Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

Donated items are now being accepted for the Alzheimer's Association annual Peoria Garage Sale and may be dropped off at the Central Illinois Chapter office any time during normal business hours, 8:30-5 p.m. The garage sale will be held from 7 a.m. to noon Aug. 11, 2012, at the office, 606 W. Glen Ave., Peoria. A vast assortment of items will be available, including furniture, framed art, kitchenware, clothing, collectibles, toys, books and pet supplies. All proceeds go to the Alzheimer's Association-Central Illinois Chapter to provide much-needed programs and services for area residents living with Alzheimer’s and their families and caretakers. The Alzheimer's Association – Central Illinois Chapter is a donor-supported, not-for-profit health organization serving 20 counties in Illinois. For additional information or for help, please visit the website at www.alz.org/illinoiscentral or call 800.272.3900.

Join YWCA supporters at Avanti’s in Pekin on July 31 st from open to close to raise funds for this year’s Paint the Town Red campaign.   Avanti’s will donate 10 percent of sales (identified by special flyer) to the YWCA, so grab your friends and family, enjoy a dinner out, and help the YWCA of Pekin!   Flyers are available at the YWCA at 315 Buena Vista , and online at www.ywca.org/pekin . Paint the Town Red supports important programs in the community including the YWCA’s Adult Literacy program and the YWCA’s Special Olympics Swim Team.    The Run the Town Red 5K Challenge and 1 Mile Walk will take place on August 25 th in Mineral Springs Park .

The Tazewell County Health Department will offer Continuity of Operations (COOP) training on Wednesday, August 8th.  While primarily targeted to food service establishments, any business could benefit from the training. It is estimated up to 40 percent of businesses fail after a disaster, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Yet, only 43 percent feel prepared to handle an extensive emergency. For licensed food establishments, emergencies may include boil orders, power outages and even someone driving though the front of your building. The TCHD is hosting a training on August 8, 2012 at the Stoney Creek Inn. Topics to be covered are boil orders, power outages, pre-event emergency planning and post event mitigation services. These topics will be covered by representatives from the Tazewell County Health Department, Illinois American Water, Ameren Illinois, Morton Fire Department, Waugh Foods, Envision Insurance and Servpro ®. Participants at the training will...

C. R. Alexander ~ Big R of Pekin ~ Center for Prevention of Abuse ~ Cordts Heating & Air Conditioning ~ Cuattro, LLC ~ D D Homes ~ Dirksen Congressional Center ~ Enviro-Safe Refrigerants, Inc. ~ First Community Title Services, Inc. ~ Habitat for Humanity Greater Peoria Area ~ Hacienda Fuentes Cantina & Grill ~ Hanson Professional Services, Inc. ~ Rose Hasler ~ Illinois Centers for Pain and Rehab, Inc. ~ Illinois Department of Employment Security ~ Intouch Home Care of Lutheran Social Services ~ James Jones ~ Maurer-Stutz, Inc. ~ Dr. Michel Moul ~ New Life Fellowship ~ Papa Murphys Take N Bake Pizza ~ PDC Services, Inc. ~ Pekin Rotary Club ~ Peoria Logo (POGO) ~ The Sign Shop ~ Springlake Upholstery, Inc. ~ State Senator David Koehler 46th District ~ Sunset Lanes ~ Tazewell County ~ Tazewell County Farm Bureau ~ The Club at Sunset Hills ~ United Workforce Development Board ~ USCO Gas Stations

Local Economy Still Heading Up Pekin’s sales tax disbursement received from the state in July was 6.9% greater than July of 2011. Pekin’s sales tax disbursements received from the state for the last 3 months were 8.0% greater than the same three months in 2011. The other three large communities on the east die of the Illinois River also showed increases.  East Peoria (+4.3%), Washington (+3.5%) and Morton (+0.2%) also showed gains in July compared to July of 2011. For the 12-month period ending in July, all four communities showed an increase in sales tax receipts from the state, compared to the 12-months ending in July of 2011:  East Peoria (+11.3%), Washington (+3.5%), Pekin (+3.2%) and Morton (+2.9%). The number of residential units sold in the 61554 zip code for the first 6 months of 2012 is 2.4% greater than the first 6 months of 2011. The other large Tazewell communitie...

