The PSO Guild’s Musical Monday will be at 9:00 a.m. on February 13 at First Federated Church, 3601 N. Sheridan, Peoria. Dr. Kerry Walters, Associate Professor of Music, Bradley University presents a program on Gustav Mahler. The PSO performed Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 at its September 2011 concert, and will perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 at its February 18 concert. The program is free for PSO Guild members and $5 for guests.

On Tuesday, February 14 at 8:00 p.m., third in its PSO Presents! series of concerts is Valentine’s Day: The Romantic Gershwins. Popular pianist Richard Kogan will perform beloved classics from George and Ira Gershwin including American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue.

The Central Illinois Youth Symphony (CIYS) joins the PSO on Saturday, February 18, 8:00 p.m. at the Peoria Civic Center. Guest artist, CIYS alumnus and Bloomington/Normal native Jeffrey Holbrook will be the soloist for Alexander Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto. Holbrook currently is Principal Trumpet of the Seoul Philharmonic in South Korea. The concert is sponsored by a donation from Ameren.

Tickets for both the February 14 and February 18 concerts are available by calling the PSO box office, 309/671-1096 or online at www.peoriasymphony.org. Individual ticket prices range from $25 to $70. Student tickets are $10.

On Wednesday, February 22, Bankers Hours, the PSO’s monthly free noon performance at the historic GAR Hall, 416 Hamilton Blvd., Peoria will feature Cinderhood! a fairy-tale opera for all ages. PSO education outreach coordinator Linden Christ and members of the Chicago Opera Play House will perform Cinderhood! for the public before performing for a number of area elementary schools later in the day. Children are welcome for the noon performance and audience members are encouraged to bring their lunch. The Bankers Hours series of performances and the PSO’s educational outreach programs are sponsored by the Community Foundation of Central Illinois.

Hospital’s Focus is on Needs of Peoria Area Community

Illinois hospitals contributed annual community benefits of more than $4.6 billion in programs and services in their 2009-10 fiscal year, according to the fifth annual report issued by the Illinois Hospital Association (IHA). Illinois Hospitals: Cornerstones of Health, Foundations of the Community focuses on how hospitals in Illinois respond to the evolving health care needs of patients in their communities as they strive to combat obesity and diabetes, lend a helping hand when needed, and enhance the services they provide in a multitude of ways.

During fiscal year 2010, Methodist Medical Center contributed annual community benefits of more than $63,500,000 in programs and services in their most recent fiscal year.

As reported under the Illinois Community Benefits Act, Methodist Medical Center provided:
· $41,000,000 absorbed because of underpayments by government-sponsored programs such as Medicare and Medicaid;
· $8,800,000 in health care services for patients who were unable to pay;
· $6,700,000 in free and discounted care at cost;
· $1,300,000 to educate new physicians, nurses and other medical professionals;
· $3,000,000 to subsidize money-losing services(e.g., Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Behavioral Health Services ), including almost $250,000 for the areas only in-school health program;
· $147,000 in research on innovative, life-saving treatments and cures;
· $8,000 in language assistance services; and
· $2,700,000 in donations, volunteer work and other services.

Despite the continuing economic downturn and Illinois’ challenging political and fiscal environments, the state’s hospitals contributed not only services and programs to benefit their communities but also billions of dollars in tangible economic benefits as major employers, job creators and purchasers of goods and services. Illinois hospitals pump $75.1 billion into the state’s economy each year, including more than $14.8 billion in salaries and benefits to employ nearly a quarter of a million people. In nearly half of the state’s counties, hospitals are among the top three employers.

Illinois American Water is completing an approximately $20 million investment in the Peoria District water treatment process to enhance water quality and meet Environmental Protection Agency standards. As a part of this project, a disinfectant known as chloramines will be implemented into the treatment process, beginning the second week of February 2012.

According to Esther Dundore, Director of Water Quality and Environmental Management for Illinois American Water, “Chloramination, the practice of mixing a small amount of ammonia in the disinfection process, reduces the taste and odor associated with chlorine and also helps to better maintain the required residual levels throughout the distribution system.”

Chloramination is a preferred method because it reduces the creation of disinfection byproducts (DBP) during the treatment process. Since the early 1900s, chloramines have been used routinely in the United States and Canada. Nearly one in three U.S. surface water treatment facilities currently use chloramination in cities including Washington D.C., San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia. Several communities served by Illinois American Water have also used chloraminated water for many years.

