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Showing posts from November, 2013

Pekin Community High School Students Recognized

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Pekin Hospital and Lite Rock 107 are proud to recognize Pekin Community High School students Alyssa Carroll and Brooke Svendsen as recipients of the Pekin Community High School (PCHS) Student Award for November. Alyssa, a senior, was nominated by Mrs. Ann Gallinger, a School Counselor at PCHS.  In the nomination, Mrs. Gallinger cited Alyssa’s contributions to National Honor Society, TAPS, Student Council, and PCHS Show Choir. Brooke, a senior, was nominated by Mrs. Theresa Slover, a School Counselor at PCHS.  In the nomination, Mrs. Slover cited Brooke’s ability to overcome a variety of obstacles as well as her leadership in class. Each month, two PCHS students who excel in moral character, positive attitude, volunteerism, demonstrate ideal role-model behavior, and who contribute to the classroom are nominated by teachers, counselors, and high school personnel. The students must be seniors and show remarkable qualities which help them prepare for a promising future. Seth Mingus,

2014 Family and Business Showcase

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014 from 4:00 pm to 8:00pm at the Avanti’s Dome. Free Admission & Free Parking! For more information on this event click here . For booth information click here . For booth registration click here .

2014 R. David Tebben Community Leadership Academy

The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the 16th annual R. David Tebben Community Leadership Academy for future leaders in the Pekin area. For more information and application click here .

PEKIN MAIN STREET PRESENTS CHRISTMAS ON COURT: A HOLIDAY BUSINESS OPEN HOUSE AND LUMINARY WALK

Pekin Main Street will be kicking off the holiday season on Friday, December 6, 2013 from 5:00-8:00 at the annual Christmas on Court event in downtown Pekin. Candle-lit luminaries will line the streets of downtown Pekin and will surround the Tazewell County Courthouse. Carriage rides will be available starting at Pekin Community Bank ($1.00 per person) and at the corner of Court & Capitol Streets. Several downtown businesses will be open with refreshments, specials and other fun things. Visitors are invited to participate in the sock monkey scavenger hunt – sock monkeys will be visiting businesses and hanging out in store windows – find the monkeys and enter to win prizes from downtown merchants. Santa Claus will be stationed at Pekin Community Bank to visit with children. The Community Christmas Tree lighting ceremony will take place at 5:30 on the median at Five Points (by Pekin Community Bank, First Pekin Savings Bank and St. Joseph Church). All community members are invited

Alzheimer’s Association Selling Holiday Cookie Trays and Other Sweet Treats

Order a cookie tray for the office, for the mailman or for your own Christmas party during the Alzheimer’s Association-Central Illinois Chapter’s holiday bake sale on Friday, Dec. 13. The bake sale starts at 10 a.m. at the office, 606 W. Glen Ave., and goes until every last pie, cookie, coffee cake, piece of fudge and mint chocolate Oreo ball is gone. Each large cookie tray is just $10. Other items are priced individually. Many of the goodies are made by Chapter staff; the rest of the items are donated by area bakeries and grocery stores. To place an order, call the office at 681.1100 or toll free at 800.272.3900. All proceeds benefit the Chapter’s programs and services for families.

Attorney to Present Legal & Financial Program for Alzheimer’s

Families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias can better prepare for their loved one’s long term care future by attending an upcoming legal and financial series hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association®- Central Illinois Chapter. A Legal and Financial Series is scheduled for Wed., Dec. 11, and Wed., Dec. 18, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., at the Alzheimer's Association, 606 W. Glen Avenue, Peoria. Timothy Kirk, an elder attorney with Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, will present the programs. A session will be devoted to legal matters and a session will be devoted to financial matters. Topics to be discussed may include patient rights, Power of Attorney, guardianship, advance directives, estate planning, Medicaid, asset protection, and spousal impoverishment. There will be time immediately following the sessions for questions and answers. Kirk regularly shares his expertise on elder law issues with Unity Point Encore and other social service agencies in the greater P

Chamber Website Goes Mobile

Have you seen the chamber's mobile-friendly website? It includes easy access to the membership directory, calendar of events, and more. Bookmark it in your phone! www.pekinchamber.com/mobile

Small Business Saturday is This Week!

