Peoria – Peoria County’s Chief Financial Officer Eric J. Dubrowski, CMA, has been selected for the Illinois CPA Society’s (ICPAS) Time & Talent Public Service Volunteerism Award. The award recognizes those who show commitment to excellence by assuming extra challenges and responsibility in their service to ICPAS and demonstrating outstanding volunteer efforts. Volunteer efforts can consist of time spent developing or teaching financial literacy. Dubrowski was recognized for his work with Junior Achievement of Central Illinois, teaching local elementary students about entrepreneurship and how regional businesses utilize resources to produce goods and services to benefit the community. In his first year volunteering with Junior Achievement, Dubrowski received their Volunteer of the Month Award last January. 

The Illinois CPA Society is a statewide membership organization with over 23,000 professionals dedicated to enhancing the value of the CPA profession.

(Peoria, IL / May 7, 2014) –  The Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing Spring baccalaureate Mass and graduation ceremony will take place Saturday, May 17, 2014 beginning at 9:00 AM at the Peoria Civic Center.

Degrees will be awarded to 114 students who have earned their Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, 39 students who have earned a Master’s of Science in Nursing, while three students will be awarded a Post Graduate Certificate. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree will be awarded to five students.

Peoria, IL (May 7, 2014) – Bradley University’s Game Design program ranks #4 in the Midwest, according to Animation Career Review’s 2014 rankings.  Bradley moved up from 15^th on the list last year.

“Bradley’s Department of Interactive Media is a strong and growing program that prepares students for success in a rapidly changing digital age,” said Bradley President Joanne Glasser. “I am very proud of the distinction they have earned.”

The review applauds the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts offering of several outstanding programs for aspiring game designers including a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Interactive Media with a Game Design Concentration or an Animation and Visual Effects Concentration and minors in Interactive Media and Game Design.  The review says, “In addition to offering excellent game design curricula, the game design programs at the Slane College help students develop the business skills they need to start their own game studios and other businesses.”

The Animation Career Review is an online resource for people aspiring to careers in animation, game development/design/art, graphic design, digital art, and related fields.  It began publishing regional and national rankings in 2012. Hundreds of schools that offered programs geared towards animation or game design were reviewed for the ranking. To learn more about the criteria or to see the full list of school rankings visit: http://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-15-game-design-and-development-schools-midwest-2014.

Animation Career Review also recently ranked Bradley among the top animation schools in the nation.

Peoria – A Special Mother’s Day Service will be held at the American Mausoleum on Saturday, May 10 at 9:30 a.m. The American Mausoleum will also be open for visitors on Sunday, May 11 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The mausoleum is located at 7911 N. Allen Road in Peoria.

In addition, a tribute for fathers and grandfathers will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 14 for Father’s Day weekend. If you have questions regarding these services, please call (309) 657-7473.

The Peoria Park District’s Clyde West Fishing Derby is Saturday, May 17 at the Glen Oak Park Lagoon. This is a FREE drop-in event for children, adults 50+, and those with disabilities.
Ages 9 & under 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Ages 10-12 11:00-1:00 a.m.
Ages 50+ and those with disabilities 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Toss in a line and see if you can reel in one of our specially tagged fish to win a prize! Don’t have a pole? Borrow one through our “Loan A Pole” program, sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Bait, concessions, and basic fishing supplies will be available for purchase.
Many thanks to Firefighters Local #50, Old Timer’s Baseball Association, Presley’s Outdoors, and Izaak Walton League for their continued sponsorship of this free event.
Call (309) 688-3667 with questions.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler is sponsoring a plan that will make it easier for farmers and other vendors to sell their products at farmers markets throughout the state.

 Under Illinois’ current law, local health departments set the rules for buying and selling food at farmers markets, which has resulted in a hodge-podge of conflicting regulations. Koehler’s plan would allow the Illinois Department of Public Health to establish a single set of regulations for the entire state.

 “Many farmers want to sell their fresh produce in communities all over Illinois,” Koehler said. “But current farmers market regulations are confusing. What’s legal in one community might be forbidden by another just a few miles down the road. Creating a single statewide set of rules will make it much easier for farmers to meet the increasing demand for locally grown food.”

For example, state law requires that all raw meat be kept under 41 degrees. However, some local health departments require that all meats be sold frozen. Some say that farmers must use mechanical refrigeration units. Others allow coolers and ice packs.

“This change would be very helpful for local growers like me,” said Doug Day, owner of Spring Bay Farm in Woodford County. “It would lower our costs, both in time and money.”

 Koehler’s legislation, which recently passed the Senate Agriculture Committee, would also create rules for offering samples and require labels that make it easier for customers to identify where the food they buy was grown or produced.

 Illinois has more than 375 farmers markets with more than 1,000 farmers and other vendors. They connect farmers and other producers directly to customers, providing locally grown and produced fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, cheeses, meats, nuts, baked goods and more.

