On, Saturday April 26th 2008, from 4:00 p.m. until close, McAlister’s Deli will be donating 10% of all receipts returned with a flier for the, Relay for Life, for its help in promoting their Dine-n-Ca$h program.             

          The person who gives the most forms out gets a free night stay at the Radisson Hotel Peoria. Put your name and phone number of the form and the forms will be tallied at the end of the night. Email losher@insightbb.com to acquire an electronic copy of the form or for further information.

     The Newcomers’ Club of Greater Peoria will hold its Annual Fashion Show and Raffle on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. at Kickapoo Creek Winery, 6605 North Smith Road, Edwards. The Fashion Show will feature merchandise from Azura.  There will also be a raffle featuring prizes donated by various local merchants.  Raffle tickets will be sold 5 tickets for $5 or 15 tickets for $10. Babysitting is available.

     This event is open to the public and the Newcomers’ Club is open to all women who have lived in the Tri-County area for less than five years or have had a recent lifestyle change. For additional information or to make a reservation please contact Paula Cirone at 682-2977 or email at Peoria_newcomers@yahoo.com

2nd Annual Gold’s Gym “Get Fit For Kids” Event to benefit Children’s Hospital of IllinoisWho: Morton & Peoria Gold’s Gym Clubs - in partnership with Children’s Hospital of IllinoisWhat: The “Get Fit For Kids” Event sponsored by Gold’s Gym is open to the public for anyone who donates a minimum of $25 per class to participate in 8 different fitness classes from 7:30 am-1:00 p.m.  Raffles, Healthy Bake Sales, and many other activities will be taking place at both Gold’s Gym locations.Where: Morton Gold’s Gym, Peoria Gold’s Gym, 1630 N Main St., Morton, IL AND 5131 W. American Prairie Drive, Peoria, IL 61615

When: Saturday, April 19, 2008

Childcare will be available at each location from 7:30 am - 1:00 pmEvent is Open to the Public

Contact Morton’s Club at 309-263-4653, Todd Grimm, Owner or Buffy Gordon, General Group Fitness

FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE DEAL WITH ALZHEIMER’S  The Alzheimer’s Association and the OSF Saint Francis Institute on Aging are teaming up to present a free education program to help people deal with Alzheimer’s.  “Facing New Challenges” meets at 4:30 p.m. the third Monday of the month in the Medical Office Building Conference Room at the OSF Saint Francis Center for Health, located on Route 91 in Peoria.

  Topics include:  healthy aging vs. aging with dementia; Alzheimer’s disease; communication and Alzheimer’s disease; safety concerns, including driving and wandering; community resources; and agency services. Interested persons may register by calling 681-1100 or 1-800-272-3900.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS GATHER TOGETHER BEFORE ‘RACE FOR THE CURE’

  Area breast cancer survivors are using “Laughter as Medicine” to ease the pain of cancer. The 5th Annual Breast Cancer Survivor retreat (The Many Hands of Healing) is set in an environment to encourage sharing stories, feelings and personal experiences that is conducive to relaxation and reflection.  Throughout the retreat there is a balance of sharing, connecting, learning, discussion and fun! Programs include “Laughter Yoga”, “The Power of Food” and “Cancer Wellness”.

When:  Saturday, April 19, 2008 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Where:  Ravina on the Lakes, 5326 W. Charter Oak, Peoria 

COMMUNITY EDUCATION for MANAGING YOUR HEART HEALTH  The final offering in the community education series titled “Managing Your Heart Health” will focus on “Inflammation and its Effects on Heart Health.”  Speaker will be Dr. William Scott, medical director of Occupational Health for OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. The presentation is scheduled for 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the RiverPlex Wellness & Recreation Center, 600 N.E. Water St., Peoria.To register for this free program, call 282-1637. Sponsors are OSF Saint Francis Heart Hospital and OSF Saint Francis Wellness Services.

WHAT:  The 3rd Annual Tumble-A-Thon hosted by Jump Start Gymnastics & Kid’s Activity Center to benefit Children’s Hospital of Illinois.  WHEN:  The Tumble-A-Thon is taking place the week of April 21st - 26th.  There will be great photo/video opportunities during these times - Tuesday, April 22nd from 9 -11 a.m. and Thursday, April 24th, from 9:00 - 11:00a.m.       

WHERE:  Jump Start Gymnastics & Kid’s Activity Center- 8820 N. Industrial Rd, Peoria, IL

WHO:  Current students of Jump Start Gymnastics will participate in the weeklong ‘Tumble-A-Thon’. 

BACKGROUND:  Jump Start Gymnastics students participating in the Tumble-A-Thon will raise money by obtaining pledges for the number of activities performed in a specified period of time. Those activities range from fitness-specific skills or movements from cartwheels to back-flips. Children’s Miracle Network and USA Gymnastics have partnered nationally to benefit local children’s hospitals.  Jump Start Gymnastics, a USA Gymnastics affiliate, and Children’s Hospital of Illinois, the local Children’s Miracle Network hospital, have partnered together to help the children of central Illinois. 

