Weather agencies are predicting another brutally cold and snowy winter for a large part of the country. The Midwest should expect the “worst of winter” with cold temperatures and above average snow.* Now is the time to prepare before winter comes to central Illinois. The Red Cross offers these suggestions to help you be prepared and stay safe.

Get your vehicle ready for the winter – Winterize your vehicle and keep the gas tank full; a full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing. Also, have a mechanic check the battery, antifreeze, wipers, fluid, ignition, thermostat, lights, exhaust, heater, defroster, brakes and winter-grade oil.

Have a car disaster kit prepared – During a storm, driving can be perilous. Don’t be on the roads unless absolutely necessary. If you do find yourself having to drive, allow extra time when traveling. Monitor weather conditions carefully and adhere to travel advisories. Also, keep a Red Cross First Aid kit and a winter storm survival kit in your car.

At minimum, a winter storm survival kit for your vehicle should include:
• A battery-powered radio and extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Jumper cables
• Bottled water
• Non-perishable snacks
• Compass and road map

Also consider including these items, which can be handy when stuck or facing emergency.

• Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C)
• Small shovel
• Tire repair kit and pump
• Flares
• Sack of sand or cat litter (for traction)

For more information on how to be sure you and your family are prepared for the winter, please visit www.redcrossillinois.org/winter-safety

Caterpillar Inc. recently announced plans for significant new investments to its manufacturing facilities in East Peoria and Decatur. The Economic Development Council for Central Illinois uses economic impact modeling to determine the influence that new business and new jobs can have on our regional economy. Caterpillar reportedly expects the projects to bring an additional three hundred jobs to the region. The EDC estimates those 300 jobs will spur an additional 162 indirect, induced and/or support type jobs outside of Caterpillar which brings the actual total to 524 new jobs created in the region. The addition of 524 jobs will have a more than $260 million impact annually to our regional economy. As EDC President Vickie Clark says “More jobs equals more money being spent at our existing businesses and more business created as a result. When one company or business grows, the entire region benefits.”

Caterpillar plans a capital investment of about $340 million for production of large track-type tractors in East Peoria and nearly $300 million to increase capacity for large mining trucks produced in Decatur. These expansion announcements are in addition to the September announcement of a $200 million modernization project of the East Peoria plant aimed at the export market.

The EDC uses Implan software for economic impact modeling. To learn more more specific information, please check out their website at: www.heartlandpartnership.org for the table of facts and figures!

The Peorian is now accepting nominations online for the magazine’s inaugural The Peorian of the Year award. In April 2012, the award will be given to someone who is playing an important role in Peoria’s present while paving the way for a bright future. Along with the award, a $10,000 donation will be made to a local non-profit organization selected by the winner.

“We created this award to celebrate those who are making a difference not only in the lives of others, but in our community as a whole,” said Julie Russell, The Peorian publisher.

Nominations are being accepted online at ThePeorian.com/award until December 31, 2011. Finalists will be selected by The Peorian editorial board and featured online, in the magazine and on The Peorian on TV. Community voting will take place from March 1 through March 31, 2011. The winner will be announced at the annual The Peorian of the Year luncheon to be held in April. The luncheon will feature a nationally prominent speaker as host. Details and rules can be found at ThePeorian.com.

The Peorian is a magazine focusing on Peoria’s past, present and future in a way no local publication has done before. It is published six times a year, while its website features daily and weekly updates. Along with its print and web counterparts, there also is The Peorian on TV, a weekly half-hour TV show hosted by Paul Gordon and airing on WHOI on Sundays at 8 a.m. The Peorian is edited by Gordon and features writers Peter Couri and Kevin Kizer.

The Board of Directors of the ACORN EQUALITY FUND invites the public to our annual family breakfast to be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in East Peoria, IL, on December 3, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. $25,000 in scholarships will be awarded.

The keynote speaker this year is Zach Wahls, the young Iowa man who gained fame by speaking on the strength of his family during a public forum on House Joint Resolution 6, a constitutional amendment to define marriage between a man and a woman, at the Iowa Judiciary Committee Hearings in February of 2011.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the door or by e-mailing .

The Acorn Equality Fund, a 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Corporation, established in 1999, is a grassroots organization that provides financial support for the advancement of the education, health, and civil rights of gay, lesbian, and transgender persons and their allies in downstate Illinois.

Working to reform the state’s broken pension system, state Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) recently supported two measures aimed at closing loopholes and preventing egregious abuses of state pension benefits.

“As our state works to address its current pension challenges we must be cognizant and rectify all abuses in the pension system because this can not be tolerated,” Gordon said. “We cannot afford to continue allowing insiders to inflate their pensions by taking advantage of the system at the taxpayers’ expense. I believe that these new measures are one step that will help save our state money and prevent abuses from taking place in the future.”

