(Peoria, IL / August 13, 2014) –  The monthly meeting of the Better Breathers Club will be held Wednesday, August 27, 2014 from 2-3:30 PM in Classroom 1 at the RiverPlex in downtown Peoria. 

The program will focus on nutrition tips for lung disease, presented by Liz Ells, RD, LDN, with the OSF Medical Exercise Program. 

Anyone dealing with lung or breathing problems is welcome to attend. It is requested that those attending not wear perfume or cologne to meetings as it may bother other participants with breathing difficulties.

For more information about the Better Breathers Club contact Sara Fiddes, RRT with OSF Outpatient Pulmonary Rebab at 309.282.1646, or Revina McWhirter, Member Coordinator at 309.635.5442.

When: Saturday, September 20, 9:00 a.m.

Where: Meet at Forest Park Nature Center, 5809 N. Forest Park Dr., Peoria Heights

Pre-registration: Ongoing (call 309-686-3360)

Day of Event Registration: 8:30 – 9:00 am.

Sweep Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 pm

    The annual Illinois River Sweep kicks off Saturday, September 20 in communities up and down the river from Chicago to Grafton. Since 1999, the non-profit organization Friends of the Illinois River has been coordinating this statewide effort to beautify and raise awareness of one of the most unique resources in the Midwest.  Illinois River Sweep is an annual event in which thousands of citizens assemble for a day of volunteer action to protect and celebrate our river and natural heritage. In the Peoria area, please pre-register by calling 309-686-3360. Day of registration begins at 8:00 a.m. at Forest Park Nature Center. Sweep hours at 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or longer if you like.

Since 2003, the Peoria Illinois River Sweep has grown from 10 volunteers to over 400. Since then, more than 750 tires and 2,000 bags of trash, along with various large items such as couches, bed frames, and even a telephone booth, have been removed from local river banks.

Naturally, this event needs volunteers to make it a success. Volunteers will receive protective gloves and trash bags. Volunteers who pre-register will also receive a Friends of the Illinois River t-shirt (while supplies last). To volunteer in the Peoria area, contact JD Russell at 686-3360 or arrive at Forest Park Nature Center, 5809 Forest Park Drive in Peoria Heights, at 8:30 a.m. on September 20.

Peoria sponsors include Friends of the Illinois River, Peoria Park District, & Illinois American Water.

PEKIN, IL.  August 13, 2014.  Pekin Park District is now accepting registrations for Puppy and Dog Obedience Classes.  In Puppy Obedience, for young dogs ages 8 weeks-6 months, you and your puppy learn how to work together and create a foundation of trust that will last for many years.  Socialization, basic obedience, confidence building, and health related issues will be emphasized.  Dog Obedience, for ages 6 months and up, focuses on basic obedience commands and touches on basic nutrition, grooming, and health of canine family members.  By learning or even fine tuning basic obedience, you can save yourself many annoying (and potentially costly) headaches from a naughty dog!  Instructor Katie Kauzlarich is an experienced dog obedience professional and actively trains and shows her own dogs for AKC competition.

Our fall Puppy (6-6:45 pm) and Dog (7-7:45 pm) Obedience classes are held on Thursday evenings from August 28-October 16 (no classes on September 4 or October 9).  Classes will meet in the Livestock Review Building in the Mineral Springs Park, and will be held either inside the building our in an adjacent grassy area, weather permitting.  Fees for all sessions are $60.

There are several easy ways to register for Pekin Park and Soldwedel Program Center programs.  Visit the Recreation Office located in the Memorial Arena, call us at (309) 347-7275 or fax your registration to (309) 347-3970 with a credit card number.  For your convenience, there is an after-hours drop box located on the Recreation Office door.  Cash registrations are only accepted in person.

For more information regarding registration or Pekin Park District programs, call us at (309) 347-PARK (7275) or visit us online at www.pekinparkdistrict.org.

Community Workshop Training Center, Inc. presents its annual “CWTC Pathway Awards, Dinner and Auction” Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in East Peoria. The evening festivities celebrate accomplishments of CWTC’s consumers, pay tribute to the many people who have helped CWTC in the past year and salute those who have contributed in extraordinary ways.

The auction and cocktails begin at 5:00PM, with the dinner and program starting at 6:00PM. This year, several CWTC consumers will be guest speakers. Tickets are just $50 and reservations are being accepted by calling Leslie Buhl at 686-3300. Deadline is Thursday, September 4^th at 12 Noon.

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

Who: Community Workshop Training Center

What: 2014 CWTC Pathway Awards, Dinner and Auction

Where: Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center, 100 Conference Center Drive, East Peoria

When: Tuesday, September 9, 2014; Auction and cocktails 5PM; Dinner and Program 6PM

Peoria, IL…Common Place and the Common Place Parents of Leadership are hosting a Community Thank You Festival on Saturday, August 16, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., at Common Place, 514 S. Shelley Street.  This festival is to thank the community and its funders for the support they give to Common Place and their educational and literacy programs.

