You may qualify for a free mammogram. Proctor Hospital offers free mammograms to women age 40-64 that are low-income, uninsured, or underinsured living in Fulton, Knox, Marshall, Mason, Peoria, Tazewell, and Stark counties.

The best protection is early detection. Early screening and detection saves lives. This program has been made possible, in part, by a grant from The Memorial Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Call (309) 691-1083 for information and to schedule your appointment today. Medicare/Medicaid not eligible. Monday and Wednesday evening appointments available.

Gold Coin Dropped in Kettle Outside Sears at Northwoods Mall

Sometime Saturday afternoon, The Salvation Army received its first gold coin in one of its kettles since 2009. When the kettles were counted Saturday afternoon, the 1915 gold Liberty Head 2 ½ dollar coin was discovered in a kettle that had been manned at Northwoods Mall by a Girl Scout group. With the current price for an ounce of gold over $1,700, the discovery will help increase kettle totals in these closing weeks of ringing for 2011. A picture of the coin will be available soon at www.usc.salvationarmy.org/heartland, with an online auction to follow once the coin is appraised.

“We were pleasantly surprised at the generosity of this anonymous donor,” said Major Thomas McDowell, Peoria Corps Officer. The Salvation Army Corps Community Center will auction off the coin, with proceeds going to the Tree of Lights Campaign. The coin appraisal will determine where the auction will start.

All funds benefit The Salvation Army Tree of Lights Campaign which supports seasonal and year round programs for those in need. To date, the community has contributed $502,719 towards the Tree of Lights Campaign goal of $1,575,000.

Donations can be still be made at all area red kettles through December 24. Any donations after Christmas can be mailed to The Salvation Army, PO Box 1468, Peoria, IL 61655, or by calling (309) 655 7220 to charge on American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa.

The Peoria Park District’s Owens Center and the Heart of Illinois Skating Club will present An Evening of Winter Enchantment Ice Show on Saturday, December 17 at 7 pm. The show will feature Jordan Moeller, 2011 U.S. Novice Men’s Silver Medalist and 2012 Upper Great Lakes Regional Champion.

Jordan is 16 and started skating when he was 4 years old. He is a four-time Jr. National competitor and currently is the 2011 U.S. National Novice Men’s Silver Medalist and the 2012 Upper Great Lakes Junior Men’s Regional Champion. He is coached by the 2011 PSA/USFS Developmental Coach of the Year – Kori Ade. Jordan has medaled at many competitions and is competing at the Junior level.

As a Junior at HL Richards High School he takes AP and honors courses and is among the top in his class. At church, Jordan stays active in the youth group, plays the trumpet in the contemporary band and helps out during many services. Jordan has also volunteered with the Sunday Snacks group to help feed the homeless people of downtown Chicago. The last two years he has skated at Millennium Park in Chicago to help promote winter sports and volunteer his knowledge of skating to those wanting to learn more. Jordan is currently organizing a benefit for “One Step At A Time” a camp for kids with cancer. Jordan enjoys listening to music and being with friends and family.

Advanced sales tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-12, and $4 for Seniors and are available at Owens Center. Children 4 and under are FREE. Performances are sanctioned by United States Figure Skating. For more information call Owens Center at (309)686-3368.

Our favorite jolly old man in the red and white suit is coming to town and he’s going to be at Owens Center in Lakeview Park for a special Skate with Santa event on Saturday, December 17 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Come see him for yourself and skate with family and friends. On Sunday, December 18 from 3:00-4:45 pm there will be a special Family Holiday Skate. Admission for both events is $3.00 for those 12 and under, $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for Seniors 65 and over, plus $2.00 for skate rental.

Owens also has regular public skate hours now through January 7th as follows:

M 9:00-11:00 am & 1:00-2:50 pm
Tu 1:00-2:50 pm
W 9:00-11:00 am & 1:00-2:50 pm
Th 1:00-2:50 pm
Fr 9:00-11:00 am, 1:00-2:50 pm & 7:30-9:15 pm
Sa 6:45-8:30 pm
Su 3:00-4:45 pm

For more information on Public Skate, Skate with Santa, or Family Holiday Skate, call Owens Center at (309)686-3368.

Anime-ZAP! 2012 returns to Peoria for the third year at the Four Points Hotel in Downtown Peoria from January 7-8, 2012. The two-day winter Illinois anime convention will feature the same events including a cosplay masquerade, a formal ball, a rave dance, video game tournaments, workshops, and several panels.

