Bonnie Paris is the new Program Development Manager at Quality Quest for Health of Illinois, with responsibility for planning, implementing, and leading Quest’s quality improvement program, grant procurement, product development, and strategic projects.

Paris has experience in healthcare process improvement from her past position as a 6 Sigma Process Engineer at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University. She is currently working on her PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, where she most recently worked as a research assistant for the university’s Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement. She has also taught business administration courses at Midstate College and a course in industrial and manufacturing engineering at Bradley University.

The boards of directors and leadership teams at OSF Healthcare System, Rockford Health System and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center are extremely disappointed with the Federal Trade Commission’s decision to challenge the proposed affiliation between our organizations. Over the past eight months, we fully cooperated with the FTC and worked diligently to outline our case for the affiliation. We hoped that the partnership would move forward early in 2012 and that Rockford region’s health care consumers would begin to see the benefits of the affiliation.

OSF Healthcare System and Rockford Health System are committed to pursuing all legal options available to us and will challenge the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction to stop the affiliation. We will reiterate our strong belief that the proposed affiliation is in the best interest of the community because it will enhance our collective efforts to provide a full-range of local, cost effective and high quality health care services to the region.

Despite the FTC’s challenge, we believe combining two of Rockford’s three health care systems into one will continue to promote healthy competition in the marketplace. We have no doubt that this affiliation will create a more viable, sustainable, high quality health care delivery system for the Rockford region. It is unfortunate that we must now proceed through an administrative and judicial review process that could take 24 months or more to complete.

Our initial goals for this affiliation have not changed. But, what continues to change is the health care environment in which we do business. The local economy also continues to struggle. Today, we feel even more strongly that this affiliation is the right thing to do for our community. By combining talents, resources, technology and facilities, we will recruit the best and brightest physicians and professionals, reduce costs, improve efficiencies and most importantly, significantly enhance our clinical offerings and quality outcomes for patients.

State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) joins the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, the Heartland Partnership, and local small businesses in celebrating “Small Business Saturday.”

“As the holidays approach, we all think about the presents we need to buy for our friends and family. We look at advertising, go to malls, and shop online,” Gordon added. “During this holiday season we need to remember to shop at the locally owned small businesses that provide jobs and stability to our community and region.”

November 26, 2011 will be the 2nd Annual Small Business Saturday. This is a day dedicated to promoting small businesses at the beginning of the holiday shopping season. This year, the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce and the Heartland Partnership have joined forces to promote Small Business Saturday in Peoria and the surrounding community.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our community. For our small businesses to succeed during these difficult times, we need to support them by making some holiday purchases at these locally-owned and operated ventures,” Gordon said. “Please join me in supporting our small businesses on Small Business Saturday and throughout this holiday season.”

For more information about Small Business Saturday you can visit www.smallbusinesssaturday.com or searching for Small Business Saturday Central Illinois on facebook. If you have any questions, please contact Rep. Gordon’s constituent services office at 309-681-1992 or e-mail her at repjgordon@gmail.com.

Peoria County’s Regional Office of Education will be closed on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The office will be closed for a Reconciliation meeting that will be hosted at Wildlife Prairie State Park. The Reconciliation will address the Regional Office of Education’s current budget crisis. For more information, call (309) 672-6906 or email gbrookhart@peoriaroe48.net.

Thanksgiving Day has more than double the number of home cooking fires than an average day according to the U.S. Fire Administration. In fact, each year more than 4,000 fires occur on Thanksgiving Day

Just because we get to take a break from dieting on Thanksgiving, doesn’t mean we can throw caution to the autumn winds. Remember these suggestions and have a happy and safe holiday.

To help prevent home fires this Thanksgiving, the Red Cross suggests the following tips:
· Stay in the kitchen while cooking. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of Thanksgiving fires.
· Keep anything that can catch fire — potholders, wooden utensils, food wrappers, towels or curtains– away from your stove top.
· Make sure your sleeves are out of the way when cooking.
· Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
· If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking
· Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
· Turn the handles of pots and pans on the stove inward to avoid accidents.
· After guests leave, walk around the home, making sure that all candles and smoking materials are extinguished.
· Make sure your smoke alarms are working.

Cooking-Related Burns
Thanksgiving is high time for cooking related burns. Minor burns can be treated easily if you remember to save the butter for the rolls and not a burn. For a superficial burn, cool the area by running it under cold water until the heat eases and then loosely cover the burn with a sterile dressing.

Don’t Let the Flu Ruin Your Holiday
· If you are travelling and feel sick, seriously consider staying home. If you have the flu, there is a good chance you can spread it to others.
· Wash your hands frequently when travelling, as there will be people all around you who do not follow our first tip.

For more Thanksgiving safety tips please visit www.redcrossillinois.org/thanksgiving-safety.

“Don’t Be a Turkey… Designate a Sober Driver!”

During the 2010 Thanksgiving holiday, 15 people in the State of Illinois lost their lives in motor vehicle traffic crashes—9 of those deaths involved alcohol. Over 700 were injured.

