The following is the schedule for the Methodist Medical Center Mobile Mammography Van for the month of October 2007. Unless otherwise listed, the van will be in these locations from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Methodist now features all digital mammography equipment providing improved, faster and more comfortable exams.

October 6-Cub Foods-5001 N. Big Hollow Road. -Peoria (Saturday)

October 19-Bergner’s, Sheridan Village-Peoria

October 27-Women’s Lifestyle Show-Peoria Civic Center- (Saturday)

October 29- Methodist MedPointe at Peoria-8914 N. Knoxville-Peoria

There is no need for a doctor’s order for a screening mammogram if you’re 40 or over.

Call for an appointment at 671-8282

Has it really been that long?

Smiling and Beguiling, A look back on our wise and wonderful womanly wiles!

Luncheon at noon, November 3, 2007 at Pere Marquette Hotel

There is a cartoon called “A Century of Progress?” that shows women dressed in period costumes from 1790 through 1890.

Hems and waists rise through the mid-1830’s…and then lengthen and tighten until skirts have trains by the mid-1860’s, and waists are girdled and bums bustled through the 1880’s.

The women of Peoria followed the latest fashion trends then, as they do today. And despite the 40 even 50 pound outfits they wore in the mid-1800s and the stocking seams they were constantly straightening in the 1940s, they managed to raise families, form charitable organizations, run companies — and shape a warm Peoria environment where a strong work ethic prevails and friendships last for lifetimes.

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“These boots were made for walkin,”’ could he a theme for the Christian Bros. Boot Outlet store in Bellevue. Instead, it’s a western store with a whole lot more,” is their slogan, according to its current co-owner Brenda Eberley.

The store epitomizes their slogan, Eberley says: “Even though our biggest volume seller is boots, boots and more hoots, we offer everything from leather jackets. wallets, fragrances, and jewelry to hats, authentic western wear and belts and bolo ties.

The savvy customer can outfit him or herself from head to toe with quality western merchandise,” she maintains.

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The 2007 Women’s Lifestyle Show will be entertaining and educating women on Saturday, October 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is the 16th year of educational seminars, guest speakers, entertainment, handouts, healthcare screenings, makeovers and give-a-ways. The expanded floor space of the Civic Center will showcase over 300 exhibitor booths. The show is produced by Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment, and Joy Miller & Associates.

Tickets are available at the door for $8 or they may be purchased in advance at Bergner’s in Peoria or Pekin, and Cub Foods in Peoria.

Guest speakers will begin their presentations at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 2:00 p.m., with different speakers each hour on the hour. Topics will include cooking, maintaining cognitive skills, losing weight, yard care in the fall, how to turn your passion into cash, book publishing, exercise, improving communication, pursuing a dream and others.

“Mr. Food” will be speaking on the main stage and signing autographs in the WEEK booth. Mr. Food provides information to help folks “become heroes in their own kitchen.”

The Women’s Lifestyle Show is looking for Central Illinois’ most talented female vocalists. For information on the contest, please call Lite Rock 107 at 309-637-3700. A panel of judges will evaluate performers.

Many vendors have prize giveaways at their booths. There will also be opportunities to win a massage a month for 12 months from Five Senses Spa; a $500 shopping spree provided by the Shoppes at Grand Prairie; the “Chicken Soup People” gift package of assorted empowerment books; and a free loaf of honey whole wheat bread provided by Great Harvest Bread Company to the first 10,000 attendees.

A silent auction benefiting the Women’s Lifestyle Education Fund will also be part of the activities. Each year, thanks to the support of Caterpillar, Inc., scholarships are made possible from funds raised during the previous year’s Silent Auction. The items are donated from Central Illinois businesses and typically include a variety of items from gift baskets to art.

For details on becoming an exhibitor at the show, please contact Christy Howell at 309-698-3728.

Both the Senate and House were prepared to hear the General’s report on the surge against the enemy. The General commanding the troops was ready to deliver details. Was the surge working? Was it a failure? It had been several months since the new war strategy had been implemented.

Before the four star General was able to open his mouth, California Representative Victor Lantos launched into a tirade against the General who had more battle ribbons on his chest than Lantos had teeth.

Earlier, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, who’s only battle experience was beating fellow Democrat Ted Kennedy to a Burger King, announced the surge was a failure.

Finally, the General was able to deliver his long-awaited report by everyone save Congressional Democrats. Senator Hillary Clinton, who’s changed positions more than someone sitting in a dental chair with hemorrhoids, basically called the General a liar. The woman, married to the famous, “I did not have sex with that woman,” former president, certainly has battle experience, but the wrong kind to be questioning a General with a reputation for integrity.

Bottom line, the General reported the surge was working, much to the disappointment to Democrats, especially the radical left, like MoveOn.

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Some Peoria County voters and election judges remain concerned with the Hart InterCivic eSlate voting machines, but the devices don’t have some of the problems targeted by a new bill in Congress and will only be helped by some of its provisions.

Despite reported and suspected problems here and nationwide, it’s unlikely that Peoria will change its use of eSlate, 440 of which were purchased for about $1 million. However, a 10-year pact between the county and Hart is just for maintenance.

In Congress, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007 (H.R. 811) would:

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Suddenly there it was. Right where I would never have expected it. On a window frame by the kitchen, like a little piece of jade jewelry, a chrysalis had mysteriously appeared, just hanging there, out of place, on the side of our house. Appropriately it was positioned below a model of a monarch butterfly, which sits just above that very window, inside the house.

It was September. By mid month, the chrysalis opened and the adult monarch butterfly emerged, stretched out its striking orange and black developing wings, clung to the chrysalis case, and sat there patiently for almost two days, the weather being cool at that time. It tolerated my forays in and out the adjacent door, wings slowly opening and closing.

Finally it flew. Around the front of the house, my wife, Mary, has propagated myriad flowers, which thankfully have long since replaced the old monotonous lawn desert. There the monarch, along with countless other insects, fed on flowers for a couple of days before departing.

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After the Sept. 18 “summit” meeting of the Peoria School District 150 board and the Peoria City Council, I spent a few minutes chatting with board members Mary Spangler and Debbie Wolfmeyer.

I’m glad I did. Spangler brought up one of the issues that makes her and other board members and school administrators so bullish on their school construction plan: Lighting. They have seen studies, Spangler said, that show there’s a strong correlation between how well-lit classrooms are with the student achievement. Bear in mind, this is NOT just about making sure that the rooms are bright enough to read and see the blackboard from the back of the room. It’s also about the lighting source, and that’s why they want new buildings with plenty of natural light pouring into rooms.

I couldn’t agree more. I was a student at Glen Oak School in the 1970’s when the district decided to go around and brick up most of the windows in the classrooms. They did this all across the district in order to save money on heating.

As I understand it, anyone who complained that it was depressing to sit in classrooms without natural light, the argument was made that windows were too distracting for students. Student achievement would certainly soar now that the kids can’t stare out the windows all day.

It’s the same old story. Different decades bring different educational theories and different magic bullets that will cure troubled schools.

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The Set-up Crew arrived at 4 a.m. Their energy alone could power the sound system that was to accompany the host that would arrive at ten.

For hours they labored laying cable, setting up speakers, cameras and mikes. But this team is not the typical ‘roadie crew.’ They relish the relationships they’ve built over the past year just from setting up and tearing down our portable church; one would never know these guys were working.

My husband and I arrived around eight to our first view of the new Peoria Civic Center addition. Wow. It’s incredible! We rode the double escalators up to the balcony area where our tables were already set-up, skirted and waiting for us to begin preparations for our role in the program.

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