Prior to the turn of the 20th century, there was a long tradition of pushing oneself away from the table on Christmas and finding an excuse to go traipsing off through the woods. Part of the tradition was to take…
A Little Birdy Told Me…
West Peoria News for January 2015
Peoria County Deputy James Middlemas will become police officer for the City of West Peoria on duty Tuesday through Saturday from 6:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. beginning Jan. 5, 2015. We are fortunate to have a day officer on duty.…
Arts Beat
MUSIC Jan. 2: Rooster Alley “Live at the Five Spot.” Contemporary Art Center. 674-6877. Jan. 9: “Blues Caravan 2015: Girls with Guitars,” featuring Eliana Cargnelutti, Sadie Johnson and Heather Crosse. 7:30 p.m. Limelight Eventplex. 693-1234. Jan. 9: Soft Spoken “Live…
‘Turkey season’ kicks off with family friendly fare
‘Tis the season of the turkey, both theatrically and gastronomically. A theatrical turkey is a family-friendly show produced between Thanksgiving and the New Year and stuffed with spectacle, music, dance, comedy and sentimentality. One could say the turkey season kicks…
Peoria’s return to national prominence
There is a small group of community leaders hard at work to put Peoria back on the art map. “In the 1930s, Peoria had a national arts reputation. It’s possible to have that again, and that’s what we are working…
Neighborhood Notes for January 2015
* Three new neighborhood associations this year registered with the City, bringing the total of registered neighborhood associations to 105, reports Neighborhood Development Specialist Steve Fairbanks. Also, four new neighborhood watch groups were established, meaning that more than 75 neighborhood…
Labor Roundup
Union-owned Bank of Labor to open DC branch. The Kansas City-based union-owned Bank of Labor will open a branch in the nation’s capital in the spring, making it one of the few worker-friendly financial institutions in D.C. When it…
Screening for breast cancer
(part 1 of 2) Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women except for skin cancer. More than 230,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and 40,000 women will die from breast cancer. There are more…
Peorian reflects on her studies at Universidad de la Havana
One week before Christmas, President Barack Obama announced plans to end the U.S. embargo of Cuba. The embargo had imposed hardship on ordinary Cubans without forcing Fidel Castro out of office. But reaction to lifting the embargo has ranged from…
New Edition: Downstate Story, Peoria Literary Magazine, Now Posted on Web
Ten new short stories by Illinois, Midwestern and other writers are featured in the 2014 edition of Downstate Story, Peoria’s only literary magazine for fiction. Downstate Story is now being published only on the Web at www.downstatestory.com. Writers in the…
Peoria County moving forward with solid waste disposal public hearings
Peoria County is looking for ways to further decrease waste, encourage recycling and promote composting of yard waste. The county has been working with a Michigan-based consultant and plans to schedule three public hearings in upcoming weeks to present the…
‘Cold cuts’ coming for County’s budget? From utilities to Treasurer’s pension, some spending is untouchable
Raising taxes is about as popular as “pink slime,” and it’s not always the best way to run government. Maybe that’s why Peoria County Board Members Allen Mayer (D-Dist. 6), Stephen Morris (R-Dist. 10) and County Board Chairman-in-waiting Andrew Rand…
Counting on Methadone
Drug Addiction Treatment: Corporate Cash-Cow? Social Responsibility of a Non-Profit or Responsible For-Profit? Peoria has the oldest non-profit methadone clinic in the state, opened in the 1970s by Fayette Companies, but in recent years competition has come to town in the…
Teachers must be defended
Time magazine last month had a cover story bashing teachers that was not just one-sided, but as misleading as less-respected voices on radio and TV. This month, such ill-founded resentment may echo in grumbling about schools’ holiday breaks or misinformed…
Dark days at Bradley
GIVE CREDIT TO . . . . These are dark days on the Bradley hilltop on and off the athletic fields. Once known as a nationally competitive school in basketball, Bradley is now losing to, well, everyone, regardless of D-1, D-2,…
Affordable Care Act Is Working Well
By Kevin O’Brien, Ph.D. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) or “Obamacare” has been mired in controversy since the law was first proposed in 2008. It took two years of legislative drama before the 1,000-page bill was passed by Congress and…
FOOD – To Celebrate the Holidays, Express Values and Demand Justice
If you were disappointed with the November election, vote again with your holiday meal. Regardless of whether meat or plant-based protein is the centerpiece of your holiday dinner, your choice can proclaim your values and fight injustice. When your holiday…
City looking to Springfield for fix to abandoned property problem?
Something new is being done in Springfield that’s helping to fight the problem of homes sitting empty and falling down. It’s a problem here in Peoria that you might notice if you drive around in neighborhoods like Averyville or the…
West Peoria News for December 2014
West Peoria township trustee Marcia Miller resigned her position on the township board effective Nov. 17 after 16 years serving as trustee. Marcia left to take a position in Galena, an opportunity Marcia looks forward to with excitement. Her replacement…
Malala Yousafzai – Muslim Girl Who Stood Up For Education
by Imam Kamil Mufti Kamil Mufti is resident scholar and imam at the Islamic Foundation of Peoria where he has served for the past six years. His interests (or passions) include expanding understanding of Islam and developing interfaith harmony. His…
Serendipity for December 2014
Tucked away with other keepsakes is a small, decorated gift box with a fancy handkerchief inside. The gift card remains intact and is for my Mother from Rachel, a woman who did cleaning in an apartment building my parents once owned. She…