In order to make this holiday safer, the American Red Cross along with the Illinois Department of Transportation and Baumgarten Distributing are making it easy for revelers to designate a sober driver. Each year, the Red Cross and their partners team up to offer free, non-alcoholic beverages to designated drivers.

On the day before thanksgiving at participating locations, designated drivers can enjoy free nonalcoholic beverages in special “You Drink & Drive. You Lose” cups. Bars will hang banners and posters indicating their participation the event.

Participating locations include:
BG Karaoke, 5605 S. Adams St., Bartonville, IL
Firehouse Bar & Grill, 4925 N. Galena Rd., Peoria Heights, IL
Goodfellas Pub & Pizza, 1414 N. 8th St., Pekin, IL
8th Street Station, 1440 N. 8th St., Pekin, IL
Kelleher’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 619 SW Water St., Peoria, IL
Red Rock Bar & Grill, 332 Detroit Ave #4, Morton, IL
Sully’s Pub, 121 SW Adams St., Peoria, IL
Two25, 225 NE Adams St., Peoria, IL
River Valley Bowl, 1000 Western Ave. Henry, IL

“The holidays give people many reasons to celebrate,” said Marie Dietrich of the Red Cross Injury Prevention Department. “Don’t let this season be remembered for the wrong reasons. Celebrate responsibly and always designate a sober driver.”

Coat Collection, Thanksgiving Day Luncheon, Santa Claus Parade & Christmas Assistance Sign-Ups Highlight Busy Weeks Leading To Christmas

On Monday evening, November 21, The Salvation Army will join the City of Peoria and Midwest Food Bank at the Peoria Civic Center for a food and coat collection from 6-8 pm in the great hall. This will be done in conjunction with the collection at the Santa parade later in the week. “Mayor Ardis met with us and the suggestion was made to have a pre-parade drop-off for those who might miss the parade,” said Rich Draeger, Assistant Development Director for The Salvation Army.

Thursday, The Salvation Army will hold its annual Thanksgiving Day luncheon at the Sylvia Fites Family Services Center from 11:30-1pm. About 200 traditional Thanksgiving meals will be served, along with musical entertainment.

Then on Friday, November 25, The Salvation Army will again participate in the Santa Claus Parade. Salvation Army officers, staff, and volunteers will be collecting coats from parade goers, as well as food for the Midwest Food Bank.

Meanwhile, sign-ups for various Christmas assistance programs, including the Toy Shop and Share the Spirit Party are continuing at the Sylvia Fites Center Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 1-4 pm, and Thursday from 1- 7 pm.

For more information on these upcoming events, please contact Rich Draeger at 655-1348 or 253-9909. To donate to the Tree of Lights Campaign, mail your check to The Salvation Army, PO Box 1468, Peoria, IL 61655, go online to www.usc.salvationarmy.org/heartland, or call (309) 655-7220 to charge on American Express, MasterCard or Visa.

The recently dedicated Hayden-Clark Alumni Center at Bradley University will be open during Thanksgiving weekend giving visitors the opportunity to view the exhibits in the Shaheen Hall of Pride.

The Hall of Pride will be open until 5:00 p.m. on November 23, closed on Thanksgiving Day, and open from noon to 5:00 p.m. on November 25, 26 and 27. Exhibits include interactive displays of Bradley history, a Decades Theatre featuring alumni, videos of the greatest moments in Bradley athletics history, miniature dorm rooms, a replica of the fireplace in the home of University founder Lydia Moss Bradley and much more.

Admission is free. The Hayden-Clark Alumni Center is located at 830 N. Glenwood Avenue.

As the Thanksgiving holiday nears, The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce and more than 600 regional business and community leaders took time out today to reflect on the many things the region has to be thankful for. The 36th Annual Thanksgiving Day Luncheon, sponsored by CEFCU, was held today at the Embassy Suites and Riverfront Conference Center.

Terry Best Vice President of programs and member services with the Chamber says this Community Thanksgiving Luncheon “Is a long standing tradition that allows the business community to gather together at the beginning of the holiday season and to reflect upon all of the wonderful things that have happened in the past year.” The community narrative was delivered by Ed Rapp, Group President and CFO of Caterpillar, Inc and the annual Tom Connor Award for community service, sponsored by West Point Financial, was awarded to Representative David Leitch.

Applications are available for homeowners in Peoria who need to replace a non-working furnace in their home.

The homeowner must meet income eligibility guidelines. This activity is available to eligible households with incomes below 200% of poverty. The home must be an owner occupied single family home in the City of Peoria, be insured, have current property taxes paid, no environmental violations, and the owner must be current on their Ameren bill, and provide proof of household income eligibility. Each furnace will be installed by a City of Peoria approved heating contractor per specifications approved by the City of Peoria at no cost to the homeowner. The maximum household income is as follows:

INCOME ELIGIBILITY CHART (Total maximum yearly income per household)
Family Size
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Max. Income
$16,331
$22,067
$27,791
$33,527
$39,251
$44,981
$50,711
$56,447

Applications and more information are available at the City’s Planning & Growth Management Department, Twin Towers Building, 456 Fulton Street, Suite 402 or by calling Michael Sims at 494-8616