Fueled By Area Successes, Soccer Growth Has Been Steady
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- Published on Monday, 03 September 2012 17:07
- Written by Paul Gordon
Central Illinois has long been a hotbed for high school basketball and football. But in the last decade or so another sport has been steadily climbing the ranks of popularity among area athletes: Soccer.
Participation in the sport, which older...
Museum Square Nears Its Grand Opening, set for October 20
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- Published on Monday, 03 September 2012 11:40
- Written by Paul Gordon
The business model of the new Peoria Riverfront Museum is unique to museums across the United States, but delivering different from the norm can only help strengthen the overall experience, believes one of the top museum officials in the country.
It will be something that should excite the community while making it a better place to live, said Ford Bell, president of the American Association of Museums. He has followed the museum progress...
Artist in Residence: David McDonald
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- Published on Thursday, 01 March 2012 16:34
- Written by Paul Gordon
David McDonald is all about music - his way.
David McDonald knows who his worst enemy is: himself. But acknowledging that and trying to change it are too different things.
"I do sometimes make my life tougher for myself, tougher than maybe it needs to be, because I can't suck up. Some think it's arrogance. I don't know," said the candid owner of the Academy of Fretted Instruments. "I definitely do things my...
Jasti Rao named The Peorian of the Year
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- Published on Wednesday, 29 August 2012 15:34
- Written by The Peorian
Dr. Jasti Rao, a world leader in cancer research who is based in Peoria, is the winner of the first The Peorian of the Year Award.
Rao, head of the Department for Cancer Biology and Pharmacology as well as senior associate dean for research at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, was presented the award during a reception Aug. 1 at Par-A-Dice Hotel.
Also presented was a donation of $10,000 to the Children's...
Hope Summers: Rifles, Pickles & Rosemary's Baby
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- Published on Thursday, 01 March 2012 16:20
- Written by Dr. Peter J. Couri
The Fascinating Career of a Bradley Speech Teacher
She arrived in Peoria in 1926 to become the new head of the Bradley Polytechnic Speech Department. Few could guess her career would lead her to be one of America's most sought-after character actors, appearing in hundreds of early television shows and more than 32 movies.
Hope Summers was born in Mattoon, Ill., in 1896. Her father, Dr. John Summers, was the...
Erin Brockovich to highlight 2012 Women's Lifestyle Show
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- Published on Wednesday, 22 August 2012 16:04
- Written by Paul Gordon
Erin Brockovich, who became famous by linking cancer cases to contaminated ground water in California nearly 20 years ago, will be the featured speaker at the 2012 Women's Lifestyle Show on Oct. 27 at the Peoria Civic Center.
Brockovich, now the president of her own consulting and research firm, will speak and do a question-and-answer session during the show, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., announced Dr. Joy Miller, owner of the...
Home sales down in 2011, but signs of stablizing emerge
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 January 2012 21:50
- Written by Paul Gordon
For a sixth consecutive year home sales in the Peoria region fell in 2011. But area Realtors say there were signs the market is stabilizing, including the fact there was a gain in fourth quarter sales.
The Peoria Area Association of Realtors on Tuesday reported 4,210 homes were sold in 2011, a decline of 2.5 percent from the 4,318 in 2010. But that was the lowest rate of decline since the slide began in 2006; it was 4.4 percent in 2010...
'Hair' brings nostalgia to Corn Stock Theatre
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- Published on Tuesday, 21 August 2012 15:20
- Written by The Peorian
Rocking '60s musical opens Friday under the tent; final show of Corn Stock's regular summer season
Long hair, beads, tie-dyed clothes and other items that defined Hippiedom in the 1960s will step into the lights at Corn Stock Theatre's tent in Upper Bradley Park beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Considered by many to be the ultimate 1960s musical, "Hair" brought to life such songs...
Peorian New Year's Resolutions
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- Published on Monday, 23 January 2012 16:46
- Written by The Peorian
Along with late-night rabble rousing, another New Year's tradition is the proverbial Makin' O' The Resolutions! This New Year's we set up our cameras at the Apollo Theater in downtown Peoria and had local Peorians tell us what their New Year's resolutions are for 2012.
Heartland Partnership situation not easy to figure out
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- Published on Monday, 13 August 2012 17:06
- Written by Paul Gordon
To date I have stayed silent on the whole mess at the Heartland Partnership. It's mostly because I've been trying to figure it out.
For some time now the local media has been reporting nothing but good news from the Partnership and its various components, such as the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois and the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. You know the stuff I'm referring to: Good scores on the economic development scorecard,...
