World Honey Bee Day – Protecting Our Food Supply and Our Planet
The Village will celebrate World Honey Bee Day on Saturday August 20 by hosting an informative and fun-filled community event. The day will focus on building awareness of the importance of preserving the health and habitat of the honey bee. The honey bee is an essential pollinator which is crucial to protecting the world’s food supply. We rely on bees and other pollinators to protect our food systems and each day one out of every three foods we consume relies on pollination.
Over the last decade, experts have reported a severe decline in bee populations which has been blamed on the rampant use of pesticides, industrial farming techniques, and climate change. If bees and other pollinators are at risk, the entire food production system is at risk, and so are we. Without bees, the availability and diversity of fresh produce would decline substantially, and human nutrition would likely suffer.
Please join us Saturday, August 20 from 10 AM to 2 PM at Hammill Square to learn more about how bees are the cornerstone of our food system and how they benefit people, plants, and the environment. There will be informational vendors, games, giveaways, and a demonstration of how honey is extracted from an active beehive. You can also sample honey from the Village’s beehives installed on the rooftop of the Water Department Garage.
Suicide Crisis Hotline 988 Announced
The challenging events of the last two years have made us all more aware of how critical it is to take care of our mental health.
An increase in suicide, along with substance abuse, have helped to foster a mental health crisis across the country. In response to this growing crisis, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).and various state resources are supporting the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Resolution Hotline.
This nationwide phone number, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, connects callers directly to a counselor with the training to assist people in crisis. Too many people experience suicidal thoughts or mental health-related distress with nowhere to turn for help. Reaching out for help through the 988 system will deliver the support and care needed.
To help prepare for a forecasted rise in demand, the federal government has made a significant investment in the network by dedicating $432 million, up from $24 million, toward building the capacity of local and backup call centers and providing associated services, including a subnetwork for Spanish speakers.
Mayor Barrett Pedersen