December is for Reflection and Celebrating the Season of Joy As I write my last column of 2017, I reflect on the extraordinary public service careers of three outstanding Central Illinois citizens. My mentor and friend, former Congressman Bob Michel, passed…
Just before Christmas 1946, Dorothy Day permanently left Maryfarm in Pennsylvania, one of dozens of Houses of Hospitality her group, Catholic Worker, started setting up in the 1930s. This Christmastime, Day remains an impressive figure. Her granddaughter Kate Hennessy has…
Setting the Record Straight A story in the sports section of the Peoria Journal sent me scrambling to research Bradley basketball because I felt the writer had made several errors. He wrote that current basketball fortunes could lead to a…
BY HARRY ELGER When the Hubble telescope was positioned outside the distortion of Earth’s atmosphere, an extrapolated estimate of 2 trillion galaxies became visible. The universe is 13.82 billion years old. Earth is only 4.52 billion years old. Humans are…
Santa is taking the time to stop by and enjoy breakfast with West Peoria kids 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 2. He has checked with the Franciscan Complex and booked a time for breakfast there for him and Mrs.…
Unannounced visitors aren’t necessarily my favorites, mainly because I don’t always live organized and clutter free. I can pull it together given adequate notice, but spur of the moment isn’t my forte. Likely it’s a genetic thing. My mother was…
Monday, Dec. 4, Chicago sculptor Donna Hapac will open an exhibition at the Hartmann Gallery at Bradley University displaying forms and themes she has explored over the last three decades. I first met Donna in graduate school in the MFA…
MUSIC Dec. 1-2: Chicago Farmer. 7 p.m. Apollo Theater. 673-4343. Dec. 1: “Nutcracker 2017,” 7 p.m. Limelight Eventplex. 693-1234. Dec. 1: Central Illinois Youth Symphony and Concert Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. ICC’s Performing Arts Center. 678-6541. Dec. 1: Bradley Women’s Choir. 7:30…
Racism and America Earlier this year, I participated in an event called “Let’s Talk: Improving Racial and Cultural Relationships” at the Universalist Unitarian Church. The event consisted of two large group 4-hour workshops and 2-3 small group discussions around Ta-Nehesi…
