The Peoria POPS Orchestra and the Peoria Park District present “POP and Popcorn” on Friday, July 1 at 7:00 p.m. at Five Points Washington (360 N. Wilmor Road, Washington, Illinois).

This evening of fun and musical entertainment features the Peoria POPS Orchestra, conducted by Harold Greene. Special guests include members of the Central Illinois Youth Symphony and their parents. The program is a celebration of popular music and the movies, featuring pop hits from some of the biggest names in the business such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and “Old Blue Eyes,” Frank Sinatra. Music from movie soundtracks will also be performed – including Shrek, Harry Potter, Disney classics, and High School Musical. Expect the unexpected in this family-friendly concert!

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors (ages 62 and over). Group rates are available. Purchase tickets at Five Points Washington. For more information, call 444-8222 or visit http://fivepointswashington.org/events2011.htm.
For more information on the Peoria POPS Orchestra, contact Peoria Park District Arts Coordinator Linda Huff at 681-2861 or visit http://www.peoriaparks.org/music.

This year at Heritage Days will provide a variety of activities and entertainment both outside and in the air conditioned windmill hall. The event kicks off with music and dancing featuring Mike Coultas and Kathy Brink on Friday evening from 8:00 to 11:00 in the air conditioned hall. Hot dogs, snacks, free popcorn and beverages will be served. Admission will be $4.00.

Kick off the Heritage Days activities Friday night with music and dancing in the Windmill Hall from 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. An admission fee of $4.00 will cover the three hours of music and free popcorn. Hotdogs, chips and soda will be available for purchase.

Venders’ booths will be open any time after setup Friday afternoon or 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning, Heritage Days activities will begin on Friday evening with entertainment in the windmill hall. Activities Saturday, July 9, begin with a parade through Golden at 10:00 AM followed by contests and entertainment, and continue through Sunday, July 10, with a church service at 9:30 AM, the sweet corn dinner, entertainment and an historical presentation ending around 4:00 p.m. Food and beverages will be available both days at the Historical Society food stand and in the hall during the Friday evening entertainment.

Windmill and Museum tours will be ongoing from 10:00 – 4:00 on Saturday and 11:00 – 4:00 on Sunday for the nominal fee of $3.00. The gift shop will be open during the same hours. Many new 25th Anniversary items are available.

The opening parade will start at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. This year the theme is “Silver Years of Milling to celebrate the twenty fifth anniversary of the windmill restoration project and the organization of the Golden Historical Society. Descendents of founding settlers from the Golden area are encouraged to participate in the parade with family groups walking, riding on floats or vintage cars. Organizations, businesses, clubs and individuals are all welcome to participate. Those interested in having a parade entry may contact Angela Goldenstein at 217-430-4496.

A Clothing Show begins at 11:30 on the new stage in the air conditioned windmill hall. Anyone may participate in the style show. You may wish to come in period clothing for the parade and join in the clothing review. This year a special Anniversary segment will feature clothing from 25 years ago (circa 1980’s).

Spelling bee at 12:30 with both adult and children’s categories, Opa and Oma (Grandpa and Grandma) and Mr. and Mrs. Emminga will be telling stories about coming to this country and life in Golden in the early years at 1:00.

Children’s contests will begin at 1:30 with a baby contest, for infants to 12 months. Junior Miss Heritage Days will be held at 2:00 and Little Mr. & Miss Heritage Days at 2:30 for ages 3 – 7. At 3:30 Brittney Morison will perform and at 4:00 Nona Long and Carolyn will tell stories, play the violin and sing. Local talent will provide entertainment in a Talent Contest at 5:30 PM Saturday evening which will also be held on the stage in the windmill hall. Persons interested in being in any of these contests should call 696-2358 or 901-652-1675.Watch the newspapers for all contest information and registration forms. Registration forms for all of the contests will be available in the hall during Heritage Days. Sandwiches, sweet corn, drinks and desserts will be available at the outside food stand throughout Saturday and Sunday.

Free Saturday evening entertainment from 6:30 to 8:00 PM will be provided on the stage by the Country Bluebirds and Larry Flesner…Be prepared for toe tapping music and a good time.

