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Landfill hours, Office Professionals Luncheon, Integrity Data grant funding, bereavement support group, writing club, Mount Pulaski landscape waste pickup and water main flushing, Gertrude Bruce, animal rescue fundraiser, Healthy Communities bowling party, HSLC garage sale donations, Pittsburgh Symphony cellist in Atlanta

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[April 05, 2013]  New springtime hours at Lincoln city landfill

Now through May 5 the city landscape waste facility in Lincoln will be open every day except Monday from 8 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.

Beginning May 8 the facility will go back to normal hours of operation, which are Wednesday and Saturday only from 8 a.m. to 3.50 p.m.

The public is reminded that the city landfill accepts only landscape waste.


Chamber seeks nominations for outstanding office professionals

The Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce is planning its annual Office Professionals Luncheon for Thursday, April 25. Each year the chamber celebrates many outstanding individuals in their field along with one exceptional individual who will win the prestigious Office Professional of the Year award. This award will be given to an individual who does outstanding work, is dedicated to his or her job, gives 110 percent, and is always going that extra mile.

Nominations are being accepted for this award until Friday, April 12, and can be made online through the chamber's website, www.lincolnillinois.com.

The April 25 luncheon, catered by Guzzardo's Italian Villa, will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus in Lincoln.

Each year office professionals from Logan County come together at this event to celebrate excellence in the workforce. Many organizations and businesses show their appreciation to their office staff by sending them to the luncheon, recognizing that this is a great break in the day for those who are essentially the backbone of their organization or business.

In additional to having the opportunity to get out of the workplace for an afternoon, win prizes and eat delicious food, guests at this event will have the opportunity to hear from John Blackburn, president of Lincoln College. He is a dynamic, engaging speaker who will use stories of his personal successes to inspire and motive audience members.

The chamber of commerce values office professionals and appreciates the excellence they strive for every day. The chamber encourages businesses to reward their office staff by offering them a timeout in their busy day to come and enjoy the lunch and speaker.

Many local businesses will also be on hand to showcase their expertise, offer services to those attending and provide door prizes. Booths will be open before and after lunch. The chamber offers this opportunity for guests to visit with local businesses and learn more about what they have to offer and how those services can improve their personal and professional lives.

For more information on the Office Professionals Luncheon, including reservation forms, sponsorship information and booth space registration forms, contact Meghan Hough at info@lincolnillinois.com, call 217-735-2385 or visit http://www.lincolnillinois.com/
Events_OfficeProfessionalsLuncheon.aspx
.

The Office Professionals Luncheon is an important part of the chamber's mission to advocate, support and unify local businesses for the prosperity of Logan County.


Integrity Data announces 2013 Community Giving Program

Integrity Data is announcing its 2013 Community Giving Program, which will provide $7,500 in funding to local organizations involved in helping those in need, as well as community progress initiatives and projects focused on improving the use of technology within public service organizations.

Integrity Data is honored to be a part of the Lincoln business community. The ability to give back to the community to help it grow and prosper is important to their team and is considered a measurement of the company's overall success. Their Community Giving Program was established in 2008 with the goal of having a meaningful impact on the Lincoln community. A number of local organizations have received grant funding from the program since its inception. A list of 2010-2012 recipients is available on the company website at http://integrity-data.com/grants.aspx.

The 2013 Community Giving program will provide $7,500 in funding. This amount may be granted to a single organization or divided among multiple organizations. Applicants may apply for any amount up to $7,500. The intent of the program is to fund specific projects or to provide special-use funding. Applicants should not apply for grants to be used for general administrative funds.

Eligibility requirements and application instructions are available on the company's website at http://integrity-data.com/grants.aspx. Integrity Data will accept applications through 5 p.m. on April 30.

Questions about the program or its procedures should be emailed to grants@integrity-data.com or call Integrity Data at 217-732-3737.

Integrity Data is a software development company located in Lincoln. Since 1996, Integrity Data has built software solutions for customers across the globe, allowing them to extend the capabilities of their business software systems and increase their return on investment.

