Packets are still available for anyone interested in running for office in the City of West Peoria. The packets can be picked up 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at City Hall. Early voting for the Nov. 4 election is…
West Peoria News for November 2014
‘Get Out the Vote’ or GOTV counters voter suppression
“Get Out the Vote” is a national effort to register new voters and to push back against restrictions to voting imposed through new requirements for photo ID and birth certificates purportedly necessary to deal with the non-existing problem of voter…
Out of the Shadows: An Undocumented Worker in Central Illinois Dispels the Myths
Benito is a soft-spoken, muscular man who smiles warmly but has the tight expression of a chronic worrier. He lives and works in central Illinois, struggles with English, marches in anti-fracking rallies, has dreams for his children and pays his…
Labor: Superior to capital
Exclusive: Stadium deal nixed by District 150
Thanks to a conscientious former Peoria County board member and neighborhood leader, the famed Peoria Stadium was close to placing a sold sign on its property on War Memorial Drive. Well, that may be an exaggeration, but credit Bill O’Brien…
Quality of jobs is on the decline in Peoria
The Peoria area lost 2,800 jobs between July 2013 and July 2014, when its percentage of employed people fell 1.6 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics second-quarter report, but the five-county metro area is stable overall, says Bernard…
Parsing Language: Accurate or Inflammatory
I assume that in a paper the size of the Community Word the Managing Editor must double as a reporter. I do believe, however, that person should keep news articles and editorials separate. In the September issue, Clare Howard attempted…
Voter suppression is Illinois must end
As an authorized registrar, I recently volunteered to register voters at Kroger’s. I asked customers whether they are registered to vote. One man responded, “I can’t.” At first I assumed he meant he was in a hurry. Having second thoughts,…
The Tide of Equality Is Rising – Ride the Wave
By Jessie Mahr In March 1996, Gallup conducted a poll and found that only 27 percent of the public agreed that same-sex marriage should be legal. In May 2013, Gallup reported that number jumped to 53 percent of the public.…
Why raise the minimum wage?
Raise it to stimulate the economy. Raise it for economic justice. Raise it to tell Springfield and Washington you want public policy based on honest analysis, not partisan brinkmanship. Raise it to tell WalMart you’re tired of subsiding its profits.…
The City Beat for October 2014
Here’s how to fix older neighborhoods – I was driven through the Averyville neighborhood this month. It’s what I call a “classic” neighborhood. Lots of older, yet well-maintained homes. And there were homes that are less well-maintained, but still livable.…
Life with the reptilian brain
I am a football fan. I can’t deny it. Even as I write I am anticipating my favorite team playing tonight on Monday Night Football. And I do want them to win. I care. In many ways football is a…
Serendipity for October 2014
In the winter of 1967, Jane and I met in a training class for Ozark Airlines Reservation Agents at Greater Peoria Airport. I graduated from high school the previous June. Jane was 13 months older and more mature. She had…
West Peoria News for October 2014
With garbage pickup in front of our homes, it is prudent that the cans be taken off the streets to the rear of homes the evening after the trash is removed. The neighborhoods do not look like ‘living is best…
September heralds the change of the seasons
The cool nights of mid September herald the change of the seasons. The once raucous night calls of katydids and tree crickets of summer literally slow down as the autumn unwinds. Soon the nights will be silent of their song…
Cinnamon might help with diabetes
Background – Over the past 10 years over 100 medical articles on cinnamon and diabetes have been published. Partly because of these articles cinnamon is sold with labeling stating that it “Helps Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels Already in the…
Marine Suicide in Downstate Illinois
By Burton Rabbe In the small towns, in the country, it is either marriage or war that we honor. The chickory here are sky blue. Paler than dress blue. Paler than gun blue. Paler than the bluebirds. The…
Music and Theater Roundup for October 2014
MUSIC/RoundUp Oct.5: Jim Breuer & Rich Aronovitch. 7 pm Limelight Eventple Oct.7: Carlos Santana, “The Corazon Tour.” Peoria Civic Center arena. Oct. 9: Don Williams. 7:30 pm Peoria Civic Center Theater. Oct.11: The Schwag, with Jaik Willis and The Sites.…
Neighborhood notes for October 2014
Peoria & neighborhoods at regional conference Peoria neighborhood leaders, City staff, and Peoria’s resident police officers attended Regional Neighborhood Network Conference, Richmond, Ind., Sept. 11-13. The purpose of the conference is to inform, educate, inspire residents to use what they…
Change 150 & District 150 goals collide; some wonder about direction of Peoria’s schools
Change may be coming to District 150, but it may not be the type of change everyone believes is best for education. Since voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of Sue Wolstenholm to replace Laura Petelle on the District 150 School…
America’s health lags behind comparable nations
Everyday people might understandably fear West Nile Virus or Ebola, but a new report in the Annual Review of Public Health journal says it may be smarter to fret about policymakers’ decisions and wasteful health-care spending – which haven’t meant…
Deceptive or Informative: Pro-choice and anti-choice people go toe-to-toe on North University
People with two philosophically opposing agendas stand along the sidewalk on University Street just north of Willow Knolls Drive. One group wants to put the other group out of business. There is the Illinois Choice Action Team wearing vests with…