Haddad’s Downtown – a new family-owned restaurant The owners of this new restaurant, Haddad’s Downtown are Andy Speck and Rita Haddad Speck. This writer has been following their story since it opened, which was in March 2011. You may know…
Thanksgiving’s Harvest: Local organizations give to the needy this holiday
This Thanksgiving season, organizations such as the Salvation Army and South Side Mission, are giving away meals to those who need them. Signs of giving during this Thanksgiving holiday time are abundantly clear throughout great businesses and organizations in the…
An overview of the Tazewell County Jaycees end-of-the-year projects
The Tazewell County Jaycees have had a full year of projects and social happenings throughout 2011. In August, the Jaycees cleaned up their stretch of highway through the Adopt-A-Highway program which benefitted many who lived near the area of road…
Junior League’s 65th Annual Julep’s Closet sale scheduled for second weekend in November
Every November since 1946, the ladies of the Junior League of Peoria are busy preparing for their annual Juleps Closet Sale. Although the location of the sale has changed through the years, the spirit of has remained the same throughout…
November Happenings for 2011
thru Nov 7 – Chrysanthemum Show – daily @ Luthy Botanical Gardens Nov. 4 – Shred Fest @ Commerce Bank, 2609 N. Knoxville Ave. 7:30 – 10:30 a.m. Bring up to ten boxes of your documents and they will shred…
Peoria Park District November Activities
YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUE AT THE PEORIA PARK DISTRICT – The Peoria Park District hosts the Youth Basketball League, from November 1 through December 26. Youth of all ability levels will learn the skills necessary to enjoy the sport of basketball…
Proctor Hospital November Programs
You Can Celebrate the Holidays – Even after the loss of a loved one – Pamela Shuck-Hoehne, MA, NCC, LCPC, RDDP will present “Surviving the Holidays without My Loved One,” Wednesday, November 16 at 6:30 p.m. The program is free.…
Newsbriefs for November 2011
llinois American Water Files Rate ReqApproximately $180 million of infrastructure investments drive request; Cost for water service remains at about a penny per gallon for typical customer Today Illinois American Water filed a rate case with the Illinois Commerce Commission…
Exclusive!
In last month’s column I wondered why no law enforcement agency showed any interest in the questionable behavior of Peoria County Board member Brian Elsasser. Elsasser had attempted to block the board’s vote on awarding a contract to the low…
Some Drinking Water Quality Suspect, According to GAO, USGS
One consequence of conservatives’ insatiable hunger to starve government could jeopardize people’s health by letting drinking water become contaminated and go unreported, according to a report from the non-partisan Government Accounting Office (GAO). For now, people can still track local…
Taking a ‘Lichen’ to Mutualism
It was meant as a helpful hint. I was walking around my yard with a friend, when he noticed some sizable, dirty looking, crusty blotches sullying the stone facade on my house. He offered to lend me his power washer…
Dad gets beat up a little
My nephew Noah’s car was T-boned by a UPS semi earlier this month. Noah was banged up, but Dad suffered some broken ribs. They ran a bunch of tests on him in the ER, and they kept him overnight for…
Warning to Journal Star Subscribers
by Robert Renner, Peoria, IL If you are a subscriber to the Journal Star and participate in its Easy Pay Plus program with automatic monthly deductions from your credit card or bank account, you are being charged a hidden cost…
Children of the Depression – Can’t We Relate Today?
by Dolores Klein, Peoria, IL For those of us who grew up in the 30’s and 40’s remembering the Depression is often an exercise in nostalgia. We married after the War and raised our families in so much better times.…
Commercial TV – Laying Waste the Wasteland
by Ed Klein, Peoria, IL It used to be, what with all the violent programming on TV, you could count on the commercials for a little respite – if often inane and hard to figure out. But no longer. For…
The Un-lived Life of Russell Stone a novelette, part ten
Rachel is absorbed in Mrs. Stone’s book of poetry amidst a restless sea of defendants and plaintiffs, all waiting for their day in court. It’s 9:45 a.m. When lies are love and love is a lie When truth is pain…
It’s never too late to reconnect & enjoy memories
Plans commenced months ago. While not previously a faithful reunion attendee, I wanted to be part of our 45th high school class reunion. I also hoped to encourage some of my dearest classmates to be there so I began checking…
West Peoria News for October 2011
The West Peoria Firefighters’ Association is planning their annual raffle and fund –raising hog roast at Crusen’s, 2117 Farmington Road on Sunday, October 16th from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Your firefighters will be going door-to-door selling the fund-raiser tickets. Tickets…
Happenings for October 2011
Oct 1 – Spider Hill – Recurs weekly on Friday, Saturday from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. at Three Sisters Park. Call (309) 274-8837. Admission: $8.00 per person. Spider Hill is located at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL and…
League of Women Voters Sponsors Oct. 5th Panel Discussion on Education Issues
The League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria invites the public to hear a panel of local speakers talk about their experience with education standards and federal requirements for education funding from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5,…
Fun for the family at hayrides and hotdogs
Attend at least one of the great Hayrides and Hotdogs evenings at the Peoria Park District’s Sommer Park this October! Come to Sommer Park on these Thursdays in October—October 6, 13, 20, or 27, 5-7 p.m.—and enjoy a great evening…
Folks singer/songwriter Bill Stains in concert
As part of their 2011 “Songs from the Woods” concert series, the Forest Park Nature Center will host a special Sunday night concert by folk-singing legend/songwriter Bill Staines on October 2, at 7:00 p.m. For more than 40 years, Bill…