Author Archive for Clare Howard

Clare Howard is the editor of the Community Word. She can be reached at communityword@yahoo.com

Learning to read the weeds

Super Weeds Tell Story of Soil Imbalance Central Illinois organic farmer Dave Bishop can stand at the edge of a chemically-treated soybean field, and giant “super weeds” tower over his 6-foot frame. Yet, his organic field nearby has no super…

Why raise the minimum wage?

Raise it to stimulate the economy. Raise it for economic justice. Raise it to tell Springfield and Washington you want public policy based on honest analysis, not partisan brinkmanship. Raise it to tell WalMart you’re tired of subsiding its profits.…

Deceptive or Informative: Pro-choice and anti-choice people go toe-to-toe on North University

People with two philosophically opposing agendas stand along the sidewalk on University Street just north of Willow Knolls Drive. One group wants to put the other group out of business. There is the Illinois Choice Action Team wearing vests with…

Why legalize recreational marijuana?

Illinois has legalized medical uses of marijuana as part of a pilot program, but recreational marijuana remains illegal in the state. Colorado, on the other hand, legalized medical marijuana in 2000 and recreational marijuana eight months ago. Colorado has not…

Physician: Hold the cardiac surgery, try plant-based diet first

Dr. Mladen Golubic spoke twice in Peoria recently, and each time his message was revolutionary. He’s an ardent proponent of a healthcare system based on disease prevention rather than the current, expensive healthcare system based on disease treatment. The current…

‘History of Medicine in Peoria’ to be presented at Osher Life-Long Learning Institute at Bradley University

Testing the whooping cough vaccine on Dr. Hugh Macdonald’s family in the sultry summer of 1933, an illegal abortion in the late 1890s and Peoria’s famous Gold Institute for rehabilitation from liquor, opium and tobacco addictions are all storied accounts…

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…