Walk at Peoria Stadium Park to celebrate importance of recreation for local GED program

PEORIA, Illinois—July 11, 2013— Please join the Moonlight Coalition for Adult Learning (“Moonlight”) on Friday, July 26, 2013 at 6:30 pm at Peoria Stadium Park to celebrate the importance of recreation in Peoria with its First Annual Peoria Stadium Walk.

The Walk is an opportunity for the community to celebrate not only Peoria Stadium Park and its role in providing recreation opportunities for local residents, but also to celebrate the way that recreation and education support each other to increase the health and well-being of our residents.

“Since our beginning, Moonlight has used recreation opportunities as the ‘hook’ to get adults into our GED classes,” said Hedy Elliott-Gardner, who serves as Moonlight’s Coordinator. “It just made sense to us that celebrating this connection at Peoria Stadium Park now was the right thing to do to raise awareness in our community.”

The Walk is free for all those who would like to attend. Donations are being accepted to support the Moonlight Coalition for Adult Learning. Donations may be made at the event or by visiting the program’s Facebook page cited below.

The Moonlight Coalition for Adult Learning was originally established in 1994 to provide organized activities to young members of the community as a positive alternative to juvenile delinquency and crime. Organized sports like basketball were combined with GED instruction as a way to break down barriers for those who thought formal education wasn’t accessible or “cool”.

Today, Moonlight focuses on providing easy access to GED education for those seeking to earn their high school diploma. In direct contrast to other programs that only take new students at the beginning of each semester and that are located outside of our local community, Moonlight focuses on providing accessible open education opportunities, reaching those in need of support in the communities where they live and work. Staying true to its origins, Moonlight also works to ensure accessibility to quality recreational facilities for all members of the community, especially youth and the underserved.
Moonlight was a recipient of a recent LISC Early Action grant that will help the program as it seeks to offer more GED and recreational programming at Proctor and other neighborhood facilities throughout Peoria. It continues to fundraise in support of its mission. Updates on Moonlight’s programming and student achievement may be found at its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MoonlightPeoria.

(Peoria, IL / July 23, 2013) – It’s a difficult discussion to have with your family – end of life planning. The OSF Faith Community Nursing department is offering its annual “Are you Ready? An Introduction to End of Life Planning program to the community.”

The evening will include presentations and discussions about End of Life & Health Care Issues; Financial & Legal Issues; Spiritual Aspects; and the opportunity to meet with a trained Advanced Care Facilitator to discuss specific needs and receive additional information.

WHAT: Are you Ready? An Introduction to End of Life Planning.
WHEN: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: United Presbyterian Church, 2400 W. Northmoor, Peoria
RSVP: Lisa Weber, RN at 309.282.1692 or lisa.a.weber@osfhealthcare.org

Annual Event At Jimmy’s Bar in West Peoria Friday and Saturday

The 2013 GCS Cigar Summit comes to Peoria this Friday and Saturday, July 26th and 27th. The annual event this year will be held at Jimmy’s Bar, 2801 W Farmington Rd., West Peoria and is sponsored by the Gentleman’s Cigar Society of Peoria.

Cigar representatives will be in attendance to sell cigars as well as answer questions. Jimmy’s will also provide liquor tastings Friday evening and Saturday and Cuban sandwiches will be available during the event. There will also be raffles during weekend with all proceeds donated to Cigar Rights of America.

Schedule of Events:
Friday, July 26
STL Cigars Selling Premium Cigars & Alec Bradley Territory Manager
5:00 Summit Opens
6:00 – 7:00 Brewers Distributing – Beer Sampling
7:00 – 8:00 Marketplace Distributors – Beer Sampling
7 & 8:30 Raffle Drawing

Saturday, July 27
Cuban Sandwiches Served All Day
Christopher Manso from Alec Bradley Cigars will be onsite with STL Cigars
12 Noon Summit Opens
1:00 – 2:00 Wirtz Beverage – Bourbon & Beer Sampling
2:15 Raffle Drawing
3:00 – 4:00 Baumgarten Distributing – Beer Sampling
4:00 Raffle Drawing
4:30 Long Ash Contest
5:00 – 6:00 Southern Wine & Spirits – Irish Portfolio Sampling
5:30 Raffle Drawing
6:00 – 7:00 Speciality Distributing – Brandy & Beer Sampling
7:30 Raffle Drawing

The GCS Cigar Summit is free and open to adults, 21 and older.
Contact: Mark Little at mlittle@gentlemanscigarsociety.com

Fifty years ago, Peoria’s own Betty Friedan wrote the book that opened doors for generations of women: The Feminine Mystique. It is widely regarded as on of the most influential books ever written, and Freidan herself is considered to be among history’s most important women.

Barb Drake interviewed Friedan for The Journal Star and WTVP Legend Special. She will provide insights into the woman, her work, and how it changed us all.

