Rated PG: Pride in Peoria is loud and clear
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- Published on 24 May 2013
- Written by Paul Gordon
From my vantage point at the top of the Niagara park deck downtown, it was evident people who participated Thursday in the video shoot for the All-American City competition were having fun.
What struck me, though, was the pride that showed through the faces and the actions and the way everybody strutted while singing "Forever Young" as they made their way down Adams Street behind a pickup truck-borne camera and operator.
The sign carried at the front of the 200 or so gathered for the event — on only a couple days notice, mind you — boldly said "Proud of Peoria." The jury who will decide the All-American City winners next month in Denver will have no trouble believing that when they watch this video.
I felt pride in our fair city and its people while watching and shooting the grainy and badly pixilated photos you see here.
"I am thoroughly pleased with the turnout, especially considering the short notice we gave everybody," said Tim Cundiff, president of the Young Professionals of Greater Peoria group that has spearheaded the All-American City campaign.
"The chills I felt while walking with them, the awesome energy this group was putting out, was just great. Awesome, awesome energy. And hearing that crowd singing and the drumline... they were all here for one purpose, to promote Peoria," Cundiff said.
Those of you who know Dr. Cundiff know how boisterous a man he is and how one cannot help but feel energized and inspired after spending a few minutes with him. He is the perfect person to lead this charge and that was evident in the minutes before the video shoot began. He got on the bullhorn (as if he needed one) and whipped the crowd into a frenzy, cheering and yelling and ready to jump when he said jump.
Jake Beyhl, who directed the video from the back of the pickup truck, kept the energy going with his encouraging rants over the bullhorn.
Peoria's Rod Stewart lookalike, resplendent in a pink sportcoat, was among the crowd, many of whom were in attire that said something unique about Peoria, whether it was Bradley University shirts or Chiefs and Rivermen jerseys, Caterpillar shirts, different hats and costumes.
The Elite Drum Corps provided a proper amount of crescendo to the song and the march down Adams Street, after it also got the crowd going before the shoot began with its beat and choreography. A few local politicians participated, as they should have done.
The city itself participated, closing off Adams Street for more than an hour to allow for the shoot and bringing up the rear of the crowd with one of the best fire trucks and two of their newest police squad cars, the new black-and-whites set off by the stripe of blue across each side.
It was as if the city's public servants were saying "We've got your back."
My guess is that many in the crowd were not even born yet the last time Peoria was named an All-American City, 24 years ago. But with the Young Professionals leading the way most now understand how important a designation it can be, especially for recruiting companies and people to the region.
"It brings pride to a community, there's no question about it," said Renee Charles of the Heartland Partnership and Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. "What we did today shows our people have a lot of pride in Peoria. Winning this award would really top it off."
Whether Peoria wins the award this year or not, there is already much pride in this community and people like Tim Cundiff and his group are bringing it to the forefront. They should be congratulated and thanked for their efforts.
They are the future of our city and I, for one, am feeling pretty good about that.
Dozer Park logo unveiled
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- Published on 22 May 2013
- Written by Paul Gordon
The Peoria Chiefs and Caterpillar Inc. on Wednesday unveiled the official logo of Dozer Park, the new name of the downtown Peoria baseball stadium that is home to the Chiefs.
As one might expect, the logo incorporates several elements, including a drawing of a yellow Caterpillar bulldozer, a baseball and home plate.
"When thinking about what we wanted as a visual representation of Dozer Park, we wanted it to be fun, represent Caterpillar and be recognizable as a ballpark logo. We think this logo is a great blend of Caterpillar and baseball," said Caterpillar spokeswoman Lisa Miller.
"We used a large track-type tractor for inspiration. We wanted to incorporate a bulldozer in the logo since we named the ballpark 'Dozer Park.' The logo also features home plate and a baseball," she added.
Miller said Caterpillar and the Chiefs are working on getting signs installed around the ballpark as soon as possible. "We are still planning on having a grand re-opening event for the Peoria area this summer," she said.
Caterpillar agreed to acquire the naming rights to the stadium, which is in its 12th season, as part of an overall refinancing package to help the Chiefs and stadium owners retire or reduce some debt. Included was Peoria City Council approval to forgive the remaining $1.2 million in debt from general obligation bonds issued to pay for infrastructure around the stadium. That debt now will be paid from the city's general fund.
For the naming rights, Caterpillar will pay $2 million over 10 years.
The original name of the stadium was O'Brien Field as O'Brien Motors had the naming rights for the first decade. With that O'Brien parked cars on the stadium concourse.
There is a possibility Caterpillar will park some of its smaller equipment on the concourse in the future.
