By Deb Williamson Welcome to my new column: Insurance … WHY? Filled with joy and blessed to be given this opportunity, my plan is to help clients understand insurance products and why they need them. In future articles, you can…
Happenings for February 2013
Feb 2 – Join the Peoria County Democratic Women for a candidate forum for all Peoria City Council candidates. It begins at noon at Childers Catering Center, 3113 Dries Lane. All candidates have been invited and accepted for both the…
Newsbriefs for February 2013
WINTER SKATE LESSONS AT OWENS CENTER Owens Center will begin their winter session skating lessons at Owens Center in Lakeview Park the week of February 4 and there’s still time to sign up. These winter session classes meet once a…
Locally Owned Ever Green Home Energy Consultants Offers Comprehensive Audit of your Energy System
With rising energy costs you might want to check into getting your home evaluated for energy efficient use. How about a comprehensive audit of your energy systems? Or, perhaps you just need certain areas of your energy system rather than…
A Visit with Local Historian/Writer Norm Kelly
Norm Kelly began his writing career at the age of 17, by writing “silly little things” at work. He became interested in the history of Peoria when someone from the military service said that Peoria was all about gangsters. This…
Early Signs Point Toward City Council Elections
Candidates are lining up to run for Peoria District seats. It’s only January, but candidates for some Peoria District City Council races are already looking toward the spring elections. Sandberg Not Running for 1st District Gary Sandburg, a current at-large…
Now is the Time to Quit Smoking
by Suzy Herrington B.S., Health Educator Hult Center for Health Education Almost everyone knows what a cigarette is. Basically, its dried tobacco rolled in white paper, with a cellulose acetate filter. However, what may surprise people is exactly what goes…
City of Peoria Refuse Collection Fee Billing
City of Peoria residents should have received their refuse collection bills by now. This bill covers the cost of household garbage collection throughout the City. Unfortunately, there was a printing error on the bill. The due date was incorrectly listed…
Much ado about … nothing
The office building of our main WiredTree support offices will be undergoing fire safety system upgrades and the main power to our building is going to be shut off to undergo this planned maintenance. As a result, our support offices…
Creve Coeur Club Genuflecting to Rove?
Complaints are building about the Creve Coeur Club bringing Karl Rove as its Washington Day banquet speaker, and the grumbling ranges from whines that the CCC “always brings in Republicans” to condemnation of Rove himself. Rove is scheduled to appear…
Science Highlights from 2012
From the “God particle” to Jurassic fleas, 2012 has been an incredible year for science. A lot happened while the myopic media remained preoccupied with an overload of election year political blather and smear, and superpac prevarication. Here’s a tiny…
Silly season on gun control
Imagine a United Stated where it is illegal to own or buy a gun. Paradise, right? Well, you would have to set aside the premise that one of the things that keep our government honest is that so many of…
Guest editorials
Out of the Mouths of Babes By Dolores M. Klein Peoria, IL A young actor created a furor recently by telling his young church-going friends not to watch “Two and a Half Men,” his TV show, calling it trash! By…
Future fears
I remember thinking when I was twelve that the year 2000 was fictional. I was convinced it was a year that belonged in a sci-fi movie and it was scary thinking of living in “the space age.” I remember hearing…
Resolutions, part 2
The prospect of making New Year’s Resolutions has always grabbed my attention even as a child. I love the idea of a new year waiting to be filled with all life has to offer. I have since learned, of course,…
West Peoria News for January
City Hall is reminding residents of some city regulations that will continue to be in place in 2013. All residents are required to sign up for garbage service with Waste Management – 1-800-796-9696. You will be charged for this service.…
Are You Using Your Smart Phone for Good, or Evil?
In the interest of full disclosure, I should probably admit that I used a headline that might be slightly over the top. But, while most of us probably aren’t using our iPhones, Androids, and other smart phones for purely evil…
Happenings for January
Jan 4 – 1st Friday Studio Tour at Wheel Art Pottery Studios from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. at 1101 SW Washington St. Enjoy a night of art, food, music, and fun. Call 309-306-1741. Jan 5 – Winter Wonder Walks at…
Methodist Medical Center Mobile Mammography Schedule
The following is the schedule for the Methodist Medical Center Mobile Mammography Van for the month of January, 2013. Methodist features all digital mammography equipment providing improved, faster and more comfortable exams. January 8 – Methodist Medical Group at Chillicothe…
News Briefs for January
NOROVIRUS: THE “STOMACH FLU” The Peoria City/County Health Department reminds individuals that a norovirus outbreak, also known as the “stomach flu”, does not occur just on cruise ships this time of year. Noroviruses often occur in restaurants, schools, childcare facilities,…
The Amazing Kreskin to Perform on January 11th
The world’s greatest mentalist, the Amazing Kreskin will perform Friday January 11, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at the Five Points Performing Arts Center at 360 N. Wilmor Rd. Washington Illinois. For over 50 years Kreskin has been telling people things…
Voters Have Their Say in November 2012
Illinois swings Democrat in the State House, White House and U.S. Senate. Few Republicans saw it coming. The influx of Democrat votes throughout President Barack Obama’s home state gave the sitting president a second term while ensuring Democrats a supermajority…