Festival will include games, such as a dunk tank, obstacle course, and bean bag toss; zoo animals; free haircuts; nail designs; entertainment by Common Place youth; food; and,  so much more.  Mayor Jim Ardis and local Councilmen will by attending at 11:30 a.m.; Mike Sims from the City of Peoria and the HRC Commissioners at 1:00 p.m.; and, Don Johnson and United Way personnel will be attending at 3:00 p.m.

The Common Place Parents of Leadership is a south-side parents group that supports community involvement.  Their goal is to keep our families, neighbors, and city leaders connected to each other and opportunities that exist in our local area.

Common Place 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.

Peoria – Peoria County and the City of Peoria are currently accepting applications for the Peoria City/County Citizens Leadership Academy. This free program offers citizens a unique opportunity to learn about municipal and county governments through a joint curriculum. Classes meet Wednesday evenings September 17 – November 5, with a graduation ceremony at the City Council meeting on November 11 and at the County Board meeting on November 13; a complete course schedule is attached. The course is limited to 25 residents of Peoria County. Residents can download an application at http://www.peoriacounty.org/communications/civic. Application deadline is September 5, 2014.

(Peoria)–On Thursday, September 4, 2014, a public meeting will be held to provide a construction update and answer questions regarding the TIGER II and Washington Street Projects.

What : TIGER II / Washington Street Public Update When: Thursday, September 4, 2014 5:00 PM-6:00 PM Where: Art Guild – 2nd Floor 203 Harrison Street

If you have any questions or comments regarding the Warehouse District TIGER II Project, please visit our website at http://www.warehousedistrictpeoria.com. You can also contact Karen Dvorksy directly at kdvorsky@terraengineering.com or at (309) 472-3132. Thank you for your continued patience as we work to make the Warehouse District a safer, more accessible, and more attractive place to live, work, and shop right here in the heart of Peoria.

(Peoria)- Starting August 13, 2014 at 9:00 am and lasting through October 1, 2014, the west-bound lane direction of Forrest Hill between Sheridan Road and Knoxville Avenue, will be closed. This closure is necessary to maintain a safe roadway sight.

Use War Memorial Drive and McClure Avenue as west-bound alternatives.  East-bound travel on Forrest Hill will be in operation during the reconstruction.  This lane closure is part of the Forrest Hill project to restore the water main and reconstruct the roadway.

For more information, please contact Project Manager Stephen Letsky, at (309) 303-8658.

Peoria, IL – August 12, 2014 – In celebration of the 26th Anniversary of the Duck Race, The Center welcomes Giant Quacky, who will be nesting at Riverfront Park in East Peoria from August 15 – 23. Friday, August 15th is the “Hatching Party“. Hope to see everyone there!

Details for Giant Quacky “Hatching Party”

Who: Giant Quacky

What: Hatching Party

Music by Lite Rock 107, Food for purchase (Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino)

The Unique Twist

When: Friday August 15, 2014

Where: Riverfront Park, East Peoria

(behind Walmart)

Why: In celebration of our 26th Annual Duck Race

For more information on the “eggciting” events please visit centerforpreventionofabuse.org

Peoria, Illinois – While many schools are cutting programs, Midstate College is proud to add new concentrations to the Bachelor of Business Administration degree, beginning Fall Term 2014.  The three new concentrations include: Human Resource Management, Management, and Marketing.

The Human Resource Management concentration offers courses such as: Employment Recruitment, Interviewing and Hiring; Employee Relations Strategies; Managing Change in the Modern Workplace; and more. Graduates of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Human Resource Management might seek future entry-level employment in these areas: Recruiting, employee relations, training and development, and more.

The Management concentration offers courses such as: Small Business Management, Entrepreneurship, Principles of E-business, Quality Management, Managing Change in the Modern Workplace, and more. Graduates of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Management might seek future entry-level employment in these areas: Office management, operations, project management and more.

The Marketing concentration offers courses such as: Professional Selling, Consumer Behavior, Brand Management, Digital Marketing, Advertising and Promotional Strategy, Marketing Research, and more. Graduates of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Marketing might seek future entry-level employment in these areas: Advertising, Communications, Media Relations, Marketing Management, and more.

For those interested in enrolling in one of these new concentrations, please contact Admissions at admissions@midstate.edu or call 309.692.4092 to schedule a tour. The Fall Term begins on August 18, 2014.

For more information, please contact Ashley Spain, arspain@midstate.edu or 309.692.4092 ext. 1150