More than 200 unintentionally funny family vignettes frozen in time will soon go on display at Peoria Riverfront Museum, when Awkward Family Photos: The Exhibition opens September 15th.

Awkward Family Photos brings to the public the original photographs that made the website of the same name an overnight, internet phenomenon. Museum visitors are invited to explore the “perfectly imperfect” occasions that come with the family experience, celebrate the often comical awkwardness – and take comfort in the fact that such family moments are universal.

“Most of the photographs in this exhibition were taken as formal family portraits, whether shot by a family member or by a professional photographer,” said museum curator Kristan McKinsey. “As such they are actually snapshots of how the family chose to present itself for posterity.”

The exhibition was created by Awkward Family Photos founders Mike Bender and Doug Chernack, and debuted in 2014 to record visitors at California Heritage Museum, Santa Monica, Calif.

Bender and Chernack, friends from childhood, got the idea for Awkward Family Photos after Bender rediscovered an awkward family vacation photo hanging in his parents’ home. Realizing that there were likely many other families with similar photos, the two designed and launched AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com in 2009 as “a friendly place where people could share their own accidentally odd family moments.”

“It is our hope that this exhibition will bring all our families a little closer together as we acknowledge those special times when we wished we were a lot farther apart,” said Bender.

Awkward Family Photos: The Exhibition is sponsored by a Friend of the Museum and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

The exhibition runs Sept. 15 through Nov. 15, and is included with general museum-planetarium admission: $11 adults, $10 seniors (60+) and students (with ID), $9 youth (3-17).

CENTRAL ILLINOIS CHILD ABUSE CASES RISING

Pediatric Resource Center September 26th event helps with growing need

PEORIA, Ill. (Sept. 3, 2015) The Pediatric Resource Center continues to see an increasing number of children who are suspected victims of abuse. As the number of victims continue to grow each year so does the need to provide those services.

The annual Harvesting Hope fundraiser helps PRC provide ongoing child abuse prevention education and ensures clinics are staffed so children can receive the services crucial to their well-being and safety.

In the past year, the PRC provided medical and social services to more than 800 abused and neglected children throughout central Illinois, including those suspected of being abused. Within the past 5 years, the PRC has experienced a 48 percent increase in children evaluated for possible abuse or neglect.

WHAT:            HARVESTING HOPE FALL FUNDRAISER FOR PEDIATRIC RESOURCE CENTER

WHERE:           Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center Auditorium

1306 N. Berkeley Ave., Peoria (adjacent to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center)

WHEN:             Saturday, September 26th at 6 p.m.

MORE:             Tickets are $75 each. For ticket information, call 309-624-9595 or email prcinfo@uicomp.uic.edu.

The event includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails starting at 6 p.m. Musical entertainment will be provided by Larry Harms. Live and silent auctions feature unique and exciting items, including specialty gift baskets, multiple vacation packages, jewelry and more. All proceeds benefit the PRC.

Co-chairs for this year’s event are Community Advisory Board members, Trixie Jones and Lauren McBain. Honorary Chairs are the President of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center Dr. Michael Cruz and Assistant Peoria County State’s Attorney Mrs. Donna Cruz. For more information, contact the Pediatric Resource Center at 309-624-9595 or visit www.pediatricresourcecenter.org.

The Pediatric Resource Center (PRC) is a service provider of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and affiliated with Children’s Hospital of Illinois. Since its inception in 1993, more than 8,700 children from 50-plus Illinois counties received medical and social services from PRC.

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An original play by Jack Mertes.  A dramatized reading directed by Vic Burnett.

Performances on September 11 & 12 at 7:30pm at the Inspired Arts Academy, Morton IL

This play features:  Clark Abraham, Cheri Beever, Greg Bruce, Belinda Calvert, Barb Couri, Helen Engelbrecht, Nathan Irwin, Laura Johnson, Victoria Kapanjie, Mary Kerrigan and Doug Orear.

