Donate your unwanted car by December 31st to Cars4Charities and you will get a year-end tax deduction of at least $500 on your itemized federal taxes. You’ll also help one of hundreds of respected charities at the same time. Cars4Charities will handle the entire donation process, from start to finish. They’ll turn your unwanted vehicle into cash and send the entire net proceeds to the charity you select from their impressive list. The process is effortless. You can even donate your car online at www.cars4charities.org.

Your vehicle does not have to run or be in good condition and it will be picked up in a matter of days, free of charge. Cars4Charities will provide you with all the paperwork you’ll need. To claim your 2011 deduction, your title must be signed and postmarked by December 31, 2011. For details, please visit www.cars4charities.org or call 1-866-448-3487 (GIVE-4-US)

Kramer Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center (Kramer) will move to its new 12,000-square-foot building and complete the transition of its name change to Senara

On Monday, December 19, Senara Health and Healing Center & Spa (Senara) will open the doors for business at its 12,000-square-foot building that becomes the new home of Kramer Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center (Kramer). The move to its building at 2208 W. Willow Knolls Drive in Peoria will complete the company’s transition from operating as Kramer (since 1998) to Senara. The building will also house the 7,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Senara Spa—the first full-service spa retreat of its kind in downstate Illinois with a true spa feeling and environment.

As Senara, the new Center will continue to offer Kramer’s existing services of chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage, physical therapy and nutrition counseling. Senara will also expand staff, as well as guest services and health-related product availability through its dedicated physical therapy center, personal training studio, yoga studio, and retail shop.

Senara Spa, designed to be an escape and retreat from everyday life, will offer many different massage services, body wraps and treatments, facials and water therapies. It has: eight massage rooms, including a couple’s massage suite; two water therapy rooms; manicure and pedicure studios; a make-up service station, with a full-time professional make-up specialist; separate locker rooms for men and women; relaxation rooms that include hospitality bars, with snacks and beverages; and a wooded serenity garden. Senara will also provide customers with on-site, free childcare in its Child Care Center.

“Senara Center is a dream come true for my wife, Penny, and me, and our staff,” said Dr. Keith Kramer. “Our move will allow us to offer the total package of health and healing services. It will be a special place where our staff is devoted to helping guide our guests in living a healthy lifestyle, so they can truly Live Life Well.”

Penny Kramer added, “We are so close now. We can hardly wait to get in there and make every Senara Experience an experience our guests will always remember. A moment in time they cherish—and can’t want to feel again.”

Designed by PSA Dewberry and built by Zobrist Construction, the building was designed with an emphasis on green and environmentally friendly building practices.

Senara will host a public grand opening event on Friday, February 10, 2012. Details about the event will be released to the media closer to that date.

The Peoria Park District’s “Seasoned Stars on Stage” 50+ Reader’s Theatre will hold a holiday performance at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 22, at the Franciscan Recreation Complex, 908 Sterling Avenue in West Peoria.

Come enjoy a sparkling hour of comedy, drama, food and friends. Reminisce with 1940s music and original radio commercials from the Seasoned Stars Radio Cavalcade. In addition, the group’s unique version of Scrooge will keep you smiling!

The public is invited, and admission is just $3 per ticket. Refreshments will be served. For tickets or more information, contact Gloria Phelps, Mature Adults Program Coordinator, (309) 681-2859. Tickets are also available at the Franciscan Recreation Complex.

Holiday Drive Culvers (across from Grand Prairie) 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Salvation Army staff, advisory Board & volunteers will be serving customers and busing tables
10% of proceeds go to the Tree of Lights Campaign
Salvation Army brass will be performing holiday music after 5:15 p.m.

State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) announces a new law that will become effective on January 1, 2012, that requires that all passengers in a motor vehicle to wear a seat belt.

“When we get in our cars each morning to go to work, we make sure that we buckle up before we start driving. We know that wearing a seat belt can save our lives if we were to get into an accident,” Gordon said. “The State of Illinois needs to continue to reduce fatalities and injuries when people are on the roadway and requiring all passengers to wear seat belts is the easiest and most effective way to do this.”

Current state law states that only the driver and front passenger are required to wear a seat belt. This new law requires that back seat passengers, regardless of age, be required to wear a seat belt while riding in a motor vehicle. Emergency vehicles and taxicabs are exempted from this new law.

