April is a busy month for local governments. West Peoria Township has two annual events that can impact all West Peorians. First is the Township’s Annual Meeting which is mandated to be held on the second Tuesday of April to inform citizens of the past year’s activities and to update them on the coming year. This year’s meeting is 7:30 p.m. April 14 in the township building.

Saturday, April 25 is the annual clean-up day for West Peoria residents only. Location is the city garage, 1322 N. Hillside. No landscape or hazardous materials will be accepted. The program is run by volunteers. If you are interested in helping, contact the township at 674-0462 or email: westpeoriatownship@outlook.com.

Landscape waste pickup resumes Friday, April 3 and continues for the rest of 2020.

As the Page Turns book club will meet Monday, April 20. Members will discuss “The German Girl” by Armando Lucas Garcia. If interested in attending, contact Maggie at 673-0535 or Loretta at 637-0326.

The Whittier Playground School Committee is excited Whittier is receiving $100,000 to $140,000 from Peoria Public Schools for new playground equipment. Installation will be summer 2021 –– in time to help celebrate the school’s 125th anniversary. The current playground is 22 years old. Whittier’s commitment is to raise $30,000. Funds are needed.

Dr. Souhail Elhouar and the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction at Bradley University have volunteered to do the installation –– a savings of $40,000. You can donate via the PPS Foundation, click on yellow donate button selecting Whittier Playground. You can also write a check to the PPS Foundation with Whittier Playground written in the memo. The check can then be mailed to Peoria Public Schools Foundation, 5901 N. Prospect Road, Suite 14E, Peoria IL 61614.

Work has also started on an outside classroom and garden. The West Peoria Garden Club has assisted in the past. If you are willing to help, contact the school.

The city is making plans for its 50th Fourth of July parade. If you were in the first parade, please send your name and contact Info to Sharon McBride at mcbride2413@sbcglobal.net.

The upcoming West Peoria Residents meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 16 at City Hall. City Administrator Kinga Krider and Alderman Jerry Meisner will speak about real estate tax dollars.

Don’t disregard the importance of the 2020 census. Each home will receive an invite in a short questionnaire either by phone, mail or on-line. The census is required every 10 years by Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution and is used to allocate federal aid based on population. It helps determine the number of seats in Congress, as well as boundary lines for congressional and state legislative districts based on population. The census starts April 1 and is critical for Illinois to receive all monies due the state. It is critical to respond with your information so everyone is counted. If someone does not respond in a timely manner, that household will then receive a personal visit in order to be included. You can get more information on-line at: 2020census.gov. Your responses determine how much money West Peoria receives.