Sunday activities begin at 9:30 AM with a Church Service held in the windmill hall. The 24th annual Sweet Corn Dinner will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Windmill Hall and continue to 1:00 p.m. A special presentation, the American Folk Song, by Mark Dvorak, will begin at 1:00 PM. This program is made possible by an award from the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Illinois General Assembly. At 2:00 there will be a sweet corn eating contest in the outside entertainment tent. After this short but entertaining activity, there will be a flower arranging demonstration from approximately 2:15 to 2:45 and a final presentation of stories from the past by Opa and Oma from 3:00 to 3:30 will conclude the activities in the Hall. In addition to activity fees and donations, Heritage Days is partially funded by a grant from Thrivant for Lutherans.

In addition to the sweet corn eating contest in the outside tent, music will be provided during the noon hour by the Country Bluebirds, Marilee Crooks and Larry Flesner. At 2:30 Larry Cantrell & Co. including Bob & Pat Cook will provide Gospel music.

Again this year easier access parking will be available on the gravel parking lot east of the Hall. Handicap and seniors parking will be available near the hall entrance. For Heritage Days information call Karen Nichols 217-593-7291, Email: knichols@adams.net or Joan Tenhouse 217-696-4859, Email – joanrt@adams.net, Website: www.goldenwindmill.org.

For the summer tourist season, the windmill, museum and gift shop will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. May through October and by appointment or chance. Admission is $3.00 for adults and $1:00 for children, kindergarten through 12th grade. Group tours are also available and may include a meal. To arrange for mill and museum tours, contact Norma Beckett at 217-696-4678. The Windmill Hall can be rented for special events, family reunions, wedding and anniversary celebrations and can be reserved by contacting Kay Lord at 217-696-2360.

Celebrates Books, Release of Last Movie

Harry Potter Week is July 10 – 16 at the Peoria Public Library. The week is full of exciting events and activities for all ages including the following:

· Horcrux Hunt: Throughout Harry Potter Week, Peoria Public Library website visitors can spot Voldemort’s seven Horcruxes hidden throughout the website. Find all seven Horcruxes and visit your nearest library to claim a prize! All ages welcome. Free. For more information, call 497-2143.

· A Harry Potter “Look-A-Like” Contest will be held throughout the entire month of July. If you think you look like any Harry Potter character (or if your pet looks like a Harry Potter animal), turn in your picture for a chance to win a prize. Submit photos to NenaBurbank@ppl.peoria.lib.il.us. Winners of the contest will be selected at the end of the month and will be notified by August 3. All ages welcome. Free. For more information, call 497-2143.

· Harry Potter Wand Craft: Monday, July 11, go to the North Branch from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. to make your own wand! All materials will be provided. All ages welcome. Free. For more information, call 497-2100.

· “Families and Fandom”: Tuesday, July 12, at the Lakeview Branch from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., join the mother-daughter team of Linda and Amber Lowery as they discuss creative ways to get your children interested in reading through the world of Harry Potter. They will share stories of their own experience starting and maintaining a Harry Potter book club for a diverse group of people. All ages welcome. Free. For more information, call 497-2000.

· Golden Snitch Day: Wednesday, July 13, go to any library location and use your OWN library card to check out one item and you will be entered for a chance to win your own PPL Golden Snitch! Winners will be drawn July 15 and notified by July 18. For children ages 5-13. Free. For more information, call 497-2143.

· Harry Potter Movie Showing: Thursday, July 14, go to Main Branch at 3:00 p.m. to view “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” before the premiere of Part 2 on July 15. Attendees will be entered into a prize drawing. Refreshments will be provided. All ages welcome. Free. For more information, call 497-2000.

· Harry Potter Dress-Up Day: Friday, July 15, dress up as your favorite Harry Potter character and come to the library to join other readers, as well as staff, to support Harry Potter series! All ages welcome. Free. For more information, call 497-2143.

· Harry Potter Final Movie Discussion: Saturday, July 16, drop in between 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., and chat at the Leaky Cauldron with resident Harry Potter expert Amber Lowery as she leads a discussion on the final installment of the Harry Potter series. Discussion is particularly for those who see the premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” which opens July 15. All ages welcome. Free. For more information, call 497-2143.

On-air demonstrations, satellite communications, D-Star technology and emergency preparedness activities are on tap for members of the Peoria-Area Amateur Radio Club as they gear up to celebrate Amateur Radio Field Day, June 25-26, 2011. Field Day is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for Amateur Radio.

