State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) is lauding a new law to increase the number of safe havens for newborns across the state. Safe havens were created for parents to drop off unwanted newborns anonymously. The new law expands from existing sites, municipal police and fire stations and county sheriff’s stations, to any Illinois State Police station and campus safety office on any campus in Illinois.

“All of our children need the chance to be safe. We need to make sure that newborns are not abandoned by parents and left somewhere where no one can care for them.” Gordon said. “With Bradley University right here in Peoria, I am glad this new law will allow for another safe haven for a newborn caught in a very unfortunate situation.”

Individuals who drop their unwanted and unharmed newborn off at any safe haven site will avoid criminal prosecution. The original law was created to prevent parents of placing newborns in dumpsters or doorsteps and provides the child with a better chance of having a happy and healthy life.

For more information, please contact Rep. Gordon’s constituent services office at 309-681-1992 or e-mail repjehangordon@gmail.com.

PEORIA PARK DISTRICT

The Peoria Park District presents “A Night at the Casbah,” a Middle Eastern Dance Hafla, on Saturday, Sept. 24. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Franciscan Recreation Complex. The evening will feature the Park Troupe Mirage and dancers under the direction of teacher and director Thais Banu.

Admission will be taken at the door. Cost is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children 12 and under.

For more information, contact Linda Huff at 681-2861or visit www.peoriaparks.org.

The monthly meeting of the Better Breathers Club will be held Wednesday, August 24, 2011 from 3 – 4:30 PM in Classroom 1 at the RiverPlex in downtown Peoria.

The program will feature Lisa Hartwig, BSES, an Exercise Specialist with OSF Saint Francis Wellness Services. She will discuss the benefits of exercise, including options to “sit and be fit.”

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.

Upcoming listening session to be hosted by Congressman Schock

Monday, August 29, 2011
Ice Cream with the Congressman
6:30 p.m. CT
The Hick’ry Stick Restaurant
118 E. Main St.
Elmwood, IL 61529

For other listening sessions happening throughout Congressman Schock’s district, please visit his website: http://schock.house.gov/

New incentives will help conserve oil

The governor signed State Senator Dave Koehler’s (D-Peoria) plan to encourage roofing and building companies to recycle asphalt shingles rather than dump them in landfills into law earlier today.

Asphalt shingles are made from the same basic ingredients as paving asphalt–including oil–and can easily be reused to pave roads. This move could help a shingle-recycling facility in South Peoria.

“By reusing the oil in asphalt shingles to pave our roads, we can reduce our reliance on foreign oil,” Koehler said.

House Bill 1326 allows recycling facilities to count each ton of asphalt they recycle as two tons towards their state-mandated recycling quota. This incentive doesn’t cost the State anything, but it will encourage recycling facilities to work with building, roofing, and demolition companies to acquire more asphalt shingles.

Days ago, Southwind RAS opened an asphalt recycling facility on the south side of Peoria. The facility now employs four people and provides a convenient recycling facility for Peoria-area roofers. It hopes to hire more employees soon. Senator Koehler’s legislation should help create business for the company.

“I’m glad that Governor Quinn signed this bill,” Koehler said. “It will help us protect the environment by keeping shingles out of landfills, recycle a valuable resource, and help a local company.”

The legislation also sets a goal for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to use as much recycled asphalt and other low-cost alternative materials for road construction and repair as possible.

“If the State is establishing incentives for others to recycle, we should do so ourselves,” Koehler explained. “We need to set a good example.”

The new law takes effect January 1, 2012.

Today, the Morton Chamber of Commerce announced that the 45th Annual Morton Pumpkin Festival will feature a new Bag’s Tournament, sponsored by Safari Bowl, and a Pumpkin Pie Eating Competition, sponsored by Culver’s of Morton. “Each year we try to add something new for our festival goers,” said Jennifer Daly, Executive Director for the Morton Chamber of Commerce. “We think these events will be popular and fun for our family crowd.”

The new Bags Tournament will be held at Safari Bowl on Saturday, September 17th beginning at 1pm following the Pumpkin Festival Parade. A cash prize based on a % of registration fees will be awarded for the first, second, and third place winners. “Bags has become a popular and competitive sport in recent years,” said Daly. “We are anticipating drawing teams from throughout the region and state.” Bag’s Tournament Chairs are Bill Aupperle, Lance Witbracht, and Clint Cowley. Pre-registration for the Bag’s Tournament is required.