 Many now accept credit cards and debit cards, and the state has pushed to make the markets more accessible to food stamp users. Farmers markets often offer fresh produce at rates that are competitive with – or even cheaper than – grocery stores.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe will oversee the 2014 Spring Commencement exercises on Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10. Ceremonies for the 2,231 eligible graduates will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Vadalabene Center on campus.

Newly installed SIU President Dr. Randy Dunn will participate in his first commencement ceremonies by speaking at the Friday night exercise.

Dixie Engelman, dean emerita of the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor emerita of speech pathology and audiology, is being honored with the University’s Distinguished Service Award. Engelman has been a community advocate and volunteer for more than 35 years. Engelman will speak to the Saturday afternoon and evening sessions.

Dr. Kelly Gable, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice in the School of Pharmacy, will receive the 2014 Teaching Excellence Award. Gable is recognized for her enthusiastic approach and for serving as a role model for pharmacy students, nursing students and medical students.

Alton attorney and philanthropist John Simmons will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. Simmons, who graduated with honors from SIUE in political science, earned a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas. He is founder and chairman of Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC, a national law firm headquartered in Alton, with additional offices in St. Louis, Chicago, San Francisco and El Segundo, Calif. Simmons will speak at Friday night’s and Saturday morning’s exercises.

The festivities begin Friday night with the Graduate School, School of Business and School of Nursing students receiving their degrees. Peter Gillen, who is earning a bachelor’s in nursing, is the student speaker for Friday’s session.

Ceremonies resume at 9 a.m. Saturday with the Graduate School and School of Education. The morning student speaker is James Engracia, who is receiving a bachelor’s in speech language pathology from the School of Education.

The Saturday afternoon ceremony begins at 1 p.m. with the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) followed at 5 p.m. by the School of Pharmacy, College of Arts and Science graduate students and the School of Engineering. The student speakers will be Victoria Francis, who is earning a bachelor’s in chemistry, during the afternoon session and Jonathan Long, who is receiving a master’s in sociology, closing the day.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottomland and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of nearly 14,000.

–Receive a complimentary bra fitting while helping find a cure for breast cancer–

 WHAT:  Join Wacoal to help end breast cancer with Fit for the Cure^®!  Participate in a Fit for the Cure event and receive a complimentary bra fitting in Wacoal or b.tempt’d intimate apparel, from a Wacoal fit specialist. For every woman that participates, Wacoal will donate $2 to Susan G. Komen for breast cancer research and community health programs. Wacoal will also donate an additional $2 for every Wacoal bra, shapewear piece or b.tempt’d bra purchased at these events.

 For over 10 years, Wacoal has swept the nation educating and fitting more than 604,000 women across 411 cities about the importance of bra fit and foundation and overall breast health. To date, through Fit for the Cure™ Wacoal has donated more than $3.7 million to Susan G. Komen.

 In addition, this season Wacoal is teaming up with Hollye Jacobs, award-winning blogger, breast cancer survivor and author of the The Silver Lining: A Supportive and Insightful Guide to Breast Cancer in an effort to provide even more support for women dealing with the disease. In celebration of this partnership, Wacoal has created a limited edition silver strap, with all proceeds from sales being donated to provide copies of the book to women going through breast cancer in communities across the country.

 Wacoal is also hosting a contest to win an exclusive trip to Los Angeles where one winner and a guest will have lunch with Hollye and receive $1,500 for a shopping spree in the city! Every woman who participates in a Fit for the Cure event can enter to win (contest ends May 31, 2014).

WHY:  Research shows that 8 out of 10 women are wearing the wrong sized bra. Women should be professionally fitted for a bra once a year to ensure their bra size has not changed as a result of fluctuations in their body.

 Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women and accounts for 26% of all cancers among women.  Conducting monthly breast self-examination is an important way to detect abnormalities at an early stage. Take 15 minutes to meet with a Wacoal fit expert while contributing to an important cause and sign up for a monthly reminder e-mail that could ultimately save your life.

WHEN: 

Wednesday, May 7, 2014 from 10 am-4 pm at Grand Prairie- Bon-Ton/ Bergner’s, 5203 W. War Memorial Dr.,Peoria, IL

309-692-4024

Thursday, May 8, 2014 from 10 am – 4 pm at Sheridan Village- Bon-Ton/ Bergner’s, 4125 N. Sheridan Rd, Peoria, IL

309-681-8400

PEORIA, IL.  May 6, 2014.  The Peoria Audubon Society will hold a fundraising auction to benefit the Chillicothe Bottoms sanctuary, a diverse and unique habitat located along the Illinois River. The auction will be held on Wednesday, May 14^th, at 7:00 pm at Forest Park Nature Center in Peoria Heights.  This fundraiser will feature a silent auction, live auction, refreshments and more.

Items to be auctioned include nature-related artwork, outdoor enthusiast equipment, educational items, gift cards for local community services, and other items deemed appropriate to the goals of the Audubon Society and its members. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to the enhancement of the Chillicothe Bottoms site for public access and viewing, along with the general maintenance of the sanctuary.

For further information about Peoria Audubon Society and the fundraising auction, please contact PAS Vice President Melissa Sauder at (309) 472-3561.