May 2, 9, 16, & 23 – SING FOR THE HEALTH OF IT – If you’ve been mouthing the words instead of singing with gusto, this is for you! HAVE FUN “making a joyful noise” singing songs & meeting cool people! Summer Session One – JUNE 6, 13, 20, 27. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Register @ 309-922-9058.

May 3 –  Peoria’s ACLU Chapter’s annual meeting features Mr. Donald Jackson, president of the Peoria NAACP, with “Civil Rights and Concealed Carry Gun Laws: With the Trayvon Martin Killing Justified by a ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law and with the Rise in Hate Groups—Do We Really Need Concealed Carry Laws?” IVY Club, 1502 N. Galena Road, Peoria Heights. Public can attend program free of charge.

May 3 – FREE Caregiver Education Night – 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. @ Senior World, 719 N. William Kumpf Blvd., Suite 300. “Safety and Dementia Care.” R.S.V.P. to 495-4530 by May 1st. Co-sponsored by IPMR, SIU School of Medicine, Center for Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders. Refreshments.

May 4 – 2012 IESA State Scholastic Bowl – Competition begins at 1:00 p.m. @ Peoria Civic Center. IESA State Scholastic Bowl features the best scholastic bowl teams from Illinois. Final teams will compete for the state championship.

May 4 – 13 – “Chicago” is presented by Peoria Players Theatre. Admission is $18 for adults/$12 for 18 and under. Set in Prohibition-era Chicago.This Tony Award-winning score features several show-stopping numbers, including “Razzle Dazzle,” “Nowadays,” “Cell Block Tango,” and “All That Jazz.”

May 5 – 1st Annual Shoot for the Cure at Peoria Skeet and Trap Club – 1470 Spring Bay Rd, East Peoria. Call (309) 841-9422 or (309) 241-3960. Admission: $30 – includes voucher for 2 rounds of trap, t-shirt and box of shotgun shells. The clay targets and shotgun shells will be pink!

May 5 – 6th Annual “Run to Remember” to honor fallen Police officers. This 5K Run/1 Mile Walk begins at 8:00 a.m. Proceeds go to the Illinois Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors to help the survivors of police officer line-of-duty deaths in the healing process. Call (309) 208-7844.

May 8 – Art Club – from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Lakeview Museum. Call (309) 686-7000, ext. 119. Admission is free. It’s as much fun as a book club – without as much homework! Coffee & treats  served, along with discussions of pre-selected art works or artists.

May 10 – Peoria Genealogical Society meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Peoria Public Library North Branch at 3001 W. Grand Parkway. Back by popular demand is Jim Hoppe, a local historian, who will speak on “Looking Back 200 years, the Burning of Old Peoria during the War of 1812.

May 10 – 13 – “See How They Run” presented by the Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre, Goodfield, IL. Call (309) 965-2545 for pricing. Prices include dinner, tax, and show. A wild door-slamming romp that will leave you breathless with laughter, by Philip King!

May 11 – Luthy Botanical Garden to Celebrate National Public Gardens Day with Tours, Free Admission from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Luthy Botanical Garden. Call (309) 686-3362.

May 11 – Zoo to Do, a fundraising gala by Peoria Zoological Society to benefit the Power of Play campaign, include gourmet dinner, a raffle, cocktails, and live entertainment at Peoria Zoo. Tickets are $125 each and are available at the Call for tickets at 681-3500.

May 12 – The Peoria Park District’s Modified Stableford golf tournament will be held at Donovan Golf Course.Entry deadline is Sunday, May 6. Cost is $30/team, plus green fees. Entry forms available on-line atwww.peoriaparks.org/golf and at all PPD courses. Call (309) 673-7161.

May 12 – Art Fair – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Tower Park, Peoria Heights. Call (309) 681-1865. Medium – Painting, photography, sculpture, pottery/ceramics, jewelry, woven goods, wood. Fee: $ 70 booth fee $5 Jury fee. Sponsored in part by the Peoria Heights Chamber of Commerce.

