For the second year in a row, March 3 is recognized around the globe as “World Wildlife Day,” drawing attention to endangered and protected species and celebrating the diverse array of animals around the globe.

The United Nations passed a resolution in late 2013 setting the stage for the first “World Wildlife Day” in 2014. The resolution sought to ensure “that global trade in close to 35,000 species of plants and animals does not threaten their survival.”

To honor the day, the U.S. Department of State hosted a Google+ Hangout today about combating wildlife trafficking and the role the crime plays in destabilizing the economies of involved countries.

Here in Illinois, the Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo and Brookfield Zoo all dedicate significant resources towards conservation and preservation efforts. In fact, the Lincoln Park Zoo has one of the largest zoo-based conservation and science programs in the country, working to improve animal management by identifying endangered animals and working to ensure their survival.

Learn more:
World Wildlife Day
Zoos and Shedd Aquarium join elephant campaign (Chicago Tribune)

Casimir Pulaski was a Polish-born patriot who went on to fight in the American Revolutionary War, becoming a volunteer on General George Washington’s staff and fighting in several high-profile battles. His successes on the battlefield led Washington to convince Congress to appoint Pulaski the head of the cavalry, a recently established division.

With its large Polish population, Illinois honored Pulaski in the 1980s, designating the first Monday in March as “Casimir Pulaski Day.” Though the state has made the holiday optional for school districts, many still celebrate the holiday and remember the war hero who meant so much to Illinois’ large Polish-American population.

Learn more:
Casimir Pulaski
The Polish Museum of America

Dennis Farina was born 71 years ago this weekend to a large-Italian family from Chicago. Before his successful career as an actor, Farina was a real-life Chicago Police officer for 18 years after his service in the Army.

Farina’s initial work in cinema came as a police consultant to director Michael Mann (a fellow Illinoisan) while working on Mann’s 1981 film Thief. Farina would then go on to appear on Miami Vice and Crime Story.

He became best-known for his role on Law & Order, playing Detective Joe Fontana alongside Jesse L. Martin.

Learn more:
Dennis Farina (Biography.com)
IMDb – Dennis Farina

Bluhm is an American artist most famous for his abstract expressionist style. Before his service in World War II with the US Air force, Bluhm studied architecture at the then Armour (now Illinois) Institute of Technology. Upon his return from the war, he moved to Florence, Italy to study art at the Academia de Belle Arte, and then at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris.

It was in Europe where Bluhm began to move away from traditional landscape works, to his abstract style. While the abstract expressionism world was exploding in New York, Bluhm’s work while he was in Europe was consistent with the movement. His work is known for big brush strokes and visible paint drops.

Bluhm moved to New York in 1956. While he quickly became embedded in the art scene, he was critical of what he believed to be the growing commercialization of art. His work received a significant amount of critical acclaim.  

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Norman Bluhm
Hollis Taggart Galleries

For the third year in a row, students and faculty at the University of Illinois are celebrating “I Love Illinois” Week. The weeklong celebration highlights the University’s founding in 1867 and works to increase school pride and philanthropy on campus.

The 1867 Society teamed with several other campus organizations to host the first weeklong celebration in 2013. The 1867 Society is composed of students working to increase student philanthropy on campus and gets its name from the year the university was founded.

Learn more:
“I Love Illinois” Week celebrates U of I’s founding 
I Love Illinois Week – 2015 Events