During Field Day, operators set up in local parks, at shopping malls, or even in their own backyards, and get on the air using generators, battery, wind or solar power. Field Day was designed to test operators’ abilities to set up and operate portable stations under less than ideal conditions such as the loss of electricity. “We want the community to know that in the event of an emergency, we will be ready to assist in any way we can, says Merle Joiner, Call Sign KB9VQH, PAARC Field Day Co-Chairman. “While people often think that cell phones or other communications technologies have replaced ham radio, we can still provide an important communications service that others can’t.”
Field Day is a serious test of skill, but it is also a contest for fun and the largest “on-air” operating event each year. During the weekend, radio operators try to contact as many other Field Day stations as possible. More than 30,000 Amateur Radio operators across the country and Canada participated in last year’s event.

The Peoria-Area Amateur Radio Club will hold Field Day at the Farm Pavilion, adjacent to Wildlife Prairie Park and will be operating from Saturday June 25 at 1:00PM to Sunday June 26 at 1:00PM. “We hope that anyone who is interested in seeing what Amateur Radio is all about will come out for Field Day,” says Fritz Bock, Call Sign WD9FMB, Field Day Co-Chairman.

Today there are more than 670,000 Amateur Radio operators in the United States and more than 2.5 million worldwide. To find out more about Amateur Radio or how you can get started, contact Fritz Bock at WD9FMB@gmail.com or our website at www.W9UVI.org . Information is also available from the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111 or by calling 1-800-32-NEW HAM. The URL for the ARRL’s home page on the World Wide Web is www.arrl.org.

Retreat & Refresh Stroke Camp, with support from Petersen Healthcare, the Illinois Neurological Institute (INI) and the Pilot Club of Peoria, is teaming up with the Peoria Chiefs to raise awareness about stroke and honor stroke survivors during the June 26 game at O’Brien Field. Stroke survivors from throughout the state will be in attendance.

Peoria Chiefs vs. Kane County Cougars
O’Brien Field

Game Time: 1:00 PM

The Retreat & Refresh Stroke Camp team recently visited area schools, educating approximately 400 fifth graders about stroke and holding a poster contest. The students were asked to create educational posters with the grand prize winner, Michael Mattern from Germantown Hills Middle School, earning the right to arrive at centerfield via Life Flight helicopter (courtesy of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center) to deliver the game ball.

For the first time in central Illinois, Genentech, INI and Retreat & Refresh Stroke Camp will be presenting The MEGA Brain™, the world’s only portable, inflatable, walk-through brain exhibit.  The MEGA Brain lets visitors step inside the human brain, learn about the various structures and normal brain function, observe examples of brain trauma and disease, and view displays explaining some of the latest neurological medical treatments.

Tickets for the game can be purchased by calling the Stroke Camp office at 309-688-5450. A portion of the ticket sales purchased through the Stroke Camp office will be donated to the camp. Tickets can be picked up the day of the game at the stroke camp table at O’Brien Field.

The Illinois Neurological Institute is sponsoring the September 9-11, 2011 stroke camp at Menno Haven, Tiskilwa, IL. The Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp is a weekend camping experience for stroke survivors and their caregivers. For more information about the camp, contact Marylee Nunley or Larry Schaer at 309-688-5450.

Peoria Public Library is one of more than 60 Illinois public libraries selected to receive a “Business and Libraries Working Together” grant from Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White to assist local small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Ed Szynaka, Library Director, said the grant will provide “business packages” that include equipment (laptop computers, DVD players, projectors, video cameras), software (planning and office functions) and training videos (office safety, sexual harassment, hostile workplace). This is great news for the Peoria community and the Library. “We have always provided a high level of support to the business community, especially the small and start-up business. This grant will permit a dramatic increase in the those services. We want to thank the Secretary of State and the State Librarian for their confidence and support,” said Szynaka.

“Public libraries like Peoria Public Library are cornerstones of our communities, and partnerships such as this between libraries, small businesses and aspiring employers can hopefully spur economic development and job creation in communities like Peoria,” said Secretary White. “Highly skilled librarians and library staff are extremely valuable and reliable sources of information for small businesses and entrepreneurs. These business packages represent new tools that public libraries like Peoria Public Library can utilize to promote business development and entrepreneurship.”

Funding for the business packages was obtained by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) through a $300,000 appropriation to the Small Business Administration (SBA). The criteria for awarding the package included local unemployment rate; proximity to and cooperation with a Small Business Development Center, Service Corps of Retired Employees (SCORE) office, or chamber of commerce.

“Small businesses are key to our economic recovery,” Senator Durbin said. “This funding will allow public libraries like Peoria Public Library to offer information and assistance to small business owners in communities across Illinois. With these new resources and continued support from local public libraries, businesses throughout Illinois will grow and local economies will improve.”

Director Szynaka said local businesses and entrepreneurs interested in working with the library on the initiative should contact the library reference department at 309.497.2158.