Our Favorite Things: TV Shows We Would Bring Back
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- Published on 21 May 2013
- Written by Kevin Kizer
This week the TV series Arrested Development will begin its fourth season on NetFlix. Normally, that’s not something particularly notable – lots of shows make it to four seasons. What makes this case special is that Arrested Development’s third season ended in 2006. And now, seven years later it’s back. The reason undoubtedly is because of its diehard, rabid fan base (including many of us at The Peorian), which got us thinking: What are some other shows that have been cancelled that we would love to see resurrected for one more season? That was the question we posed to our murder of writers. We told them to disregard time or era or the corporeal viability of the actors involved. Check out what they had to say!
Hill Street Blues
Paul Gordon
This was the show that set the stage for gritty, real-life-like cop shows that we have today, with realistic sets and dialogue and attire, etc. It was the kind of groundbreaking show we’ve since come to expect from Stephen Bochko. The acting was unlike anything we’d seen up to that point because the actors were being given dialogue that was trend-setting in its realism. That realism has grown substantially in the years since Hill Street Blues, of course, but the courage to say some things and show some things started here. Also, it was good. Who can forget Mick Belker or Frank Furillo, Henry Goldblume or Lucy Bates We didn’t particularly like Fay Furillo, but we weren’t supposed to when she was compared with Joyce Davenport. And Neal Washington and J.D. LaRue were the kind of guys you’d like to sit and have a beer with some time. So were Renko and Bobby Hill. It was one of the first shows I can recall that killed off a main character in a way the viewer really felt it. Of course, I can still remember the theme music and Sgt. Esterhaus imploring the troops on every episode, “Let’s be careful out there.” Waiting for Netflix to pick this gem up.
Entourage
Shaun Taylor
If I could bring back a TV show for one season, it would hands down be ENTOURAGE! That show was ground breaking in giving average folks like me a “real” view into the world of Hollywood. All jokes aside, the show had an awesome cast, with awesome chemistry. Not to mention, Jeremy Piven absolutely crushed his role as Ari Gold. I loved seeing the fast cars, big houses and beautiful women. But most of all, I enjoyed seeing each actor/actress play his or her position. Nobody tried to outshine each other. Egos were left at the door and what we ended up with was an amazing show.
Undeclared
Kevin Kizer
If I were to tell my friends I was selecting a cancelled Judd Apatow show to resurrect, their thoughts would immediately leap to Freaks and Geeks, the cult classic NBC show about teenagers growing up in the early ‘80s that launched the careers of James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, Busy Philipps, John Francis Daley, Samm Levine and Martin Starr – just to name eight. They would be wrong. The show I would most like to see resurrected is a lesser-known Apatow joint called Undeclared, which was about a group of college freshman getting to know each other and their new surroundings.
Like most Apatow projects, this was an ensemble effort, starring Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Carla Gallo, Monica Keena, Timm Sharp and Charlie Hunnam. This was a deft little comedy that unfortunately launched in September of 2001 on Fox and never gained any traction, viewer-wise.
Along with a great primary cast, Apatow managed to bring in some great supporting actors. First and foremost, the brilliant singer/songwriter-turned-Apatow-muse Loudon Wainwright III as Baruchel’s recently divorced father who tries (and largely succeeds) to become “one of the guys.” Other bit players included Amy Poehler (insane RA), Fred Willard (professor), Kevin Hart (religious student), Jenna Fischer (one-night stand), Jason Segel (boyfriend/copy shop manager), Kyle Gass (copy shop worker) and David Krumholtz (another copy shop worker).
And if that’s not enough comedic firepower, Apatow brought in a few heavy hitters in memorable roles: Ben Stiller (Zubaz-wearing, Bow Flex-pumping, ecstasy-popping, mullet-donning ex-boyfriend of Segel’s mom), Adam Sandler (playing himself, who picks up one of the coeds) and Will Ferrell (townie who writes term papers for a living – and does lots of speed). There were only 17 episodes but they were a comedic joy to behold.
Scrubs
Terry Towery
If I could bring back a television show for one more season, it would be Scrubs. And not the horrible Med School Scrubs that was paraded out after the series moved to ABC to die. I mean the old Scrubs with J.D., Turk, Carla, Elliot, Cox and all the rest.
I honestly have no idea why the series so completely captivated me, but it did. In this house, we've watched every episode so many times (on DVD or in cable reruns) that my youngest son and I can parrot each and every line of dialogue as it's spoken. I'm not proud of that, mind you. It's just a fact.
The show was occasionally hilarious, always sophomoric and, sometimes, utterly heartbreaking. The writing was world class, the humor cutting edge, and the acting among the best on TV. I grew to know and love the gang at Sacred Heart Hospital like they were members of my own family. And that's why I would bring it back for one more season.
