FEBRUARY HAPPENINGS
Feb 2 – Peoria Public Library offers a “Spanish Conversation Hour” at Lincoln Branch from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and is co-sponsored by the Peoria Hispanics Club. All ages and all levels of speaking ability welcome. A new database, Mango Languages, offers additional lessons and practice in Spanish. For more info about Spanish Conversation Hour or Mango Languages call 309-497-2158.
Feb 2 – 5 – Come Blow Your Horn at Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre in Goodfield, IL. Call 309-965-2545 for details.
Feb 2 – 12 – Titanic: The Musical – every two weeks on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. at the Peoria Players Theatre. Call 309-688-4473. Admission: $18 for adults and $12 (18 and under).
Feb 5 – 26 – The House of Jacob will host a free series on Black History according to the Bible. This event will take place every Sunday in February at 1:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Library, 1312 W. Lincoln Ave. Light refreshments. Call 309-922-1684.
Feb 9 – The Morton Chamber of Commerce announces the 2012 Women In Business breakfast series. The February Breakfast will feature Guest Speaker Melissa Chrisman of the American heart Assoc. Topic: “Heart Health for Women.” The 90 minute breakfast will be held in the Terrace Room at the Best Western, Morton. Doors open at 7:00 a.m.
Feb 9 – FREE Caregiver Education Night – 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. @ Senior World, 719 N. William Kumpf Blvd. Suite 300. Timothy Kirk, attorney with Heyl Royster Voelker & Allen, will present on “Preparing for the Future.” R.S.V.P. at 495-4530 by Feb. 7th. Program co-sponsored by IPMR, SIU School of Medicine, & Center for Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders. Refreshments provided.
Feb 9 – Info about the 1812 Veterans buried in Peoria County and the 1812 History Symposium to be presented at the monthly meeting of the Peoria Genealogical Society, 6:30 p.m. at the Peoria Public North Library. Christal Dagit, Regional Director, Illinois War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission will report on the work the Peoria County Genealogical Society’s recent project as well as the work with the Illinois War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission
Feb 10 – 2nd Annual Recognition Dinner to honor Bob “Smitty” Smith for his long record of service and volunteer work with the Peoria area Blind People’s Center. Social hour: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner & recognition of sponsors from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Event speaker Ray Campbell, will speak from 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. Campbell will speak about the mission of the Illinois Council of the Blind and discuss the new technology available for the blind or visually impaired. The event is at PARC banquet hall, 1913 W. Townline Rd. Tickets are $35 per person. Call 309-637-3693.
Feb 10 – 12 – 2012 IHSA State Chess Final – at the Peoria Civic Center. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. on Feb. 10th and performances at 8:45 a.m. Performances on Feb. 11th begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude with a 5:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony. Call 309-663-6377.
Feb 10 – State Rep. Jehan Gordon will co-host an event for small businesses with the IL Dept. of Financial Regulation & the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. This “How to Access Capital for Your Business” Workshop will run from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. at the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center, 801 W. Main St. in Peoria. RSVP to (309) 681-1992 or repjgordon@gmail.com
Feb 11 – Free Marriage Seminar sponsored by the Bethany Fellowship of Churches from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Kent Kloter, from Bethany Community Church in Washington, IL, will be the speaker. Free childcare provided! Register at: http://www.bethanycentral.org or call (309) 692-1755.
Feb 12 – Author Jackie Hogan will present “Selling Abraham Lincoln” from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at North Branch Library. Hogan, Chair of Sociology at Bradley University, explores the topic in her latest book, Lincoln, Inc. Copies are available for sale and signing after the discussion.
Feb 13 – The 2nd installment of Norm Kelly’s history of Peoria will begin at 6:00 p.m. at North Branch Library in the McKenzie Room. This local author/historian moves on to “Whiskey and the Civil War Era,” this month.
Feb 13 – May 28 – Spring Semester begins for the Kindermusik program at Trinity Lutheran Church from February 13 through the week of May 28. There is also a five-week Summer Camp that will start June 11, 2012. Classes are held at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church on the corner of Randolph and Hamilton in downtown Peoria. Call Marie at 676-4609 to register.
Feb 14 – Valentine’s Dinner, Dance & Theater to benefit the Cornerstone Academy for Performing Arts & the Underground Arts Society. Event is at the Cornerstone Building, 321 NE Madison. 5:30 Cocktails; 6:30 Dinner & Performances; 8:30 Dancing. $100 per couple includes a four course dinner, live performances, Champaign toast, and roses delivered to your table. Black Tie optional. Call 309-620-3164 or emailcornerstoneacademyballet@hotmail.com
Feb 17 – 19 – 2012 IHSA State Individual Events Finals at the Peoria Civic Center. Registration begins at noon on Feb. 17th with performances beginning at 12:45 p.m. Performances on Feb. 18th will begin at 7:45 a.m. and conclude at the 5:30 p.m. Awards Assembly. Call 309-663-6377.
Feb 18 – Peoria Area SeniorNet Open House – to be held at the First Baptist Church, 411 W. Lake Ave. at 10:00 a.m. This event introduces prospective new students to SeniorNet.
Feb 20 – Annual Peoria County Democrats President’s Day Dinner with Guest Speaker – Wisconsin State Senator Jon Erpenbach at Itoo Hall, 4909 W. Farmington Rd. Call West Central Illinois Building Trades Office at 674-9243 or go to the office at 400 NE Jefferson, Suite 403, Peoria, IL 61603. Tickets required for admittance; tickets available at the door.
Feb 23 – TCRC Sight Center’s Low Vision Group Meeting will be held from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at the Buehler Memorial Home, 3415 N. Sheridan Rd. Guest speaker is Andreas Hiem, owner of Magnified Vision, who will demonstrate the latest in technology for low vision people. The meeting is open to the public. RSVP to 309-698-4001.
Feb 24 – 26 – Lutheran Sports Association 2012 State Basketball Tournament at Christ Lutheran in Peoria and Bethel in Morton. This is the longest running Lutheran Sports Assoc. tournament held in the Peoria area.
Feb 25 – SeniorNet registration for 2012 spring classes from 10:00 a.m. – noon at the First Baptist Church in the Fellowship Hall. The deadline for mail-in registration is March 1st. For more info call 1-800-872-4651, ext 1510 and leave a message.
Feb. 25 – 2012 WSSA Great Lakes Regional Championship – This sport stacking championship held at the Peoria Civic Center. Doors open at 8:00 a.m.; competition starts at 9:00 a.m. Call 309-282-3276.