Dodgeball, the famous playground game, is reborn as an exciting new sport of teamwork, strategy and skill. Co-rec teams of six to 10 players (with at least two female players) put it all on the line trying to outlast opponents in a safe, friendly, yet fierce competition. The season will be played at Franciscan Recreation Complex starting Jan. 29.

Registration packets are available at the Glen Oak Pavilion, Franciscan Recreation Complex, RiverPlex or online at www.peoriaparks.org. Team fees are $60 for resident teams and $65 for non-resident teams. Player fees are $10 for residents and $15 for non-residents. Players must be ages 18 and over. Deadline to register is Jan. 20.

For more information, contact Matt Suellentrop at 681-2866 or msullentrop@peoriaparks.org. Visit our website at www.peoriaparks.org.

Join the Peoria City/County Health Department in wearing red on the first Friday of February, National Wear Red Day, to help raise awareness about heart disease in women. Make health your best accessory!

Heart disease is the number one killer of women. It can begin early, even in the teen years. A woman’s risk for heart disease rises between the ages of 40 and 60. No matter how old you are, you can take steps to lower your risk for heart disease! Start by planning heart healthy activities during the month of February. But don’t stop there-stay healthy and active all year long!

Get physical activity and be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles. Remember, you don’t have to get physical activity all at once. Spread activity throughout the week or into smaller chunks of time during the day.

Eat healthy and eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol content. Choose healthy snacks.

Be smoke-free and avoid secondhand smoke (inhaling other people’s smoke causes health problems similar to those of smokers). Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits. If you think you’re ready to quit, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Know the Signs and major symptoms of a heart attack:
• Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back.
• Unusual or unexplained fatigue.
• Feeling weak, light-headed, faint, nauseated, or sudden dizziness.
• Chest pain or discomfort.
• Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulder. Upper body discomfort.
• Shortness of breath.
• Break out in a cold sweat.

If you think that you or someone you know is having a heart attack, you should call 9–1–1 immediately. Make the call. Don’t miss a beat!

For more information on public health issues, visit our website at www.pcchd.org or call us at 679-6131.

CAPtions will focus on one of the oldest agencies in Peoria, the South Side Mission.

Operating since 1925, the South Side Mission uses the Gospel as a basis to provide services such as food, housing, clothing, and education to the poor.

The first segment includes S.S. Mission spokesperson Meg Newell, who describes the purpose and the programs; Chef Chris Franzoni who directs the Culinary Arts Training School; and Daurice Figgers, a graduate of the Culinary School, now a chef at Embassy Suites. Both Franzoni and Figgers discuss the Culinary Arts Training, how people can enroll in it, and learn to become a chef.Figgers also takes us to the kitchen where she demonstrates a delicious recipe for host Andre Bohannon.

The 2nd segment features the S.S. Mission’s Hospitality Training Program, where students learn skills that can be used in jobs in hotels, hospitals and more.

Also in the program: an interview about the upcoming Red, Black & Green Ball by the African-American Hall of Fame Museum; and a sneak peak at upcoming CAPtions shows…including a special edition from Chicago with CAPtions creator Michael Banks as host.

This edition of CAPtions will air Sunday, Jan. 22nd at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25th at 7:00 p.m., and later at Midnight on Comcast Community Access Channel 22. It will be available on YouTube and FaceBook by January 25th.

There is Still Time to Treat Your Sweetheart!

The Progressive Business Group (PBG) will host the 10th Annual Valentine’s Ball to benefit The Center for Prevention of Abuse, Saturday, February 11th. The black tie optional affair will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in East Peoria, beginning with a champagne reception and hot hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 p.m.

The evening includes a gourmet four-course meal, open bar, a keepsake photo, and live music by JammSammich, all setting the tone for a romantic Valentine’s celebration. In addition, there will be a silent auction as well as a raffle with the winning prize being 1 ct. diamond earrings valued at $5,000.00.

The PBG is a non-profit organization made up of business men and women in central Illinois who combine fostering leadership and building long lasting relationships while helping local charities. “It is our goal to have a wonderful evening to celebrate Valentine’s Day and support a community pillar in The Center for Prevention of Abuse,” explains Wendy Simmons, event chair. “Our invitation list grows because people have a fabulous time and want to share the evening with friends and business associates.”

