Methodist Medical Center will be offering a free public forum on “Living Well with COPD and Asthma” as another in the series of Coffees with the Doc.

Dr. Myrna Orbana will explain the two main types of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and how to best manage these lung conditions to improve the quality of life. Dr. Orbana is an experienced physician board-certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Internal Medicine and Critical Care Medicine.

“Coffee with the Doc” will be held Thursday, November 17 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. at Methodist on North Allen Road, 2338 W. SUD Parkway at the intersection of Route 6 and North Allen Road.

This event is free but seating is limited. Call to reserve your seat at 636-9500.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has named Bradley University one of the best values in private colleges in its annual ranking of 100 private universities that combine outstanding education with economic value.

Bradley and the other schools included in the 2011-12 list represent the colleges that are providing high quality academics, in addition to great cost value. Those listed exemplify the traits parents and students desire when looking into higher education options: small class sizes, financial aid options, high four-year graduation rates and low debt for students after graduation.

“Bradley offers a world-class education and we are pleased to be acknowledged once again by a national publication,” said Bradley President Joanne Glasser. “This is another independent confirmation that a Bradley education is one of the best values in the country.”

Kiplinger adjusted its criteria this year to better reflect the issues affecting families. Now, the rankings give more weight to the four-year graduation rate — a measure of the college’s ability to deliver academic support and of the overall cost to families – and to colleges that keep student debt down. While the criteria have shifted, the overall focus on value remains the same.

The annual private school report appears in Kiplinger’s December issue that will be on newsstands Tuesday, November 8 and is online now at www.kiplinger.com/links/college.

Bradley also is receiving recognition this week as a “Military Friendly School.” That recognition is bestowed by G.I. Jobs magazine to honor institutions that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students.

Earlier this fall Bradley received recognition as the top ranking master’s level university in Illinois and placed sixth overall in the Midwest by U.S.News & World Report’s annual publication, America’s Best Colleges, and was rated among the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, in the 2012 edition of its college guide, “The Best 376 Colleges.” The University also was recognized as having one of the top entrepreneurship programs in the country in a survey conducted by The Princeton Review for Entrepreneur magazine.

Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, will discuss the new 6-year federal farm bill during a keynote address at a national public policy symposium at Bradley University on November 3rd.

“The Future of Midwest Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability” is the title of the symposium that will be held in the Peplow Pavilion in the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center from 8:00 a.m. – Noon. Admission is $25. Register online at www.bradley.edu/continue or by calling 309.677.2820.

Secretary Vilsack’s presentation will begin at 8:30 a.m. Other Symposium topics include the economic impact of agriculture on the Midwest; food security for a growing global population; the future of Midwest energy crops; conservation and land use programs; agricultural runoff and cultivating clean water; and environmental sustainability.

State senators David Koehler and Darin LaHood will speak during the program along with Marc Miller of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Colleen Callahan, Illinois Director of USDA Rural Development, Mike Baroni, Vice President of Economic Policy for ADM, and a number of others. In addition, Bradley students will present research projects as part of the event.

Vilsack was appointed by President Barack Obama as the 30th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and sworn into office on January 21, 2009. As Secretary of Agriculture, he is working to strengthen the American agricultural economy, revitalize rural communities, protect and conserve our natural resources, and provide a safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply for the American people.

The symposium is endowed by The Dirksen Congressional Center in partnership with the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley.

The media and the public are invited to attend a community meeting to discuss Peoria’s cumulative voting system tonight, Oct. 26th at 7:00 p.m. at Bradley University at the Garrett Center. This initiative is being led by Bradley’s Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service (IPL) with support from The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, League of Women Voters, Neighborhood Alliance African American Leadership Alliance and NAACP.

At each meeting, Dr. Larry Aspin, Chairman of the Political Science Department at Bradley University will share highlights from his detailed research and findings on the impact of cumulative voting in Peoria. A second community meeting will be Nov. 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at River West Frank Campbell community room.

No registration is needed to attend and if you have questions, please contact IPL at (309) 677-4408.

… To Be Held at Azura Boutique, 4818 North Prospect Road, Peoria Heights, IL 61616-6442

The next First Tuesdays will be held on Tuesday, November 1, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Azura Boutique located 4818 N. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights, IL.

The Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois invites area women to a monthly networking opportunity for Peoria-area women. Embrace the season of giving thanks and celebrate the spirit of giving by meeting other dynamic women who are passionate about empowering women and children in our communities. Become part of a national movement towards Women’s Philanthropy.

To automatically receive First Tuesdays’ invitations, call The Women’s Fund at the Community Foundation of Central Illinois at 309 674-8730 or email kristan@communityfoundationci.org and ask to receive the ‘E-vite’, an online invitation, for First Tuesdays. Appetizers and beverages will be served and door prizes awarded. Donations will be accepted to further the work of the Women’s Fund.

Peoria Public Library will host an e-reader information session on Monday, November 14 at 6:30 p.m. at North Branch so those interested will have information on what e-reader to buy as well as how to download free e-books from the library website.

With the enormous demand for downloadable books, Peoria Public Library has added a program that will make titles available exclusively for Peorians. Alliance Digital Media Library (ADML), the Peoria Public Library system, shares titles with all participating libraries, adding new titles twice monthly, but still it can be difficult to get a download immediately. To ease the crunch, Peoria Public Library has added Advantage, a program for purchasing titles that can only be checked out by those with a Peoria library card.

To see Peoria’s Advantage title, patrons must be logged in or the titles will not appear. A Peoria Public Library card and PIN are used to log in and then a search for the title or genre can be conducted. Advantage titles have an icon indicating they are for Peoria card holders only. These ebooks can be downloaded to a variety of electronic devices including tablets, computers, smartphones and more.

Some titles are now available for Kindle as well as Nooks, iPads, iPods, iPhones, Android and other platforms. Users should search for Overdrive in their app store or market. Complete step-by-step directions are available for many devices on the ADML page at http://www.peoriapubliclibrary.org at the link under elibrary.

Export Grant Workshop Sponsored by Bradley University and the State of Illinois Office of Trade and Investment
November 9, 2011 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Please join us for this informational workshop discussing grant opportunities for Illinois companies to expand their exports. Topics include State of Illinois sponsored trade shows and opportunities for individual company travel for trade shows or to meet with potential foreign partners. The SBA STEP Grant program allows for travel expense reimbursement for qualifying Illinois companies.

STEP, funded through the U.S. Small Business Administration, supports Governor Pat Quinn’s goal of doubling Illinois exports by year end 2014 and will help Illinois small businesses export their products and services worldwide.

Workshop Details
Welcome and Overview – Jim Foley, Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at Bradley University & Shari Stout, U.S. Export Assistance Center, Peoria

Illinois-State Trade Export Promotion (STEP) Program Announcement and Details
Tom Hagle, Illinois Office of Trade and Investment, Chicago

When: Wednesday November 9, 2011
8:00-8:30am Registration and Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 am Program
Where: Peoria Next Innovation Center, 801 West Main, Peoria, IL 61606

Registration is free but space is limited.
To register, go to: https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=bu&formId=108505

Please consider sharing your literacy skills with another English-speaking adult who wants to improve their reading and writing. The Adult Literacy Program staff at Common Place will offer Volunteer Orientation and Tutor Training on Wednesday, November 2, 2011, from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Common Place; Saturday, November 5, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; and a follow-up session (required) Saturday, November 12, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Cost is $20 for materials and advanced registration is required. To register, or for more information, call Carol Turbett at 309-674-3315.