The Peoria Symphony Orchestra opens it 116th concert season on Saturday, September 28, 2013 with a concert entitled Power and Passion at 8 pm in the Peoria Civic Center Theater. The concert features an appearance by pianist Olga Kern, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition gold- medal winner. Kern, recognized as one of her generation’s greatest pianists will be performing the virtuosic Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Rachmaninoff. With her vivid stage presence, passionately confident musicianship and extraordinary technique, the striking Russian pianist continues to captivate fans and critics alike. The evening will include a pre-concert lecture at 7:00 p.m. and an audience reception following the concert.

According to PSO Music Director and Conductor George Stelluto, “This opening concert is a celebration of all the riches an orchestra has to offer – from the powerful and sublime to the tender and intimate. Get ready for an extraordinary experience.” Tickets for Passion and Power start at $36 for adults and are only $11 for students. For information call the PSO Box Office, 309.671.1096 or go to www.peoriasymphony.org. Season tickets for the eight concert season also are on sale as well as a flexible Compose Your Own four- concert package.

The concert opens with a popular legend, a ghostly ship the Flying Dutchman and its damned captain and crew looking for one great love to lift his curse. The composer Richard Wagner captures the scene perfectly in the Flying Dutchman Overture. Olga Kern will then take the stage for Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini a very well-known piece which audience members may recognize from the movie Somewhere in Time. Stelluto says “Olga is not only a passionate and powerful artist, she is also able to bring out the intimate and

tender side of Rachmaninoff.” The second half of the concert features Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Richard Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration.

Ms. Kern was born into a family of musicians with direct links to Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff and began studying piano at the age of five. Winner of the first Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition when she was seventeen, she is a laureate of eleven international competitions and has toured throughout her native Russia, Europe, and the United States, as well as in Japan, South Africa, and South Korea. PSO Music Director George Stelluto says “I am so looking forward to Olga’s first visit to Peoria. She connects with audiences in a very special way that is both sensitive and powerful.”

Sponsors for the concert include: Supporting Concert Sponsor – Heights Finance: Guest Artist Underwriter – PNC Bank: and post-concert reception hosts Sharon and John Amdall on behalf of Arts Partners.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) will be in Pekin, IL, TOMORROW, Friday, September 13, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. CT to participate in the Veterans Drive ribbon cutting ceremony. Congressman Schock will deliver brief remarks followed by the ceremonial ribbon cutting.

WHO: Congressman Aaron Schock

WHAT: Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) will be in Pekin, Il., tomorrow, Friday, September 13, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. CT to participate in the Veterans Drive ribbon cutting ceremony. Congressman Schock will deliver brief remarks followed by the ceremonial ribbon cutting.

WHERE: 2514 E. Broadway Road, Pekin, Illinois

WHEN: FRIDAY, September 13th, 2013 at 2L30 p.m. CT

(Nashville, TN) – July 29, 2013 – Singer, songwriter, storyteller and humorist Mark Lowry will bring an enjoyable evening of music and comedy to the SMG-managed Peoria Civic Center on Thursday, September 26, at 7:00 p.m.
Best known for penning the Christmas classic, “Mary Did You Know?” and singing baritone for the Grammy-Award-winning Gaither Vocal Band, Mark Lowry has been entertaining audiences of all ages with his versatile music talent for nearly four decades.
His unique gift of communicating profound truths through music and comedic storytelling came about by accident when early in his career, Mark needed filler during soundtrack changes in between songs. “Those few seconds of ‘dead air’ can feel like hours when you’re on stage facing a crowd,” Mark says. “So, to fill time, I’d start talking about my life and testimony and people would laugh. I finally realized I was onto something.”
Mark’s life work includes a long list of recordings and DVDs reflecting a wide range of influences, including Mark Lowry on Broadway, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard music video chart in 2001. His most recent release, Unforgettable Classics (June 2013) is a collection of timeless hits such as “Unforgettable,” “It Had to Be You,” “Smile” and more.
Joined by award-winning pianist Stan Whitmore and special guest Warren Barfield, Mark will present Unplugged & Unplanned, a night of comedy, music and ministry at the Peoria Civic Center on Thursday, September 26, at 7:00 p.m.
The Civic Center is located at 201 SW Jefferson Avenue, Peoria, Ill., 61602. Tickets are $23.50 General Admission, $28.50 Gold Circle and $21 for Group Admission of 10 or more. Tickets can be purchased at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
For interviews, images and additional press materials, please contact Stacie Collins at Muse Associates in Nashville at (615) 579-5151 or stacie@museassociates.net. Information can also be found at www.museconcerts.com or www.marklowry.com.

