Register now online at:
www.whitneyswalk.com

5 K Run/Walk
What: Whitney’s Walk For Life 2011
When: Saturday, July 30th
7:55 a.m. – 5K Run (3.1 miles)
8:00 a.m. – 5K Walk (3.1 miles)

Where: Jubilee College State Park @ at Quail Meadow, Brimfield, IL

Registration Fee:
Adults: $25;
Kids, 12 yrs. & under: $15
Team of 5: $250
Online: www.whitneyswalk.com

8th Annual Whitney’s Walk for Life
The 8th Annual Whitney’s Walk For Life will be held on Saturday, July 30 at Jubilee College State Park near Brimfield, Illinois with a 5K run at 7:55 a.m. and a 5K walk to begin at 8:00 a.m. Proceeds from the event help support suicide prevention and mental wellness programs at local schools and community organizations as well as the 24-hour Call for Help Hotline supported by the Mental Health Association of Illinois Valley.
Registration for the event can be made online until July 28th at www.whitneyswalk.com. Pre-registration is preferable but registration can also be done on the day of the event from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m. for runners and 7:00 to 7:45 a.m. for walkers.

The registration fee for the Run or the Walk is $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 years and under. Teams can be formed with a minimum of 5 walkers, runners or donors who raise at least $250. Runners and walkers will receive a Whitney’s Walk t-shirt. T-shirt pick-up will be held at the Brimfield Fire Department on Friday, July 22nd from 4 to 6 p.m. and at the center court of the Shoppes at Grand Prairie on Saturday, July 23rd from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants may also register at the t-shirt pick-up events.

Whitney’s Walk for Life was organized in loving memory of 16-year-old Whitney Ann Grotts of Brimfield. She was a bright, beautiful young lady of with a promising future who, tragically, fell victim to suicide on March 15, 2004. Since 2004, over $400,000 has been raised by Whitney’s Walk. 90% of proceeds are administered through the Mental Health Association of Illinois Valley, Inc., and 10% of proceeds are distributed to the Whitney Grotts Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois.

Recovery from mental illness is not only possible but it is probable with 70 to 90% of those who receive help going on to lead healthy, productive lives. Statistically, suicide is the second leading cause of death in Illinois of individuals from 15-24 years of age, making it critical to seek recovery. For more information, call the Mental Health Association of Illinois Valley at 309-692-1766.

AdCo Advertising Agency, Inc., announces the launch of The Peorian – a fully integrated community program that utilizes print, web, television, social media and annual charity award to pay tribute to the Peoria area.

The Peorian consists of a bi-monthly print and online magazine focusing on Peoria’s “past, present and future in a way no local publication has done before.” Writers Paul Gordon, Peter Couri, Kevin Kizer and Cathi Hawkinson set the tone to illustrate all things Peoria. The magazine will be published six times a year, and be available in area retail shops, advertiser and sponsor locations, as well as online at www.ThePeorian.com.

The website, www.ThePeorian.com will be updated on a daily and weekly basis by editor, Paul Gordon. In addition, the website will have message boards for book, movie, and restaurant reviews, student stories, “Photo caption of the week”, “Things we love about Peoria”, “Ask a Question”, “What’s my stuff worth?”, among other fun interactive sections.

Along with the print and web publication, The Peorian will include a weekly half-hour TV program, hosted by Paul Gordon. The 30-minute television series will air on WHOI-TV on Sunday mornings at 9am (after Good Morning America) and will feature current events and issues in the Peoria Area.

“Our goal is to showcase engaging and insightful stories that speak to everyday people,” said Paul Gordon, The Peorian Editor. “I’m really excited about the future of this magazine as we have a great core of well-known and up-and-coming writers, and an experienced publisher.”

In addition, The Peorian, along with a team of sponsors, will orchestrate an annual “The Peorian of the Year Award”. The community will have a chance to nominate a Peorian who has demonstrated great care of and for their community. The nominees will be asked to select a non-profit to represent and both the nominees as well as the non-profit will be featured in all of The Peorian’s entities. The Peorian of the Year Award will consist of an annual spring luncheon with a national keynote speaker (to be announced) at which time “The Peorian of the Year” will be announced and their non- profit, will receive $10,000.

