Peoria Park District Golf Season Tickets

Peoria Park District Golf season tickets go on sale at the Golf Learning Center on Friday, February 19. Proof of residency required for resident rates.

Non-resident $725

Resident $495

Senior resident (65+) $440

Junior (12-17) resident $110

Junior (12-17) non-resident $170

Junior (3-8) Pitch & Putt $35

Junior (9-11) Pitch & Putt/Detweiller $50

Season tickets are good March 1-December 31, 2010, conditions permitting. Adult season ticket holders also receive benefits such as merchandise discounts, tee reservations at no cost, free use of the Pitch & Putt, and $.50 range ball discounts.

Complete 2010 golf information is on-line at www.peoriaparks.org/golf or by calling (309) 689-3329.

Peoria Park District Youth Soccer Registration

Registration for Youth Soccer at the Peoria Park District is currently underway. To guarantee a spot you must register by March 22. This youth program is for boys and girls age 4 through grade 8. This is a great way for children to be a part of a team, meet other children and learn to play soccer. Season dates are from April 12 through May 27.

A variety of leagues are offered for different age groups. Fees for Mighty Mites and Pee Wees is $35 for residents and $40 for non-residents, for varsity $45/$50, and for all other age groups it is $40/$45. All leagues will play at Detweiller Park. Note: Coaches are needed for all age groups. Registration is available online at www.peoriaparks.org or at Glen Oak Park Pavilion. For more information contact Matt Suellentrop at 681-2866.

Bradfield Organics Offers Go Green Solutions @ Luthy Botanical Garden Program

Do you want to go green but don’t know where to start? No special bins, no sorting trash, no special pickups! Just come to Luthy Botanical Garden on Thursday, March 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m., and meet guest speaker Dr. William Sadler of Bradfield Organics in St. Louis, Mo.

Dr. Sadler will offer organic solutions for your lawn and garden management—

including information about Bradfield Organic Fertilizer with these environmentally-friendly features:

• safe for people, pets and pasture animals

• designed for long lasting results

• clean, convenient and easy to use

• non-polluting—safe to use around lakes and streams

• effective for lawns, pastures, trees and shrubs, plus vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers and rose gardens

Come learn go green solutions at Luthy Botanical Garden’s free informational program, open to ages 18 and over. Refreshments will be served and each household will receive a sample of Bradfield Organic Fertilizer. To reserve a seat, call (309) 686-3362, ext. 3362, by March 2.

Take a Birding Tour of the Illinois River on March 6

The Peoria Park District’s Forest Park Nature Center and the Peoria Audubon Society will host a “Birding Tour of the Illinois River” on Saturday, March 6, from 7 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This trip will take in some of the bird migration hotspots along the Illinois River, spots renowned for both scenic quality and bird diversity. After meeting at the Nature Center, participants will travel south along the east shore of the river, stop at Spring Lake and Chautauqua, enjoy a catered lunch overlooking the Dickson Mounds complex, then proceed to the Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve, one of the largest wetland restoration projects in the world. From there, you will visit Rice Lake and Banner Marsh. Trip leaders will be Maury Brucker of Peoria Audubon Society and John Mullen of Forest Park Nature Center. Please preregister by calling 686-3360 or register online (use class code 42887) at www.peoriaparks.org

This tour is open to ages 12 and over. The fee is $35 per person, which includes lunch and transportation. C.O.R.E. members and Peoria Audubon members get a $5 discount. Call 686-3360 for more information.

Edith Barnard, Wes Sedrel & Friends in Concert at Forest Park Nature Center

The Peoria Park District’s Forest Park Nature Center will host a concert by Edith Barnard, Wes Sedrel and Friends, “Songs Celebrating Life and the Planet,” on Saturday, March 13, 7 p.m., as part of their 2010 “Songs from the Woods” concert series.

Edith Barnard toured as a folklorist/folksinger under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution for 20 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Illinois and a master’s in theater from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She is now a performance arts, piano and singing coach in Peoria. Wes Sedrel teaches guitar, banjo, harmonica, dobro and more at the Academy of Fretted Instruments in Peoria. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Milliken and a master’s degree in theology from Dubuque University. “Edie” and Wes bring some of their most talented musical friends to this magical evening to welcome in the spring.

Forest Park Nature Center is located at 5809 Forest Park Drive in Peoria Heights. Payment for reserved seating is available at the Trailhead Nature Store, and general admission seating is payable at the door. Concert fees are $7 for adults, $6 for children, and CORE members receive a $1 discount.

Leafless Tree I.D. Classes at Forest Park Nature Center

The Peoria Park District’s Forest Park Nature Center will host two “Leafless Tree I.D.” sessions in March: Saturday, March 6, and Saturday, March 13, at 10:00 a.m.

Winter tree identification should not “leaf” you stumped. Come to one of these classes and learn the naked truth! Winter tree finders and several field guides from the Trailhead Nature Store will aid in easy identification of native trees in the winter.

The session is open to ages 14 and up. There is no fee, but donations are requested. For additional information, call Forest Park Nature Center at 686-3360.

Annual Proctor Talent Showcase Rescheduled for April

The Peoria Park District’s Proctor Recreation Center Annual Talent Showcase has been rescheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 17 and 18 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. both days. The talent competition is still accepting applications for acts through March 31 in the categories of singing, dancing, instrument performances, rapping, and praise dance. Auditions fees are $15 for act of 5 people or less and $25 for 6 or more and are due at registration.

This year’s over-all first place winner will receive $250, 2nd place overall will receive $150 and 3rd place overall will receive $100. There will also be prizes for the winners in each category. For more information on participating, call 673-9183. Auditions will be April 2 and 3 at Proctor Center with dress rehearsal on April 16.

The talent show will be held at Manual High School. Admission to the show is $7.00 and the entertainment will be spectacular.

Proctor Recreation Center is an official Safe Haven Site for Peoria’s community.

Annual Lily Show at Luthy Botanical Garden March 19 through April 11

The Peoria Park District’s Luthy Botanical Garden will present their annual Lily Show March 19 through April 11 in the Garden Conservatory.

The Garden Conservatory will be a botanical wonderland of tropicals, spring plants and hundreds of lilies, of course.

The Lily Show always makes an impressive presentation for families and friends during the spring and Easter season. For a special treat, stop in on Palm Sunday, March 28, 1 to 3 p.m., when the Lily Show experience will be enhanced by the melodic sounds of the Glen Oak Christian Church Hand Bell Choir.

Admission to the Lily Show is $2 for adults. Children 12 and under and Garden members are FREE. For more information on the show or how to become a Garden member, call the Luthy Botanical Garden at (309) 686-3362.