More than a thousand participants in the Peoria Public Library Summer Reading Program, “Have Book Will Travel,” are expected to attend the Summer Reading Party at Peoria Zoo on Saturday, July 27 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

The Summer Readers earned a party pass, as well as a voucher to a Chiefs Game by reading three hours per week, six out of the seven weeks of the program. In addition, Summer Readers can enter the grand prize drawing to win a variety of great prizes. The program was for all ages and families were encouraged to participate together. Free treats, entertainment and games will be offered along with the zoo visit.

Reading throughout the summer keeps newly learned skills sharp for students and adults have the opportunity to enjoy reading.

A variety of programs for Summer Readers were offered throughout the summer and summer reading will return in June 2014 with “Paws to Read.”

Peoria – Peoria County’s Budget and Grants Coordinator Randy Brunner was selected to participate in the 2013 Advanced Government Finance Institute. The program is an intensive week-long finance program from July 21 – 26 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Participants learn from top academic instructors along with government officials and private-sector specialists. Participants have a unique opportunity to address big picture issues facing public finance today including strategic planning; global and national economic trends; relationships with the media; technology trends; and organizational leadership. The Institute also offers personal and team-building leadership training.
Only 50 qualified candidates are selected for the Advanced Government Finance Institute. Nominees are selected based on their professional experience.

Since 1986, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has conducted the Advanced Government Finance Institute, to provide GFOA members from across the United States and Canada an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and focus on emerging trends within the public finance community.

For more information call the Peoria County Finance Department at (309) 495-4859.

Have you ever wanted to perform on the Peoria Players stage, or wondered what it is like to work behind the scenes? Now is your chance to find out! Join us for our annual “Get Acquainted at the theatre” this Sunday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. We always welcome new and returning friends. Meet the directors of our 2013-2014 season and enjoy performances from our upcoming shows. Admission is free.

The2013-2014 Season includes the following shows:

“All Shook Up” – Directed by Jeremy Kelly, August 7-11, 2013
“Les Miserables” – Directed by Connie Sinn, September 6-15, 2013
“Barefoot in the Park” – Directed by Liz Landes Reed, October 4-13, 2013
“Meet Me in St. Louis” – Directed by Mary Ellen Ulrich, November 8-17, 2013
“A Holiday Cabaret” – Directed by Jimmy Ulrich & Erin Miller, December 21, 2013
“Oliver!” – Directed by Bryan Blanks, February 7-16, 2014
“The Miracle Worker” – Directed by Charles Killen, March 14-23, 2014
“Shrek the Musical” – Directed by Travis Olson & Mary Keltner, May 2-11, 2014
“Smokey Joe’s Café” – Directed by Peggy Breaux-Hupp, June 5-8, 2014

Visit online!
www.peoriaplayers.org
www.facebook.com/peoriaplayers
www.twitter.com/Peoria_Players

33 Humanitarian and Development Groups Endorse Bill to Help Small-Scale Farmers, Women, and Children in the World’s Poorest Countries

Washington, DC – Today, Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the United States’ commitment to fighting hunger and poverty worldwide. Along with Republican cosponsor Representative Aaron Schock (R-IL), the Global Food Security Act (H.R. 2822) ensures that small-scale and women farmers have the tools and resources needed to boost agricultural production, improve nutrition, and increase food security in their communities.

In addition to Representative Schock, the original cosponsors include: Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), Lacy Clay (D-MO), Steve Cohen (D-TN), John Garamendi (D-CA), Mike Honda (D-CA), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jim Moran (D-VA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Bobby Rush (D-IL), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).

“Roughly 870 million people around the world suffer from chronic food insecurity. This is wrong, and it makes the United States less secure,” said Representative McCollum. “This bill fights food insecurity by working with the world’s most vulnerable people to enable them to produce their own food and improve their families’ livelihoods.”

“Malnutrition remains one of the world’s worst problems, and it’s a primary deterrent to the growth and prosperity of developing countries. The United States has a strong history of leadership in providing assistance to developing nations, but a renewed focus and streamlined approach is needed to prevent more children and families from suffering the long-term consequences of malnutrition,” said Representative Schock. “The Global Food Security Act is a comprehensive approach to tackling the food insecurity epidemic that plagues more than 870 million people worldwide by better coordinating U.S. assistance and making accountability a priority to assess progress and the efficient use of foreign aid funding.”

