Belvidere Bulletin December 8, 2022

December 8, 2022

Your Weekly City News...City Views!!

This weeks photo provided by Firefighter Nic Thornton

HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS 2022

Last Friday’s Hometown Christmas was as much fun for those who attended as it was for those who gave their time to help make the event a success.

For the City, the day started well before sunrise with an interview of Mayor Morris by Channel 23. In the daylight, a winter scene was painted on the windows of City Hall and finishing touches were placed on a tree at the Community Building that staff decorated and loaded with presents for a family in need. At night, staff filled and distributed 1000 cups of hot chocolate at the Fire Station alongside Police officers who handed out 700 books as part of the Badges with Books program. Hometown Christmas never disappoints and the City always enjoys participating.

Thank you to Twin Towers Embroidery for donating the hot chocolate and cups.

Click Here for Video of Christmas Tree Lighting

(Shared by the Belvidere Area Chamber)

Shop with a Police Officer/ Firefighter

This was the 31st year for the annual Shop with a Police Officer/Firefighter. The event was held at Walmart last Saturday where Fire and Police assisted children shopping for Christmas gifts for their families. Sparky was a huge hit as usual!!

FEED THE NEED - THIS SATURDAY

It's that time of year again. The Belvidere Police Department and Volunteers In Police Service (V.I.P.S.), are holding their annual Feed the Need Food Drive. They will be at Fiesta Market this Saturday from 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m.

They are collecting non-perishable food items and cash donations. Cash donations will be used to purchase food to be donated along with the food collected. The food will be distributed to the following organizations:

B-1 Food Bank

Empower Boone

First Presbyterian Church

St. John's United Church of Christ

Veterans Assistance Commission of Boone County.

This food drive has been a huge success in helping those in need. Please help us make this year even more successful!

Wanted Part-Time Plumbing Inspector

The City of Belvidere Building Department is currently hiring a part-time Plumbing Inspector. This person will be responsible for performing inspection and plan review for Residential, Commercial and Industrial projects for the City of Belvidere. The applicant will need to be a licensed plumber with the State of Illinois. Applicants must be people-oriented and have strong communication skills. Computer knowledge is helpful. This is a salaried position and the applicant will be an independent contractor subcontracted by the Building Department. The salary for this position is $17,000.00 annually.

Applications are available online at www.ci.belvidere or at the City of Belvidere Building Department.

2022-2023-LIHEAP Information

For Eligible Residents of Boone County

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) can pay a one-time benefit directly to your energy companies or directly to eligible renters if all energy cost are included in your rent.

Call the United Way of Boone Co. 815-544-3144 or Keen Age Center 815-544-9893 to make an appointment.

Click here for more information and income guidelines.

HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS - Shared by Fire Chief Shawn Schadle

CHRISTMAS TREE SAFETY

WINTER HOLIDAY SAFETY

Winter holiday fire facts

U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 790 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees. These fires caused an annual average of one civilian fire death, 26 civilian fire injuries and $13 million in direct property damage.
Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in more than two in five home Christmas tree fires.
Nearly one in five Christmas tree fires were started by lamps or bulbs. Six percent were started by candles.
Roughly two of every five home Christmas tree fires started in the living room.
Candle fires peak in December and January with 11 percent of candle fires in each of these months.
Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.
Year round, more than one-third (35 percent) of home decoration fires were started by candles. This jumped to almost half in December when candles started 45 percent of such fires. Cooking started one-fifth (19%) of decoration fires.

Source: NFPA's Applied Research