The nonprofit Wheels For Wishes works with Make-A-Wish Illinois to tow away and recycle or auction off old and broken down vehicles for charity, at no charge to individuals. Learn more at illinois.wheelsforwishes.org
Want to explore Bloomington-Normal’s Constitution Trail? A mobile-friendly version of the trail map is available at bikeblono.org/map (created by IWU web developer Michael Gorman ’10).
Batteries, cell phones and ink cartridges can be recycled on campus at either residence hall desks or the Information Technology Services House.
Additionally, ITS will accept old cell phones and ink cartridges. University departments can have these items sent to ITS for disposal.
Now that Bloomington and Normal (and by this fall, the IWU campus) operate single-stream recycling — accepting paper, cardboard, plastic and cans in one bin — have you wondered how everything is sorted out in the end? Midwest Fiber Recycling, which handles recyclables for both of the twin cities, has a video that shows how.
Let’s start preparing now for a better Illinois Wesleyan showing in this year’s Good to Go Commuter Challenge, May 11-17, 2013.
If you’re intimidated at the prospect of commuting by bike, consider registering for the Bike Buddies program. You’ll be paired with an experienced bike commuter to guide you.
Check out Good to Go online for other helpful resources to reduce the impact of your transportation habits year-round.
Normal Gadgets has teamed up with CDV/Neville House and Cell Phones For Soldiers to accept gently used and broken cell phones as donations. Normal Gadgets is asking Bloomington/Normal residents to help troops to call home and those assisted by the Neville House to have accessible cell phones for 911 emergency calls. By donating to Normal Gadgets, Twin City residents can provide safe accessible phones for those in need and for troops that want the precious connection to loved ones back home.
Residents can donate their phones to Normal Gadgets at:
2103 North Veterans Parkway
Suite 112
Bloomington, IL 61704
“A 911 cell phone can mean the moments between life and death in a violent relationship. A soldier far away has a small sense of being home when in contact with family and friends as they are deployed away,” said Terry Ballantini from Normal Gadgets. “Understanding that Normal Gadgets is in a unique position in being able to clean and repair donated cell phones, allows us the compassion to fix them up and get them to those in need.”
Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and responsibly recycled to reclaim materials.
For more information, visit www.NormalGadgets.com
About Cell Phones for Soldiers
Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing cost-free communication services to active duty military members and veterans. Based in Norwell, Mass., Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old. The organization has provided more than 168 million minutes of free talk time to deployed military members. Beginning in 2012, “Helping Heroes Home” will provide emergency funds for returning veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships. For more information, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.
About CDV/Neville House
This program, which operates in McLean County only, is designed to create safe, nurturing families free from violence and control through free and confidential services. CDV assists and empowers families in crisis situations with individual and group counseling for adults and children and serves as a community resource by providing awareness, advocacy, and education on the issue of domestic violence. As the only emergency shelter in the area, we can empower residents as they strive to accomplish their goals through assistance in areas such as domestic violence education, life skills training, transportation, medical assistance and parenting support.
For more information, visit www.mccainc.org/programs/countering-domestic-violence.
Finding a sustainable commute by catching public transportation just got much easier: The Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System is now Connect Transit. You can see where buses are in real time online, or download the DoubleMap app for your smartphone.
Cyclists can select “show bike racks” on the campus map to find bike rack locations on campus, including a new rack installed this summer outside The Ames Library.
Visitors also can select “parking for electric vehicles” on the map to find the EV charging stations, located at the Minor Myers, jr. Welcome Center.
Project Analyst Michael Gorman ’10 found a way to commute sustainably while attending a conference out of state, and shared his experience on the Good To Go Blog.
Interested residents of Normal are invited to contact Council members and weigh in on curbside recycling, which has received mixed public response. The town is considering a weekly, single-stream recycling program.
Bloomington, which already offers curbside recycling, plans to launch single-stream collection with automated recycling trucks later this year.