West Peoria’s 25th anniversary celebration is scheduled for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 8 in City Hall. Landscape yard waste pick-up ends the last Friday in December; the waste needs to be placed in bags or containers clearly marked as yard waste. No burning of yard waste is allowed in West Peoria. Boy Scout Troop 11 is selling butter braids in early November. Contact any Troop 11 scout or call Scoutmaster Bob DeSutter at 674-6668.

The Stuff-a-Bus food drive has a drop off box in City Hall. The drive runs through the month of November and has been around for 31 years. CityLink, Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service with Kroger’s and some other partners provide meals weekly for 40-50 families though Friendship House’s food pantry. The classic 1975 rehabbed CityLink bus will be “stuffed” with non-perishable food items during the collection period. The food drive will conclude Dec. 4 with a weigh-in of collected food. The goal this year is to collect 11 tons of food. West Peoria City Hall is serving as a drop off location. City Hall also has a drop box during the month of November for contributions (no money, please) to the Jimmy Binkley Christmas fund for seniors. Binkley started the tradition years ago. The gifts are items seniors can use and enjoy. This year, contributions include small stuffed animals, socks, footies, shaving cream, cologne, soap, warm-up suites, lotion, puzzles, puzzle books. No need to wrap them. Smaller gift bags (8 inches tall) are appreciated, and the committee will assemble them. These bags will be given to many seniors during the holiday visits by the Binkley volunteers in his memory.

The Beautification Committee has a busy agenda in November. They will be hanging garland and wreaths at the Welcome Wall, City Hall and the Township Building. The West Peoria Residents’ Association will meet 6 p.m. Nov. 15 in City Hall. The West Peoria Neighborhood Watch will meet 6 p.m. Nov. 14 in City Hall. An update on criminal activity in the area will be provided by Deputy Demery. City Hall will be closed Nov. 12 for Veterans Day and Nov. 22 and 23 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Petitions for the April 2019 consolidated election for four-year offices in West Peoria can be picked up in City Hall. Petitions are needed for election for mayor, city treasurer, city clerk and alderpersons in Wards 1 through 4. Petitions need to be signed and returned to City Hall between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 10 to Dec. 17.