Our goal is to keep our meetings as breif as possible. All Peoria MG members are

welcome to attend the MG Advisory Board Meetings. We ask that you bring any project

proposals or items that may require discussion to the Advisory Board so that it can be

considered for inclusion on the agenda for the MG General Membership meeting. This

will streamline the process. Significant new items needing research and discussion that

are introduced at the General Membership Meeting may be delayed until the Advisory

Board has had time to consider them and include them on a succeeding General

Membership meeting agenda. If you have a proposal, you can also call me.

Take note of the opportunity for continuing gardening education provided by the telenet

series from the U of I Extension Offices and plan to get your education hours requirements

as early as practical.

Our condolences to Mike Wilkins for the recent loss of his father.

- Ray Ellington, President

Highlights of Peoria MG Meeting: There was pizza, chili, and salad for everyone. There

were also desserts which were provided by the project leaders. The following interns

completed their volunteer hours and received their certificates: Pam Bloom, Sharon

Bracken, Terrie D'Amico, Bobbi Grimes, Stan Strickler, and Cathy Anderson. The

following MGs received green certificates for volunteering 90-119 hours: Bonnie Hunt,

Joanne Johns, Phyllis Baylor, Lee Hammond, and Ray Ellington. The following MGs

received orange certificates for volunteering 120-149 hours: Kathy Hasselberg, Evelyn

Hoerr, Lynn Webb, Dixie Krisher, Fran Stagg, and Margie Karl. Melanie Martin

received a blue certificate for volunteering more than 150 hours. Nancy Crawford was

awarded Master Gardener of the Year. The Master Gardener meeting was held after the

meal and awards. All projects leaders reported that all is quiet now. Many put in a

request for more volunteers. Belwood is quiet. New tools were bought in December for

all the courtyards.

- Dixie Krisher, Recording Secretary

Honey bee colonies have declined in many states, but little

is know about their wild cousins, the bumble bees, or

about honey bees living on their own in the wild. A new

initiative from U of I seeks to build a better record of

honey bee and bumble bee abundance and distribution in

Illinois by recruiting citizen scientists to report on wild

bees seen anywhere in the state. There is a website: http://

beespotter.mste.uiuc.edu set up to help you identify local

bees, post photographs and enter geographical information,

as well as information on bee related topics such as

natural history, sting treatment and bee gardens. It's easy,

go to the website, set up an account and record your bee

sightings later this year.

Peoria County New Active Master Gardeners

Peoria County Master Gardeners would like to recognize the

following Inters who have completed their internships and have

become Active Master Gardeners in 2007. We have Cathy Anderson

who has helped at Bel-Wood, Greenway, Newsletter production,

WTVP Garden Walk and the ICC Demo Garden . Pam

Bloom's volunteer hours were given to Bel-Wood and ICC Demo

Garden . Sharon Bracken volunteered on the Help-Line, WTVP

Garden Walk and the Bartonville Farmers Market. Terrie D'Amico

served at Bel-Wood, Greenway, Bartonville Market and with the

Newsletter production. Bobby Grimes has participated her hours

on the Help-Line. Stan Strickler served his hours on the Help-Line,

ICC Landscaping Garden Day, WTVP Garden Walk and the Plant-

A- Row Garden. Congratulations to the new Active Master

Gardeners in Peoria County.

PEORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDEN OF THE YEAR

This year Peoria County would like to recognize Nancy Crawford

as the 2007 Master Gardener of the Year. Nancy has been a

constant contributor to the Master Gardener Newsletter with year

round gardening tips. She also has her gardening tips that run

through the gardening season in the Peoria Journal Star. Nancy

took her training in 2003 and has served us well. Thanks Nancy for

all your time and efforts in "Helping Others Learn to Grow."

HOURS AWARDS FOR 2007

The following Peoria Master Gardeners were recognized for the

extra hours they spent in 2007 on county projects. The Green Team

volunteered from 90-119 hours this past year. They are Bonnie

Hunt - 100, Joanne Johns -100, Phyllis Baylor - 110, Lee

Hammond -110 and Ray Ellington - 111. The Orange Team

volunteered 120-149 hours. We had Kathy Hasselberg -121,

Evelyn Hoerr - 122, Lynn Webb - 122, Dixie Krisher - 123, Fran

Stagg - 129, Margie Karl - 131 and Nancy Lemieux - 145. The

Blue Team went to those who had 150 or more hours. This award

went to Melanie Martin with 243 hours in 2007. Thanks to the

entire Hours Award Winners who have gone the extra mile.

– Lynn Webb

Welcome 2008 Peoria MG Interns:

Several of our new interns came to the Jan. meeting. We want to

welcome Donna Koch, Merry Lee Meizelis, Stanley Meizelis,

Rosemary Weber, Sandy Weinstein, and Mary Whittaker. We all

look forward to getting to know you and working with you.