[This is a letter was written by Rep. Jehan Gordon and is directed to her constituents.]

Throughout history we have seen the brave men and women of our armed forces make sacrifices to protect our freedoms and our safety. We have seen men and women face threats of life and limb to protect our families from harm. With Veterans Day coming up, other members of the community and I are working together to show our appreciation to veterans and current members of the armed forces and their families.

I want to invite all veterans’ and their families to a free Veterans Appreciation Breakfast on Saturday, November 12 between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post 2 Hall located at 110 E. McClure Ave in Peoria. Joining me are several area media personalities, elected officials and community leaders who will serve as waiters for the veterans at the breakfast.

With so much dissension between parties and groups, I am eager to be a part of an event that puts our differences aside and shows our appreciation to honor those who have sacrificed for us. I encourage all veterans and their families to come out for a free pancakes and sausage breakfast.

For more information please contact my office at (309) 681-1992 or by email at repjgordon@gmail.com.

Sincerely,
Jehan Gordon

Local residents helped donate more than 50 old and discarded cell phones to Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) for her 3rd Annual Cell Phones for Soldiers Drive, resulting in over 3,000 minutes in talk time provided to soldiers overseas.

“At the end of a long day, we all look forward to going home and talking to our loved ones. Unfortunately this everyday occurrence is a difficult thing to do when you or a loved one is serving in the military overseas.” Gordon explains, “Each individual who dropped off a cell phone is helping a soldier connect with their family back home at no charge to them or their families. I want to thank everyone who dropped off a cell phone at our collection sites. Their generosity has gone a long way to providing peace of mind to those who are sacrificing for our country.”

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a non-profit organization that has raised millions of dollars in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas. Collected equipment will be sold to ReCellular and the proceeds are used to purchase calling cards that are given to U.S. military personnel serving around the world. The drive this year provided 3,360 minutes of talk time to soldiers and their families.

“My office is now a permanent collection site and will continue to collect cell phones year round. We have already received donations from community members since we delivered phones from our drive this year,” Gordon said. “If you come across a cell phone at any time during the year, please feel free to drop it off at my office. I will make sure that they are put to good use by connecting our military members and their loved ones”

Gordon’s district office is located at 300 E. War Memorial Drive, Suite 303. There is a box outside the door for cell phone collection.

For more information, contact Rep. Gordon’s constituent services office at (309) 681-1992.

Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) wants local residents to know about a new survey to help submit their ideas for cost saving measures in education

“We tackled many of the state’s harsh budget realities when the House of Representatives went line-by-line through the budget in a bi-partisan manner this session and passed a budget that prioritized our limited tax dollars. Many difficult decisions were made about where funding cuts would be and were made by both parties. Those same sort of touch decisions are being made by every elected officials at every level of government,” Gordon explained. “To fully address our fiscal challenges, a full examination of spending must occur, and we can’t be afraid to think outside the box. To help look at ways to save money when it comes to education, the legislature established a commission to take public input and put money-saving ideas into practice.”

The Classrooms First Commission was created through the passage of House Bill 1216 to study ways school districts across the state are saving money. This commission will solicit opinions from education and community leaders, as well as students and parents, through an online survey.

“Many school districts have already made cuts to help make the dollars they have go a little further. Sharing cost saving measures will help school districts and the state make sure that our children have the best education possible and a more stable school system in which to learn,” Gordon said. “I urge anyone with ideas on how to save tax dollars to visit the Classrooms First website or call my office.”

The Classrooms First Commission Survey can be completed at http://www2.illinois.gov/ltgov/Pages/ClassroomsFirstCommissionSurvey.aspx.

Gordon was a co-sponsor of HB 1215 that created the Classrooms First Commission. She also sits on the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee. For more information about this or other pieces of legislation, please contact Gordon’s constituent services office at (309) 681-1992.

Great Plains Orthopaedics announces that MaryElizabeth Rashid, M.D., has joined its practice. Dr. Rashid most recently practiced as Chief of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery in the Department of Orthopaedics of St. Louis University.

Dr. Rashid received her Medical Doctorate at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine in Buffalo, New York and completed her General Surgery Residency at the University of Buffalo. In addition, she had a hand surgery fellowship at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Great Plains Orthopaedics is a full-service orthopaedics practice established in 1967. They are staffed by surgeons, physicians, physician assistants and professional clinical staff who treat a wide range of orthopaedic conditions. They also offer diagnostic testing services, an ambulatory surgery center, physical and occupational therapy, and a sports medicine program.

For more information, please visit www.greatplainsortho.org.

