One of the memorable hallmarks of the Republican Convention this year was the chanting of “drill baby drill!” This mantra echoed during Sarah Palin’s address, and was apparently meant as a sound bite solution to our energy problems and rising fuel costs.

But there was an uncomfortable familiarity about it. Some of us still remember 1965 and the chanting of, “Burn Baby Burn,” as large portions of Los Angeles went up in flames. It seemed so out of place… as if people were celebrating the loss of their own homes, livelihoods, and stores.

Just as burning is not a solution to racial discrimination, so too drilling is not a solution to our growing energy crisis. Cheap oil is as much a curse as a blessing. It has gradually gotten us into this mess, and it’s gradually running out. Unlike many other nations, we haven’t developed alternative energy to any significant degree. The United States doesn’t have sufficient oil reserves to even begin to meet our needs. We send hundreds of billions of dollars to oil rich nations, many of whom are hostile to us, in order to feed our growing oil addiction. We haven’t formulated any sort of long term plan for either self sufficient or sustainable energy supplies. We continue to contribute carbon, billions of tons of it, into the atmosphere, exacerbating the ever growing and daunting dilemma of global warming. Read the rest of this entry »

When I decided to complete my education at Eastern Illinois University, I based that decision on three criteria:

1. EIU had a good journalism program.

2. Many of my friends were going there.

3. And, it had a reputation for being a party school.

Well, my friends and I got a good education. And, we drank. We drank a lot. And we didn’t confine our alcoholic shenanigans to the insides of our dorm rooms and apartments.

I found myself thinking of my college days this past week as I read and commented on the events outside the Sigma Nu fraternity on the night of September 19. I’ll recap for those few Community Word readers who spent the latter half of September hiding under rocks: Read the rest of this entry »

I was on my way home the other day when I noticed an arm dangling out of the trunk of the car in front of me. After a double-take, I chuckled at the mobile Halloween décor.

The flapping arm triggered flashes of “body-in-trunk” scenes I’ve seen in movies and it made me think how life has changed since my Trick-or-Treat days. I can still hear the howls and laughter puncturing the spooky Indian-Summer night air around my childhood neighborhood as all us kids went house-to-house gathering candy in our pillowcase bags.

I can still feel my hoarse throat from screaming through a haunted house at my church’s youth event. My brain holds a library of memories from Halloween jolts and goose bumps, fake ghouls, cold spaghetti brains and peeled grape eyeballs - but I always knew these were manufactured scare tactics so it was easy to shake. Read the rest of this entry »

Life doesn’t come with a book of directions, and such a reality gives many people reason to celebrate. They don’t like to read or follow directions, and who has time anyway, they ask. They’ll tell you they are too busy living life to read any directions. Many a mechanical mishap has occurred because of similar thinking.

Many people look to the Bible for instruction and inspiration, believing firmly that indeed God did give us a book of directions. But even those of great faith often concur that God “writes” in mysterious fashion. Personally, I believe that’s exactly God’s intention. We find different answers and sometimes it’s in the search that we learn the most. Read the rest of this entry »

The weather has not been kind to our lawns the past 18 months. However, rains and predictions for normal rainfall for the next 90 days means that things should improve, states David Robson, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator, Springfield Center. Lawns thinned out—by hot, dry temperatures, diseases or insects—but otherwise satisfactory can be renovated without destroying the entire lawn. If the lawn is thatchy, core aerify to produce a core hole every two inches throughout the lawn. Thatch is a brown fibrous layer between the soil and the green part of the grass. Core aerifying machines can be rented, or landscapers and lawn companies can provide the service. Mow the lawn short and thoroughly rake it to loosen the soil and to make a shallow seedbed. A power rake, also available from rental stores, will make the job easier if the area is sizeable. Sow a blend of Kentucky bluegrass varieties. Use about two pounds of seed per 1000 square feet of lawn. Use a spreader. Over-seed with about 25 percent by weight of perennial ryegrass. Drag or rake the seed into prepared seedbed, and roll to firm. To completely replace a lawn that has been invaded by quackgrass or other tenacious perennial weeds, close attention to certain procedures will prevent reappearance of the problems. If the old lawn was free of thatch and unevenness and was otherwise satisfactory (other than the weeds), slit seed into the old lawn with a blend of Kentucky bluegrasses, and over-seed with perennial ryegrass. As with core aerifiers, slit seeder machines are available from some rental agencies, or landscapers can do the work. If the old lawn was thatchy, uneven, poorly drained, compact or otherwise undesirable, strip off the existing lawn with a sod cutter, being sure to remove all the accumulated thatch. Plow, rototill, disc or otherwise work the soil to a depth of six inches. Remove stones and other debris, and smooth-grade the area to provide a uniform surface free of depressions and high spots. Apply “starter” fertilizer, and rake it into the soil surface. The area is then ready to either seed or sod. If you seed, spread a blend of Kentucky bluegrass and about 20 percent ryegrass. Rake in the seeds lightly, allowing some seed to remain on the surface. Mulch with about two inches of straw. Either water the seedbed and keep it moist until plant growth is well established, or allow nature to provide the water.

