Organization does not come easily to me. It doesn’t come to me at all except for those times when generous loved ones offer suggestions after I’ve asked their advice. My oldest child told me once I’m a rather unique disorganized…
Columns
West Peoria News | Fourth of July parade cancellation
by Sharon McBride • • Comments Off on West Peoria News | Fourth of July parade cancellation
Sadly, the City of West Peoria made the decision to postpone the Fourth of July parade and flag raising ceremony a second year due to the pandemic. Parade arrangements must be made several weeks ahead of the Fourth and forced…
The Lion’s Den | The Language of Our Lives
by Daniel McCloud • • Comments Off on The Lion’s Den | The Language of Our Lives
“We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.” This quote is from Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech given on Dec. 7, 1993. Morrison…
Straight Talk | Congratulations to Rita Ali!
by Roger Monroe • • Comments Off on Straight Talk | Congratulations to Rita Ali!
Peoria has a new mayor. After a short stint as a member of the City Council, Ali was elected mayor, defeating fellow Councilman Jim Montelongo. It was a close race. At the end of election day, Tuesday, April 6, Montelongo…
Bill Knight | “Punks in Peoria”
by Community Word Staff • • Comments Off on Bill Knight | “Punks in Peoria”
Given the general characteristics of status-quo Peoria and youths’ attraction to exciting punk music on both coasts, those forces were destined to Clash. (So to speak.) Out in June, “Punks in Peoria: Making A Scene in The American Heartland” from…
The Watch | May 2021
by Community Word Staff • • Comments Off on The Watch | May 2021
Government business slogged forward in March as a fourth corona-wave appeared imminent. On March 9, after several delays, Peoria City Council updated the city code for short-term rental uses. Before this action, short-term rentals such as Airbnb and VRBO were…
Real Talk | Protected Terror
by Sherry Cannon • • Comments Off on Real Talk | Protected Terror
What we thought was 8 minutes and 46 seconds of terror and torture was actually, 9 minutes and 29 seconds. We know now that was how long former police officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on the neck of George…
Nature Rambles | On Summer Tanagers
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles | On Summer Tanagers
May is known for its colorful flowers. Trees also are in bloom and insects are becoming more numerous. With all of this activity, the stage is set for the peak of songbird migration. Many of these birds are migrating north…
Inland Art | Welcome, Nichole Gronvold Roller
by Community Word Staff • • Comments Off on Inland Art | Welcome, Nichole Gronvold Roller
Editor’s note: After more than four years writing Inland Art for Community Word, Paul Krainak is focusing on other projects, notably a blog “Bad at Sports” accessed at http://badatsports.com/2021/sub-rural/. He recommended Nichole Gronvold Roller as his replacement. Her column will…
Art: What is it Good For? | Mural making workshop for kids
by Doug and Eileen Leunig • • Comments Off on Art: What is it Good For? | Mural making workshop for kids
How do you spell art? On April 17, more than 15 young children would have answered F-U-N. That’s the day Big Picture Initiative and The Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum co-hosted a mural making workshop. Artists Megan Couri and Jaci Musec…