Gemstone Confections and Apple’s Bakery & Gluten Free Kitchen have partnered in a move that owners hope will benefit both small businesses

The new relationship will expand the menu of baked goods that Gemstone currently sells packaged in its luxury gift boxes. In addition to its six GemCakeTM flavors, the company will now offer customers four of Apple’s most popular gourmet cookies including Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, Old Fashioned Molasses and Chocolate Fudge. Apple’s will also provide Gemstone customers with a seasonal gluten free GemCakeTM flavor – a totally new option for the online vendor.

“Working together just makes sense,” stated Rick Richardson, owner of Gemstone Confections. “Gemstone enjoys access to a much wider variety of quality baked goods than it could develop on its own – and Apple’s expands its reach into the luxury online gift market.”
Apple’s owner Mary Ardapple agrees. “Collaboration such as this is a way for both of our operations to find new areas of growth. Gemstone’s high-end packaging is a beautiful showcase for our gourmet cookies. And our gluten free cakes allow them to target a niche market. It’s truly a win-win.”

These products are available now at www.gemstoneconfections.com.

Christmas Assistance Sign-Ups, Veterans Outreach Center Opening, Tree of Lights Kick-off and 125th Anniversary Gala All on Tap

On Monday, November 7, The Salvation Army will begin its sign-ups for various Christmas assistance programs, including the Toy Shop, Share the Spirit Party, food baskets and Coats for Kids at the Sylvia Fites Center. Hours will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 1-4 pm, and Thursdays from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m.

On Thursday, November 10, at 10:00 a.m., The Salvation Army will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for its Veterans Outreach Center at 416 NE Jefferson in Peoria.

On Friday, November 11 at 10:00 a.m., we will hold the kick-off for the Tree of Lights at 10 am at Northwoods Mall outside JC Penney, with a ribbon-cutting to mark the start of kettles. Tree of Lights Co-Chairs, Jim & Paula Moore will announce the 2011 goal, and the Women’s Auxiliary will present their annual Christmas donation to get the campaign started.

Friday evening, November 11 at 6pm at the Four Points by Sheraton, The Salvation Army will be celebrating 125 years of service with a Gala and Silent Auction. The Silent Auction starts at 6:00 p.m., with dinner at 7:00 p.m. and program to follow featuring former divisional leaders, Colonels’ Merle and Dawn Heatwole as guest speakers.

For more information on these upcoming events, please contact Rich Draeger at 655-1348 or 253-9909.

Central Illinois Business Publishers and InterBusiness Issues magazine are pleased to announce the 2011 class of 40 Leaders Under Forty. This dynamic group of community leaders was recognized by a spirited crowd of more than 500 at the 18th annual 40 Leaders Under Forty Awards Ceremony on Thursday, November 3rd, at the Hotel Père Marquette. The 2011 class of 40 Leaders Under Forty includes:

* Kelly Anderson OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
* Tommy L. Arbuckle III Caterpillar Inc.
* Kenneth C. Baker Miller, Hall & Triggs LLC
* Abby J. Clark Davis & Campbell LLC
* Dr. Cheryl Colbenson OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
* Anthony Corso Illinois Central College
* Matthew G. Dawson Hanson Professional Services, Inc.
* Lisa Gates RLI Corporation
* Robert C. Gates Federal Companies
* Keith A. Gettinger Caterpillar Inc.
* Kyle Gorden Federal Companies
* Thomas E. Harrington Coldwell Banker Commercial Devonshire Realty
* Chad M. Hawes Caterpillar Inc.
* Casey L. Johnson WestPoint Financial Group
* Kristin Kern Snider Pink Sugar Boutique
* Nicholas M. Knapp Legacy Investment Services
* Todd Kollar Commercial Grounds Maintenance
* Robert E. Lamberson Farnsworth Group, Inc.
* Drew William Leman Leman Property Management Co.
* Dr. Teresa J. Lynch OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
* Matt Machala IT360, Inc.
* Grace Mata Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC
* Leigh Ann Matthews City of Pekin
* Mark Matthews Illinois Central College
* Darrin J. Maue Caterpillar Inc./Optimistic Properties, LLC
* Bethany G. O’Brien Commerce Trust Company
* Brenda O’Russa St. Mark Catholic Parish
* James C. Ostrom OSF HealthCare
* Tyler D. Petersen Husch Blackwell LLP
* John Redlingshafer Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, PC
* Jennifer Robin Bradley University
* Joseph W. Sharpe III Sharp Payroll
* Sarah Stabler Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce
* Danette Swank Philippi-Hagenbuch, Inc.
* Chad Elliot Udell The Iona Group/Float Mobile Learning
* Andrew Velpel Caterpillar Inc.
* Lonnie Whisker Tri-County Urban League
* Dr. Amanda Wright Methodist Medical Center of Illinois
* Wakeisha A. Young OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
* Robert R. Zinser, Jr. PDC Technical Services, Inc.

