Please forward this email to any friends or colleagues who you feel would be willing to vote for us.

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 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Grand Prairie- Bon-Ton/ Bergner’s, 5203 W. War Memorial Dr., Peoria, IL; phone: 309-692-4024

Thursday, May 8, 2014 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Sheridan Village- Bon-Ton/ Bergner’s, 4125 N. Sheridan Rd., Peoria, IL; phone: 309-681-8400

 For more info, email:  Hannah Rood or Jessica Nadaud at hrood@lsagency.com or jnadaud@lsagency.com

Join a book club at Peoria Public Library this month.  New members are always welcome!

Book ‘Em Mystery Book Club will meet on Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 p.m. at Lakeview Branch to discuss Catch Me by Lisa Gardner. A 28-year-old police dispatcher seeks out Boston Sgt. Det. D.D. Warren Grant at a crime scene and asks the homicide detective to investigate her expected murder. Meanwhile, Warren is looking into the execution-style slayings of two pedophiles with the assistance of a female rookie sex crime detective.

The Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club meets on Monday, May 12 at Lakeview Branch at 6:30 p.m. to discuss Spirit Thief by Rachel Aaron. Eli Monpress is talented. He’s charming.  And he’s a thief. But not just any thief. He’s the greatest thief of the age – and he’s also a wizard. And with the help of his partners – a swordsman with the most powerful magic sword in the world but no magical ability of his own, and a demon seed who can step through shadows and punch through walls – he’s going to put his plan into effect. The first step is to increase the size of the bounty on his head, so he’ll need to steal some big things. But he’ll start small for now. He’ll just steal something that no one will miss – at least for a while. Like a king. Call 309-497-2149 for more information.

Peoria Reads Selection: Warriors Don’t Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock’s Central High by Melba Patillo Beals. In 1957, Melba Pattillo turned sixteen. That was also the year she became a warrior on the front lines of a civil rights firestorm. Following the landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling, Brown v. Board of Education, Melba was one of nine teenagers chosen to integrate Little Rock’s Central High School.  Throughout her harrowing ordeal, Melba was taunted by her schoolmates and their parents, threatened by a lynch mob’s rope, attacked with lighted sticks of dynamite, and injured by acid sprayed in her eyes. But through it all, she acted with dignity and courage, and refused to back down. For more information about book discussions and events for Peoria Reads! Visit www.peoriareads.com.

The Biography and Non-Fiction Book Club will meet on Sunday, May 18, at 3:00 p.m. at North Branch to discuss Bobby & J. Edgar: The Historic Face-Off Between the Kennedys and J. Edgar Hoover That Transformed America. The history of one of the most admired (Bobby Kennedy) and one of the most reviled (J. Edgar Hoover) are entwined with that of Joseph Kennedy. This triumvirate was marked by conflict, betrayal and a strange Shakespearean familial bond. Set against the ongoing context of Joe Kennedy’s behind-the-scenes manipulation of key players in Congress, organized crime, and his own family, major players are revealed such as Roy Cohn, Martin Luther King, Marilyn Monroe, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon. For more information call 309-497-2186.

Bibliophiles will meet on Tuesday, May 6 at 1:30 p.m. at Lakeview Branch to discuss Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris.  Clybourne Park spans two generations fifty years apart. In 1959, Russ and Bev are selling their desirable two-bedroom at a bargain price, unknowingly bringing the first black family into the neighborhood and creating ripples of discontent among the cozy white residents of Clybourne Park. In 2009, the same property is being bought by a young white couple, whose plan to raze the house and start again is met with equal disapproval by the black residents of the soon-to-be-gentrified area. Are the issues festering beneath the floorboards actually the same, fifty years on? The author’s excruciatingly funny and squirm-inducing satire explores the fault line between race and property. For more information, call Carol May at (309) 692-1020 or email cmay1223@comcast.net.

