The Homewood Science Center’s annual report was presented to the village board Tuesday by Executive Director Edie Dobrez.
The center moved its programs to virtual presentations as the country dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. She thanked the board for its continued support.
sciencecenter.org.
About 40% of the science center’s over $400,000 in revenue came through the village budget, about a quarter from donations and 31.1% from grants. Class registration fees and retail sales made up most of the rest.
During the last year, 5,212 residents attended 276 events at the Science Center and used 12,672 PopUp Science kits. The Science Center’s PopUp Science Shop moved into a new location at 2018 Ridge Road.
In March, 193 students were encouraged by 107 professionals to explore science, technology, engineering, art and math at the Girls STEAM Ahead conference. Dobrez said that was the last major program the science center hosted before the shutdown.
The Citizen Science: All About Birds program, inspired by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, continues. It features activities a poster exhibit on local birds and interactive webinars with experts.
In other business, the village board passed an ordinance extending the time increasing the number of days allowed for garage sales from two to three. Residents have expressed an interest in the extra day.
A contract was also renewed with M.E. Simpson Company, of Valparaiso, Ind., to perform a water distribution system leak survey. The firm won a contract to inspect Homewood’s 110 miles of water main last summer.
The contract was renewed for $21,400.
Pop’s Italian Beef and Sausage at 18328 Governors Highway requested a beer and wine liquor license for a planned soup and sandwich shop to be located in the former Gloria Jean’s Coffee located in the same building. The owners are also requesting video gaming.
The license should be up for a vote at the next village board meeting.