RSVP to 346-2106 or e-mail us at info@pekinchamber.com Additional features of the breakfast include: ·          Door prize drawings provided by local businesses One minute reminders “Meet the new Chamber Member” Spotlight on Business presentation

Pekin Insurance  2505 Court Street  August 2nd  Reservations Appreciated 346-2106 or email us at info@pekinchamber.com   Don't miss this opportunity to network with fellow chamber members and community leaders. You'll also enjoy refreshments, door prizes and tours or information from our hosts.   We’ll be in the cafeteria at Pekin Insurance, so enter through the doors in the back corner of th e building.

August 1 – Pekin 1 st Committee August 1 – Marigold Festival Committee August 5 – Little Mr & Miss Marigold              August 2 – Business After Hours  August 8 – Member Promotions Comm. August 8 – Transportation Committee August 8 – Executive Board Meeting August 8 – Board of Directors Meeting August 10 – Puttin on Pekin August 11 – Miss Marigold Pageant August 15 – Ambassador Meeting August 22 – Marigold Festival Committee August 25 – Women’s Marigold Golf Outing August 28 – Business Advocacy Committee

No Service or Staff Cuts; Office Near Public Transportation The Pekin service center on South Second Street will relocate 11 miles to Peoria at 406 Elm Street, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) recently announced. The relocation will occur after business has concluded on Thursday, August 2nd. Claimants can obtain services at any center and are not assigned to a specific location. Office hours for all service centers are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. All services, including applying for unemployment insurance benefits, certifying for those benefits, and switching payment method to direct deposit, are available on the IDES website.  Using the website allows customers to conduct business when it is convenient for them because services are available outside standard office hours.  More than 60 percent of IDES claimants use the internet to apply for unemployment insurance benefits and receive those benefits through direct deposit. Customers are encoura...

The American Pickers, the hit show on The History Channel, are headed to Illinois, and they're looking for leads - interesting characters with unique items and lots of 'em! Their favorite and most successful picks feature multiple buildings crammed with lots of cool stuff that make Mike and Frank work for what they find, digging through piles and coming up with treasure. They're only looking for people with large collections, not folks with just a few items. They also don't don't go to shops, antiques malls, auctions, or flea markets. They're also not currently looking for any fine furniture, agricultural or farming items/equipment, depression glass, appliances, or pottery. They are looking for motor scooters, old advertising signage, motorcycles, bicycles (pre-1960s), Unusual radios, old toys, pre 50s vending machines, pinball and slot machines, old movie posters, antique casino/gaming machines, taxidermy, vintage concert posters & T-shirts, early Boy...

The Professional Development Institute a Division of Illinois Central College Register Now for Our August Courses Get out of the heat and learn something new! Sign-up today to get started. Inspiring Leadership Certificate Courses * AUG 7 Engaging Employees AUG 23 Succession Planning FREE! Webinars: (recorded webinars click here ) Computer Training....check it out! All titles below are active links - 'click' and find out what's up! QuickBooks Level I , Level II iPad for Business Microsoft Access 2010 Level II , Level III Microsoft Excel 2007 Level I , Level II , Level III, Level IV Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop For the complete August computer overview click here!! *Workshops noted above are part of the Inspiring Leadership Certificate Program. Learn More!

BridgeWay Community Church , 3216 Veterans Drive, Pekin, IL 61554; phone: (309) 349-3441; fax: (309) 620-8642; email: bwcc.office@gmail.com ; website: www.bwcc.tv ; Dale Schaeffer, Lead Pastor; Shirley Clark, Office Manager; Connie Borth, Family Life Pastor. Worship hours: 9:30 & 11:00am Sundays. Office hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. BridgeWay exists to connect people to God, each other, & God's purposes in the world.