Full profiles of the 40 Leaders can be found in the November issue of iBi and online at peoriamagazines.com.

Quality Quest for Health of Illinois awarded the Health Information Exchange Advisory Council the Q Award for their hard work in creating the Central Illinois Health Information Exchange (CIHIE).

The eight original co-chairs, representing four regional sub-groups, accepted the Q Award on behalf of the Council. They include: Jim Runyon, Easter Seals and Jim Schreiner, Graham Hospital (Peoria area); Frank Waterstraat, Illinois State University and Kathy Isaac, Dr. John Warner Hospital (Bloomington area); Awais Vaid, Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department and Diane Genthner, Provena Health (Champaign-Urbana area); and Dr. Michael Zia, Decatur Memorial Hospital and Dr. Maria Granzottoi, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital (Decatur area).

Health information exchange (HIE) enables different healthcare providers to securely share medical records through electronic networks, with patient permission. CIHIE will cover 20 counties in central Illinois, with the goal of ultimately being connected to a nationwide network. CIHIE is now in a testing phase. Two years ago, Illinois ranked 49th among the states for readiness to implement HIE. CIHIE has since defied this assessment and central Illinois is now running at the head of the pack.

“This was a daunting task to think about launching this health information exchange by the end of this year. I think we are doing what others really struggle to do in this kind of timeframe,” said Dr. Gail Amundson, President and CEO of Quality Quest for Health of Illinois. Quality Quest incubated CIHIE, which is now a separate non-profit.

The HIE Advisory Council deserves credit for driving the project forward quickly. The dedicated group of 30 volunteers helped foster collaboration and support among competing stakeholders, an aspect that makes the CIHIE project unique.

Fueling the volunteers is a confidence that the sharing of electronic health records can greatly improve patient care at a time when the U.S. is taking an urgent look at health reform.

“HIE is a requirement. There was no way we could keep doing business as we do without having the electronic exchange of information,” said Awais Vaid, epidemiologist for the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. The CIHIE software, allcharts, arranges the patient’s health history within an interface designed to enhance physician decision making. For example, physicians can take advantage of automatic alerts and reporting features to know when an important test is missing or when there’s a medication conflict. It is hoped that HIE will:
· Enhance the coordination of patient care among providers
· Reduce medical errors and duplicative services
· Improve healthcare quality and outcomes
Reduce health disparities
· Reduce or eliminate paper
· Control the cost of healthcare

Patients can expect to hear more about allcharts as the project moves closer to its official launch. After two years of planning, CIHIE is nearing delivery.

The Vascular Laboratory at Methodist Medical Center is one of a select number of vascular laboratories in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico to meet or exceed standards of the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVEL). During the accreditation process, every aspect of the laboratory’s daily operations and its impact on the quality of health care, is accessed and reviewed. Participation in the accreditation process demonstrates attention to a high level of patient care and quality testing.

Early detection of cardiovascular disease, disorders of the heart and blood vessels is possible through the use of vascular testing techniques performed within vascular laboratories.

The three-year accreditation is issued by the ICAVEL, a non-profit organization established with the support of multiple medical societies.

Peoria County and the City of Peoria are raising awareness of a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). On November 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. local time), the federal government will conduct the first nationwide test of the EAS. The test will last up to three and a half minutes. During this period, regularly scheduled television, radio, cable, and satellite shows will be interrupted as the system is being tested. We would like to ensure the public is aware this event is just a test and not a real emergency alert; media’s help in this regard is appreciated.

The test is being conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as part of efforts to keep the public safe during emergencies. The national Emergency Alert System is an alert and warning system that can be activated by the President, if needed, to provide information to the American public during emergencies. NOAA’s National Weather Service and state and local emergency authorities also utilize the system to issue more localized alerts.

Similar to emergency alert system tests that are already conducted on the local level, the nationwide test will involve television and radio stations across the United States and its territories. Per the FCC’s rules, radio and television broadcasters, cable operators, satellite digital audio radio service providers, direct broadcast satellite service providers, and wireline video service providers are required to receive and transmit Presidential EAS messages to the public. This test will help federal partners and EAS partici-pants determine the reliability of the system, as well as its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential dangers both nationally and regionally. The nationwide test also provides an opportunity to identify improvements that need to be made.

Peoria County and the City of Peoria, along with FEMA, encourage the public to use this event as a reminder that everyone should establish an emergency preparedness kit and emergency plan for themselves, their families, communities, and businesses. Visit www.Ready.gov for more information on how to prepare for and stay informed of what to do in the event of an actual emergency. Thank you for your assistance in spreading the word about the November 9th, 2:00 p.m. ET nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System!