ORIENTEERING MEET AT SOMMER PARK MAY 10 - The Illinois River Valley Orienteering Club (IRVOC) will hold an Orienteering Meet at Sommer Park on Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. Join the IRVOC for some family fun, and spend the day learning about this fascinating sport. The cost is $5 for the map and $1 for each person. For details, contact Mike Duncan, irvoc@insightbb.com or look on the IRVOC website: www.il-orienteering.org.

FOREST PARK NATURE CENTER TO HOST ICC “FUNSHOP” CLASS, “SIGHT & SOUND BIRD ID,” SATURDAY, MAY 10 - The Peoria Park District’s Forest Park Nature
Center will host an Illinois Central College “Funshop” class, Sight & Sound Bird ID, on Saturday, May 10, from 9-11:30 a.m. The instructor is John Mullen of Peoria Audubon and Forest Park Nature
Center.

 Get acquainted with the local avian world as you explore the beautiful flying songsters that surround us. The emphasis of this class will be on simple appreciation of these winged wonders as well as the identification of birds by coloration, shape, behavior, vocalizations and other characteristics. Field guides and binoculars will also be discussed. Participants will have the opportunity to practice what they’ve learned during the hands-on, outdoor portion of this workshop.

            Registration for this class is through Illinois Central College, 999-4545, and pre-registration is required. The fee is $14 per person.

TRAVELER’S DREAM PERFORMS MAY 10 @ FOREST PARK NATURE CENTER -       Traveler’s Dream will perform at the Peoria Park District’s Forest Park Nature Center on Saturday, May 10 at 7 p.m. as part of the Nature Center’s 2008 “Songs from the Woods” Concert Series.

            Michael Lewis and Denise Wilson of Traveler’s Dream are masters of an eclectic repertoire. In any given concert, you may hear lively Irish jigs and reels, French-Canadian voyageur songs, sea shanties, Scottish bagpipe tunes and songs that capture the heart and history of diverse cultures. With a deep respect for ancient musical traditions, Wilson and Lewis enrich the music with carefully woven arrangements, close vocal harmonies and driving rhythms played on the guitar, bouzouki and feet percussion. The duo also writes original songs that nestle seamlessly alongside their traditional material.

            Payment for reserved seating is available at the Trailhead Nature Store. General admission seating is payable at the door. Concert fees are $7 for adults, $6 for children, and CORE members receive $1 off. For more information, contact Forest Park Nature Center, 309-686-3360.

ATTEND ACTIVE SENIORS WILDFLOWER WALKS THIS SPRING AT THE NATURE
CENTER - The Peoria Park District’s Forest Park Nature Center will host Active Senior Wildflower Walks on Wednesday, May 14 and Wednesday, June 11, at 10 a.m. There is nothing better than starting the day with a hot cup of coffee or tea and breathing in some fresh spring air! Active seniors will love seeing the beauty of spring revealed and appreciate the opportunity to get to know some other nature-loving seniors on one of these naturalist-guided tours. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and be prepared to walk up to a half mile. This presentation is open to seniors age 55 plus. There is no fee, but a donation is requested. For more information, please call the Nature Center, 309-686-3360.

“Proper Pruning Practices” Class at Luthy Botanical Garden May 17 - Pruning (verb): to cut, lop, whack, thin, shear, trim, reduce. Could your pruning method be best described as lopping and whacking rather than thinning and trimming? To learn the best maintenance of your trees and shrubs, be sure to attend the Peoria Park District’s “Proper Pruning Practices” class at Luthy Botanical Garden on Saturday, May 17, from 9-11 a.m.

            Come learn the who, what, why, where, when and how of pruning from instructor Valerie Wolfe—plus all the don’ts. And because practice makes perfect, you will try your new skills in our Garden until you’re a confident pruner! You can also take home cuttings or purchase tools from our gift shop.

            The class will be held at the Luthy Botanical Garden, and the fee is $8 for residents, $10 for non-residents and $6 for Garden members. To register for this class or more information, call the Luthy Botanical Garden at (309) 686-3362. 

ANNUAL CLYDE WEST FISHING DERBY - The Peoria Park District will hold its 37th Annual Clyde West Fishing Derby on Saturday, May 17.  The Glen Oak Park Lagoon will be stocked with 2,000 pounds of fish.  Prizes, fun and fishing materials will be provided. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the park.

            The derby is open from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. for children 9 and under, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for children ages 10-13, and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities.  Admission is FREE. For more information call 681-2854.

