Tourism finding what's Illinois Made

Hiram Toraason couldn’t keep the grin off his face Wednesday morning after watching himself on a video shot on behalf of the Illinois Office of Tourism as he did his own brand of magic – making objects of glass in his studio on Evans Street in Peoria.

“I don’t know why I was chosen. But I am very honored,” he said later, after being presented a plaque and recognized by state officials as an Official Illinois Maker. “This is for Peoria. Peoria has been very good to me.”

The event Wednesday at Toraason’s studio, a 1930s machine shop he converted about a decade ago, was part of the state Office of Tourism’s newest initiative, Illinois Made, which features products made in Illinois and the artists, indivduals and businesses who make them. The initiative recognizes these individuals and businesses statewide and Toraason was the first in Peoria.

Cory Jobe, director of the Office of Tourism, said it was he who was honored to be at Toraason Glass to present the recognition to the artist.

“One thing we really want to do is highlight the passion each person has for what they do, for what they make, whether it’s the coffee roaster, the wine maker or the glass blower. And you can feel the spirit here,” Jobe said.

The initiative, he added, was born from an understanding that visitors to Illinois look for the kind of spirit a maker of products possesses. “The travel industry is craving this type of product, something that is being made so they can experience the passion and the craft,” Jobe said.

Studies, he said, show that the international traveler especially wants that type of experience, which is important to his office because international travelers tend to stay longer at a place and spend more. But those studies also show the craving for such art is evenly split generationally among Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials.

“This does represent a new approach for Illinois and we’re excited about it,” he said, adding that the state has developed an interactive map of the Illinois Made products so tourists can explore the state and find them. That, he said, will encourage them to extend their stay so they can experience many of the state’s artists and makers.

Jenn Gordon, executive director of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois, said it is important that Toraason and other Peoria-area artists are included in the initiative. “We have so many unique talents here. Within Peoria we do, of course, recognize the arts and the talent we have. This initiative by the state Office of Tourism will help make Peoria a destination,” she said.

To date, the only individual recognized other than Toraason has been David Stine, a southern Illinois woodworker and furniture maker. Small businesses honored include Epiphany Farms restaurant in Bloomington, Marcoot Jersey Creamery in Greenville, Heritage Bicycles and Coffee in Chicago, and Funks Grove Maple Syrup in McLean County.

In the minute-and-a-half video, Toraason said when he moved to Peoria in 2003 he wasn’t sure what the arts were like here. “I realized Peoria had a thriving art scene and culture,” he said.

“It’s kind of holy ground to be able to call yourself an artist,” he said in the video.

The video can be seen at www.enjoyillinois.com.

FrizziToon: Just a craze?

Molly Crusen Bishop: Whiskey Baron event to benefit local history

One thing we all have in common in Peoria is being its citizens and sharing the rich history that comes with it. No matter where someone lives in Peoria, we all have a hand in taking care of our city and passing on a legacy of pride and preservation to future generations.

Peoria has a fascinating history, and when we all know more about Peoria, we will start to love our city and take better care of it. We can save and preserve our historic treasures together.

Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation is hosting the inaugural historic 5k run/1k walk called the Whiskey Baron Run, managed by ShaZam Racing, on Saturday, August 6 in downtown Peoria. CILF was formed in the 1970s by the late Les Kenyon, an architect who was a champion for historic preservation. He was instrumental in saving the Greenhut Memorial GAR Hall from being torn down and turned into a parking lot in the 1970s.

The Greenhut Memorial Grand Army of the Republic Hall was built in 1909 and was dedicated to Civil War Veterans. Capt. Joseph Greenhut, one of the nation’s wealthiest whiskey barons and also a Civil War Veteran, donated the funds to build the hall, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and run by the nonprofit Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation. It is now is available for rentals for events of all kinds.

