I’ve been reading on the Peoria Pundit‘s and Polly Peoria‘s blogs about how the city can’t find a way to pony up the money to reopen Fire Station 11. But just because the city can’t do anything about longer response times to fires, don’t think they aren’t concerned about public safety.

They’re taking very seriously the safety threat of that demon of the sidewalks: the motorized scooter. That’s right, scooters are terrorizing the highways and byways of Peoria, and they need to be stopped. Fear not! The city council will be taking action tomorrow night:

AGENDA DATE REQUESTED: October 18, 2005

ACTION REQUESTED: Adopt the attached Ordinance Amending Chapter 28 of the Code of the City of Peoria Relating to Motorized Scooters

BACKGROUND: Motorized scooters, both with internal combustion engines and electric motors, have come to increasing use since 2002. Arguably, they are toy vehicles which are prohibited from using City streets per Section 28-11 of the City Code. Arguably, they are motor vehicles which require a license to be operated on City streets . The Illinois Secretary of State has consistently taken the position that these types of vehicles are not entitled to be licensed by the Secretary of State. Both of the above Sections would pertain only to the prohibition of these motorized scooters on City streets . It is our understanding that there is also an objection by citizens to the use of these vehicles on City sidewalks and other City property. In as much as these motorized scooters did not exist at the time that the above-referenced ordinances were written, it is felt that the best way to approach this problem is to have an ordinance specifically prohibited the use of motorized scooters
not only on City streets, but also on City sidewalks and other City-owned property including, but not limited to parking lots.

In addition, in order to aid enforcement we have provided for impoundment of motorized scooters in violation of this ordinance . They may be returned after 24 hours and payment of a $50 fee, which fee shall be returned to the individual should they be found not guilty of violating the ordinance.

FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Neighbors have complained to Police concerning the use of these scooters .

IMPACT IF APPROVED : Use of motorized scooters would be prohibited.

IMPACT IF DENIED: Use of motorized scooters would be legal.

ALTERNATIVES: N/A

Well, I feel safer already, don’t you? I can sleep peacefully tonight knowing that the motor scooter pandemic is finally being addressed. With big, important issues like this on their plate, I can see why city staff would have little time to devote to finding funding for fire protection.

I was reading Polly’s blog the other day and learned about a place I’d never heard of before: Christ Orchard (“Christ” is pronounced with a short “i” as in “Chris”). To get there from Bradley, you take Farmington Road about 14 miles to Texas Road, turn right and go three miles — it’s on the left.

Great place! Much smaller than Tanners, and maybe a little smaller than Apple Blossom Farm. The whole experience was like going to a friend’s or relative’s house who lives on a farm. In fact, it kind of reminded me of going to visit my great-uncles and great-grandmother on the farm when I was a kid.

When we arrived, we pulled into the driveway — there isn’t really what one would call a “parking lot.” They had wagons available for hauling around apples, pumpkins, and/or flowers. When we walked up to the “store”– which was more like a large, nicely decorated garage — we were greeted by a nice young lady who helped us find just the right apples for making homemade applesauce (my wife’s specialty). She also informed us that there was a free hayrack ride for the kids (my kids loved it). And her little sister, who was four, made fast friends with my oldest daughter (who is five). They spent the whole time playing together, petting the animals, helping one of the guys put out squash for sale, and generally having a wonderful time. She even gave my daughter a flower before she left.

My wife was most impressed with their prices on apples. A half-bushel is only $14-16 at Christ, whereas at Tanners it’s $18-20. But it doesn’t stop there. When she mentioned that she was going to make applesauce with them, the good people at Christ told her about their “seconds.” Apparently, they divide their apples into those that look perfect — “firsts” — and those that are slightly imperfect — “seconds.” Basically, the “seconds” are fine for baking but not pretty enough for presentation. The best part: “seconds” are only $8 for a half-bushel. So for the price of a half-bushel at Tanners, my wife got a whole bushel at Christ!

I’m not anti-Tanners like Polly. It’s a great place, too, and I think their apple cider has more kick to it than Christ’s does. But that said, I like Christ’s better — it’s closer to home (important factor with gas prices as high as they are!), cheaper, more friendly, and their apples are just as good as Tanners. In fact, my wife commented that their bags of apples have larger apples in them than Tanners. That’s a big plus when you have to peel them all to make applesauce.

Well, we’re hooked. We’ll definitely be going back there in the future. I encourage you to check it out!

I think people need an education about the importance of railroads – even in the 21st century.

Fact: Several U. S. air carriers are in Chapter 11 yet ALL U. S. freight railroads are solvent.

Fact: The US is still the largest manufacturing nation in the world and big, heavy stuff needs to be shipped short, medium and long distances. Locally, grain processors like ADM, Aventine and MGP are HIGHLY dependent on local railroads for their existence. Keystone Steel & Wire, which recently emerged from Chapter 11 and has regained lost customers, is also highly dependent on local railroads for receving raw materials and shipment of product nationwide. Caterpillar tractors are big and heavy and all of these shipped to export markets go by rail to West, Gulf and East Coast ports.

