If you have seen Janis Mars Wunderlich’s work, it is not simple to feel neutral about or easily forgotten. Table-top-sized, ceramic sculptures are full of allegorical, symbolic and personal story telling. Vividly colorful paintings, embellished to the edges with flora…
Columns
Art Alerts | July 2022
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
The Watch | Expect higher utility rates this summer
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
You aren’t the only one concerned about rising utility costs. Your local governments feel the heat, as well. Check the discussion. Peoria City Council On April 26 City Manager Patrick Urich provided information on predicted Ameren energy rate increases related…
Nature Rambles | Lines of our landscape laid out long ago
by Mike Miller • • 1 Comment
Heat Waves — In Red and Black | Forecast for rolling blackouts?
by William Rau • • 0 Comments
The ultimate just-in-time commodity, supply and demand for electricity must be immediately and precisely balanced. If a supply deficit can’t be closed rapidly, grid operators order round-robin shutoffs across all customers, i.e. “rolling blackouts” lasting hours to days depending on…
Bill Knight | George Shaheen: A man before his time
by Bill Knight • • 0 Comments
Area native George Shaheen was enormously successful in business, leading Andersen Consulting from 1989-99, when its revenue grew from $1.1 billion to $8 billion. So it wouldn’t be surprising for him to sour some after a failure — especially one…
Serendipity | Who’s ready for a road trip?
by Sandra Dempsey Post • • 0 Comments
Mornings are perfectly charming times if the sun is shining and there’s no rush to be somewhere within 45 minutes. I’m not one who opens my eyes, jumps out of bed, and is ready to begin the day. I have…
West Peoria News | Swords Hill still under construction
by Sharon McBride • • 0 Comments
Swords Hill has been closed for repairs and will not be in service for multiple months. Much traffic has been diverted and cannot travel Swords and Farmington Roads. It will be taking much time on those streets. It also takes…
Labor Roundup | Another Starbucks voting to unionize, Teachers firing back at the far right
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
Second Peoria Starbucks voting on unionizing. The Starbucks at 707 W. Pioneer Parkway is now participating in a mail election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board on whether to unionize at that location. “Those eligible to vote are all…
Straight Talk | Redneck radio? How? Peoria, then and now
by Roger Monroe • • 7 Comments
When I started in radio as a part-time announcer, there were only a handful of stations in Peoria. They included WMBD, 1470, the first to go on the air; the “Mighty 1290, WIRL; WAAP, 1350, which later became WXCL; Clear…