For advertising or sponsorship information contact ads@thepeorian.com. Have a story you’d like to share about Peoria contact editor@thepeorian.com. For interviews about The Peorian, or The Peorian of the Year contact paul@thepeorian.com.

The monthly meeting of the Better Breathers Club will be held Wednesday, July 27, 2011 from 3 – 4:30 PM in Classroom 1 at the RiverPlex in downtown Peoria.

The program will feature Dr. Bhagat Aulakh, pulmonologist and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine – Peoria. Dr. Aulakh will be speaking about lung disease and current research.

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.

Residents Should Take Precautions

The Peoria City/County Health Department is advising the public about the potential risk of exposure to rabies after a rabid bat was identified in Peoria County. Rabies is a dangerous but preventable viral disease that affects the central nervous system of humans and other mammals. It is often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal like raccoons, skunks, or bats, but domestic animals such as dogs and cats also account for some of the reported rabies cases in the United States.

Greg Chance, Administrator at Peoria City/County Health Department, cautions residents, “With identification of a bat with rabies in Peoria County, I caution any person having exposure to bats to report that exposure immediately to your Animal Protection Services and Health Department to assess the need for rabies treatment.”

The following guidelines can help protect people and pets from rabies:
• If you see a bat in your home, leave the room and close the door if possible. Place a towel under the door to block escape and call your local Animal Control Center. Do not attempt to handle or kill the bat. Peoria County Animal Protection Services (PCAPS) at 672-2440 will respond at any time to capture and impound bats that residents have encountered inside a home in Peoria County.
• Report all animal bites to the local Animal Control Center and local Health Department. If someone has been bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
• Notify the Animal Control Center or local Health Department if you suspect you, another household member, or a pet has been exposed, even if the bat was seen in a room with a sleeping child or adult.
• If you find a dead bat in your home, call Animal Control Center for instructions.
• Tightly close all outside doors to prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas where they might have contact with people and pets.
• Carefully examine your home for holes that might allow bats entry. Any opening larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch should be caulked. Board up any openings to your attic, basement, porch or garage. Cap chimneys with screens.
• Be sure dogs and cats are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations by consulting with your veterinarian. Vaccinated pets serve as a buffer between rabid wildlife and humans.
• Do not handle wild or domestic animals that have been trapped. Contact your local Animal Control Center for assistance.
• Encourage children to immediately tell an adult if they are bitten or scratched by an animal. Teach children not to approach or to touch any animal they do not know.

For more information about Public Health issues call the Peoria City/County Health Department at 679-6603 or visit our website at www.pcchd.org .

Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing awarded Bachelor of Science in nursing degrees to 82 students, Master of Science in nursing degrees to 16 students during its Spring graduation ceremony.

MSN program students graduating with distinction, along with their hometowns:
Chillicothe: Laura Youngman
Delavan: Shellane Cunningham
East Peoria: Rita Haedicke, Jessica Stewart, Dawn Tucker
Edelstein: Tammy Neys
Galva: Sherri Aufderheide
Metamora: Erin Larson
Peoria: Lezley Anderson, Paul Kortz
Trivoli: Gayle Herbert Lucas
Washington: Melissa McQueary

Others receiving MSN degrees:
Brimfield: Maureen Hermann
Effingham: Kathleen Weber
Washington: Scott Gonia, Stephanie McCabe

The Sister M. Ludgera Memorial Award was presented to Laura Youngman of Chillicothe.

Masters graduates are considered for this award based on leadership as demonstrated by outstanding nursing practice based on clinical judgments; caring patient interactions; and problem solving abilities; or outstanding teaching abilities as evidenced by the ability to meet teaching objectives; providing excellent classroom organization; use of a variety of teaching methods; and, incorporating active learning.