With the growth of this event has come greater awareness and support for The Center for Prevention of Abuse, a non-profit agency that works to achieve its vision to build a safe, peaceful community. For over 30 years The Center has been serving women, men, children and seniors in central Illinois affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and providing prevention education to help keep children safe. It is the only agency in the state of Illinois to offer all those services under one roof. Each year The Center serves more than 5,000 victims of violence and reaches another 15,000 students through violence prevention education in area schools.

Tickets for the event are $300.00 per/couple.

For additional information about the Valentine’s Ball or to make a reservation call,
Wendy Simmons @ 309-303-7831 or visit Progressive Business Group’s website, www.progressivebusinessgroup.org.
To learn more about The Center for Prevention of Abuse visit their website, www.centerforpreventionofabuse.org or call 309-691-0551.

Peoria Public Radio is broadcasting a special call-in program featuring mayors of the two largest central Illinois cities about their visions for 2012. The program airs at 12:00 noon, Monday, January 30.

WCBU News Director Tanya Koonce is hosting it with in-studio guests Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis and East Peoria Mayor Dave Mingus. The phone lines will be open for listener questions and comments during the program, or listeners may email their questions.

WCBU, Peoria Public Radio is a 24-hour news and information service of Bradley University. The station can be heard at 89.9 FM, and online at wcbufm.org.

Common sense practices, a seasonal flu shot and good health habits are the best defense

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory disease caused by different strains of viruses. In the United States, there is a flu season that begins every fall and ends every spring. The type of flu people get during this season is called seasonal flu. Flu viruses spread from person to person when people who are infected cough or sneeze. Adults may be able to infect others 1 day before getting symptoms and as long as 5 days after getting sick.

The American Red Cross received would like to offer the following tips to stay healthy this flu season:

· Always practice good health habits to maintain your body’s resistance to infection.
o Eat a balanced diet.
o Drink plenty of fluids.
o Exercise daily.
o Manage stress.
o Get enough rest and sleep.

· Take these common sense steps to stop the spread of germs
o Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective when soap and water aren’t available.
o Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
o Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
o Flu is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing.
o If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

· Adopt business/school practices that encourage employees/students to stay home when sick.
· Get a flu shot every year. Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to minimize illness and death.

For more information about the flu and how to avoid it this year, please visit www.redcrossillinois.org/flu-preparedness

2012 has brought with it an exciting addition to the services available through Heartline. We have expanded our Heartline Program to include a stronger educational element. With the current state of the economy, coupled with on-going budget cuts in state and federal assistance, we continue to find that many individuals and families within our community are significantly feeling the pinch. We believe that education is key to lessening the pinch.

We are all quite familiar with the Chinese proverb that states: ‘Give a man a fish, and feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and feed him for a lifetime.’ We have made it a priority to ‘teach to fish’at Heartline and Heart House. It is our desire to provide valuable, hands-on, and interactive classes that will help lessen the pain of the pinch for our community.

Heartline has partnered with CEFCU to bring monthly financial classes to our community. The financial classes will cover a wide variety of topics such as budgeting, checking 101, credit repair and more. The financial classes will begin on Tuesday, January 24 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Heartline Community Room at 300 Reagan Drive in Eureka, and continue to meet the third Tuesday of each month.

A second monthly series entitled “Stretch Your Dollars” will include such topics as building your pantry, couponing, menu planning, clothing your family, using the resources available in Woodford County, ways to cut corners and build a savings. This series will launch on Friday, February 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Heartline Community Room and will continue to meet the 4th Friday of each month.

Please contact Brandi Gerber, Heartline Program Manager, at 467.6101 for more information about these upcoming classes or by visiting the Heartline website at www.heartlineandhearthouse.ort. Due to space availability, reservations are strongly suggested for each series. There are no fees associated with either of these offerings.

