Peoria’s rebuttal to the murder and mayhem of the past few months is to throw a wingding of a party!

Yes, August 7 is the 24th annual National Night Out (NNO) Against Crime festivities in Peoria with 25 Neighborhood Association and four Neighborhood Watch parties. Everything will be featured from Gospel Choirs and Karaoke to car shows and ice cream socials.

Peoria’s participants will join 35 million people in more than 11,000 communities nationwide to promote police-community partnerships; crime, drug and violence prevention, and safety and neighborhood unity. Read the rest of this entry »

Fascinated by police work, but realize that’s likely not to be a career choice? Enjoy the unique opportunity to have lunch with Peoria Chief of Police Steven Settingsgaard, tour the Police Department and ride on the streets with the Chief. Rubbing elbows with politicians your idea of a great time? Break Bread with the Senators Past & Present, Senator Dave Koehler & (Ret.) Senator George Shadid. Or enjoy lunch for two with Mayor Jim Ardis.

Or maybe you’re more into food choices! There’s a pizza a month for 12 months from Leonardo’s Pizza, bagel packs for a year from Panera’s, and four steaks a month for 12 months from Echo Valley. Adventure and travel intrigue you? Consider a one-day pontoon rental from Sunset Marine, a 15-minute helicopter ride over Peoria compliments of C & L Aviation, four one-day park hopper passes from Walt Disney World, and four tickets for the Chicago Bears/Detroit Lions game on October 28th.

These and many more items and gift certificates can be yours if you bid often and bid high at the Neighborhood House Sixth Annual Fall Fundraiser on Friday, September 7th at the Kickapoo Creek Winery. The Winery, located at 6605 Smith Road, Edwards, is just a short drive away. (From Peoria take I-74 west to Exit 82, turn left onto Kickapoo/Edwards Road. Travel � mile, turn right onto Smith Road. The entrance to the winery is just past the curve on the right, watch for the windmill.)

The festivities begin at 5:00 p.m. with Winery tours and hors d�oeuvres followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Silent and live auctions, entertainment, and a $1,000 raffle are all part of the event. The evening will conclude about 9:30 p.m. Maureen Gooding, Neighborhood House Administrative Assistant, says the fundraising event is �a good way to wind down your work week. It�s casual dress and a nice way to relax. The plan is to be outside for the evening.� Tickets are $50 per person ($30 is tax deductible), $400 for a table of eight.

Neighborhood House is dedicated to helping people help themselves. The not-for-profit agency at 1020 S. Matthew, off Garden Street in Peoria, has been helping to empower the people they serve for 111 years. Their mission statement reads: Neighborhood House, established in 1896, is dedicated to providing a Safe Haven with comprehensive services that meet the social, emotional and material needs of individuals and families from infancy to the elderly. The common goal of all services is to enhance the quality of life and foster independence of those served. Services provided include home delivered meals each Monday through Friday for the elderly or handicapped; day care for children six weeks to 12 years; before and after school programs; summer day camp; activities for those”55 and better� that include quilting, weekly programs, and various activities; and Critter Meals On Wheels (food for much-loved pets).

For additional information or to make reservations, please call Maureen at 674-1131.

Everyone was taken by complete surprise when Ray LaHood announced he would not seek an 8th term as 18th Congressional Representative. It was the best-kept secret in a town known for political rumors. Once his retirement plans became known the rumors and speculation started running like a freight train out of control. Truth is, no one knows how this is going to work out, but it could be the largest Republican primary in years. One Republican veteran said, “Aaron Shock has coveted LaHood’s job since he was elected to the District 150 School Board.”

The same could be said about John Morris. At one time it was rumored that LaHood aide Brad McMillan was being groomed for the job. Some are betting Dave Leitch will throw his hat in the ring. Who knows?