“The Streets Belong to Me” Youth Rally - The Peoria Park District in conjunction with the Community and Inner City Services Department is hosting a Youth Rally on Friday, May 30th at the Logan Recreation Center Park to promote the intolerance of violence. Join us at 11:00am and kick off your safe summer with local celebrities and coaches, food and drinks, and giveaways. Admission is FREE!  For more information call Deborah Totten at 681-2857or Terri Cannon at 676-8179.

ADULT CO-REC 6’s SAND VOLLEYBALL  - Enjoy the summer with your friends in this Peoria Park District recreational league at Bradley Park. Previous experience is not necessary.  Co-rec “A” and “B” divisions will compete on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Teams will consist of six players with at least two women on the court at all times. Fee is $170 per team. The season starts June 3.  League registration is ongoing at the Glen Oak Park Pavilion. Please call Matt at 681-2866 for more information

Peoria Park District’s Tennis Registration - The Peoria Park District is now taking registrations for all tennis programs for ages 4 and up. Adult tennis, youth tennis, USA Team tennis, and free tennis are being offered throughout the summer. Registration is ongoing at the Glen Oak Park Pavilion. For more information please call 688-3667 for more information.

Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Zoo May 11            

Make Mother’s Day a special occasion this year at the Peoria Zoo! Bring your favorite mom (or moms) to the Zoo on Sunday, May 11 for a family celebration with the moms of the animal kingdom. All mothers will be admitted FREE when accompanied by a paying child.           

Kids can also help the Zoo celebrate all our incredible animal moms by helping make enrichment treats for them at 1:30 p.m. The cost is $5.95 for adults (except moms with children) and $3.75 for children 3 to 12. Zoo members and children 2 and under are admitted FREE. For more information, contact Yvonne Strode, Zoo Manager, at 686-3365 extension 302. The Peoria Zoo is a facility of the Peoria Park District.  

LUTHY BOTANICAL GARDEN PRESENTS PEORIA ORCHID SOCIETY
SHOW ON MOTHER’S DAY           

The Peoria Park District’s Luthy Botanical Garden will host their annual Orchid Show, hosted by the Peoria Orchid Society, on Sunday, May 11 (Mother’s Day), from noon to 5 p.m.           

Bring your favorite mom, sister, aunt, grandmother or friend to this year’s Orchid Show. Many beautiful specimens will be on display in the Conservatory, as well as information on their care.

Admission to the Orchid Show is $2 for adults and $1 for children 2 to 12. Mothers, grandmothers and garden members will be admitted FREE. For additional information on this show, please call Luthy
Botanical Garden at (309) 686-3362.

“GIGS IN THE GARDEN” CONCERT SEASON  BEGINS MAY 11 AT LUTHY
BOTANICAL GARDEN           

On Sunday, May 11 (Mother’s Day), 5 to 7 p.m., the Peoria Park District’s Luthy Botanical Garden will host the first “Gigs in the Garden” of the season, featuring Lizzi Neal. Back by popular demand, this year’s “Gigs in the Garden,” a series of summer concerts featuring local musical talent, will feature performances by groups and individuals representing various music genres. After the opening concert on May 11, the remaining concerts will be held on the second Sunday of the month, through September. Following is the 2008 Gigs in the Garden schedule:           

May 11— Lizzi Neal Band (Rockin’ Blues)           

June 8—The Bogside Zukes (Celtic Folk Music)           

July 13—Barry Cloyd (Folk Music)           

August 10—Joe Couri (Softer Folk, Pop & Blues) 

            At Gigs in the Garden, the music is hot and the evenings cool (hopefully)! So bring a picnic and blanket or settle in the chairs we provide and enjoy great music in a beautiful garden atmosphere with family and friends. Popcorn and soda will be available. No alcohol permitted.

Admission is $5 per person at the door; $4 for Garden members and advance tickets, and $15 max per family. Children ages 12 and under are free. To reserve tickets, please contact Luthy Botanical Garden, 309-686-3362.

LOCAL AMERICAN RED CROSS CHAPTERS CELEBRATE  “HIGHLY PERFORMING” DESIGNATION DURING MAY 6 NEWS CONFERENCE 

As graduation season approaches, the American Red Cross Central Illinois Chapter and the American Red Cross of the Heartland find themselves in the top ten percent of their class. Of 756 chapters across the country, these two chapters join only 90 that are recognized as “Highly Performing.” This is the third consecutive year that the Central Illinois Chapter has received this distinction (one of only nine chapters to achieve that level of success) and the first year for the American Red Cross of the Heartland that had been rated as “Successful” (the second-highest level of achievement) the past two years. The honor is part of the American Red Cross’ continuous improvement model which measures chapter performance through customer and volunteer satisfaction surveys, outcome achievement, feedback from community partners and the organization’s financial strength and stability. Chapters are then evaluated annually with similarly sized chapters throughout the American Red Cross network of chapters. The model exists to assure that chapters are fulfilling the Red Cross mission while incorporating the appropriate checks and balances necessary to assure the donated dollars are being used wisely and within corporate standards. 

