Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

Addition of seasoned professional Andrew Welp further positions Savant as industry leader in building and transferring wealth ▪ With more than a decade of experience and expertise, Andrew J. Welp, CPA, JD, further enhances firm’s comprehensive financial planning services ▪ Growing wealth transfer and tax team bridges gap between building wealth and transferring wealth ▪ Increases support team to five attorneys and 13 certified public accountants Savant Capital Management, a nationally-recognized fee-only wealth management firm headquartered in Rockford, IL, with 11 additional offices in three states, including Peoria, announced that Andrew J. Welp, JD, CPA has been hired as its third dedicated wealth transfer advisor. He joins the firm’s growing tax and wealth transfer team that is led by Michael Cyrs, director of wealth advisory. Welp is a member of the firm’s Planning Team and is responsible for overseeing the new in-house trust and estate settlement officers who were added...

The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to once again support Small Business Saturday® and Shop Small, taking place on November 25th. Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting local small businesses and strengthening and celebrating communities across the country. Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday serves as the ceremonial kickoff to the holiday shopping season for small businesses across the United States. In 2016, an estimated 112 million consumers reported shopping at small businesses on Small Business Saturday, according to the 2016 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey. The day was also championed by elected officials in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Small Business Saturday celebrates the diversity of small businesses across the U.S. and recognizes the importance of supporting small businesses, the jobs they help create, and the culture they instill in local communities. According to the U.S. Small Business...

Illinois American Water encourages customers to participate in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Residents are encouraged to drop off their unwanted medications at approved collection sites so they can be incinerated, which is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended approach for pharmaceutical disposal. Both flushing medications down the toilet and throwing them in the trash are discouraged. The event is Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, from 10 AM to 2 PM. Collection sites participating in this event can be located by visiting https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html “This event is a great opportunity for residents to securely drop off any unused or expired medications,” said Bruce Hauk, Illinois American Water President. “It’s important for us to keep these items out of our landfills and water supplies as well as the hands of those who may misuse or abuse them.” Hauk added, “We encourage those who canno...

Advanced Medical Transport celebrated their new Pekin location with a reception and ribbon cutting on October 27.  The new facility is located on Pekin Hospital property at the corner of 13th and Park Avenue.  The cost of the project was approximately $1 million. The facility  includes pull through garage bays for the ambulances.  There is  also a living area for the on-call staff that includes a kitchen and small fitness room. Representatives from the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Pekin joined Andrew Rand and Josh Bradshaw from AMT and Bob Haley from UnityPoint Health for the ribbon cutting. You can see more pictures from this event at  https://photos.app.goo.gl/OLnm2UaBEmF2jYdy1

UnityPoint Health recently celebrated the completion of a major technology investment project in Pekin.  The new Cardiac Cath/Vascular Intervention Suite was built in the Medical Imaging Department in space formerly used for records storage.  UnityPoint Health - Pekin CEO Bob Haley said the investment was over $1 million dollars. The suite was designed to create an optimal workflow to care for patients and create a safe and healing environment.  It was outfitted with state-of-the-art technology, including a Dual Plane Toshiba Imaging system with two C-arms that are designed specifically for cardiac and vascular intervention cases.  A new hemodynamics system for patient monitoring was also installed.  The highly trained staff also received intense off-site and on-site training for on the new cutting-edge systems. Hospital staff and doctors were joined in the ribbon cutting ceremony by representatives of the City of Pekin and the Pekin Area Chamber of Commer...

Three-time PGA TOUR champion brings junior golf event to Pekin Country Club The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) is pleased to announce that three-time PGA TOUR champion D.A. Points will host the inaugural D.A. Points Junior Championship sponsored by Pekin Insurance / UnityPoint Health in 2018. The 54-hole stroke play event will be held July 9-12 at Pekin Country Club in Pekin, Illinois, where 96 boys and girls from around the world will compete for the title. “The AJGA provided me an opportunity to test my abilities against the best junior golfers across the country,” said Points. “It helped shape me into a PGA TOUR winner. It gives me great pleasure to host an amazing tournament at my home course, Pekin Country Club. My dream to have my name associated with an AJGA event is made possible by my oldest sponsor, Pekin Insurance. Along with UnityPoint Health, Pekin Insurance will put on a great tournament. Pekin Insurance has helped me achieve my life long dreams of playing on...