Park Court Pharmacy, located in the Pekin Hospital Lobby, is pleased to introduce the Leader ® Prescription Club, an easy, low-cost way for customers to receive discount pricing on name brand and generic prescriptions. For a low annual fee of $10 for an individual or family, members of the Leader ® Prescription Club can save on more than 5,000 brand name and generic prescriptions; and they can access more than 300 generic medications at a competitive flat price. Members can also save on select pet medications.   Additionally, members can save up to 40% on vision care services through EyeMed and 15% on hearing aids from Beltone. “We know that for many of our customers, making ends meet and ensuring they’re compliant with prescribed medications can be a challenge, especially when they don’t have prescription coverage,” said Dee Dee Harlow, PharmD, Park Court Pharmacy Manager. “The Leader ® Prescription Club is a great way for our uninsured customers to access more afforda...

In order to make an unplanned visit to the doctor more convenient, starting August 1, you can schedule your appointment with Pekin Hospital UrgentCare by calling (309) 353-0399. Jo Ellen Patterson, Vice President of Patient Care Services explains its importance, “We understand our patients’ schedules are busy.   We do our best to be respectful of your time and keep wait times as short as possible. That's why Pekin Hospital’s UrgentCare now offers appointments that fit your schedule, so you can get the care you need without having to rearrange your activities or make costly visits to the Emergency Room.” UrgentCare is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.   Walk-in service is also available for patients who prefer it. To schedule a time that is convenient for your visit to UrgentCare, please call (309) 353-0399.  

Please join us for the Kick Off of the 24th Annual Duck Race to Stop Abuse. Who:  Martha Herm Executive Director The Center for Prevention of Abuse What: Duck Race Kick Off Press Conference When:  Wednesday, July 25, 2012 10:30 am Where:   Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino 7 Blackjack Blvd East Peoria, Illinois 61611 Why: To announce the 24th Annual Duck Race and invite community participation to assist in supporting The Center’s largest annual fundraiser. The Center for Prevention of Abuse is the only agency in the State of Illinois to provide combined services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault/abuse and elder abuse serving 15 new persons each day and more than 5,000 women, children and men affected by violence.  The Center also offers school based prevention curricula in safe touch, anti-bullying, violence prevention, behavioral skills training, sexual assault/abuse prevention and healthy relationships to students pre-k through college touching the ...

South Side Trust & Savings Bank, a subsidiary of Mid Illinois Bancorp, Inc., at its July 2012 Board Meeting, announced the promotions of Kathy Williamson to Vice President & Human Resources Officer, Darlene Kumpf to Vice President, Valerie Sinks to Assistant Vice President & Employee Benefits Officer, and Brad Mahony to Assistant Vice President.  Williamson has worked in the banking industry for 29 years, serving as the Human Resource Director at South Side Bank for the past 17 years. She has a Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management from Western Illinois University. Williamson currently serves as a Heart of Illinois Human Resource Council Board member, a committee member for the Illinois Bankers’ Association Human Resource and Education Committees, an allocation committee volunteer for the Heart of Illinois United Way, and an Easter Seals VIP. Kumpf’s responsibilities include overseeing operations and lending at the Chillicothe Facility. She has over 39 years...

Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois’ administrative offices and learning center classrooms will be temporally moving locations. Beginning August 1, 2012 Goodwill will be located at 8400 N. Allen Road, Peoria (in the Klaus Radio building). All administrative functions, computer classes and forklift training will take place at this address. The last day of classes at the War Memorial address will be Thursday, July 26. The first day of classes at the new address will be Monday, August 6. Goodwill will be providing shuttle service from the Allen Road Super Wal-Mart for bus riders. More detailed information regarding the shuttle service can be found on the Goodwill website. “We will be moving our operation for up to a year,” said Patty Fuchs, Goodwill President and CEO. “This temporary move is the beginning of a new era for Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois. The repurposing of the War Memorial facility will allow us to expand our educational opportunities for the peopl...

