One in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. According to the American Cancer Society, women should have yearly screening mammograms beginning at age forty. Mammograms are the most important tool for early detection of breast cancer. If found in the early stages, there is a 98% chance of survival for the first five years.

The Methodist MammoVan will be at the County Market in Lewistown on Friday, June 3, 2011 from 8:30 to 11:30 am.

The Methodist MammoVan will be at Heartline in Eureka on Monday, June 13, 2011 from 8:30 to 11:30 am.

The MammoVan offers the newest digital technology mammograms, making it easier, faster and more comfortable. It only takes 15 minutes and it could save your life! This program is made possible, in part, by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Peoria Memorial Affiliate.

To schedule your appointment, call 671-8282. If you are under insured or uninsured, there may be a grant that will cover the cost of your appointment. The County Market is located at 518 S. Main St. in Lewistown.

The Center for Prevention of Abuse Hosts a Banquet for Manual, Trewyn, Mark Bills, Parkview Middle School & Richwood’s Students Graduating From the HARTS and Mind Over Muscle Programs

In honor of these students who are graduating from The Center’s Prevention Programs that focus on healthy relationships and exploring healthy notions of masculinity, a banquet will be held to acknowledge their hard work and accomplishments.
WHO: Students and their families, teachers, counselors and the Prevention Educators from The Center for Prevention of Abuse
WHAT: Dinner, Play and Graduation Ceremony
WHEN: Thursday May 26, 2011, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Universalist Unitarian Church, 3000 W. Richwoods Blvd.

The Center offers curricula in safe touch, violence prevention, behavioral skills training, sexual assault/abuse prevention and healthy relationships to students pre-k through college touching the lives of 15,000 students per/year. Presentations and trainings are also offered to parents, school staff and community groups. For more information on prevention programs contact Jeanne Anders at 691-0551.

HARTS – Helping All Relationships To be Safe
HARTS is a program for young women designed to build self esteem and promote self-determination. HARTS covers the characteristics of a healthy (equal) relationship in order to equip young women to live a violent free lifestyle. Increased attendance, decreased office referrals and suspensions and increase in GPA have shown significant results with girls who have attended the Harts group for two semesters and indicated strong changes in attitude and behavior. HARTS is a four session to six year program for girls beginning in third grade and continuing until their senior year. The HARTS program consists of 10 girls and each individual group meets once a week. HARTS participants also get actively involved in several community events and service projects, using the skills they have learned. The three specific goals of the HARTS program are:
1. To offer girls the tools to form healthy relationships with personal boundaries.
2. To increase knowledge of self empowerment and raise self-esteem by exploring a range of educational and occupational opportunities.
3. To offer an increased knowledge of learning how to respond and deal with violence at home, school, or in a dating relationship.

Mind Over Muscle
Mind Over Muscle is a program for young men, (grade school-high school), focusing on the right way to handle conflict by using brains instead of fists. Mind Over Muscle covers the concepts behind appropriate conflict resolution, while stressing the importance of accountability for one’s actions. Participants in Mind Over Muscle learn how today’s (re) actions impact their dreams for tomorrow. Increased attendance, decreased office referrals and suspensions and increase in GPA have shown significant results with boys who have attended Mind Over Muscle group for two semesters and indicated strong changes in attitude and behavior. The Mind Over Muscle program consists of 10 boys and each individual group meets once a week. The boys also get actively involved in several community events and service projects, using the skills they have learned. The three specific goals of Mind Over Muscle are:

1. To offer young men the tools they need to resolve conflicts peacefully & respectfully
2. To develop a sense of accountability among participants, to help them understand how to learn from mistakes instead of making excuses for poor behavior.
3. To foster feelings of accomplishment to strengthen self-esteem and develop a willingness to try new things for personal growth.

For questions about each program please contact:
Jeanne Anders, Supervisor of School Based Prevention Services at The Center for Prevention of Abuse at 309-691-0551 ext. 294 or Email: janders@centerforpreventionofabuse.org

Summer is a time for being outdoors, barbequing, vacationing; just enjoying the nice weather. Unfortunately, it is not an enjoyable time for everyone, For those dealing with disease, illness, injury or poverty, those who have no home or no food, those who are abuse or alone, summer is a time of pain and misery.

You can help by donating a car you no longer need to charity. Cars4Charities will proudly handle your car donation for you, promptly and professionally. They have a very extensive list of charities you can donate car to; including International, National, Regional and local charities. Cars4Charities will sell your donated car for the highest amount possible and send the proceeds to the charity you choose from their list.