Downtown Trick or Treat Join the FUN!! Rain or Shine Saturday, October 28th 10:00am - Noon Get your spook on show off your tricks, float up and down Court Street for your rewards...if you dare!!!

Illinois Central College will open registration for its spring minimester and spring 2018 semester on Mon., October 30. The schedule is available online at icc.edu/academics/class-schedule/ . Classes for the spring minimester begin Tues., December 19, and the spring 2018 semester begins on Tues., January 16. ICC also is offering an expedited way for potential students to get through the steps of enrolling all in one day with its new QuickStart program. QuickStart is available on Tuesdays, now through December 19 (excluding November 21) from noon to 7 pm on the ICC East Peoria Campus. No appointment is necessary. Free parking is available in Lots A and B on the East Peoria Campus, as well as the Visitors Lot.               During QuickStart events, participants can complete an ICC application and have it processed immediately, take placement testing, meet with an advisor, fill out financial aid paperwork, set up a pa...

The Medical Imaging Department at UnityPoint Health – Pekin has just opened a newly constructed Cardiac Cath/Vascular Intervention Suite. Patients in and near Pekin can now receive specialized cardiac and vascular care, performed with state-of-the-art equipment, close to home. Among the procedures performed in the new suite will be vascular intervention, permanent pacemaker placement, angiography, diagnostic cardiac catheterizations and more. The media is invited to an open house of the new facility. When: 1 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 25, 2017 Where: UnityPoint Health – Pekin, 600 S 13th St, Pekin, IL 61554 What you’ll see: The suite was fitted with brand new state-of-the-art technology, including a Dual Plane Toshiba Imaging system designed specifically for Cardiac and Vascular Interventions cases and a new Hemodynamics patient monitoring system. Our highly trained Cardiac Cath/Angiography staff also received intense off-site and onsite training to operate this new system. Additional visu...

ClassRing, 2nd place international quartet medalists in the Sweet Adelines International 2017 quartet finals, will be the featured guests at the fall concert by the Heart of Illinois Chorus, in residence at Illinois Central College. The concert takes place Sat., October 21 at 7:30 pm in the ICC Performing Arts Center, located on the East Peoria Campus. ClassRing finished as the 2nd place international quartet medalists at the 2017 Sweet Adelines International competition in Las Vegas earlier this month. The quartet formed in spring 2014 to compete in the Sweet Adelines International Rising Star Contest. After only a few months of rehearsal, they won the contest and were named the 2014 International Rising Star Champions. The foursome also earned 5th place in the 2016 Sweet Adelines International contest. Members of ClassRing are: Mary Duncan, baritone, Kansas City, Kan.; Heather Havens, lead, Baltimore, Md.; Hailey Parks, bass, Knoxville, Tenn.; and Michaela Slamka-Johnston, teno...

Maurer-Stutz Inc. and Hanson Professional Services Inc. won the Award of Excellence from the Association of Conservation Engineers’ (ACE) Carl V. Anderson Conservation Project Awards in recognition of Emiquon Preserve’s water control system, which is believed to be the only one of its kind in the world. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Maurer-Stutz and Hanson were honored for the project Oct. 18 during 56th annual ACE Conference in Ogden, Utah. This award is ACE’s highest honor. Emiquon Preserve, one of the largest floodplain restoration projects of its type in the Midwest, is located near Havana, Illinois. The floodplain had been farmland that was separated from the Illinois River by a levee. To keep the 5,500-acre wetland in the preserve from degrading, TNC teamed with Maurer-Stutz and Hanson to create a water control system that reconnects the floodplain to the river for the first time in nearly a century. The team designed a multipurpose, gated water control structure; a pump stati...

s Fall Fun at the Vineyard We are thankful for each and every person that visited this year and made 2017 memorable and fun . We had a great turnout for the 'Ohana run and lots of feedback about the route through the vineyard and ideas for next year. Thank you to our: runners, sponsors, survivors & caregivers.  CRC Life was our race beneficiary There are still lots of wines to enjoy and fun events this Fall. Come out and visit, we hope to see you soon. ...

