A
year ago, almost to the day,
a slick new publication hit
local newsstands. The cover
had a picture of some people in a
boat, appearing as if they were in the
middle of the Illinois River with the
east and west sides equidistant apart.
The Peorian
was born with the
intention to celebrate Peoria and its
environs, including the grand city of
East Peoria and other surrounding
towns. The cover story focused on the
various development projects under
way at the time, with Museum Square
the most noticeable.
In about one month, Museum
Square — which encompasses the Peo-
ria Riverfront Museum and the Cat-
erpillar Visitors Center — will cut the
ribbon on what promises to become a
new jewel in downtown Peoria.
Months from now the first stores in
the new East Peoria downtown will
open and residents and visitors will
begin using more frequently a new
road through there that is unique in its
design and construction.
The long-awaited Hotel Pere
Marquette/Marriott Hotel project is
underway, with completion more than
a year away.
Peoria was, we said in that inau-
gural issue of
The Peorian
magazine,
moving the ball forward. It has a
momentum now that has been gather-
ing steam for at least the year, as work
continues on the city’s Warehouse
District, the addition of major retailers
in East Peoria (including at least one
we can’t wait to hear announced if the
rumors are true) come to be and Mor-
ton continues development growth in
its downtown.
To those who welcome develop-
ment, there are few sights more pleas-
ant than construction cranes extending
high into the sky, symbolizing work
that is happening to build a better way
of life.
We hope we can continue to be part
of that. We at
The Peorian
are con-
tinuing to evolve, ourselves, to keep
our readers informed of the region’s
efforts to improve itself, and to help
foster such improvement.
We believe the inaugural The Peo-
rian of the Year Award was a success
as our readers chose Dr. Jasti Rao for
his efforts to improve the health of the
community and indeed, the world. We
intend to do it again next spring, so
watch for our invitation to nominate
one of Peoria’s “good eggs” for the
next The Peorian of the Year.
Our weekly TV show that is
broadcast each Sunday at 8 a.m. on
WHOI-TV and is always on our web-
site, thepeorian.com, has grown in that
we are making an effort to talk about
tough issues that affect us all. But we
still will have fun along the way.
We hope you will stick with us,
readers. Let us know what you want
to see us cover.
Like the region, we have momen-
tum. We don’t want to lose it.
We also implore area leaders to not
let the development momentum in the
region wane. It’s too important you
keep the ball moving forward.
FROM THE
EDITOR
PAUL GORDON
President ӕ Publisher
Julie Russell
Editor
Paul Gordon
Design
Stuart Clubb
Mike Cameron
Megan Valentine
Contributing Writers
Kevin Kizer
Dr. Peter J. Couri
Cathi Hawkinson
Dr. Joy Miller
Lois J. Funk
Bill Liesse
Ken Brooke
Advertising Sales Contact
Kelly Popadziuk
Production Manager
Mark Kiel
Production
AdCo Advertising Agency, Inc.
1302
W. Pioneer Parkway
Peoria, IL 61615
Phone: (309) 692-7880
5
THEPEORIAN.COM
