Archive for February, 2009

Public Information: Multiple-property auction (by Rick Levin & Assoc., Inc) of 12 foreclosed homes in Peoria, IL. The auction will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn – Peoria City Centre at 500 Hamilton Blvd. A cashier’s check of $2,000 is required to bid. For property info, call 773-252-4500 or visit www.ricklevin.com.
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The countdown is on to the February 24th primary, and both newcomers and political veterans are campaigning hard for much sought-after seats on the Peoria City Council. Incumbent Bob Manning will not be seeking re-election to the Peoria City Council this year, opening the door for what should be an eventful primary. Three candidates...
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About five years ago a bank advertisement included the following message on a sign atop a taxi in Florida: “If your cup runneth over, spill a little.” Dated advice, some would say given today’s economic climate. But religious leaders, social psychologists, and money experts concur that giving is essential. “The more you give, the...
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Peoria School District 150 is at it again. They want to close schools. Lots of them. School officials say the district is losing money after recently bragging finances were in order. Responding to the alleged deficit, officials have produced the most radical educational plan in the history of Peoria education. Under the heading, “Educational...
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Likeable Peoria Congressman Aaron Schock might be regarded in some Republican circles in movie terms: a supporting actor in the juvenile role. A newcomer, he’s no leading man or even comic relief in the drama that Capitol Hill can be.  It’s unclear whether Washington’s youngest lawmaker will toe the line...
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Charles Darwin is turning 200. In fact, his birthday, February 12, 1809, also marked the arrival of another significant person of the 19th century. It’s the bicentennial of the births of both Darwin and Abraham Lincoln. Both were vilified in their time and both have been shown to be visionaries who helped shape the...
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I had dinner with Dad at Haddad’s this past Friday. He had a gyro, I had pepper steak. We split an order of cabbage rolls. Haddad’s Restaurant at the corner of West Main and Bourland is one of only a handful of local, family-owned eateries left in Peoria. They have great food, often served...
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Restoration of Trust in Democracy by Jim McGill, North Pekin Corruption can be outlawed. Just as laws were enacted enabling it. However, it will take major changes to even begin to turn it around. It is vital for voters to step up and get incumbents, at all levels, to make those dramatic changes. ...
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Millions of pens have attempted to capture love on paper – that mysterious, elusive bandit that steals our heart, messes with our mind and turns our whole world upside down. Many have written stories of love’s power to overcome the worst its enemy can conjure. Tomes of undying love story pack dusty shelves in...
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Babies were my passion. It was never “if” I would have children, but rather “when” I would. I planned to be a creative version of Susie Homemaker, Mother Earth, and Mrs. Walton (from the ‘70’s television series Walton’s Mountain) all rolled into one. My first baby, Michael, arrived on March 2, 1974 and I...
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