The monthly meeting of the Better Breathers Club will be held Wednesday, October 26, 2011 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. in Classroom 1 at the RiverPlex in downtown Peoria. The program will feature Wade Siefert, Preckshot Pharmacy Pharmacist, discussing COPD Management and Cares. Anyone dealing with lung or breathing problems is welcome to attend.
For more information about the Better Breathers Club, contact Sara Shull at the RiverPlex at 309.256.4581.
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center is pleased to announce the opening its Sickle Cell Anemia clinic, located on the first floor of the Gerlach building near the Infusion Clinic.
In the past, when a patient with sickle disease experienced a pain crisis often their only option for treatment was a trip to the emergency department (ED) or admission to the hospital. With the opening of the Sickle Cell clinic, the care of the pain with sickle cell disease has become focused on the goal of faster, patient-focused treatment. The clinic allows the patient to go home at night and return the next day for needed interventions.
“Our clinic is designed to help manage a patient’s pain crisis during the daytime through care which is developed based on the needs of the individual,” said Tammy Wilkins, Advanced Practice Nurse at the clinic. “We know that each of our patients respond differently to treatments. Understanding what works for them allows us to get them pain free and out of crisis more quickly.”
“The goal of our Sickle Cell Clinic is to work closely with patients and their primary care providers in the management of this serious, life-long disorder,” said Mark Wolfmeyer, M.D., Medical Director of the Sickle Cell clinic. “We will attempt to manage the numerous potential complications of this disease, including both acute and chronic pain, as efficiently and effectively as possible. These efforts will hopefully decrease the need for ED and inpatient treatments and result in improved quality of life.”
The Sickle Cell Clinic also offers preventative care hours. Held on Wednesday afternoons, patients can schedule an appointment to proactively develop a comprehensive care plan and learn more about sickle cell disease, avoiding its symptoms, and treating pain. The Sickle Cell Care team is composed of a physician, an advanced practice nurse, registered nurse, social worker, dietician and pharmacist. This entire care team works together to develop a care plan for each patient.
For more information call OSF Saint Francis Medical Center at 309.655.2000.
State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) will be at Hecht Stout Insurance to present her September “Good Neighbor” Business of the Month Award
Hecht Stout Insurance was nominated by the Central Illinois Agency on Aging for their sponsorship in the Dr. Laurence E. Norton Golf Tournament. This annual event raises funds for the Central Illinois Agency on Aging to provide meals on New Years Day for homebound seniors and supports the inner faith based meal program.
“Without the generosity from our local business, many of our local non-profits and community organizations would not have the funds they need to provide their services to our friends and neighbors,” Gordon explained. “I want to thank Hecht Stout Insurance for their generosity during fundraising efforts by the Central Illinois Agency on Aging. The support of Hecht Stout Insurance allows many seniors meals and companionship when they would otherwise have neither.”
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.
What: September “Good Neighbor” Business of the Month Award Presentation
When: Tuesday, October 11, 3:00 pm
Where: Hecht Stout Insurance, 4700 N. University St., Peoria
A new program at Heartline can help Woodford County residents who are struggling with their utility bill. “Warm Neighbors and Cool Friends” is a program funded through the Energy Assistance Foundation to help Ameren customers who are having a hardship or crisis situation and struggling to pay their bill.
Woodford County residents who are interested in applying for this assistance can call Brandi Gerber at the Heartline office at 309-467-6101 to check qualifications. Residents must reside at the address on their bill, must not have disconnected utilities, and cannot have a bill exceeding $750. Interested residents must also indicate a recent hardship or crisis, and fall within income guidelines. The income guidelines are higher than the LiHeap program, as the “Warm Neighbors and Cool Friends” program is designed to help those who are not being assisted through the LiHeap program. Residents cannot receive assistance through more than one utility assistance program.
This new program is currently being offered and dispersed through the Heartline office at 300 Reagan Drive in Eureka.
Heartline’s mission is to provide financial aid and essential basics for all residents of Woodford County who find themselves in need of Heartline programs. More information can be found at www.heartlineandhearthouse.org.
Income Guidelines to qualify for “Warm Neighbors and Cool Friends”:
Family size 30 day (GROSS) Income Rage
1 $1,354-$1,805
2 $1,821-$2,428
3 $2,289-$3,052
4 $2,756-$3,675
5 $3,224-$4,298
6 $3,691-$4,922
7 $4,159-$5,545
8 $4,626-$6,168
Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) will be in East Peoria TOMORROW, Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 9:15 am to give opening remarks to the Annual Convention of the Police Benevolent and Protective Association.
WHO: Congressman Aaron Schock
WHAT: Give opening remarks to the Annual Convention of the Police Benevolent and Protective Association.
WHERE: Embassy Suites Hotel, 1000 Conference Center Dr., East Peoria, IL 61611
WHEN: TOMORROW, Saturday, October 8th, 2011 @ 9:15AM CT
Sharon Steward of the Illinois State Board of Elections will present the free “Illinois Campaign Finance Act” training session at the main branch of the Peoria Public Library on Saturday, October 29. This workshop will be held from 10:00am – noon. The library is located at 107 NE Monroe, downtown Peoria.
Please contact one of the following host representatives by October 26 to register for this free workshop:
Fulton County Clerk – James Nelson @ (309) 547-3041 ext.120
Peoria County Clerk – Steven Sonnemaker @ (309) 672-6070
Tazewell County Clerk – Christie Webb @ (309) 477-2264
For more information, please contact the Peoria County Clerk’s Office at (309) 672-6070.
