Serendipity for September 2014

Frank Sinatra released the album, “September of my years” in 1965. I was 17, and he was turning 50 that December. The album, still in my possession, included the Grammy Award winning “It Was a Very Good Year” and other…

Emiquon: Locally grown paradise

By Mike Miller For a country about a third the size of Illinois, they sure managed to pack a lot into Costa Rica. Active volcanoes, mountains, cloud forests, Pacific and Caribbean mangrove, and several flavors of rainforest are home to…

West Peoria News for September 2014

Saturday, September 6th is planned for the 14th Annual Night Against Crime from 3:00 until 5:30 p.m. at Franciscan Park. West Peoria Neighborhood Watch, Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, City and Township of West Peoria, West Peoria Fire Department are all…

Welcome columnist Dr. David Trachtenbarg

This new column starts next month written by Dr. David E. Trachtenbarg, M.D., a family physician at UnityPoint Health Methodist-Proctor, clinical professor at University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and medical director for the Diabetes Care Center in…

Events for September 2014

MUSIC Sept. 11: Limelight Eventplex presents “redneck rock band” Blackjack Billy, known for their 2013 hit “The Booze Cruise,” with opening act the Joe Stamm Band. (309) 693-1234. Sept. 20: Peoria Symphony Orchestra presents guest violinist Sarah Chang at a…

IGNITEPeoria! — and keep the fire burning

Must local arts and entertainment be another attraction used to promote potential visitors to be valid, to have value? This month’s arts festival IGNITE Peoria! at the Civic Center on Saturday, August 9 seems to be an admirable endeavor: part…

More nonsense from District 150

CHANGE 150 PRESIDENT TRANSFERS SONS TO PEORIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Encounter with Superintendent Contributes to Tough Decision, the leader of Peoria’s Change 150 group, known for his strong and frequent criticism of the superintendent and board of School District 150, has…

The wisdom of crowds

James Surowiecki wrote a book a few years ago that began with an anecdote about a crowd that guessed the weight of an ox. When their individual guesses were averaged, they were spot on. The title sums it up: “The…

West Peoria News for August 2014

Boy Scout Troop 11’s annual ice cream social is scheduled for Thursday, August 23rd from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the West Peoria Fire House. Tickets are $2.50 and can be purchased in advance from Troop 11 scouts or at…

Farewell Letter from the Editor

After much deliberation, soul-searching, planning and researching, I decided the time had come for me to retire and find a new caretaker to carry on with the paper. This August 2014 issue is my last issue. After nearly a year…

Happenings for August 2014

Aug 3 – German-American Central Society presents the annual Bratfest 2014 at Hickory Grove Park – 12:00 – 8:00 p.m. Call 309-691-7484. Live Entertainment, Muscle Car, Hot Rod & Customized Motorcycle Cruis’n, Arts & Craft Village, soccer, folk dancing, Bingo,…

Puzzle pieces

It was complicated. Three hundred pieces cut in the oddest shapes I’d ever seen for a puzzle. Some I swore were edge pieces and for a while was frustrated that they weren’t fitting into the frame with the other edge…

Jump Simulation attracts Disney Institute to Peoria

The creative concepts and innovative business practices that helped build Disney into a $150 billion worldwide enterprise are coming to Peoria. Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center is excited to host the Disney Institute for a magical, one day educational…