From the corner café with the tasty snacks to the shop who always has exactly what you need, our community is full of special stores that are the heartbeat of our local economy.   Small Business Saturday® is a day to support the local businesses we love. This year, the big day is November 30, and we want you to get out and Shop Small.  Make this the most successful Small Business Saturday yet!  Discover more ways to join in at ShopSmall.com and search  Small Business Saturday Central Illinois on Facebook  

Christmas for the Hopeful

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Christmas for the Hopeful

Lighting up the hearts of our friends and neighbors who were affected by the recent storms. Velde Ford of Pekin today announced that they will be hosting a Christmas Party at their dealership for all the families in Pekin, East Peoria, Washington and the surrounding area’s directly affected by the area’s recent storms. This Special Holiday Event will take place at their main showroom in Pekin, Il on Saturday, December 7th from 4:30-8:00pm. The Velde Ford Staff decided in lieu of their own 2013 Christmas Party at Basta Mangiare, that they would prefer to host a dinner and evening of entertainment for all the affected families. In conjunction with Basta Mangiare, a Christmas Dinner will be provided for all attending. Details on event registration will be forthcoming on their website; www.veldefordpekin.com , on their Facebook page, as well as various other media channels. To give every child in attendance a new toy from Santa, Velde Ford is mounting a MASSIVE TOY DRIVE for the

Free Thanksgiving Dinner

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Alzheimer’s Association® Selling 2013 Hand Blown Ornament

The Alzheimer’s Association® - Central Illinois Chapter, is selling the 2013 seventh-in-the-series hand blown holiday ornament by regional artist Hiram Toraason during the holiday season.  The limited-edition 5-inch ornament is especially designed for the Central Illinois Chapter with shades of bright purple, snowy white, with just a touch of blue. The ornament is available at the following Peoria area shops: • Alzheimer’s Association 606 W. Glen Avenue • Belle Mie • Bremer Jewelry • Broms • Bronze Frog • Enchanted Florist & Boutique • Exhibit A Gallery • Harp & Thistle Imports • Jones Bros. Jewelers • Pettet Jewelry • Picture This Gallery • Pink Sugar • Pottstown Meat, Deli & Catering • Preckshot Pharmacy • Toraason Glass • Udry Jewelers, Pekin It can also be purchased on-line by visiting the agency website at alz.org/illinoiscentral . The ornament sells for $30 with proceeds benefitting the Alzheimer’s Association. The Chapter can sh

Relief Aid Site

Pekin Masonic Lodge at 338 Elizabeth St., Pekin has donations available for storm victims. They currently have cleaning supplies, non-perishable foods, and clothing along with many other items. They are available Monday - Wednesday from 11AM - 3PM to assist you. If you need supplies and are unable to go to the Lodge at these posted times, there are phone numbers posted on the doors of the Lodge for you to call and someone will meet.

Membership Renewals

Amerex dba Getz Manufacturing Automotive Machine Baumgarten Distributing Camp of Champions Comfort Plus Hospice Deverman Advertising Elks Lodge Flowers by Florence Home Helath Care Plus J & J Consulting Firm Jost Becker Jost McGladrey LLP Morton Villa / Morton Terrace National Rental Lloyd Orrick Pekin Lions Club Rogy's Childcare San Juan Pools & Spa Schwartz Electric St. Jude Pekin to Peoria Run Women's Center for Health * Lewis Industries * ** Wal-Mart **

Biz Barometer

Pekin’s sales tax disbursements received from the state in November were 10.7% less than November of 2012.  November disbursements typically represent sales taxes collected by merchants in August. Pekin’s sales tax disbursements received from the state for the last 3 months were 4.1% less than the same three months a year ago. The other three large communities on the east side of the Illinois River received more sales tax disbursements in November, compared to November of 2012:  Morton (1.8%), Washington (2.0%) and East Peoria (18.6%%).  . For the 12 months ending in November, Pekin (+7.7%), East Peoria (+5.5%), and Washington (+2.2%) all received more sales tax disbursements than the 12 months ending in November of 2012.  Morton’s sales tax disbursements received from the state were about equal with the same period from the previous year.     The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.1 percent in October on a seasonally adjusted basis.  Over the last