Parenting classes, as well as other educational classes, will be launched in the near future. Heartline is a nonprofit organization that helps meet basic needs of those in the Woodford County community. Heartline relies on fundraising events and individual and organizational donations, and does not receive any government funding. More information can be found at www.heartlineandhearthouse.org or by calling 467-6101.

A definitive agreement has been signed that may result in Ottawa Regional Hospital & Healthcare Center joining the OSF HealthCare System. Ottawa Regional Hospital, to be renamed OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, is expected to join the Catholic system later this spring.

The announcement comes after nearly 15 months of due diligence, a process described by the organizations as validating the benefits to the communities they serve. Before a change of ownership occurs Ottawa Regional’s corporate members must ratify the proposed arrangement and the organizations must receive approval from the Illinois Health Facilities & Services Review Board.

“We have determined that partnering with OSF HealthCare will in fact enhance our ability to provide outstanding medical care,” said Robert Chaffin, President and CEO of Ottawa Regional. “The new affiliation will provide local residents improved access to high quality, cost effective services.”

Ottawa Regional Governing Board Chairman Steven Gonzalo agrees. “As one of the largest health care networks in Illinois, OSF HealthCare has invested wisely in new processes and technologies to better serve patients,” said Gonzalo. “Our integration will make us more efficient.”

Among the anticipated benefits local residents will experience is greater access to integrated primary, secondary, and advanced tertiary health care services. Achieving excellence in clinical innovations, services, quality, costs and outcomes have also been identified as goals of both organizations.

The affiliation makes strategic sense to OSF HealthCare CEO Kevin Schoeplein who has bright hopes for the future of health care in Ottawa and surrounding areas. “We are pleased with and appreciative of the support we’ve received from business leaders, elected officials, other hospitals, and from our respective medical staffs, including independent physicians who serve our patients,” said Schoeplein. “It demonstrates a collaborative, vested interest in our Mission to serve persons with the greatest care and love in a community that celebrates the gift of life.”

OSF HealthCare System, owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, Peoria, Illinois, includes OSF HealthCare System consisting of six acute care facilities in Illinois and one in Michigan, one long-term care facility and two colleges of nursing. It also has a physician organization, OSF Medical Group that includes a multi-specialty group of more than 650 member physicians and advanced care practitioners in more than 90 locations throughout Illinois. OSF owns an extensive network of home health services in Illinois and Michigan known as OSF Home Care Services and also owns OSF Saint Francis, Inc., comprised of healthcare-related businesses, and OSF HealthCare Foundation, the philanthropic arm of OSF HealthCare System and OSF Home Care. The OSF HealthCare System Pioneer ACO includes only those facilities, services and programs available in Central Illinois.

Rep. Jehan Gordon (D- Peoria) visited Lutheran Hillside Village to recognize them as a “Good Neighbor” Business. Lutheran Hillside Village was nominated by the Heart of Illinois Senior Games and Fine Arts Fair for providing and serving a gourmet meal at the opening ceremony reception. Board members of the Heart of Illinois Senior Games joined Gordon in presenting this award to Lorraine Neitzer and Mark Shoopman (right) of Lutheran Hillside Village. Gordon had an opportunity to visit with board members and participants of the games as well as staff from Lutheran Hillside Village. She was also treated to a performance by Lutheran Hillside residents who line danced during the opening ceremony reception.

What is in Store for Peoria in 2012?
Chamber Hosts ‘2012 State of the City Address’

The 2012 State of the City Address is happening Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 11:45 a.m. at the Peoria Civic Center- Ballroom. Join the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, community leaders and area business professionals as Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis recaps 2011 and shares his visions for 2012.

Mayor Jim Ardis says, last year was indeed a challenging year for Peoria and 2012 will bring significant change to City of Peoria operations. “Similar to what most private businesses have already done, the city will begin implementing the City Managers plan to bring our organization in line with our revenues. We will focus on providing core services to the best of our ability.”

The event is hosted by the Peoria Area chamber of Commerce, and sponsored by PSA Dewberry and RLI. For more information on the 2012 State of the City Address watch Mayor Ardis’ video at: http://heartlandpartnership.org/content/peorias-state-city-event or visit the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce website at: http://peoriachamber.org/event/2012-state-city-address.