The Read On Book Club will meet on Tuesday, May 27 at 5:30 p.m. at Lincoln Branch to discuss Church Boyz II and III by H.H. Fowler. Leroy Paxton, pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church thought his situation was under control and blackmailer, Shaniece, out of the picture – but he underestimated the power of blackmail. As new secrets about his past emerge, Shaniece determinedly works to destroy what he most cherishes, especially his twenty-six year marriage. Dominic Housten must make a difficult choice. Housten recently stumbled into Youth Leader Abraham Winder’s home and discovered a prostitute. Housten wonders if now is the time to resign as chief organ player at Mount Moriah and accept the position of bishop at his step-father’s church. Yet, the love he holds for the pastor’s daughter, Tayah, might keep him at Mount Moriah. But Tayha’s husband Phillip prefers if Dominic never say Tayah again. When Things Go Wrong picks up the story of Rod of the Wicked, and depicts the struggle to survive the battles of life and, as the dust settles, who will be left to pick up the pieces.

The series concludes with My Last Cry. Shaniece Bryant is determined to maintain her hold on Leroy Paxton, pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church. Not to mention keep hold of what he’s worth. But she begins to run into adversity as Ellisa Benjamin, her sister and the woman who had a brief affair with Leroy, decides to follow her own path – one that is determinedly against Shanieces’. Tyaha Paxton, daughter of Pastor Leroy Paxton must choose between two men fighting for her heart. The love triangle gets a new player as A’moree enters the field. She is resolute on making the choice clear for Tayah, because one of these men will be hers. My Last Cry proves determination is everything. Good and evil battle it out. Which side will win? Call 497-2601 for more information.

Intercontinental Readers will continue to meet to discuss novels by American and Irish authors via Skype at Main Library LL 1 at 1:00 p.m. once every three months with readers in Ireland. The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 20, 2014 and the group will discuss The Testament of Mary by Colm Tóibín. Tóibín writes a provocative imagining of the later years of the mother of Jesus. Mary finds herself living a solitary existence in Ephesus years after her son’s crucifixion and struggling with guilt, anger, and feelings that her son is not the son of God and that His sacrifice was not for a worthy cause. Call 309-497-2143 for more information.

Club Read will meet on Wednesday, May 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Lakeview Branch to discuss The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner. The Sound and the Fury is the tragedy of the Compson family, featuring some of the most memorable characters in literature: beautiful, rebellious Caddy; the manchild Benjy; haunted, neurotic Quentin; Jason, the brutal cynic; and Dilsey, their black servant. Their lives fragmented and harrowed by history and legacy, the character’s voices and actions mesh to create what is arguably Faulkner’s masterpiece and one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century.

YA for Adults Book Club will meet on the third Tuesday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Lakeview Branch to discuss Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller. Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She’s never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love–even with someone who seems an improbable choice–is more than just a possibility.

Peoria Public Library North Branch presents Music in the McKenzie: Small Potatoes at North Branch Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 p.m. for a repertoire of music described as “Celtic to Cowboy.”

Small Potatoes, a Chicago based folk duo of Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso, has been touring together since 1993. In that time they’ve become sought-after regulars at many clubs and coffeehouses across the U.S.

They say it has taken “years of careful indecision” to come up with a mix of music that ranges from country, blues, and swing to Irish, with songwriting that touches on all of those styles and more. Superb musicianship and showmanship, award-winning songwriting, and a strong sense of tradition has made them, as Dirty Linen Magazine once said, “one of the most polished, inventive, and entertaining shows on the circuit.”  For more on the history of Small Potatoes visit their website at smallpotatoesmusic.com.

Proceeds from CD sales will benefit Friends of the Peoria Public Library. The show is free and open to all ages.

PEORIA – A special message from Don Fites and entertainment from Crossroads United Methodist Church will be the highlights of The Salvation Army’s Annual Community Luncheon to be held Wednesday at the Pere Marquette in downtown Peoria.

About 325 people are expected to attend the event, which recognizes community leaders and celebrates the work and mission of The Salvation Army in the Peoria Tri‑County area.