Pekin Hospital’s New Low-Dose Radiation CT Scanning Program Helps Detect Early-Stage Lung Cancer

A new, potentially life-saving program at Pekin Hospital uses low-dose radiation CT scanning to identify early-stage lung cancer in high-risk groups. The protocol, endorsed by prominent medical organizations like the American Lung Association, marks the first time people at high risk for developing lung cancer have the opportunity to undergo routine screenings. The painless scan, which takes about 10 minutes and is performed in a traditional CT scanner, is only recommended for a specific group of people. Candidates must be between 55 to 74 years old, have smoked at least two packs of cigarettes a day for 15 years or more, or have been exposed to certain work environments. The new program employs a low dose of radiation—much lower than traditional x-rays—while still providing excellent diagnostic images. This lower dosage reduces the risks associated with frequent radiation exposure, making it safer for high-risk candidates advised to have an annual scan. Lung cancer is the

Wednesday Storm Relief Update

Volunteers Needed Please do not just "show-up."  Below are three ways you can volunteer: Call the local Red Cross volunteer line at 309-677-7272.  Let them know of your availability or you willingness to donate equipment or materials.  Or go to www.redcross.org/il/peoria and click "volunteer" on the left. If you would like to volunteer with clean up please call Tazewell County Health Department, 309-925-5511. The Washington Chamber of Commerce is in need of volunteers.  People are needed to help with the collection and organization of donations. The Chamber is asking people to the work in three hour shifts starting between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. It needs at least 16 people per shift.  If you would like to help, please call 309-229-6524. Leave a voicemail with your contact information and what shifts you could help.  Local Telethon Tonight Help on the Homefront, a live telethon for tornado v

PAAR Introduces NestRent.com - a Centralized Source for Rental Information in the Greater Peoria Area

Realtors® are the voice for real estate in central Illinois, so it is not surprising that in the midst of this crisis, many displaced residents are looking to their real estate agents or to the Peoria Area Association of Realtors® (PAAR) for assistance in finding emergency housing. The PAAR believes it is vital that the Central Illinois community has a place to come together to provide rental housing information. It is for this reason that PAAR has asked the developers of NestRent.com to assist the association by providing their centralized website designed to organize available rental properties in the Greater Peoria area. Many landlords have already agreed to accept short-term, as well as longer-term leases, for those affected by the tornados. o    Landlords are encouraged to enter properties for rent on the NedstRent website. o    NestRent has waived the requirement for a listing contract with a Realtor® and the landlord can enter the property themselves —pictures are

Regional Organizations Collaborate on Small Business Saturday

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It’s time to spread the word about Small Business Saturday, the day dedicated to supporting small businesses nationwide. Small Business Saturday is November 30th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This is a national initiative aimed at getting consumers to spend locally and support the small businesses in their community for at least one day during the holiday shopping season. Local project coordinator Rachel O’Connell, with The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, says there are many regional partners on board helping promote the initiative including area Chambers of Commerce, economic development organizations, cities, and counties. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of every community. In fact more than 95% of businesses in our region are considered small business and they employ over half of all private sector workers. That is why we are all working together to promote Small Business Saturday throughout Greater Peoria.” Rick Swan, Executive Director of the East Peoria Ch

Pekin Storm Relief Update

Don't Move Barricades! This morning the Pekin Police urge motorists to be careful  driving in the damaged area around 8th and Sheridan.  Watch for officers directing traffic!   If you are coming to the area to help family or friends and you come to a street with a barricade, please do not move it or go around.  You may need to park and walk the rest of the way to your destination.  It may not always be convenient, but the emergency workers are trying to keep the cleanup effort moving.  However, everything comes to a stop when there are too many cars in these areas.    If you have no business in the area, other than to look at the damage, please stay away.  The extra vehicles just slow the clean-up process.   Everyone thanks you for your cooperation.   Donations Needed In Pekin The HOPE Chest is the location in Pekin for donations.  It is also a distribution center for families affect by

