Visitors to the Washington Square not only had the opportunity to participate in Autumn Fest, they also had the chance hear BeckenQ play at the Venue Art Gallery & Wine Social grand opening Sept. 19.

Pet lovers have a new place to take their dogs or cats, and it is not a park.

The new PetSmart is now open in East Peoria. The store had a “soft” opening Monday and will have a grand opening Saturday.

About 46 million people were found to suffer from arthritis or chronic joint symptoms in 2006, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

Jolene Rogers, a life-long resident of Washington, was one of them.

After three years of success in Chillicothe, a popular Mexican restaurant is expanding into Tazewell County.

Tequila’s Mexican Bar & Grill is scheduled to open in the Freedom Centre next to Wal-Mart Supercenter in Washington by the end of this month.

Area business owners and employees looking for a new way to expand their business might consider joining the local Business Networking International Group. 

Chapter president Brian Rule said the group started meeting in March.

In looking at its branch network, NationalCity decided it would be beneficial to open a bank in Washington.

Terri Wilson, vice president of media relations, said it is common practice for the bank to evaluate and retool its network constantly.

Decisions are based on geography of existing branches and the customer base, she said.

The face of Washington Square is changing with the addition of Lori’s Kitchen Store.

Lori Peifer, with her mother, Carol Gonzales, was a Pampered Chef director for more than 10 years.

“It was time for a change,” Peifer said. “I liked the cooking classes, but didn’t like the time limitations of a Pampered Chef (gathering).”

Bank building branch on lot next to Wal-Mart

Although there is no shortage in banking choices in Washington, National City is giving residents another one.

Washington Chamber of Commerce director Carol Hamilton said National City is in the process of building a branch bank on the lot next to Wal-Mart.

The recent fine arts festival was only the beginning of art appreciation in Washington, thanks to two women and a society.

The Washington Fine Arts Society gives local artists a chance to get together in the name of art, and Stephanie Scott and Tiffany Wyse-Fisher now have a place to display artists’ creations.

While some say the middle class may be disappearing, in the local job market there is good news about the middle class.

Housing for the middle class may not be what it used to be years ago.

For some residents, the difference between enterprise zones and a Tax Increment Financing district can be confusing.

Washington will soon be able to offer an additional choice in senior care with the construction of an assisted living community managed by Good Neighbor Care of Eugene, Ore.

Washington City Council members approved a special use permit to Bill Krumholz for his property at 882 School St. at their Monday night meeting.