Cars4Charities is recognized by the IRS as a charity themselves, so you can be confident your car donation will be handled properly. You can even donate car that will not start or is in poor shape. Cars4Charities will pick your car up fast and free too! When you donate your car, you will receive a tax deduction.

When you’re ready to donate car, please contact Cars4Charities at http://www.cars4charities.org/ or call them toll free at 1-866-448-3487. They will gladly explain the entire car donation process to you.

Dangerous Chemicals in Electronic Devices often Simply Thrown Out
Continuing her efforts to improve the environment while being fiscally responsible, state Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) passed legislation Friday aimed at increasing the recycling of electronics in Illinois.

“Electronic devices often contain chemicals and other potentially dangerous components that people might not even think about when disposing of them,” said Gordon.” “By promoting opportunities and information for recycling we can help our environment and keep potentially dangerous chemicals from contaminating Illinois.”

Senate Bill 2106 overhauls the Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act (EPRRA). Provisions of the new bill aim to provide counties with additional means to inform the public of the dangers of not recycling electronics while also providing recycling locations.

Electronic devices such as computers, televisions and many others can contain various materials that pose a risk to personal and environmental health. The raw materials these devices contain also have a significant resale value. The measure also updates what products are covered under the EPRRA, as well as detailing new requirements for merchants and providers of electronic devices.

“This bill not only helps expand the recycling industry, which will create new jobs in our communities, but it has a positive impact on environmental health,” Gordon said. “This legislation has the potential to help our economy and environment. I hope the governor will act quickly to sign this environmentally and economically friendly piece of legislation into law.”

For more information on this or any of Rep. Gordon’s legislation, please contact her at her constituent services office at (309) 681-1992.

Saturday, May 21st 2011 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1919 North Sheridan Rd., Peoria, IL 61604

We will be hosting our monthly meeting bringing together entrepreneurs and professionals with young men throughout the community to discuss and analyze life building skills.

50 years ago doctors and lawyers lived next door to everyday people and if you did not get the proper role modeling and guidance from home you were able to get it from a neighbor. Today, unfortunately, that doesn’t exist for so many of our young people. They are forced to navigate alone, through a very complex matrix, life.

We are looking for successful individuals in the community to come out and share their journey and insight with young men from the community. If you know of any young men that will benefit from the ages of 16-24 or any men that are doing positive things professionally or in the community please have them contact us so that they can be apart of this effort.

Contact Us: Jonathon Romain or Joy Holmquist at 309-713-3744

Erin J. Overcash, W.H.N.P.-B.C. (Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified) has joined Dr. Larry Overcash & Women’s Health Institute in Peoria as their Nurse Practitioner in Women’s Health.

Overcash received her B.S.N. from Bradley University in 2006 and earned her M.S.N. specializing in women’s health care from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2010. While in training, Erin worked as a Registered Nurse in Labor and Delivery at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois for over five years.

Erin’s passion is helping women of all ages and in all stages of their lives live happier and healthier. She is committed to first and foremost listening to you and then working with you by providing you with the best education and care to help make your life the best it can be.

Women’s Health Institute (www.theobgyndocs.com), a family owned medical center since 1986, is located at 7309 North Knoxville, Suite 300, Peoria, Illinois 61614. Women’s Health Institute has the medical team and experience to provide comprehensive healthcare services to women of all ages. WHI is accepting new patients, on staff at all area hospitals, and accepts most insurance plans.

In honor of the students from Manual High School who are graduating from The Center’s Prevention Programs that focus on healthy relationships and exploring healthy notions of masculinity, a banquet will be held to acknowledge their hard work and accomplishments.

WHO: Manual students and their families, teachers, counselors and the Prevention Educators from The Center for Prevention of Abuse
WHAT: Dinner, Play and Graduation Ceremony
WHEN: Thursday May 26, 2011 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Universalist Unitarian Church, 3000 W. Richwoods Blvd., Peoria, Illinois 61604

The Center offers curricula in safe touch, violence prevention, behavioral skills training, sexual assault/abuse prevention and healthy relationships to students pre-k through college touching the lives of 15,000 students per/year. Presentations and trainings are also offered to parents, school staff and community groups. For more information on prevention programs contact Jeanne Anders at 691-0551.

