Progress on the building itself has gone extremely well. The new rubber roof is in place and stopping water but still has some areas that need a minimum amount of attention. In the front of the building there is now a new door, ramp, windows and facade almost completed. What we need is 3 sheets of 4x8 cement board, a 4x8 sheet of 3/4 inch osb, 5 tubes of silicone or equivalent caulk, a box of screws and a`partial roll of house coat for the ceiling. Cost for this will be about $125. However once the front is completed the building can reopen for films and events.

The Big Muddy Independent Media Center is renovating the roof at its meeting and event space at 214 N. Washington in Carbondale, IL.

Once the roof work is complete and the interior has been given a final cleaning, "The Space" will once again be used as office space, meeting space, and a venue for local independent events such as art shows, music, political discussions, and other community gatherings.

Student and community activists are organizing a two-night event called "A People's History of SIU." The first night, "The 1970s Student Rebellion," will be on Wednesday, March 24 at 7 pm at Lawson Room 171 on the SIUC campus. The second night, "Black Power in Southern Illinois," will be on Thursday, March 25 at 7pm at Lawson Room 171 on the SIUC campus.

Forty years ago, Southern Illinois University erupted in protests and a rebellion that shut down the campus. Students were protesting the war in Vietnam, against poverty and racism and for university reform. At the same time, students and community members were actively involved in the civil rights and Black Power movements.

Members of the Southern Illinois community will gather at noon on Saturday, March 20th at the Town Square Pavillion in Carbondale for a vigil, march, and picket calling for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

March 20th marks the 7th anniversary of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The day's events include:

• 12:00 p.m. Vigil in Town Square (corner of E. Main and N. Illinois)
• 1:00 p.m. March from Town Square to Military Recruitment Center
• 1:30 p.m. Picket and open mic at Military Recruitment Center (809 S. Illinois)

John A. Logan College, in cooperation with Aur Beck of Advanced Energy Solutions, is now offering a series of courses that provide training to prepare the people of Southern Illinois for the "Green Jobs" market.

Our "Film Friday" series will resume on April 2, 2010. The renovations at The Space will be complete on or before April 1, so the film showings will return to the Space on the following Friday.

Our Friday film series will take a brief vacation on January 1 in honor of New Year's Day. Film showings will resume on January 8.