Living Alternatives Ribbon Cutting

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The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Pekin welcomed a new business to Pekin with a ribbon cutting on November 15th.  Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center is located at 1618 Valle Vista Blvd.  Living Alternatives is committed to saving the lives of unborn children by promoting life-affirming options and providing practical assistance, while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed, and to minister restoration to those who have been wounded by the trauma of abortion.  They can be reached at 309.620.9227 or www.hopeforafuture.com .  You can see more pictures from this event at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Pekin Hospital Auxiliary Bake/Craft Sale

The Pekin Hospital Auxiliary will hold their annual Bake/Craft Sale and Raffle on Wednesday, December 4 from 6 – 8 p.m. and Thursday, December 5 from 6 a.m. – noon in the Pekin Hospital Lobby. The event will feature a variety of homemade items including:  breads, cakes, candy, and cookies.  There will also be assorted crafts and plants available for purchase.  Raffle tickets for $1 each are also available for purchase inside the Hospital Lobby on November 25, 26, and 27, and December 2, 3, 4, and 5.  Raffle prizes include:  $100, $75, and $50.  The raffle drawing will be held at noon on December 5 inside the Hospital’s Lobby.  Need not be present to win. Proceeds from the event will support the Pekin Hospital Auxiliary Financial Assistance Fund, which awards financial assistance each year to area youths interested in pursuing careers in health-related fields.

Pekin Hospital to Offer Healthcare Provider CPR Course

Pekin Hospital is pleased to offer a Healthcare Provider CPR course for nursing students and others who are entering a health occupation field in the January 2014 semester.  A full professional rescue CPR class is scheduled for December 12 from 4 – 8:30 p.m. in the 4 South Education Classroom at Pekin Hospital. The cost of the class is $35 and will include the course manual.  Registration is required and class size is limited.  To register, please call (309) 353-0351 or email Jwagner@pekinhospital.com . The CPR class is offered through the American Heart Association, and participants will receive a two-year card upon completion.  If you or someone you know is entering nursing school or any other health occupation course this winter (such as radiology or respiratory therapy), this is a CPR class that is accepted by all colleges of nursing in the Central Illinois area.

Shop Small on November 30th

From the corner café with the tasty cappuccinos to the jeweler who can design and make the perfect customized gift, our streets are brimming with special stores that are the heartbeat of our neighborhood.  Small Business Saturday® is a day to support the local businesses we love. This year, the big day is Nov 30, and we want you to get out and Shop Small. Let’s make this the most successful Small Business Saturday yet! Discover more ways to join in at ShopSmall.com .

Are your e-mails mobile-friendly?

Why care if your e-mails are mobile-friendly?  Because nearly half of your e-mails are viewed on a mobile device! According to Litmus.com, 42% of emails are opened on a mobile device.  And, according to BlueHornet.com, 70% of e-mails “that don’t look good” on a mobile device are immediately deleted. Try these tips to make your e-mails mobile-friendly: Write a succinct subject line.  Many mobile e-mail apps will only display the first 35 characters of the subject line in the inbox.  Use as few words as possible to accurately reflect the reason for the email. Get right to the point in the first line of the body of your email.  Some mobile e-mail apps preview the e-mail in the inbox by displaying the first 85 characters of your email. Increase your font size.  Use at least 14-point font for the body and 22-point font for headlines. Keep your e-mails brief.  Remember that 1 line of text on your desktop equals 3 lines of text on a smart phone.  Compose your email like it’s a 140-ch

Library Offers Health Insurance Marketplace Assistance

The Pekin Public Library will host certified staff from the Heartland Community Health Clinic to assist in the enrollment for the new Health Insurance Marketplace on Wednesday, November 20th, from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the library's Community Room.

