Verbatim

Press Releases from Peoria government, schools, organizations and businesses

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Cat CEO and wife make big donation to Children’s Hospital

March 31st, 2009 · Hospitals and Health Care

CATERPILLAR CHAIRMAN & CEO AND WIFE MAKE MAJOR DONATION TO THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

Endowed Directorship to Support Pediatric Oncology Care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jim and Katie Owens

Jim and Katie Owens

(Peoria, IL / March 30, 2009) - Through the generosity of Jim and Katie Owens, Children’s Hospital of Illinois has established the James W. and Kathrine M. Owens Endowed Directorship in Pediatric Oncology. This Directorship will assist Children’s Hospital of Illinois, the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate, and the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria in remaining at the forefront of pediatric oncology care.

Jim Owens is Chairman and CEO of Peoria-based Caterpillar, Inc. In addition to the Owens’ one million dollar gift, the Caterpillar Foundation has generously agreed to a matching gift, which will help provide the ancillary services, equipment, and resources needed to complement the various research projects conducted under the Directorship. Together, these gifts will make a direct impact on the health of the children of central Illinois.

“We are delighted to have the funding provided by Jim & Katie Owens’ generous gift, which will be used to improve the care of central Illinois children with cancer by promoting clinical projects in a variety of areas, including supportive care and family-centered care,” said Dr. Kay Saving, Medical Director at Children’s Hospital of Illinois.

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center CEO Keith Steffen echoed those sentiments. “We are thrilled and overwhelmed with this generous contribution that will provide ongoing funds for both Children’s Hospital and the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate, both of which are major components of the Milestone project. This Directorship will help ensure that Children’s Hospital and St. Jude remain at the front of cutting edge pediatric oncology/hematology treatment, thus continuing our commitment to providing outstanding care for our young patients and fighting this dreaded disease known as cancer.”

The St. Jude Midwest Affiliate diagnoses approximately 40-45 new pediatric cancer patients a year. Last year, the Midwest Affiliate had more than 2,500 pediatric outpatient oncology visits, with pediatric cancer patients spending nearly 1,400 days admitted to Children’s Hospital for chemotherapy, surgical procedures, and/or treatment of infections and other complications related to their cancer therapy.

Jim and Katie Owens have both been actively involved in Children’s Hospital of Illinois and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. Jim currently serves on the OSF Saint Francis Community Advisory Board, and Katie serves on the OSF Saint Francis Foundation Council.

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OSF is ‘magnet hospital’ due to nursing excellence

March 16th, 2009 · Hospitals and Health Care

OSF SAINT FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER

RE-DESIGNATED MAGNET HOSPITAL IN RECOGNITION

OF NURSING EXCELLENCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shelli Dankoff/Media Relations Specialist
(March 16, 2009) - The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program® for excellence in nursing services has once again designated OSF Saint Francis Medical Center as a Magnet hospital.

““This was a unanimous decision of the Magnet commission; it sounds like you have a wonderful hospital,” said Gail Wolf, head of the Magnet commission during a congratulatory phone call to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center staff. “You just got into the two-percent club because only two percent of the hospitals in the country have been able to do what you’ve done and get re-designated.  Very few organizations are as well-developed as yours,” Wolf added.

“It’s a pretty elite group, and we really do have reason to be proud,” said Keith Steffen, President and CEO. “Magnet has become well-embedded in our culture.  This is how we provide nursing care at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of Illinois. We have always been proud of our nursing excellence and nursing care, but it means a lot when an outside organization validates that.”

According to the ANCC, the leading nursing credentialing organization in the United States, Magnet designation is widely accepted as the gold standard of patient care.  The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes excellence and professionalism in nursing.  Applicants undergo an extensive evaluation, and members who are awarded Magnet status must continue to maintain rigorous standards as part of their four-year designation.  To reapply for and receive Magnet status for an additional four years is confirmation of the hospital’s resolve to deliver the highest level of care in nursing today.

Research shows that Magnet hospitals are more effective at attracting and keeping quality nurses.

