Peoria County News Briefs

Chronicle Media

“Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant” by Roz Chast will be Peoria Reads! next selection. Peoria Reads! has received a federal grant of $6,575, which it will use to host the NEA Big Read in Peoria in spring 2019.

PEORIA

Peoria Reads! receives NEA Big Read grant

Peoria Reads! is a recipient of a grant of $6,575, which will be used to host the NEA Big Read in Peoria and the surrounding community. A national initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read aims to broaden our understanding of the world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. Peoria Reads! is one of 79 nonprofit organizations to receive an NEA Big Read grant for a community reading program between September 2018 and June 2019.

The NEA Big Read in Peoria will focus on activities planned for spring 2019.

The book chosen for Peoria Reads! is “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant” by Roz Chast. Chast is a longtime cartoonist for the New Yorker, and the book tells the story of Chast’s parents’ final years through cartoons, family photos, found documents and narrative prose. Peoria Reads! chose this book because many in the community have elderly family members who need assistance. Told with humor and pathos, “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant” is a book that will launch discussion and entertain while it offers comfort.

The NEA Big Read showcases a diverse range of contemporary titles that reflect many different voices and perspectives, aiming to inspire conversation and discovery. The main feature of the initiative is a grants program, managed by Arts Midwest, which annually supports dynamic community reading programs, each designed around a single NEA Big Read selection.

Construction project to continue until fall

A construction project at the intersection of Allen Road and Willow Knolls Road will affect traffic until the project is completed in the fall.

The intersection’s traffic signals have been deactivated, and traffic is down to one lane for both northbound and southbound Allen Road motorists. Eastbound and westbound traffic on Willow Knolls Road is being controlled by stop signs, requiring motorists to yield to merge into traffic on Allen Road.

Lane restrictions in place on Allen Road allow for through traffic and right turns, only. No left turning movements are being permitted within the intersection during this phase of the construction.

There is no through traffic on Willow Knolls Road. Eastbound and westbound traffic approaching the intersection are permitted only right turns onto Allen Road.

CityLink transit services are operating. Buses stop at the southeast corner of Pasmoso Drive and Allen Road for the line that travels northbound Allen Road to westbound on Willow Knolls Road. The eastbound Willow Knolls bus line stops at the west Willowlake Court cul-de-sac. For more information about pickup locations during this construction, contact CityLink at 309-676-8015.

Contact City Engineer Bill Lewis or the project’s managing engineer Stephen Letsky at 309-494-8800 with questions about this project.

Fire department has new CPR equipment

The Peoria Fire Department vehicles are now equipped with new lifesaving equipment.

The ResQCPR System is a hand-held pumping device, with a suction cup, that medical personnel use to help perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Just like in performing CPR, practitioners push down on the chest, but the device provides lift that increases cardiac blood flow. Medical personnel say this is an improvment over traditional CPR, whcih can impede that process.

A medical study has shown the system improves by almost 50 percent one-year survival from out-of-hospital, non-traumatic cardiac arrest.

Advanced Medical Transport of Central Illinois donated 20 of the new units, at an estimated value of $40,000.

Police issue tips to prevent burglaries

The Peoria Police Department is reminding the community about how not to be a victim of residential or vehicle burglary.

  • Lock your vehicle, residence, garage, etc.
  • Don’t leave valuables in plain view.
  • Keep exterior and some interior lights on, when home or away. Give the perception someone is home. If out of town, consider a timer for your lights.
  • Report suspicious behaviors, people, and/or vehicles.
  • Look out for your neighbors – if you see something suspicious around their home – call 9-1-1.
  • Do not let mail/newspapers pile up; arrange to have it held or picked-up.
  • Keep landscaping (trees and shrubbery) trimmed around your home so burglars have a place to hide.

If you see a suspicious person or activity, police urge that you call 9-1-1 immediately with this information: a physical description of the suspect and clothing; color, make, model and license plate number of any vehicle involved; location of the person and/or vehicle. This type of information will help the responding officer.

EAST PEORIA

Ordinance paves way for new winery

The East Peoria City Council is making it easier for wineries to open, which will help a potential new winery.

Tres Rojas wines, “three reds” in English, is developing plans for a winery, vineyard, banquet room and bike trails connecting to the River Trail of Illinois. The City Council’s new ordinance allows wineries as a special use in conservation and residential estate district zones. The owners of Tres Rojas were expected to present site plans to the Zoning Board of Appeals, and could be open for business as soon as this fall. The proposal includes a winery building, banquet room and wine-production area. Barry said the business has an option to purchase the property, contingent on satisfying all of the city’s requirements.

The amended ordinance allowing wineries as a special use in a conservation zone was approved by a 4-0 vote.

The 20-acre parcel is off of Bloomington Road between Clover and Crestwood roads, in a wooded secluded area surrounded by residential properties, said Ty Livingston, director of planning in East Peoria.

In May 2016, Tres Rojas acquired use of a small vineyard off Allentown Road in Pekin. The vineyard had been abandoned for about five years.

 

–Peoria County News Briefs–