Dr. Lehman graduated from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1994. He is a general surgeon and a family physician. He completed a family medicine residency at Georgetown University in Washington DC, and a general surgery residency at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Pennsylvania. Referrals to the Advanced Wound Center at Proctor Hospital may be made by calling 689-6074.

Proctor Hospital is pleased to announce the association of Jennifer Tobias, RN, as Program Director for the Advanced Wound Center at Proctor Hospital. Tobias received her degree in nursing from St John’s School of Nursing, Benedictine University Springfield, Illinois. She studied Business Management at Lincoln Christian College, Lincoln, Illinois. Tobias has over 25 years of experience in business management and, clinical operations specializing in Advanced Wound Care.

You just received a large box of old family photos from your Great Aunt Lydia. She knew you have been recording the family records and was sure you would like to have these photos. As you search through this new-found treasure you realize most of the photos are not marked – no name, no dates, nothing to identify who is in the photographs. You know these are treasured photos, all part of the family’s story. You need to find out who these people are, but how? Solving the dilemma will require knowledge of your family history, plus some good old fashion detective work.

On April 11, 2013 the Peoria Genealogical Society will present the second in a series of instructional meetings. Donna Schlatter, will teach you how to date your old photographs by using clues such as clothing styles, backgrounds and props, and checking for the photographer’s name. She will explain the different types of photographs and other details which will give you workable clues to eventually identify these family treasurers.

Donna is a PCGS member (since 1984) and currently a Board Member as Corresponding Secretary. She is a life-long resident of the Peoria area and a graduate of Illinois State University. She married Jeff in 1997 — their genealogy doubled!!

Whether you are brand new to Genealogy, or have been searching your family roots for years, we are sure you will learn something new. Join us at 6:30pm on Thursday, April 11th at the Peoria Public Library North Branch, 3001 W. Grand Parkway.

Peoria, IL (March 19, 2013) Marion Blumenthal Lazan, a Holocaust survivor and co-author of “Four Perfect Pebbles,” will give a presentation at Bradley University on Tuesday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m. in the Marty Theatre in the Michel Student Center.

The presentation is free for people of all ages but registration is requested. Register online at www.bradley.edu/continue or call 309.677.3900. Refreshments will be served starting at 6:30 p.m.

Marion Blumenthal Lazan speaks of perseverance, determination, faith, and hope. Her story is one of survival – her own and her family’s – mother, father and brother, Albert. Trapped in Hitler’s Germany, they eventually fled to Holland but were soon caught in the Nazi web. For 6½ years, they lived in refugee, transit and prison camps, including Holland’s Westerbork and Germany’s Bergen-Belsen, where Anne Frank died.

While incarcerated with her family and deprived of food, clothing and living essentials, Marion imagined her loved ones as what is now the title of her book, Four Perfect Pebbles. If the pebbles did not die, her family would likewise endure. Six days before the British captured Bergen-Belsen, the family was placed above the “death train” destined for Auschwitz. Before reaching Auschwitz, the war ended and Russian troops freed the Blumenthals.

In her presentation, she applies the lessons learned to society today and asks her audience to be tolerant of others and not stereotype individuals based on religious belief, race, color, or national origin.

The presentation is sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Bradley University and is funded from a “Lagniappe” grant from The Bernard Osher Foundation.

During Red Cross Month, the Central Illinois Chapter is recommitting to serving our community.

PEORIA, ILLINOIS — You often see members of the American Red Cross in the news: at the scene of a house fire, flood or other natural disaster. Our volunteers are always there to help people find shelter, reunite with family members and put their lives back in order. We take disaster response very seriously. But we also firmly believe that the best approach to disaster is to try to prevent it altogether – or at the very least, be appropriately prepared to respond and recover.

The American Red Cross created a free online program for schools, businesses and organizations called Ready Rating. Members complete a 123-point self-assessment of their level of preparedness to reveal areas for improvement.

“They learn tips and best practices so they don’t feel like they’re alone,” said Emily Richards, Emergency Services Manager. “And most importantly, Ready Rating helps organizations to commit to improving their readiness score each year – because preparedness is a continuous process and not a one-time effort.”