In exclusive interviews on “Breakfast with Royce and Roger” on WOAM, Peoria County Republican chairman Rudy Lewis and Tazewell County Chairperson Demetra Demonte expressed shock at LaHood’s decision. They also said some legislators from Springfield will strongly consider jumping into the race, including Democrats. Both predicted that no matter who ran for the job, a Republican would win. Everyone agrees it will be an interesting primary and general election in 2008.
Read the rest of this entry »

For Peoria and much of urban and suburban Illinois, the Farm Bill and agriculture policies seem mildly interesting at best, like crews of kids detassling rows of corn or a field of beans going gold, or a truck bed overflowing with produce out of a Thanksgiving cornucopia card.

However, the Farm Bill being debated this month on Capitol Hill isn’t abstract or irrelevant, and doesn’t just affect farmers and taxpayers. Rural communities, nutrition, health, hunger, the environment and much more are affected by the measure. Read the rest of this entry »

An adult osprey was fussing with a stick, poking it very carefully into its lofty nest near the Illinois River, as fledglings looked on. It was nearly August. This late in the season it wasn’t building the nest, but rather doing a bit of housekeeping, perhaps in preparation for next year. The nest was far enough away that it would have been nothing more than a dark spot on the horizon, but thanks to a spotting scope, it morphed into a meaningful but mundane moment in the domestic life of the ‘fish eagle.’

A pair of peregrine falcons has been regularly roosting on the McCluggage Bridge. To a casual observer, they could be mistaken for pigeons, but through a scope, their large size and distinctive dark hood stand out. I’ve even watched one of them picking a pigeon to pieces as a steady stream of traffic flowed east and west just below. The predator/ prey drama adds a whole dimension. Were it not for the peregrine, it would be ‘just another bridge.’ Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve had a lot of fun with Ray LaHood on these pages as well as the pages on my blog, PeoriaPundit.com. I imagine, though, that wasn’t quite so much fun for the congressman.

Now that LaHood has announced his retirement and the end of his current term in January 2009, I think it’s appropriate to explain the source of my pique with Peoria’s one and only congressman.

We go back a long way. My dad was, shall we say, an enthusiastic supporter of G. Douglas Stephens, who ran against LaHood’s former boss, Bob Michel. I believe the statute of limitations has run out, but familial loyalty prevents me from retelling some of the Dad’s tall tales about the lengths he and his cronies (or would that be “co-conspirators?”) went shortening the lifespan of Michel’s campaign signs back in 1982. It’s entirely possible Dad embellished things a bit.

But Michael retired and his top aide LaHood ran and won in 1992. When LaHood faced Stephens in 1994, I was a reporter for the Journal-Courier in Jacksonville. The boss assigned me a write lengthy follow-the-candidates-around profiles on both of them (the boss didn’t seem concerned that my old man was a Stephens supporter). I think I did a pretty good job. LaHood won, of course, and I tended to be the one assigned to cover him when he showed up for ribbon cuttings or to read stories to grade schoolers (“‘Who, who!’ went the owl, “Who who!’” Ya shoulda been there). Read the rest of this entry »

Bonnie marched down the hall to my office beaming from ear-to-ear. Her hands were filled with gift bags and I couldn’t fathom the occasion.

“It’s July 3rd” she said. Her face tilted as she read my expression. “Did you forget? You’ve had Bootsie for a year!”

Yes, that’s right, I said. A year ago July 3 we adopted her mother’s kitty cat, Bootsie Lou.

One gift bag was stuffed with two bright pink quilts – one for Boots and one for our kitten, Tawny. Each quilt was handmade with love by one of Bonnie’s many friends. The words, ‘Meow,’ ‘Kitten,’ and ‘Cats,’ encircled animated pictures of pink cats of all shapes and attitudes. I giggled with delight at the thoughtful and totally unexpected gifts, imagining how many naps each quilt would accommodate.

The other bag contained a laser toy. Need I say how much fun was waiting in this small item?

The next day, 4th of July 2007, I was up at dawn having breakfast in our dining room and eyed the laser toy lying on the table. I picked it up and pressed the button, aiming the laser beam onto the floor in front of Tawny.