The Global Food Security Act:

• Directs the President to develop a multi-agency strategy for global food and nutrition.
• Creates a new Special Coordinator for Food, Nutrition, and Agricultural Development.
• Requires annual progress reports on meeting strategy objectives.
• Updates the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to include a renewed focus on women, nutrition, and small-scale farmers.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and is Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

A “Storytime Workshop” for Daycare providers will be offered at Lincoln Branch on Saturday, August 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Those who work with young children will get some tips on doing a storytime or how to liven up storytime. This fun filled workshop about Storytimes, Toddler Lap Sits and Puppet Shows begins at 10:00 am and ends at 12:00 pm. and includes a light snack. All attendees will receive a certificate of participation.

To attend this workshop or for more information, please call 497-2600.

Peoria – Residents affected by the flooding that occurred between April 16 and May 5 who plan to register with FEMA for disaster assistance must do so by Thursday, August 8. Residents may register any of the following ways:

Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585
For those who use 711 Relay or Video Relay Services, call 800-621-3362
Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
Via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov

The toll-free numbers operate from 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily. Multilingual phone operators are available on the FEMA Helpline: choose option 2 for Spanish and option 3 for other languages.

Residents registering with FEMA will be assigned a nine-digit Registration Identification Number that verifies their registration status.

Please consider sharing your literacy skills with another English-speaking adult who wants to improve their reading, writing or math. The Adult Literacy Program staff at Common Place Family Learning Center will offer a Tutor Orientation and Training Workshop on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 5:30-8:00 p.m. and continuing on Saturdays, September, 21 and 28, 9:00 am- 3:00 p.m. (all sessions at Common Place). To register or find out more about our unique program, please call Linda at Common Place Family Learning Center, 309-674-3315.

ABOUT COMMON PLACE., Established in 1967, Common Place is a social service agency on Peoria’s South Side that helps people overcome poverty and injustice through education. At Common Place, educational programs start with our Youth Programs, grades K-12. Our Adult Literacy Program help adults learn reading, writing, and math skills and acquire self-esteem and self-confidence needed to obtain employment.

PEORIA—The Peoria County Board is hosting a “Science Rocks! Celebrating Peoria as a Place of Invention” event on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at Peoria Riverfront Museum. With free admission to all museum galleries and planetarium, this community day event from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. will give museum visitors a chance to learn more about Peoria’s USDA National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR). This collaboration between NCAUR and Peoria Riverfront Museum is part of the “Places of Invention” grant from the Smithsonian Institution Lemelson Center.

Science Rocks! will give participants an extensive view of what goes on inside “The Ag Lab” in Peoria with different activity tables and exhibits. Visitors of all ages can talk to local scientific professionals and learn about the history of innovation in the Peoria community through hands-on activities in the museum lobby from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Event participants will also be able to record a story in the Oral History Center located in The Street exhibition. At 4:00 p.m., Dr. Stephen W. Peterson will give a free presentation about Peoria’s role in the development of penicillin.

NCAUR is the largest regional research center operated by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture.

PEORIA, IL – Continuing her efforts to honor and assist those serving in our nation’s armed forces, state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth is collecting cell phones for her annual Cell Phones for Soldiers drive.

“For the men and women who are serving our country overseas, staying connected to their family can be difficult,” said Gordon-Booth. “Each cell phone donated to Cell Phones for Soldiers provides members of the military with 2.5 hours of talk time with their loved ones back home. I am proud to be partnering with this wonderful organization again this year to help our troops connect with their loved ones.”

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a non-profit organization that has raised millions of dollars in donations. The organization delivers approximately 12,000 free calling cards to our soldiers on a weekly basis. Collected equipment will be sold to Mindful eCycling and the proceeds are used to purchase calling cards that are given to U.S. military personnel serving around the world. Cell phones and chargers can be donated and recycled at the following locations:

• Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth’s District Office, 300 E War Memorial Drive, Suite 303, Peoria
• Peoria Heights Public Library, 816 E. Glen Ave., Peoria Heights
• Limestone Township Building, 1501 W. Garfield Ave., Bartonville

“By donating unused cell phone at any of the collection sites, you will be providing comfort to soldiers serving overseas and their families,” Gordon-Booth said. “I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to drop off an old phone and support military families.”

For more information about this or other upcoming legislation, please contact Rep. Gordon-Booth’s constituent service office at (309) 681-1992 or repjgordon@gmail.com.

Former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Newt Gingrich will visit Peoria Zoo this afternoon, July 25, 2013 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Gingrich, who is in Peoria for a fundraiser, will be accompanied by Senator Darin LaHood, the Illinois Senate representative for the seven-county 37th legislative district.

During his visit to the Zoo, Gingrich will be trying out the new Google Glass, a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display. Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format that can interact with the Internet via natural language voice commands.