Peoria County will celebrate a milestone in the construction of the Peoria Riverfront Museum (PRM) project with a “Topping Out” Ceremony on Friday, October 14 at 10:00 a.m. Participants and visitors are asked to enter the construction site on Liberty Street, near its intersection with Water Street. Anyone attending the ceremony is asked to dress appropriately for an active construction site.
Speaking during the ceremony will be Peoria County Board Chairman Thomas H. O’Neill, III; PRM Chairman of the Board Dave Ransburg, and Caterpillar Foundation Director Michele Sullivan. Participating in the ceremony by video is Congressman Aaron Schock. Immediately following the official ceremony, a signed, 56′ steel beam will be raised and placed on the structure.
For more information about the Topping Out Ceremony, please call Jenny Fulton, Peoria County’s Director of Strategic Communications, at 672-6918.
Patients who normally use the Methodist MedPointe walk-in clinic in Pekin on the weekends are being asked to use Methodist Medical Group in Morton during a temporary change in weekend hours. The Pekin office, located at 1800 Broadway, will close on weekends effective October 15th. Monday through Friday hours will remain unchanged.
Mike Jones, Executive Director for Methodist Medical Group Operations said the change is necessary to allow for scheduling changes with physicians and staff. Jones said, “We apologize for any inconvenience this may create for patients in the Pekin community. Methodist Medical Group-Morton at 1909 N. Morton Avenue is open 7 days a week for patients needing walk-in non-emergency as is the Methodist MedPointe in Peoria at 8914 N. Knoxville.”
For emergency care, patients should use the Pekin Hospital or Methodist Medical Center Emergency Departments.
Patients with questions should call 672-5522 or 672-5529.
Specialized Training Offered in Bloomington on October 17
Looking for a way to help brighten the life of a child battling a life-threatening illness? Bring hope, strength and joy back into their lives by becoming a volunteer with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois. The Foundation is hosting a free training for wish granting volunteers on Monday, October 17 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in Bloomington, Illinois. The Foundation is especially looking for bilingual volunteers to work with Spanish speaking wish children.
Wish-Granting volunteers work in teams of two to help grant the wishes of children in their community. Volunteers plan and carry out wishes from start to finish with support from the Make-A-Wish Foundation staff. Wish Granters are asked to give 10-12 hours per month to grant at least three wishes per year. This is a fun and rewarding opportunity for adults of all ages.
For children who battle conditions like leukemia, cystic fibrosis, brain tumors, and other childhood diseases, the Make-A-Wish Foundation provides a magical experience to help them cope with their illness and its treatment. There are NO financial obligations for the family and there is NO waiting list for children to receive wishes.
To attend the training, potential volunteers must complete the volunteer application and an online training in advance; therefore, RSVP is required by October 13. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. All volunteers must be over 18, must submit an application, reference and background check and must complete an online and brief in-person training to begin granting wishes. To begin the process, complete the volunteer application at www.wishes.org or contact Jamie Staab at staab@wishes.org or call 312.602.9413.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their lives with hope, strength and joy. For more than 25 years, the Foundation has worked with volunteers and generous supporters to share the power of a wish® with special children across Illinois. For more information or to find out how you can help, call 312.602.WISH or visit www.wishes.org.
McDaniels Marketing Communications has changed its branding to focus on its core strengths and align all four of its brands under one common name – McDaniels. The agency features three key divisions that are now part of the McDaniels Marketing umbrella – healthcare marketing, interactive (formerly ie-media), and promotional products.
“We shortened our core brand from McDaniels Marketing Communications to McDaniels Marketing because we counsel clients on so many facets outside the traditional communications arena,” Randall McDaniels, president, said. “Some of the marketing research we conduct for our clients analyze strengths and weaknesses, as well as customer service issues, and that goes way beyond your typical advertising or public relations.”
Clarity for Clients
McDaniels went on to add that the refocused branding offers benefits for clients because it offers them a better understanding of what the agency brings to the table. “We specialize in many different aspects of marketing,” he said, “including expertise in healthcare marketing, in-depth interactive, and promotional products. Our new division names – McDaniels Healthcare, McDaniels Interactive and McDaniels Promotional Products – are all part of McDaniels Marketing, but the names and logos help to differentiate our specialties.”
Coincides with Launch of Remodeled Website
The refocused brands coincide with the launch of their website, which highlights the agency’s specialties. The updated site includes not only a whole new look and design, but more user-friendly navigation as well. The site features up-to-date team bios, client case studies, and samples of award-winning work, along with links for viewing some of the agency’s TV/radio projects via a YouTube page.
About McDaniels Marketing and Its Entities
McDaniels Marketing draws on nearly 45 years of experience to help strategically plan and execute marketing tactics for clients throughout the Midwest and serves a variety of industries including agriculture, financial, governmental and recycling companies. The agency also has client service offices in Rockford, IL and the Quad Cities. McDaniels Interactive specializes in developing websites, animation, videos, e-surveys, kiosks, ecommerce, content management systems and search engine marketing, optimization and social media to fit a variety of budgets. McDaniels Healthcare was established in 1989 and has provided award-winning services to hospitals, physician practices and medical organizations throughout Illinois. McDaniels Promotional Products was established in 2010 and provides a gamut of products from t-shirts and tradeshow giveaways to high-end promotional packages that help clients achieve a good lasting impression.