House Bill 3815 prevents an employee from using their compensation as a full-time worker for another job to determine their taxpayer-funded pensions in cases where they take a leave of absence without pay from a taxpayer-funded job. The measure works to correct a law that enables workers who take a leave of absence from city employment to use their salary from being employed by a private organization to determine their taxpayer-funded pension. This practice has placed an added burden on already strained pension systems and simply is not fair. The bill has passed the Senate and will return to the House for further consideration.

Addressing another instance of pension abuse, Gordon voted in favor of House Bill 3865, which would block lobbyists for teachers unions from counting years of time representing their union toward a state teacher pension. The bill closes a loophole in state law that allowed lobbyists for a teachers union to take advantage of the brief window to get a substitute teaching certificate, sub for one day and count their years as public servants toward a pension with the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System.

“Many teachers and other public servants rely on their pensions for retirement income to maintain a modest living.” Gordon explains, “We need to close these loopholes because it is the right thing to do. Hard-working men and women depend on the pension that they contributed to through their years of service and we need to do everything we can to ensure that their pension is funded.”

For more information, contact Gordon’s constituent service office at (309) 681-1992, email repjgordon@gmail.com.

The Proctor Hospital Service Auxiliaryis pleased to bring back the Masquerade Jewelry and Accessories Sale Monday and Tuesday, December 5 and 6 from 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in the Hospital Lobby each day. Just about everything you can imagine – they have! And there’s a reason they call it the $5.00 sale – glittering bargains galore!

The Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol will be read by actor Doug Day at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 at the Grand Army of the Republic Hall, 416 Hamilton Blvd.

Doug Day has directed and starred in local theater, studied acting in New York City, toured nationally, performed at the White House and on television, taught at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and at Illinois Central College.

He dedicates this performance to the late architect and historic preservation advocate Les Kenyon, whose vision saved the GAR Hall, the venue for this event. It is a fund raiser to benefit the elevator fund of the GAR Hall. Admission is $10.00.

The public is invited, and refreshments will be served.

Tickets Available for December 8th event at Contemporary Art Center

Looking for a way to brighten the holidays? Join the 3rd annual Holiday Party & Silent Auction to benefit Haute: Empowering Entrepreneurs in Africa .

When/Where: Thursday, December 8 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Contemporary Art Center , 305 SW Water Street in Peoria .

What: Wine will be provided by Evolution Wine & Spirits. Beer and an Informal Dinner will also be provided. Musical entertainment provided by Top Hat Productions. Highlighted silent auction items include artwork from African and local artists, Master’s Tournament Golf items, a week stay in Colorado ski resort condo, local hotel getaway packages and many more items perfect for holiday gift giving.

Cost: Tickets are $15 in advance and $25 at the door. To buy tickets in advance, please go to http://hauteparty.eventbrite.com.

About: Haute is a Peoria-based nonprofit that provides management training & consulting services for entrepreneurs in Africa . Since 2007, Haute has worked with 149 entrepreneurs, who in turn have created over 220 jobs in Africa . Haute was founded by Peoria area native Ben Hafele, who saw the need for a fresh approach to economic development while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa .

To learn more about Haute and the entrepreneurs in Africa who have benefited from its services, visit www.hautenet.org.

Back by popular demand is A Ring-A-Ding-Ding New Year! featuring the music of Frank Sinatra. Join Peoria Players and several of this area’s best talent as we pay tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes himself. This year, we will also feature a Rat Pack tribute! There are only two performances — Saturday, December 31 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, January 1 at 2:00. Tickets are just $15 for all ages; the December 31 performance includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres. For reservations, please call 688-4473.

Also, avoid the crowds this holiday season — pick up a mini season package for your loved ones! The package includes three outstanding musicals; Titanic: The Musical, Big River, and Chicago. The mini season package is only $45 and is available at the Peoria Players box office.

Join Us for a Tree Planting Ceremony

Plan to join us this Wednesday November 23, 2011 between 11:00am and 2:00 pm as members of Prairie Folklore Theatre plant more than a dozen large trees as part of the ongoing cemetery beautification efforts. In the past several years more than a dozen large trees have fallen due to age or storm damage. We are replacing many of these trees with locally grown native tree species, linden, white oak and red maple.

“It takes 200 years to replace a 200 year old tree,” says artistic director Brian “Fox” Ellis, adding, “I saw this on a bumper sticker on the pick-up truck of former Peoria City Arborist Elroy Limmer and the idea has always stuck with me. Springdale Cemetery is graced with hundreds of trees older than Peoria itself. Our goal is to make sure there are ancient trees 200 years from now.”

“This time of year is a great time to plant trees as they go dormant. Also many nurseries are having end of the season clearance sales. We are very fortunate that Green View Nurseries is willing to work with us so we can ratchet up our donation and acquire nearly $3000 worth the trees.” Ellis said, “And with members of the theatre company volunteering to plant the trees we will leave a legacy for future generations.”

Every year Prairie Folklore Theatre hosts an interactive walking tour of the cemetery and every year the proceeds are donated to the cemetery restoration efforts. In the past we have helped to restore monuments and replace the civil war soldier on soldier hill, but this year we decided to leave a living legacy.