Election for West Peoria political offices is April 5, 2011. Petitions are now available to be circulated for the following four-year term positions in the April 5, 2011 City of West Peoria consolidated election. Offices up for election are: mayor, city clerk, treasurer, one alderman each in Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 3 and Ward 4. Anyone interested in running for any of these positions can pick up packets at West Peoria City Hall. The packets are available until December 20, 2010. The first day for filing the petitions is December 13th. The last day is December 20th. Petitions are to be submitted to City Hall during regular working hours from 800 – 5:00, Monday – Friday. January 3, 2011 is the last day for file for referenda. (Referenda can be initiated by petitions). Election questions should be directed to the West Peoria City Clerk, Carole Stephens.
Boy Scout Troop 11 is selling Christmas wreaths and butter braids beginning November 1st. Please contact any Troop11 Boy Scout or Bob DeSutter at 674-6668 to place an order. Wreaths will arrive November 20th.
The holiday season is just around the corner! The West Peoria Lions Club wants to make sure that everyone has a happy holiday season. They will again be giving back to the community by having their Annual Christmas Food Basket Program for families or individuals who could use a little extra help during this special time of year. If you know of someone in the West Peoria, Bellevue, or the Norwood area, please contact Lion Erika by December 10th at 453-4274 or email her at eboundy2002@yahoo.com. Please provide the name and addresses of those families, also include if children are in the home as the Club likes to do a little something extra in for them. Do you know that the West Peoria Lions Club provides glasses and hearing aids to many West Peoria residents? It is able to do this by hosting fundraisers. The problem is membership is getting low and without people like you to step forward and become a member of the Lions Club they will not be able to continue help to our community with free glasses and hearing aids. Please consider becoming a member today and get a “warm fuzzy” when you help a young child see or go to camp. It is only a couple hours a month and for a worthy cause. The Club is selling Christmas wreaths and other greenery. Call to place your order. Need a gift for a special person? How about a Peoria Dining Tour Book? Only $30.00 Pick yours up today at Haddad’s Market.
The City of West Peoria has received a grant from the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The $70,000 dollar grant will be used to help cover the cost of replacing Ashland Avenue.
The City of West Peoria has developed a new zoning map that includes the newly annexed property. If you would like to have one of the maps come to City Hall.
The fall season brings new challenges with falling leaves. Do not rake or blow your leaves into the street which causes the storm sewers to back up. Waste Management is the trash pickup provider for the City of West Peoria. Residents are responsible for establishing an account with them. Please call them at 1-800-796-9696 to set up your account. You will be billed for this service. Landscape Waste Pickup is included in your Waste Management bill and is picked up every Friday at the curb until the end of the year. No open burning of landscape waste, trash, etc. is allowed in the City of West Peoria, as of October 1, 2007. Recreational burns are allowed for a limit of four (4) hours until 10:00 p.m. in an approved fire pit container. Recycling Service is offered by Waste Management for $5.75 per month. This is picked up at the curb every other Friday all year. If you wish to sign up for this service, please call: Waste Management at: 1-800-796-9696. Recycle Bins can be purchased at City Hall for $5.00 each.
The West Peoria Neighborhood Watch will meet Wednesday, November 10th at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Our guest will be Deputy Spears with her partner, a blood hound, Clyde. Deputy Spears will explain and demonstrate how Clyde searches for lost persons. Deputy Middlemas will give an up-date on any criminal activities in the area. The West Peoria Residents’ Association will meet Thursday, November 18th at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
During the month of November, CityLink, Friendship House and Kroger’s are sponsoring their annual Stuff-a-Bus campaign which collects food from the community for the Friendship House food pantry. By the end of November, enough food and cash is donated to provide thousands of meals to the clients of Friendship House which is located in one of the poorest sections of Peoria. If you shop at Kroger’s, you can give a donation and they will have various priced bags for you to purchase. Non-perishable food can be dropped off at the CityLink Transit Center or given on the various buses that serve our community. November 3 and 10 are can days – free bus ride in exchange for a can of food. Jason Parkinson from Power 92.3 radio will broadcast his afternoon show on can days from a CityLink bus. November 17 is calendar day – free GP historical calendar in exchange for a can of food. Radio Peoria (formerly Regent Broadcasting) will broadcast from two Kroger stores during two different weeks. Use this opportunity to help your community and also learn more about your community by taking a bus ride.
Enjoy your blessings; living in Central Illinois has many pluses that allow us the opportunities of living in a small town atmosphere but with big city conveniences. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.