SUBJECT: Peoria Community Against Violence hosts Community Event

On August 20th, the Peoria Community Against Violence (PCAV) will be hosting a friendly soccer game at Morton Square Park located at 901 NE Monroe in Peoria (Monroe & Evans St.) The Peoria Police Department’s soccer team will be playing a local community soccer team. Game should start around 5:00 or 5:30 (weather permitting).

Refreshments will be provided by the PCAV including hot dogs, chips, cookies and water. Local neighbors, community members and all citizens are welcome!

If you have any questions regarding the upcoming soccer match, feel free to contact Krista Coleman at kcoleman@peoriagov.org or (309) 494-8233.

 The Immigration Crisis associated with Central American Youth is the discussion topic for Drinks & Dialogue, a new program launched by the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria.

The public is invited to participate in the dialogue, Wednesday, August 20 at 5:30 pm at Kelleher’s, 619 SW Water St., Peoria. There is no cost to participate, and refreshments are available for purchase.

The dialogue will be opened with comments from Aurea Toxqui, a professor at Bradley University on Latin American History, and facilitated by League members.

Drinks & Dialogue provides an opportunity for people to share opinions and ideas, ask questions, and become more aware of local, state, and national issues and the options for making change.

Drinks & Dialogue will be offered monthly, on the 3^rd Wednesday of the month, for one hour starting at 5:30 pm at Kelleher’s. Future topics include income inequality, alternatives to imprisonment, common core standards, recycling, campaign finance reform, voting rights , and quality of urban life.

The League is a non-partisan, issues oriented, volunteer, member-directed organization committed to open, responsive, and effective government brought about by informed, involved citizens with membership open to both men and women in Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. For more information, go to www.lwvgp.org.

Peoria – The phone and email systems at the Peoria City/County Health Department have been restored.

(PEORIA – August 12, 2014) – OSF Healthcare System and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) announced Monday that OSF will become one of the first health care systems to work directly with Managed Care Organizations (MCO’s) when treating Illinois Medicaid clients.

The department and OSF have been trying to determine the best way to provide care coordination for central Illinois children with complex medical conditions who are currently covered by Medicaid.  Initially, OSF considered serving as a Coordinated Care Entity (CCE), in which many children with complex medical conditions get access to care coordination services. The system received a CCE designation from HFS earlier this year.

But with OSF’s strong history of success with care management processes and its good relationships with various health insurance carriers, both organizations felt clients would be better served if OSF worked directly with MCOs. The shift will allow OSF to better focus on Illinois Medicaid’s “Triple Aim” – improved care, improved quality and a reduction in the ever-increasing rise in health care costs, said OSF Healthcare System Chief Executive Officer Kevin Schoeplein.

“We are already providing care to many of the children residing in central Illinois who have complex medical conditions through the Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and their affiliated specialty providers,” said Schoeplein. “OSF will look to work with MCO’s to overlay a very active and sophisticated care-coordination process to better assist those families who have children with complex medical conditions.”

The move is a win-win for all, said HFS Director Julie Hamos.

“The extensive coordination of care for these children that OSF can provide is what’s really important, not the organizational or legal arrangement,” Hamos said. “That’s why the State of Illinois is very comfortable with OSF contracting for such care coordination services directly with Managed Care Organizations.”

The state agency will soon mail informational packets to families whose children have complex medical conditions and might be eligible for Medicaid coverage.  About 1,200 central Illinois children could be eligible for coverage, officials said.

About OSF HealthCare – OSF HealthCare, an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, Peoria, IL, includes OSF Healthcare System consisting of nine acute-care facilities, and two colleges of nursing –  OSF Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing and OSF Saint Anthony College of Nursing. OSF also has a physician organization which employs almost 700 physicians in various specialties and nearly 300 advanced practitioners who are part of the OSF Medical Group.  To align more closely our care delivery system with physicians we developed clinical service lines in cardiovascular services, neurosciences and pediatrics. OSF HealthCare owns an extensive network of home health services known as OSF Home Care Services and also owns OSF Saint Francis, Inc., comprised of health care-related businesses, and OSF Healthcare Foundation, the philanthropic arm of OSF Healthcare System and OSF Home Care.

The brand new Courtyard by Marriott® Peoria Downtown will celebrate its Grand Opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, August 13, 2014. The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a gathering and welcome at the Courtyard’s main entrance followed by the official ribbon cutting at 10:45 a.m.

Participating in the welcome and ribbon cutting will be Gary Matthews, Mayor Jim Ardis, Monte Brannan and hotel management; Joe LoMonaco, Managing Director, M. J. Schettler, Director of Sales & Marketing and Jeff McCLinden, General Manager.

Following the ribbon cutting attendees can enjoy a tour of the Courtyard and the Atrium adjoining the Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette Hotel, as well as the skywalk connection to the Peoria Civic Center.

The public are encouraged to attend.