“It really takes a team, from the housekeepers to the physicians; each caregiver partner supports our excellent nursing care”, said Lori Wiegand, Chief Nursing Officer in congratulating her staff.

Chief Operating Officer Sue Wozniak concurred: “I had absolutely no doubt we were going to get this. We are fortunate to have the talent and commitment of all our staff. We tend to take our excellent nursing care for granted because it is so ingrained in our culture, and then when an outside organization like Magnet recognizes us, it makes us aware that we stand out.

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March is eye donor month

March 16th, 2009 · Hospitals and Health Care

MEDIA ADVISORY

MARCH IS EYE DONOR MONTH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shelli Dankoff / Media Relations Specialist

David Hearn / Illinois Eye-Bank Watson Gailey

(March 17, 2009) -  With March being Eye Donor month, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center is pleased to be the leading center for eye tissue donations in the Illinois Eye-Bank Watson Gailey service area, which includes approximately two-thirds of the state of Illinois.

The Illinois Eye-Bank and the Illinois Eye-Bank, Watson Gailey are divisions of Midwest Eye-Banks,
a charitable, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of sight. They recover, evaluate
and distribute human eye tissue for transplantation and research.

In 2008, the Illinois Eye-Bank had approximately 1,000 recipients of eye tissue, with 72 donors at
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. The cornea is the most frequently transplanted part of the human body, and more than 90 percent of cornea transplants performed in the United States are successful. Anyone can donate eyes. If the corneal tissue is not transplantable, due to age or medical condition, the donation can be considered for research and education.

In addition to helping secure eye tissue for donation, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center has one of its own who has benefited from life-changing cornea transplants. Carol Linett, 6 Sigma Black Belt, underwent two separate cornea transplants in 1994. She had a condition known as kerataconus which caused her vision to deteriorate to the point it was unable to be corrected by glasses or contacts. Carol’s failing eyesight increasingly affected how she lived until a cornea transplant became the only real option to give Carol the vision she needed at the time when she needed it the most – when she was working and active. Carol is forever grateful for the gift from the donor families in their time of grief. Carol would be happy to share her story in an effort to encourage others to sign the donor registry. Please contact Shelli Dankoff in Public Relations to schedule an interview.

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WORLDWIDE FERTILITYCare WEEK TO BE MARKED

March 16th, 2009 · Hospitals and Health Care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shelli Dankoff/Media Relations Specialist

(March 16, 2009) - FertilityCare Centers of America (FCCA) has designated the week of March 22 - 28, 2009 as worldwide FertilityCare Week.  The centers affiliated with FCCA, including the one at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, provide professional instruction in the Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System and the reproductive science of NaProTechnology.

With all of the recent attention surrounding the birth of octuplets by a California woman, fertility issues have risen to the forefront of media attention.

The Creighton Model FertilityCare System provides a natural approach and is 99% effective in avoiding pregnancy. It offers couples who are experiencing infertility the hope of pregnancy without artificial reproductive technologies.  Natural Procreative Technology (NaProTechnology) is a newly emerging science that uses the standardized tracking of a woman’s signs of fertility and infertility to assist in identifying indicators of physiological and hormonal problems.  When these are confirmed by their healthcare practitioner, treatments can be prescribed that are founded in an understanding of what is actually occurring in the woman’s cycle.

Paul Kortz is coordinator of FertilityCare for OSF Saint Francis Women’s Services and is immediate past president of the American Academy of FertilityCare Professionals.

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Spring into golf season with ‘Caddyshack’

March 15th, 2009 · Uncategorized

caddyshack-posterWest-central Illinois may be dealing with spring storms and floods, but more than a few golfers are eyeing area courses for enough drainage to play a round.

To help celebrate the season and the sport once dubbed “a good walk ruined,” downtown Peoria’s Apollo Theater is screening the 1980 comedy “Caddyshack” one night only on Saturday March 21.

Starring Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Michael O’Keefe, the 1980 romp is a sophomoric delight, filled with goofy golf and a class war between the likeable rich guy and sneering snobs like the club president (ex-“Mary Tyler Moore Show” star Ted Knight).

