The city of Pekin is celebrating the official start of summer with a street party on Friday and Saturday, June 21 and 22. (Photo courtesy of city of Pekin)

 PEKIN

City invites all downtown for street party

The city of Pekin is celebrating the official start of summer with a Downtown Street Party on Friday and Saturday, June 21 and 22.

Activities will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday and 3 to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

The festivities will include live entertainment, drinks, vendors and fun activities.

Enjoy favorite street food and novelty vendors along with local nonprofit groups and adult games all on Court Street. Games include Bags, Karaoke and other themed games.

 MORTON

 Arts in the Park free concert features Cross Connection

Cross Connection Praise & Worship Band performs as part of the 2019 Arts in the Park free concert series at the Idlewood Arts Pavilion on Thursday, June 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Members of Cross Connection have played worship and praise music together for about five years as well as a variety of music at private parties in the area.

The band plays oldies, pop, blues, country, and contemporary Christian music all with the intent of bringing back a fun memory, lifting your spirits, and putting a smile on your face.

TREMONT

Movie Night rescheduled at City Park after storms

Summer Movie Night at City Park show got cancelled due to storms earlier this month but the new date will be Friday, June 14 at 8:30 p.m.

The movie for this week is “Singin’ in the Rain.”

This is a joint program with Tremont Parks and Tremont Commerce Association.

Bring a blanket or lawn chairs for these all-ages programs that are held in the large shelter at City Park. There will be a small concession stand and movies will start after the sun sets.

 REGIONAL

 Health community partners on cancer screenings

The Partnership for a Healthy Community put together a position statement recommending women start annual breast health screenings at the age of 40. Additionally, the position statement recommends that all women have a risk assessment for breast cancer completed by their physician by age 30.

The Partnership for a Healthy Community is a community-driven effort to improve health and wellness in Central Illinois

The program helps to identify and prioritize health and quality of life issues, map and leverage community resources to implement health improvement strategies in Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties.

As part of the Partnership for a Healthy Community, the Breast Cancer Action Team formed to address the community health plan goal to reduce death and disability of breast cancer in the Tri-County area.

The Breast Cancer Action Team members include area hospitals, health departments and other women’s health providers.

Screenings and risk assessments were identified as evidenced-based interventions.

“In reviewing local and national data, the action team recognized the need to promote a common set of community screening age guidelines.” said Breast Cancer Action Team Chair Greg Eberle, Hopedale Wellness Center. “The team chose the recommendations for screenings following those outlined by American College of Radiology, The Society of Breast Imaging, and The National Comprehensive Cancer Network.”

To find position statement in full, or to learn about other Partnership initiatives, visit www.healthyhoi.org.

ICC athletics director retiring at end of month

ICC Athletics Director Sue Sinclair has elected to retire, effective June 30.

Sue Sinclair is retiring as the Illinois Central College athletics director.(Photo courtesy of ICC)

“During her nearly 30-year career at ICC, Sue has not only served as athletics director, but also as assistant athletics director, assistant softball coach, director of physical education, and head volleyball coach,” said Dean of Students Dr. Emily Points.

“Sue is such an integral part of the Athletic program that it is hard not to see this as a loss for ICC, but we are happy for Sue and her family. Sue’s legacy is found in the enduring contributions she has made through the leadership of the many students whose lives she has touched.”

Sinclair’s teams have enjoyed phenomenal successes throughout the years under her leadership, including two national championships for volleyball and softball. In total, she has coached 17 teams to qualify for Nationals, and 85 players have moved on to play at the next level (NCAA DI, DII, DIII, and NAIA).

Sinclair also has received many individual accolades, including her induction into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018, the 25 Women in Leadership Award in 2018, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Junior College/Community College Central Athletic Director of the Year 2005-06, and the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004, just to name a few.

“I am very grateful to ICC for the many opportunities I’ve had over the years while leading the athletic program and coaching these talented student athletes,” Sinclair said.

“While I elected to retire at this particular time due to family responsibilities, I am remaining in the area and have every intention of continuing to be active in the program as both a fan and volunteer. Once a Cougar, always a Cougar.”

ICC plans to appoint an interim athletic director prior to Sinclair’s retirement, with a search for a permanent replacement slated for the March-April timeframe. The college immediately will begin a search for the head volleyball coaching position.

STATE

EPA accepting applications for drug takeback program

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2020 Medication Takeback Program. The program will provide funding to communities or organizations for the safe disposal of opioids and other harmful medications collected from residents.

“To date, the Illinois EPA Medication Takeback Program has already removed 20 tons of unused medication in fiscal year 2019,” said Illinois EPA Director John J. Kim. “This program not only properly disposes of medication to protect our water resources, but it also assists communities in addressing the opioid crisis, and we look to do even more in the next fiscal year.”

For the FY19 program, there were 104 community partners in the Medication Takeback Program, and the Illinois EPA is seeking to expand upon those partnerships. Communities and organizations interested in being part of the Medication Takeback Program should complete and submit the application available online at https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/Documents/iepa/waste-management/waste-disposal/medication-disposal/medication-takeback-application.pdf. Applications must be submitted by Saturday, June 15 for collections beginning on July 1. Application Instructions are also available on the EPA website.