The Washington Community High School Robotics Team, Mechanical Monarchy #5442, offers students the opportunity to learn career skills (Design, Programming, Electrical, Fabrication, and Marketing) in a rewarding and competitive environment. Students gain useful knowledge and skills by working with adult mentors. This year’s team is made up of 36 students who spend 15 hours each week outside of regular school hours designing, building, programming, and testing their industrial-sized robot to prepare for multiple FIRST Robotics Competitions. Mechanical Monarchy #5442 will be debuting their 2025 season robot at an Open House event at WCHS on Saturday, March 15th from 10am-12pm.
This year’s FIRST Robotics game, REEFSCAPE, was announced on January 4th and is an ocean-inspired game. During the game, two competing alliances try to harvest “algae” (large inflated green balls) off of a large metal structure (the “reef”), then place “coral” (sections of PVC pipe) on different levels of the reef, then attach the robot to a swinging cage before time runs out. For the first 15 seconds of each match, the robot must operate without human control; for the remaining 2 minutes and 15 seconds of the match, a student controls the robot. The alliance that earns the most points wins the match!
Join the Washington Park Foundation on February 21st for a night of fun, prizes, and community spirit—all while supporting athletic field upgrades at Washington Park! This event is being held at the Countryside Banquet Facility. The doors open at 6:00 p.m. with bingo starting at 7:00 p.m.
You can purchase Individual or table sponsorship at https://apps.daysmartrecreation.com/dash/x/#/online/wpd/programs/level/536?facility_ids=1&
Secure your spot today and make it a night to remember! Thank you for supporting the Washington Park District Foundation!
Did you know that spring soccer, tee ball, and in-house baseball and softball all have a deadline coming soon? Here are the Washington Park District youth sports deadlines and the link to sign up.
Spring Soccer: Deadline February 28th
Tee Ball: Deadline is March 1st
In-House Baseball: Deadline is April 5th
In-House Softball: Deadline is April 5th
Register at https://apps.daysmartrecreation.com/dash/x/#/online/wpd/programs/1/level?&facility_ids=1
Volunteer Coaches Needed!
Support your community and help young athletes grow! Coaching requires 3-5 hours per week, and we’ll provide training and resources.
The WCHS Band Boosters are holding a Valentine’s Trivia Night Fundraiser on Saturday, February 8th from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Washington VFW at 300 Zinser Place. Joe Knows Trivia is the trivia host for the night!
This is an adult-only event with tickets available at the door. You can come as a team of eight or as an individual. No outside food or drink please; the VFW is donating 10% of all food sales to the band!
Come out for a night of dancing, drink specials, raffles, and a party pit with games like bags, giant Jenga, and more at Five Points Washington! The doors open for Cabin Fever at 5:30 p.m. with a concert featuring Captain Quirk starting at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 22nd.
The Washington Kiwanis Club will be in attendance selling glow sticks for $5 and 50/50 raffle tickets. Half of the raffle proceeds go to the winner and the other half back to The Washington Kiwanis Club.
Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cabin-fever-2025-tickets-1091167674889?aff=oddtdtcreator
Winter Reading Program for All Ages
Beat Cabin Fever by joining our all-ages winter reading program!
Read 10 hours in 6 weeks to complete the challenge, earn buttons for reading, unlock badges for completing activities, and be entered to win prizes!
Submit your hours in person at one of our check-out desks, online via our Beanstack website or app, or by calling the library. More details at https://washingtondl.beanstack.org/reader365
Sign up for a night of puzzles, wine, and a great fundraiser at Tres Rojas Winery! Each team will have up to two hours to complete a 500-piece puzzle. Your team cost includes your puzzle and a bottle of wine. Two different categories are available: Puzzle with a bottle of wine and puzzle with a non-alcoholic bottle of wine There will be a fun prize for the winners!
Purchase tickets at https://allevents.in/washington/puzzles-for-paws/200027693660501
Money raised will benefit Paws Giving Independence NFP. The objective of PGI is to train service dogs to assist people with a variety of different disabilities while providing support to encourage independence. PGI educates the public about the benefits of service dogs and encourages animal rescue by obtaining some of its animals from shelters and rescue groups.
Enjoy the Whisnants' message through song when they perform at the Evangelical United Methodist Church in Washington on Friday, February 21st from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $5.00 each. Tickets are limited, so if you want to purchase beforehand, contact Don Moushon at 309-444-4343 or 309-453-4673, or email dwmoushon@mtco.com.
Join Washington School District 52 for a Glow Party Fundraiser at Five Points Washington on Saturday, February 15th at 6:30 p.m.
They are turning up the nostalgia and the black lights for an adults-only fundraiser like no other. Think glow sticks, neon duds, and all the old-school jams you haven’t heard since your glory days.
You don’t have to have a student in D52 to join in the fun either. They have a DJ, glow-in-the-dark beer pong, a photo booth, and a cash bar. It’ll be like the best wedding reception you’ve been to, just with more neon and fewer boring toasts!
The cost is $52 per person for entry, includes hors d’oeuvres and dessert and all the fun your little heart desires.
The Washington Historical Society is holding a special exhibit of Antique Toys until March 29th. This exhibit is a progression of toys through the ages. The Society will be open for the exhibit as follows:
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
There will be a suggested donation of $5 / person to help defray the costs of this special exhibit.
In addition, a special program on Mid-20th Century Toys takes place on Saturday, February 22nd at 10:30 a.m. Come hear local antiques expert, Dan Philips, talk about interesting toys from the middle of the last century.