Fact: Metro Peoria is served by TEN railroads. There are few other cities in this country with that status.

Fact: Peoria is competing with the likes of Rochelle, Illinois, which is quite proactive in developing rail-served industrial sites – even building new track to access these areas. The city owns the railroad and connects with two Class 1’s (BNSF and Union Pacific), thus allowing for rate competition.

Fact: Rochelle is served by its own shortline and two Class 1’s; while Peoria-Pekin’s Tazewell & Peoria RR connects with NINE others – BNSF, Canadian National, Central Illinois RR (for now) Illinois & Midland, Iowa Interstate, Keokuk Junction, Norfolk Southern, TP&W and Union Pacific. Peoria leaders seem to forget this, and towns like Rochelle attract major industrial developments, and the good-paying jobs that go with them.

Peoria is a bit small for commuter trains. Rail freight service is what matters.

DPJ

If the White Sox go on to win the ALCS, I think the MVP should be Game 2 home plate umpire Doug Eddings. Thanks to his blown call last night, the Sox won.

Chicago’s A.J. Pierzynski was the third out — he struck out and was called out — but Eddings changed his call after Pierzynski ran to first hoping to fool the ump into thinking it was dropped third strike. It worked. It’s not often you get an ump to reverse his call, especially in the bottom of the ninth in a tied playoff game.

If you want more info (although, if you follow baseball, you’ve probably heard enough by now), you can read more about it here from L.A.’s perspective. Eric Zorn turns in Chicago’s take.

Seeing the Sears block demolished is a dream come true for many, and it is exciting that we’ll be getting a Peoria history museum. But at the same time, it feels a bit like the graveside service for downtown retail in Peoria. Downtown shopping became ill and infirm in the 1970s and ’80s and finally died in 1998 when Sears moved to Northwoods; now we’re just burying the body.

I applaud the city’s efforts to lure tourists through the upgraded riverfront and this new museum. But downtown isn’t going to be really vital until you get large retail stores down there again. It’s the one huge piece of downtown revitalization that’s missing, and every consultant Peoria has hired has said the same thing.

But instead, the city gives incentives for large retailers to locate on the fringe of town while it works overtime to put money-losers like the Riverplex and Gateway Building downtown. When is someone — anyone — going to start working on a plan to draw new retail to downtown?

The Heart of Peoria Commission seems like a logical group to take on this issue, but I’m afraid they’d spend a whole year just “appreciating the complexity of the task.”

But seriously, why is nothing being done about this? Has Peoria just given up?

I thought it was cool that WHOI took the time to look at the history of the Sears block. I didn’t see any other stations do this. Here’ s the report as it appears on their website:

Sears Block Secrets
Oct. 7, 2005 – Peoria
by Brock Spencer

Nearly 200-years of Peoria history can be found on the spot where the Sears block now stands, and come Monday demolition crews will begin digging-up the old to make room for a whole new era. A look into the history books reveals that the Sears block has some secrets to share.

It was a time when farming was a way of life for American settlers. But even before the Sears block was a thought, historians say it was a treasured place in time.

Dr. Peter Couri with the Peoria Historical Society said, “When the first American settlers came in 1819 they settled right here. We know the Fulton Family and the Eaton Family where farming right on this spot.”

Around this family farm grew the city we now call Peoria.

Then as the 1850’s hit, the area became a hot spot for more businesses.

Couri said, “You had a hotel next to a carriage shop, you would have a pottery next to a fine china shop, and just businesses galore.”

One of the most famous businesses that existed on this block was actually run by Wyatt Earp and his brother in the 1870’s.

“It was actually a house of prostitution and they were arrested in the 1870’s and kicked out of Peoria to start their illustrious career in the Wild West,” said Couri.

Over the next 90 years, buildings remained similar in architecture.

That’s until the entire block at Water and Main Street was demolished to build the Sears Store in the 1960’s.

Couri said, “It was a wonderful way to keep retail business down in Peoria. There was Sears, there was Carson-Perry-Scott, and Bergners all formed in a triangle of retail.”

But as shopping centers started making the headlines, the Sears Store moved away from downtown and into Northwoods Mall in 1998.

Still, the history of this block is not finished.

“It was a really wonderful development. We hate to see it go, but progress comes on,” said Couri.

And soon the block will be open again for business with plenty of new history to write.

The Sears Company actually started business in Peoria in 1928, but didn’t move to the riverfront Sears block until 1965. The new museum and Caterpillar Visitor Center are expected to be completed by 2009.

I just love articles on Peoria history like this — so much so that I’ll forgive Mr. Spencer for misspelling Carson-Pirie-Scott. On the news, they actually showed quite a few historical photos of the block — none pre-Sears, however. But there were a couple that allowed you to see Carson’s and Bergner’s in the background.

For those of you unfamiliar with Peoria history, the old Bergner’s has been razed and replaced with the ugly boondoggle “One Technology Plaza.” The old Carson’s (formerly Block & Kuhl) was converted to a bank building — Jefferson Bank originally, now Bank One.