Wednesday, August 14 (not Tuesday as originally stated)
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
ICC North
Cost: $15

Sign up here:
http://campusce.icc.edu/acp/course/course.aspx?C=1149&pc=82&mc=&sc=
or call: 309-690-6900 for more information

Come meet local author, Scott M. Hammer, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at I Know You Like a Book, 4707 N. Prospect Ave.

“Black Star” was written by Werewolf and edited by Scott Hammer. “Black Star” is the first book of a nine-book series that takes you into the secret world of the witches.

The Rotary Club of Peoria-North 2013-2014 officers and board members were installed on Thursday, July 11. Officers are Doug Huff, President; Scott Paulsen, Vice President; Jim Barrack, Immediate Past President; Matt Machala, Secretary; and Alan Willadsen, Treasurer. Board members are Stacy Borho, Frank Gutwein, Emily Hampton, and Ben Roberts.

Rotary is an international organization of business, professional and community leaders united worldwide to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

The Rotary Club of Peoria-North meets at Barrack’s Cater Inn Banquet Center at 1224 W. Pioneer Parkway every Thursday from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

The Peoria Park District Glen Oak Amphitheatre presents “Brave” on July 29. Gates open at 8:00 p.m.; movie begins at dusk. Cost is $.50 per person.

Brave is sponsored by CEFCU.

Movies are projected onto the Glen Oak Amphitheatre’s band shell, located in Glen Oak Park. Pack some snacks or purchase some from the concession stand.

Visit www.peoriaparks.org for the complete Family Flicks schedule or call (309) 688-3667 with questions.

Hopedale, IL – Dr. Dele Ogunleye, a Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist, has joined the medical staff at the Hopedale Medical Complex. Dr. “O”, as he is known by his patients, provides a full range of obstetrics and gynecologic services, including managing fertility issues. He offers non-surgical, medical and surgical options, including robotic assisted surgery.

A significant portion of Dr. O’s practice is dedicated to the subspecialty of Urogynecology, managing female urinary incontinence and pelvic floor prolapse.

Dr. Ogunleye is a Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and gynecologists. He received his medical degree from Obafemi, Awolowo University in Ife, Nigeria and completed his residency in the UK and at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, OH.

Dr. O’s Hopedale office hours will be the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 1:00-4:30 pm, beginning August 14. He will see patients in the Medical Arts building. Please call his Bloomington office at 309.808.3068 to schedule an appointment.

Hopedale Medical Complex is committed to promoting outstanding healthcare, healthy lifestyles, health education, and wellness. Visit HopedaleMC.com to learn more about the services offered at Hopedale Medical Complex, which is just 10 miles south of Morton, off Interstate 155 (Exit 19.)

This year marks the 11th Annual Mark Linder Walk for the Mind. The Walk for the Mind was started by Mark Linder in 2003 as a way to increase awareness of brain tumors as well as a means for raising funds to support brain tumor research.

The Mark Linder Walk for the Mind is pleased to announce that proceeds from the 2013 Walk will continue to support the brain tumor research programs of the University of Illinois College Of Medicine at Peoria. In the first ten years of the Walk, we raised well over $300,000 and have reached many whose lives have been touched by brain tumors.

We expect to have researchers at the Walk again this year and perhaps even a research display. Attendees at the Walk will be able to visit with the researchers to learn how our fundraising efforts are impacting research right here in Central Illinois!

Registrations or donations for the Walk should be made payable to Mark Linder Walk for the Mind. We are now a 501 (c) (3) organization.

Registration 7:30 am-9:30 am with raffle prizes during that time. Walk starts at 9:30.

Hopedale, IL – HMC values the commitment of their outstanding employees. Melissa Burt, an employee in the Wellness Center and a member of HMC’s PRIDE team, earned the HMC employee of the month. She was nominated by HR director Andie Halley, who had this to say about Mrs. Burt:

“Melissa has gone above and beyond the call of duty helping me carry out community programs at the Wellness Center for really the past 7 months, and especially this summer. Melissa’s help has allowed the programs to continue running smoothly, even in the absence of a full time program coordinator. Her standard line is always “What do you need me to do?” She has never once said “no” or been unwilling to help. She has come in on her days off and weekends to ensure the programs are a hit and running at high numbers. In addition to growing the group exercise programs, growing membership, and playing a key role in the Vitality Program. Melissa has run a very successful Membership Appreciation Campaign. Melissa is an outstanding example of HMC’s Standards of Behavior and a true team player. Melissa also serves as a member of our PRIDE Team.”

Congratulations to Melissa on your achievement. HMC appreciates the tremendous hard work!

Hopedale Medical Complex is committed to promoting outstanding healthcare, healthy lifestyles, health education, and wellness. Visit HopedaleMC.com to learn more about the services offered at Hopedale Medical Complex, which is just 10 miles south of Morton, off Interstate 155 (Exit 19.)