For the first time in Peoria Players Theatre’s 93-year history, we are proud to present the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical classic Oklahoma! directed by Bryan Blanks. The first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II, Oklahoma! tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams.

Performances are September 9, 10, 14, 15, 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m., and September 11 and 18 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for patrons 18 and under, and will be on sale August 29. Please call the Peoria Players box office at 688-4473, or visit us online at www.peoriaplayers.org.

Today, the Morton Chamber of Commerce announced the second Morton Welcome Sign, originally planned for South Main Street, will be built at the intersection of Birchwood and Detroit Avenue on the southeast corner.

“The community team working on the project changed the location because the original site on South Main is owned by the Illinois Department of Transportation,” said Jennifer Daly, Executive Director for the Morton Chamber of Commerce. “We will need some additional time to gain access to that ground or to identify another suitable location on South Main Street.”

A team of local organizations and business leaders including the Morton Community Foundation, Morton Chamber of Commerce, Morton Tourism Association, and the Village of Morton have been meeting to develop the plans for a second sign since the spring. “This second sign will be very similar to the first one located near the soccer complex,” said Aaron Miller, Welcome Sign Committee Member and Board Member for the Morton Chamber of Commerce and the Morton Tourism Association. “We want a consistent look and feel to all of the signs we build for Morton.”

The campaign goal for the new sign is $15,000, but $8,200 of that amount has already been raised. “Most of the businesses who donated labor and materials for the first sign are willing to do so again for this second sign,” said Bill Aupperle, Welcome Sign Committee Member and Board Member for the Morton Chamber of Commerce. “That really keeps our costs down. We can’t thank all of them enough for their generous support and participation.”

The Morton Welcome Sign Team hopes to begin construction on the second sign this fall. Citizens and businesses interested in participating in the Welcome Sign campaign can download a contribution form at www.mortonchamber.org. Funds will be collected by the Morton Community Foundation and are tax deductible.

The Betty Friedan Tribute committee is using a grant from the Central Illinois Community Fund to develop a website that will include links to articles, oral interviews with friends and admirers, even a curriculum guide for teachers!

If you would like to be interviewed about your knowledge of Betty and/or her friends in Peoria, or about how she influenced your life, please contact Nancy Long at 666-3419.

Date: Saturday, August 20th
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Forest Park Nature Center

Peoria Chapter of NOW will celebrate Women’s Equality Day on Saturday, August 20, with a 6 pm potluck and open mic at Forest Park Nature Center. Please bring a dish to share if you can. Table service will be provided. You are invited to bring friends/partners.

After the meal, attendees will provide entertainment. Everyone is welcome to share their talent(s)!

Women’s Equality Day celebrates the addition of the Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920 that gave women the right to vote. At the time, the right applied only to white women. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 extended voting rights to all adult citizens.

Muir Omni Graphics is a proud recipient of the 2011 Peoria County Recycling and Waste Reduction Award.

For the past 15 years, Peoria County’s Recycling & Resource Conservation Department has honored commercial businesses, schools, government organizations, and shared complexes for their recycling and waste reduction efforts with the Recycling and Waste Reduction Recognition Award. This award acknowledges those who make recycling an integral part of their work philosophy.
 
Applicants are primarily judged based on their quarterly recycled waste stream reports.

In 2010, Muir began donating wooden screen frames and kid-safe scrap products to local community art programs. Muir explores opportunities that will allow portions of production scrap to be re-used, often times by teachers and students for activities that encourage and stimulate creativity. Amongst other things, Muir also recycles office paper, cardboard, plastics and production scrap of polycarbonate, polyethylene, and aluminum.

The company also presented at the IISC Fall Environmental Conference, featuring the company’s journey from the employee initiated recycling program to its achievement of ISO 14001-2004 Certification.

This is Muir Omni Graphics’ 4th Peoria County Recycling and Waste Reduction Recognition Award since 2007.
For more information on the awards or for specific recycling programs in Peoria County, please contact the Recycling Department at (309) 681-2550.

