You are encouraged to attend the 19th annual West Peoria Night Out Against Crime 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 5 at Franciscan Park. The evening includes the Peoria County Sheriff’s Posse, Bearcat Armored vehicle, firefighting equipment, Boy Scout Troop #11, face painting, a gaga pit, gate prizes, hotdogs and sno-cones. Sponsors are West Peoria Neighborhood Watch, City of West Peoria, Sheriff’s Department and the Franciscan Recreation Complex.

The annual Boy Scout Troop 11 ice cream social is 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday Aug. 15 at the West Peoria Fire Station, 406 N. Waverly. Donations are $2.50/person.

Other August meetings include the Neighborhood Watch 6 p.m. Wednesday Aug. 14 in City Hall; Residents’ Association 6 p.m. Thursday Aug. 15 in City Hall; As the Page Turn book Club 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21. This month’s featured book is “The Stout Hearted Seven” by Neta Lohnes Frazier. For more information call Loretta Fehl at 673-0535. There will be no Senior Citizens meeting in August.

Former members of the Calvin Coolidge Mothers’ Club social gathering will be 5 p.m. Monday Aug. 26 at Kellehers Restaurant in the back room. A selected menu will be available. For reservations call Alice Nash at 674-4308 or email her at amnash2415@att.net by Aug. 22.

Darryl Klusendorf was honored as Grand Marshal on the Fourth of July for his many contributions to the community. As owner of Sky Harbor, he was founder of FRED, Farmington Road Entertainment District which worked to improve the area’s businesses. He is a Bradley grad, past president of the OId Timers Baseball Association and also involved with the Optimist Club, Corn Stock Theater and Rocky Glen.

Other awards on the Fourth were given for outstanding parade participation: best of show, Peoria Players Theatre; best service organization, Mohammed Shrine Drill Patrol; most patriotic, Hackman Dancers (Larry & Trudy); best juvenile, Pulse of Peoria, Manual Rams Drumline; and honorable mention to El Zarape.

One of the many parade walkers was Gov. JB Pritzker accompanying Mayor Dillon and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. Next year will be the 50th celebration of this very grass roots event. It has been celebrated over the years bringing West Peoria to the forefront in patriotic celebrations in central Illinois.