As a gopher-hunting groundskeeper, Murray steals the scenes he’s in, as does Chase in his Zen-like playing style, and golf could never again be completely considered an elitist undertaking.

Written and directed by Harold Ramis, it also features Brian Doyle-Murray.

Showtime will be 7 p.m., and the suggested donation at the nonprofit Apollo is $5 and $4 for kids, students and seniors. For details call (309) 673-4343.

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3/10/2009 Peoria City Council minutes

March 14th, 2009 · City of Peoria

[Read more →]

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OSF Medical Center wants you … and your dog

March 14th, 2009 · Hospitals and Health Care

(March 10, 2009) - OSF Saint Francis Medical Center is going to the dogs! Not really, but it is looking for a few good dogs – and their owners.

OSF Saint Francis is piloting a first-of-its-kind Animal Assisted Therapy program in Peoria and is currently seeking dogs and owners interested in volunteering.

Animal Assisted Therapy dogs and their owners will visit the hospital and bring comfort to patients, reducing stress, anxiety and blood pressure, and increasing patient social interaction and communication.

Dogs and handlers must meet specific requirements. Dogs must be at least one year old, be able to demonstrate proficiency in basic obedience, and be up-to-date on inoculations. Dogs must have lived with their handlers for a minimum of one year.

Dog handlers must be at least 18 years old, and be dependable and prompt, with good communication skills.

Dog and handler teams are currently being recruited and will be selected based on their applications, interviews and temperament testing. Once selected for the program, the team must complete a three-day training program which includes 12 hours of combined classroom and mock lab training. During training, dog handlers will perform supervised site visits with the dogs for certification.

If you and your dog would like to be considered for this program, please go to www.osfsaintfrancis.org and apply online for a volunteer application. Temperament testing for dogs is scheduled for May 3, 2009. Those who pass temperament testing will be accepted into the program and undergo training at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center on June 7, 13, and 14.

For more information about the program, contact Shelly Cunningham, Animal Assisted Therapy coordinator at 309-258-7146.

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A+ Children’s Academy Hosts Infant/Toddler Seminar

February 28th, 2009 · Businesses

A+ Children’s Academy was proud to host the Heart of Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children’s Winter Infant/ Toddler Seminar on early childhood development. The seminar was presented by owner Michelle Didesch. The seminar took place at the academy’s brand new facility at 6431 North Big Hollow Road in Peoria. During the first seminar session on January 24th, there was a tour of the Reggio Emilia inspired facility with an emphasis on environment, potential of children’s ability to learn, and teaching the “Reggio Way”. The second session on February 21st, emphasized infant/toddler brain development, sign language and language development.

A+ Children’s Academy is the first Reggio Emilia inspired school between Chicago and St. Louis. Reggio Emilia uses the visual arts as a medium to make learning visible for teachers and parents. The Academy employs such innovative features as a separate art studio, plus on site enrichment classes that children need to reach their full potential.

Sign language is taught as a second language with infants and toddlers. Michelle explains that “Infants are capable of communicating their needs thru sign language before they communicate verbally. This promotes communication, problem solving and research shows, higher IQs.” Spanish is the second language taught to 2 year olds through preschool. The Academy offers a range of additional on site enrichment classes including ballet, tumbling, additional Spanish and music.

The Reggio Approach to teaching was developed in Reggio Italy after WWII in a school built by parents and other townspeople. One of its fundamental principals is that children must be seen as capable individuals with tremendous potential. Michelle says “The Reggio Emilia Approach promotes a love for investigation and brings learning to life. At A+ Children’s Academy our curriculum promotes creativity through the visual arts, literacy skills, science, math, socialization and hands on learning. As a child investigates an interesting topic in smaller groups they will be problem solving, journaling, and exploring the world around them”.

Michelle has been educating children in the Peoria area for 18 years. She is a graduate of Bradley University with an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum Instruction. Michelle has been educating teachers throughout the state of Illinois for nine years. She is very proud of her new academy saying “I am committed to giving the children of A+ Children’s Academy the best early education possible to make them more than kindergarten ready”.