It was magic. The tiny light held our ADHD kitten completely within its grasp. With it, she followed the dance I choreographed and I cannot remember when I had laughed so hard. Bootsie tried catching the mysterious red dot a time or two but was soon stressed by her manic sister and trotted off to test out her new quilt.

As Boots drifted off into cat-land, Tawny searched in futility for the red dot that had since disappeared. This too was as hilarious as when the dot was present and I had no idea until that moment how badly I needed that laugh session.

The year’s variety of challenges has pummeled our hearts and minds with stress untold; the past few months seeming unbearable. But that morning, as I laughed my head off, it dawned on me why the Bible says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” (Proverbs 17:22 NLT)

It all made sense. Bonnie is a nurse! God sent her with Boots last year knowing the storms that were looming on our horizon: the loss of a loved one, loss of income and health issues to name a few.

Our divine feline nurses, wrapped in pretty pink quilts, daily administer the medicine we so desperately need to balance the weight of our days. Our Great Physician perfectly diagnosed our condition and prescribed pet therapy and a nurse named Bonnie.

I’ve never been known as a ‘pet person,’ but Bootsie and Tawny have filled our empty nest with the balm of joy and a shot of fun so wonderful it’s hard to imagine life without them – and Bonnie too, God’s angel, dressed in white and always being gifts.

Dog days of summer remind me of restful times rather than scorching Midwest afternoons. Probably because when I hear the word dog, my ears perk up, similar to my canine friends, and my heart bubbles over with love. Dogs have occupied a special place in my life since I was a child. I love them immensely. And I know how they love to lie on the ground or a cold surface and do absolutely nothing. I can identify with the doing nothing part. Not that it’s anything to brag about, but I am excellent at such inaction. Type A people find it excruciatingly difficult to simply be still and not accomplish something. Too bad for them.

While I’m better than good at being physically inactive, my mind is always going. The nuns from my school days used to suggest meditation as a form of prayer. God was uncomfortably distant when I would sit and try clearing my mind. I’ve grown to love quiet and sitting, but I find trying to empty my mind tedious work. My racing thoughts are often helpful in sorting out situations. In the early morning, I so enjoy hot coffee and thinking about my life. And I’ve come up with a thought or two about our existence in this interesting and multi-dimensional world.

Questions are thought provoking and not to be boastful, but I excel at questions. Many are philosophical in nature, while others are a bit random. For example, where do all the crumbs and debris in the silverware drawer come from and how do they squeeze inside a closed drawer? I’ve found tiny unsavory pieces of “stuff” next to the knives and forks and I’m baffled about their origin when the silverware is put away clean. Or why do cobwebs appear only after company has arrived? Where were they the day before or that morning when I was cleaning? Invisible! Only to resurface when guests are looking about the house. There are myriad such questions one might ask, and I do, often.

And observations, I love them. During the recent televised concert in memory of Princess Diana, one young man’s enthusiasm for the music was contagious. He was swaying and moving and wearing an enormous smile. He had no sense of rhythm, at least none he was displaying, but that didn’t bother him in the least. He was into the music and was a great reminder to the rest of us more self-conscious souls that ability is no match for enjoyment. I’m certain Princess Diana would concur.

My most recent observation is that multi-tasking is currently not good for me. “Concentrate on the activity you’re engaged in,” say the memory enhancing articles that are now so pertinent to me. My mother used to encourage me to multi-task long before the word was in vogue. No more. I lose track of the where and why and everything in between. One thing at a time is my mantra. Positive outcomes are more important than quantity of accomplishments.

While I no longer have a loving dog to join me in the task of doing nothing, I still delight in the inactivity. Dog days of summer or winter wonderlands, matters not. No multi-tasking allowed! Just thoughts and observations and questions for pondering.