Carl Cannon was the honored guest at Common Place’s 5th annual Common Place Love In Action Award Dinner for his service to the community, which exemplifies the mission of Common Place. The dinner was held in his honor on Thursday, June 9th, at the Pere Marquette Hotel.

Over 150 guests were in attendance, including Peoria Park Trustee Robert Johnson and other Park District members; Peoria Housing Authority Board Members; City officials; and law enforcement officials. Speakers included Mayor Jim Ardis, Aurthur Mae Perkins, Wayne Cannon, and Bryan Rudolph who presented a letter from Congressman Aaron Schock. Common Place members of JROTC and the Boy Scouts opened the evening by leading the Pledge of Allegiance, and Common Place youth participants performed the CP Teen Reach Stomp in honor of Mr. Cannon.

Common Place Family Learning Center, a social service organization whose mission is to strive to eliminate the root causes of poverty and other social injustices, first created the award in 2007 to honor a person(s) from the community who supports the Common Place mission and has made a lasting difference in our community in the areas of justice, community organizing, neighborhood development/stabilization, education, or literacy.

Local children’s author Deborah Ruddell will be hosting an interactive story time event for her new book Who Said Coo? on July 1, 2011, 12:00 – 12:45 p.m. at the Peoria Public Library Lakeview Branch. Ages 4-7. Free. For more information, call 497-2200.

The Peoria City/County Health Department is reminding the public about Sun Safety during summer fun. During outdoor summer activities, the sun can cause painful sunburns for people of all ages. Sunburns can happen quickly but can also cause problems over the years. Sunburns can increase the risk of a child, teen, or young adult developing skin cancer later in life. A person does not have to be at the pool, beach, or on vacation to get too much sun. Their skin needs protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays whenever they are outdoors. There are easy options for protection from the sun’s UV rays.

*Seek shade – UV rays are strongest and most harmful during midday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., so it is best to stay out of the sun during these times. If this is not possible, seek shade under a tree, umbrella, or a pop-up tent. Use these options to prevent sunburn, not to seek relief once it has happened. UV rays, of course, are present on bright and sunny days, but UV rays can also penetrate through cloud and haze cover, making cloudy and overcast days dangerous as well.

*Cover up – Clothing that covers the skin helps protect against UV rays. Although a long-sleeved shirt and long pants with a tight weave are best, they are not always practical. A t-shirt, long shorts, or a beach cover-up are good choices, but it is wise to double up on protection by applying sunscreen or keeping in the shade when possible.

*Get a hat – Hats with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck give great protection. Baseball caps are popular, but they do not protect the ears and neck. If wearing a cap, be sure to protect exposed areas with sunscreen.

*Grab shades – Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays, which can lead to cataracts later in life. Look for sunglasses that wrap around and block as much of 100% of both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays as possible.

*Rub on sunscreen – Use sunscreen with at least sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher and both UVA and UVB protection. For most effective protection, apply sunscreen generously 30 minutes before going outdoors. Do not forget to protect ears, noses, lips, and tops of feet.

For more information about summer safety, visit our website at www.pcchd.org or call (309) 679-6131.

Bradley University has received a grant of $5,500 from Illinois American Water’s 2011 Environmental Grant Program to launch a project to engage community members in monitoring water quality along the Illinois River and its tributaries.

Illinois American Water’s Environmental Grant Program funds community-based projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds. Bradley’s project was one of seven selected from more than 30 grant applications evaluated on criteria such as environmental need, innovation, community engagement and sustainability.

The University, in collaboration with the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC), will establish a River Action League in central Illinois that will involve citizens in water quality data collection to improve understanding of local water and watershed quality. The project is designed to increase awareness of how to build a healthier river and to advocate for sustainable river management.

The coordinators are Dr. Kelly McConnaughay, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of biology, and Dr. Sherri Morris, associate professor of biology, both at Bradley, and Melissa Eaton of the TCRPC.

“Addressing water quality issues and watershed protection requires improved data acquisition and interpretation and more informed citizens,” said Dr. McConnaughay. “We are grateful for the Illinois American grant which allows us to begin this important project to provide long-term benefits to our community.”

The River Action League will involve citizens of all ages in informal science education activities including data collection, workshops, seminars and classes. Participants will be trained in water quality data collection and will collect data from local stream systems. Bradley professors will analyze the data and upload it to a mapping website.

The project partners hope to train up to 50 volunteers to collect data this summer and plan to begin building the database this fall.