Peoria, Illinois (August 22, 2008)—The following is the schedule for the Methodist Medical Center Mobile Mammography Van for the month of September 2008. 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.

• September 2 Goodwill Industries, 210 S. Main Street, East Peoria
• September 3 Methodist Medical Group at Chillicothe, 525 Sweetbriar, Chillicothe
• September 4 Dr. Philip H. Baer, Valley Forge Shopping Center, Washington
• September 9 Methodist at Morton, 1909 N. Morton Ave., Morton
• September 10 Methodist Medical Group at Farmington, 158 E. Fulton, Farmington
• September 13 Dunlap Days, Dunlap
• September 15 YWCA at Lakeview, 1013 W. Lake Ave., Peoria
  September 16 Heartland Clinic, 1701 w. Garden, Peoria
• September 17 Methodist at Mt. Hawley-Women’s Health, 7725 N. Knoxville, Peoria
• September 18 Goodwill Industries, 2319 E. War Memorial, Peoria
• September 20 Cub Foods, 5001 N. Big Hollow Rd., Peoria (Saturday)
• September 23 Methodist at Morton, 1909 N. Morton Ave., Morton
• September 24 Wal-Mart, 2071 N. Main Street, Canton
• September 26 Methodist at Pekin, 1800 Broadway, Pekin
• 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

Two years of planning, one year of programming, and six months of meetings and campaigning have boiled down to the Peoria City Council’s decision to keep moving forward and the Library Board’s settlement on a new North branch.

In April 2007, local citizens cast a 72 percent landslide vote on behalf of a $35 million bond referendum to upgrade and expand the Peoria Public Library system. The referendum passed in every one of the city’s 93 precincts and awaited Peoria City Council approval this spring. The Library Board appeared confident. Citizens day dreamed of spending lazy Sunday afternoons sipping mocha lattes and leafing through bookshelves while students received technology-based assistance with their homework. Read the rest of this entry »

From presidential endorsements to support from House majority leaders, candidates are campaigning hard to raise money—and votes—as the election draws near.

With kids out of school and families on vacation, the November election may be a mere spark in the minds of voters. But for State Representative Aaron Schock and former WMBD Agricultural Reporter Colleen Callahan, the campaign for retiring U.S. Representative Ray LaHood’s seat is already in full swing. Candidates in the 18th District congressional race have been working hard to turn public heads toward Decision 2008, gaining support from Washington political leaders and organizing rallies and fundraisers to jump-start their campaigns for the months ahead.

Read the rest of this entry »

With the rising cost of fuel and energy, many people are thinking about alternative ways to harness their energy, all while lessening their carbon footprint. One popular option is to use renewable energy to power their houses and cars. Renewable energy options all come from the sun, either directly or indirectly, and will be available to us for as long as the sun is shining. This is in direct contrast to fossil fuels, which are nonrenewable and will be depleted in a couple hundred years.

Even more important than the depletion of fossil fuels is the destruction they cause the planet and environment. The burning and use of fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas, are pollutants and the leading cause of global warming. Read the rest of this entry »

Web Tech Services, Inc Announces Sponsorship for 100 Women in Business Event

Web Tech Services, Inc, a website design and computer repair company in East Peoria, IL, announced that it has joined Doris Symonds, CEO of Teaching Learning and Knowledge (T.A.L.K.) to support her 100 Women in Business Event.

The event will be held September 4, 2008 at the new Embassy Suites Hotel in East Peoria from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. Speakers will give testimonies on how to market your business and an opportunity to meet a panel of five successful women in business. Food, drinks and great company are included for a small fee of $25.00.

“We are pleased to be working with Doris at T.A.L.K, and believe in her mission to offer assistance to area women in business by providing networking environments and educational events,” commented Tammy Finch, Owner of Web Tech Services, Inc.

The event is co-sponsored by Commerce and Regions Bank. A registration form is available at the Web Tech Services’ website at www.webtechservices.com – all women interested in attending are encouraged to R.S.V.P. before August 22, 2008.