As of August 1, 2012 Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois will no longer accept televisions as donations or for recycling. Due to the recent changes in Illinois law, it is not feasible for Goodwill to sell or recycle televisions. “As a non-profit organization, Goodwill must be vigilant about the revenue used to fund our mission,” said Patty Fuchs, Goodwill President & CEO. “By making these kinds of decisions, we are ensuring that our mission to support individuals and families who are working to better their lives will continue.” Below is a list of organizations in central Illinois that accept televisions for recycling: Dr. Know Systems 8214 N. University, Peoria 309-689-8355 Illinois E-Waste Recycle 1411 N.E. Adams, Peoria 309-636-8826 M&M Recycling 204 Morton St., Peoria 309-495-0995 ATR ...

The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce helped First United Methodist Church, 1315 Court Street, welcome their new Pastor, Steve Anderson to Pekin with a ribbon cutting.  Representatives from the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce and the church's congregation participated in the ribbon cutting.  More information on First United Methodist Church is available at (309) 347-3155 or www.fumcpekin.org . 

Sharp's Electronic Measurements celebrated their 30th anniversary with a ribbon cutting and open house on July 21st.  Located at 2103 N. Parkway Drive in Pekin, Sharp's Electronic Measurements specializes in computer sales, support, repair, network, and software installation.  Rich Sharp was joined in the ribbon cutting by his family and representatives of the City of Pekin and the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce. 

The Alzheimer's Association-Central Illinois Chapter is looking for individuals in their 40s and older as well as healthy seniors to participate in a healthy aging program called “Train Your Brain.” The six-week program will meet from 10-11:30 a.m. on Thursdays from Aug. 2-Sept. 6 at the Central Illinois Chapter office, 606 W. Glen Ave., Peoria. Train Your Brain was developed as part of the Association’s mission to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Each week will feature a different brain-related topic and a guest speaker. Cost for the program is $30 per person. Participants will receive a brain stimulation activities manual and handouts for each session. A certificate of completion will be given upon conclusion of the final session. Registration is required by calling 309.681.1100 or 800.272.3900. Can’t make those times or dates? Train Your Brain also will be offered from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays from Sept. 18-Oct. 23 at the Cha...

CrossFit Trilogy LLC, 905 Derby Street in Pekin, recently opened and was welcomed with a ribbon cutting by the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce. Owners Jacob Condis, Kelly Madden, and Gavin Vansaghi, cut the ribbon and were joined by family, friends, clients, and representatives from the Chamber and the City of Pekin. CrossFit uses the power of a dedicated community to change people's lives through fitness training and nutritional counseling. They focus on functional movements in three areas: olympic weightlifting, gymnastics, and metabolic conditioning. They also offer MMA and self-defense classes for those interested in martial arts. More information is available at www.crossfit-trilogy.com or by calling (309) 222-5765. You can see more picture of this event at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Join Ameren Tuesday, Aug. 21 for this valuable Energy Efficiency Workshop.  The U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Manufacturing Office invites you to find out how Illinois utilities’ incentives can save you money on your industrial energy efficiency efforts. Planning on initiating or continuing industrial energy efficiency projects? Utility incentives = $$$ for your company! Workshop Details: Date: Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012 REGISTER ONLINE Time: 7:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Register by Credit Card Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel 3000 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL Register by Check Cost: $25 (includes breakfast, lunch, networking breaks) Download Agenda Co-Sponsored by: Ameren Illinois U.S. Department of Energy, Advanced Manufacturing Office Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Energy Resources Center, University of Illinois at Chicago NICOR

Local officials held a ribbon cutting for the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway kiosk located at Pekin's Riverfront Park.  Speakers at the ceremony included Anaise Berry, Byway Director for the EDC of Central Illinois, Pekin Mayor Laurie Barra, and Lelonie Luft, Partnership/Tourism Manager for the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.  More pictures from this event are available on the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce picture page at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber The Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway unites more than 100 nature-based destinations and numerous unique communities throughout the Illinois River Valley. The Byway showcases great places where you can discover and experience the nature of the region. Whether it be hunting, fishing, hiking, biking or canoeing, exploring wetlands, gardens, birding and watching wildlife, your possibilities for adventure are endless. The Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway ...

