The cotton-headed tamarins at the Peoria Zoo have been moved to a newly renovated exhibit. Although this exhibit is only 40 feet down the hall from their old home, it will be a big change for the tamarins and the public. The additional height will allow the monkeys to more fully display their adaptations to living in the treetops.

Visitors will also get to hear a lot more of the tamarins’ vocalizations as they will no longer be behind glass. Cotton-headed tamarins are New World monkeys and are easily recognized by the characteristic fan of long, white hair on their heads. The average height of both males and females is only about 9 inches. Wild adults weigh on average 14.7 oz, while captive cottontop tamarins are significantly heavier and weigh, on average, 19.9 oz.

Peoria Zoo currently houses 4 cotton-headed tamarins. A family group of mother, father and son arrived in 2006 and a daughter was born in 2009.

The cotton-headed tamarin is one of the most endangered primates in the world. The species is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. There has been an 80% reduction in the wild population in 3 generations (18 years) due to habitat destruction.

Graphics are currently being designed to highlight important conservation work being done to protect the species; in particular, Proyecto Titi, an in situ program that combines field research, education initiatives and community programs to make the conservation of natural resources economically feasible for local communities.

Interesting Facts:

Celebrate Christmas in July! The Peoria Park District Glen Oak Amphitheatre presents Frozen on July 7. Gates open at 8 p.m.; movie begins at dusk. Cost is $.50 per person.  Frozen is sponsored by Children’s Hospital of Illinois. Movies are projected onto the Glen Oak Amphitheatre’s band shell, located in Glen Oak Park. Pack some snacks or purchase some from the concession stand. Visit www.peoriaparks.org for the complete Family Flick schedule or call (309) 688-3667 with questions.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS — This Fourth of July weekend, many people will be traveling, firing up the backyard grill or enjoying fireworks and the American Red Cross offers a series of steps to safely enjoy the holiday weekend.

HIGHWAY SAFETY

Millions of people will be on the highways over the Fourth of July weekend. The Red Cross offers these five things everyone should do to stay safe while traveling:

• Buckle seat belts and observe speed limits.

• Do not drink and drive.

• Pay full attention to the road – don’t use a cell phone to text while behind the wheel.

• Use caution in work zones.

• Clean the vehicle’s lights and windows to help the driver see, especially at night. Turn the headlights on as dusk approaches, or during inclement weather.

FIREWORKS SAFETY

The best way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Here are five safety steps for people setting fireworks off at home:

• Never give fireworks to small children, and always follow the instructions on the packaging.

• Keep a supply of water close by as a precaution.

• Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection.

• Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight “a dud.”

• Never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials.

GRILLING SAFETY

Every year people are injured while using charcoal or gas grills. Here are several steps to safely cook up treats for the backyard barbecue:

• Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use.

• Never grill indoors – not in the house, camper, tent, or any enclosed area.

• Make sure everyone, including the pets, stays away from the grill.

• Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, the deck, tree branches, or anything that could catch fire.

• Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to keep the chef safe.

FREE SWIM AND FIRST AID APPS

Another thing people can do is download the free Red Cross Swim and First Aid Apps. Swim App users can learn water safety and drowning prevention information for a variety of aquatic environments. Children can have fun learning water safety tips with the child-friendly videos and quizzes in the app. The First Aid App puts expert advice for everyday emergencies at someone’s fingertips. The apps are available for smart phones and tablets and can be downloaded from the Apple or Google Play for Android app stores. The Swim App is also available in the Amazon Kindle Store.

More water safety information is available at redcross.org.

Award-winning British author Jo Baker has perfectly imagined the below stairs world of Jane Austen’s famous Pride and Prejudice in her book Longbourn and she will be at Peoria Public Library Main Library on Monday, July 14 at 6:30 to give fans an inside look at her work. Admission to the event is free, but reservations are requested.  Books will be available for purchase at the event and there will be an opportunity to have your book signed by Jo Baker.  Please call (309) 497-2150 or email programmingdept@ppl.peoria.lib.il.us to reserve a ticket.

Longbourn has been named A New York Times Book Review Notable Book, a Seattle Times Best Title, a Christian Science Monitor Best Fiction Book, a Miami Herald Favorite Book, and a Kirkus Best Book of the Year. The film version is in pre-production.

In Longbourn, the servants take center stage as this irresistibly imagined belowstairs answer to Pride and Prejudice unrolls. Rather than being a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, it is a story told around the beloved 200-year-old Austen work.  While Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters fuss over balls and husbands, Sarah, their orphaned housemaid, is beginning to chafe against the boundaries of her class. When a new footman arrives at Longbourn under mysterious circumstances, the carefully choreographed world she has known all her life threatens to be completely, perhaps irrevocably, upended. Mentioned only fleetingly in Jane Austen’s classic, here Jo Baker dares to take us beyond the drawing rooms of Regency England and, in doing so, uncovers the real world of the novel that has captivated readers’ hearts around the world for generations.

