Normal 2011: What a year!

Shepard Park is on the map!
Masonic Temple leaves a gap.


St. Pat’s Parade big hit Uptown!
“Fool’s Fest” does not get off the ground.


Uptown Station’s looking great!
High speed rail tracks await.

New garbage carts for every home!
Alas, no urban chickens roam.


The Circle occupies first place:
Smart Growth Award, Best Public Space!


Humble town of Normal stars
In ad for little electric cars.

Crutcher and Hill retired -- a pity!
And Fruin left for Iowa City. (Really, Geoff? Iowa??)


2012: Redeveloped Holiday Inn?
And that Uptown One hole may get filled in?

Happy New Year, Normal!

Normal Christmas Wish

Wouldn't life be worth the living

Wouldn't dreams be coming true

If we kept the Christmas spirit

All the whole year through?

           ~Author Unknown

Have a Merry Normal Christmas!

Normal Parking Garage Could Be Greener!

Vancouver is building a greenhouse on top of a "parkade" (which is the Canadian version of a parking garage). The greenhouse will produce "tonnes" of vegetables (Canadians spell funny!).  Ok, Normal, we can top that (pun intended)!  We could have a greenhouse on top of the College Ave. parking garage or on top of the new parking structure connected to the Uptown Station.  Get growing!!

Normal Circle Wins EPA Award!

The Uptown Normal Circle has won the EPA National Award for Smart Growth Achievement in the category "Civic Places."  The Circle is recognized for not just its innovative environmentally-friendly design and traffic-friendly transformation of an intersection, but also for its function as a gathering place for people. As the article points out, there wasn't a city center until the Circle was created. Lately, it's even been used for protesting!  You know it's a real gathering spot when that happens!

Driving around it, enjoying the green space, or gathering for civic/social events -- embrace the Circle!