The Peoria Tri‑County Salvation Army will honor several individuals and companies during the event:

Don Fites, former Caterpillar Chairman and CEO is the keynote speaker and entertainment will be provided by a duo from CrossroadsUnitedMethodistChurch in Washington. The luncheon is sponsored by Grizzard, CEFCU, Jill & Charles Drier, Illinois Mutual and The Salvation Army Family Stores.

Peoria – Peoria County’s summer Civic Leadership Program is a free civic program that offers local high school students a unique opportunity to learn more about county government through hands-on activities at various County facilities. All Peoria County high school students are eligible to take the one-day course, including spring graduates and fall freshmen; class size is limited to 10 participants however. The program is June 11 from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and includes tours of the Juvenile Detention Center, County Jail, Coroner’s Office, and animal shelter.

Participants will also meet elected and appointed officials and have lunch with the Sheriff’s command staff.  Students participating in the summer program will conduct a mock zoning hearing, inspect a county bridge, do an art project with residents at Heddington Oaks, and watch a K-9 demonstration. Most importantly, they will learn the responsibilities and services of county government. For a complete schedule or to download an application, call (309) 672-6918 or visit http://www.peoriacounty.org/communications/civic. A brochure and application are attached. Deadline to apply to the summer Civic Leadership Program is Friday, May 23.

(Peoria, Springfield, Metro East St. Louis, IL) – Three downstate Health Information Exchange (HIE) organizations jointly announced today that connectivity has been achieved across their respective HIEs and with an exchange headquartered in Chicago.

The exchanges include:

• Central Illinois Health Information Exchange (CIHIE), Peoria;
• Lincoln Land Health Information Exchange (LLHIE), Springfield;
• Illinois Health Exchange Partners (ILHEP), Metro East St. Louis and Southern Illinois; and
• MetroChicago Health Information Exchange, Chicago.

Collectively, the four exchanges include sixty-three hospitals and geographically cover ninety-two percent of Illinois’ patient population.  Connectivity of the regional exchanges allows participating providers to securely communicate summary care records, referrals, discharge notes and other documentation that is relevant to patient care.

“When we began planning for the regional health information exchange back in 2009, many questioned whether cooperation across competing hospitals and other healthcare organizations could be achieved,” remarked Joy Duling, CIHIE’s Executive Director. “Today, effective communication beyond the walls of your own organization is recognized as a key component of quality care.  Your healthcare providers should be able to coordinate care whether they are located across the street or across the state.” Steve Lawrence, Executive Director for LLHIE and ILHEP, added, “While each regional exchange caters to the unique needs of their local healthcare providers, it is not uncommon for us to work with organizations that need to reach outside the local area.  This joint effort will make it easier for our members to do so in a manner which is secure and well-coordinated.”

Today’s announcement reflects the most recent accomplishment of the regional exchanges, which share a common goal of seamless connectivity for Illinois healthcare providers, making a patient’s health record truly portable.

About CIHIE – The Central Illinois Health Information Exchange connects participating healthcare providers across multiple counties in central Illinois.  Members can access this network through a secure Web-based portal or via compatible electronic health record software. This local network is able to connect with other regional and national exchanges, supporting extensive information portability for patients. For information, visit cihie.org. Follow CIHIE on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

About LLHIE – The Lincoln Land Health Information Exchange is an electronic clinical information network that advances the delivery and coordination of patient care across the region. It does this by enabling quick and secure exchange of lab results, past medical history, medications and a variety of other tests among hospitals, physician practices, extended care facilities and other entities in the care community. For more information, visit www.llhie.com.

About ILHEP – Illinois Health Exchange Partners is an electronic health information exchange that securely transmits patient information between healthcare providers to help improve patient safety, reduce redundant tests and procedures, and provide more complete information about patients as they transition between healthcare settings and physicians.  For more information, visit www.ilhepartners.com.