PeoriaStory

March to the Polls

PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:

"March to the Polls" will be the theme of a rally to encourage voting on Saturday, October 10, at 11:00 AM at the Gateway Building plaza, 200 NE Water Street, Peoria.  Cosponsored by a number of local organizations, the event will feature speakers, music and a dramatic performance.

 

Voter registration will be available.  

 

The keynote speaker will be arts educator Nikki Romain, cofounder of ART Inc in Peoria.  The local arts and science center offers educational experiences in a variety of formats. Other speakers and performers include a local physician and health advocate, representatives of women in Labor union leadership, LGBTQ, Climate, and racial advocacy groups, local musicians and a spoken word artist.   

 

    Masks and social distancing will be required.  The event will conclude about 12:15 PM. 

 

Co-host groups:   Peoria NAACP; Peoria National Organization for Women; Indivisible Peoria; PFLAG Peoria Area; Young Revolution Peoria; Heart of IL Sierra Club; Peoria Proud; ACLU of IL Peoria Group; MusicBaux; Sarah and the Underground

 

Contact information:  Nancy Long  309-868-9400

 

 

 

Sit in for voting, fair tax amendment

PEORIA, IL -- From a  news release:

Church Elders Sit-In to Bring Out the Vote and Support the Fair Tax for Illinois

Peoria, IL – Saturday, September 19, 2020 – Members of the Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria will stage Elder Sit-Ins at the intersection of Main and University Streets on four Saturdays, from 12 noon to 1 pm, beginning September 19^th, to urge citizens to vote, and to vote ‘Yes’ on the Fair Tax for Illinois on November 3^rd.

“We are ‘voting our values’ – and want to empower fellow citizens to use their vote and to vote ‘yes’ for the Fair Tax amendment to our Illinois Constitution, a change in our tax system that will give tax relief to 97% of taxpayers, and most significantly, to those at the lowest income levels, helping their communities to thrive.” stated Jean Sloan, chair for the UU the Vote Committee at the Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria. “We invite the elders of other Peoria faith communities to join us at University and Main to encourage everyone to have a plan to vote.”

The Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria, founded in 1843, is one of Peoria’s oldest faith communities. It is located at 3000 W. Richwoods Blvd. in Peoria. Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion that recognizes many sources of truth.

WHAT: Church Elders Sit-In/ Voter Registration/ Four Saturdays

WHO: Members of Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria

WHEN: Saturday, September 19 and 26, and on Saturday, October 3 and 17, from noon to 1:00 pm

WHERE: Main and University Streets, Peoria, IL

VISUALS: Church members, chairs, signs, voter registration table

PEORIA, IL --  Save the post office event:

Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, 11 am, at the downtown Peoria post office.  Wear masks, bring signs.

Fair tax rally

PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:

Join Us for a Virtual Rally for Fair Tax!

 

Saturday, July 25

10-11AM

Zoom link provided upon registration

 

There are fewer than 4 months until Election Day!

 

Now is our chance to bring tax fairness to Illinois! On November 3, 2020 voters can fix Illinois's broken tax system. A Fair Tax will give people making under $250,000 a year tax relief, ensure the top 3% pay their fair share of taxes, and generate $3 billion that we can put towards health care, schools, and social programs.

 

Come and hear from special guests, including Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, Citizen Action's William McNary, and Illinoisans throughout the state to learn how the Fair Tax will work for us and our communities.

 

Now, more than ever, we need the Fair Tax. Join us next Saturday, July 25th, at 10 am on Zoom to learn more and see how you can get involved!

 

REGISTER NOW!  https://actionnetwork.org/events/vote-yes-for-fair-tax-rally/?link_id=0&can_id=21542b51f8c818dd6ed4846932f96e83&source=email-join-us-for-a-fair-tax-virtual-rally&email_referrer=email_864177&email_subject=vote-yes-for-fair-tax-virtual-rally

 

Open to endorsing organizations for Vote Yes for Fair Tax

Paid for by Vote Yes for Fair Tax

 

 

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Events this week

PEORIA, IL -- Here are two events this week:

CLEANUP EVENT / Sunday, June 14,  11:30am - 1:30pm 

Followed by COMMUNITY COOKOUT 1:30 -4pm

 

>From the Facebook event description:

 

"Join us Sunday June 14th! As we partake in another neighborhood clean up. This time we will be picking up trash around the Harrison Homes & surrounding areas from 11:30-1:30pm . Afterwards from 1:30-4pm we will be hosting a community cookout in which everyone is invited. We are asking for those interested to bring garbage bags, gloves or hot dogs, buns, soda & chips, etc.. " 

 

The Facebook event listing is here. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/730529631027757/  

 

More than one group is publicizing the event on Facebook, including Aaron Chess and Patrice Foster, Peoria Drum Circle and Peoria Cleanup Volunteers, and it looks like a lot of people are signing up on the Facebook event to say that they plan to attend. (53 'Going' and 191 'Interested').

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>>> JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

 

Meet the people you protested with on May 30 & June 7 (whether you were there in body or spirit) and bring our diverse communities together for celebration! This is a MULTI-DAY EVENT.