If you choose to lay sod, buy sod grown on soil as nearly like that in your yard as you can find. Moisten the soil before laying the sod and keep the sod wet for about 15-20 days until roots begin to grow into the soil. Your lawn is one of the most important components of your landscape. It enhances the beauty of other ornamental plantings as it provides an attractive setting for your home. A lawn also reduces mud, dust, heat, noise and glare. To develop and maintain an attractive lawn, cultural practices such as mowing, watering and fertilizing should be performed regularly. Weeds, insects, and diseases should be controlled soon after the early signs of their development. Other problems, such as thatch and severe compaction of the soil, should be reduced by whatever means are appropriate to prevent deterioration of the lawn. If you have other questions, call the Peoria County Extension Office. Phone 685-3140 or: www.extension.uiuc.edu/peoria.

After Frankie became cute enough to take to Chinatown, we became almost inseparable friends. On Saturday nights we went to the early movie, window shopping, then grabbed that 15 cent tenderloin before going home. Certainly our childhood was a place far flung from today’s “mad world.”

After school during the week, we often went to our local drugstore soda fountain. Drugstore soda fountains arrived about the same time as prohibition. Frankie and I arrived during prohibition. Read the rest of this entry »

Well, I, along with millions of others watched the debate last night, and I find it so interesting how we each are able to support the views of one because of our own background and involvement. I, of course, strongly support Obama, not just because I’m a Democrat, but I also really truly feel that he has the character and integrity that I think has been lacking in the Bush Administration. McCain scares me. His military experience, rather than making him more humble and compassionate, seems to have made him more militant and ready to go to war. He has supported Iraq and has said “Bomb, bomb Iran.” We need some very strong diplomatic skills to get out of the hole in the Middle East, and I think Obama can look at it with fresh eyes. So many politicians say we can’t even talk to other nations without pre-conditions, and I think that is crazy. Maybe that’s why the world is such a mess. Many carry strong prejudices from the past and can’t think outside the political, sanctions-only box. Read the rest of this entry »

The contest between Republican Darin LaHood and Democrat Kevin Lyons for Peoria County state’s attorney became a hot topic of political discussion after it was revealed LaHood attempted to talk to the father of an alleged rape victim. The revelation was made by Lyons, who’s seeking re-election. The story was widely covered by the PJS and the local electronic media. Who benefited?

Supporters of Lyons believe the story helps the current state’s attorney because LaHood, they believe, used poor judgment in trying to talk to the victim’s father without first getting his permission. LaHood’s supporters feel the Lyons’ news conference actually helped LaHood bring attention to his campaign issue that many in police enforcement feel Lyons is soft on crime. LaHood has been endorsed by every police organization in Peoria County. Read the rest of this entry »

Candidates to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood (R- Peoria) from the 18th Congressional District are, in alphabetical order, Colleen Callahan (Democrat), Sheldon Schafer (Green), and Aaron Schock (Republican). Below are responses to questions sent to all three campaigns, questions derived from the nonpartisan Project Vote Smart – supported by the late U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.) and former President Gerald Ford, a Republican, as well as retired U.S. Sen. George McGovern (D-South Dakota) and ex-President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat.

In mid-July, Schock explained to me that he refused to reply to Project Vote Smart’s questionnaire, but “if anyone wants to know my positions, they can come to where I’m talking and ask me.” Then he promised me that he’d respond to my written questions. However, multiple calls to his office, chats with helpful staffers and emails all resulted in no response.

Still, here are 15 issues, presented in alphabetical order, and candidate responses (Colleen Callahan =CC, Sheldon Schafer = SS, Aaron Schock= AS).) Read the rest of this entry »

Chris took the plunge this year (perhaps a holdover from his days on the swimming and diving teams at Peoria Central High). Our son transferred to Northern Michigan University at Marquette from Western Illinois. It’s a significant transition, trading the rolling hills and farm fields of Macomb for the wild and windy shores of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Dropping him off at school was a novel experience. After hauling belongings, books, and mementos five hundred miles to a new apartment, and after meeting a new semester’s roommates, we set out to explore the immediate area.

A nearby hiking trail put me in mind of Longfellow’s “Evangeline.” Read the rest of this entry »