The warm days of August harken the arrival of many prairie flowers and insects. The ever-majestic Monarch butterfly is a common visitor to the August prairie. An observant visitor will also see the striped caterpillars munching hungrily on several species…
In a world that is so filled with hurt and destruction, it is challenging to see the beauty in things. I spent an entire day at the gravesite of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta. As I grieved the…
Co-curators Robert Sill, Douglas Stapleton and Edward Maldanado note that Thomas Skomski’s solo show “Urgent Care: Stuck in that Awkward Stage between Birth and Death” at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield “examines the processes of change and the inevitable…
Aug. 2: The Holdouts. 5 p.m. Old Chicago Grand Prairie. 691-1885. Aug. 2 and each Friday: Dave Hoffman & Friends. 5 p.m. Two25 in the Mark Twain Hotel. 282-7777. Aug. 2: Cousin Eddie Live at the Five Spot. 5:30 p.m.…
As I think about the challenges we face across the country from neighborhood to neighborhood and block to block, there’s one thing that permeates these communities with deadly consequences. It is not as obvious as you might think either. If…
You are encouraged to attend the 19th annual West Peoria Night Out Against Crime 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 5 at Franciscan Park. The evening includes the Peoria County Sheriff’s Posse, Bearcat Armored vehicle, firefighting equipment, Boy Scout Troop…
The sixth annual Family Vacation includes seven children, ages 6 to three 13-year-olds. Eight adults are in the lead only slightly, although the children don’t seem to notice they’re outnumbered. Likely because they realize they are outranked, whatever our numbers.…
Thanks to the extraordinary leadership of Illinois legislators both Republicans, Democrats and Gov. JB Pritzker, Illinois is finally on a course to fixing our pothole-filled roads, crumbling Illinois interstates and structurally deficient bridges. The $40 billion capital bill is long…
First it was news Peoria County State’s Attorney Jerry Brady had died. Then we learned that Peoria County Clerk Steve Sonnemaker had also passed away. Losing two outstanding elected officials and community leaders is almost too much to endure. I…
Last month, actor Rainn Wilson (from “The Office”) tweeted, “I love the idea of a Green New Deal but Fox News said the plan includes the mandatory sucking of farts out of camels, solar-panel skull implants, Al Gore face tattoos…