“On average, there are 792 traffic accidents in Illinois that results in approximately 240 injuries and 2 deaths everyday. The best defense to prevent injury and death during traffic accidents is to wear a seat belt,” Gordon said. “That is why it is important for all passengers in a motor vehicle to wear a seat belt to prevent injuries. Please remember to make sure all of your passengers are buckled up starting January 1st.”

Gordon was a co-sponsor of this piece of legislation. For more information about the new seat belt law, or for any other concerns, please feel free to contact Rep. Gordon’s constituent services office at (309) 681-1992 or via e-mail at repjgordon@gmail.com.

Peoria Area Association of Realtors® (PAAR) announced today that the 2011 Turkey Drive broke a 25-year record with over $18,000 raised and over 1,800 turkey vouchers to be given to 25 area food pantries. The money raised to date will allow Realtors® to contribute an additional 500 turkey vouchers to area food pantries that are dealing with a much greater demand for food and supplies.

For the first time in 25 years, the Peoria Area Association of Realtors cancelled their annual holiday party in lieu of providing more turkey vouchers to area food pantries. Their original goal was to raise at least $10,000 for the purchase of 1,000 Kroger meat vouchers so that pantries could either use the meat vouchers in baskets or to help feed people during the holidays.

“When a choice had to be made, the Realtors choose the Turkey Drive over having their annual holiday party. Realtors give generously all year round and this is just one example of their dedication to their communities,” said PAAR President Laura Martin. “When we were getting calls from the food pantries before Thanksgiving requesting more turkeys than last year, we knew we had to make every effort to meet the needs of our food pantries.”

The association asked Realtors to get involved in the “Turkey Challenge”, a competition between Realtors and agencies to collect the most money. The winning Realtor and agency would not only receive the top turkey bragging rights, but a “Top Turkey” trophy to be presented at the PAAR Turkey Round-Up Open House on December 8th. Realtors Bill McCarthy, Mari Halliday and John Ginder lead the charge in getting agencies, individual Realtors and affiliates involved.

“The Realtors have taken the Turkey Drive to a whole new level this year by seeking donations outside of our industry,” said Realtor® John Ginder. “It’s been exciting to see how the Realtors have networked with businesses, churches, friends and family to get contributions. When asked, not one person turned us down.”

In the spirit of the Turkey Drive, Precious Metals Refining Company contributed 12 percent of all the metals purchased from Realtors and their clients prior to the open house. They are just one example of how businesses reached out to help Realtors feed families in the Peoria area.

PAAR President Laura Martin announced that the dollars raised to date was a record-breaking $18,000+ and that turkey vouchers would exceed 1,800, an increase of over 500 vouchers compared to last year. She also announced the top fundraiser for the event. “TopTurkey” individual award went to John Ginder of RE/MAX Unlimited for raising the most money as an individual. Honorable Mention awards went to Mari Halliday of Jim Maloof/REALTOR; Bill McCarthy of Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell; and Phil Harvey of RE/MAX Unlimited. “Top Turkey” Agency Award went to REMAX/Unlimited for raising the most money as an agency. Martin presented the ceremonial frozen turkey and meat vouchers to South Side Mission Director of Marketing Meg Newell during the open house.

PAAR began its Annual Turkey Drive in 1986 with 100 donated frozen turkeys. Today, the turkeys are in the form of $10 meat vouchers that can be redeemed for a turkey or another preferred meat item at any time at local Kroger stores. The meat vouchers are generally used by the agencies in holiday food baskets or for distribution as needed throughout the following year. The PAAR Turkey Drive has donated over 26,000 turkeys to Peoria area agencies, food banks and churches since 1986.

Agencies, food banks and churches receiving turkey vouchers in 2011 are as follows:
Bartonville Christian Church, B’nai B’rith, Children’s Home/Good Beginnings, Crittenton Care
& Counseling, Eureka Food Pantry, Friendship House, First Baptist Church (Canton), Human Service Center, Lutheran Social Services, Mt. Calvary Church, Neighborhood House, Peoria Food Bank, Peoria Heights Congregational Church, Peoria Outreach Center, Peoria Rescue Ministries, Salvation Army, South Side Mission, St. John’s Lutheran, St. Mary’s Church (Canton), Trinity Lutheran Church, Washington Helps Its People, We Care of Morton, West Mark Food Pantry, Women Strength and YWCA.

More Volunteers Needed for Toy Shop, Bell-ringing & Gift Wrap Booth!