Firefly
Stuart Clubb
I’d like to bring back the Simpsons from Seasons 2 and 3 – pretty sure that’s when Conan was writing. Not sure what the show is now. But on a serious note – the show I’d love to see come back is Firefly. There were a lot of hearts broken when it got canceled in 2002. If you Google anything about Firefly you’ll see a great fan base any show would hope to have, and it only seems to be growing. However, I didn’t know the show existed until I saw the movie, Serenity. They made the movie after the cancelation to help bring the series some closure. I immediately was drawn into the TV show and watched the first and only season multiple times.
The show is a fusion of space travel and cowboy western – trust me it works if you give it a chance. The thing I love most is the tone of the show. They have character-conflicting emotions and intense action, but with a clever sense of humor. The show is easy to watch for a Sci-Fi and it’s a lot of fun. Really. The show is just fun to watch. There is still a large portion of people yearning for the show’s return. Even the cast and creator have hinted at their openness to returning to the Firefly universe. And with Netflix reviving shows and other online venues creating original content, the hope of Firefly’s return is still strong after a decade.
24
Tim Cundiff
I have a short, simple, two-number answer to that question: 24. And what’s great is I don’t have to wish for another season, because it’s happening next year! Long live Jack Bauer!!
Gomer Pyle USMC/Star Trek/The Twilight Zone
Steven Streight
It's hard to come up with a TV series I'd like to see come back for one more episode.
They generally tend to be terminated long after they've run out of plot ideas. Seinfeld and The Office are good examples of running beyond their prime. Some shows were great in their time, but watching old reruns, one wonders if they would be tolerable if they continued in perpetuity. Like sentient creatures, TV shows seem to have a life cycle and an expiration date stamped on them.
Sometimes, like with The Office in particular, it's sad to see the show floundering around aimlessly then grinding to a halt in a horrible display. Somebody should have put The Office out of its misery months ago. It's uncomfortable watching a show's death spasms and withering contortions.
What show to resurrect? Sorry. Each one that died received its funeral service and burial and it seems improper to dig up the bones and prop it up for a posthumous comeback. In most cases, it would be creepy and unseemly. We have moved on, often, sadly, with no new TV show to be thrilled with like we were with the dear departed.
But, pressed to name a show that might be okay to revive for just one more season, I guess I'd propose Gomer Pyle USMC, Star Trek (the original show with William Shatner) or The Twilight Zone – but in the mode of the past, not updated with color or modern effects, just a pure continuation of the show as it existed in all its primal glory.
Weather balloon launch a learning tool
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- Published on 22 May 2013
- Written by Paul Gordon
Junior high school students at Riverview Grade School reached for the sky — and then some — when they launched a weather balloon that aimed for the edge of the Earth's atmosphere Wednesday.
With science teacher Emily Dawson and a meteorologist from the National Weather Service leading the charge, the balloon was launched from the Caterpillar Inc. demonstration center in Edwards after a rain delay and traveled northeast before giving way to pressure and popping in space.
A package carrying not only cameras and other tools to record the event but also school memorabilia was recovered in a plowed field just outside of Princeton in Bureau County late in the afternoon. While it landed just short of the projected landing site of Lee County, recovery took longer than expected because a GPS system attached to the balloon failed to transmit the package's location.
Dawson was part of the team that recovered the package, the culmination of a project that started a year and a half ago when she got the idea for the weather balloon after watching a PBS show on WTVP-47.
"I just thought this was a good way to teach my students about weather and meteorology and it can be developed as a resource for other teachers to use," Dawson said a few minutes after she and Ed Shimon, senior meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Lincoln, teamed with Riverview students on the launch.
While it's still not known how high the balloon reached Dawson was confident it would go at least 90,000 feet. She was pushing for 100,000 feet or better, she added.
While the National Weather Service launches weather balloons twice each day, the pictures and other data aren't readily available to junior high school science students. The data and pictures from this one will be.
Dawson said the fact she waited until almost the end of the school year to do the launch was purposeful. "The kids got more and more fired up about it the closer we got to launch day and now they will be excited coming into next school year when we study what we did here today," she said.
Dawson had no real interest in weather or meteorology before starting this project, but she said outer space has always been one of her passions. She when she saw the PBS LearningMedia program on WTVP, about a school on the East Coast that did a similar project, she decided to start working on one for her students.
"I'm a space nut," said Dawson, "and I'm always looking for crazy, hands-on activities to get the kids excited about science. When I ran across this balloon launch idea on PBS LearningMedia, I knew we had to do it. From research to design to tracking the balloon in flight, there's just so much science potential. Plus, we'll be sending something to outer space. How cool is that?"