Integrity Data was founded with the following core values:

  • Integrity and honesty in all relationships

  • Passion for customers, partners and technology

  • Willingness to take on big challenges and see them through

  • Commitment to excellence, results and quality to customers, partners and employees


New bereavement support group to meet at ALMH

A bereavement support group will begin in April at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

The first meeting will be on Thursday, April 11, at 5 p.m. in ALMH's Steinfort Meeting Room. Meetings will be the second Thursday of each month at the same time and place.

Sponsored by Memorial Home Services Hospice, the meetings are geared for adults.

"Our support group will provide an opportunity for people to be able to mutually share and support each other," said Bitsy Knepler, bereavement coordinator for Memorial Home Services Hospice. "Those who have suffered a loss can discuss their feelings, gain support from others in a similar situation and know that they are not alone."

Memorial Home Services Hospice offers similar support groups in Jacksonville, Taylorville and Springfield.

For more information, call 800-582-8667.


Lincoln Writer's Club will meet April 9

Lincoln Writer's Club will meet Tuesday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the Alumni Room of the Lincoln College student center.

Suggested writing topics: What is your favorite music? Band/group? Singer? Concert you attended? Do you play a musical instrument? If you could learn to play anything, what would it be? If you needed to get out of your house quickly (not to return), what would be the first thing you would grab?

All welcome. For more information, call 732-2723.


Mount Pulaski landscape waste pickup schedule

MOUNT PULASKI -- City pickup dates for landscape waste in Mount Pulaski this year are April 8, May 6, June 3, July 8, Aug. 5, Aug. 30, Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2.

On the above dates, Mount Pulaski city crews will remove landscape waste that has been placed in the area between the sidewalk and the edge of the street. If the weather is bad on the scheduled dates, then the city will pick up the landscape waste on the next day with good weather.

The following rules must be followed:

  • Have your landscape waste ready for pickup by 7 a.m. on the scheduled dates.

  • All small debris, grass, leaves, etc. must be in bags. This is a new requirement.

  • Do not place any material in the street or on the sidewalks.

  • Place all material within 6 feet of the edge of the pavement.

  • Do not remove entire trees from your private property and place them for the city pickup.

  • If you hire a contractor to remove your trees, have your contractor haul the material to the sewage treatment plant and place the material in the proper location.

  • Excessive amounts of material will not be removed by the city.

A separate notice for leaf pickup service in the fall will be published later.

For more information, contact City Hall at 792-3222.

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City notice


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Mount Pulaski water main flushing dates

MOUNT PULASKI -- The water department in Mount Pulaski will flush the water mains on Tuesday, April 16, and Wednesday, April 17. The system will be flushed in the evening, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

The water main flushing will cause the water to become cloudy, but the water is safe to drink. The cloudiness will last approximately one day after each flushing. Laundry should be scheduled accordingly.

For more information, contact City Hall at 792-3222.

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City notice


Gertrude Bruce of Williamsville donates quilts to ALMH patients

Gertrude Bruce of Williamsville has had several major surgeries, including at the Mayo Clinic. During her hospital stays she found that the design of a hospital gown left her with an appreciation of something to cover her legs, and she thought it would be nice to be able to take it home. She chose to make quilts for patients at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and has donated them in honor of her physician, Dennis Carroll, M.D.

Although Mrs. Bruce's eyesight is failing, she is happy to be able to continue her love of quilting. Her daughter often brings her to ALMH to deliver the quilts for patients in obstetrics, surgery and acute care.

Michelle Green, acute care manager at the hospital, said that in her unit the quilts are given to pediatric patients.

"Pediatric patients can be scared of the clinical staff and the unfamiliar setting," said Green. "Giving them a quilt makes the hospital feel more like home. It also gives them something to snuggle with and puts them at ease."

Gertrude Bruce and her family members have great appreciation for ALMH. They have been treated in the surgery and rehabilitation departments and have great admiration for their ALMH caregivers and therapists.

ALMH is a 25-bed critical-access hospital located at 200 Stahlhut Drive in Lincoln. For more information about the hospital, call 217-732-2161 or visit www.almh.org.


Animal rescue fundraiser in memory of Ray Fulk

Logan County Animal Rescue will host a fundraiser at the Elks Lodge on Saturday, April 6, in memory of Ray Fulk, an avid animal lover. The event begins at 6 p.m.