Pediatric Resource Center Night at Peoria Chiefs Game

Join the Pediatric Resource Center (PRC) at O’Brien Field on Saturday, August 2nd as the Peoria Chiefs take on the South Bend Silver Hawks. August 2nd is also Jimmy Buffet Night, featuring the band Coco Loco and a fireworks display after the game. There will be both live and silent auctions of themed game jerseys, with proceeds benefiting the Pediatric Resource Center. The PRC has reserved a block of tickets in Section 107, located just behind home plate. Tickets may be purchased for $10 each from a PRC Community Advisory Board member or by call 624-9595. A portion of each ticket sold through the Pediatric Resource Center will be donated to the PRC.

Softball Tournament Benefits Komen Breast Center

The Real Realtors Wear Pink Event will be held on August 23rd from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Peoria Stadium. Some local Realtors have formed this group to do their part in fighting breast cancer. They’ve partnered with PAAR (Peoria Area Assoc. of Realtors) and with Komen Breast Center of Peoria. This is a one-day single elimination softball tournament with the proceeds to benefit Komen Breast Center in Peoria. Coed teams of 15-20 are welcome. Team registration fee is $250, plus $15 per person, which includes a tournament t-shirt for each player. Deadline is August 1st.

Peoria Players to Present “The Wiz”

Peoria Players Theatre presents its 12th Annual Summer Youth theatre! This summer’s production, The Wiz, will be directed by Bryan Blanks.

Dorothy’s adventures in the Land of Oz have been set to music in a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel and soul music. Everybody knows the story, but not it’s a new fantasy for today – mysterious, opulent and fanciful!

The production will run August 7, 8, and 9 at 7:30 p.m. and on August 10 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for patrons 18 and under, and will be on sale July 14th. Tickets are available by calling the Peoria Players box office at 688-4473, or at www.peoriaplayers.org

Peoria Players theatre is located at 4300 N. University, in Lakeview Park.

Beyond Breast Cancer Support Group meets on August 13th

August 13th, the Beyond Breast Cancer Support Group will meet. Networking & Support will be from 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. From 6:00 - 7:00 “Self-care Thru Your Feet” will be presented by Becky Cobb, Reflexology by Becky. RSVP by August 11th at 683-5324.

Peoria begins public comment period on sewer overflow options

A 30-day public comment period on Peoria’s options for reducing sewer overflows to the Illinois River began today, Public Works Director David Barber announced. Information is now available on-line at www.peoriacso.org on the options for controlling overflows.

Public meetings to answer questions and gather comments are planned at the following locations:

• August 6: Gateway Building, 200 N.E. Water Street
• August 7: Neighborhood House, 1020 S. Matthew Street

The open-house style meetings will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m., with 30-minute presentations scheduled at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The public may come at any time to review project information and ask questions.

The options being considered include:

Option 1: Storage and Treatment Along River and at GPSD Plant

Option 2: Eliminate Overflows Upstream of Bob Michel Bridge

Option 3: Eliminate Overflows Upstream of GPSD Treatment Plant

Under all the alternatives, overflows would be reduced from the current 28 or more per year to 2-6 in a year with typical rainfall. Overflow frequency predictions are based on a year with average rainfall. In wet years, the City expects more overflows and in dry years, less. The new storage units also would increase capture of sewer flows during wet weather from the current 55-74 percent to 93-99 percent. Estimated construction costs range from $105 to $262 million.

“We need the public’s input because this project will be the largest investment in clean water infrastructure in Peoria’s history,” Barber said. “We must meet state and federal requirements and comply with the Clean Water Act, but the public’s input will help us decide what form our plan will take.”

In addition, the City is seeking public input on the potential use of green infrastructure to capture and treat stormwater, litter control programs to reduce trash in the river, and public education programs to improve the public’s involvement in efforts to improve and protect the Illinois River.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency are requiring cities with combined storm-and-sanitary sewers, like Peoria, to develop long-term plans to comply with the Clean Water Act and state sewage treatment requirements. Peoria’s plan must be submitted by December 2008.