Also on Saturday, the Pumpkin Pie Eating Competition will return for the first time in over a decade at 3:15 pm on the Gold’s Gym Entertainment Stage. Elementary, Junior High and High School, and Adult divisions will compete for electronic devices including a DSi Gaming System, iPod Touch, and iPhone. A celebrity division will have a cash prize and traveling trophy. “A pumpkin pie eating competition is something that just fits with a pumpkin festival,” said Daly. “And the prizes we are able to offer should be a huge draw for participants.”

Pre-registration is required for both of these events. For more information or to register, go to www.mortonpumpkinfestival.org.

The economy continues to struggle and gas prices remain high. The cost to fill up the gas tank in an average car is over $60. If that is breaking your budget, there are two things you can do about it. You can either try to improve your gas mileage or replace you car with a fuel efficient one.

To improve your cars gas mileage, make sure your tires are properly inflated. Under inflated tires can cost you up to 2 mpg. Then, replace your air filter regularly and put in new spark plugs every 30,000 miles. The smoother your car runs, the better its gas mileage. Remove anything from your car you do not really need. The more weight in your car, the more gas it will use. Also, remove your roof rack when you are not using it and put a bed cover on your pickup truck. This will reduce drag and give you 2 or 3 more mpg. Of course, the ultimate gas saver is to slow down. The faster you drive, the more gas your car will use.

If you get a fuel efficient car, you have to figure out what to do with the gas guzzler. The dealership won’t want it because there is no demand for them. It will be difficult to sell privately for the same reason. You can sell it for parts at a junk yard, or you can donate your car to charity. Cars4Charities will gladly take your gas guzzler. In return, you will get a tax deduction of the amount they sell it for or $500 whichever is more. They have hundreds of charities that can be helped by your car donation. For details, please go to http://www.cars4charities.org/ or call 866.448.3487.

With all the hate-mongering that’s been going on, I found this interesting list of health care issues that health insurance will start to cover in one year. Pretty radical stuff, right? Anyway, here’s what I found:

When Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced last week that birth control and other women’s preventive health care services would be covered by health insurance starting in August 2012, it set off a cacophony of right-wing hysterics. They zeroed in on the “radical” concept that contraception is prevention and displayed no concern for the health and welfare of American women.

Preventive care makes sense. It costs less than treatment, saving money in the long run. It’s also a saner approach to health care that saves lives and improves our health and our quality of life. It’s long past time for women’s health to be a matter of national concern.

This came from the Ms Magazine blog, if you’d like to read the entire article.

Over 20 Peoria Area businesses and organizations will be in attendance offering internships, externships, and full-time positions to Midstate College students and alumni. Attendees of the Career Fair will have the opportunity to meet with prospective employers, learn more about area businesses, and find out about job openings available.

This event is a perfect opportunity to expose high profile employers in the area to the quality of Midstate College graduates.

Employers participating in the career fair include:

City of Peoria (2 tables)
Lowes
AFNI
Proctor Hospital
Methodist Medical Center of IL
OSF St. Francis Medical Center
Pekin Hospital
Western & Southern Financial Group
American Red Cross – Central Illinois Chapter
CEFCU
CIAN, Inc.
CityLink
Clifton Gunderson, LLP
Division of Rehabilitation Services
Four Points Sheraton
Heart Technologies
SORA Technologies
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
Lowe’s of Peoria & East Peoria
Peoria County Courthouse
Westpoint Financial Group (Mass Mutual)
Workforce Network
Dress For Success

Midstate College is also partnering with Dress for Success and Tri-County Urban League during the Career Fair to present a ‘Wardrobes in the Workplace’ fashion show over the lunch hour.

What: Midstate College Career Fair
When: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 from 10 am – 2 pm
Where: R Dale Bunch Student Center, Midstate College Campus, 411 W. Northmoor Road, Peoria, Illinois 61614

For more information, please contact Ashley Spain, arspain@midstate.edu or 309.692.4092 ext. 5021

Muir Omni Graphics is proud to be a sponsor of the DVI Hike for Hunger

Join us on Saturday, August 20, 2011 as we participate in Hike for Hunger at the Forest Park Nature Center. A family friendly event, Hike for Hunger seeks to raise donations and collect non-perishable goods to help feed the community’s disadvantaged. All proceeds will go to the food ministries of South Side Mission.

“This is our fourth year sponsoring the Hike for Hunger. And it is just one of the many ways in which we have sought to reach out and help the community, our community,” said Andrew Muir, President of Muir Omni Graphics. “It is amazing to see everyone rally around such a great cause. We are proud to be a part of it.”

The event starts at 8:30 am with a silent auction and prize drawing at 10:30 a.m.

For more information visit http://www.southsidemission.org