West Peoria Lions Club, Troop and Pack 11 and the West Peoria community invite you to join the annual 4th of July Parade and Flag Raising celebration. They will be honored if you and/or your organization wish to participate and join them on this special day and bask in the feeling of community togetherness. Trophies will be awarded for the following: most patriotic, best of show, service organizations, best juvenile and grand marshal. All entries need to be decorated in a patriotic theme. The 44th annual parade steps off at 10:00 a.m. on the morning of the 4th. Line up begins at 8:30 a.m. on Rohmann Ave. Groups should be in place and ready to step-off no later than 9:45 a.m. City streets will be blocked at that time in preparation for the start of the parade. This event will go on rain or shine. Contact either Jim McCarter at (309) 673-6207 or jmmccarter@sbcglobal.net or Mark Wrhel at (309) 472-4258 or mwrhel@comcast.net with any questions. Information will also be available at: www.wplions.org.

The parade steps off at 10:00 a.m. and travels Rohmann Ave, turns right on Sterling to Moss Ave, left on Moss to Waverly then left on Rohmann and a right onto Sterling to the Franciscan Recreation Center at the corner of Sterling and Heading for the flag raising ceremony and awarding of the parade participant awards. The judges’ stand is located in front of the West Peoria Fire House on Waverly.

After the ceremony on the 4th, the City of West Peoria invites you to an informal celebration of their 20th anniversary. At that time, they will recognize those instrumental with the successful incorporation of the City of West Peoria.

Take the time and be willing to put in some extra work to make West Peoria the best looking community that our many visitors will see in a long time. Starting with the curb lines; tidy, mow, trim and spruce up your yards and houses for our many, many visitors to enjoy. I have had participants tell me how impressed they are with all the parties and generational gatherings they see along our parade route. Thanks neighbors for your efforts and make 2013 a spectacular presentation of West Peoria to the rest of the world reminding that “the living is best to the west of Peoria”.

At the Neighborhood Watch meeting in June, Jay Sauer, Crime Stoppers Association, gave a very interesting review on Crime Stoppers. He explained how the Police work anonymously with individuals, and how the information helps to solve criminal activity. Mr. Sauer also talked about the Peoria “Don’t Shoot” program.

At the July 10th Neighborhood Watch meeting, West Peoria City Hall, at 6:30 p.m. Lt. Joe Hartwig, Peoria County Sheriff’s Department, will talk about and demonstrate self-defense techniques. All residents are invited to this important personal safety and self-preservation session. Deputy Joe Vissering will give an update on criminal activity in the area and answer questions. Burglary-Break-Ins-Vandalism. It takes all of us to work together on this project.

The West Peoria Residents Association will not meet in July.

“SideTracked” is the headliner for the Concert in the Park on Sunday, July 14th from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Franciscan Recreation lawn. Be sure to bring your own snacks and drinks and seats (no alcoholic drinks allowed). This concert is sponsored by the West Peoria Residents’ Association and the Franciscan Recreation complex. SideTracked performed last summer in a “cooking hot” day and did a magnificent job of helping us get through that very hot afternoon.

The West Peoria Beautification Committee is again this year sponsoring the beautification award for best improvement of an individual residential property. Nomination forms are available at City Hall and are due at City Hall by August 31st. The awards will be presented during the September 19th West Peoria Residents Association meeting.

The West Peoria Lions Club is selling 50/50 tickets through July 4. Drawing will be after the parade and flag-raising at Franciscan Park. Need not to be present to win. The Lions meet at West Peoria City Hall at 6:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month. Anyone interested in joining the Club can contact a Lions Club member or visit during one of their meetings.

Planning has started for the third Calvin Coolidge Mothers Club Reunion. It will again be at Sky Harbor, Monday, August 26th at 5:30 p.m. More information will be in the next issues of the Residents’ Association newsletter and Community Word. Any new ideas or questions contact Mary Hamm 697-4118, Alice Nash 674-4308, Guydeen Roos 258-1258, Diane Craps 633-0669.

If you wish to report a code violation or register a complaint, please contact Code Enforcement Officer Bill O’Neill at 674-1993 or 370-1142.

All vehicles without an up-to-date license sticker are considered inoperable and are in violation of City Code. Any vehicle without an up-to-date sticker must be stored in a garage.

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 began on Friday, April 5th and will continue until Friday, December 27th. This service is included in your Waste Management bill. Garage sales are permitted once each quarter for no more than three days. Please check with City Hall to ensure there will be no road work going on that would interfere with your sale. It is against City Code to rake or blow leaves or grass clippings into the street. The rains cause the storm sewers to back up.

There are still funds available for the Residential Paint Reimbursement Program. This program offers reimbursement of paint costs to residents who wish to paint the exterior of their homes or accessory structures. (sheds, storage units, or garages) Reimbursement will be granted for exterior paint only. Participants who purchase paint in the City of West Peoria will receive reimbursement of 50 percent of total paint costs, up to a maximum of $250. If the paint is not purchased in West Peoria, the maximum amount reimbursed will be 30 percent of total paint costs, up to $250.