For updated information about the combined sewer project, visit the project Web site at www.peoriacso.org. For CSO warnings go to project Web site or call the CSO Hotline, 494-8873.

Peoria Area SeniorNet Schedule Registration for Fall Classes

Registration for Peoria Area SeniorNet fall classes will be on Saturday, August 16, 2008. Registration will take place any time from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. in the Classrooms 1 & 2 on the Lower Level of the Proctor Professional Building at 5401 North Knoxville in Peoria. Mail-in registration is also offered for those who cannot attend. The deadline for mail-in registration is September 1, 2008. All classes will begin during the week of September 15, 2008. For more information call 1-800-872-4651, ext. 1510 and leave a message. A SeniorNet volunteer will return your call and answer any questions you may have. A detailed schedule of classes is available on our web site at www.PeoriaAreaSeniorNet.org. Click on the Fall Classes button.

Classes are scheduled at five different locations in the Peoria Area.

Peoria Area SeniorNet is sponsored by Illinois Eye Center and National City Bank.

Annual Mass for West Peoria Citizens

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception invite all citizens of West Peoria to their annual Mass for the citizens on August 10th at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Convent, 2408 W. Heading Ave.

Mass will be followed by a fellowship where coffee and doughnuts will be served.

Keep Peoria Beautiful – progress report

Eaton Street Beautification: With a grant from the IEPA, Keep Peoria Beautiful has created an attractive landscaped area at the new westbound entrance ramp onto I-74 at the corner of Eaton Street and Washington.

Upgrade 74: Keep Peoria Beautiful has partnered with IDOT and the Upgrade 74 project to plan and design both the hardscape elements and the landscape enhancements. The landscape enhancements along the I74 corridor are now underway. You can see the results with the beautiful new plantings along the right of way from the Murray Baker Bridge to North Street. What an attractive gateway into the city for both our residents and visitors to enjoy!

Great American Cleanup: Keep Peoria Beautiful sponsored its 10th annual spring litter cleanup. More than 1,200 volunteers from 70 organizations participated. 83,300 pounds of litter and landscape waste as well as over 600 old tires were collected during the cleanup.

Diary of Jennifer O’Brien

LAST Page, last day …

I wonder if mom hears the whispering of my heart? Some children come into the world a little sick, but my heart is strong and healthy. It beats so evenly. You’ll have a healthy little daughter, mom, and I’ve heard you say you’ll name me Jennifer. I like that.

Today my mother and I were on our way to the Doctor. A drunken driver hit us head-on. She will live, but I will die. The judge will feel sorry for this man (he has this “disease” you know). It wasn’t his fault for killing me, they’re not responsible with this affliction.

The drunk may be asked to pay a small fine (if he can afford it), have a comfortable night in jail. Tomorrow his drinking buddies will pay his bail.

Author unknown,

August-2008

The following is the schedule for the Methodist Medical Center Mobile Mammography Van for the month of August 2008. 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.

August 8-Methodist Medical Group at Metamora-901 Walnut, Metamora

August 9-Sam’s Club-Willow Knolls Shopping Center, Peoria (Saturday)

August 11-Methodist Medical Group at Chillicothe-525 Sweetbriar, Chillicothe

August 12-Methodist at Morton-1909 N. Morton, Morton

August 13-Cherry Tree Shopping Center, Washington

August 15-Methodist MedPointe at Peoria-8914 N. Knoxville, Peoria

August 18-Methodist at Lacon-1112 East Fifth St., Lacon

August 19-Heartland Clinic-1701 W. Garden, Peoria

August 20-Methodist East Campus-415 St. Marks Court, Peoria

August 22-Robert H. Michel Student Center-915 Elmwood Ave., Peoria

August 23-Pekin Farmers Market-Courthouse Square, Pekin

August 25-Dr. E. Rufus-12123 W. Farmington Rd., Hanna City

August 26-Methodist at Morton-1909 N. Morton Ave., Morton

August 27-Wal-Mart-2071 N. Main, Canton

August 29-Methodist at Pekin-1800 Broadway, Pekin

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

By Amanda Knowles

During the summer months, the Peoria Historical Society (PHS) sponsors trolley tours throughout the area. The PHS has been offering historic trolley tours for over ten years, and they run from June 5 to November 1.

