In anticipation of the 33rd annual Great American Smokeout Thursday, the American Cancer Society is reminding smokers there has never been a better time to quit. Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of cancer and premature death in the United States.

It's going to be a busy week....

Central Illinois’ coal-mining culture, labor heritage and a neglected local author will be discussed at a presentation and reading by journalist Bill Knight at 2 p.m. Nov. 16 at Flanagan House, 942 NE Glen Oak Ave. in Peoria, sponsored by the Peoria Historical Society.

Readers — can you donate your time and talent to make a card to donate to the Cards That Care Program at OSF? Please read on....

Eighteen-year-old Kiersten Sames was crowned the 2008 East Peoria Festival of Lights Queen during Saturday’s 23rd annual pageant at the Par-a-Dice Hotel.

It looked like a crockpot convention at Fondulac Rehabilitation & Health Care Center Thursday afternoon. The smell of chili wafted through the air as it simmered in 15 different crocks.
Fondulac Rehabilitation & Health Care Center sponsored the fourth annual chili cook-off.

Some adults who got to experience fishing at Dixon’s ponds when they were young are now trying to bring this experience back for the youth of today.
A core group of about 12 people meet once a week to talk about ideas and plan for a program called Hooked on Fishing.

Creative costumes
Scores of children descended on Glen Oak Zoo Friday for Howl-Zoo-Ween. They included, from left, Katy Jo Thrall, 8, of East Peoria; Gage Anderson, 12, of Bartonville, and Zachary Thrall, 9, of East Peoria, who were there to show off some out-of- the-ordinary costumes.          

Editor's Note: This is our last regular installment of Eye on East Peoria. We may still use the feature if reader's submit items for the column. Items are about almost anything from vacations to work promotion to what someone did over the weekend.

A unique religious-themed store and art gallery has opened in East Peoria to recapture the “hippie generation” of yesteryear.

In July, artist Daniel Botkin moved Gates of Eden out of its location by Bradley University and opened a new spot in East Peoria last month at 129 E. Washington St., next to Bamboo Inn.
Botkin said he was able to find the same amount of space for cheaper rent in East Peoria, but the main motivation was to attract more customers.

VOTING ENDS OCTOBER 8

View Central Illinois' littlest baseball fans and vote for your favorites!

Two lucky winners, Cubs and Cardinals, will have a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to the Shoppes at Grand Prairie in Peoria.

E-mail Eye on East Peoria items to eptc@timestoday.com.

Submit Eye on East Peoria items to eptc@timestoday.com.

To help celebrate Abe Lincoln’s bicentennial and raise money for the East Peoria Historical Society and Tazewell County Museum, the two organizations are inviting people to hang out with the late president and his wife for an afternoon.

Submit your Eye on East Peoria tidbit about a person who lives or works in East Peoria by mailing it to eptc@timestoday.com