CW Notes

            Colleen Callahan, Congressional candidate for the 18th District, today announced she is releasing her campaign financial disclosure forms and personal tax records for 2006 and 2007 and joins Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer in his call for Republican Aaron Schock to follow suit.

            “I have always said that complete transparency is something I strongly believe should be foremost in a political campaign,” Callahan said. “I learned that vital concept years ago from the late Senator Paul Simon, a dear friend to my family and my own personal hero. It’s my sincere hope that Aaron joins us in releasing this crucial information to the voters of the 18th District.”

              The links to the documents appear on the campaign Web page www.colleencallahanforcongress.com under the About Colleen tab.

Sheldon Schafer, US Congressional Candidate for the 18th District, announced his campaign financial disclosures and released his personal tax records. Schafer stated his website now contains his personal 2006 and 2007 income tax records. Additionally, Schafer states his campaign has surpassed the $5,000 fundraising threshold and will begin filing Federal Candidate Disclosure forms. This financial information provides transparency for the Schafer Campaign and offers the public specific information about Schafer’s personal wealth.

 Schafer stated, “I strongly encourage the other candidates to join me and release their personal taxes for the past two years, 2006 and 2007, and to provide a link on their websites the list of corporate donors. If Sara Palin can do it, so can we. I want the voters to be able to compare financial records to decide which of us is most independent of special interests, and which of us is most likely to be influenced by the corporate lobbies.”

Schafer’s personal 2006/2007 tax information, the US House of Representatives Financial Disclosure form for Candidates, and a link to the Federal Election Commission form stating the income of the campaign, including in kind services is posted on the campaign website, www.schaferforcongress.onfo

For more info, call the candidate at 309-868-4028.

Candidate for State Representative Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) this week announced a drive to collect used cell phones to benefit soldiers that are stationed overseas. Partnering with Cell phones for Soldiers, Gordon will collect cell phones at area locations during the month of October.“I believe we should take every opportunity to give back to the brave men and women that are serving our nation overseas,” Gordon said “This is a simple way to show our appreciation for their sacrifices. Everyone has an old cell phone sitting in a drawer that they can donate to provide a few minutes of call time for our soldiers, making it possible for them to talk with their families.”

Donations can be made at the following locations:

-Jehan Gordon’s Campaign Office, 1200 W. Main St, Suite 9, Peoria

-Java Jolt, 230 SW Adams St., Peoria

-BP Gas Station, 4430 N Prospect Rd., PeoriaHeights-

Reid’s Service Center, 7123 North Kickapoo Edwards Rd.,

Edwards-Casey’s, 6124 W Plank Rd.

PeoriaCell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from
Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised millions of dollars in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas. The cell phones are recycled for cash and the proceeds are used to buy prepaid calling cards for our soldiers serving in the Middle East.  Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to turn old cell phones into more than 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas in 2008. To do so, Cell Phones for Soldiers expects to collect 50,000 cell phones each month through a network of more than 5,000 collection sites across the country.           

 All wireless phones are accepted.  All makes, models, and ages are welcome, as are wireless phone batteries and chargers. Individuals who donate their wireless phones have the privilege and responsibility of giving a good-faith estimate of the value of their gift for tax purposes.           

“The cell phones that are donated will provide a way for our military personal to talk with their loved ones back home,” Gordon said. “By donating our used cell phones, we can make a big difference in the lives of the men and women overseas that have sacrificed so much for our country.”            Gordon will be collecting used cell phones throughout the month of October. Gordon is the democratic nominee for State Representative in the 92^nd.  For more information, please contact Gordon at (309)673-9292 or at info@jehangordon.com.

            The Peoria Park District’s Proctor Recreation Center is having a You’ve Been Boo’d Haunted House on Friday, October 24 starting at 6:30 p.m. This night will be fun for all ages. The South Side’s best haunted house is located at Proctor Recreation Center.  We’ve turned this 96-year-old building’s basement into tunnels and hallways of pure terror!  Follow the pathway through the building and receive a treat…if you make it out! A candy bag will be given out after each tour. Admission is only $2.00.  For more information call 673-9183.

This is the 24th years CEFCU has sponsored a contest to select designs for holiday greeting cards. Students throughout central Illinois submitted designs in various age categories. Come and meet the winning students and runner’s up, their families and teachers, along with representatives from CEFCU and Children’s Hospital.            

Scheduled to speak at the awards ceremony are: Mark Spenny, CEFCU CEO; Sue Yoder, CEFCU Vice President; Paul Kramer, Children’s Hospital of Illinois President; and, Tom Hammerton, Vice President of Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The sale of the cards through the Brighten a Child’s Life project benefits Children’s Hospital of Illinois.

