Join a book club at Peoria Public Library this month. New members are always welcome! Book ‘Em Mystery Book Club will meet on Sunday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m.at Lakeview Branch to discuss Hard News by Jeffery Deaver. Rune is an aspiring filmmaker…
Peoria Public Library news
Infant/Toddler Monday, March 10, 17, 24 & 31 – North Branch Tiny Tots Storytime – 10:30-11:00 a.m. Ages 12 to 23 months and their caregivers are welcome. Tuesday, March 4, 11, 18 & 25 – Lakeview Branch Thursday, March 6, 13, 20 & 27 – North Branch Tadpoles Storytime – 10:30-11:00 a.m. Ages 2 to 3 and their caregivers are welcome. Preschool Wednesday, March 5, 12, 19 & 26 – McClure Branch Fun Time Storytime – 10:00-10:30 a.m. Ages 3 to 6. Thursday, March 13, 20 & 27 – North Branch What’s the Buzz? – 4:30-5:00 p.m. Keep your children enthusiastic about learning all day long – join us for What’s the Buzz?, a new after-school storytime with a focus on making non fiction fun and approachable for preschool and kindergarten children. Come and listen to more fact base picture books while still singing and moving in the storytime format your kids know and love! Tuesday, March 18 & 25 – Lincoln Branch Terrific Tattletale Tuesday Storytime – 10:00-10:30 a.m. Ages 3 to 6. Grade School March – Main Library Crafts-to-Go – 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. In a hurry? Can’t stay and craft? Get your crafts to go. Kids ages 5 through 12 can pick up a craft packet at the 1st Floor Information Desk any time we’re open. Ask for a Craft- to-Go, take it home and the fun begins. Saturday, March 1 – North Branch…
Park District Happenings for March 2014
RAGE IN THE CAGE – 3-on-3 Tournament Peoria Park District’s Proctor Recreation Center is hosting a 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament called Rage in the Cage on Saturday, March 15. Divisions include Boys 17 years and younger, Mens 18 years and older, and…
National Ground Water Awareness Week March 9-15 Time for Your Water Well Checkup
Peoria City/County Health Department and the Peoria County Farm Bureau join the National Ground Water Awareness Association to remind residents it’s time for your water well checkup in support of National Ground Water Awareness Week March 9- 15. “Just as…
Lincoln Senior Awards
Abraham Lincoln would enjoy meeting the group of high school students honored last week. He would see something of himself reflected in them. The students received the Lincoln Senior Award for demonstrating “the high qualities of character, conduct and scholarship”…
New Garden Design Series Classes from Luthy Botanical Garden, March 29 and April 5
The Peoria Park District’s Luthy Botanical Garden will present its latest Garden Design Series of classes on two Saturdays this spring: March 29 and April 5. From plants to history to design, we will look at a variety of garden…
Fight chronic disease by moving the battlefield from hospital to the kitchen
Multiple factors from new government regulations to emerging scientific research are creating a “perfect storm” that will sweep into American kitchens, bringing a new approach to cooking, eating and fighting chronic disease. People willing to embrace the changes will see…
Spotlight for governor’s race falls on Peoria
Four Republican candidates for governor debated key issues last month, helping voters decide the Republican nomination on March 18. From political veteran Dan Rutherford to political newcomer Bruce Rauner, the stage was set the night of January 17 for the…
It’s Winter! Snort. Sniffle. Sneeze. No Antibiotics Please!
The winter months bring an assortment of colds, flu, bronchitis and runny noses. While it’s important to see your medical provider when you’re very ill, requesting antibiotics may not work on these common illnesses and may even be harmful. Greg…
Cloyd has created a circus like atmosphere to District 150 meetings
THE CIRCUS District 150 needs money. That’s one of the reasons they have a referendum on the ballot. Since that request will be easily defeated by voters, and rightfully so, I have an idea for a fund-raiser to help the…
Majority of Americans favor raising minimum wage, but only lukewarm reception from lawmakers
More than 7 out of 10 of us support raising the minimum wage, but proposals to do that got lukewarm receptions by Peoria lawmakers and the GOP in general. A recent Pew Research poll showed that 71% of Americans favor…
What is essential
Nancy Utesch has a quotation inscribed on a stone in her kitchen, right above the stove: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.” This quote from Antoine de…
Why is Dewberry, an architectural firm that does business with the city, sponsoring the State of the City address?
I got the following press release: “The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce presents the 14th Annual State of the City Address with Peoria Mayor Ardis TOMORROW- Tuesday, January 28 at the Peoria Civic Center Ballroom. Nearly 600 people have reserved…
Little love
Most of us only understand love at a surface level—a warm feeling, a bouquet of flowers, a compliment, a listening ear. Elusive and mysterious, love is so much more. Sadly, it often goes unnoticed when it shows up. One story,…
Age is a matter of perspective
One of my young, fun friends was lamenting the fact that she is soon to turn 40. Her reasons for being hesitant to enter that new decade of life are genuine and understandable. She said time goes by so quickly…
Letters to the Editor
There Goes the Neighborhood By Ed Klein, Peoria, IL What do you do when you find out that two guys living down the street turn out to be homos? They’ve been living there together for five years and I never…
West Peoria News for February 2014
CityLink is having a public hearing about adding Sunday Service at West Peoria City Hall on Friday, February 28 from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. The West Peoria Neighborhood Watch will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12 at City…
Newsbriefs for February 2014
ARE YOU MY TYPE? PROCTOR CENTER BLOOD DRIVE Peoria Park District’s Proctor Recreation Center and the JEMS Girls Basketball Team will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Saturday, February 22 from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm at Proctor Center,…
Happenings for February 2014
Feb 6 – 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. – Page Turners Book Club – “Mockingjay” by Suzanne Collins at the Dunlap Library. (309) 243-5716. Feb 6 – 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. – “Belly Dancing: You Can Do It!” Call to register:…
The Beatles on ‘Ed Sullivan’ 50 years ago musically commemorated in Peoria Feb. 9
To some, five decades back seem like ancient history: “Biblical times.” Indeed, in the winter of 1964, social media meant face-to-face conversations or maybe passing notes in class. At home, there were three main TV networks, and weekends wound down…
‘Eating wild’ is good for you
Despite centuries of cultivation and hybridization, commercially-grown produce lacks the nutritional punch of wild, edible plants growing in your backyard, according to best-selling author Jo Robinson who spoke last month in Springfield at the Acres U.S.A. conference. But it’s possible…
Thoughts on Midwest winters
Snow in the forecast is never to my liking. It’s lovely on Christmas Eve – provided all streets and driveways are clear – and perhaps some lingering snowflakes the next morning to add some holiday charm. But December 26, it…