     Anne Fox, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Central Illinois Chapter and Lyn Hruska, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of the Heartland join Dennis Triggs and Mike Malone , chairmen of their respective Board of Directors, for a joint news conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 6 at the Central Illinois Chapter in Peoria to formally announce their accomplishment: 

WHO:  American Red Cross Central Illinois Chapter, American Red Cross of the Heartland

WHAT:  Announcement of Highly Performing Chapter designation

WHEN:  Tuesday, May 6, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:  American Red Cross Central Illinois Chapter, 311 W. John H. Gwynn Jr. Ave., Peoria

On Saturday, May 10^th, the US Postal Service letter carriers in the Peoria area will help host the Largest One-Day Food Drive in the Nation!

This even will be the 16^th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Food Drive. Letter carriers are asking the community to help feed the hungry in Central Illinois by leaving non-perishable food at their mailboxes.Local letter carriers will collect non-perishable food donations while delivering the mail. Customers may leave non-perishable food at or in the mailbox to be picked up.

Peoria Ad Club to Host Annual Peoria Area Development Panel

On May 20^th at Noon at the Peoria Civic Center in rooms 135-136, the Peoria Ad Club will host the Annual Peoria Area Development Panel. This year’s panel of speakers include: Dr. Cindy Fischer,
School District 150; Jim McConoughey, Heartland Partnership; Suzette Boulais, ArtsPartners; and Pat Sullivan, Warehouse District.

Prices for the lunch is $16 for members and $20 for guests. RSVPs are required and payment expected the day of the meeting. Cash and checks payable to Peoria Ad Club are the only acceptable forms of payment. Got to the website at www.peoriaadclub.com by May 9^th to RSVP.

     Applications are available to Peoria homeowners and property owners who want a free alley light installed on their house or garage. There is no fee for citizens who apply for the installation of a light. The only requirements for installation are that an applicant’s house or property is served by an alley, and an applicant must not have participated in previous alley lighting programs. The applicant is also responsible for the care and maintenance of the light after it is installed.

     The City earmarked money for the purchase and installation of 200 lights. The alley light is a 70 watt high pressure sodium, metal wall unit with a heavy duty light cover. The light will be hardwired to an existing electrical system. If an applicant requests that a light be installed on a garage, the wiring must not extend more than 30 feet from the power source.

     Applications can be downloaded from the City’s website: www.ci.peoria.il.us. Go to Government, H-Z Departments, Planning Department, Neighborhoods, Applications & Forms, or at Planning and Growth Management Department, Twin Towers Building, 456 Fulton St., Suite 402. 

For more info, call Steve Fairbanks at 494-8603.

            Readers of all ages are invited to participate in “Get in the Game, Read” Summer Reading at Peoria Public Library from June 9 through July 26 to earn tickets to a Chiefs game and an invitation to the big party at the Peoria Zoo.           

Sign up starts Monday, May 12 during Children’s Book Week.  Children who register for Summer Reading from May 12 to May 17 will have their name entered in a drawing to win a free book. Families may register at any library location or call 497-2143.           

The program is free and readers of all ages only have to agree to read 3 hours per week. By signing in weekly at the branch of their choice they can earn a ticket to a Peoria Chief’s baseball game after only 3 weeks and for reading 5 weeks will be invited to attend a private “Summer Readers” party at Peoria Zoo. Drawings at the party will offer additional grand prizes as well as treats, animal shows, crafts and more.           

Participants may read anything they like. Families are encouraged to all sign up and earn their game tickets and party passes together. Just choose one branch and sign in each week. The program runs for seven weeks, although only five weeks of reading are needed to earn a party pass.           

Studies have shown that reading for pleasure over the summer keeps student skills sharp and prepares children to resume school in the fall. It has also been shown that children are positively influenced by having parents read to them from the time they are born. Parents who read for pleasure are great role models!

