ART Peorian Steve Spain presents highlights from his collection of original animation cels from Disney at the Riverfront Museum through May 8. THEATER Peoria Players Theatre is bringing back “Mamma Mia!” May 13-15 and 18-22 featuring Dedra Kaiser, Celeste Matheson,…
Columns
Heat Waves — In Red and Black | Illinois unprepared for killer heat
by William Rau • • Comments Off on Heat Waves — In Red and Black | Illinois unprepared for killer heat
Deadly heat gets no respect. Natural hazards that count — tornadoes, floods, etc. — are property-destroying traumas. Homeowners, public infrastructure, and insurance companies all take big hits. The Great Flood of 1993, for example, destroyed 24,000 Illinois homes and 884,000…
West Peoria News | Memorial Day celebration, big yard sale on calendar
by Sharon McBride • • Comments Off on West Peoria News | Memorial Day celebration, big yard sale on calendar
The West Peoria Resident’s Association (WPRA) has activities planned for May to involve residents. May 14 is scheduled for a community-wide yard sale. Sale hours are planned for 7 a.m.-3 p.m. WPRA will post signage and also run ads in…
Serendipity | Old-school Momming, modern-day executive?
by Sandra Dempsey Post • • Comments Off on Serendipity | Old-school Momming, modern-day executive?
My Mother was an interesting blend of strictness, kindness, compassion, tolerance, and don’t be fooled by her smiling face. She was strict, but not mean spirited. Her goals were not always mine, which caused some friction when I was a…
Bill Knight | Persistence can pay off with Peoria rail service
by Bill Knight • • Comments Off on Bill Knight | Persistence can pay off with Peoria rail service
Hooray! Hold on … Don’t plan to ride the rails to Chicago to see an exhibit, ballgame or concert yet. Amtrak’s 50th anniversary was in 2021, but it’s been years that Amtrak fans like me have driven to Galesburg or…
Straight Talk | Primarily, interesting manuevering; but school names?
by Roger Monroe • • Comments Off on Straight Talk | Primarily, interesting manuevering; but school names?
With the filing for the June primary completed by the 5 pm Monday, March 14, deadline, political observers noted some surprises. The biggest was news that Andrew Rand did not seek re-election to the Peoria County Board. Rand represents District…
Real Talk | Learning more about race, racism and discrimination is critical … lest we forget
by Sherry Cannon • • Comments Off on Real Talk | Learning more about race, racism and discrimination is critical … lest we forget
Recently while watching a podcast that DL Hughley was on as a guest, he made a very interesting statement. Hughley said, “the most dangerous place for Black people to live is in White people’s imagination.” That statement illustrates how successfully…
The Lion’s Den | Wonder drug: Empathy-1619
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | Wonder drug: Empathy-1619
They had finally done it. The smart kids at Florida A&M University had created the drug that would wipe out racism and injustice in all of its forms. But, of course, none of this would have happened if not for…
The Watch | Watch for more: Park District kicking back into action; Springdale reevaluating
by Terry Bibo • • Comments Off on The Watch | Watch for more: Park District kicking back into action; Springdale reevaluating
Fans of democracy, rejoice! League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria has expanded its coverage of local government in the wake of journalistic cutbacks. First: thanks to the dedicated Observers. Second: there is such a wealth of information we can…
Nature Rambles | Be on the lookout for first signs of spring
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles | Be on the lookout for first signs of spring
Each year, as March moves into April, spring tempts us with its erratic presence. One day is 70 degrees and the Cardinals and Song Sparrows are busy singing in the brush. The next day is blanketed with snow and the…