Ribbon cutting to be held on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 1 PM

Pekin, Ill. (Aug. 8, 2014) – Illinois American Water’s Pekin District and the City of Pekin will celebrate the community’s new 1.25-million-gallon elevated water storage tank located at 1700 Riverway Drive.  A ribbon cutting will be held on Aug. 12, 2014 at 1:00 PM.  

According to Roger Goodson, operations superintendent for the Pekin District, this investment of over $3 million ensures reliable water service to customers. “The water tower is a critical component of our water infrastructure.  The new tank will help ensure adequate supply for residents, businesses and fire protection,” said Goodson.

This investment includes a spheroid tank design that required minimal land use, reducing environmental impact. The new water tower welcomes visitors to the area with the City’s unique marigold logo.

Pekin Mayor Laurie Barra said, “”The City of Pekin is proud to have our beautiful marigold logo on the water tower.  This investment not only enhances our community visually, but ensures water service for economic development.”

The construction of this tank is part of an overall improvement plan which also includes a new booster station and distribution pipe improvements. The U.S. EPA reports that the nation’s water utilities will need to make more than $384 billion in infrastructure investments by 2030 to ensure public health.  These investments include replacing thousands of miles of pipe and upgrades to treatment plants, storage tanks and other assets. Illinois American Water’s investment in the Pekin District is just another example of continuous investments and improvements being made, helping to meet the demands of today’s customers and planning for the future.  

About Illinois American Water –  Illinois American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.2 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville.  

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company.  With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 6,600 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 14 million people in more than 40 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

Peoria Players Theatre is excited to produce the beautiful musical Ragtime, once again directed by Steve Bortolotti.  A regional premiere at Peoria Players in 2004, this stunning musical returns to our stage for its 10-year anniversary. Ragtime is a Tony Award-winning musical based on an E.L. Doctorow novel that intertwines three distinct families’ stories in turn-of-the-century New York. Our 2004 production played to sold-out houses and garnered a holdover performance.
Ragtime will open Peoria Players’ 2014-2015 season – our 96^th consecutive season!  Performances include September 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 and 13 at 7:30 pm, and September 7 and 14 at 2:00. Tickets are $18 adults and $12 for patrons 18 and younger.  Please call 688-4473 or visit us online at peoriaplayers.org.

Peoria Ballet is excited to announce the hiring of Artistic Director, Ian Poulis.  A retired professional ballet dancer, Poulis has spent a lifetime learning dance. During his professional career, Poulis danced with companies that include Ballet Internationale in Indianapolis, Ballet Met in Columbus, Ballet Arizona in Phoenix, Louisville Ballet, and most-recently, Kansas City Ballet in Kansas City, Missouri.

Peoria Ballet also welcomes Poulis’s wife, Fabiana who had an international dance career in her home country of Paraguay as well as Argentina and the United States. She trained in Paraguay and Argentina and received her pedagogy degree in Paraguay under the mentorship of Miguel Bonnin and at the National Ballet of Cuba. They also bring Sebastian, their young son with them to make Peoria their new home.

Poulis says becoming Artistic Director for Peoria Ballet is realizing a dream: “I have spent a lifetime learning and performing dance. I know first-hand what helps students learn, and what can lead to failure. Having this tremendous opportunity to work with the Peoria Ballet is like finally coming home to where I was meant to be,” said Poulis.

Poulis adds, “Peoria Ballet’s new approach to teaching will be one that is organic and individualized to each student’s need. The cookie cutter approach does not work for everyone and under my leadership and vision, everyone will be able to dance. The inspiring challenge is to find which approach will work for your child. We will continue to provide a wide array of classes from classical ballet to modern to tap and jazz for all ages.”

Peoria Ballet invites you to help welcome Poulis by attending the Peoria Ballet Academy Open House, on Saturday, August 16^th from 10:00 A.M. until noon. Poulis will greet returning students and talk with those considering taking classes for the first time. Free sample classes and refreshments will be provided.

Registration is now open for Peoria Ballet Academy’s fall classes, which begin August 20th. Please visit peoriaballet.com or call (309) 690-7990 for further information.

The Marcellus Sommerville Foundation is excited to be hosting their inaugural initiative – The Marcellus Sommerville “Back to School Bash”– Saturday, August 9, from 2:00 – 5:30 PM, at the RiverPlex Wellness Center in Peoria.