For more information contact Mary Jo Schettler at 680.2327

CENTRAL ILLINOIS — As another school year begins, the American Red Cross has steps that everyone can take to make the trip back to the classroom safer.

“When kids go back to school, parents should make sure the child knows his or her home phone number and address, parents’ work contact information, how to get in touch with another trusted adult and how to dial 9-1-1,” said Monica Grugett, youth education director. “Parents should also teach their children not to talk to strangers or accept rides from someone they don’t know.”

Bus Safety

If children ride a bus to school, they should plan to get to their bus stop early and stand away from the curb. Other safety steps for students include:

• Board the bus only after it has come to a complete stop.
• Only board your bus and never an alternate one.
• Always stay in clear view of the bus driver and never walk behind the bus.
• Cross the street at the corner, obeying traffic signals and staying in the crosswalk.

Motorists should know what the yellow and red bus signals mean:

• Yellow flashing lights — the bus is getting ready to stop, and motorists should slow down and be alert.
• Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign — the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off. Drivers in both directions must stop their vehicles and wait until the lights go off, the stop sign is back in place and the bus is moving before they can start driving again.

Driving

• If a teenager is going to drive to school, parents should mandate that they use seat belts. Drivers should not use their cell phone to text or make calls, and should avoid eating or drinking while driving.
• All drivers should be aware that children are out walking or biking to school and slow down, especially in residential areas and school zones.

Biking and Walking

• Students who ride their bike to school should always wear a helmet, obey all traffic signs and ride on the right in the same direction as traffic.
• Those who walk to school should only cross the street at an intersection, and use a route along which the school has placed crossing guards. Parents should walk young children and children taking new routes or attending new schools at least for the first week to ensure they know how to get there safely.

Emergencies can happen anytime

• When the new school year begins, talk to your child’s teacher or school principal about the school’s emergency plan and how you will be notified if an emergency happens at the school.
• Remind your child that the most important thing they can do if an emergency happens at school is to stay calm and listen to the direction of their teachers or principal.
• Tape a copy of your family’s contact numbers and meeting place(s) to the inside of your child’s binder or homework notebook and in their book bag.

Peoria – The Peoria City/County Health Department’s phone, email, and internet systems are currently not working. The office cannot receive phone calls and emails. An update will be sent when the systems are restored.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 12, Facebook’s Small Business Boost will teach small business owners in the Peoria area how to optimize their presence on the world’s largest social network. The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce will co-host the event, and Congressman Aaron Schock will make remarks and speak with attendees. 

“The most successful small businesses must learn to operate in today’s 21^st century marketplace where the strategic use of social media can make the difference between competitors, both locally and around the world,” said Congressman Schock. “The Facebook Small Business Boost event will provide valuable resources to entrepreneurs looking to increase their online footprint and more effectively utilize social networking technologies to grow their companies. I look forward to joining leaders in our community for the Facebook Peoria workshop and learning how this transformative digital platform can strengthen Illinois-based businesses in our region.” 

Facebook’s Peoria Small Business Boost will also feature a small business panel, three small business owners from the Peoria region who, having found success on Facebook, will share their own tips, tricks and suggestions. The small businesses on the panel are Cloud Nine Bridal Boutique, the Peoria Charter Coach Company and Running Central athletic store.  

This event is part of the Facebook Small Business team’s swing through Illinois this summer, which also includes stops in Rockford and Collinsville. 

How does Facebook partner with small businesses?

• There are more than 2 billion connections between local businesses and people who use Facebook.
• There are more than 30 million small businesses using Facebook to connect with customers.
• In an average week, there are over 645 million views of, and 13 million comments on, local business Facebook Pages.
• Facebook advertising reaches 89% of its intended audience, on average, compared to just 38% of online ads at large.

WHEN AND WHERE:  Peoria, IL – Tuesday, August 12 @ Embassy Suites – East Peoria, 100 Conference Center Dr., East Peoria, IL 61611

• Check In/Networking: 4:00 PM
• Program: 4:30 – 6:00 PM
• For more information and free registration: http://fbpeoria.eventbrite.com  

 WHAT: FREE Workshop On How To Use Facebook To Grow Your Small Business

 WHO: Representatives from Facebook, Rep. Schock, local business development organizations, and small business owners.

Thursday, August 21 at 7:00 pm at Grand View Alzheimer’s Special Care Center.

The Grand View Alzheimer’s Support Group meets every 3rd Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Grand View conference room.

This group is affiliated with the Central IL Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Programs are both informational and casual to allow those attending the opportunity to share their ideas and feelings.

All residents’ family members are invited to attend, as well as anyone in the community who has an interest.

Meetings last 60-90 minutes with time allotted for a guest speaker or video.

For more information, contact Grand View at 309-692-2484.

Refreshments will be served.

Please call 309.692.2484or email Grandview-adm@jeaseniorliving.com to reserve a seat.

Tours of Grand View will be available after.