threshermen's Show

Gay Rights Rally in Downtown Joliet

The Community Alliance & Action Network (CAAN) and the Gay Liberation Network of Chicago held a LGBTQ Rights Rally in Downtown Joliet in order to bring their message of equality to the South Suburbs.  Representatives from CAAN, the Gay Liberation Network, Universalist Unitarian Church of Joliet

Resources Unlimited Foundation

and the Gay Recruiters, a Bloomington, Indiana based LGBT advocacy group attended and spoke at the rally.

C.A.A.N.'s Mission Statement states: "The mission of Community Alliance and Action Network is to build community and personal alliances to alleviate the effects of discrimination one may be subjected to because of sexual orientation and gender identification."

C.A.A.N. hosts many social and educational activities throughout the year.  Check C.A.A.N.'s website for more details. 

Here is a video of the Rally that was posted on YouTube :

Will County Wheat Harvest and Annual Steam Show

As Will County farmers continue to harvest their wheat crop, the Will County Thresherman's Association is hosting their annual Tractor, Steam & Gas Engine Show July 16-19th.

Many agricultural enthusiasts bring antique tractors and steam engines to the show in order to demonstrate how antique tractors work.  For more detail on what is available at the show, click here.

LGBTQ Rights Rally in Joliet

The Gay Liberation Network of Chicago has issued a press release for the July 18th Queer Rights rally to be held at 2 pm in downtown Joliet.

The press release can be found here:http://gayliberationnetwork.blogspot.com/2009/07/press-release-for-joliet-18-action.html

Will County Environmental Network will meet July 15

The Will County Environmental Network will meet at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 15 at Laraway School in Joliet.
The main agenda item is an evaluation of the Network’s 2009 Environmental Roundtable.
A Roundtable Report will be printed in the coming weeks. Anyone interested in a copy of the report may request one by e-mailing the Network at: wcenroundtable@hotmail.com.

Anyone interested in working to protect the environment is invited to the meeting. During the summer, the Network meets outdoors--bring a lawn chair!

Will County News is on Flickr!

Will County News is now on Flickr, the online photo-sharing site.

Click here for our photos from around Will County.

If you are a photographer in the area, we would love to add you as a contact on our Flickr page so we can enjoy your photos!  If you recognize and/or have stories to share regarding the photo, please do so in the comments section!

Joliet Area Historical Museum Launches Space Exhibit

“NASA Officials agree that without Houbolt’s lonely campaign in the early 1960’s, the U.S. would have been hard pressed to meet John Kennedy’s goal of landing men on the Moon before 1970.”

— Time Magazine
February 28, 1969

 

The 40^th anniversary of the man landing on the moon will

be celebrated with a special exhibit at the Joliet Area Historical Museum.

 

 On July 18, 19, and 20 the Joliet Area Historical Museum will launch a permanent, $600,000 space-themed exhibit, “The Soaring Achievements of John C. Houbolt.”

 

This exhibit honors NASA scientist Dr. John C. Houbolt, the key proponent of the lunar orbit rendezvous concept, which made the Eagle’s lunar landing possible. Houbolt is a native of Joliet.

 

The Soaring Achievements of John C. Houbolt is a two-story exhibit featuring interactive panels, audio-visuals, flat-screen narratives, and period dioramas that tell the exciting story of the race to the moon, the Apollo 11 Mission, the 1969 moon landing, and Houbolt’s vision and contributions.

 

Houbolt is a graduate of Joliet Junior College. The road leading to the campus is named in his honor.

 

Private donations, including $300,000 from Neal and Nancy Houbolt, have helped fund the exhibit.  Part of the donation given by the Neal Houbolt family also supported the purchase of a Lunar Lander Simulator, where visitors are challenged to begin their own daring journey of space exploration.

 

 Once inside, visitors see the same controls used by the first lunar explorers during their missions. Standing at their stations, astronaut trainees view the dusty lunar surface through slanted triangular windows. Using a throttle and a joystick, skill and wit are put to the test as the trainees guide their fragile craft to the approaching lunar surface. Instrument displays and audio feedback from their computer “co-pilot” assist them in their descent.

Free admission July 18, 19 & 20

Free admission is offered during the exhibit’s grand opening weekend. The public grand opening begins on Saturday, July 18. On Sunday, July 19, guests can also enjoy “Cosmic JAHM,” from 2 to 5 p.m. The Cosmic JAHM event features ten zones of engaging space-themed activities for all ages, a disc jockey on JAHM’s outdoor rooftop terrace, and free popsicles.

 

On Monday, July 20, JAHM will be open from 10  a.m. until 1 p.m.  

 

The Museum, at 204 N. Ottawa Street, Joliet,  is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,  Tuesdays through Saturday; and from  noon to 5 p.m., on Sunday’s.

Free parking is available at Ottawa and Webster Streets, one block north of the museum.

 

The museum’s  $9.2 million facility  is in the former Ottawa Street Methodist Church building, completed in 1910.  Admission to the Museum is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors/students, $3 for children ages 4-17, and free for museum members and children 3 years and younger.

 

More on the web:  www.jolietmuseum.org.

Photos courtesy of The Joliet Area Historical Museum.

 

Joliet Bicentennial Park 4th of July Fireworks

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! The Joliet Skyline was resplendent Friday night with a fireworks display at The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park on historic Bluff Street in downtown Joliet.

The land runs along the Des Plaines River. On August 31, 1973 the future park was the landing spot for historical reenactors as they portrayed the river voyage of Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette. Marquette and Joliet made their expedition in 1673.

The reenactors followed the 3,000 mile journey, beginning from St. Ignace, Michigan.

A dedicated group of community leaders envisioned the possibilities of creating a park along the river to mark the country's 200th birthday in 1976.

Both Joliet and Will County appointed Bicentennial Committees. The combined committees formed a not for profit corporation, the Will-Joliet Bicentennial Park, Inc.. Their vision led to the creation of the park that on this Independence Day was visited by the young and old--gathering together to celebrate our country's independence.