Good morning, Champaign.

A local volunteer event called the Smoke Alarm Blitz, honoring Christian Sheehan, will kick off Saturday at 8 a.m. at New Hope Church.

Champaign Fire Dept and officials will install free smoke alarms in over 100 homes (breakfast and lunch are provided) across Champaign as part of this memorial effort.

Champaign County celebrated Allerton Park’s future on Wednesday as a groundbreaking event launched renovations to two historic buildings and began plans for a new village hall (with classrooms and restrooms) funded by a donation from Joan and Peter Hood to support public programming.

Champaign-Urbana offers multiple therapies and support services for children with special needs, including programs at Stephens Family YMCA’s Larkin’s Place (which provides inclusive recreational and therapeutic programming) and centers like The ABLE Center and Lighthouse Autism Center.

Champaign County RPC exhausted its water assistance funds on Sept.

4 after helping over 400 households avoid shutoffs since May. RPC staff said funding (available only sporadically) makes planning hard, but LIHEAP participants can enroll in an Illinois American Water low-income discount program.

Beardsley Avenue will be closed from Monday, Sept.

28 until Monday, Oct. 5 for a sanitary sewer repair at 308 W. Beardsley Avenue + local access will remain available to residents.

At Market Place Shopping Center, patrons reported a strong smell and light smoke from a display board, which led Champaign Fire to remove a faulty bulb ballast + unplug the sign and show mall staff how to access the panel for future safety.

SNC Construction closed William Street from Prairie to State for sewer work + closed one southbound travel lane and a bike lane on State between William and Charles; local access remains for driveways and garbage and work will finish by 4 p.m. Monday, Oct.

5.

National Farm Safety and Health Week began Monday in Champaign as Agriculture Program Manager Dave Newcomb highlighted the dangers of rear-end collisions and grain bin entrapments.

He urged farmers to use seatbelts and take breaks to avoid fatigue during long harvest days.

Patients with qualifying conditions can now purchase medical cannabis at nuEra’s Champaign dispensary following a state law change; the store began offering products on Sept.

10 and opened at noon on Sept. 23 — the change provides lower prices and extra benefits for registered patients.