Steve Shearer is well-known by folks who follow politics. He’s been a part of Aaron Schock’s political life almost from day one. At one time he was Schock’s chief of staff. Like Schock, Shearer has been questioned by the F.B.I.…
DIRTY POLITICS?
Clergy, laity pray for justice for Cassidy
Hundreds of Central Illinoisans for years watched Father Terry Cassidy mimic a fish that’s unaware it’s surrounded by water. It’s been his light-hearted effort to show how people often don’t realize they’re surrounded – by grace. But Cassidy, 64, now…
Cuts to child care subsidies bigoted and illogical
It was toward the end of her press conference advocating to restore funding for child care subsidies that State Rep. Jehan Booth-Gordon expressed her shock. The TV cameras were off and most print reporters had gone when Booth-Gordon said she…
Veterans Day:
Honor veterans by insisting on the support services they earned What can we citizens of this country do to show our appreciation to military veterans for the service they have done for us? I had the opportunity in September to…
Iran on the Illinois
Let’s get this straight: The Pekin City Council censured its mayor John McCabe for a phone call he made to a council member’s boss. Then McCabe apologized for his bad judgment. But Peoria mayor Jim Ardis has not apologized for…
Most compassionate position on abortion: It should be accessible, safe and rare
By Burt Raabe When I came to Bradley University in 1965, abortions were illegal and birth control pills were only about five years old. Like most freshmen, I was 18 years old with little, well virtually no, sexual experience. I…
“Correctly Misspelled”
The other day I was finishing an email to some otherwise wonderful Christians who, in my opinion, were stepping way out of line in matters of age and racial discrimination of the subtle but searing sort that still infects our…
Happy OAKtober!Mike Miller, OAKtober, Oak Awareness Month, The Chicago Region Trees
October 2015 was officially decreed Oak Awareness Month, or OAKtober, in Illinois. The initiative to recognize the plight of oak forests was spurred by The Chicago Region Trees Initiative and its partners throughout the state. It is part of a…
“An attitude of gratitude” is an expression I learned many years ago from an amazing group of women. I was a new Mom at the time, grateful for my son but somewhat overwhelmed by my responsibilities. Caring for a much-loved…
Upcoming meetings in West Peoria include the West Peoria Residents’ Association 6 p.m. Nov. 19 in City Hall; West Peoria Neighborhood Watch 6 p.m. Nov. 11 at City Hall. The public is welcome to both of these Residents’ Association meetings.…
Due to an error, the West Peoria News column was inadvertently duplicated under Heights News by Roger Larson in the October issue. Please go to our online edition at www.thecommunityword.com or go directly to http://thecommunityword.com/online/blog/2015/09/30/heights-news/ to read the October Heights…
I am pleased to report that ballet is alive and well here thanks to the efforts of the Central Illinois Ballet and its artistic director, Rebekah von Rathonyi. The company presented “Dracula, Dance on the Dark Side” conceived and choreographed…
Arts Beat
MUSIC Nov. 3: Judas Priest, “Redeemer of Souls” tour. 7:30 p.m. Civic Center Arena. 673-3200. Nov. 3: Hard Bop Jazz Band. 7:30 p.m. ICC Lecture/Recital Hall, East Peoria. 694-5136. Nov. 5: JJ Grey & Mofro, with honeyhoney. 7 p.m. Limelight…
Architectural gem beyond border of the Warehouse District
Just one block beyond the southern border of the Warehouse District and precisely one mile from the Peoria County Courthouse is a building that epitomizes many of the characteristics of Peoria’s emerging arts neighborhood. Part of the synergy behind art…
Labor Roundup
Inadequate offer forced East St. Louis teachers strike. Students in the East St. Louis, Ill., school district stayed home beginning in early October after its 400 union teachers rejected an inadequate settlement offer. Members of Illinois Federation of Teachers voted…
Neighborhood Notes
The Jackson Corners Neighborhood Association will feature two local speakers at its next meeting, at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Child Advocacy Center, 501 E. Gift, according to president Mary Genzel. One of the neighborhood’s Peoria police officers and…
What price for a pound of fat?
For many people struggling to lose weight, weight loss medications seem to be a simple way to “melt off” the pounds. Unfortunately, the evidence shows this is not the case. Current diet medications reduce appetite, but do not eliminate the…
Elder Care Concerns
By Dave Weiman It may seem an overwhelming task to find a suitable care provider for an elder, whether they are looking for home care, assisted living or skilled nursing. Many times the search is complicated by the fact decisions…
Organic farmers sustain huge losses From GMO contamination
DANFORTH, ILL. – On a warm September day on the cusp of harvest season, about 70 farmers from throughout the Midwest drove to a cavernous metal equipment barn on Harold Wilken’s organic grain farm in Iroquois County. They came to…
Peoria hospital ventures can be for-profit
Taxpayers who feel they already underwrite hotels, retailers or private development through publicly funded incentives or financing may lump in hospitals as businesses at the trough. Although hospitals are appreciated and respected institutions that provide communities with health care and…
Kindred heals, discharges patients
Hospitals soothe pain and save lives, which is advertised by Peoria’s well-known medical centers. A less familiar facility is Kindred Hospital on Romeo B. Garrett Avenue, the community’s only for-profit hospital, which some may mistakenly think is where seriously ill…