Westminster Presbyterian Church:

Withdraw Request for Digital Sign

   As both a member of Westminster and a West Bluff resident, I totally agree with the editorial (January 2015). The Church would fulfill a decades-long stated commitment to the area by withdrawing the request. I’d also encourage Rev. Clark-Jones to continue interfacing with local residents top learn more about the long history of Westminster Church in the West Bluff. CONRAD STINNETT, Peoria

Factory Farming Unsustainable and Environmentally Destructive

Mr. Goodner says it all with great accuracy (“Relentless Proximity,” by Dale Goodner, January 2015). Hog Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), or any other CAFO system such as dairy or poultry can only be described one way and that is that they are TOXIC to the environment, public health, local economies and create anger and animosity between neighbors and communities. DR. WILLIAM IWEN, Wisconsin

Muslim Scholars:

Islam Religion Unequivocally Forbids Terrorism

Excellent, excellent article (“Three Common Misconceptions About Islam & Muslims, January 2015)! Nice job of addressing the many misconceptions that existed even before 9/11, but got so overblown in the months and years after that. Well-stated, Imam.

JEFFREY JOHNSON, Peoria

Half Million Homeless, Some Criminalized for Their Misfortunes

Bill Knight’s article (January 2015) was stirring, well written. We all need to be involved in the lives of the poor. How a person becomes homeless is of little importance compared to each of our calls to love and care for the homeless, the other poor and the disabled. Are we going to help alleviate some of the suffering and/or ignore the totality of “living under the Bob Michel bridge and hope and pray that this winter will not be as severe as the last one?” GREGORY SPECK, Peoria

Sculpture Walk Peoria: What Value is Public Art?(January 2015)

There are many scholarly articles expressing the benefits of arts in our communities.
The arts promote a sense of belonging, lower crime rates by inspiring pride in one’s home town, and have been noted to improve physical and mental health. An Internet search for these articles could keep a person busy for eons reading them all. Or, you could simply talk to an artist. We can tell you, first hand, the miracles art has performed in our own lives. I think sharing this phenomenon through public sculpture is the purpose of an artist’s heart. CYNDI MERRILL, Mapleton