Peoria, IL – Oct 16, 2011 – How did the Junior League launch one of Peoria’s most successful capital campaigns for The Peoria Play House, an interactive children’s museum being developed in the Glen Oak Park Pavilion at the new entrance to The Peoria Zoo? You’ll find out at the October Peoria Ad Club luncheon. A hint: branding and marketing played a critical role.

The public is invited to hear representatives from the Junior League of Peoria present the secrets to branding and marketing a successful capital campaign at the Peoria Ad Club’s next meeting, to be held:

When: Wednesday, October 26 at 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Where: OSF Glen Park Place, 5114 N. Glen Park Place: the building on the right, in the basement meeting room.
Lunch: Catered by Qdoba Mexican Grill
Fee: $10 for members, $15 for non-members (cash or check only)

RSVP: Please RSVP to peoriaadclub@gmail.com or on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/peoriaadclub by Oct. 24

For more information or questions, please contact Nikki Smith at 309.265.3266 or Kelly Smet at 309.208.7309.

Peoria County Administrator Lori Curtis Luther released the following statement regarding the City of Peoria: “Peoria County does not take any official position on the City of Peoria’s recommended budget reductions. We understand the City is facing fiscal challenges and as a result, difficult policy decisions. Peoria County welcomes the opportunity to discuss collaborative efforts for the benefit of both organizations and all Peoria County citizens.”

State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) met with local business leaders at a roundtable sponsored Illinois Manufacturers Association last week. Representatives from area manufacturing companies, both large and small, came together to discuss their legislative priorities and share their ideas on how to create an environment that is more conducive to job growth.

“Our manufacturers and the many spin off businesses are vital to our economic success in Central Illinois, and ensuring these companies can compete on a global scale is something I am very interested in working for,” Gordon said. “We have to make sure that Illinois has a business climate that encourages manufacturers to stay and prosper in Illinois and discourages companies from pulling up their stakes and moving to Mexico, Canada or somewhere else in the United States.”

The local business leaders focused a great deal on a plan to extend the state’s Research and Development Tax Credit, an economic development tool that allows companies to innovate, invest in new product lines and ultimately put more people to work. Gordon backs the idea. Also discussed were ways business can encourage students to gain the skills they need to obtain jobs in the manufacturing sector in order to have high-paying jobs in the 21st Contrary.

“Research and Development credits help companies come up with the next big idea. We need to foster innovation in Illinois,” Gordon said. “I support making these credits permanent because I know that it will help our businesses develop new products and help them remain competitive within the United States and globally. Not only will our business community prosper, but more importantly local residents will be able to hold jobs that pay a living wage to support their family.”

Gordon sits on the Illinois Legislative Manufacturing Caucus in the General Assembly. For more information, or for any questions, please contact Rep. Gordon’s Constituent Services Office at 309-681-1992.

State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) congratulates Greg Gerontis of Hecht Stout Insurance on being named the Good Neighbor Business of September. Hecht Stout Insurance was nominated by the Central Illinois Agency on Aging for their sponsorship of the Dr. Laurence E. Norton Golf Tournament. This fundraiser helps the Central Illinois Agency on Aging provide meals on New Year Day for homebound seniors and fund their faith base meal program.

State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) congratulated Hecht Stout Insurance on receiving her “Good Neighbor” Business of the Month Award. The company was nominated by the Central Illinois Agency on Aging.

“Hecht Stout Insurance has supported the Central Illinois Agency on Aging for many years by helping sponsor the Dr. Laurence E. Norton Golf Tournament,” explained nominator Michelle Sanders. “Their generous contribution has allowed us to continue taking a meal to homebound seniors on New Years Day and offering our faith based meal program. Without partners like Hecht Stout Insurance area seniors would not have the same opportunities to have a nutritious meal and companionship.”

Hecht Stout Insurance is a Peoria-based company that has been serving the community for nearly fifty years.

“Businesses from every corner of our community help the non-profit community and it is important to recognize their contributions. Hecht Stout Insurance is a wonderful example of small businesses who continually give back to their community,” Gordon said. “I would like to thank Hecht Stout Insurance for their generosity to the Central Illinois Agency on Aging.”

For more information about Gordon’s “Good Neighbor” Business of the Month Award, or to receive a nomination form, please contact Rep. Gordon’s constituent services office at 309-681-1992 or e-mail her at repjgordon@gmail.com. Nomination forms are also available at her website, www.housedem.state.il.us/members/gordonj.

State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) joined Mr. Thomas Blumer as Principal for a Day at Calvin Coolidge Middle School. Gordon met with Mr. Blumer, toured the school, passed out McDonalds to students who had good behavior and who had competed their homework all week, as well as meeting with teachers and students. Rep. Gordon also had the opportunity to visit Ms. Hedy Elliot-Gardner’s Social Studies class and renowned math teacher Ms. Kimberly Thomas. Calvin Coolidge Middle School was one of four Peoria Public Schools to meet Annual Yearly Progress under the Federal No Child Left Behind Act. Principal for a Day is a program through the Illinois Principal Association that allows elected officials to observe and interact as administrators in their legislative district. Outside of participating in Principal for a Day, Rep. Gordon spends most of her mornings in public and private schools throughout her district. Learning about the ever-changing education needs of our community.

Peoria County – The following road will be CLOSED:

Road work on: Kickapoo Edwards Road
Where: At railroad tracks in Edwards, just north of Rte 8
Date of work: Tuesday, October 18
Time: 8:00 a.m. – ? (Repairs will continue until complete or darkness falls. Repairs will continue on Wednesday if not complete tomorrow.)
Type of work: Rail line repair

Motorists will need to find an alternate route during the closure.

Peoria County – The following road will be CLOSED:
Road work on: Mapleton Road

Where: 1st Street to Maple Ridge Road
Date of work: October 19 – 20
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Type of work: Cross-road culvert replacement

Motorists will need to find an alternate route during the closure. For more information, call the Highway Department at 697-6400

The October 17 City Council meeting will be televised on cable channel 22. Focal Point Video will also provide live streaming of the meeting. The meeting can be found by going to http://peoriacitycouncilmeetings.com/live.

What animal has teeth similar to an elephant’s, feet that act like suction cups and excretes a urine which has been used to treat epilepsy and hysteria? The rock hyrax of course!

Three male hyrax arrived on August 3rd from the Buffalo Zoo. Due to the hot weather, the animals could not be transported by air which would have been the normal method. Instead, staff from the Buffalo Zoo took the animals to the Erie Zoo which owned two of the hyrax through a breeding loan agreement. Erie needed to return a tiger crate to the Toledo Zoo so they brought the hyrax and were met by a Peoria Zoo staff person. Upon arrival in Peoria that evening, the hyrax were placed into the off-exhibit quarantine facility.

At this time, the hyrax are on exhibit in the colobus monkey dayroom since the weather allows the monkeys to be in their outdoor exhibit. During the colder months, the hyrax will be moved to the red river hog dayroom where they will share space with the hogs. Of course, this is just our plan and may have to be adjusted if the hyrax and hogs have a different plan in mind!

This is not the first experience the Peoria Zoo has had with rock hyrax. A pair was actually exhibited at the Zoo from 1975-1978. Also the Zoo has maintained the North American studbook for the species since its inception in 2004 and helped manage the species since 2008.
Below we have included facts about the Hyrax. To see a video of our new additions check out this link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/peoriazoo#p/a/u/0/t1XMpC9eevM.

For additional information contact Yvonne Strode, Zoo Director, at 309-696-6504.