When seeking to discuss and describe the developments of Black music during slavery and the subsequent Civil War, one must first trace the origins of Black music before it arrived in America. To do that, one must examine the history…
Columns
Straight Talk | These tragic child deaths need more investigating
by Roger Monroe • • 0 Comments
For the second time, the Peoria area lost another child to physical and mental abuse. For the second time, I fear the deaths will die from lack of attention and meaningful response. While 35-year-old Leslie Jett will die as an…
Nature Rambles | How to tame Garlic Mustard invasion?
by Mike Miller • • 0 Comments
From beneath the melting snow, it can be seen. Shriveled, green rosettes of leaves, awaiting the warmth of spring. Each of these rosettes represents a plant that has found a toe-hold along our wooded paths in central Illinois. Each is…
The Watch | Three cheers to the county for streamlining collection of our real estate taxes
by Terry Bibo • • 0 Comments
When public officials collaborate to make government more effective, flag it. Hence, three cheers for a new method of collecting real estate taxes prompted by the Peoria County Treasurer and Peoria Township Collector. Stephen Morris, Township Collector, recommended all in-person…
Inland Art | Endless possibilities
by Nichole Gronvold-Roller • • 2 Comments
Turn on photocopy machine, open lid, select copy on the home screen, scan with nothing on the glass plate and accumulate sheets of grainy black paper with heavy toner. Cut, tape, tear and glue paper. Repeat or mix up the…
Arts Beat | May 2022
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
ART Peorian Steve Spain presents highlights from his collection of original animation cels from Disney at the Riverfront Museum through May 8. THEATER Peoria Players Theatre is bringing back “Mamma Mia!” May 13-15 and 18-22 featuring Dedra Kaiser, Celeste Matheson,…
Heat Waves — In Red and Black | Illinois unprepared for killer heat
by William Rau • • 2 Comments
Deadly heat gets no respect. Natural hazards that count — tornadoes, floods, etc. — are property-destroying traumas. Homeowners, public infrastructure, and insurance companies all take big hits. The Great Flood of 1993, for example, destroyed 24,000 Illinois homes and 884,000…
West Peoria News | Memorial Day celebration, big yard sale on calendar
by Sharon McBride • • 1 Comment
The West Peoria Resident’s Association (WPRA) has activities planned for May to involve residents. May 14 is scheduled for a community-wide yard sale. Sale hours are planned for 7 a.m.-3 p.m. WPRA will post signage and also run ads in…
Serendipity | Old-school Momming, modern-day executive?
by Sandra Dempsey Post • • 0 Comments
My Mother was an interesting blend of strictness, kindness, compassion, tolerance, and don’t be fooled by her smiling face. She was strict, but not mean spirited. Her goals were not always mine, which caused some friction when I was a…
Bill Knight | Persistence can pay off with Peoria rail service
by Bill Knight • • 1 Comment
Hooray! Hold on … Don’t plan to ride the rails to Chicago to see an exhibit, ballgame or concert yet. Amtrak’s 50th anniversary was in 2021, but it’s been years that Amtrak fans like me have driven to Galesburg or…