Volunteers who have been certified by the PHS act as guides during the tours. According to Amy Kelly, Executive Director of PHS, volunteers do not become certified guides until completion of a rigorous training period and approval from another certified guide. This ensures all trolley tours are filled with a wealth of factual and accurate information.

There are four tours to choose from: River City, Old Peoria and the Judge, All-America City, and Springdale Cemetery/Grandview Drive tours. Each trolley car holds 19 passengers, 17 if a passenger is in a wheelchair. All trolley tours last approximately 1.5 hours and are given Thursday-Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with an additional tour at 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Check with the PHS to see which tours are offered which days. Read the rest of this entry »

The following is the schedule for the Methodist Medical Center Mobile Mammography Van for the month of July 2008. 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.

• July 1-Methodist at Morton-1909 N. Morton, Morton
• July 2-Methodist Medical Group at Princeville-223 E. Main Street, Princeville
• July 8-Methodist Medical Group at Chillicothe-525 Sweetbriar, Chillicothe
• July 9-Methodist at Mt. Hawley Women’s Health-7725 N. Knoxville, Peoria
• July 12-City of Refuge Church-2201 SW Adams, Peoria
• July 15-Methodist at Morton-1909 N. Morton, Morton
• July 16-Cherry Tree Shopping Center-Washington
• July 21-Wal-Mart-2071 N. Main, Canton
• July 22-Heartland Clinic-1701 W. Garden, Peoria
• July 26-Wal-Mart-3315 N. University, Peoria
• July 28-Methodist at Pekin-1800 Broadway, Pekin

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

Peoria’s intellectual safety net is about to receive its first major upgrade in half a century with the improvement and expansion of the city’s library system.

The City Council is heeding the voice of the Peoria citizenry and taking steps to improve the Peoria Public Library system with the renovation of the downtown library and McClure branch as well as additions to the Lakeview and Lincoln branches while also looking into creating a new north side location. While citizens who use the Peoria Public Library System have been voicing concerns regarding the library’s limited weekend hours and small space for resources, Peoria City Council members also wish to improve library facilities so that branch locations throughout the city will offer an equal level of quality service.

According to At-Large City Councilman and library liaison Gary Sandberg, the library expansion project has been ongoing for nearly a decade. “This wasn’t something that just surfaced within the last year,” he says. “It came about due to a recognition of dynamics. The city was sprawling to the north, and the northwest side was underserved.”

An article written by Mike McKenzie of the Peoria Public Library Board of Trustees stated that nearly 600,000 people utilize the Peoria Public Library system each year, and nearly $62,000 worth of library items are used by community members on any given day.

“The public has recognized the need for change,” says Sandberg.

An Overwhelming Majority

The population that makes use of the city’s library system falls across class lines. Cracks in the system affecting both the city’s poor and affluent eventually led to an overwhelming majority of citizens—72 percent—voting in favor of the $35 million bond referendum to improve the libraries. The vote took place on April 17th of last year. Although the Peoria City Council controls the library budget and could have issued the bonds without citizen approval, the council was wary of voting for a tax increase without putting the referendum on the ballot.

“It is important to note that the referendum received 72 percent approval in every city precinct,” says Peoria Public Library Director Edward Szynaka. “Seventy-two percent is significant. It is a very persuasive percentage by the citizens. In fact, it’s the largest percentage ‘yes’ vote on a library bond issue in the state’s history as told to us by those in Springfield.” Szynaka believes one of the reasons the referendum received such a high percentage is due to the fact that the library facilities have received very little attention for nearly forty years. “I think our citizens realize that this master plan is going to remedy that problem,” he says.

