Peoria may change the way it elects City Council members provided city residents are unhappy with the outcome. Bradley University’s Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service (IPL) is leading an initiative to give Peoria citizens a chance to weigh…
The reason for the season
The Importance of Being Haddad’s Market
By Greg Speck Mark Wrhel, owner of Haddad’s Market knew that many people were devastated by the fire and the destruction of the Haddad’s Market, in January of this year. He knew his customers had really depended on the store…
Poor reporting
Pam Adams has written a couple of recent articles in the Journal about changes at Methodist Medical Center. I’m not sure where she’s getting her information, but too many of her statements are false and some are just plainly offensive. Factually,…
Health insurers gouging patients?
Greater Peoria is a medical Mecca, and it also has a significant presence of insurance companies, so one wonders whether there’ll come a time when central Illinois will be Ground Zero for a battle between health providers and health insurers.…
November: Month of the Turkey
My brother in law, John, described a collision with a wild turkey as “cartoon like.” It was an explosion of feathers. The car concealing cloud of plumage may have looked like something from Loony Tunes, but it was far from…
City Beat
I had a little bit of a confrontation. Call it a discussion, if you like. For the past four weeks or so, I’ve been collecting information from daily police reports from the Peoria Police Department and including them in blotter…
Bullying? Sexual Harassment?
by Dolores M. Klein, Peoria, IL On C-Span recently, I watched Anita Hill being honored at an event commemorating the 20th anniversary of her testimony against Clarence Thomas’ appointment to the Supreme Court. It was a valuable afternoon of insights…
Let Us Prey
By Ed Klein, Peoria, IL h I hold no brief for Mormonism, and I’m not particularly fond of Mitt Romney. But when Christian leaders call it a cult, I find it appropriate to cite Hanlon’s Razor: “Never attribute to malice…
The Un-lived Life of Russell Stone a novelette, part eleven
Rachel lingers on the bench outside the Afterglow Journey Center. She pulls Mrs. Stone’s book of poetry out of her briefcase and reads the next poem. It’s 10:20 AM. We sit on the couch an inch apart, a sea between…
Serendipity: Travel can be transforming
Interest in travel was introduced to me by my mother. My father was supportive, but not keen on seeing the world and didn’t understand the appeal. My mother was more of an armchair traveler although she did visit my sister…
West Peoria News for November 2011
Isn’t it fun to go past Haddad’s and see the progress being made? I know that I always get a little boost every time I pass the new building. Take the opportunity to buy one of the good neighbor candy…
Musings for November 2011
Another month and more trauma. I believe sometimes that I operate from one to another, but maybe that’s just because I don’t have a lot of adventure in my life, so everything takes on such significance. It really wasn’t so…
Shop Talk: Small businesses highlighted
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…