Jo Baker was born in Lancashire, England, and educated at Oxford University and Queen’s University Belfast. She is the author of the novels The Under­tow, Offcomer, The Mermaid’s Child, and The Telling. She lives in Lancaster, England.

In consideration of the upcoming 4th of July Holiday, the traffic pattern changes on Jefferson are being delayed. Jefferson will remain as is (one-way).

The current dates for the traffic pattern changes are:

JEFFERSON STREET:

Beginning Monday, July 7, 2014, Jefferson Street will become two-way traffic from Walnut Street to Persimmon Street. One lane will be open in each direction.

On-street parallel parking will be accommodated on both sides of Jefferson from Persimmon Street to Oak Street, and on the ballpark side of Jefferson from Oak to Walnut Street. Through the rest of the summer, expect occasional construction work in the parking lanes for installation of light poles and tree planting.

Resurfacing work and sod installation is scheduled for later this year, though we will let you know more detail as the time comes.

ADAMS STREET:

Beginning Monday June 30, 2014, Adams Street will be reduced to one lane, going north toward downtown, from Persimmon Street to Walnut Street. The south-bound lane of Adams Street from Walnut to Persimmon will be closed to accommodate construction of the west side of Adams.

 All of Adams Street will be one-way for the rest of the construction season.

STATE STREET:

Weather permitting, State Street will be reduced to one-way traffic from Water Street to Adams Street for one-day only, on Monday, June 30th . Access to the Post Office and State Street businesses will be available via Walnut Street. This temporary lane closure is needed for pavement work at State and Washington Street.

Please slow down and use extreme caution while driving through construction work zone. If you have any questions or comments regarding the Warehouse District TIGER II Project, please visit the website at http://www.warehousedistrictpeoria.com or contact Karen Dvorsky directly at kdvorsky@terraengineering.com or at (309) 472-3132.

Four High School Students Recognized for Environmental Efforts at 86th Illinois FFA Convention

Reminder – Tonight Thursday, June 26, Councilman Casey Johnson and Peoria Public Works will hold a Public Meeting concerning the intersection improvements of Allen Road and Alta Road.

Where: Northwoods Community Church, 10700 N. Allen Road – The Warehouse Room

Date:     Thursday, June 26, 2014

Time:    6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

City Engineer Scott Reeise will discuss the proposed Allen Road/Alta Road intersection configurations, pedestrian connectivity and landscaping for the project.  Public input and discussion is encouraged.  The City of Peoria plans to coordinate the construction schedule of this intersection with the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT’s) schedule for the reconstruction of Allen Road from Townline Road on the south, to north of the Allen Road curve.

For more information, contact Scott Reeise, Peoria Public Works City Engineer at (309) 494-8800.

Event:  Peoria Riverfront Museum – 4^th of July Backyard BBQ

Date & Time: Fri., July 4, 6:00- 10:30 p.m.

Location:  Peoria Riverfront Museum · 222 S.W. Washington St. · Peoria

Cost: Museum members – $30/adult, $15/child (age 3-12); public – $40/adult, $20/child (age 3-12)

To reserve tickets: call – 309.863.3036 or email – events@peoriariverfrontmuseum.org; visit peoriariverfrontmuseum.org for more information

Note: Museum exhibits & planetarium will be open to the general public from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Support local hands-on art, science and history education – and enjoy the best seat in town for summer food, riverfront fun and fireworks. Peoria Riverfront Museum is hosting its second annual 4^th of July Backyard BBQ fundraiser, taking place at the museum on July 4, from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The event includes food and is open to the public, but tickets are limited and selling fast.

“One of the best things about Peoria Riverfront Museum is that we’re able to offer a wide range of programs to our community for free or greatly reduced rates. To do this, we rely on events like our 4^th of July Backyard BBQ to close the gap between what a program costs to produce and what we charge (or don’t charge) the public to participate,” said Sam Gappmayer, museum president & CEO.

“When you participate at fundraising events at the museum, you become part of the effort to make what we do available to the broadest possible cross section of our community. Knowing this is like icing on the cake of what will be a great time here on July 4^th,” Gappmayer added.

The museum’s 4^th of July Backyard BBQ event ticket includes all-you-can-eat barbecue from Gracie’s Grille of Washington, beverages, Nash FM 97.3 live remote broadcast, and hands-on fun including, “The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” exhibit, “weird science” experiments, Dome Planetarium shows, and access to the IHSA Peak Performance, Discovery Worlds, Illinois River Experience and The Street galleries.