Public Relations Association of Central Illinois is proud to become a member of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce. A ribbon cutting will be at 11:30 A.M., prior to our September 18, 2013 meeting at Barracks Cater Inn on Pioneer Parkway in Peoria, IL. The program is titled Successful Campaign: All-America City with representatives from Simantel and YPGP discussing marketing and communication efforts that contributed to receiving this prestigious award. Cost is $17 for members and $22 for non-members and includes lunch.

Come help us celebrate joining the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce as well as Peoria receiving the title of All-America City.

Public Relations Association of Central IL is an organization comprised of an array of business professionals specializing in public relations, public affairs, marketing, communication and design. Members are generally from non-profit organizations, government agencies and private sector businesses or are entrepreneurs. PRA was established over 65 years ago.

Hawaiian Coffee and Smoothie Retailer Brings New Location To Peoria Shoppers

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO (September 11, 2013) – Maui Wowi Hawaiian, a unique Hawaiian coffee and fruit smoothie franchise, continues its Illinois expansion with the latest location opening soon in Northwoods Mall. Currently with over 450 operating units in seven countries, the concept is continuing its growth within Illinois and another estimated 100 new developments across the country.

Maui Wowi Hawaiian franchisee, Bryon Griffin, signed a lease for a new store in Peoria. Currently, he also operates a location in the Prairie Lakes Crossing Center and multiple mobile carts throughout the area. After joining Maui Wowi Hawaiian, Griffin utilized his strong managerial skills to successfully run both a mobile cart and fixed location business. The brand features Hawaiian flavor and island attitude, offering freshly brewed gourmet coffee and blended to order fresh fruit smoothies.

“Peoria residents are in need of a great coffee shop,” said Griffin. “With the positive response from the first location, we are excited to serve more customers Maui Wowi Hawaiian coffees and smoothies.”

“Bryon has shown a great passion for Maui Wowi Hawaiian and we are thrilled to see him opening his second location,” says Mike Weinberger, CEO for Maui Wowi Hawaiian. “We look forward to expanding the brand’s fan base in Peoria, and hope to continue our steady growth and spread the Aloha Spirit.”

ABCNEWS.com recently released information regarding the first hospital-based treatment program for Internet Addiction opening in October. The Peoria area has been providing hospital based treatment for Internet Addiction since 1996 at the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery at Proctor Hospital. The Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery provides comprehensive hospital based treatment for both adults and adolescents suffering from chemical, gambling, food, sex, Internet, video game, and shopping/spending addictions.

Dinner and Auction Highlight Evening Festivities

Community Workshop Training Center, Inc. presented their “CWTC Pathway Awards” Tuesday evening at their annual banquet at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in East Peoria. The evening festivities paid tribute to the many people who have helped CWTC and have contributed in extraordinary ways.

This year’s awards and winners include:

Advocacy Award – Calvin Jones, Peoria Police Department
Ralph B. Fairchild Volunteer Award – Jean Moore
Business Partnership Award – IT360 and Rome Industries
Employer of the Year – Walgreens on Prospect
Nancy Fine Volunteer Award – Delores Wendland
Robert Craig Friend of CWTC Award – Boogie Shooze

CWTC provides programs and services to adults with disabilities; enriching their quality of life, promoting social change, and optimizing their potential for independence.

CWTC Contact: Patti Gratton, Executive Director at 686-3300

Peoria, IL (September 11, 2013) The impact of the Affordable Care Act on small business will be the subject of a presentation on September 17 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center, located at 801 W. Main Street in Peoria.

The presenter for the free event is Dennis Foldenauer, Economic Development Specialist with the Small Business Administration Office in Chicago. He will provide the latest information and respond to questions.

Register online at https://bu.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mc&view=mc&mcid=form_149332. The event is sponsored by the Small Business Development Center at Bradley University.

Peoria, IL…Children from Common Place programs, along with members of the Universalist Unitarian Church and the Peoria Police Department went door to door in a South Side neighborhood on Tuesday night as part of the Common Place PEACEPRINTS project. They were promoting choosing a non-violent life by asking neighbors to display a yard sign that promotes peace and nonviolence. In all, 50 signs were distributed. A sense of community was promoted as the children sang Let There Be Peace on Earth to the residents and the community rallied with support.

Common Place Family Learning Center is a social service organization focusing on literacy, and is located on Peoria’s South Side. Common Place offers afterschool tutoring and enrichment activities for children grades K – 12, summer tutoring for grades K – 12, summer youth programs for children ages 8– 15 years, adult one-on-one tutoring and small reading and math group classes, and GED study. Common Place holds a weekly emergency food bank for those in need on Peoria’s South Side.

The Newcomers’ Club of Greater Peoria will hold its monthly luncheon on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at 11:45 a.m. at Rhythm Kitchen, 305 SW Water Street, Peoria, IL.
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 Jane at 309-691-7206 or email us at newcomerspeoriaillinois@gmail.com.