She applied for and received a grant from PNC Bank's FirstGrant program to fund the project for Dawson and other Riverview teachers JoAnn Lowry-Emery and Luann Kuehn. The FirstGrant program is designed to help classroom teachers throughout central Illinois accomplish creative and innovative projects they would otherwise be unable to fund because of budget limitations, and it is supported by the Ruby K. Worner Trust and the PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, according to a news release.
Other help came from the University of Illinois, which provided the helium needed to fill the balloon. The launch site and equipment used for the launch were courtesy of Caterpillar Inc.
WTVP produced and broadcast a live webcast of the event, which will be archives for future viewing at www.wtvp.org.
Weather expertise was provided by the National Weather Service as well as by Cody Murphy, meteorologist for WMBD-TV.
The balloon itself was approximately five feet in diameter when filled with helium. It's launch box was equipped with multiple HD cameras, a tracking device and data logger for collecting weather information, including temperature, humidity, altitude and atmospheric pressure.
The payload also included logos and lightweight items from participating schools and stations. "Just so we can say we have something that's been to outer space," Dawson added.
Other participating schools with Riverview were Quest Charter Academy and St. Mary's School in Metamora. Altogether about 275 students attended the launch.
Dawson said the introduction to weather unit she started teaching this year not only gets students excited about weather and meteorology but about other sciences, as well. Also, she said, it opens their thoughts to possible careers for when they finish school.
Knight: Logic and lying with Richard Pryor
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- Published on 17 May 2013
- Written by Bill Knight
More and more, so many media so deftly defy logic, the smooth-talking liars on radio and cable seem like the man in the old joke by the late, great comic Richard Pryor. His wife catches him betraying her and he coos, "Who you gonna believe: me or your lyin' eyes?"
Pryor is the subject of a new documentary produced by his seventh (and fourth) wife Jennifer, Richard Pryor: Defy the Logic, scheduled to premiere at 8 p.m. (Central Time) on Showtime on Friday, May 31.
The only time I lied as a journalist was in the summer of 1985 when I was a cocky reporter who'd worked in Washington, D.C., and returned to Illinois to cover entertainment for the Peoria Journal Star. Pryor, a native Peorian, returned to town to shoot his movie Jo Jo Dancer: Your Life Is Calling. It was a big deal – and a big story.
However, Pryor refused to talk to the newspaper, against which he held a grudge, I found out later.
Day after day, I went to his locations and hotel, talking to his publicist, his management, old friends he'd grown up with, co-stars.
Nothing.
My editor became angry that I wasn't getting an interview.
"'S'matter, hot shot?" said Ed Lembeck, grinning as he ripped me a new one. "Can't do your job?"
Frustrated, I tried to think what Pryor would want.
Or – what he'd like.
So, covering Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks – in town for a charity – it dawned on me. After Banks' appearance, I briefly interviewed him and then blurted out that Richard Pryor was nearby and he'd like to see him.
Pulled that out of my ear.
Banks perked up and said, "Great; I'll follow you over." I drove to the location and got the attention of Pryor's publicity flack -- who'd been totally uncooperative – and said Ernie Banks was coming over and would like to see Richard.
Again, had no basis for that. The crew stopped filming, Banks came in and photojournalist Renee Byer (who went on to win a 2007 Pulitzer Prize at the Sacramento Bee) got a nice photo of them shaking hands.
The picture was published – and the grudge was dropped. Pryor phoned me in the newsroom that morning, thanked me and asked me to come by to talk for a story.
I believe I got that story because I put myself in someone else's shoes, and I've tried to remember that lesson since.
Pryor had many more lessons to offer many more people, teaching not so much about coarse language but about tender connections. In fact, Jennifer Lee Pryor, his widow, thinks she has enough material for a follow-up documentary, and she's starting work on a feature film that Forest Whitaker may direct. So there could be more about Pryor, a talent who defied the odds as well as the logic, and a skilled, instinctive teacher.
For now, here's Showtime's (Central Time) schedule for "Richard Pryor: Defy the Logic" --
Friday, May 31, 8 p.m. ShowtimeSaturday, June 01, 11 p.m. ShowtimeSaturday, June 01, 5:30 p.m. Sho 2
· Saturday, June 01, 9 p.m. Showtime
Monday, June 03, 11 p.m. Showtime ShowcaseMonday, June 03, 7 p.m. Sho 2Tuesday, June 04, 7 p.m. ShowtimeWednesday, June 05, 9 p.m. Showtime ShowcaseSaturday, June 08, 7 p.m. Showtime ShowcaseMonday, June 10, 7:30 p.m. ShowtimeTuesday, June 11, 8:30 p.m. Sho 2Monday, Jun 17, 2:30 A.m. Sho 2Wednesday, June 19, 7:30 p.m. ShowtimeSaturday, June 22, 2 a.m. Sho 2