Mark your calendars for Night Out Against Crime Tuesday, August 7, 2007 at the Franciscan Recreation Center from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. The public is invited. West Peoria Township will be registering bicycles and having drawings to give away bikes. Other West Peoria organizations will be participating including the Sheriff’s Department, Residents Association, the City, and Troop 11. Special events include the bicycle drawing, K-9 demonstration, Kids ID program, dunk tank, music and more. Remember to turn on all outside lights on August 7 and send a message to criminals that we are fighting to keep our West Peoria neighborhoods safe. Join your neighbors for a safe and fun night out.

The West Peoria Neighborhood Watch will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August16, 2007 in City Hall. Deputy Chris Watkins will present a neighborhood report. The public is always welcome. The West Peoria Residents’ Association will then meet at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall on August 16, 2007. The public is invited. State Representative Aaron Schock will be the guest speaker.

This year’s parade was a grand success. A little rain in the morning did not deter more that 80+ groups to attend another great 4th of July parade and flag-raising in West Peoria. Parade organizer Mark Wrhel extends special thanks to those who helped make the parade so successful – Block Captains: Cindy Seitz, Linda Capps, Karen Adkins-Dutro, Kim Stecher, and Pat Payne. It takes a combined effort of many individuals to make such an event a success. The information booth was manned by Erika Wrhel and the public address system and street painting (twice) was handled by Terry Master. Thanks also go to the United Disciples Christian Church for their assistance with the flag raising event at the church.

The front color guards were Eagle Scouts Peter Tigue and Matt Zilkowski. The flag-raising was done by Cub Scouts Tyler Mayer and Joe Zilkowski and boy scouts Tyler Quinton and Jesse Peterson. Peggy Bonner and the Peoria Senior Summer Band once again provided the music for the ceremony.

The winners of the 2007 parade trophies are as follows: Best in Show presented by South Side Bank was awarded to the Red Hat Flutter byes for their great cars, great music and lots of red, white and blue. The award for patriotic awarded by the West Peoria Lions Club was presented to the POW/MIA organization for the second consecutive year for their great float in honor of those who never came home. Juvenile award by the West Peoria Residents Association was awarded for a second year to the Kuk Sool Won of Peoria, a martial arts program. Organization trophy awarded by the West Peoria Women’s Auxiliary was presented to Cross Baptist Church for their float with live music that was played throughout the parade. This year’s judges were: Maggie Moore, Ann Masters and Pat Schadt.

It is said that it takes a village to raise a child; the same can be said for a successful event such as our own 4th of July celebration.

The Grand Marshal for this year is Sue Roos who has given her time to West Peoria in many ways over the years. She is most noted for her enormous commitment in starting and running the Jamboree Run for several years. Unfortunately, no commitment was made to take charge of the Jamboree Run when Sue was unable to continue with her efforts in it. Anyone interested in chairing the Jamboree Run for next year should contact City Hall as soon as possible to volunteer for the job. It was another successful event that brought many people into our community and needs to once again be a vital part of the West Peoria culture.

To view pictures from this year’s parade, visit:

www.cityofwestpeoria.com/news.asp.

The West Peoria Garden Club has joined with the West Peoria MAPPING Beautification Committee to work with new ideas for the corner garden at Main and Western Avenues. The garden will be different appearing with less flowers and the continuing constant need for volunteers to assist with weeding and maintenance.

The City of West Peoria’s Americorps VISTA volunteer began her service in West Peoria on July 2, 2007. Krystiana Bronny, a May graduate from Bradley University; is working in West Peoria for one year. While working at City Hall, she will collaborate with the Township and the West Peoria Residents Association to help improve the community. The primary mission of VISTA is to “increase the capacity of low-income people to improve the condition of their lives.” Krystiana will work with community leaders to initiate programs with the above mission, as well as other initiatives to foster community and economic development She was introduced to the community at the July 19th West Peoria Residents Association meeting.

Reminder: Landscape waste pick-up is a service included in your garbage bill. Landscape waste is picked up weekly at the curb, NOT in the alley with your regular garbage.

City Council meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall and are open to the public. Township meetings are the second Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.