BSN students graduating Summa Cum Laude:
Abingdon: Brenda Doud, RN
Chillicothe: Linda Newcomer, RN
Dunlap: Nicole Espinosa, RN
Germantown Hills: Valeska Telford
Geneseo: Sarah Abell
Metamora: Kelly Flavin, RN; Emily Miller
Morton: Kerri Auer, Mary Chambers, Michelle Heinold
Peoria: Tasha Eggleston, RN; Anne Kirchgessner; Rachel Tuma; Mantegbosh Yohannes
Tremont: Carissa Myers, RN

BSN students graduating Magna Cum Laude:
Groveland: Paula Lafond, RN
Mapleton: Lynette Eeten, RN
Marquette Heights: Tricia Malott-Sturm, RN
Morton: Carol Swank
Washington: Heather Kypta

BSN students graduating Cum Laude:
East Peoria: Cassandra Cady
Goodfield: Katherine Wagner
Peoria: Jessica Adlof, Katelyn Pierce, Qian Su
Washington: Abby Marsh

The Excellence in Nursing Award given to Julie Troup of Creve Coeur.

Nominees must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average and are considered on the basis of involvement and contribution to the College, community, and profession in relation to the following criteria: dependability, accountability, enthusiasm, leadership, caring, positive attitude, and professional role model.

Other area students receiving BSN degrees:
Bartonville: Emily Ayres, Heidi Redenius
Bloomington: Katherine Michaels, Jennifer Wellwood
Brimfield: Michael Kirkland, Erin Price
Bushnell: Deborah Redding
Canton: Jessica Beoletto, Morgan Beoletto, Jessica Long
Carlock: Audrey Ruegsegger
Chicago: Ariam Mael
Chillicothe: Jonathan Sarver
Creve Coeur: Julie Goodman, Julie Troup
Cuba: Jaylene Tompkins
Dunlap: Sonia Arida, Danielle Basler
East Peoria: Julie Campbell, Julie Kannenberg, Anna Kuebler
Eureka: Andrew Brown
Germantown Hills: Stacey Landwehr
Groveland: Adrian Carr
Havana: Christopher Hixon, Michelle Windsor
Henry: Elizabeth Hastings
LeRoy: Dini Roosilawati – Stroops
Macomb: Amy Provine
Mahomet: Sarah Pauley
Metamora: Heidi Cook, Danielle Wernsman
Monmouth: Stacia Hackspacher
Morton: Carrie Hoyle, Shannon Kunkle, Danielle Ulrich, Jana Williams
Peoria: Dominique Alexandre-Strong; Elizabeth Brodt; Shanese Cagle-Smith; Mary Matulis; Angela Miller, RN;
Patrick Pautler; H. Nicole Simon;
Peoria Heights: Joel Aten
Pekin: Naobi DeWitt, Victoria Olsen, Genevieve Wessel
Princeton: Patricia Brooks, Kimberly Morse
Princeville: Victoria Simpson
Roanoke: B. Rebecca Oliviero
Rome: Brooke Foley
Washington: Jessica Compton, Michelle Gschwind
West Peoria: Truphenah Moseti

Students join the American Cancer Society in the fight against cancer

Selected Illinois students are trading in their bathing suit and sun block for a lab coat and test tubes. Three juniors, Audra Storm, attending Illinois Valley Central High School, Morgan Timm, attending Richwoods High School, and Thompson Zhuang, attending Eureka High School will spend their summer conducting cancer research. Interested in pursuing a career in science, all students will get an early start with the American Cancer Society’s Summer High School Research Program.

The Society’s Illinois Division gives a diverse group of high school students the chance to spend eight weeks working with cancer experts in the state’s top research facilities, including the University of Illinois – Peoria. Of the hundreds of applicants, only 34 high school juniors were chosen to intern this summer with society-funded researchers and assist in hands-on work.

The program has produced 169 alumni, all who are attending or have attended college. Currently in its eighth year, the internship promotes bridging many of Illinois’ finest students into the future of science, specifically in fields related to cancer.

“The Society is committed to nurturing the potential and interests of all future scientific and medical leaders,” said Dr. K. Thomas Robbins, First Vice President, American Cancer Society-IL Division Board of Directors/Chair, Research Advisory Committee. “This internship is a great opportunity for students to develop skills around cancer research, something that most students typically do not experience until graduate school.”