According to Szynaka, more than half of Peoria residents have library cards, and about 1,600 people use the libraries daily. Peoria’s lower classes, listed by Peoria School District 150 as comprising nearly 70 percent of its students, use the library for access to computers and learning materials. “The voters value the importance of the library and the library services,” says Sandberg. “That’s why every district voted in overwhelming support.”

Former Common Place Director Nancy Rakoff agrees and says that although it is difficult for citizens to vote themselves a tax increase, she believes the citizens acted based on the dire need of the city and the possibility of bringing positive change where it is needed. “There was a very broad range of people involved,” she says. “The vote passed in all five council districts fairly substantially. It wasn’t just the wealthy citizens who wanted this bond referendum.”

The $35 million will buy bonds that will be paid back over a period of twenty years by increasing property taxes. According to Sandberg, the Library Board is working to ensure that no more than $35 million in bonds will be needed so that taxpayers will not pay more than what they voted for. Sandberg claims that according to the referendum, the property tax will be no less than 15 cents and no more than 16 cents per $1,000, estimating out to be about 15.2 cents per $1,000 of assessed evaluation and making the annual property tax increase on a $100,000 home about $15.00.

Search for a North Branch

The property tax increase will fund the expansion of Peoria’s library system by helping to cover the purchase of a new building to serve Peoria’s north side. According to Szynaka, site selection is in process for Peoria’s north branch. The Farnsworth Group Inc., a Peoria architectural firm, was hired to locate a new north branch building. According to a report on the Preliminary Site Selection for a Potential North Branch Library drawn up on April 10, 2008, Farnsworth is currently assessing the possibility of locating vacant buildings for sale or acres of available land as close as possible to the intersection of Allen Road and Pioneer Parkway.

The search for a north branch building began with six or seven possible sites, including the former Shopko building, the eServ building, and the former Menards building. The search eventually dwindled down to three potential sites, two of which are vacant big “box” buildings. Greenfield sites of approximately 5 acres in size located along Allen Road are also being considered. “We need to come up with a northern branch with no new operational costs,” says Sandberg.

The two leading buildings for the site are the old Festival Foods grocery store, located at North Point Shopping Center along Knoxville Avenue, and the old K’s Merchandise building, located at the corner of Sommer Street and Pioneer Parkway. However, the current asking price for Festival Foods is significantly high, and both buildings are much larger than the proposed library space of 35,000 to 40,000 square feet. The report also states that the ideal site or building chosen should possess a significant location to a major street so that the public can find it easily. Sandberg claims that although citizens are pulling for the purchase of an existing building, buying undeveloped land may be the cheaper option. “We have to do what is most cost-effective,” he says.

The Library Board has also consulted citizens regarding a suitable location for the new library. According to Szynaka, the Board plans to keep the selection process open to public opinion as a way of continuing to promote good relations with voters who supported the library expansion project last year.

Once a location is determined, an existing one level of commercial property will be renovated. The earliest construction date is estimated to be in the summer of 2009.

Improvements &Additions

Aside from the selection of a new north branch, much discussion has been raised regarding improvements to existing branch locations. The downtown branch, located on 107 N.E. Monroe and built in 1967, is in sufficient need of repairs as well as upgrades in technology. Four of the five levels of the existing main branch library will be updated; two of the levels are below ground, and two are above ground. According to a draft report of the Peoria Public Library Building Programming Study drawn up on March 13 of this year, updating the main branch includes refinishing 21,395 square feet of existing space and renovating 56,126 square feet of existing space on the four levels. Improvements will involve replacing floor and ceiling finishes as well as repainting walls.