October 14^th, 5:00 Reception / 5:30 Awards Ceremony @ CEFCU Airport Office

            Join the Peoria Park District for the Teen Mystery Theater production of The Great High School Whodunit at Lakeview Museum on Saturday, November 8 at 6:00 pm.  We’ll transform the museum into the fictional Dudley High School as we honor the ultra rich Dudley Family who has donated money to the school. Soon mayhem ensues and Mrs. Dudley’s ring, which has been placed in the school safe, is missing. Fortunately, a stranger appears – an FBI agent – ready to conduct the investigation. Except…a second stranger arrives, also claiming to be an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. One is the real article, the other the infamous jewel thief, Jack of Hearts. Help us as we unmask the jewel thief’s accomplice and discover the location of the stolen ring.This show is open to all ages. Tickets are $15 per person and include dessert.  Tickets go on sale October 15 at Glen Oak Pavilion. For more info call 681-2860.

MTV News correspondent and producer Gideon Yago will give the Robison Lecture at Bradley University on Wednesday, October 22, at 8 p.m. in Neumiller Lecture Hall, located in Bradley Hall.  A reception will be held immediately following the lecture in the atrium of the Michel Student Center. Yago’s lecture, “They’re Doing What? Politics and the Youth Vote,” will be an unbiased look at the presidential election and other global issues affecting young adults. 

Yago began his career as a reporter on the 2000 presidential election.  After the events of September 11, 2001, MTV shifted its news coverage from entertainment to hard news with Yago at the forefront with specials and documentaries reporting wars, elections, global crises, and social trends affecting young people. His hip and unbiased reporting earned him an Emmy for his coverage in the 2004 presidential election.  His other awards include the George Foster Peabody Award for work in MTV’s “Fight For Your Rights: Sexual Health” campaign and the Edward R. Murrow Award for outstanding documentary coverage of the Iraq war. 

He has had work published in Rolling Stone, Spin and Vice Magazines and on NPR’s “This American Life.” 

Yago currently has two film scripts in production and has been the host of MTV and MySpace.com’s Presidential Dialogues for the 2008 presidential elections.  He also is head writer and producer for the news magazine “The Wrap” on MTV2. 

The Robison Endowed Lectureship Series was established by the late Mary Leslie Robison to bring distinguished journalists and journalism educators to Bradley University. She taught journalism as an assistant professor at Bradley from 1957 to 1969.  The Lectureship began in 1988, two years after her death. 

 Planned Parenthood Federation of America Action Fund PAC will announce its endorsement of Colleen Callahan in the 18th Congressional race. 

 Press Conference:  October 9, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. 

 Location:  Planned Parenthood of Illinois, 705 NE Jefferson St., Peoria , IL 61603

Peoria’s First United Methodist Church, the city’s oldest Protestant congregation, celebrated its 175th anniversary with a series of activities Oct. 1-5.  The events included:• “Celebrate Jesus!”, a family dinner of praise, music, and stories from former clergy was held at the Peoria Civic Center’s ballroom and attended by some 700 persons.  Interspersed between musical selections by the church’s Praise Band, Sanctuary Choir, Combined Children’s Choirs and the Sanctuary Brass were short interviews with clergy with prior connections to the church.   

Dr. Timothy Bias, the church’s current directing minister, served as emcee and conducted the interviews.  The evening began with a proclamation from the City of Peoria read by Mayor Jim Ardis.

• An all-church picnic was held on Saturday, Oct. 4 and featured music, a potluck and an informal time to reminisce with former pastors.  It was also the first opportunity for the congregation to submit items for a time capsule that is being prepared by a First Church member.

• A special noon dinner was held in the church’s fellowship hall for those in the congregation who have been members more than 50 years.  There were 180 in attendance.

• The Sunday services on Oct. 5 included a guest sermon by new Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer and a preaching return to First Church by Rev. Mark Jordan who initiated the praise and worship service 10 years ago.

• Church building tours were conducted on two separate occasions during the week of celebration.

• On Oct. 5, the fellowship hall featured 29 displays of the varied ministries of the church, including those that serve the church’s congregation, those that touch the lives within the local community and those with international impact. 

To commemorate the anniversary, a history book was produced and given to all member families.  2009 calendars, Christmas ornaments, commemorative throws and shirts, all with the 175th logo, have been made available for sale to friends and members of the congregation. 

Extending the anniversary celebration will be banners to be displayed in downtown Peoria for the next several months featuring the 175th logo and seven television ads produced featuring local businesses and church members wishing the church a “Happy Birthday.” Church member Nan McConaghy chaired the 175th anniversary committee. 

The Peoria Jaycees are proud to announce they will be hosting a Check Presentation Ceremony, Thursday October 9th at 7:00 pm held at Old Chicago Downtown Peoria.  Several checks will be presented to local charities as a result of money raised from the International Beer Festival held at the Expo Gardens earlier this year.  Some of the charities benefitting from this year’s event are the Independent Sportsman’s Club, the Peoria Razorbacks Youth Wrestling, the Peoria Junior League’s Peoria Playhouse, Camp New Hope, the Larry Olsen Charity Golf Outing, and Peoria Youth Baseball.  The remaining funds raised from the project go to support many other great community projects the Jaycees sponsor throughout the year.  The Peoria Jaycees are a leadership training organization for individuals from the age of 21-40 years old.  For more information on the Jaycees visit www.jaycees.com or call 309-676-5292.