Since it’s launch in September 2012, over 100 businesses in central Illinois have committed to preparedness by joining the Red Cross Ready Rating program.

During Red Cross Month, the Central Illinois Chapter would like to encourage more businesses to join this free program. To learn more and get started, interested parties should visit www.readyrating.org.

Peoria, IL – March 18, 2013 – The Peoria County Farm Bureau’s Ag In The Classroom program will be in Peoria County schools the week of March 18. Farm Bureau Volunteers, and Farm Bureau’s Ag Coordinator Debbie Rudin, will be educating Peoria County 3rd – 6th Grade students about pork. During the March presentations, a piglet is accompanying volunteers in presentations lasting 30 minutes.

This week Farm Bureau volunteers will be going to several schools with the piglet. These schools include Illini Bluffs, Keifer Academy, Lincoln K-8, Hines, Ridgeview, Glen Oak, Pleasant Hill, Dunlap Grade School, Roosevelt Magnet and Chillicothe Elementary.

The Farm Bureau’s Ag In The Classroom program reaches 75 – 100 classrooms each month or approximately 2000 Peoria County students. Last month the topic was Dairy, the topic for April and May will be Gardening.

For specific times, dates, and locations of this week’s pork presentations, contact Debbie Rudin at ageducation.debbie@gmail.com or the Farm Bureau at 686-7070 or peoriacfb@sbcglobal.net

CANDIDATES FORUM
Monday, March 25, 2013 @ 6:00 PM
St. Paul Baptist Church, 114 W. Forrest Hill Avenue, Peoria, IL 61604

THE NAACP AND PCLC (PEORIA CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL) ARE SPONSORING A CANDIDATES FORUM FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR CANDIDATES.
PLEASE COME OUT, ASK YOUR QUESTIONS, AND SEE WHAT THESE CANDIDATES HAVE PLANNED FOR OUR CITY.

JACKIE PETTY & HELEN KING
Questions please contact Jackie Petty at 688-2323

(Peoria, IL)­­—The City’s collection of yard waste for 2013 will begin on Monday, April 1, 2013, for the residents served by Peoria Disposal Company (PDC).

Yard waste set out for collection must be in:
· Garbage cans marked “Yard Waste Only” which do not exceed 45 gallons in size not over 50 pounds in weight;
· Paper yard waste bags may not exceed 30 pounds in weight;
· Bundles should not exceed five feet in length or 50 pounds in weight;
· Large 95 gallon wheeled tote carts compatible with the lift mechanism on PDC’s vehicles clearly marked “Yard Waste Only.”

Any cans, bags or bundles which do not meet the above requirements will not be collected.

Each collection route serves approximately 1,200 homes each day and adhering to the size and weight limits is essential in avoiding injuries to collection employees. The tote carts can be either purchased or rented directly from PDC. For more information, go to www.pdcarea.com or call Peoria Disposal Company (PDC) at (309) 6784-5176, extension 1.

Peoria IL (March 18, 2013)—There are many issues up in the air right now that will have a major impact on Illinois businesses. One such issue is the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many employers and business leaders are concerned because the ACA is quite complex and confusing. There are many changes that will go into effect in 2014, so now is the time to plan and prepare.

The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce is offering a workshop luncheon to learn more about the ACA’s impact on your business and how to best prepare for the changes that are on the horizon. These changes are going to impact all industries and businesses of all sizes, so it’s important you understand how it affects you and your business today.
We have invited Laura Minzer from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce to host this workshop and help you decipher employer obligations & understand coverage options under the ACA. Find out about employer coverage requirements, the new penalty system and the state health insurance exchange. Laura Minzer is Associate Vice President, Government Affairs Executive Director and Healthcare Council at the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

This event will be a great opportunity to learn a lot about the new law, to ask questions and get specific answers, and also to connect with other professionals and business owners to learn about how they plan to handle this upcoming transition.

