17 thoughts on “Thursday Soapbox”

  1. Unknown object shatters motorist’s windshield

    Journal Star Posted Jul 10, 2008 @ 12:34 AM
    PEORIA —
    A motorist traveling on Interstate 74 early Tuesday found himself covered in shards of glass after something struck his windshield.

    Daniel Matarelli, 34, of 1217 W. Moss Ave. said he was heading west under the Gale Street overpass about 7:10 a.m. when an object “came flying down at his car, hitting and shattering the windshield,” police reports said.

    He was not injured, but his car’s windshield will have to be replaced at a cost of $250.

    Matarelli told police he did not see anyone on the overpass nor could he identify what was thrown at his car.

    Police checked the interstate but found nothing unusual.

    AAAH! I can’t believe this is still going on!! Will they never learn???

  2. I don’t usually comment on my own open threads, but I ran across this and it doesn’t really warrant its own post:

    Mice close Whole Foods

    I’ve heard nothing but good things about Whole Foods. In fact, many were hoping that Whole Foods would be going into Sheridan Village (instead, it will be a Hy-Vee). But this story from the Tribune is pretty gross. I hope it’s not indicative of the cleanliness of all their stores.

  3. Does anyone know the story behind the brand new strip shopping center out on North Allen Road which is just south of PIP and Widmers? Construction was finished last year and the sign near the road says Opening in January 2008. Seeing that the entire building is vacant and yet to be finished inside it may be 2009 before it’s open! Somebody must be taking an “interest bath” on that thing!

  4. RE wo_malice

    I drive by that building every day and it confuses me too. Surely a building that size cost a pretty penny to build, I’d think the developer would have confirmed tenants in it before building it. Isn’t that what stopped the Shoppes @ Grand Prairie from being built for so long?

  5. I worked for Whole Foods in Arizona for 6 years. That story is gross, but none of the stores I’ve been in suffered this same fate. For the most part they run a clean ship. For a college job, it was a great place to work. Too bad they didn’t come here.

  6. Imaswede, that’s the most intelligent thing I’ve heard someone say all day.

    “I don’t know enough about that to give an informed answer”.

    McCains my man. Two thumbs up! 😉

  7. I think that strip mall is at 8305 N Allen. If you google that address you can see that the parcel was annexed into the city in March/April of 2007 with zoning of I-1. Then in December they came back again and rezoned it to C-2 because, according to the petitioner, “there are so many requests for retail tenants to go in this site.” Guess that was a little bit of a stretch. This zoning was contrary to the comprehensive plan and against staff recommendation. When all was said and done the rezoning passed 8-1 as usual at the 12/17/07 meeting.

  8. I came home from work and drove by the one rental unit (a duplex) near our house on Frostwood Parkway. There has always been high turnover there, but this is the first time I’ve seen an entire household worth of furniture and clothes piled up on the sidewalk as part of the latest eviction. Two kids were sitting on the couch waiting for the parents to come home. Very sad sight.

    Anyone know what the rules of this are? Does the city or county provide any sort of support for the people or possessions for any length of time? Do they have to somehow move it within x hours or have it all taken? It’s now dark and the family is just sitting out there… I can’t even imagine being in their shoes.

  9. Enough said for the Library Board! What a lousy location-contrary to all principles of library location. Thank God the Council didn’t give them the other 8 million. Somebody better put a leash on these people!

  10. Wacko: My thoughts on the necessity of there being a new branch have been expressed elsewhere. But once it was decided there will be a new North Peoria Branch, the site chosen in my opinion is no better or worse than the others. Pluses and minuses about for both.

  11. I’ve always been excited about the new north library branch – I live out by Mossville. I was much more in favor of a Pioneer Parkway location, though. Why they’ve decided to tuck it away behind SuperMenards is beyond me. There’s a whole bunch of nameless stuff back there already that you can barely see from any road.

    The downtown library is excellently situated because it’s in the middle of everything and great access by public transportation. Lakeview is excellently situated because it’s in a well used park with other amenities right near by as well. Putting the north branch way out behind SuperMenards is akin to putting a bus station 2 miles walk from the nearest anything. People are much more likely to use something that’s prominent and centrally placed – ask any businessperson.

  12. Speaking of buses — traveling down Knoxville just before Pioneer Parkway — two people were standing in the grass while waiting for the bus. in the grass. in the blazing sun. The lady was standing in the shadow of the light pole seeking relief from the blazing sun.

    Where are the bus shelters?

    Now, it’s pouring down rain….

    Where are the bus shelters?

  13. cgiselle12 it might be nice to have libraries in the center of everything but occasionally they do not attract the best of everyone. We used to have monthly meetings at the downtown branch but stopped due to the bums seeking shelter there. You walk into the foyer and they were crowded in their watching your every move. It was scary and it was getting worse. Walk out to the parking lot to your car and they were all over. You didn’t dare go out there by yourself in the evening. Days weren’t any better. Perhaps they won’t loiter at a north branch and it will be safer for all.

  14. The funny thing, is not matter what answer McCain gave you would be giving him the thumbs up.

    It is a pretty simple question… is it unfair that insurance companies cover viagra but not birth control, do you have an opinion about that?

    He doesn’t know enough to be able to express an opinion about whether or not viagra is a health issue and birth control isn’t?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.