Anime-ZAP! is an Illinois anime convention that started as an instant Illinois anime con in Peoria, Illinois after Pokettokon was cancelled in 2010. The first Anime-ZAP! was announced just 72 hours before it happened, and there were over 160 attendees that first year. The second year, at the Holiday Inn City Centre, had 400+ attendees. This third year is excited to return to the same hotel – the Holiday Inn City Centre was renamed to the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton early in 2012. This hotel and convention center offers over 12,000 feet of event space, for a huge rave, dealer’s room and artist’s alley, and providing plenty of space for convention events.

Featured events include a foam swordsmanship battlefield, late night rave dance, cosplay masquerade contest, and a manga library with over 1500 manga. Other events include anime screenings, a boffer battlefield, collectible card gaming, a comedy standup workshop, Dante’s Fabulous Date Auction, a hall cosplay contest, lolita fashion, cosplay photoshoots, and more.

Over half the fans will be attending the convention in costumes they’ve either purchased or home-made.

Anime-ZAP! 2012 will be held at the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton from January 7-8, 2012. Rooms are only $89 per night for convention attendees, and can be booked online at http://www.animezapcon.com/registration

More information about the convention and its events can be found at http://www.animezapcon.com/

The I Know You Like A Book bookstore will feature local author Peter Caras for the signing of his book, In Remembrance of Me … a December Killing on Wednesday, December 14 from 6:00 -8:00 p.m. Caras, a retired trial prosecutor, draws on his legal expertise to write a novel that is sure to please all those who enjoy a spine-tingling thriller.

“On a cold December morning in a small Midwestern town, two teenagers brutally murder a wealthy storeowner for reasons or motives not fully known until the shocking end of the book. With retirement imminent, veteran trial prosecutor, Nick Papais, declines to take the case, but reluctantly agrees only after the urging and pleading of the victim’s family and the county prosecutor. The case results in the most bizarre trial in the state’s history and Papais’s thirty years of successful prosecuting. With minimal physical evidence and witnesses disappearing or dying, it becomes clear to Papais that a conspiracy exists to thwart the prosecution.

Judge Peter Caras is a former prosecutor, Lake County, Indiana Magistrate Judge, an a retired U. S. Administrative Law Judge. He and his wife make their home in Illinois.”

Hey Folks!

Do you remember hearing that the old Arby’s sign from the University St. site sold? Well, it’s currently on an e-bay auction. Anyone interested in a piece of Peoria history?

Check it out at: http://www.ebay.com/itm/120828380218?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_1052wt_1181

Peoria County’s Purchasing Agent Jim Smith was named Professional Buyer of the Year by the Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials (IAPPO). The Professional Buyer of the Year Award is given to the individual who demonstrates outstanding professionalism while contributing significantly to the field of public purchasing throughout the year. As a result of his accomplishment, Smith was additionally recognized at the National Institute for Public Procurement’s (NIGP) Annual Forum & Products Exposition held in National Harbor, Maryland this fall.

Jim Smith has been with Peoria County for 19 years; the last five as the County’s purchasing agent. He is responsible for implementing the County’s Purchasing Ordinance and facilitating all bids and Request for Proposals administered by Peoria County. Smith is a member of the IAPPO and NIGP. He served as the Committee Chair of IAPPO’s Fall Conference and is currently the Secretary for that state association.

Kohl’s Department Store, through the Kohl’s Cares’ program, is teaming with Children’s Hospital of Illinois to help keep central Illinois children safe.

The company is awarding a grant of $ 77,422 for the Kohl’s Kids Ride Safe Program at Children’s Hospital.

A car seat safety check was held in connection with the grant announcement.

Kohl’s has gifted approximately $ 389,473 to Children’s Hospital of Illinois since 2005. This is the third year the grant has gone to the Kohl’s Kids Ride Safe Program at Children’s Hospital. The donations were collected from Kohl’s stores located in the Peoria area.

Kohl’s commitment to Children’s Hospital of Illinois is made possible through the Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program. Through this initiative, Kohl’s sells $5 books and plush toys where 100 percent of net profit benefits children’s health and education programs nationwide, including hospital partnerships like this one. Kohl’s has raised more than $180 million dollars through this merchandise program. Kohl’s Cares® supports nearly 160 children’s hospitals nationwide.

The Penguin Project will host its 8th production January 13 to 15, 2012 with Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr. at Eastlight Theatre in East Peoria. The show is set in the Roaring 20’s, and includes lots of characters, great costumes, and great musical numbers. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth. CALL 309-699-SHOW or visit www.EastlightTheatre.com to reserve your tickets. Show times are:

Jan. 13 – 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 14 – 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 15 – 2:00 p.m.