HARTS – Helping All Relationships To be Safe
HARTS is a program for young women designed to build self esteem and promote self-determination. HARTS covers the characteristics of a healthy (equal) relationship in order to equip young women to live a violent free lifestyle. Increased attendance, decreased office referrals and suspensions and increase in GPA have shown significant results with girls who have attended the Harts group for two semesters and indicated strong changes in attitude and behavior. HARTS is a four session to six year program for girls beginning in third grade and continuing until their senior year. The HARTS program consists of 10 girls and each individual group meets once a week. HARTS participants also get actively involved in several community events and service projects, using the skills they have learned. The three specific goals of the HARTS program are:
1. To offer girls the tools to form healthy relationships with personal boundaries.
2. To increase knowledge of self empowerment and raise self-esteem by exploring a range of educational and occupational opportunities.
3. To offer an increased knowledge of learning how to respond and deal with violence at home, school, or in a dating relationship.

Mind Over Muscle
Mind Over Muscle is a program for young men, (grade school-high school), focusing on the right way to handle conflict by using brains instead of fists. Mind Over Muscle covers the concepts behind appropriate conflict resolution, while stressing the importance of accountability for one’s actions. Participants in Mind Over Muscle learn how today’s (re) actions impact their dreams for tomorrow. Increased attendance, decreased office referrals and suspensions and increase in GPA have shown significant results with boys who have attended Mind Over Muscle group for two semesters and indicated strong changes in attitude and behavior. The Mind Over Muscle program consists of 10 boys and each individual group meets once a week. The boys also get actively involved in several community events and service projects, using the skills they have learned. The three specific goals of Mind Over Muscle are:
1. To offer young men the tools they need to resolve conflicts peacefully and respectfully.
2. To develop a sense of accountability among participants, to help them understand how to learn from mistakes instead of making excuses for poor behavior.
3. To foster feelings of accomplishment to strengthen self-esteem and develop a willingness to try new things for personal growth.

For questions about each program please contact:
Jeanne Anders, Supervisor of School Based Prevention Services at The Center for Prevention of Abuse at 309-691-0551 ext. 294 or Email: janders@centerforpreventionofabuse.org

Golf hole sponsorships are needed for “Tee Up 4 Mites,” a charity golf outing sponsored by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML), on Wednesday, June 22, at WeaverRidge Golf Course.

The cost is $100. Each sponsor will be recognized with placement of the company name on a sign at the hole it sponsors. Sponsorships will also be listed in a program booklet for the event.

The public is invited to participate in the four-person golf scramble, which begins at 6:45 a.m. The cost is $95 per person and includes lunch, with an awards ceremony.
To become a hole sponsor and/or register for the golf outing, call Mike Smith at the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at (309) 282-3284. The deadline is June 1.
Money raised will be added to the organization’s “mite” collection to support missionary work. Throughout the LWML’s history, over $90 million has been collected to spread the Gospel message through mite donations. A mite is a monetary offering.

The golf outing is the kick-off event for the LWML’s 34th Biennial Convention, held Thursday, June 23, to Sunday, June 26, at the Peoria Civic Center. During their four-day stay, the 5,000 members in attendance will conduct a number of “servant activities,” such as making fleece blankets and Braille books of the Bible, as a way to reach out with their hearts and hands to the needy in central Illinois.

It’s estimated the group will create an economic impact of more than $3 million for the Peoria Area. Attendees have booked a total of 5,033 hotel rooms.

COME MEET………………. “ONE OF OUR FAVORITE BANKERS”
Mr. Timothy D. Riggenbach, Assistant Vice President / Bank Manager City Council
Mr. Rafeal Underwood, Director of Economic Development Peoria County Administration
Ms. Irene Brown, President, Peoria Black Chamber of Commerce

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2011
JONATHON ROMAIN’S ART GALLERY
1919 NORTH SHERIDAN ROAD
PEORIA, ILLINOIS

5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
(FREE refreshments, beverages and great people)

CONTACT IRENE BROWN FOR DETAILS
(309) 222-3512 – CELL

Let the Peoria Black Chamber of Commerce HELP find your business link

Projects and companies in Peoria are growing and flourishing, even in our still recovering economy. The Peoria Ad Club’s May 2011 meeting highlights four local organizations that are helping grow Peoria. The meeting is open to anyone interested in the topics, but RSVPs are requested.

Panel Discussion Speakers will include:

• Ed Szynaka – Director, The Peoria Public Library
• Jeanne Williamson – Wildlife Prairie Park
• Pat Drake – Peoria Heights Chamber of Commerce
• Kris Coulter – The Junior League of Peoria’s Peoria Playhouse

When: Tuesday, May. 24 at 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Where: Childers Banquet & Event Center, 3113 N. Dries Lane in Peoria
Fee: $16 for members, $20 for non-members.
RSVP: Please RSVP to peoriaadclub@gmail.com

For more information or questions, please contact Kelly Smet at 309.208.7309 or Julie Morales at 309.383.8075.