7.17.11The Gertrude B. Fox Environmental Center at Illick's Mill is looking for volunteers to fill many needed slots: Board committee members, community gardeners, and manning our front desk. If you're interested, call 610-653-0908 and ask for Karen.
7.14.11 The Fox is now available for rent! We are hosting weddings, birthday parties, family reunions, company events, and more!. Dates are filling up, so be sure to reserve a space for your special event now. Call the Fox Executive Director, Karen Dolan, at 610-653-0908 for more information.
7.13.11 Three of the four planned native plant gardens at The Fox Environmental Center are blooming beautifully this summer. Observation at The Butterfly Garden this week confirmed the good news: Butterflies are back, after a dismal 2010 summer when so few butterflies could be seen. Stop by The Fox Environmental Center and see them for yourself. The fourth garden was, unfortunately, a total failure due to an overwhelming amount of Japanese Knotweed, Mile a Minute, Pokeberry, and Thistle that swiftly crowded out and killed what we had planted the previous fall. This spring and summer we are focused on killing off these non-native invasive plants in the fourth garden, so we can start again either this fall or next spring on a Sunshine Garden, finally completing our goal of four distinct native gardens at The Fox.
5.15.11 The Fox at the Mill student project class of 2010/2011 now knows that it is the last class of students from Liberty High School to be involved with The Fox through the innovative program LHS kids started in 2001. Our school district dropped all of its innovative programs due to budget cuts and a new focus on "the basics." We are all so proud to have been a part of this incredible and successful experience and wish our Executive Director Karen Dolan the best of luck as she continues growing the environmental center we all helped to create.
6.19.10Bob Thompson, a wonderful friend to the Illick's Mill Partnership (IMP), died on July 4 at his family farm in Wellsboro, Pa. In the 1960s, Bob led a group of students in renovating and operating Illick's Mill as a youth art's center. The popular center closed in 1973, but in 2001 Bob joined the IMP's first Board of Directors. The IMP's current President Rocky Bayer wrote, “Bob did more in one weekend at the Mill than most people do in a lifetime. His wisdom and compassion were always startling in their depth and precision.” The Illick’s Mill Partnership mourns the death of Bob Thompson and celebrates his life. At the Mill, Bob Thompson will never die; his spirit lives on in every young person who will work to make our community healthier, safer, and kinder.
5.18.10 The Illick's Mill Project students will be leaving tomorrow for Washington D.C. to receive the PEYA (Presidential Environmental Youth Award) While there they will tour the National Mall, the White House, and are scheduled to meet President Obama. We're looking forward to learning about all of the other projects that won this amazing award, and you should too.
5.2.10 Riverfusion was a huge success. Matt and Kim put on an amazing show, and Julia Nunes was fantastic. We had a huge turnout that broke 1,200 people. We can't wait to see you next year!
1.6.10- NBC in Philadelphia recently shot and aired an update on our accomplishments, progress, and future plans. PBS Channel 39 has also filmed their material, and is now editing a feature during the show 'Tempo' on the IMP. The feature is set to air in January.
11.11.09- The 2009 Gala and the Illick's Mill Grand opening was the most successful yet. We raised a total of over $11,000. The food and music was excellent and everyone enjoyed themselves. Other than the Gala, the students have been serving the environment when it needs them the most. Recently, the Delaware and Lehigh Canal had a breech in it upstream, causing the canal to rapidly flood which created dwindling pools of water. Animals inhabiting the water were at risk of drowning. The students took action and saved a few types of animals from distress, including painted turtles and an unidentified snake. In regards to the Mill, the work has all been aesthetics.
10.14.09- A lot of work has been done at the Mill this year. So far, the Mill students have been working diligently to prepare for the 2009 Gala. This includes reorganizing the gardens, preparing for native plants to be planted, adding joint compound to the windows, cleaning up the entire Mill, staining the first floor, and continuing to paint the murals, as well as all the bathrooms for an authentic 'Mill' feel. In addition, the Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School has volunteered students to work on adding rubber tiles to the basement floor. From here, the Illick Mill Project plans to continue the progress being made at the Mill in preparation for the Gala, and upcoming events.
Summer.09- Executive director, Karen Dolan, continues to work over the summer on a volunteer basis, as will our summer intern, Erin Matyus. Ms. Dolan and Erin can be reached on the Illick's Mill Project cell phone at (610) 653-0908.
03.16.09- On Monday, April 20 at noon, students of the Illick's Mill Project will be helping A.G. Pitsilos with his Clean Up Project. We will be cleaning up on Linden Street from Liberty High School to WaWa, and we are excited to be improving the area around where we are located!
10.23.08- The Gala was a success! A big thank you goes out to our sponsors, and to all who attended. Our sponsors included Cornerstone Investment, TRI State Strategies, and Sovereign Bank.