Meet the candidates on the ballot for the April 1, 2025, election in Washington, Illinois. This event takes place at Five Points Washington on Tuesday, February 25th from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. For more details, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/3355215547947814/
Friday, February 14, 2025: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. at Five Points Washington
You’ve been invited to the Dunn Speakeasy for the wedding of the year! In this married-to-the-mob event, you’ll never know who to trust! Get on the trolley and solve this case with your fellow detectives: Death of a Gangster.
During this Murder Mystery Dinner, you will have an interactive experience with the performers as you try to figure out whodunit! Background music will be provided by Johnny Walker, dinner will be served by Bernardi’s, and signature drinks will be available.
Full details at https://fivepointswashington.org/event/love-struck-a-murder-mystery-dinner/
Wednesday, February 12, 2025: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
This workshop is for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to learn all the components of how to start a successful business in Illinois. Get a realistic view of the requirements to start a business and the resources available to support your new venture.
While attending this no-cost 2-hour workshop at Peoria NEXT Innovation Center, you will learn how to get your business name registered, where to obtain a tax ID number, which legal form to choose, business planning, taxes, financing options, and much more. After attending the workshop, our team of certified business advisors are available to work with you, one-on-one, to navigate the process and help you succeed!
For more details and to register, contact Amy Lambert at 309-677-2992.
The monthly food pantry at Evangelical United Methodist Church located at 401 Walnut Street will be held February 15 from 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Please park in west parking lot and you will be given a list of food items available that day. After your sheet is filled out you will be asked to go to the east parking lot. The food items that have been packed by our volunteers will then be brought out to your car. Anyone with food insecurities is welcome to come.
The Taylor Masonic Lodge #98 is holding it delicious breakfast that is open to the public on Saturday, February 15th from 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. They are located at 119 N Wilmor Rd.
The breakfast menu is biscuits, gravy, eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, pancakes, French toast, fruit cocktail, coffee, orange juice, and grits. Adults = $8, Kids 6 - 12 = $4, Kids under 6 are FREE.
MTCO digiMAX TV customers!
Kick back and enjoy a FREE Preview weekend on all SHOWTIME premium channels 620 - 634. The free preview starts at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, February 7th, and lasts until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, February 10th.
Be sure to record your favorite movies and shows on your cloud DVR!
Here’s how to quickly use the USB port on your TV for slideshows, transform it into a computer workstation, and more! Check out this useful article: https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/home-entertainment/your-tvs-usb-port-has-superpowers-4-useful-benefits-youre-not-taking-advantage-of/
Should I send sensitive information via email? The answer is generally no. Email was not initially designed with robust security in mind. While platforms like Gmail and Office 365 have implemented security measures within their own systems, sending emails between different organizations can leave data vulnerable to interception.
If you’re within the same organization and your email system is secure (e.g., company-wide encryption), basic email might be sufficient for less sensitive information. For secure document sharing, consider using services like One Drive, Dropbox, or Google Drive. By employing these methods, you can significantly enhance the security of your sensitive information during transmission.
iPhone users have long been able to use AirTags for tracking; however, Bluetooth trackers are finally available for Android users. Now that Google has rolled out its Find My Device network, the Android ecosystem is catching up and can be used across all of Android, not one specific brand or its app.
Chipolo and Pebblebee have clips, tags, and cards, with more manufactures and options to come.
For a little nostalgia, check out MTCO’s new About Us timeline at https://www.mtco.com/?about
One picture you’ll see is the first Metamora Telephone Company work truck from 1945! The picture above is a picture of CEO Glenn Rauh in 1958 working on phone dialing equipment in the Metamora office.
As we end Identity Theft Awareness Week, here are a few tips to protect yourself:
Limit personal information shared on social media sites. It’s a treasure trove for cybercriminals.
Monitor your accounts regularly to spot unauthorized transactions early.
Use complex passwords as a first line of defense against cyber threats.
Use two-factor authentication (2FA) to enable an extra layer of security on all your accounts.
Initiate a credit freeze with all three major credit bureaus to make it difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name.
Use identity theft protection services.
Sunday, February 16th
CBS
This action drama follows the lone-wolf survivalist Colter Shaw, who tracks missing people for rewards. Season 2 resumes with “The Disciple,” a new lead in Colter’s white whale case — the disappearance of Gina Picket — brings him and retired cop Keaton (guest star Brent Sexton) back together to track down a serial killer.
Sunday, February 23rd
NBC
Narrated by Tom Hanks, aims to showcase the wonders, secrets and fragilities of the world’s great supercontinent. Five years in the making and filmed over 180 expeditions, “this groundbreaking series reveals the spectacular landscapes of Earth’s most varied landmass.
Thursday, February 20th
Prime Video
Based on Lee Child’s novel Persuader, Reacher hurtles into the dark heart of a vast criminal enterprise when trying to rescue an undercover DEA informant whose time is running out.
Sunday, February 23rd
Paramount+
With harsh conditions and adversaries threatening to end the Dutton legacy, Spencer embarks on an arduous journey home, racing against time to save his family in Montana. Meanwhile, Alexandra sets off on her harrowing trans-Atlantic journey to find Spencer and reclaim their love.
Thursday, February 20th
Netflix
This six-episode series focuses on former U.S. president George Mullen (played by Robert De Niro), who’s summoned back to Washington from retirement to help the sitting president (Angela Bassett) find the source of a deadly cyber-attack and finds himself drawn into a dark web of lies and conspiracies.
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