Peoria Symphony names new executive director
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- Published on Thursday, 05 January 2012 18:46
- Written by Paul Gordon
The Peoria Symphony Orchestra has named a new executive director, with credentials stretching to Cleveland, Ohio, to replace Judy Furniss, who retired after 19 years.
Susan Hoffman, recently the director of patron relationship management for the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, will begin her new duties in Peoria on Jan. 9, according to an announcement Thursday from the Peoria Orchestra.
Heartland Partnership names interim CEO
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- Published on Thursday, 09 August 2012 11:13
- Written by The Peorian
Cal MacKay, former chief financial officer of Methodist Medical Center, will run the Heartland Partnership family of companies as it goes through reorganization, the Partnership announced Thursday.
A news release said MacKay will serve as interim CEO of the Heartland Partnership "and guide it through this transitional period."
MacKay replaces Jim McConoughey, who resigned as president and CEO of the Heartland...
CCT's musical "My Son Pinoccio" opens Thursday at Players
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- Published on Tuesday, 13 December 2011 16:18
- Written by Paul Gordon
For more than 50 years the Peoria Park District has given children ages 8 to 18 the chance to learn about theatre while keeping audiences entertained through song and dance.
They do it again this week when the Children's Community Theatre presents "Disney's My Son Pinocchio: Geppettto's Musical Tale" at Peoria Players Theatre. The show opens Thursday with a 7 p.m. curtain, followed by a 7 p.m. show on Friday, with 1:30 p.m....
Federal grant to boost fetal alcohol research at UICOMP
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- Published on Monday, 23 July 2012 16:43
- Written by The Peorian
Research into fetal alcohol spectrum disorders at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria has received a $1.7 million shot in the arm.
The five-year grant from the National Institute of Health's National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism will enable the research headed by Dr. Shao-yu Chen and aimed at treating and preventing birth defects from fetal alcohol exposure to get underway. The goal of the research is...
Online Reading, Week 6 of 6
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- Published on Friday, 21 October 2011 14:37
- Written by The Peorian
Read new chapters each week from Norman V. Kelly's novel "The Park Murders", about a sinister killer stalking the parks of Peoria.
Home sales continued to improve in Q2
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- Published on Tuesday, 17 July 2012 17:41
- Written by The Peorian
Home sales in the Peoria area continued to improve in the second quarter, a further indication the area economy is improving, according to the Peoria Area Association of Realtors.
In a report release Tuesday the association said 1,350 single family homes and condominiums were sold during the second quarter, an increase of 10.7 percent from the second quarter of 2011, when 1,219 sales were recorded. The association said that...
Online Reading, Week 5 of 6
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- Published on Friday, 14 October 2011 14:37
- Written by The Peorian
Read new chapters each week from Norman V. Kelly's novel "The Park Murders", about a sinister killer stalking the parks of Peoria.
Hiring Our Heroes draws veterans, bring Cat investment
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- Published on Thursday, 12 July 2012 18:57
- Written by Paul Gordon
Military veterans and those in National Guard and Reserves units were singled out Thursday and were given hope that jobs exist for them and their spouses here and elsewhere.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce brought its Hiring Our Heroes program, now in its second year, to the Peoria Civic Center on Thursday and nearly 80 employers and organizations were there to advise and guide them on what skills are needed and how they can attain those...
Wickedly cool!
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- Published on Tuesday, 11 October 2011 00:00
- Written by Paul Gordon
"Wicked" set takes 14 trucks, 30 hours to build, but it will be ready to go
Considering it takes about 30 hours to put together the set that takes 14 semi-trucks to transport, it's little wonder the folks in charge of the "Wicked" touring company insist on long engagements at the venues they select.
But...
Huntsman elected to Cat board
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- Published on Thursday, 12 April 2012 18:47
- Written by The Peorian
Jon M. Huntsman Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to China who had a brief run for the presidency this year, was elected to the board of directors at Caterpillar Inc.
The election by the rest of the board is effective immediately, Caterpillar said in a news release.
Huntsman, 51, was ambassador to China from 2009 until last year and before that was governor of Utah for one term, 2005 to 2009. He was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Singapore...
Online Reading, Week 4 of 6
- Details
- Published on Friday, 07 October 2011 14:37
- Written by The Peorian
Read new chapters each week from Norman V. Kelly's novel "The Park Murders", about a sinister killer stalking the parks of Peoria.