During the research program, students are assigned an individual, limited and achievable project to research four days per week. On the fifth day, students typically attend lectures and present updates of their research. At the end of the summer, students will also present a collective report of their overall findings.

For more than 60 years, the American Cancer Society has funded research and training of health professionals to investigate the causes, prevention, and early detection of cancer, as well as new treatments, cancer survivorship, and end of life support for patients and their families.

[This just in from: http://www.heartlandpartnership.org/content/illinois-rises-top-state-business-ranking]

Illinois rises in CNBC’s Top States for Business 2011 ranking despite the negative news about the business climate. Illinois ranks 22nd in “CNBC’s Top States for Business”, which is up from a ranking of 30 in 2010. CNBC scored all 50 states on 43 measures of competitiveness developed with input from business groups including the National Association of Manufacturers and the Council on Competitiveness. States received points based on their rankings in each metric. Then, the scores were separated into ten broad categories, weighting the categories based on how frequently they are cited in state economic development marketing materials (therefore, the study ranks the states based on the criteria they use to sell themselves).

Here’s how Illinois scored in each of the 10 categories:

Rank category
24 – Cost of Doing Business
45 – Workforce
28 – Quality of Life
32 – Economy
6 – Transportation & Infrastructure
6 – Technology & Innovation
29 – Education
36 – Business Friendliness
5 – Access to Capital
20 – Cost of Living

Virginia is back on top, knocking Texas out of the top spot and capturing first-place honors for the third time in five years. The top five states were (1) Virginia, (2) Texas, (3) North Carolina, (4) Georgia and (5) Colorado. The bottom five on the list were (50) Rhode Island, (49) Alaska, (48) Hawaii, (47) Mississippi and (46) West Virginia.

A drifter with a past as a gunfighter happens by struggling homesteaders threatened by a powerful land baron, and he comes to their aid in “Shane,” the Oscar-winning 1953 western showing on Saturday, July 23 at downtown Peoria’s nonprofit Apollo Theater.

Starring Alan Ladd in the title role, the two-hour gem also features Jean Arthur and Van Heflin. It was directed by filmmaker George Stevens, whose credits range from “Giant” and “Woman of the Year” to “A Place in the Sun” and “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”

Besides the main plot of little guys vs. big shots – pitting farmers or sheep herders against ranchers or bankers is the familiar western structure – “Shane” has a touching subplot of an impressionable youngster who comes to idolize the mystery man helping his family.

Brandon de Wilde stars as the kid, heading an impressive supporting cast including Ben Johnson, Elisha Cook, Jr., Edgar Buchanan and Jack Palance – as a sinister hired gun.

Its screenplay was by Pulitzer Prize winner A.B. Guthrie Jr., based on Jack Schaefer’s 1949 novel.

Besides winning an Academy Award for Color Cinematography for the spectacular vistas, which become almost another character, “Shane” was nominated for five other Oscars.

Show times at the Apollo are at 7:oo p.m. Donations are $5 and $4 for kids, students and seniors. For details call (309) 673-4343.

Proctor Hospital is pleased to host an American Red Cross Blood Drive Thursday, July 14. The Drive will be held from 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in classrooms 1 and 2 of the Proctor professional Building adjacent the Hospital at 5409 N. Knoxville, Peoria. Lunch from Avanti’s will be provided at 11:00 a.m.

To schedule and appointment or to be a walk-in donor call Carrie at (309) 689-8608

Give blood. The need is constant. The gratification is instant.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index® (WBI) ranks Peoria 13th best city in the country for total well-being and health of its residents. The WBI rankings are based on data gathered between January and December 2010 regarding resident’s life evaluation, emotional health, physical health, healthy behavior, work environment and basic access to healthcare.

Communities receive a well-being composite score based on life evaluation, emotional health, physical health, healthy behavior, work environment and basic access to healthcare. Peoria was ranked 13th in the nation and 10th among midsized cities. The state of Illinois was ranked 26th.