Children’s Hospital of Illinois Bicycle Safety Program saves local area an estimated $1,560,000.00 in indirect healthcare costs over the course of 5 years. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 2008 Traffic Safety Fact Sheet estimate, Children’s Hospital of Illinois has saved the local area approximately $1,560,000.00 in indirect healthcare costs over the course of the past 5 years through its bicycle safety and helmet donation program. NHTSA estimates that for every $1 spent on a bicycle helmet, $30 are saved in indirect healthcare costs.

Children’s Hospital of Illinois began the “Undercover” program in 2002 to provide local children access to free bicycle helmets and training on safe bicycling practices. Since inception, more than 13,000 helmets have been distributed through 56 area schools.

Participating schools are selected through an application process each winter.  Each spring, Children’s Hospital of Illinois, in conjunction with the winning schools coordinates two visits to each winning school. On the first visit, Children’s Hospital staff, and local volunteers measure the heads of all children at the winning school in order purchase properly fitting helmets for each child.  On the second visit, Children’s Hospital staff, Joe Russell of Russell’s Cycle and Fitness Center, and local volunteers teach the children safe bicycling practices, distribute helmets, and show the children how to properly wear a bicycle helmet. Erin Durbin, Program Coordinator at Children’s Hospital says, “The professional bicycle safety education provided through the undercover program, in conjunction with the helmet distribution, lays a strong foundation for safe bicycling practices with the children served by this program.  The timing of this program is great! It allows us to reach the children right at the beginning of bicycling season.”

UPCOMING UNDERCOVER HELMET DISTRIBUTION/FITTING DAY:  Monday May 5th, 8:15am, Peoria Limestone-Walters :

WHO: Children’s Hospital of Illinois Staff, Joe Russell of Russell’s Cycle & Fitness Center

WHAT: Undercover helmet distribution and education date

WHERE: Peoria Limestone Walters, 8223 W. Smithville Road, Peoria, Illinois 61607

WHEN: Monday May 5^th, 8:15a.m.

NEW YOGA CLASSES AT FRC!

     The Peoria Park District’s Franciscan Recreation Complex is featuring Yoga aerobics classes. Join in on this relaxing and exhilarating experience on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:25pm or our new Tuesday and Friday morning classes from 10:00-10:50 a.m. This class will get you inspired and is appropriate for all ages and fitness levels! Cost is just $3.50 per class, or get a discount with the purchase of a punch card.  Walk-ins are always welcome! For more information or to register call 677-6705.

PEORIA PARK DISTRICT EXTENDED REGISTRATION HOURS

            The Peoria Park District will have extended registration hours for the dates of Tuesday, May 27 through Friday May 30. During these dates the Glen Oak Pavilion registration office will be open until 5:00 p.m. Sign up for your summer classes and programs! For a full listing of offerings go to www.peoriaparks.org.

DRESS REHEARSAL - OWENS CENTER 29TH ANNUAL ICE SHOW

            The media is invited to Dress Rehearsals for the 29th Annual Ice Show at Peoria Park District’s Owens Center. Dress Rehearsals are scheduled for Sunday, May 4 from 3:00- 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday, May 7 from 5:15-7:15 p.m.

OWENS CENTER 29TH ANNUAL ICE SHOW  

Peoria Park District’s Owens Recreation Center in Lakeview Park will present their 29th Annual Ice Show on Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10, with performances at 7:00 p.m. both evenings. The show will feature the University of Illinois Synchronized Skating Team. Advanced sales tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 5-12, and $6 for Seniors and are available at Owens Center. Children 4 and under are FREE. Tickets at the door are an additional 50 cents. The show is sponsored by Times Newspapers. Performances are sanctioned by the Ice Skating Institute. For more information, call Owens Center at (309)686-3369. For those unable to attend, videos and DVDs will be available for purchase by calling Owens Center.

Koehler receives Legislator of the Year Award from Illinois Association of County Board Members

State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) has been awarded the Legislator of the Year Award by the 

Illinois Association of County Board Members for 2008. The award is given to members of the 

Illinois General Assembly who have substantially assisted in the advancement of the policy agenda

and legislative priorities of the group.

 “It has been an honor to work with the Illinois Association of County Boards during this session

 and over the course of my legislative career. I look forward to working with them in the future

to move forward with policies to greatly enhance the quality of life for residents, improve

infrastructure and create better business climates so our counties will have the tools and 

resources necessary to compete in the growing global economy,” Senator Koehler said.

 The Illinois Association of County Board Members is a not-for-profit organization that 

assists the state’s 102 counties by providing an opportunity for county officials to congregate,

educate and advocate their interests before the state and federal government.