Central Illinois Perspective

News A grand opening for the Ray and Kathy LaHood Center for Cerebral Palsy will be held at 9:30am on Friday, December 17th, at Easter Seals, 507 E. Armstrong in Peoria. Easter Seals and its community partners—-Children’s Hospital of Illinois, the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and Bradley University—-will mark the completion of a project three years in the making. Guests will have a chance to tour the center, see the new equipment available and meet local families living with cerebral palsy. For more information, call (309) 686-7755, ext. 2298. Facing a serious shortage, The Salvation Army is in need of more toys for its annual Toy Shop. Anyone wishing to donate toys can drop them off anytime today or before 11am tomorrow at the Corps Community Center, 2903 W. Nebraska in Peoria. Approximately 5,000 children of low-income families will receive toys through this program. Call (309) 253-9909 or (309) 655-1348 for more information. The Live Healthy Central Illinois 100 Day Wellness Challenge registration begins this week. The program connects co-workers, friends and family to get active and become conscious of the lifestyle decisions they make on a daily basis. The program will run from January 20th to April 29th. An informational meeting will be held tomorrow, December 17th, at 10am at the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center. Visit livehealthycentralillinois.org for more information. The Peoria Ad Club has issued a call for entries for its annual ADDY Awards competition recognizing exceptional advertising created in the central Illinois market in all media. Entries must be received by 4:30pm on January 21st at Adams Outdoor Advertising, 911 SW Adams Street in Peoria. For more information or to receive an entry packet, call (309) 691-6500, ext. 210, or email sara@go2pip.com or bwwmarketing.nikki@gmail.com.    Events Friday, December 17th @ Bard Optical Bard Optical will host a Holiday Open House and Trunk Show at its Metro Centre location to benefit Dress for Success, a division of Friendship House. Refreshments will be served. Call (309) 692-8222 for more information. Friday, December 17th to Sunday, December 19th @ Five Points Washington The Peoria Area Civic Chorale will perform “An American Family Christmas” in the Caterpillar Performing Arts Center at Five Points Washington at 7:30pm on Friday and Saturday and 2:30pm on Sunday. Tickets are $24/adults, $20/group, and $12/students. Call (309) 693-6725 or visit artstix.artspartners.net for tickets. Saturday, December 18th @ Owens Center The annual Skate with Santa event will take place from 5 to 7pm. Admission is $3 for those 12 and under, $4/adults and $3/seniors, plus skate rental. Special Family Holiday Skate hours will run again from 3 to 4:45pm on Sunday. Call (309) 686-33668 for more information. Tuesday, December 21st @ Fox Pub & Café Prairie Folklore Theatre will present “The Celtic Winter Solstice: A Celebration in Story and Song” at 7:30pm at 7800 N. Sommer St., Suite 302, off Pioneer Parkway in Peoria. Songs, storytelling, poetry and dance blend in this celebration of the winter season. No cover charge, but donations are appreciated. Call (309) 692-FOX3 or visitprairiefolkloretheatre.com for more information.