MSI Welcomed to Pekin

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Representatives from the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Pekin welcomed a new business to Pekin with a ribbon cutting ceremony.  MSI (Mortgage Services III) is located at 3210 Court Street, where Vikki Price is the Senior Loan Officer.   Mortgage Services III, LLC is one of the fastest growing lenders in the country realizing a total production of over 18,000 loans totaling 3.2 billion in 2009. MSI exceeded expectations again in 2010 funding nearly 20,000 home loans. Mortgage Services III, LLC specializes in Wholesale and Correspondent Lending.  Their expertise in government lending (FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development) and conventional mortgage products provides a one stop shop for all mortgage lending needs.  They can be reached at (309) 353-5626 or www.msiloans.biz

Mashie's Invites You to Their Upcoming Events

November 15th - Italian Night  - There will be several stations set up for "tastings" of various Italian dishes! Enjoy wine tasting while checking out the Italian cuisine. Look forward to a fun, casual night. December 2nd - Mashie's 3rd Annual "Women for a Cause!" TOYS FOR TOTS  Deliver the Magic of Christmas while enjoying a "Ladies Night Out" by attending our annual Toys for Tots event. Cash bar & dinner menu available. YOU can spread the message of hope to needy children in our community and catch up on some "girl time" -- all in one night. Bring a friend! This community can make a BIG difference. Bring an UNWRAPPED toy with a value of no more than $15.00. December 31st - New Year's Eve 2013 - Mashie's will host their Annual New Year's Eve Party!  More information to come on this event.  All these events will take place at Mashie's Pub & Eatery, 1620 Summit Drive, Pekin, IL 61554

McDaniels Healthcare Marketing Honored with Six Pinnacle Awards

McDaniels Healthcare Marketing, a communications firm headquartered in Pekin, Ill., recently received six Pinnacle Awards in a ceremony sponsored by its peers. The ceremony was recently held in Fontana, Wis., as part of a joint conference for the Illinois Society for Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations (ISHMPR) and Wisconsin Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society (WHPRMS). Each year, the Pinnacle Awards are presented for excellence in healthcare marketing and public relations. McDaniels Healthcare Marketing was recognized with the following honors: Award of Excellence • Pekin Hospital – Special Event – Centennial Ball • Rochelle Community Hospital – Advertising Campaign – RCH “Proof” Honorable Mention • CGH Medical Center – Advertising Campaign – “Encircling Care” • Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital – Community Newsletter – Culbertson Connection • IIlinois Valley Community Hospital – E-marketing & Social Networking – Women’s Health Center Blog

Bard Optical to Give Bifocals to Seniors at the Holidays

It’s easy to see that “Vision for Life” means just that at Peoria’s premier vision center. This holiday Bard Optical will partner with the South Side Mission to donate a pair of bifocal eyeglasses for each pair sold starting December 1, 2013. Bard has always been an active participant in the community giving back to several charitable foundations in the past. Diana Hall, Owner and President of Bard Optical says, “It is at this time of year in particular that we want to keep all who are less fortunate in mind.” This contribution comes during the season of giving and will be well received by the seniors of the South Side Mission as Hall states, “One of the least recognized groups in our community is the elderly, and Bard hopes to bring attention to this generation.” The South Side Mission’s Executive Director, Phil Newton shares his gratitude by saying, “South Side Mission is thrilled that Bard Optical will be helping needy seniors on the South Side of Peoria through our Elderly Serv

Fleming Earns Accredited Chamber Executive Designation

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                Bill Fleming, Executive Director of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce was recently honored at the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE) Fall Conference in East Peoria.  Fleming was recognized for meeting the criteria established for an Accredited Chamber Executive (ACE).                 Qualified applicants for the ACE designation must have at least five years of continuous service as a chamber professional, be a member of IACCE, verify attendance at conferences, exhibit leadership roles in the organizations, and demonstrate involvement and proven accomplishments at the local chamber level.                 Applicants were also required to submit a letter of recommendation from the chief volunteer officer of their organization.                 Fleming has led the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce since June of 2001.  He has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska, and previously worked in the cable television industr