The W. D. Boyce Council, Boy Scouts of America, along with Better Banks and Maui Jim Sunglasses, will host a rappelling event from the roof of the Methodist Atrium Building on Friday, August 19, 2011. The event, now in its second year, will benefit the ScoutREACH program of the W. D. Boyce Council and provide Peoria urban Scouts the opportunity to experience Cache Lake Camp in Canada.

Approximately 90 individuals from throughout the 14 counties of the W. D. Boyce Council will repel down the side of the Methodist Atrium Building, located at 900 Main St. in Peoria.

Over the Edge for ScoutREACH is a day-long event, which runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Methodist Atrium Building. Family, friends and spectators are invited to come down and support participants and also take part in the live entertainment.
Participants of Over the Edge for ScoutREACH are asked to raise a minimum of $1,000 by August 19th. Although there is no age limit, minors will be required to have a waiver signed by their parent or guardian; participants must weigh between 110 and 300 pounds.

For more information on Over the Edge for ScoutREACH, please contact (309) 673-6136 or visit www.betterbanks.com and click on Over the Edge.

Area Residents Offered Free 5-Point Tax Check-Up, Mid-Year Tax Tips, and a Free Backpack

Few Peoria area taxpayers are thinking income taxes in the summertime. But tax professionals note that mid-year is an ideal time to make adjustments that can significantly improve an individual’s tax position the next time he or she files.

To help Peoria area taxpayers learn about tax moves to make now and during the rest of 2011 that can potentially lead to a larger refund or reduce the amount owed when filing next year, Peoria area Jackson Hewitt Tax Service® locations are hosting “Big Tax Check-Up Days” every Thursday throughout August.

And since August is also when parents are thinking about back to school supplies, area taxpayers who take advantage of Jackson Hewitt’s “Big Tax Check-Up Days” will also receive a free backpack (while supplies last) that they can either use for their families or donate to a local school for children in need.

During August’s “Big Tax Check-Up Days,” tax preparers at participating Peoria area Jackson Hewitt offices will meet with taxpayers to conduct the Jackson Hewitt 5-Point Tax Check-Up – a free step-by-step guide on the following mid-year considerations that can impact a tax return:

Life Changes Impact
Withholding Alignment
Savings Tools
Current-Year Expense Planning
Expiring Provisions Alert

In addition, Jackson Hewitt tax preparers will offer to review taxpayers’ year-to-date financial profiles and earnings, as well as their most recent tax returns to ensure they took advantage of all of the credit and deductions available. They will also share information about when and how to amend a return, how to respond to an IRS or state tax notice, when to consider changing withholding status, and other timely tips.

“With the year more than half over, Peoria area taxpayers who spend a few minutes now reviewing our 5-Point Tax Check-Up may find that they can positively impact their situations for the better when filing their 2011 tax returns,” said MARY JO ROBERTS, ASSISTANT AREA MANAGER of PEORIA. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. “By designating four days in August as ‘Big Tax Check-Up Days,’ we’re providing several options for taxpayers to visit an office to better understand actions to take now that can help minimize what they owe or better position them to take home their own ‘big checks’ as tax refunds.”

Please visit our local Jackson Hewitt office at 3809 N Sterling Avenue in Peoria, or call 309-688-1040, or visit us online @ www.jacksonhewitt.com.

Come join us for a glimpse into the future!

All professional and business women owners are invited to have lunch with the mayors hosted by NAWBO-Central IL Chapter (National Association of Women Business Owners-Public Policy). Join us on September 23 beginning at 11:30 am at the Country Club of Peoria. Cost $30. Register by September 16 at www.nawbo-cil.org or call 309-692-2225.

State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) meets with constituents to discuss issues facing the state legislature at a Town Hall Meeting in Peoria Heights on August 8. Gordon discussed major reforms to the state’s budget-making process, education accountability legislation and changes to Illinois’ workers’ compensation system. Gordon also answered questions about the environment, health insurance concerns and economic development prospects.

State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) visits SeniorWorld to address concerns from seniors and get a tour of the facility. SeniorWorld is an adult care center that serves over 100 individuals on a weekly basis. Seniors who attend the organization are provided with daily activities, meals and on-site medical care. Exercise rooms and physical therapy are also provided, if needed.