May 12 – Annual Pancake & Sausage Breakfast sponsored by the Princeville Lions Club from 7:00 am to noon. Costs: $5.50; children 10 and under $3.00. Also holding a Plant, Bake, & Garage Sale. Mother’s Day Gifts for sale. Email:peoriablindcenter@gmail.com.

May 12 – Bradley University Graduation at 10:00 a.m. at the Peoria Civic Center Arena.

May 13 – Mother’s Day Orchid Show from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Luthy Botanical Gardens. Call (309) 686-3362.Admission is free. Bring your favorite mom, sister, aunt, grandmother or friend to see our Conservatory’s orchid collection.

May 13 – Mother’s Day Celebration Lunch Concert from 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. @ Best Western Ashland House. Call (309) 383-2828. Admission: $35.00 for Adults/$25.00 for Children. Reggie & Ladye Love Smith & Rachel West Kramer will perform. Lunch at 1:00 p.m. followed by the performance. Doors open at 12:30. Dinner Cruise 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. on the Spirit of Peoria. Call (309) 637-8000. Admission: $45/adult $22.50/child. Board-6:30 p.m./Cruise-7:00 – 9:30 p.m

May 13 – Weaver Ridge Mother’s Day Brunch from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the WeaverRidge Golf Club. Call (309) 691-3344 x 18. WeaverRidge is open to the public. Mother’s Day Brunch. Seatings begin at 9:00 a.m., last seating at 3:30 p.m.

May 15 – Peoria Knit & Crochet Guild will meet from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Lakeview Library. Call Mary Hayes at 868-5131 for more info.

May 15 – A DIY (do-it-yourself) Home Energy Audit! Learn what you can do in your home to save energy and limit your environmental footprint. Todd Abercrombie, of EverGreen Home Energy Consultants will present from  6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Dunlap Public Library. RSVP at 309-243-5716.

May 16 – Ride of Silence at 6:30 p.m. at the Glen Oak Park Amphitheatre. Call (309) 686-7000. This 9 miles long, largest one-day event held globally to remember bicyclists who have been injured or killed while riding;http://www.rideofsilence.org/ -OR- http://www.ivwheelmn.org/.

May 18 – Fore the Fun of It – 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. @ Lakeview Museum. Call (309) 686-7000. Admission: $50.00/individual, $90.00/couple,$165.00/foursome.Wine social & silent auction 7-10 p.m. Miniature golf, hors d’oeuvres, unlimited drinks & music.

May 19 – 4th Annual Plant Sale by the Country Gardener Club at Alpha Park in the front parking lot (Garfield & Airport Rd.) from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. If it rains, will be at the first covered Pavilion. Affordable prices. Gently used garden equipment & garden decorations available. Call 697-4424 for more info.

May 22 – Prostate Cancer Support Group, US TOO is for survivors and partners for educational info and support on the 4th Tuesdays of Jan., Mar., May, July, Sept., & Nov. from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Proctor Professional Bldg # 1, classrooms 3-4. Speaker to be announced. Call 309-266-5239.

May 23 – Senior Mornings at Lakeview at 10:00 a.m. at the Lakeview Museum. Call (309) 686-7000. Admissionfree. Join in for coffee, conversation & an entertaining educational program. Visit the galleries afterwards. Coffee @ 10:00 a.m.; program @ 10:30 a.m. in the Lakeview Museum Auditorium.

May 24 – Grandview Ride at 6:00 p.m. at the Lakeview Museum east parking lot. Call (309) 686-7000. Views from Grandview Drive & Prospect Rd., High Point Dr., Lindbergh’s airmail flight plaque.

May 24 – 27 – “Nunsense A-Men!” at the Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre. Call (309) 965-2545.All prices include dinner, tax and show.

May 31 – History Ride at 6:00 p.m. @ Riverfront Visitor Center, 110 NE Water St. Call (309) 686-7000. River front, Springdale Cemetery, Randolph-Roanoke-High Street homes, Giant Oak Park, Moss Ave Homes, Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Lloyd Wrong Homes.