The public education system in the United States is broken. A quick Google search reveals some of the problems that are nationally prevalent. Achievement gaps. Overcrowded. Underfunded. Outdated. High dropout rate. School-to-prison pipeline. These harsh realities have existed for decades…
A walk in the park is going to get more interesting this spring. On Nov. 20, by a unanimous vote, the Peoria Park Board accepted the executive staff recommendation to allow a three-year outdoor sculpture walk development in Donovan Park.…
How can you walk 10 miles in two blocks? Organize a festival. While our feet, joints, muscles and skin (wind chapped lips) hurt, our physical discomfort was secondary to our joy in seeing proof that the arts matter. The proof…
Big Picture Peoria 2019 Street Festival will be held Oct. 12. We felt you would enjoy hearing about it from some of those who are working hard again this year to hold the most unique and surprising annual arts event…
Summertime for kids are days full of wonder. The regular schedule of school is left behind and the long days of warmth and sunshine hold countless opportunities for new adventures. Happily this summer several children and teens are taking advantage…
One of the benefits in living in central Illinois is that our communities are big enough to provide amenities and small enough to produce connections that enable citizens to be influencers. This column is a good example of how two…
Stress is a killer. It’s not always obvious how it makes us sick, but more and more the healthcare industry is recognizing how stress and accompanying anxiety can literally make us sick. The American Psychological Association reports a link between…
The words “Peoria will be a national arts destination” are heard around town in more and more meetings and gatherings. It’s a grand concept first declared by John Morris, CEO and president of the Peoria Riverfront Museum, but what exactly…
Take a good look around Peoria. The once barren and gray cityscape is starting to bloom with art. There are sculptures along Washington Street and the Peoria Riverfront Museum, murals on commercial buildings like CT Gabbert’s and Lava, more outdoor…
The big screen at Peoria Riverfront Museum calls for big plans, and independent film producer Allison Walsh is delivering with the first annual Big Picture Film Festival open to aspiring filmmakers in Central Illinois (within 50 miles of Peoria). We…
