Peoria County News Briefs

Chronicle Media

Youth Music Illinois’  musicians perform. An upcoming  fundraiser, A Musical Masquerade, will be held from 6-9 p.m. March 2, at the Life Together Center, 3601 North Sheridan Road, Peoria will aid the group.

FEDERAL

Passport fee to go up April 2

Going abroad and need a passport? The sooner you apply for a U.S. passport, the better. The fee is set to increase $10, to a total of $145 for an adult, on April 2.

The increase, aimed at recapturing the true cost of issuing a new passport, will not affect passport renewals by mail, according to the U.S. Department of State. That cost will remain at $110.

However, the passport “execution’ fee” charged when you must apply in person  will go to $35 from $25. The execution fee is only part of the total cost of a new passport for an adult, which will reach $145 after April 2; the cost for children younger than 16 will be $115.

In addition to being required when traveling abroad, a passport can also be used as ID in other cases, including airport security screening, which could be important if you live in a state where your driver’s license soon won’t be a sufficient form of ID.

You can also use a passport for identification in opening a bank account and several other situations in which you need to provide a government-issued photo ID.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Youth Music Illinois presents A Musical Masquerade

Youth Music Illinois’ featured fundraising event, A Musical Masquerade, will be held from 6-9 p.m. March 2, at the Life Together Center, 3601 North Sheridan Road, Peoria.

A Musical Masquerade will feature live entertainment by Youth Symphony student musicians led by David Commanday, music director, food by A Matter of Taste, distinctive silent and live auction items and more than 30 wine and 12 craft beer tastings presented by Leo Wine of Super Liquors. WCBU personality Lee Wenger will be the master of ceremonies. The proceeds of this event help keep the program’s tuition low and accessible to as many student musicians as possible.

For 53 years Youth Music Illinois has provided musical education and performance opportunities for grade and high school students throughout Central Illinois, through the generous support of companies and individuals who support the power of live performance.

Order tickets online at youthmusicillinois.org/tc-events/musical-masquerade/

PEORIA

Discussion about changing name of Wilson School continues

Parents, alumni and members of the community will continue their discussion about whether to change the name of Woodrow Wilson Primary School at a public meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center, 800 W. Romeo B. Garrett Ave.

The Peoria Public School Board building committee invited the public to comment after a teacher suggested choosing a new name honoring a woman or a person of color. The teacher pointed out only one school — Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center — has a name with the diversity found in the community and the classroom, Dan Adler, vice president of the board, said Tuesday.

The school currently is named after the nation’s 28th president, a man known for efforts to develop the precursor to the United Nations as well as promoting racial segregation in federal government.

The board has received a long list of suggestions for a person for whom to name one of the buildings, including Judge Mary McDade, Romeo B. Garrett, John Gwynn and Dr. Maude A. Sanders.

Sanders’ daughter, Carol Graham, has recommend naming a school for her mother, who was Peoria’s first black female doctor.

Doctor joins OSF HealthCare

The main office and satellite location of Dr. Robert Bevill, Eagle Family Medicine, are now known as OSF HealthCare Medical Group Family Medicine Peoria – Willow Knolls, and OSF HealthCare Medical Group Family Medicine – Brimfield.

The offices are remaining at their current locations, 2809 W. Willow Knolls Dr., Suite C, Peoria – and 111 E. Knoxville St., Brimfield.

Dr. Bevill and his staff wee welcomed into the OSF HealthCare family at a blessing ceremony Feb. 16 at the Brimfield location.

By aligning with OSF HealthCare, Dr. Bevill and his staff will be able to offer additional services, including OSF MyChart, through which patients will be able to access portions of their medical records online or through their mobile devices where they can view test results, request prescription refills, and more.

Comedian Hart coming to Peoria

Tickets are on sale for comedian Kevin Hart’s Peoria appearance. Hart, of “Jumanji” fame, will play the Peoria Civic Center April 26. Hart is adding more than 100 dates to The Kevin Hart Irresponsible Tour across several continents. 

Hart also recently wrote his bestselling memoir, “I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons,” and voiced a role earlier this year in “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.”

Film slated for Black History Month

The Lincoln Branch of the Peoria Public Library will show “The Secret Life of Bees,” as part of its celebration of Black History Month. The film will be shown at 4 p.m. Feb. 22. In the movie, Lily Owens, played by Dakota Fanning, is haunted by memories of her late mother and abused by her father. She runs away with her friend and caregiver Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) to South Carolina where Lily finds out about her mother’s past. The Lincoln Branch is at 1312 W Lincoln Ave, Peoria.

Illinois River birding tour slated

Peoria Park District staff will show the public where to find waterfowl in birding hotspots along the Illinois River, from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. March 3. Transportation will be provided in a Peoria Park District van, and snacks and lunch at a Havana restaurant are included. The areas that will be visited depend on where scouting reports show the birds to be, but will probably include Spring Lake, Chautauqua, Emiquon and Rice Lake. Timing of this trip is optimized for the for spring migration of waterfowl. The group will meet at the Forest Park Nature Center, 5809 N. Forest Park Drive, Peoria Heights.

 

–Peoria County News Briefs–