Purchase tickets:  online at Arts Partners or call Lisa Burnett at 309-224-8805

Peoria Riverfront Museum’s New Exhibit…

Fourteen life-sized kinetic metal dinosaur sculptures – including a 44-foot Tyrannosaurus rex – will be engaging the public this Sat., July 11 with the opening of Riverfront Museum’s “summer of dinosaurs” big exhibit – “Dinosaurs in Motion.”

Real-life dinosaur fossils inspired the exhibition’s recycled steel sculptures, which feature exposed gears and mechanics. Visitors can control the machine-like dinosaurs via lever and pulley systems, remote controls and X-Boxes, offering large-scale dinosaur interaction that’s unique for a museum setting.

“Dinosaurs in Motion” employs family friendly, hands-on science, art and innovative elements throughout, using each sculpture to teach various STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) concepts in a unique and intriguing way – for visitors of all ages.

The art components cover sketching, drawing and sculpting; science sections explore kinetics, balance, biomechanics and robotics; and innovation areas encourage observation and experimentation. The level of complexity, movement and interactivity of the sculptures increases as visitors walk through the exhibit.

“‘Dinosaurs in Motion’ is a very ingenious blend of art and science,” says museum programs VP Ann Schmitt. “Visitors will have a lot of fun while learning hands-on by experimenting with these simple machines – like finding the center of gravity of large objects.”

The sculptures were created by American artist John Payne from recycled and reused vehicles (signage identifies the car parts integrated within in each sculpture).

“The artist used exposed gears to teach the physics of how dinosaurs move, so he had to consider the balance of dinosaurs – their center of gravity – using the most recent findings,” Schmitt says. “For instance, the modern concept of T-Rex is horizontal – versus the upright ‘kangaroo’ stance you’d see in older incarnations – its tail is parallel to the ground giving a counterweight to its enormous head.”

“Dinosaurs in Motion” covers three Mesozoic time periods – Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic – and features sculptures large to small, from Triceraptops, T. rex, Ankylosaurus andDeinonychus, to a whooping crane and American crow. A juvenile Diplodocus will take up residence in the museum’s lobby.

The exhibition opens to the public July 11, 10 a.m. and runs through Oct. 4. It is presented by PNC Foundation and is sponsored by Maui Jim, PDC and the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA). It is produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. Sculptures are the creations of John Payne and Studio Properties LLC.

The Peoria City/County Health Department announced May 14, 2015 that it has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). The national accreditation program works to improve the health of the public by advancing the quality and performance of the nation’s Tribal, state, local, and territorial public health departments. Peoria City/County Health Department is one of hundreds of health departments across the country to seek accreditation through PHAB, the non-profit organization that administers the national public health accreditation program.

“We are pleased and excited to be recognized for achieving national standards that demonstrate our commitment to providing quality services,” said Greg Chance, Public Health Administrator for the Peoria City/County Health Department. “The accreditation process helps to ensure that the programs and services we provide are as responsive as possible to the needs of our community. With accreditation, Peoria City/County Health Department is demonstrating increased accountability and credibility to the public, funders, elected officials, and partner organizations with which we work.”

“The Peoria City/County Health Department joins the growing ranks of accredited health departments in a strong commitment to their public health mission,” said PHAB President and CEO Kaye Bender, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The peer-review process provides valuable feedback to inform health departments of their strengths and areas for improvement, so that they can better protect and promote the health of the people they serve in their communities. Residents of the community served by a nationally accredited health department can be assured that their health department has demonstrated the capacity to protect and promote the health of that community.”

The national accreditation program was created collaboratively over a 10-year period by hundreds of public health practitioners working at the national, Tribal, state, and local levels. Since the program’s launch in September 2011, hundreds of public health departments have applied to PHAB for accreditation, and hundreds of public health practitioners from across the nation have been trained to serve as volunteer peer site visitors for the program.

For more information on important Public Health issues, visit the Peoria City/County Health Department website at www.pcchd.org.