The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce held a "blast party" for the volunteers who shot the fireworks for our Honor America July 4th Celebration. Everyone enjoyed a quiet, cool evening at Mashies - which was a huge contrast to the previous week in the stadium!

Timbercreek Rehab & Health Care hosted the July Business After Hours for the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce. As always, Brent Morgan and his staff were gracious hosts with door prizes, great food and drink and information about their facility.  You can see more pictures from this and other chamber events at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Henderson Funeral Home will soon be moving from their current location at 420 Walnut to a new facility at 2131 Velde Drive.  Greg and Marla Henderson and their family held a ground breaking ceremony for a new 12,000-square-foot facility that will include a residence, a crematory, and a chapel that will hold up to 350 people.  Construction is scheduled to the new facility will be at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-July and be completed next spring.  You can see more pictures from this and other chamber events at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

New online Red Cross tool helps businesses and schools prepare for emergencies The American Red Cross has launched a collection of free, online tools to help businesses, schools and other organizations prepare for emergencies through a program called Ready Rating.    Emergencies like power outages, water main breaks and medical emergencies can disrupt daily operations. Disasters like tornados, floods, earthquakes and fires have the potential to cause workplaces to fold and schools to close. According to the Insurance Information Institute, up to 40% of businesses fail after a natural or man-made disaster.   In an effort to better prepare for such events, Ready Rating members complete a confidential assessment of their current readiness level for emergencies and receive immediate, customized feedback with tips and resources for them to improve their readiness scores.   In select pilot areas, more than 1,300 businesses and organizations and nearly ...

Wish List TAPS is a non-profit no-kill animal shelter dedicated to rehoming homeless dogs and cats.  As a non-profit organization, we rely 100% on community support to provide for the animals in our care.  Please review the wish list below and consider donating one or more of the items listed to allow us to better provide for the animals. Priority Needs *    Cash donations to provide for the special needs of animals at TAPS *    Gift Cards from the following merchants to purchase pet supplies:  pre-paid gas cards, Petsmart, Walmart, Staples, and Menards *    Postage Stamps   Animal Supplies Dry dog and puppy food. To avoid GI upset, we have limited the brands we feed the dogs to the following: Nutro, Science Diet, Purina One & Pedigree Dry cat and kitten food. To avoid GI upset, we have limited the brands we feed the cats to the following: Natural Balance, Nutro, Science Diet ...

Soderstrom Skin Institute , 410 Maxine Drive, Morton, IL 61550; phone: (309) 263-7546; fax: (309) 263-8060; website: www.soderstromskininstitute.com ; Allison Vershaw, Office Manager; Dr Carl Soderstrom, President/ Medical Director; Cindy Tilson, Operations Manager; Tina Peugh, CEO; Jodi Richards, Spa Coordinator; Steve Soderstrom, Marketing. With more than 125 years of combined experience, the board certified dermatologists, plastic surgeon, Mohs micrographic surgeon, and certified physician assistants are qualified to diagnose and treat all skin conditions.

Registration required.   Please call 309.681.1100 or 800.272.3900. Alzheimer’s 101 Explore the common causes of memory loss, including Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias, the stages and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, the importance of a good medical examination, current research and treatments. Co-funded by the Central Illinois Agency on Aging Cost: $5 per person material fee Thurs., Aug. 16 5:30-7:30 p.m. Farmington Public Library 266 E. Fort St., Farmington Register by Aug. 15 Thurs., Oct. 25 5:30-7:30 p.m. Lillie M. Evans Library 207 N. Walnut St., Princeville Register by Oct. 24 Beyond Bingo: Creating Meaningful Activities This program explores creative ways to maintain meaningful activities for people with Alzheimer’s. It is designed to give family caregivers the tools to prevent or minimize disease-specific behaviors caused by inactivity. Cost: $5 per person material fee Wed., Oct. 10 3:30-4:...