The fundraiser celebrating Fulk's eccentric life will be an opportunity to meet two Hollywood celebrities he felt a connection with: Kevin Brophy, who starred in the television series "Lucan," and Peter Barton, who starred in the series "The Powers of Matthew Star."

There will also be a silent auction.

Donations will be accepted at the door, with all proceeds going to Logan County Animal Rescue.

Food and beverages will be provided.


Healthy Communities Partnership bowling party celebrates substance-free lifestyles

In the 2012 Illinois Youth Survey, 55 percent of Logan County high school seniors reported using alcohol and 28 percent reported using marijuana in the last 30 days.

'The Healthy Communities Partnership has a vision to help Logan County become the healthiest community in America. But for that vision to become a reality, there are many healthy behaviors that need to be celebrated and promoted.

On Sunday, April 7, the Healthy Communities Partnership is celebrating substance-free living with a free bowling party. The event will be at Logan Lanes in Lincoln from noon to 3 p.m. Families are encouraged to attend and enjoy free bowling, free shoe rental and free food. Local organizations will be on hand to promote substance-free living and healthy behaviors to support the participants in making healthy choices for their families. No reservations are necessary.

"Parents have more of an impact on these choices than they give themselves credit for. Bringing children to events like these and promoting a substance-free lifestyle makes an impact on decision-making later," said Angela Stoltzenburg, Healthy Communities Partnership manager. "Healthy Communities Partnership is proud to bring this opportunity to Logan County families, and we look forward to a successful event."

Healthy Communities Partnership is a collaborative organization comprised of dozens of community agencies. It is supported by the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation.

For more information about the event, call 217-605-5008 or visit Healthy Communities Partnership on Facebook.


HSLC now seeking donations for 2nd annual garage sale

The Humane Society of Logan County is seeking donations of goods for the second annual "Big Spring Garage Sale." Clean, gently used items for donation can be dropped off every Wednesday and Saturday, beginning April 3, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Logan County Fairgrounds. Use the south entrance.

For more information or to arrange pickup, call 732-1979 or 732-7853. Electronics cannot be accepted.

This year's sale will be May 10 and 11, a Friday and Saturday, at the Logan County Fairgrounds.

Items for sale will include home decor, toys, sporting goods, furniture, clothes, shoes, accessories, holiday items, outdoor goods, books, CDs, DVDs and much more. There will also be food, music and fun stuff just for kids.

With the support of the community, the HSLC was able to open a shelter in 2011. Since then, they have placed more than 200 cats and dogs in forever homes, and facilitated in more than 400 low-cost spay and neuters per year.


Pittsburgh Symphony cellist featured in final Behind the Scenes program

ATLANTA -- Cellist Mikhail Istomin will be in Atlanta on Friday, April 5, for this year's final event in the Atlanta Public Library's Behind the Scenes program. The event will be at the North Greens Golf Course.

Those attending can hear the musician's story of growing up in the former Soviet Union and adapting to a new life in the U.S. He will answer questions, talk about how musicians are selected for premium jobs in major U.S. orchestras, and also perform for the group "up close and personal."

Born and educated in Russia, Mikhail Istomin, known as Misha, holds a master's degree in music from the St. Petersburg Conservatory. While still in school, he became principal cellist of the State Hermitage Orchestra and later joined the orchestra of the Kirov Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.

In 1987, he became the cellist of the Leningrad Conservatory String Quartet, and in 1989 the group won the grand prize in the National Soviet Union Competition of String Quartets. Later that year, Misha defected during the quartet's U.S. tour and was granted political asylum in the United States, where he went on to establish an exceptional musical career, including establishing the acclaimed Pittsburgh Piano Trio.

Misha was appointed principal cellist of the Pittsburgh Opera and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater orchestras in 1991, and the following year, he joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Lorin Maazel.

In July 1998, Misha returned to St. Petersburg to perform in the Second World Cello Congress under the direction of the renowned conductor Mstislav Rostropovich.

The Atlanta event begins with a free reception at 6:30 p.m., and the program starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance at the library or at the door on April 5.

Behind the Scenes is sponsored by the Atlanta National Bank and the City of Atlanta.


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