Although chloraminated water can be used in all the same ways for drinking, bathing, cooking, cleaning and watering plants, lawns and gardens, Kidney dialysis patients should take special care when using chloraminated water. Water comes in contact with the bloodstream in the dialysis process; therefore, just as chlorine would be toxic chloramines in the water would also be toxic. Chloramines can be removed by adding ascorbic acid or by filtering the water through granular activated carbon prior to use.

Kidney dialysis patients should contact their physician or local kidney dialysis center for guidance on modifications to dialysis machines and procedures. Medical centers that perform dialysis are responsible for purifying the water that enters the dialysis machines. Dialysis patients can drink chloraminated water and use it for bathing, washing wounds and all other standard uses of water.

Fish owners and industrial users may also be affected by the change. Both chlorine and chloramines are toxic to fish in very low levels and must be removed from the water to be used in an aquarium. Most pet stores sell a disinfectant removal product that can be added to the tap water prior to introduction to the fish tank or pond. Industrial facilities should carefully observe their production processes to ensure there are no adverse effects.

Illinois American Water sent a letter to healthcare, industrial and commercial customers to communicate this change. A bill insert is currently being distributed to residential customers in their January water bill.

More information on the new regulations regarding disinfection byproducts and the use of chloramines to protect drinking water systems is available online at the EPA’s Web site at: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/mdbp/chloramines_index.cfm. Additional information on the switch to chloramines can be obtained by calling the Illinois American Water customer service center at 1-800-422-2782 or visiting www.illinoisamwater.com.

The Morton Economic Development Council announced Warren Ribley will be the keynote speaker at their Annual Meeting and luncheon this Friday, January 13th. Governor Pat Quinn appointed Warren Ribley as Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in March 2009.

“Director Ribley is the leader of our economic development efforts for Illinois,” said Jennifer Daly, CEO for the Morton EDC. “He will be speaking about Illinois’ strategy for growth and the economic impact of developing business relationships overseas.”

In his first two years, Ribley prioritized the state’s economic development efforts which resulted in Illinois creating more jobs than any other Midwestern state coming out of the global recession by investing in more than 100 businesses to create and retain jobs. Highlights of Ribley’s first two years as Director include building the state’s green economy, targeting job training to high-growth sectors, building up the state’s disadvantaged communities, and increasing Illinois’ investments in entrepreneurship, innovation and technology.

The Morton EDC’s Annual Meeting, “Good Fortune 2012,” will be held on Friday, January 13th from 11:30 – 1:00 pm at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria. Tickets are available at www.mortonedc.org.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day which is being celebrated Jan. 16, an interfaith breakfast will be held Saturday, January 14th to honor Dr. King and John H. Gwynn Jr., a Peorian who was a civil rights leader locally and nationally.

Both men changed the course of history. The theme of Saturday’s breakfast is “What Made Dr. King and Mr. Gwynn so Great!”

Sponsors of the interfaith breakfast are Bishop Leroy Smith Jr. Church of Living God, James K. Polk, a trustee at Illinois Central College, and Church Women United, Peoria Unit.

The breakfast is free and open to the public, but a donation will be collected to support the cost of the meal.

WHEN: 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012
WHERE: Bishop Leroy Smith Jr. Church of Living God, 2815 W. Lake St.
(behind West Lake Shopping Center off Sterling)

All registered voters within the City of Peoria will be mailed a new Voter Registration Card. This mailing is set to begin Tuesday, January 10, 2012. Please keep your eyes open for your new card. If the information on the card is not accurate or you are asked to complete the mailing and return to the Election Commission, please do so in a timely manner. Failure to update voter registration information could jeopardize your right to vote. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Peoria Board of Election Commissioners at (309)494-8683.

The Peoria Board of Election Commissioners announces the relocation of three polling place changes for the upcoming March 20, 2012 General Primary Election.

Precinct 49 has been moved from Lakeview Library to Lakeview Museum located at 1125 W Lake Avenue.
Precinct 75 has been moved from Liberty Village/Hawthorne Inn to Grace Presbyterian Church located at 8607 N State Route 91.
Precinct 76 has been moved from Kellogg Golf Course to the Golf Learning Center located at 7815 N Radnor Road.

All registered voters affected by these changes will receive new voter registration cards. A list of all polling places in the City of Peoria can be found at www.peoriaelections.org/where-to-vote. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Board at 494-8683.

Entries for the 2011 Peoria Ad Club’s ADDY® Awards Competition are being accepted beginning January 3, 2012 through Friday, January 20 between 8 am and 5 pm at Adams Outdoor Advertising, 911 Southwest Adams Street in Peoria. The annual Peoria Ad Club ADDY Awards Competition recognizes exceptional advertising created in the Central Illinois market. The ADDY Awards honor advertising excellence in all media including print, broadcast, out-of-home and public service advertising.

All entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. on January 20, at Adams Outdoor Advertising. ADDY® Award instructions, online registration and entry forms are available at http://www.ADDYcompetition.com . Entries are not mounted, but must be placed in a transparent, plastic envelope — additional envelopes will be available at Adams on Friday or by calling 309-208-7309.

Entry fees are $75 for single entries and $90 for campaign entries for Peoria Ad Club members. Non-members pay $200 for either single or campaign entries. Peoria Ad Club/ American Advertising Federation (AAF) Membership costs $75. The entry fee for students is $20.

A distinguished panel of advertising creative executives will gather in Peoria, Illinois the weekend of January 28 to select the winners from the entries. In 2011, the Ad Club received 150 ADDY Award entries. To be eligible for consideration of an ADDY, all work must have been published or aired between January 1 and December 31, 2011. Top winners in the local competition are sent on to the national AAF ADDY® Award competition.

About the Peoria Ad Club
The Peoria Ad Club ADDY Awards Competition is sponsored by the Peoria Ad Club, the premier organization for all advertising and marketing professionals in central Illinois, offering members career development opportunities through idea exchange, education, networking and recognition of excellence. Proceeds from the ADDY Awards help support the Peoria Ad Club’s educational programs, public service projects and proactive government relations efforts. The Peoria Ad Club is the Peoria, Illinois chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) in the AAF 6th District.

The Peoria Ad Club is made up of creative advertising, marketing and communications professionals who come together to meet new people, learn new things, share our successes and relax. The Ad Club holds a number of events throughout the year including speaker luncheons, after-hours networking and special awards and philanthropic events.

You can find out more about the Peoria Ad Club at www.peoriaadclub.org
Find the Peoria Ad Club on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/peoriaadclub

Featuring Roundtable Discussions of Hot Topics in the PR, Marketing and Advertising Industries Led By Local Experts

The Peoria Ad Club (PAC) and the Public Relations Association (PRA) invite the public to Experts On Call, a joint luncheon event to be held January 18 at Barracks Cater Inn. The two organizations will present roundtable discussions on hot topics in the PR, Advertising and Marketing industries. Local industry experts will lead the discussions.

Mobile Apps & Website — Michelle LeFebvre, DLA Creative & Appitudez
Building a Multifaceted Campaign Including Client Engagement — Amy Lambert, Heart Technologies
Message Consistency — Layne Brown & Amy Coleman, The Design Farm
How to Write and Think Like a Newsroom to Get the Most Out of Your News Release —Renee Charles, The Heartland Partnership
PR & Marketing for Non-Profits — Meg Newell, South Side Mission
Facebook for Business — Tammy Finch, Web Tech Services

The luncheon begins at 11:30 am and roundtables begin at 12:00 pm. The cost for lunch is $17 for PRA or PAC members or $22 for non-members. Please RSVP your top three topics to pracentillinois@gmail.com , peoriaadclub@gmail.com or on the Ad Club Facebook Page at http://on.fb.me/peoriaadclub . RSVPs are requested by January 13.

About the Peoria Ad Club

The Peoria Ad Club is made up of creative advertising, marketing and communications professionals who come together to meet new people, learn new things, share our successes and relax and take it all in. The mission of the Peoria Ad Club is to be the premier organization for all marketing professionals in the Tri-county area, offering members career development opportunities through idea exchange, education, networking and recognition of excellence.

The Ad Club holds a number of events throughout the year including speaker luncheons, after-hours networking and special awards and philanthropic events. The Peoria Ad Club is the Peoria, Illinois chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) in the AAF 6th District.

You can find out more about the Peoria Ad Club at www.peoriaadclub.org
Find the Peoria Ad Club on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/peoriaadclub

Midstate College is proud to announce the hiring of Sara Leigh as an adjunct instructor in the Administrative Professional Department. Sara has a B.S. in Math from Montana State University, and she is currently working on a M.S. in Biomathematics at Illinois State University. Sara has tutored math for many years and has taught Intermediate Algebra in the past.

Sara is obtaining a Master’s Degree to further enhance her skillset for teaching at the college level.

Sara chose Midstate because of the family feel of the college, and she really enjoys the smaller class sizes. Sara describes the environment in which she teaches, “It really allows us to get to know our students and tailor our classes to their needs.”

For more information, please contact Ashley Spain, arspain@midstate.edu or 309.692.4092
ext. 1040