March 15 to July 1 “Purgatory” It is time for Peoria Public Schools to seriously look at how it elects board members. District 150 is an anomaly in the world of school board elections. While the rest of school districts…
Abortion choice within a historical religious perspective For many years, we as a society have wrestled with various ethical issues. As society changes, so do our understanding of many of these issues. One question we have wrestled with and continue…
Sky-dancers The eyes sparkle as tiny hands reach for the earth. Small fingers grasp the succulent stem and pluck from the ground something that was made for picking — a fleshy stalk topped with a ball of white, feathery tufts.…
Youth has enough confidence, energy, and sometimes bravado to believe they alone have discovered the pathway to successful living. They often assume that what’s new is best, sometimes forgetting that previous generations experienced similar sentiments. Folks with years of experience…
The 19th Jamboree Run kicks off 7 a.m. June 4 in West Peoria. Jamie and April Silver are co-chairing the run. Other activities that day are the Boy Scout Carnival 3 to 7 p.m. All Jamboree activities take place…
Black Lives Matter If you don’t know or understand different people or cultures, does that lead you to be afraid of them? Are you justified being afraid of them? While it may be natural to be afraid of people who…
During the past several articles, we have looked at the rich history of Peoria Heights. For this month’s article, we will be looking at history made through an organization we don’t often see as historic and with a group we…
I am pleased to report the “Invalid” is ambulatory in Canton thanks to the efforts of the Many Lights Theatre, a small group whose mission statement in part reads: “Many Lights will produce plays that make a difference to the…
Arts Beat
MUSIC June 3: Cousin Eddie “Live at the Five Spot.” 5:30 p.m. Contemporary Art Center. 674-6822. June 3: Skyla Burrell. 8 p.m. Rhythm Kitchen Music Café. 676-9668. June 4: “Carmina Burana.” Heartland Festival Orchestra and the Peoria Area Civic Chorale.…
More Than a Pretty Picture Behind the beauty of artwork is a world of innovation and complex problem solving. Fiber artists know which type of fiber can be shaped into their creation, photographers understand the properties of light, glass artists…
Labor Roundup
CLUW urges local unions to mentor for women in the workplace. Mentoring is a recognized tool for career and union development, particularly for women, and “mentoring circles” – a group of peers (6–10 people) led by a facilitator – offer…
Will Weight Loss Make You Healthy? Most people know there is an obesity epidemic in the United States. One-third of American adults are obese and another one-third are overweight. If you have extra weight and develop a medical problem like…
“The Great Agnostic” removed for restoration
A crew from Otto Baum hoists the statue of Robert Ingersoll from its base at Glen Oak Park and loads it in a van for shipment to Philadelphia were it will be cleaned and restored. Peorian Ken Hofbauer learned about…
Eureka College students change town ordinance Native plants OKed to replace turf lawn
When a law stands in the way of good public policy, change the law. That’s just what a group of Eureka College students did to allow deep-rooted native plants where only turf once was allowed. If that sounds simple, it’s…
Power in a small package
UPS driver Carol Steffen for decades has cultivated her downtown and Main Street customers like the rhubarb she’s grown in her garden: perennial favorites. Chatting on a rainy day between deliveries at Campustown, she adjusts her glasses, fidgets with an…
GateHouse Score Card: Zero for newsroom; millions for CEO
Last month, Community Word wrote about negotiations between GateHouse Media (New Media) and the Springfield State Journal-Register United Media Guild representing newsroom employees. Since that article ran, GateHouse released its 2015 annual proxy statement listing CEO Kirk Davis receiving a…
Coming: Almost organic
This label may start appearing in grocery stores soon to indicate food was grown on farmland transitioning from chemical to organic. Clarkson Grain, located about two hours southeast of Peoria, is using this ECOCERT label until the U.S. Department of…
RUMOR CONTROL There’s been a rumor circulating in local nursing circles that Methodist Medical Center, that is Unity Point, is mandating that all nurses have or seek to have a Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) degree. Not so says…
It’s past time for political prioritization. At a time when the state of Illinois has been unable or unwilling to meet its financial obligations to social-service providers because of the lack of a state budget for 10 months, the state…