Open to children in Kindergarten through 5th grade, the Back to School Bash is designed to give kids at risk a fun filled afternoon with structured activities in a safe environment, presented by supportive role models. Our goal is to get the children mentally prepared to return to school with an enthusiastic, positive outlook.

Officer Daniel Duncan speaking to the kids about the risks and negative effects of bullying and Marcellus will close out the session with an inspiring message encouraging kids to do their best in school and have a vision for their futures.

Activities will include hair cuts and manicures for the kids, face painting, Fun on the Run, Magic by Yort, a variety of different games and, of course, food. Players from Bradley University will join Marcellus in hosting a 3-on-3 basketball challenge, as well.

Each child will also be given a book bag, school supplies, and a personalized bible to take with them when they leave.

The Back to School Bash is the first of many events that the Marcellus Sommerville Foundation will be undertaking this year.

For more information contact Brooke Sommerville, Event Chairperson:                                                    Phone: 309-472-9901

Email: brookensommerville@yahoo.com.

Peoria – Via passage of the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act (410 ILCS 130/), the State of Illinois has legalized the cultivation and dispensing of medical cannabis. On Tuesday, July 15, 2014, the state’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules approved the rules for the medical cannabis pilot program from the Departments of Agriculture, Financial and Professional Regulation, Public Health, and Revenue. Within the next two months, the state anticipates receiving applications for cultivation and dispensary licenses.

Over the past several months, Peoria County has made text amendments to its zoning code to allow for medical cannabis cultivation in the Industrial-1, Industrial-2, and Commercial-2 zoning districts with a special use permit approved by the County Board. In anticipation of a short timeframe for licensing applications to be submitted to the state, Peoria County is taking the following actions to make it easier for developers wishing to establish a cultivation center in Peoria County to navigate through the County’s special use process.

• Economic Development staff, in conjunction with Planning and Zoning, will publish a sample Special Use Application Timeline containing deadlines for application submittal, expedited processing of applications, and review by appropriate regulatory boards; this timeline is subject to change depending upon rules and regulation issued by the state, and public notification requirements. The attached sample timeline reflects the Peoria Journal Star publication schedule.
• County Planning and Zoning staff will be available for pre-application meetings until Friday, August 18, 2014 to go through Special Use Applications with potential developers to answer questions and point out areas of concern or focus.
• The County shall hold a special meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals to review and decide upon special use requests.
• The County Board shall hold a special meeting of its Land Use Committee to act upon the recommendation(s) from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
• The County Board will meet on September 11, 2014 to decide upon any special use request(s) that have gone before the Zoning Board of Appeals and Land Use Committee.

Questions regarding the special use process may be directed to the Planning and Zoning Department at (309) 672-6915.

Today at 8:41 AM

At the Taste of Learning we’ll present an overview of upcoming fall programs and workshops.  Then, explore your curious side by trying a couple of FREE mini-workshops.  Sample what Adult Community Programs has to offer with workshops in Computers, History, Art, Genealogy, and Day Trips. Select two topics from the list to get a “taste” of an actual workshop experience.  

To register and select two mini-workshops for the FREE event click at: http://campusce.icc.edu/acp/category/category.aspx?C=&S=161 or call (309) 690-9000.

Congressmen Kinzinger, Schock, Shimkus, and Davis To Appear At Events

Between Monday, August 11 and Wednesday, August 13, Facebook’s Small Business Boost will hit Rockford, Peoria and Collinsville, Illinois, to teach small business owners in those areas how to optimize their presences on the world’s largest social network.

The events will be co-hosted by Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce and the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce, respectively.

Additionally, Rep. Adam Kinzinger will kick off the Rockford event;  Rep. Aaron Schock will greet attendees in Peoria; and Reps. John Shimkus and Rodney Davis will welcome entrepreneurs in Collinsville.

“In our increasingly digital world, small businesses have the ability to enter entirely new markets by leveraging social media to share their ideas and communicate with consumers in ways that didn’t exist just a few years ago,” said Congressman Adam Kinzinger. “Facebook’s team of experts will share the latest techniques folks can use to sharpen their social media skills and grow their customer bases. I hope to see a great turnout by Rockford-area small businesses for this fantastic opportunity to learn from the best in the business.”

“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 Aaron 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.”

