In defense of the dandelion

It’s been called a lot of things: Priest’s Crown, Irish Daisy, Swine’s Snout, Milk Witch and Peasant’s Cloak, to name a few. But regardless of its name, the dandelion is a plant almost everyone knows. This alone makes it special.…

‘Parody’ my @##

The big joke locally and nationally isn’t about Mayor Jim Ardis or Peoria police, but about the PJS clowns climbing out of the little circus car yelling, “parody,” “parody,” to laughter under the big top. They reminded me of Mayberry’s…

Western Avenue Greenway News

Western Avenue Greenway Project board members are excited to announce that the corner property at Main and Western has been added to the Greenway. It is the former gas station property and has had all the underground tanks removed and…

West Peoria News for May 2015

Look around our community at all the people who contribute so much of themselves and their time so that we can truly enjoy the nice things that West Peoria offers us all. Now is the opportunity to nominate that person…

Like mom – like me

Mom drifted off to sleep long before bedtime most weeknights. As a child I remember how she got up early every day, dressed up real nice and went to work. My brother and I got home before she did, and…

Peoria Public Library Happenings for May 2014

Music in the McKenzie presents Small Potatoes Sunday, May 18 at Peoria Public Library North Branch Peoria Public Library North Branch presents Music in the McKenzie: Small Potatoes at North Branch Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 p.m. for a repertoire of music…

Miller Center (Pekin) calender of events

May 2nd Friday night dance The Nostalgics Time: 7:00-10:00pm. Fee: $7.00 each. Treats provided by Pekin Hospital Home Health Care. Call Miller Center at 346-5210 for more information. May 5th New Ballroom Dance Lessons Time: 6:30pm Beginners, 7:30 Intermediate Fee:…

Newsbriefs for May 2014

Dunlap Library Book Club Happenings Monday Morning Book Club – May 12 at 9:30 a.m. – We bring out the toys so the kids can play while we discuss “The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels” by Ree Drummond. 7Up…

Great job

Everyone associated with “Change 150” is to be commended and congratulated for the upset victory by Sue Wolstenholm for District 3 of the Peoria School District. She defeated Laura Petelle by a stunning 70 to 30 percent even though she withdrew from the…

By any other name

Many Peorians will remember the names, “Uncle Bob and Aunt Billy.” Bob and Sybil Prager were naturalists at Forest Park Nature Center over four decades ago. Bob was a pioneer in restoring some of the beautiful, though little known, flora native to Central Illinois, from the fragile snow trillium, to shooting star, to the eight foot tall big bluestem grass. The clearing where the Nature Center’s “Deer Run Trail” meets “Valley Trail,” is actually an amazingly diverse prairie planting, that was meticulously planted and weeded by Bob, Sybil, and a small cadre of volunteers.

No money for Illinois learning standards

I think it is safe to say that everyone is aware that the State of Illinois is broke. Christopher Koch, The Illinois Superintendent of Education, has stated that state aid to schools will be reduced. School districts are reducing staff…