AAIM Customer Service Training in Pekin December 3rd

Building a relationship is the most important objective of customer service. The relationship you have with your customer is something that your competition can't take away from you. This results-oriented workshop focuses on exceeding customer expectations for both your internal and external clients. At the end of this class you will be able to: •define customer service •identify customer expectations •maintain a positive attitude •be a team player •identify a culture of service •communicate effectively •use email effectively •use proper phone etiquette •exceed customer expectations Topics that will be covered: •customer service challenges and how to overcome them •building and maintaining a positive attitude •the importance of being a team player •what creates a service culture •the importance of making a good first impression •understanding the communication process •identifying barriers to communication •listening effectively and asking appropriate questions

Chamber Challenge Trivia Nite Fun

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The Chamber Ambassadors hosted their 8th annual Chamber Challenge Trivia Nite on November 8th.  Eleven teams competed in this fun networking event.  And for the 6th time in 8 years, the winner was the team from Herget Bank.  Thanks to all of our sponsors, including Pekin Insurance, Herget Bank, Heartland Bank, and Velde Lincoln Volvo of Peoria.  To see more pictures from this event visit:  http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Pekin Hospital After Hours

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Chamber members and their guests attended the November Business After Hours at Pekin Hospital.  CEO Gary Jepson welcomed the guests and thanked them for their support.  You can see more pictures from this and other chamber events at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Applebee's Celebrates Remodel

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Representatives of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Pekin helped Applebee's celebrate their grand reopening with a ribbon cutting this morning. Their recent remodeling included an auction of their old memorabilia, with the proceeds donated to The HOPE Chest. The remodeling effort took about a week and included updating inside and to the exterior of the building.  You can see more pictures from this and other chamber events at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

New Regional EDC Board of Directors Selected

Economic Development Council of Central Illinois announced today that a new board of directors has been selected and officially seated for the organization. The new board members are as follows: Jim Baumgartner, Caterpillar Bill Blessman, Mason County Meridith Bunch, Midstate College Bill Comstock, Sheet Metal Workers Local 1 Songo Dede, DSM-H Nick Esser, Heartland Bank Jake Hamman, One Fire Media Mike Hinrichsen, Woodford County Bill Martin, Logan County Libby Mathers, Harvest Café Tom O’Neill, Peoria County Charles Purcell, G&D Integrated Dan Sleaford, Weaver Popcorn Bill Spears, J.C. Dillon Plumbing Keith Steffen, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center David Zimmerman, Tazewell County   An interim board has been leading a re-organizing of the EDC in partnership with Focus Forward CI, a regional economic development strategy initiative that started in 2012. Through the re-organization process, a new board has been selected to represent both the public and private

Join Pekin Main Street for Craft Beer Night

Come celebrate the art of beer at Pekin Main Street’s first Craft Beer Night, Thursday, November 21 from 7:00-9:00pm at the Speakeasy Art Center, 353 Court Street in downtown Pekin. Sample beers from Pekin’s newest brewer, Crescent Sun Brewing Co. as well as Destihl Brewery out of Normal, Illinois. Groucho & CHUD from The Beer Report podcast will also be joining the festivities. Admission is a $10 donation at the door with all proceeds benefiting Pekin Main Street’s efforts to restore and revitalize downtown Pekin. Contact Pekin Main Street at 309-353-3100 for more information or email mheien@ci.pekin.il.us .

Tazwood Center For Wellness

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Tazwood Center for Wellness held a Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony today at its Pekin office at 3248 Vandever Avenue. Tazwood Board Chair, Tom Quinn, along with Tazwood CEO, Dave Mingus, and the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce were joined by several community representatives to dedicate Tazwood's new Supervised Visitation Rooms in Pekin and East Peoria. The Supervised Visitation Rooms provide safe and healthy visiting environments for children and non-custodial parents. They offer a comfortable family visiting area, which is staffed by a Visitation Supervisor to facilitate drop off and pick up of the children and to encourage appropriate communication and interaction between children and the visiting parent. Anita Keller, Tazwood's Supervised Visitation Program Coordinator said, "This is a much needed service for Tazewell County and is made possible through the efforts of the Tazewell County Court System, and several local attorneys, as well as the significant