Bar drinks and summer treats will be offered for sale, including beer donated by Brewers Distributing Company, cotton candy, locally sourced popcorn, and Emack & Bolio’s ice cream. Event participants and the general public may purchase tickets to the Giant Screen Theater to see Transformers: Age of Extinction 3D (1 p.m., 4 p.m., 10:15 p.m.), Mummies 3D (11 a.m., 7 p.m.), or the Last Reef 3D (12 p.m., 8 p.m.).

“I invite you to come down to the museum if you haven’t been before and become a member! The 4th of July Backyard BBQ provides a great sampling of our activities, galleries, and planetarium shows, and members get a discount to the event. If you join on the 4^th you get an extra two months of membership free,” said Anne Marie Roten, development VP.

 “In addition, traveling Peoria Riverfront Museum members get free general admission to more than 350 science museums and centers worldwide. Higher level members get free or reduced admission to more than 650 art and history museums worldwide – perfect for summer vacation plans,” added Roten.

 During the event, free lockers, concession and merchandise purchases, and full indoor amenities, including A/C and restrooms, are available to visitors. The lobby bar will be open until 10:30 p.m. Museum Water Street garage parking is $10; garage entry ends at 7 p.m. and exit begins at 11 p.m.

 Ticket prices range from $30 per adult and $15 per child (age 3-12) for museum members to $40 per adult and $20 per child (age 3-12) for the general public. Tickets are available by calling 309.863.3036 or emailing events@peoriariverfrontmuseum.org. Visit peoriariverfrontmuseum.org for more information.

 The museum acknowledges and thanks its 4^th of July Backyard Barbecue sponsors: Advanced Medical Transport, Vonachen Services Inc., Cumulus and Brewers.

 Blue Star Museums – Peoria Riverfront Museum is proud to be a Blue Star Museum. All summer, through September 1, we offer free admission to active US service members and their families to all museum exhibits, including the Science of Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, IHSA Peak Performance, Discovery Worlds, Illinois River Encounter, The Street, and regular Dome Planetarium shows.

 Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s service members, including National Guard and Reserve, and their families from Memorial Day, May 26, 2014 through Labor Day, September 1, 2014. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families.

 Peoria Riverfront Museum – The Peoria Riverfront Museum is the collaborative effort of eight organizations, with nearly 500 years of combined experience educating, entertaining, and supporting our diverse Peoria-area culture. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning for all – connecting art, history, science, and achievement through collections, exhibitions, and programs.

PEORIA – (June 25, 2014) After completing medical training in Peoria more than 33 years ago, Steven Befus, MD spent nearly two decades living in Liberia, West Africa providing care to some of the world’s poorest – which he will be remembered for on Friday.

Dr. Befus is recognized as a bit of a legend among many local physicians for the dedication he held for his patients and the people of Liberia, despite being surrounded by civil war, being shot at and even having a knife put to his throat. He intermittently returned to Peoria during times of unrest but twice helped to reopen the hospital; he once narrowly escaped armed captors only to have to walk barefooted more than 11 miles to safety.

Dr. Befus died in 2003 from cancer, but he and his legacy will be remembered Friday with a new award presented by the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria’s Dept. of Family and Community Medicine and UnityPoint Health – Methodist|Proctor Foundation.

The Steven Befus, MD Humanitarianism Award will be presented posthumously during the Family Medicine Residency Training Program graduation, the same program Befus himself graduated from in 1981. Befus’ widow, Sue Befus, will be present to accept the award.

 In subsequent years, the Befus Humanitarianism Award will go to a faculty member or student of the family medicine program who promotes human welfare and the happiness of people. The award includes a plaque and $1,000 monetary gift from the UnityPoint Health – Methodist| Proctor Foundation to be given to the charity of choice of the recipient.

What: Steven Befus, MD Award for Humanitarianism

When: 6:00 p.m. Friday, June 27

Where: East Peoria Holiday Inn & Suites, 101 Holiday Drive

Also: The award will be given during the Family Medicine Residency Program graduation

 About the Family Medicine Residency Program: Established in 1973, the Family Medicine Residency Program, sponsored by the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria with UnityPoint Health – Methodist, has graduated 320-plus physicians from the 3-year program. Of those, about 60 percent of physicians stayed to work in Illinois (20 percent in Peoria).

 About the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria: One of four campuses that make up one of the largest public medical schools in the U.S., the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria educates more than 150 students annually and more than 270 residents and fellows within 18 graduate programs.