CONTACT:   Dawn Kocher, Owner, Jump Start Gymnastics & Kid’s Activity Center, at 692-JUMP (5867) or Lauren Obalil, CMN Coordinator, Children’sHospital of Illinois, at 566-5673.

              Methodist Medical Center is the first hospital in the area to adopt state of the art technology in vascular access. The VeinViewer by Luminetx allows nurses and clinicians to see vasculature below the surface of the skin, projecting a visual roadmap to the patient’s vessels.

                Although performed frequently, venipuncture is commonly though of as one of the most painful and anxiety-provoking invasive procedures performed by nurses.

                “The VeinViewer is truly having an impact on patient care,” said Anthony Howard, Director of Emergency Services for Methodist. “With VeinViewer, we are experiencing success on even the most difficult patients. Instead of being stuck two, three or more times, with VeinViewer, they can be stuck on time, with less pain.”

                Methodist now has units available in the Emergency Department as well as the pediatric department since children on some of the more difficult patients to access veins.

                VeinViewer utilized near –infrared light, a digital video camera and an image processing unit to build an image of the patients vasculature. The device then projects that image in real-time on the patients’ skin using visible light. Health care professions can keep their hands free during procedures while the system accurately maps patients’ vasculature regardless of age, body type or skin tone.

                “This technology is changing the standard of compassionate care. We truuly believe it will become a new standard of care throughout the world.” Said David Pennington, Rn BSN, Director of Clinical Support Services, for Luminetx. “And we’re thrilled that Methodist is joining the ranks of multiple [premier health care facilities nationwide that have adopted this new technology.”

Neighborhood Watch Kick Off for West Biltmore Heights Neighborhood Watch

Monday, April 14th from 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. at the park @ Florence & Isabel. Bring a lawn chair!

 Boundaries of this neighborhood are: 1100 blocks of Florence, Merle & Richwoods, 3200 - 3300 blocks of Isabel.

Meet your City Council Reps, District Police Officer and City Staff.

For more info, call Emma Rees at 686-8696.

Illinois State Senator Dave Koehler’s legislation to allow school districts more flexibility to use state funds to build schools

     State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) has passed a bill in the Illinois State Senate to allow school districts across the state the flexibility needed to finance the building of schools through local Public Building Commissions.

     Senate Bill 2071 allows school districts across the state more options when it comes to the use of state money through the local Public Building Commission to build schools.  According to current state law, this opportunity exists only in Cook County.

     “I feel if this is good enough for Cook County and the City of Chicago, it is good enough for the rest of Illinois. We need greater opportunities, especially in places like the City of Peoria, where we have four schools over 100 years old that need to be replaced. By using funds through the Public Building Commission, we can build new schools and provide the right environment to educate our students and prepare them for the global economy,” Senator Koehler said.

     The legislation would also provide for greater flexibility in using life safety bonds that would help school districts by requiring the portion of the new building paid for by bonds to not exceed the cost of buildings or additions being replaced. This would help a district that wanted to consolidate two old schools into one new school. For example, two gyms, two cafeterias, and two auditoriums would not be needed, so the total square footage would be less than that of the two schools. A district could then use the cost savings from building smaller square footage to make other updates, such as adding air conditioning for the new school, thereby providing a more comfortable learning environment for the students.

     “District 150 serves about 14,700 students.  Fourteen of its buildings were constructed prior to 1929. With this legislation, we would have the opportunity to use funds not available to us prior to this bill to help our children get a step up in this fast paced world,” Senator Koehler said.

     The bill passed with bi-partisan support and now goes to the Illinois House of Representatives for consideration.

Mayor Jim Ardis & Dr. Amir Al-Khafajl, Chairman of the Peoria Race Relations Commission, will hold a news conference on Friday, April 11, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 400 at City Hall to announce the names of individuals who have been selected to serve on the newly formed commission.

Illinois American Water and Theatre Group will Teach Grade School Students Important Water Lessons April 14 -17

Illinois American Water has contracted with The National Theatre for Children, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to bring the “The Water Pirates of Neverland” live show to several local elementary schools in the Peoria area April 14 through April 17. 

The presentations by the National Theatre for Children are part of Illinois American Water’s youth education program.  Illinois American Water has worked to enhance water education in area classrooms for decades.  The Theatre for Children is an example of that effort to bring water and conservation education to students. The shows share information on water education, water usage tips, and pollution control with students in a fun, interactive atmosphere. Illinois American Water is sponsoring National Theatre for Children Performances at the following schools:  

Apr 14 -   9:30 - 10:00 a.m.   Harrison Elementary

Apr 14 -   1:45 -   2:20 p.m.   Hines Primary School

Apr 15 -   9:30 - 10:10 a.m.   Glen Oak Primary School

Apr 15 -   1:30 -   2:00 p.m.    Thomas Jefferson Primary School 

Apr 16 - 10:30 - 11:10 a.m.   Kingman Primary

Apr 16 -   1:00 -   1:30 p.m.   Mossville

Apr 17 -   1:00 -   1:35 p.m.    Concordia Lutheran School