A vote in the General Assembly this spring could cut $451 million in state aid for local school districts if lawmakers forego an extension of the 2011 income tax hike. Lawmakers are once again debating the extension of the Illinois…
South Side Bank
It is times like this when Peorians miss Gary Sandberg the most
If you’re a reader of The Community Word, you no doubt follow city politics. So, you are aware of the debacle than ensued when Peoria Mayor essentially ordered Peoria Police chief Steve Settingsgaard to investigate and arrest the author of…
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.…
May 1st is Law Day – a Great Time to Consider Common Sense & Law Enforcement
If State’s Attorney Jerry Brady was U.S. Attorney General, common sense might prevail in the Justice Department and more banking gangsters – “banksters” – would be prosecuted for their crimes. May 1 is Law Day, and this month is a…
‘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…
Love isn’t about convenience – it’s about commitment & cherishing the moments
Many years ago when my first-born was a toddler, I was talking to my friend’s mother, a relatively new grandmother, and someone I considered high-energy. Her daughter, my friend, had spent a few days visiting and while this grandma was…
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:…
Chillicothe Public Library 2014 Summer reading program
Sign and Sing Story Time: 10:30am Wednesdays, May 14th and 28th Ages 0-5 Join Abbey Cook of Communication Junction for a 30 minute interactive Story Time designed to engage your child and encourage their love of books. Each Sign and Sing Story…
Become a ‘backyard tourist’ for national travel and tourism week
PEORIA, IL – Local attractions are celebrating the 31st Tourism Week with a special passport promotion! From May 1-15, 2014, one Peoria Area Passport grants admission to five attractions for only $10. The participating businesses include: Peoria Riverfront Museum Caterpillar Visitors Center…
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…
Award-winning Photojournalists Visiting BU: Exhibits showing through month
Photojournalists Renee C. Byer and Paul Kitagaki Jr. will have their photography on exhibit at Bradley University’s Hartmann Center Gallery April 14-29, and appear for a lecture and reception in Bradley’s Michel Student Center Ballroom on April 17.
Springtime in Peoria
Voters weigh in during spring primary
The November primary election are over, setting the stage for the November general election that will determine the winners of state races.
Historical Society marks 80th anniversary with re-created visits
It will be history in action on April 12, when Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, Teddy Roosevelt and Charles Lindbergh, and Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lady Bird Johnson all will be presented at the Peoria Civic Center Ballroom to help…
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…
Claims that FEMA had decided not to grant the state any funding, is accurate but incomplete and misleading
As the income-tax deadline looms, taxpayers should connect widespread resentment at what many feel was an unresponsive Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with available resources resulting from choices made in Washington. Outrage also may be tempered by a more complete report of actual government response.
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.