Wish Dr. Seuss a happy birthday at the Pekin Public Library. Members of the Pekin Community High School Student Council will perform a skit based on a Dr. Seuss book, and there will be games, a craft, and refreshments, starting at 6 p.m. March 5.

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/.

PEKIN

Wish Dr. Seuss happy birthday

Would you? Could you? Come spend the evening celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday at the Pekin Public Library, 301 S. 4^th St. Members of the Pekin Community High School Student Council will perform a skit based on a Dr. Seuss book, and there will be games, a craft, and refreshments, starting at 6 p.m. March 5. For more information, call the library at (309) 347-7111, ext. 3.

Dr. Seuss, a writer and cartoonist of more than 60 books, particularly books for children, was born on March 2, 1904.

Film focuses on local farming in 1930s, 1940s

The Pekin Public Library continues its 2018 Movie Series celebrating the Illinois Bicentennial with local Pekin and Tazewell County history, with the showing of “Farming in Tazewell County during the ‘30s and ‘40s,” at 11 a.m. March 2, in the Community Room of the library, 301 S. 4^th St. Tom Finsom will present the film, which is 34 minutes long. Admission is free.

This special movie series is being held on the first Friday of every month through December. The films are recorded memoirs and oral history. They have not been shown for many years.

STATE

Bill would require rear-facing car seats

A bill that would require children to ride in rear-facing car seats until age 2 could become law in Illinois. It has the support of the Illinois Senate. The Senate Public Health Committee voted 7-0 Feb. 20, on Sen. Michael Hastings’ plan.

Hastings, a Tinley Park Democrat, says rear-facing restraints offer more protection for toddlers.

The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees, saying the seats better support a child’s head, neck and spine because the shell of the seat absorbs the force of collision and distributes it over the entire body.

The original draft of the bill levied a $75 fine for first-time violators. However, Democratic and Republican senators questioned the fine and got assurances from Hastings that he would change first violations to a warning.

New hotline to handle sexual harassment problems

The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) has announced the creation of a toll-free sexual harassment hotline to provide resources to the public, including referrals to counseling and legal services. The hotline, and accompanying website, will also allow for the reporting of sexual harassment allegations in both private and public places of employment.

In establishing and maintaining the hotline, IDHR enlisted the support of The Chicago Lighthouse, which provides employment opportunities to the blind, visually impaired, disabled, and veteran communities. Staff at The Chicago Lighthouse were trained by IDHR management on legal definitions of sexual harassment and resources available for reporting it, including filing of a charge of discrimination.

The Sexual Harassment Hotline Call Center can be reached Monday through Friday with the exception of state holidays between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (877) 236-7703. By statute, all communications received by the department via the hotline or accompanying website are confidential and exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

For more information, visit illinois.gov/sexualharassment.

–Tazewell County News Briefs–