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Peoria’s Hometown Newspaper
Banner acquires hematology, oncology practice
July 22, 2021
Firefighter charity hosts backpack giveaway BY ALLISON BROWN Peoria Times Staff Writer
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Peoria Firefighter Charities is giving away backpacks filled with school supplies in a drive-thru giveaway at the Community Center parking lot from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 31. Students must be present to receive a backpack and supplies are limited. “The goal was to collect 500 backpacks with basic school supplies for any child in need in the Peoria Unified School District. So, (supplies) could be crayons, pencils, folders — the basics,” said Mark Barbee, spokesman for Peoria Firefighter Charities. “We came together and thought about
who in this school system needs the supplies, and a liaison from Peoria said, ‘Hey, I happen to work with foster and homeless kids in our s y s t e m ,’ and there’s about 200 to 250 families in that system, just for Peoria Unified School District. Initially, it was just to get those families the supplies they
needed, but the charities wanted to go above and beyond.” It started with Peoria Unified School District asking students to collect and donate backpacks and supplies at the end of the school year. Touched by the kids’ donations, the Peoria Firefighter Charities teamed up and matched them. Then, seeing the hard work and goals of the organization, Mayor Cathy Carlat and the city council also donated. Having met and surpassed its goal of 500 backpacks, the charity is giving away the backpacks and supplies to any student in Peoria while supplies last. SEE BACKPACK PAGE 5
Paloma Community Park second-phase planning continues BY CONNOR DZIAWURA Peoria Times Staff Writer
SPORTS......... 10 Tickets available for Cardinals’ training camp
OPINION...................7 BUSINESS.................9 SPORTS...................10 FEATURES...............11 RELIGION................13 BACK TO SCHOOL....16 CLASSIFIEDS...........21
With the city of Peoria having recently completed a string of community engagement opportunities, officials are continuing to plan for further development of Paloma Community Park. Contemplated amenities for the park’s second phase, though subject to change, include a wheeled trail/plaza for skating, rollerblading and biking; an additional lighted ball field complex; a walking trail; an equestrian trailhead; interpretive trails; multipurpose fields; a drone zone; and additional parking areas and restrooms.
“Peoria has always taken a strong commitment to connecting with the community on recreation amenities. Almost every project we do has a degree of engagement,” said John R. Sefton Jr., the city’s parks, recreation and public facilities director. “This, for Paloma itself and the phase two, we were very strategic in creating multiple touch points all through May and into June, giving the community the opportunity to provide insight and to provide comment on what they desire most.” Through a mix of in-person polling and online surveying, as well as presentations, Sefton Jr. said the city collected
more than 2,300 data points. “It’s really changed our opinion sort of on how we can best manage some of these online surveys,” he said. Currently at 85 acres, Paloma Community Park opened last October and includes amenities like a lighted ball field complex, lighted multipurpose fields, four lighted pickleball courts, open turf, a fishing lake, a fishing deck with a stage area and event lawn, a splash pad, an inclusive-designed playground, picnic ramadas, a lighted dog park, two concessions buildings, an overlook plaza and multiple restroom buildings and parking SEE PLANNING PAGE 3
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