10.23.08- In the past month, the Illick's Mill Project has earned several grants. Some of the foundations we recieved these grants from are Marlene "Linny" Fowler, Pennsylvania Partner in the Arts, The Barnes Foundation, Keystone Nazareth Charitable Foundation, The Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, The Thun Foundation, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and two grants from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, which we received with help from State Senator Lisa Boscola and State Representative Steve Samuelson. Also the IMP has recieved grants from the Century Fund and PPL.
9.23.08- Over the summer, the Illick's Mill Project received many grants and donations from foundations including the Holt Family Foundation, Rider Pool Foundation, CMX Foundation, and $5,000 from an anonymous foundation. The IMP also received $10,000 from Keystone Nazareth Bank and Trust Foundation. Alexandria Hoffman's hard work paid off when she earned a grant from the Venetian Sands Foundation. This grant is for $100,000, from which the IMP will receive $50,000 in 2008 and $50,000 in 2009.
9.18.08- We are excited to say that we only have three major projects left to be completed. We are working towards covering the insulation of the ceiling, installing our remaining windows and doors, and attaining and installing all remaining bathroom fixtures. We're in the home stretch of completing the restoration of the Mill!
9.18.08- The 2008-2009 Illick's Mill class is off to a great start! We have a clear goal, and we are already working hard on the Gala. The Gala will be held, for the first time entirely inside the Mill, on October 19.
5.5.08- This year's RiverFusion was a great success. The Local and Indie bands that
came to play helped raise $6,500 towards Illick's Mill. We hope to see you at our next year's RiverFusion on May 3, 2009!
2.27.08- After years of effort, only five major projects are yet to be completed. We’re excited to be so close, but we are now faced with a serious deadline: The Illick’s Mill Project has been granted only 12 months by the State to open the Mill to you, our supporters. Unless we can meet this deadline, valuable work will be lost due to the imposition of new codes and prevent us from opening Illick’s Mill. More than ever, the success of this project relies upon the support of foundations, corporations, and our members, like you!
2.20.08- This year's Winter Nook and Chili Cook-Off was a great success raising the most out of all the previous Winter Nooks.
12.19.07- In the past three months the Illick's Mill students hard work has finally paid off with the granting of nearly $20,000 in funds to help us move the restoration of Illick's Mill forward. Some of the companies we received funds from are SOLE, Mack Trucks, Nestle, Bonton, PPL Incorporated, the Century Fund, Youth Venture Grant, Crayola, CMX Family Foundation, and MTV.
8.30.07 - Our ancient and out of date fire-escape was demolished over the summer and has been replaced, all in the same season! This is one step closer to complete the full restoration and ensure a safe environment at Illick's Mill.
5.10.07 - RiverFusion was great! Thanks to all of our sponsors, the bands that played, our helpful volunteers, the crowd, and also Mother Nature for providing us with such beautiful weather! We hope to see you all again next year for RiverFusion 2008 tentatively scheduled for May 3rd!
4.29.07 - New windows are being installed in the Mill and they look spectacular! RiverFusion is this weekend! We hope to see you all there!
2.28.07 - The Winter Nook went very well, raising over $3,000! The Riverfusion site is up and New Found Glory has already been confirmed as our headliner.
1.11.07 - We now have a sprinkler system! We have received numerous grants and donations over the past few months from Dorothy & Dexter Baker, Save Our Local Environment, Bon-Ton, Marlene "Linny" Fowler, Century Fund, Teen Works: Lehigh Valley Labor Unions, Martin Guitar, and MTV. We are very grateful for these grants and donations. With these new funds the IMP is moving forward with completion of the final phase of restoration.
12.21.06 - The Winter Solstice was great. Holiday Cards were a success. Water Testing results are being updated on a regular basis. Happy Holidays!
12.14.06 - The Winter Solstice is this Sunday. A Recycle Game is now up on the Games page. Water Testing results are being updated on a regular basis.
11.29.06 - Holiday cards are now for sale! Information on the Winter Solstice can be found here. The Illick's Mill Project still needs support from the community in order to win Hamburger Helper's My Hometown Helper grant. Help us out by leaving a comment here! *Comments might not show up right away.
11.15.06 - All pages are up now with the exception of the Riverfusion page. More info on holiday cards and the Winter Solstice will be up soon.
11.08.06 - All enviro action pages are up now. There are new pictures on the water testing page. More info on holiday cards and the Winter Solstice will be up soon.
10.30.06 - The Illick's Mill Project needs support from the community in order to win Hamburger Helper's My Hometown Helper grant. Help us out by leaving a comment here! *Comments might not show up right away.
10.27.06 - The Gala was great. Thanks you to all of our sponsors and everyone who attended. Pictures from the Gala were put up the other day. The only working pages are Home, News, About, Photos, Contact. Our next event will be the Winter Solstice and it will be held on December 17th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.. Also, the one with the earth symbol is now on the home page.
10.3.06 - The new website is now up. The only working pages are Home, Gala, and News. The Gala will be held on October 15th. For more info click here.