Technological improvements are also a priority. “Upgrading computers and information technology is a huge component to increasing the quality of our local libraries,” says Sandberg. The City Councilman claims that interior improvements to the downtown library will help bring the library up to twenty-first century standards rather than those of the twentieth century. Bringing the downtown library up-to-date involves increasing customer self-sufficiency by allowing customers to check out books themselves with the implementation of a self-serve system similar to the systems in local grocery stores. “There’s a lot of new demands and new services to be brought in that the citizens want,” he says.

According to Szynaka, the interior of the downtown library should be renovated with the goal of increasing efficiency. Promoting efficient workflow means having the right amount of space to work effectively with various resources. Szynaka says that space will be created by opening up the area below the first floor of the library to the public. The board will also evaluate the library’s collection of antique volumes. The volumes are part of the library’s original collection. “When we finish with this project, all of the libraries will have the physical space to house the private collections of all the locations,” Szynaka says.

In addition to interior improvements in the existing facility, the main branch will also receive a 6,292 square foot four-story addition located along the building’s Northeast side. The addition will include a glass entry volume circulation tower with stairs and elevator, washrooms, and accessory spaces. Other building strategies include relocating the library entrance to the north side of the building, adjacent to the parking lot and Monroe Street. The earliest construction date for the new addition is estimated to be the summer of 2009.

The Lakeview branch, located on 1137 West Lake Avenue, will also require expansion and renovation. The addition to the old facility, now approximately 12,000 square feet, will be 20,212 square feet and will be one level to match the existing building. The new addition will be located along the North and East facade of the library.

The library system’s Lincoln Avenue branch, located on the south side of the city, west of downtown, will also undergo expansion. The addition will be one level approximately 14,016 square feet and will be located along the south façade of the existing building. Construction for both the Lincoln and Lakeview branches is estimated to begin in the summer of 2010.

Located in a residential neighborhood west of the intersection between McClure and Knoxville Avenue, the McClure Branch will experience no new additions at this time due to the fact that the library is located on a flood plain. Instead, both levels of the branch will undergo renovation, including repainting and refinishing walls and floors.

All library locations will have the same types of facilities with the same level of quality. “All of our library locations will have designated functional uses in the buildings for computers as well as equal meeting room facilities,” says Szynaka.

Szynaka claims interior improvements to the library branches will not require the hiring of new employees. The City Council wishes to forgo creating more jobs in order to stay within the limits of the $8.2 million operational budget. Keeping the same number of employees will require redesigning the downtown library to eliminate some working compartments. “In 1968, the downtown building was constructed to be compartmentalized in order to fit the outline of having several employees,” says Sandberg. “By opening up the first floor, it will eliminate the compartments, and we can move some of the employees from downtown to staff the north branch.”

Looking Ahead

Although the library expansion has been nearly a decade in the making—eight years to be exact—project leaders claim meeting deadlines is not the priority. “The main thing we are concerned with right now is the process,” says Sandberg. “We’re not so much concerned with rushing the process in order to meet a deadline as we are with taking the time we need to do it right, use the $35 million bond referendum, and ultimately meet the needs of the citizens.”

Rakoff agrees and adds: “This project has been worked on for a long time. But the important thing is that the library is going through all the steps it needs to in order to ensure what’s best for the people.”

Members of the Library Board as well as the City Council are optimistic that improving the library system will lead to community development and economic growth. And with the demand for the city’s library services on the rise, it’s likely Peoria citizens will reap rewards on their investment.

Don’t you just love those small business success stories? They make the average person believe that just maybe they too can follow their dream and be successful. While it can be a long road to get to that success, finding the right combination of priorities is important. If you can make yourself an expert at what you want to do, if you can go at it in earnest and sincerity, and if you’re willing to work hard, just maybe you too can do it.

That’s exactly what Raymond and Kathy Arnold did when they started Central Illinois Courier back in 1997. They started with just two vehicles - a family extended van and the purchase of a box truck - working from their home making local deliveries at all hours. Ray Arnold had spent quite a few years working in the trucking industry and strongly felt that customer service was missing from such delivery services. Read the rest of this entry »