The AEYC is Illinois’ largest early childhood professional organization with over 4600 members. Since 1969, the organization’s volunteer members have successfully dedicated their time and efforts to improving the education and lives of young children in their own communities and throughout the state.

For information on the seminar or a tour of the Academy contact Nancy Weichmann at 691-2998.

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City of Peoria: Sewage Overflow Warning Today

February 27th, 2009 · City of Peoria

Rainfall in the City of Peoria has caused a sewer overflow into the Illinois River recently from one or more locations shown on the map located here.

When this warning is posted, please avoid full-body contact with the Illinois River in the area downstream from Detweiller Marina, as shown on the map. You may get sick if you swallow river water while swimming, Jet Skiing, or water skiing in these areas after a sewer overflow.

The City of Peoria is developing a long-term plan to reduce sewage overflows to the river during wet weather, as required under the Clean Water Act.

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Junior League of Peoria: Squirrel Nut Zippers to perform for Peoria Playhouse

February 27th, 2009 · Entertainment, Organizations

Squirrel Nut Zippers will be performing for the 2009 Hotel Pere Marquette Charitable Gala to benefit the Junior League of Peoria and its Peoria PlayHouse project.  Event will take place on Friday, March 27.  Cocktails begin at 6:30pm; dinner and music to follow.

http://www.2009peregala.com/

$150 per person gets you in the door and provides you with a five course dinner, open bar, and entertainment by SNZ.  There will be a live and silent auction that night.    The event benefits the Junior League of Peoria and our Peoria PlayHouse project, our volunteer effort to bring a children’s museum to Peoria.  You can learn more about the PlayHouse at www.peoriaplayhouse.org

If you would like to preview the show, send an email to katrina@theartistfarm.com and we’ll coordinate setting up an interview time with the band.  To contact the Junior League email Emily at emcahill@mchsi.com

FULL PRESS KIT (17MB), including 2 popular songs: “Hell” (a top 10 radio hit) the swinging “Bad Businessman”, photo, bio, and press release can be found here:
www.theartistfarm.com/SNZ/Marketing-Kit.zip

The press release is also written below:

Squirrel Nut Zippers – American Vaudeville

Considering the current economic turmoil, it only seems appropriate that the Squirrel Nut Zippers are finding audiences enthusiastically embracing their music and live shows.  Often credited with introducing depression era jazz to a younger generation, once again The Zippers’ music is right on time.  ”People are anxious to get out and escape their troubles for a night…and that’s what we help them do,” says drummer Chris Phillips. “We’re escape artists.”

Performing a mix of authentic, eclectic American Vaudeville in their live show, Squirrel Nut Zippers gleefully serve up material from their entire catalog. With crowds sharing their fervor and dancing in the aisles, every concert becomes an event. “We love that people actually ask each other out on honest-to-god dates when they come see us.  Its just wonderful to see them dressed up and making a night of it,” says Katharine Whalen.

“The day after the Squirrel Nut Zippers show I received numerous emails from excited patrons thanking me for the event.  Everyone was blown-away by the powerful, high-energy show the band gave us.  Their blend of quirky showmanship and professional musicianship is a show unlike all others.”                                                               Scott Hayward - Tupelo Music Hall, NH

Aptly tagged “30’s punk” by one critic, the band moves between raucous and smoldering; audiences crave this type of eclectic, funky music.  Led by founder Jimbo Mathus the group centers itself around the beguiling vocals of Katharine Whalen.  Chris Phillips, Stuart Cole and Je Widenhouse carry on as the bands muscle.

New arrangements have been so well received the band is releasing a much-requested live album titled “You Are My Radio”, due out in Spring 2009.  Work has also begun on a highly-anticipated studio album set for release in Fall 2009. In support of both recordings, The Zippers will tour throughout the year and continue their quest to locate all the earth’s forgotten fishing holes and beer bars.  Squirrel Nut Zippers are clearly on the road to a strong year.  Sweet Confection.

For photos, interview requests, or more information contact: katrina@theartistfarm.com
Visit the myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/snzippers

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