40 Leaders Under Forty

The 20th annual class of "40 Leaders Under Forty" was unveiled at a ceremony at the Par-A-Dice Hotel last night.  You can find more information about the program and the winners at:    http://www.peoriamagazines.com/ibi/2013/nov Congratulations to all the winners... Josh Adams, June Restaurant Dr. Bhagat S. Aulakh, Illinois Lung Institute Anne M. Bowman, Hult Center for Healthy Living Vincent M. Boyle, Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen Jennifer A. Brooks, Caterpillar Inc. Tamara Camille Butler, Peoria Public Schools Cory M. Byrd, Maurer-Stutz Inc. Angelia Camacho, OSF Saint Francis Inc. Jill K. Crowder, Petersen Hotels Joseph D. Dalfonso, Bradley University Brandon Dean, Dean Custom Builders Inc. Amy S. Dennison, Children's Home Association of Illinois Lucas Ebbing, WestPoint Financial Group Amanda L. Gavin, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP Chris Gray, Illinois Central College A.J. Guyton, Illinois Central College Dean Heffta, Water Street Solutions Bradley S.

Pekin Insurance Ribbon Cutting

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Pekin Insurance held a ribbon cutting today to officially open their new facility on Parkway Drive.  Their property and casualty claims department moved from their home office into the building that was most recently the corporate headquarters for  Aventine Renewable Energy. Pekin Insurance purchased the property and began remodeling efforts nearly two years ago.  The company continues to grow, and needed the additional space.  Pekin Insurance is one of the largest employers in Pekin, with nearly 600 employees.  About 120 employees will work at the new claims facility. You can see more pictures from this and other chamber events at:  http://www.picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber

Get in on Small Business Saturday

Are you a small business owner? Make Nov 30 one of the biggest days of the year for your business by taking part in Small Business Saturday®. Check out resources that can help you stand out on the big day at ShopSmall.com. SPREAD THE WORD: Download marketing materials that can help you attract new customers on the day   PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS: Apply for free personalized online ads. Eligibility restrictions apply; see Terms of Participation for full details. Registration for free ads closes on 11/4/13 or while supplies last.  GET INSPIRED: Visit ShopSmall.com to see what others have done in past years to make the day a success  This is a day no small business would want to miss. Make sure you’re a part of Small Business Saturday 2013.

Business Credit Report Seminar

KCB will conduct a seminar on Business Credit Reports on Monday Jan. 13, 2014 at 2:00pm Do you have Delinquent Business Accounts? Do you make loans or grant credit to corporations LLPs, LLCs or DBAs? Do you make loans to Farmers who are incorporated? Do you rent or lease to businesses? Do you offer checking accounts to businesses? Would you like a listing of your Portfolio, with a summary of previous credit reports? If you answered YES to any of these, you should  attend this seminar Call or email to reserve a seat in this presentation.  Ph. 309-353-5527 Fax: 309-353-5541 Email:  Larry Nelson 

Congratulations to the KCB Staff

Deborah Rathmel, Karen Zimmerman, Susan Roberts and Larry Nelson are now Certified FICO Pros.

Business After Hours November 7th, 2013

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Don't forget to RSVP for Business After Hours, Thursday, November 7th at Pekin Hospital. 

Pekin Community High School Students Recognized

Pekin Hospital and Lite Rock 107 are proud to recognize Pekin Community High School students Lexie Yeley and Elizabeth Dill as recipients of the Pekin Community High School (PCHS) Student Award for October. Lexie, a senior, was nominated by Mrs. Erica Gilmore, a Science teacher at PCHS.  In the nomination, Mrs. Gilmore cited Lexie’s contributions to Track, Basketball, and the “Girl Talk” program. Elizabeth, a senior, was nominated by Mrs. Jyl Mason, a Social Studies teacher at PCHS.  In the nomination, Mrs. Mason cited Elizabeth’s contributions to Lacrosse, Crossfit, and her classroom. Each month, two PCHS students who excel in moral character, positive attitude, volunteerism, demonstrate ideal role-model behavior, and who contribute to the classroom are nominated by teachers, counselors, and high school personnel. The students must be seniors and show remarkable qualities which help them prepare for a promising future. Seth Mingus, Assistant Principal for Curriculum at