APRIL SILVER
Spring is in the air, and the city of West Peoria is buzzing with activity as we welcome the arrival of spring.
West Peoria CORES (Commercial Owners of Retail, Entertainment, and Services) plans to host the second West Side St. Patrick’s Day Parade again on Saturday, March 8. The parade starts at 11 a.m. from the corner of Park and Farmington Roads and ends at Raber Packing Company. Farmington Road will be closed to through traffic that day beginning at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit cityofwestpeoria.org.
In another parade news update, Mayor Dillon announced that West Peoria will host the Labor Day parade this year. Save the date for Monday, Sept. 1.
TARTAN TUNES: Enjoy an evening of acoustic music with David Berchtold, a guitarist with more than 40 years of experience, who is set to perform at the Tartan Inn at 5 p.m. April 3. Berchtold’s repertoire includes original songs, covers of renowned fingerpicking artists like Chet Atkins and Doc Watson, and a mix of rock and folk standards from artists like The Allman Brothers and Bob Dylan.
CORNERSTONE: The revitalization of uptown West Peoria is gaining momentum. Construction on the new City Hall building at the corner of Rohmann and Sterling is nearing completion. Mayor Dillon has announced a tentative move-in date for the first full week of April, weather permitting. Complete citizen services may not be available in the new building until mid-April as the final touches are completed.
A highlight of the new City Hall will be a prominent Veterans War Memorial. Recognizing the need to honor all who have served, West Peoria is compiling a comprehensive list of the city’s veterans. If you know of veterans who resided in West Peoria during their service and are not currently listed on the memorial, please call Ashley at City Hall (309-674-1993).
Beyond City Hall, uptown West Peoria is experiencing a resurgence. The local hardware store is undergoing a significant renovation, receiving a fresh look with updated parking, windows, and other improvements. This revitalized store will continue to serve the community with a full range of hardware, small tool rentals, and essential repair services for lawnmowers and snowblowers. These improvements are a testament to the ongoing efforts to enhance West Peoria.
GET YOUR GARBAGE BAGS: Scout Troop 11 sells 100-count boxes of 30-gallon trash bags for $25. Sales will continue through April 7, with delivery the week after. Contact any Scout from Troop 11 or call Bob De Sutter at (309) 369-8078 to place orders.
VOLUNTEER: Join monthly hikes and restoration workdays for Horseshoe Bottoms on the first Saturday of each month. Opportunities are also available on the first Sunday of each month at Rocky Glen Park to help preserve this beautiful natural area. Contact Dave Pittman at 573-2354 for more information.
New Life Christian Church, located at the corner of Kellogg and Cedar, is looking for volunteers to help distribute food to community members. The pantry is open most Saturdays from 3 to 5 p.m. Contact Maria at (309) 397-2224 for more details