Inspired by the book “It is not necessary to breathe!” by Ali Ben Jaber Alfaifi We are in Minneapolis, in the United States of America; the land of dreams. The sounds of auto machines, horns, traffic and the hustle and…
Columns
Heat Waves — In Red and Black | Coronavirus Climate Crisis Crosswalk, Part 1. The Heat Resistant City
by William Rau • • Comments Off on Heat Waves — In Red and Black | Coronavirus Climate Crisis Crosswalk, Part 1. The Heat Resistant City
Let me open with a question. Do we want vibrant street life and festivals, hallmarks of healthy cities, to survive as global warming turns urban heat islands into frying pans? Who will saunter down streets radiating oppressive heat? Very few,…
Serendipity | Step by step
by Sandra Dempsey Post • • Comments Off on Serendipity | Step by step
Walking has survived the test of time for helping to achieve and maintain good health. While not exactly a miracle cure, people of all ages have found that putting one foot in front of another for an extended period of…
West Peoria News | One large neighborhood
by Sharon McBride • • Comments Off on West Peoria News | One large neighborhood
One of the traditions of Troop 11 Boy Scouts in West Peoria is the commitment of leaders for the boys to become Eagle Scouts. On June 1, Alex DeSutter became the troop’s 73rd Eagle. His Eagle project was the landscaping…
Straight Talk | Loss of another Peoria icon
by Community Word Staff • • Comments Off on Straight Talk | Loss of another Peoria icon
Peoria lost another leader with the death of Ray Becker, the city’s greatest builder of buildings. One of the few advantages of being old is I don’t have to dig through newspaper files or view news videos to talk about…
Bill Knight | Being coroner during COVID-19
by Community Word Staff • • Comments Off on Bill Knight | Being coroner during COVID-19
It’s common to praise first responders, especially in the pandemic. What of “last responders”? Coroners. On Illinois’ deadliest day in the global coronavirus outbreak, Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood reflected on first realizing the potential challenges ahead. Months ago, the…
Real Talk | Surviving COVID-19
by Sherry Cannon • • Comments Off on Real Talk | Surviving COVID-19
Last month I wrote this column about how I was managing sheltering in place. Little did I know at the time, that I was also surviving COVID-19. In March and April, I was hospitalized –– both times with chest pain,…
Reflections From The Clergy | Ramadan amidst COVID-19; a blessing in disguise
by Community Word Staff • • Comments Off on Reflections From The Clergy | Ramadan amidst COVID-19; a blessing in disguise
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on humanity at large, people of all backgrounds and walks of life. This encompasses faith communities worldwide. Being cut away from worship places is not an easy task for any faith community, although…
The Watch | Voting and COVID-19
by Terry Bibo • • Comments Off on The Watch | Voting and COVID-19
A few months ago, if you said public officials were zooming, it might have been an insult. During a pandemic, some public bodies aren’t meeting at all. Springdale Cemetery Authority Board, for example, cancelled its meetings for March, April and…
Nature Rambles | Treasure hunt
by Mike Miller • • Comments Off on Nature Rambles | Treasure hunt
May was a month that all birders enjoy. This spring was no different. The peak of songbird migration usually occurs mid-May, and usually lasts only a short time. Many of the species that birders enjoy seeing only spend a couple…