There are holidays, weeks and months to celebrate or honor just about everything. There is National Public Sleeping Day, National Read a Road Map Week, Cable TV Month and, who could forget, National Naked Hiking Day.

But February, National American Heart Month and Women’s Heart Disease Awareness Month in Illinois, is a month worth honoring.

If voter turnout is not as high as it should be for general elections, the numbers are even more dire for primary elections. Often an overlooked part of the political process, primary elections pose a challenge to the lazy voter — not being able to vote along party lines.

There is more good news for Sunnyland residents.

In addition to the Route 8 improvements now underway, city officials from East Peoria and Washington are also conducting a corridor study.

With February’s primary election drawing near, people are making their political affiliations known and choosing sides in the contested races.

With the advent of lawn signs comes another innocuous campaign fixture, the letter of endorsement ultimately sent to local newspapers as a letter to the editor.

The end of one year and the beginning of a new one is a great time for all to reflect — not only for us personally — but also professionally. It is a time for city and community leaders to reflect as well.

A new year is perched to dawn. With the new year comes the decision to be pessimistic or optimistic in the new year.

Now that Christmas is only a couple of days away, the lights put up more than a month ago in honor of Dax Locke do not stand out.

The initial media blitz about the Decorate for Dax campaign has fizzled, leaving some people wondering how Dax is doing. Or not wondering at all.

One year ago this past week, FBI agents called Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and told him he was under arrest.

That call opened a new chapter of embarrassment in Illinois politics. This is going to be a long chapter, not forgotten anytime soon. It should not be forgotten.

In downtown Peoria at the Salvation Army’s Sylvia Fites Center, far from the comfortable homes in Washington, people shiver in the cold. Their faces are lined with worry, stress, hunger and desperation.

These people stand in line looking for a handout of the most basic of needs — food.

Driving through the Locke family’s neighborhood, it is easy to forget it is November, a day before Thanksgiving, and not December.

Houses glow and twinkle with Christmas lights and Santas. Reindeer and snowmen wave from yards and windows.

Troy Reed, Kenny Hopp, Jim Linsley and Brad Fuller are representatives of three groups: the Panther Football Alumni Association, the 12th man group and local people interested in the future of Washington Community High School.

They are not, however, just interested in the high school’s future; they are taking actions to improve the school in both the short-term and long-term future.

Today is Veterans Day. Students are out of school, and, hopefully, they thought, at least briefly, of the reason why.

In Washington, several events took place to honor veterans, more so than in the past, and this is encouraging. One of these events aimed also to educate youth about the military and the great sacrifices veterans have made for our country.

There is some apprehension about getting the H1N1 flu vaccination; however, this shot is a must for those in certain age categories.

Cold weather is approaching, and that means the familiar red kettles and clanging bells of the Salvation Army are not far off.

Those bells and kettles remind us of how good many of us have it, and should act as a beaon to help those who are not so well off. This year, there are many more people who fall into the not- doing-so-well category. 

One pillar of a close-knit small town is community spirit. Without support and cheers among residents, much of the appeal of a small town is lost.