APRIL SILVER

The crisp February wind carried a bite, but under its blustery breath, March was whispering promises of change. Buds on tree branches swell with anticipation, the sun stretches its golden limbs a little longer each day, and a chorus of returning birds begins to replace the winter’s hush. The community’s spirit of renewal echoes, bursting forth in building projects, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and a palpable quickening of the communal pulse as we ponder questions on the upcoming ballot.

Here in our vibrant community, the chill of winter hasn’t entirely loosened its grip, and the spirit of resilience and camaraderie continues to shine bright.

TROOP 11: In January a court of honor ceremony was held to recognize Joe Menke as the 77th Eagle Scout from Troop 11 since 1943. The troop is currently selling 100-count boxes of 30-gallon trash bags for $25. Sales will continue through March 18, with delivery the week of March 25. Contact
any scout from Troop 11 or Bob De Sutter at (309) 369-8078 to place orders.

CLEANUP HIKES: Friends of Rocky Glen has scheduled 9 a.m. workday hikes for Horseshoe Bottoms on March 2 and Rocky Glen on March 3. Call or text David Pittman at 573-2354 to confirm all events and visit Friends of Rocky Glen website for complete details.

PARADE PART 2: At 11 a.m. March 9, West Peoria CORES (Commercial Owners of Retail, Entertainment, and Services) plans to host a West Side St. Patrick’s Day Parade again this year, pending IDOT approval. The event will be on Farmington Road between Park Road and Raber Packing Company. Farmington Road will be closed that day from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. For more information, visit the City of West Peoria website.

CREDIT COUNSELING: At the Feb. 14 West Peoria Neighborhood Watch meeting, attendees had an informative discussion centering around Understanding Debit/Credit Card technology and Tips for Preventing Card Skimming Fraud. CEFCU Automated Services Manager April Smith detailed the differences between magnetic stripe and EMV chip card technology. A video on How to Avoid Card Skimmers provided an overview of techniques used by card skimmers. Then Smith answered questions from the group, wrapping up the evening with an instructional video on Why Tap-to-Pay Is Safer Than a Credit Card Swipe, which provided solutions on ways to keep financial data as secure as possible.

The next West Peoria Neighborhood Watch meeting will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 13 at West Peoria City Hall. Meetings include a safety topic presentation and updates from the West Peoria community officer. To sign up for Neighborhood Watch meeting alerts, email westpeorianeighborhoodwatch@gmail.com.

FIRE DEPT. VOTE: Election Day is March 19, and the West Peoria Fire Department will have two questions on the ballot. The first question will ask to levy a special tax not to exceed .40% of the value of all taxable property. This special tax will allow the WPFD to create a paid crew for the ambulance to be at the station to respond quicker to emergency calls at specific times and days of the week. The second question, requesting the first increase since its incorporation in 1939, asks for a .10% increase to taxable property from .30% to .40% to purchase equipment, supplies, and vehicles.

The West Peoria Fire Protection District is a special district separate from the City, covering a primarily residential area of 1.3 square miles, serving approximately 5,000 residents. The Fire Department is staffed by more than 40 volunteers providing fire suppression, rescue operations, emergency medical services, fire prevention, and participation in community activities. Friends of the WPFD held two Informational meetings regarding the ballot questions in February. Visit the WPFD website or call (309) 674-6615 with any questions.

SENIOR SETS: The West Peoria Seniors will meet at 1 p.m. March 28 at West Peoria City Hall. Peoria County Sheriff’s Office Victim Services Coordinator Aimee Shinall will lead the group through an expressive arts program. Seniors Afternoon meets every fourth Thursday and is open to all seniors in the community. For more information, email westpeorianeighborhoodwatch@gmail.com.