The Salvation Army will open its annual Toy Shop on Thursday, December 15th and Friday, December 16th at The Salvation Army Corps Community Center, 2903 W. Nebraska Ave. Each year The Salvation Army sponsors the Toy Shop for parents of low-income families to enable them to choose new toys for their children. Approximately 5,000 children will receive toys through this program.

The Toy Shop is looking for volunteers who can help assist parents as personal shoppers. For more information or to volunteer your skills, please go to our website at www.usc.salvationarmy.org/heartland and click on the volunteer link. The shifts available will be listed. We will take additional volunteers until all available shifts are filled. With an increase in Spanish speaking clients, there is also a need currently for volunteers to assist parents while shopping for their children.

We also have a need for bell-ringers to make sure the kettles at stores are fully manned. To ring bells, go to www.ringbells.org and click on Peoria. All of the available stores and time slots are there. And finally, how about donating some time to wrap gifts for others? The Salvation Army Gift Wrap Booth at Northwoods Mall is also looking for help- so ask your friends, family members or work colleagues and get signed up. For more information, contact Susan Moore at 655-1341.

Donations to the Tree of Lights Campaign can be made by mailing to The Salvation Army, PO Box 1468, Peoria, IL 61655, or by calling (309) 655-7220 to charge on American Express, MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card.

State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) issued the following statement after the sentencing of former Governor Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday:

“Today, Judge James Zagel sentenced former Governor Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in prison, a sentence that sends the message that corruption in government is not in the least bit tolerable. What we saw today was that, despite Blagojevich’s blatant disregard for the laws of Illinois and the United States, our legal system works and that no one, regardless of their position, is above the law.

“My first votes as state representative was for the impeachment of Blagojevich and his removal from office in 2009. The people of the State of Illinois deserve better leadership. Since then, the Illinois General Assembly has worked hard to put the era of corruption behind us. As a result, a variety of ethics measures have been enacted to establish strict ethics and codes of conduct for members of state boards and commissions appointed by the governor, strengthen the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, improve pension and governmental ethics, make procurement fair and open, improve government transparency with a new accountability portal, and protect whistleblowers. It is my hope that we can continue in these efforts to further clean up state government.”

Detweiller Golf Course, the Peoria Park District’s beautiful 9-hole course along the Illinois River, will be open in 2012.

The Peoria Park District Board of Trustees voted not to permanently close Detweiller Golf Course. The decision was made on staff recommendations and input from the public. Detweiller Golf Course is home to the Lil’ Guys & Gals junior golf tournament, a favorite among Peorians since its inception in 1964. This tournament highlights one of the main
attractions of Detweiller, in that it is a great place for those new to the game to learn in a lowpressure setting. It’s also a favorite of senior golfers who enjoy a more relaxing round.

Season ticket prices were also discussed. Season tickets will include unlimited play at Newman, Donovan, Madison, Detweiller, Kellogg Executive 9, and the Pitch & Putt. Kellogg Golf Course will be an additional $50 with any season ticket for 2012 because of its shortened season (opening summer 2012). Pricing for the 2012 season is
below:
Adult Resident $580 + Kellogg $630
Adult Non-resident $780 + Kellogg $830
Senior Resident $520 + Kellogg $570
Senior Non-resident $700 + Kellogg $750
Junior Resident (12-17) $110 + Kellogg $160
Junior Non-resident (12-17) $170 + Kellogg $220

More information on fees and tournaments can be found at www.peoriaparks.org/golf or by
calling golf operations at (309) 689-3329.

Older Adults Christmas Party & Red Stocking Parties To Be Held

The Salvation Army is hosting its annual Older Adults Christmas Party at noon, today at the Four Points by Sheraton in downtown Peoria.

The party, open to senior citizens in the tri-county area, is expected to bring holiday cheer to over 300 older adults this year. Lunch, holiday entertainment, and a special gift are all provided at no charge. The program is funded through donations made to The Salvation Army. “We are very pleased that we can provide this wonderful meal and party for our senior friends,” said Major Mary Duskin of The Salvation Army.

Saturday, December 10, meanwhile, marks the annual Red Stocking Parties, where over 1,700 youngsters will get backpacks full of presents at one of two parties. The first will be at 10:00 a.m. at Manual, with a second event at 2:00 p.m. at Parkside Junior High in Creve Couer.

To date, nearly $444,000 has been raised towards the $1,575,000 goal.

Donations to the Tree of Lights Campaign can be made by mailing to The Salvation Army, PO Box 1468, Peoria, IL 61655, or by calling (309) 655-7220 to charge on American Express, MasterCard, Visa or Discover.