The workshop/luncheon event will be Monday, March 25 at the Kepple Team Real Estate office at Keller Williams (2426 W Cornerstone Ct, Peoria, IL 61614). The workshop will be from 11:45 am – 1:00pm. Lunch will be provided. The cost is $15 for Chamber members and $30 for future members. Call Jolene at 495-5923 or jcole@chamber.h-p.org to register or reserve a seat online at http://peoriachamber.org/event/affordable-care-act-aca. The Affordable Care Act workshop is sponsored by Proctor Hospital.

Peoria – The Metro Peoria Committee has established a speakers bureau to help raise awareness of the joint partnership between the City of Peoria and Peoria County governments. The committee, comprised of three County Board members and three City Council representatives, helps identify, investigate, and implement collaborative efforts for better service delivery to citizens. Service clubs, community-based organizations, schools, or other groups wanting to learn more about local government matters such as service delivery, collaborative efficiencies, citizen engagement, or transparency are encouraged to contact Jenny Fulton, Peoria County’s Director of Strategic Communications, to schedule a speaking engagement for Metro Peoria Committee members: (309) 672-6918 or jfulton@peoriacounty.org.

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) announced that Peoria victim rights advocate Martha Herm has been selected as a 2013 recipient of the Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy. Herm serves as the executive director at The Center for Prevention of Abuse in Peoria, IL. As a member of the U.S. Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus, Schock was able to nominate a constituent from the 18th District whose efforts have made a difference in the lives of crime victims and survivors, and those who serve them. Herm is one of two recipients to win this award nationwide and she is one of only six to be recognized nationally for an award by the Victims’ Rights Caucus this year.

“Martha is truly a visionary in her field. Her contributions to victims’ rights and public safety as executive director of the Center are extraordinary,” said Schock. “Throughout the years, Martha has shown an unwavering commitment to ending domestic violence. Since taking over as the executive director more than two decades ago she has become the face of the remarkable transformation the Center has undergone. Martha is a deserving recipient of this honor because her efforts have revolutionized the way the Center approaches the issue of domestic violence in Central Illinois.”

“I am totally overwhelmed by this award. It is quite humbling to be named when there are thousands of victim advocates all across the country who are doing amazing work and deserve this level of recognition too,” said Herm. “I am very touched and honored that Congressman Schock nominated me. I will share this honor with my team at The Center for Prevention of Abuse and the community who has supported our mission to help everyone in Central Illinois live free from violence and abuse.”

When nominating Herm, Schock touted her leadership since taking over the Center in 1990. The Center originally served as a rape crisis hotline in 1975. Since 1990, Herm has transformed the Center into the only organization in Illinois to offer domestic violence services, elder abuse and sexual assault services, and abuser intervention programming under one roof. She has worked to ensure the Center’s five departments cater to all segments of the community. Over the past 20 years, the Center has grown into serving all types of clients: men, women, old, young, victim and abuser. The Center is the only agency in the state of Illinois to provide free combined services to victims of crime and abuse. Martha’s goal at the Center is to proactively get to the source of the problem instead of reacting to the abuse after it occurs.

Supporting Schock’s nomination were Emma Vandeveer, President, Board of Directors for The Center for Prevention of Abuse and Peoria County Sheriff, Michael McCoy. Both praised Herm as a “very worthy candidate for this recognition.”

The U.S. Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus hosts an awards ceremony, which in the past has included award winners, their families, and representatives from national, state, and local victim assistance programs nationwide. This year the ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 18th in Washington, D.C.

The Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy honors the memory of Ed Stout, the Director of Aid for Victims of Crime of St. Louis, MO – one of the nation’s three oldest victim assistance organizations – who died in 2005 following a 30 plus year career inspiring victims and those who serve them. The honoree of this award is a professional or volunteer whose efforts directly benefit victims and survivors of crime. The award recognizes innovations in victim assistance and crime victim services in the areas of program development, public or agency policy development, community and public awareness, and collaboration among community and justice based organizations that serve victims of crime.

The U.S. Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus was founded in 2006. The mission of the Caucus is to elevate crime victim issues in Congress in a bipartisan manner without infringing on the rights of the accused, and to represent and advocate before the Administration and within Congress on behalf of crime victims. Since 2006, the Caucus has honored outstanding individuals, agencies and collaborative initiatives whose efforts directly benefit victims and survivors of crime, and promote individual and public safety.