 

Peoria Juneteenth Celebration
Public · Hosted by Peoria Peace & Nonviolence Leadership Institute, River City Salsa, River City Steppers, River City Spades Players Club

Jun 18 at 1 PM – Jun 21 at 6 PM
George Washington Carver Association
710 W. 3rd St., Peoria, Illinois 61605

Details

Thursday, June 18, 2018
Pre-Juneteenth Celebration Bonfire location TBA

Friday June 19, 2020
+1 pm - 2 pm Second-Line gathering at River Plex at 1 pm, then march to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., PhD Park for Cookout
+DJ
+Chicago Steppin, Spades

Saturday, June 20, 2020
+Biggest Blackest BBQ:
+Spades Tournament
+DJ & Live Entertainment
+Chicago Steppin/Line Dancing

Sunday, June 21, 2020
+6 pm Freedom Sunday Evening Prayer & Worship Service: Negro Spirituals & Hymns

 

No locations presented for some of these events, but likely will be added later.

March on Sunday, June 7

PEORIA, IL -- Here's a Peoria march at 2 pm on Sunday, June 7:

Ambassador to speak on March 23, NOW Cancelled

UPDATE:  This event has been cancelled because of the virus, to be rescheduled later.

PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:

Renowned U.S. Ambassador Opens  PAWAC 50^th Anniversary Celebration

Distinguished United States Ambassador Thomas Pickering will speak at a dinner launching the 50^th anniversary celebration of the Peoria Area World Affairs Council.  The six-time Ambassador will examine “Challenges to U.S. Foreign Policy” with his unique insight gained from over five decades as an American diplomat.

Pickering has served as ambassador to the Russian Federation, India, Israel, El Salvador, Nigeria and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan under both Republican and Democratic administrations in a career that stretched from Richard Nixon to Bill Clinton. He also served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 1989 to 1992 during the first Gulf War.

When Pickering was appointed Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the number-three position at the State Department under then-Secretary of State  Madeleine Albright, Time magazine called him the “five-star general of the diplomatic corps.” He retired from full-time service in the State Department in 2001.

In 2012, Pickering helped lead a State Department-sponsored panel investigating the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi. He currently serves as vice chairman of Hills and Company, an international consulting firm.

With ambassadorships around the world, Pickering is expected to analyze various hot spots when he speaks at 7 p.m. Monday, March 23 at the Hayden Clark Alumni Center on the Bradley University campus.  His presentation is preceded by dinner at 6 p.m.

Pickering’s address is the first of several events commemorating PAWAC’s 50 years of providing education about world affairs in central Illinois. Other organizations partnering with PAWAC to celebrate the year-long anniversary are Bradley University, Illinois Central College, Eureka College and Methodist College.

Cost to attend Pickering’s speech and the dinner is $60.  Sponsorships for the event, including the opportunity for more direct discussion with Ambassador Pickering, are available. To make reservations or find more information, visit www.pawac.org or call (309) 677-2454.

The Peoria Area World Affairs Council is a community-based, volunteer organization that brings the world to Central Illinois by holding a variety of forums on international history, culture and current events. Along with expert speakers, PAWAC offers guided travel opportunities, book club meetings and public discussion forums. In an era of increasing communication and globalization, the organization provides an interactive and engaging international perspective to our local community. The Peoria Area World Affairs Council held its first conference in 1970. PAWAC is affiliated with the World Affairs Councils of America. - 30 -

 

Interesting event includes expungements

Peoria County Democratic Central Committee, 1200 Main Street, Campustown, Peoria, IL 61606   State Rep. Jehan Gordon Booth is a sponsor.

New novel by Peoria writer

PEORIA, IL -- A new novel titled, The Old Guard,  by Tom McKay will be featured at a book signing on Saturday, Feb. 8,  from 2-4 p.m. at the bookstore I Know You Like A Book in Peoria Heights on Prospect Road.

The Midwest Writing Center published it, and has information on its website. 

McKay writes, "The Old Guard is a funny novel about a young woman who writes a sports blog and suddenly needs help with the blog from her new neighbor, a man who knows nothing about sports.

"The story is full of mix-ups and twists and commentary on some of the absurdities of modern life. 

"Mary Davidsaver, author of Clouds Over Bishop Hill, wrote a nice blurb: 'Tom McKay exhibits a deft hand at humor as he crafts a story that uses his lively wit to present serious messages about the need for equal representation for women in sports and the folly of preconceived stereotypes in day-to-day life.  The Old Guard is a delightful read.' " -30-

 

 

A Christmas Carol coming

PEORIA, IL --  From a news release:

Dickens’ Christmas Carol on Dec. 8 at GAR Hall  

A reader’s theater production of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol at will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019 at the GAR Hall, 416 Hamilton Blvd., Peoria, Il.

The event includes Christmas High Tea, music, and performances by Cheri Beever, Cindy Hoey, Gene Bourke, Dave Schick, Keri Rae, and Charles Brown as “Scrooge.”  The script was adapted by Doug Day. 

The event is free, but donations will be appreciated to benefit the GAR Hall.  An elevator is available as alternative for the steps to the hall.

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Also on Dec. 8, Peoria's Sing It Yourself Messiah, 2:30 pm at First Federated Church, 3601 N.Sheridan Road, Peoria, and Holiday Home Tour for the Peoria Historical  Society, Dec. 8, 1 - 5 pm (also on Dec. 7, 5 - 9 pm) tickets at PHS's Facebook page.