The Community of Caregivers at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of
Illinois is always looking for ways to make someone’s hospital stay better. To that end, we have created the Cards That Care program, which will provide cards to patients throughout the year.           

We are inviting community groups, organizations, and individuals to participate – and it’s simple! 

Come to our community card making day: Saturday, November 15^th – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Glen Oak building – 700 Auditorium 

We will have basic card making supplies – but you are encouraged to bring additional supplies that would make your cards unique and special. Some suggested themes: Thinking of You, Get Well, Just to Brighten Your Day, Holiday Greetings, New Baby, Sending Thoughts/Prayers Your Way.

          Cards should be appropriate for distribution to any patient. We ask that you sign your first name only.

            If you are unable to attend on the 15th, you can make cards on your own and send them to or drop them off at Volunteer Services, 530 NE Glen Oak Ave., Peoria, IL 61637Contact Volunteer Services with questions at 655-2118 or 655-4753.

Join the Junior League of Peoria at the RiverPlex Friday, November 7th, and Saturday, November 8th, for Julep’s Closet,
Peoria’s largest rummage sale. Friday is “Twice the Price Night,” as shoppers get first pick of the merchandise from 5 to 8pm for twice the marked price. Saturday’s sale runs from 8am to noon at regular price, from noon to 2pm at half-price, and then, from 2:30 to 5pm as the Bag Sale—$3 for everything that will fit in a small bag or $10 for a large bag. Men’s, women’s, children’s, and infant’s clothing, housewares and holiday items, books, toys, shoes, and linens are all available. There is a $1 admission charge, with proceeds going directly to the operating expenses of the Junior League.

Events, workshops, music and free demos open to the public! Enjoy the holiday season with us. Workshops, Make-It&-Take-It sessions, free musical performance by Paul Hamilton presenting Christian contemporary music, and more. 

Holiday Open Houses 

Friday, November 14

3:00 p.m. - Make-It-And-Take-It: Holiday Wreath.* Register in advance in the Garden Center. $39/person. All supplies provided. This session will work with wonderful artificial products. Finished wreath will be appropriate for indoors use or in a protected area outside. Jane Mason , Artist/Designer, will lead this session. 

3:00 – 5:00 p.m. - Buffalo Wild Wings of Grand Prairie. Selected favorite menu items available for purchase; served by the staff of the restaurant. 4:00 p.m. - Drawings for wonderful gifts like a One Night stay at the Wingate by Wyndham, Grand Prairie. Also, a Signed Collectible from Isabel Bloom. No purchase necessary. Must be present to win. 18 and over. 4:00 p.m. - Demonstration: Arranging a Festive Display on Your Holiday Mantle. FREE. Learn tips on how to add a designer’s touch to your mantle or tabletop.   4:00 – 6:00 p.m. - Live Music by Paul Hamilton. FREE. Paul was awarded: Most Promising Co-Songwriter of the Year - new gospel in 2005, along with Most Promising Co-Songwriter of the Year - new country, 2005. He has performed with Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Cash, Emmy Lou Harris, and worked with Jerry Garcia. At Hoerr Nursery, he will be performing Christian contemporary songs as well as songs of the season! 

          Danner’s Salads, a Peoria, IL based family-owned manufacturer of more than 50 different deli salads, including potato salads, macaroni salads and cole slaws, announced on October 6 that they will be shutting down operations.  However, since this announcement, Danner’s Salads has reached an agreement with Sandridge Food Corporation, based in Medina, OH, for the continued production of Danner’s Salads. 

According to Danner’s President Jenelle Summers, “we are thrilled that our long tradition of making great salads will continue.”  During the transition period, employees from both companies will work closely to duplicate the recipes.  Mark Sandridge, CEO of family-owned Sandridge Food Corporation, says that his company’s focus is on producing the “same product that has been loved for over 60 years”.  He reassures Danner’s Salads’ customers that the same quality, care and ingredients will be used in each and every salad.  Both companies are committed to making this transition as seamless as possible for all customers.

Customers desiring to place an order can call any of our distributors - Bartlow Brothers (Rushville, IL at 217-322-3365), Meats Plus (Loda, IL at 217-386-2381) or Waugh Foods (East Peoria, IL at 309-427-8000), or contact Sandridge Food Corporation at 800-627-2523 or www.sandridge.com.

Novus’ November meeting is the first in a two-part series on Intellectual Property. It will take place Thursday, November 13, 2008 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The topic — Protecting Intellectual Property through Patents — will feature a panel discussion between an IP Lawyer, an Engineer and an Operations VP. The panel includes:  Trent English—Patent lawyer for Howard & Howard, Marc Albertin— VP of Operations for Ecothermics and Roger Watkins—Engineer for Validus Technologies.  

These experts will discuss the fascinating area of patent law. Are you an inventor? Does proprietary intellectual property hold the key to your business’ success? Find out from the experts if your IP is sufficiently protected. Attend NOVUS to network—and to learn how to guard your business secrets! 

This is the first of two NOVUS meetings focusing on Intellectual Property. The next NOVUS meeting is scheduled for January and will focus on other areas of IP. 

