PEORIA MAGAZINE September 2023

ELECTIONS AND SELECTIONS Following its annual business meeting in June, the board of directors of the Fine Arts Society of Peoria installed its 2023-2024 officers and directors. They are Ann Kenney Lynch , president; Wendy Bowles , vice president; Betty Jane “BJ” Lawrence , secretary; Martha Bond , treasurer; and Patricia Franzen , Richard Gentry , David Gregory , Shirley Harper , Judy Johnson , Roberta Koscielski , Jennifer Lee , Kristan McKinsey , Marguerite D. Ross and Kay Webber , directors. Misty Dykema , co-owner and prin cipal of Simantel , the Peoria-based marketing agency, has been elected vice president of the Americas board of directors for the Advertising and Mar keting Independent Network (AMIN) Worldwide. AMIN is a global network of more than 50 independent marketing agencies. The Americas board oversees the network’s activities in North Amer ica and South America and coordinates with activities around the world. MOVING UP THE LADDER Bradley University has named Krishnanand Y. Maillacheruvu , Ph.D., as interim dean of the Cat erpillar College of Tech nology and Engineering and Foster College of Business. He will work closely with the faculty, staff and university leadership to position the Foster and Caterpillar colleges for sus tained success. GRANTS AND GIFTS Peoria Public Schools has been award ed $50,000 from the state’s Arts and Foreign Education Grant Program.

Council and the Illinois State Board of Education. The program assists school districts and other eligible applicants with the development or enhancement of programs in the arts and foreign lan guages. The PPS grant was one of 13 grants statewide totaling $825,000. HAPPENINGS AND EVENTS The Village of Peoria Heights kicks off its quasquicentennial — its 125th birthday — with three days of events in September. The festivities begin on Thursday, Sept. 7, with the Taste of Peoria Heights running from 5 to 9 p.m. along Prospect Avenue in the Heights Downtown. Friday, Sept. 8, and Saturday, Sept. 9, bring a chil dren’s amusement park to the Tower Park area. An Artisan Market will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the core Business District. A Classic Car Show will be held on Saturday, as well, at or near Heritage Square. During all the above events, Peoria Heights history exhibits will be on display at multiple locations but specifically at the Peoria Heights Public Library and at Village Hall. All of this is a prelude to the main event Saturday, Nov. 11 with a gala at the Peoria Country Club. The State of Illinois and Health Alliance have announced the annual Fall into Fitness Virtual 5K/10K Challenge for state wellness plan members. Held Sept. 15 – 25, the event offers a guided experience for individuals to set fitness goals, win prizes and engage with other wellness plan members. Register through Sep. 25 at www.facebook.com/ events/581751063875053. The event is sponsored by Health Alliance, Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) and Be Well Illinois, the state’s workforce wellness plan.

food and vendors. Admission is dona tion-based. For more information, go to bigpicturepeoria.org/street-festival/.

Travel back in time and explore the rich history of Peoria Heights on an air conditioned shuttle bus tour sponsored by the Peoria Historical Society and Wheels O’ Time Museum on Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The tour includes the village’s history of bicycle manufacturing, Glide automobiles and Charles Duryea’s pioneering automotive work. Tickets are $55 and include a box lunch. Get tickets at 309tix.com or call 309-674-1921.

Automotive en thusiasts can still register for the third annual WTVP Roundo , a clued tour of central Illinois and car show taking place Sept. 16, with

stops throughout the region. The clued tour starts at 11:30 a.m. at Kauth & May er , 1710 W. Detweiller Drive, and ends at the WTVP Studio, 101 State St. Auto enthusiasts are invited to a public car show at the WTVP Studio from 3:30 to 7 p.m., featuring vintage and one-of-a kind high performance cars. Admission to the car show is free. There is a $100 fee to participate in the clued tour, which includes lunch, an event poster and adventure instructions. Event and sponsored trophies will be awarded. Information and registration is at www. wtvp.org/events/event-2023-roundo/. NEWS YOU CAN USE OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center is a clinical trial host for ILLInet RECOVER, a nationwide initiative from the National Institutes of Health aimed at understanding and treating long COVID. Since the program began in August 2022, 166 patients have been

After a three-year hiatus, the Big Pic ture Peoria Street Festival will return to the 1300 block of SW Adams Street in Peoria from 10 a.m.

The grant comes from a partner ship between the Illinois Arts

to 4 p.m. on Sept. 9. The interactive arts event includes multiple activities, plus

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