Peoria’s first Whiskey Baron Run and walk begins at 7 a.m. at the Greenhut Memorial GAR Hall at 416 Hamilton Boulevard. Runners will flow through a historic route down Romeo B. Garrett Avenue (named after Bradley University’s first African-American professor) and through Goose Lake neighborhood. It will take them near Peoria Mineral Springs, up Union Hill, and past the Joseph Greenhut Mansion at Sheridan and High streets, near the High Wine Historic District, and finish back at the GAR Hall.

The 5k run, 1k walk, the proceeds from which will benefit the landmarks foundation, will be followed by an open house at the GAR Hall.

Local singer/actress Olivia Vicary will start the festivities by singing the National Anthem near the flag outside of the GAR Hall.

Several members of Central Illinois Living Historians will be on hand to greet runners and walkers as they reach the finish line back at the GAR Hall. They will be dressed as Union soldiers from the Civil War.

Chase Sieting of “Through The I” will provide live acoustic music for entertainment, and Vikki Hibberd, owner of Marmora Massage, will offer chair massages inside the hall for runners following the race.

There will be face painting, fake fluffy mustaches (in honor of Joseph Greenhut) refreshments, including shots of whiskey from J.K. Williams Distilling for runners and walkers over 21. Peoria author Ken Zurski, who wrote “Wreck of the Columbia” and “Peoria Stories,” will be on hand to speak about Peoria history. There will also be members of CILF to answer questions about the importance of historic preservation.

William Ordaz, president of Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation, talked about the importance of historic preservation and historic legacy.

“I’m amazed to see how many communities in Illinois truly embrace historic preservation. Indeed, there is proven economic value in the jobs, property values, and heritage tourism that historic preservation impacts,” he said.

Come join the fun in Peoria’s first historic run and walk and celebrate our unique legacy of history, and historic preservation in the Whiskey City, in the Whiskey Baron Run and walk.

Register online for the Whiskey Baron Run at https://register.chronotrack.com/r/21400 or register in person at Running Central on Friday, August 5 during packet pickup from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Or you can register the day of the run beginning at 6 a.m. inside the GAR Hall.

Registration is $30 and includes a t-shirt. For more information contact event planner and coordinator Molly Crusen Bishop at 857-6844 or email MollyCrusenBishop@yahoo.com

OSF Healthcare takes over Great Plains Orthopaedics

OSF Healthcare officially takes ownership of Great Plains Orthopaedics on Sunday, July 17, the organization announced Friday.

Great Plains ends nearly 50 years of physician ownership, since the formation of Orthopedics Association of Peoria in 1967, a practice that eventually became Great Plains Orthopaedics and was one of the state’s top sports medicine facilities.

Great Plains will now be called OSF Orthopedics. Its locations, physicians, staff and service providers will remain the same at 303 N. William Kumpf Boulevard and 7800 N. Sommer Street in Peoria, as well as OSF Medical Group Kewanee and OSF Galesburg Clinic. All phone numbers remain the same.

“Our commitment to provide excellent patient care remains unchanged,” said Jeffrey Garst, MD, president of Great Plains Orthopaedics.“Our decision to join with OSF HealthCare was made after carefully considering many factors, most importantly, the impact on our existing patients and to the Peoria area. We believe that integrating fully with OSF HealthCare will increase our opportunities in continuing to serve patients with the highest level of competence and compassion long into the future.”

“This affiliation will allow us to expand our regional system of orthopedic services and create greater access for patients,” said Mark Nafziger, CEO of Ambulatory Care for OSF HealthCare. “It will build on our current relationship with Great Plains to ensure clinical excellence and adoption of new techniques that enhance patient care.”

By aligning with OSF HealthCare, Great Plains Orthopaedics 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. Additionally, all patient orthopedic medical records will now be part of the OSF electronic medical records systemand the necessary information about a patient’s health condition is available to physicians at all points of care within OSF.

OSF Healthcare System employs more than 735 physicians and more than 300 mid-level providers operating in more than 100 office sites. OSF HealthCare operates an extensive network of home health services known as OSF Home Care Services; owns OSF Saint Francis, Inc., comprised of healthcare-related businesses; and OSF Healthcare Foundation, the philanthropic arm for the organization.