Novus is held in the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center, 801 W. Main Street.

A $10 admission fee includes hors d‘oeuvres and drinks. Register for Novus’ November meeting by going to www.novusnetworking.com or by sending an email to tce@bradley.edu and mention NOVUS in the subject line. 

Heinold-Banwart Ltd., Busey Bank, DPA Services and the Bradley University’s Turner Center for Entrepreneurship are sponsoring Novus’ 2008/2009 meetings. 

Central Illinois’ coal-mining culture, labor heritage and a neglected local author will be discussed at a presentation and reading by journalist Bill Knight at 2 p.m. Nov. 16 at Flanagan House, 942 NE Glen Oak Ave. in Peoria, sponsored by the Peoria Historical Society.           

Knight edited and wrote an introduction for a new edition of Horse Shoe Bottoms, a 1935 novel by Peorian Tom Tippett. Born to immigrant parents, Tippett started work as a coal miner in the Pottstown area and went on to become a union activist, an accomplished writer, a New Deal government employee and labor educator.His only novel, Horse Shoe Bottoms is about Illinois’ coal culture in the late 19^th century. It follows the arrival of European miners in the Illinois River valley, where they work for a friendly ex-miner who eventually loses his company to other business interests that exploit the operation and its labor force. Strife and strikes, violence and reconciliation all follow, with sturdy John Stafford unionizing miners as his wife Ellen copes with the zeal of the miners to organize and her need to provide a better home for her family.           

In the 1930s, the New York Times praised the book: “Tippett has told his story with warmth and feeling, and he has told it fairly. A moving and all-too-gentle story, it is a plain story without flourishes or melodrama; and it is one that is well told in terms of convincingly real and living people.”           

 Knight is a journalist who writes for area newspapers and teaches at Western Illinois University.

            The public is invited to an Open House at Methodist Medical Center on Saturday, November 8, 2008 in what will be a unique opportunity to learn more about Methodist and the future of Healthcare.The 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. open house will feature free blood pressure screenings, $25 flu shots, healthy cooking demonstrations, free tours of the Methodist MedForce helicopter and tours that will include the latest innovations in patient care. Participants will have an opportunity to help design the patient rooms of the future by touring the latest nursing floor and voting for what patient rooms should include.

Special doctor led presentations will include:

1:00- Dr. Jay Salimath-Surgical Weight Loss Options
1:15- Dr. May Ahn-Breast Cancer and Early Detection
1:30- Dr. Christopher Von Hake-Hearing Loss in Children & Adults
1:45- Dr. Michael Gibbons-Sports Medicine and Injury Prevention
2:00- Dr. John Mahoney-Preventing and Treating Hand Injuries
2:00- Dr. Revathi Swaminathan-New Targeted Treatment for Prostate and Other Cancer
2:15- Dr. Daniel Mulconrey-A Comprehensive Approach to Neck and Back Pain
2:30-Dr. Shurouk Ismail-A Simplified Approach to Asthma Management 

Entertainment and refreshments will also be available as well as hand outs and door prizes. Parking is free and a shuttle service will be available from the Methodist Atrium during the Methodist Service League Gift Show.

 BRADLEY STUDENTS WILL BE DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY

            College students pulling an all-nighter may not be unusual, but in this case it’s all in the name of a good cause – supporting the Children’s Hospital of Illinois.           

          The 8th Annual Bradley University Dance Marathon takes place Friday and Saturday November 7 & 8, 2008 in the new Markin Family Student Recreation Center on the Bradley University Campus. Opening ceremonies and dancing begins at 6 p.m. on Friday the 7th with closing ceremonies on Saturday the 8th starting at 4:30 p.m.

            Participants will hear from Children’s Hospital miracle families, enjoy entertainment by a magician and a variety of bands, and have the opportunity to take advantage of the new student recreation facility by rock climbing, swimming, and, of course – dancing!

             The dance marathon has raised more than $240,000 in the past seven years.

Staff from the Methodist Hospice department will be offering a Free Holiday Grief Seminar on Saturday, November 8, 2008. “When Grief Doesn’t Take a Holiday” will be presented by Hospice Chaplains and Social Workers from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. in the Methodist Morron Room on the first floor of the hospital. 

Methodist bereavement counselor Linda McKinney says the program is designed to be educational, interactive, and practical for anyone who has experienced the death of a love one. For more information or to reserve a seat, call the Methodist Hospice at 672-5746

Dayspring Church Winter Fun 

    Come spend a delightful day at the second annual Over the River and Thru the Woods, a special holiday event. Gift baskets, bake sale, food, wiener roast, hikes in the woods and more will be featured on Saturday, November 29, 2008, from 10 AM to 4 PM near the NAF- Dayspring log church site.  All proceeds will go to the building of the Native American Fellowship Dayspring-Church, which is located at 201 N. Norwood Place, East Peoria. Just up the bluff from East Side Center’s Splashdown parking lot. This will become a memorable holiday tradition for the whole family. Afterwards enjoy the East Peoria Festival of Lights Parade (5:45 - 7:30 p.m.) For more information, call 357-0503 or 264-3649 or visit: www.nafdayspring.com.