            Creative works of Central Illinois veterans and paintings by a British artist will be on display in two art shows opening November 1 in the Illinois Central College art galleries, located on the East Peoria Campus.             The 2nd Annual Veterans’ Art Show will feature two-dimensional and three-dimensional works submitted by area veterans. This show takes place in the ICC Performing Arts Center Gallery, located in the lobby of the facility. A free, public reception is scheduled for November 9 from 6 pm to 8 pm in the gallery.             Paintings by Mark David Lloyd will be displayed in an exhibit opening November 1 in ICC Art Gallery 336B, located in the Academic Building.             Lloyd is a British contemporary artist who was born in Birmingham, England in 197...

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH PEKIN had our very first FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL this past Saturday Oct. 14 th .  We started off at 5pm sitting around the fire on hay bales roasting hot dogs followed by a short message from our new pastor, Pastor Vernon Risner. From 5:45-7pm we had our game time with a Cake Walk, Fall Photo Booth and a ton of fun with a pumpkin head bean bag toss, temporary tattoos, farmer browns grocery game, glow bowling and glow pumpkin ring toss.  We feel this was a great success and look forward to doing it again next Fall and hope the community will come out and enjoy all the fun with us! We are gearing up for the Christmas season at FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH with the Ladies Christmas Tea tickets on sale this week.  The Ladies Christmas Tea is a tradition which takes place on November 14th & 16 th with doors opening at 6:00 pm.  It is a beautiful setting where ladies are pampered with fancy finger food, mouth-watering desserts, a superb speaker, and bea...

Congratulations to the YWCA Child Care on 30 years of quality care to the Pekin community.  Child Care Director Brenda Long was joined by her staff, other YWCA employees, and representatives from the City of Pekin and the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce for the ribbon cutting, which kicked off an open house.

Be sure to vote for Ahen at  https://www.aftermath.com/k9-grant/  and help us win the top prize. Don't take this for granted. Last year we led all the way to the end only to receive second place nationally by less than a handful of votes. So vote every day and on all email accounts you may own. This year we have no idea where we are ranked so it is important to vote! Also be careful to select Pekin IL...don't accidentally vote the wrong department. We got this!

Illinois Central College is seeking qualified adjunct faculty to teach its subject areas of high need. The College will host a webinar, “ICC Adjunct Faculty Job Fair: A Virtual Adjunct Faculty Recruitment Event” on two separate dates for the convenience of those interested in learning about teaching part-time at ICC. Participants may choose from one of the following sessions: ·         Tues., November 14 at noon ·         Thurs., November 16 at 4 p.m. Areas of high need, by department, include: Agricultural & Industrial Technologies: Caterpillar Dealer Service Technology, General Motors Automotive Service Education Program, Diesel Powered Equipment Technology (DPET), and Welding Arts and Behavioral Sciences: Theatre, Architectural, and Graphic Design Business, Legal, & Information Systems: Business, Economics, and, Law Enforcement / Criminal Justice Health Careers: CNA (Nursing Ass...

October 21st, 4pm - 7pm  Bring your family and dress in costume to the annual Fall Fest at Soldwedel Program Center.  You will enjoy a hayrack ride; face painting, cooking hot dogs over a fire, crafts, photo booth, and so much more fun!  This year we have added a touch a truck event where you will be able to get up close and personal with a Fire Truck from Pekin Fire Department, an Ambulance from Advanced Medical Transport, a Tractor from Rockin P Ranch, and even a Monster Truck from Steve Faichney at Shaw Roofing!  If you have any questions please feel free to email Andrew at arichey@pekinparkdistrict.org.  No need to register...See you There!

Savant Capital Management, a nationally-recognized fee-only wealth management firm headquartered in Rockford, IL, with 11 additional offices in three states, including Peoria, has been recognized by Barron’s as one of the top independent advisory firms in the nation and by Forbes, naming the firm’s CEO as one of America’s top wealth advisors. Barron’s, an American weekly newspaper that reports on current financial information, market developments, and relevant statistics, has named Savant #22 on its list of the Top 30 Registered Investment Advisory Firms. The list is based on several factors that speak to the firms’ ability to provide broad and consistent services to clients. All the firms’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission were used to cross-check the data provided to Barron’s. Click here to view the complete list of honorees. American business magazine, Forbes, ranked Savant CEO Brent Brodeski #40 on its 2017 list of America’s Top Wealth Advisors. Brodeski earned ...

Volunteer at Neighborhood House! Our holiday volunteer opportunities are listed below. You can make a difference this holiday seas...