“As more people shop online and search for business information on the Internet, Facebook has become more important, especially for small businesses,” said Congressman John Shimkus. “I use it to reach my constituents, and I’m sure locally businesses will want to learn more at this upcoming workshop in Collinsville.”

“Small business owners have both limited time and resources, so they need to be armed with the tools that will enable them to maximize both, especially in this 21st century economy,” said Congressman Rodney Davis. “The most effective way for our office to communicate with our constituents is through Facebook, it’s truly changed the way government and politics operates forever. This workshop will show area business owners how to harness the capabilities of Facebook to get the most bang for their buck and easily interact with current and potential customers alike.”

Each Small Business Boost workshop will feature a panel of several local small businesspeople who, having found success on Facebook, will share their own tips, tricks and suggestions.

Attendees of each event will also get a chance to network with one another.

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.

To read success stories from small- and medium-sized businesses that have used Facebook to grow their enterprise, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/business/success.

WHEN AND WHERE:         

 Rockford, IL – Monday, August 11 – Radisson Hotel & Conference Center,  200 Bell School Rd., Rockford, IL 61108.

• Check In/Networking: 12:30 PM
• Program: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

To register and for more information: https://fbrockford.eventbrite.com

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

To register and for more information: http://fbpeoria.eventbrite.com

Collinsville, IL – Wednesday, August 13 – Gateway Convention Center (Ballroom C), 1 Gateway Dr., Collinsville, IL 62234

• Check In/Networking: 1:30 PM
• Program: 2:00 – 3:30 PM

To register and for more information: http://fbcollinsville.eventbrite.com

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

WHO:    Representatives from Facebook; Congressmen Kinzinger, Schock, Shimkus and Davis; local business development organizations; and small business owners.

National Immunization Awareness Month in August is the perfect time to remind parents how to make shots less stressful for kids and for parents. The Peoria City/County Health Department’s Infectious Disease Director, Jean Bellisario shares tips to help relieve the stress that comes with vaccination.

“Vaccines are important to help protect babies and young children against 14 serious diseases. So, even though you are keeping them safe from disease, it’s hard to see your child cry when they get their shots. But you can take some steps before, during, and after a vaccine visit to ease the pain and stress of getting shots.”

• Pack a favorite toy, blanket, or other comfort item.
• Make eye contact with your child and smile, talk softly, or sing.
• Hold your child tightly on your lap, if you can.
• For older children, be honest—shots can pinch or sting, but not for long. Remind them that shots help keep them healthy.
• Take deep breaths with an older child to help “blow out” the pain.
• After the shot, hug, cuddle and praise your child.
• Use a soothing voice to help tell them everything is ok.

“Read the Vaccine Information Sheets from your healthcare provider so you know what to expect after the shots,” said Bellisario. “Some children may have mild reactions such as pain or swelling where a shot was given, or even a slight rash, or a fever. These reactions are normal and will go away soon.”

Bellisario has other tips for after care, “If you notice redness, soreness, or swelling from the vaccination area, place a clean, cool washcloth on the area. If your child runs a fever, try a cool sponge bath. You can also use a non-aspirin pain reliever if your doctor says it’s OK.  Make sure your child gets plenty to drink. If you’re worried about anything, call your healthcare provider.”

“Shots can be stressful,” said Bellisario, “for kids and for parents. You can ease your own discomfort by knowing that vaccination is safe and is the best way to protect your child against dangerous vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Learn more about childhood vaccines and other important Public Health issues, by visiting the Peoria City/County Health Department website at www.pcchd.org.

The hilarious smash musical Little Shop of Horrors opens this Wednesday, August 6!  Director Megan Cipolla has an exceptionally talented cast and crew who will charm audiences with this delightful production. Little Shop of Horrors marks our 18th annual Summer Youth Theatre.  Our Summer Youth Theatre, which originated in 1997, showcases the talents of teens, ages 14 to 20, in all areas of theatre including onstage, backstage, and orchestration. Little Shop of Horrors is the perfect, creative summer outlet for these teens! A nerdy florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed. The show features a catchy score which includes such songs as “Skid Row (Downtown),” “Somewhere That’s Green,” “Suddenly, Seymour,” and many more.  Performances include August 6, 7, 8 and 9 at 7:30 pm, and August 10 at 2:00. Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for patrons 18 and younger, and are available by calling our box office at 688-4473 or by visiting us online at: http://www.peoriaplayers.org/PayPal%20for%20Little%20Shop%20of%20Horrors.html.