Eligible applicants must live in Peoria County.  Scholarships are meant to assist in obtaining formal or occupational training at an accredited higher education institution in Illinois.

Applicants must meet income guidelines and have demonstrated positive community/school involvement.  Students applying for a scholarship who have completed one year of college or training must have at least a 2.5 grade point average.  All eligible applicants will be interviewed prior to scholarships being awarded.

Applications may be picked up at 711 W. McBean Street in Peoria and must be returned no later than JULY 1, 2015. Scholarships will be awarded in the fall.  For more information call PCCEO at 671-3900.

Peoria County Sheriff Michael D. McCoy agrees with the Peoria Police Department that police stations may prove a safer location for the public to conduct Craigslist sales and exchanges. Therefore, persons wishing to utilize the parking lot or lobby of the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office for such transactions may do so at 301 N. Maxwell Rd in Peoria. Sheriff’s employees will not intervene on either the seller’s or buyer’s behalf unless action is required to ensure public safety.

Sheriff McCoy acknowledges the wisdom of providing neutral ground for the exchange of goods: “It is truly disheartening that a young man would be killed while trying to sell his vehicle on Craigslist, and we certainly do not want a similar tragedy to occur here. I think the Peoria Police offering their facility as a safe location for two strangers to meet to conduct a sale is a good idea and the more locations, the better. People are certainly welcome to come to the jail to do this type of business if it is more convenient than going downtown.”

The Riverfront Museum Education  Garden was built with an environmental grant from Illinois American Water Company and will include native plants, vegetables and herbs, and an example of a bioswale – a channel filled with gravel or vegetation that filters silt and pollution from rainwater runoff.

“Education is a key piece to solving today’s environmental issues. We are excited to support the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s education garden; we know it will help grow our future environmental stewards and as a result protect our precious water source,” said Karen Cotton, Illinois American Water’s environmental grant program coordinator.

The museum’s education garden was designed and assembled with assistance from Peoria Garden Club, Good Earth Landscaping and community volunteers. The museum will also be partnering with Bradley University Center for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education and the River Action League to create and teach program content.

“The garden will provide numerous education opportunities – giving us the chance to demonstrate many of the water conservation concepts we teach with our Illinois River Lab and steam table programming. We’ll be able to show the effects of watering versus relying on rain as the only water source for native and non-native plants,” said Ann Schmitt, VP of programs at the museum.

The museum’s garden will also contain a butterfly garden within the main garden to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, emphasizing their importance to our ecosystem.

Riverfront Museum

Peoria Riverfront Museum features changing art, science and local history exhibits, a planetarium, giant screen theater and IHSA interactive gallery. We are the collaborative effort of eight organizations, with nearly 500 years of combined experience educating Central Illinoisans. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning for all – connecting art, history, science and achievement through collections, exhibitions and programs. Smithsonian affiliated. For more info visit: RiverfrontMuseum.org.

The Community Word extends its congratulations to the African American Hall of Fame and the many people who have worked tirelessly and made financial contributions to honor Richard Pryor in his home town.

Event Date & Time: May 3, 3 p.m. (free access to Riverfront Museum’s The Street Gallery, 12-5 p.m.)

Location:  New Warehouse District, Washington & State Streets · Peoria, Ill.

The “Richard Pryor – More than just a Comedian” sculpture unveiling and celebration will be held May 3, 3 p.m., Washington and State Streets, by the African American Hall of Fame Museum  – a Riverfront Museum founding partner – the Richard Pryor Sculpture Committee and Peoria sculptor Preston Jackson.

Via TheTravelerWeekly.com: The African American Hall of Fame Museum (AAFHM) proudly announces the completion and unveiling of “Richard Pryor – More than just a Comedian” – a larger-than-life bronze casting of Richard Pryor by artist Preston Jackson. The sculpture will be located at Washington and State Streets in Peoria’s New Warehouse District. Please join the Richard Pryor Sculpture Committee, Jennifer Lee Pryor, Richard’s family, Richard’s friends and the AAHFM board for the unveiling.