For many of you July 4 is a big family event and for others it is just trying to get away from the excess noise coming from people who abuse the day with very loud noise disturbing kids, pets and ptsd people.
At last a new location in Peru, a different fireworks company and what's you opinion? Will we want to improve upon this location and continue on or return to Water Street when it is possible or find another way to celebrate July 4 and just watch the communities who seem to have a long and successful history of celebrating the whole day.
I did not see them but did appreciate not having to deal with the loudness of Water Street, but that is only me. Not to say we did not have a neighborhood full of amateur fireworks taking place and eventually very well controlled by the PPD.
FB has been discussing this much of the morning pro and con but mostly con.
49 comments:
I personally did not feel that yesterday's fire works compared at all to those we've have the previous 2 years. The finale was definitely a big let down. Didn't Peru change pyrotechnic companies? If so, why? I don't think it was a smart move.
Did anyone attend both the LaSalle and Peru displays? If so I would be interested in a comparison. Heard LaSalle's were spectacular.
Peru's fireworks were a joke. Complete waste.
A little off topic but important.
WEDNESDAY JULY 6 THE MAYOR WILL BE HOLDING A PUBLIC TOWN FORUM @ 6 PM, PERU CITY HALL, TO DISCUSS THE CITY PROPERTY ON WHICH WASHINGTON SCHOOL ONCE WAS.
If you want like to see something other than another baseball please try and attend and voice your opinion.
they should sell the property for development.
7:23 AM
This is a residential area what type of development are you referring to:
Thanks for the heads-up Lois. Harl is hoping to keep attendance low for this "Town Forum". This is another scam by Harl and I'm betting the phonies at 4th & Fulton have already decided what they plan to do with that property. Some Peru insider is slated to profit from this situation and Harl wants to cover his ass with a single quick and dirty meeting "open to the public" before he announces what they will do with the property. Another secret deal is in the making here folks. Count on it.
The Peru fire works was very well attended for a dismal display of pyro technics. The local parking around the mall provided a better display of fireworks. We parked over by Sherman's and watched many people mostly young teenagers (some drinking) running across route 251 to go to and return during the fireworks and we feared for their safety. The traffic control at the 251 and JP Chevrolet intersection was non existent with cars stopped in the 251 intersection going east towards La Salle which could of caused an accident from north and south bound traffic. The positive side is the restaurants did a very good business and there was ample parking for people who wanted to watch the fireworks from their cars. Peru just can't get it done like Hennepin, Oglesby and even La Salle with an event like this. I hope for improvements in future events!
What is the Fourth of July, I always thought it was a celebration of our Independence from England. Locally thee seemed to be little use of the work Patriotism. The noise from local fireworks experts was obnoxious for 2 days and some of this sent late into the night which was annoying but possibly a health danger to animals, veterans, infants and people with compromised health issues.
Would you like to see some musical events with at least a hint of Patriotism? La Salle has a small parade and St Mary's church has a wonderful Mass preceded by patriotic music which carried through the entire service. Can we as a city do more than have 15 minutes of firewoks, beer garden and the usual bouncy houses?
Is it time for the city to toughen up their fireworks noise ordinance and start fining these people?
Is it time to discontinue the fireworks sold in the city further encouraging the continued blasts for 2 days?
Lois
The 4th of July celebrations will never be perfect in your world. You complained when they were down at the river. The Parks and Rec moved them up to the Mall and you are still not happy. Yes the pryo was not the best but you would think that all the haters that want nothing but failure from anything the city is associated with could at least give the Parks and Rec board some complements for at least moving and making it more family oriented. Plus you didn't even go so all your opinions are second hand.
excellent work by parks board. Ray Steve Janice and of course Linda D and whomever else on the board. You did great work. I know some people are upset they cant attack because Linda supported the move and everything related to it. Good job for Linda for voting your what you knew was best and not being swayed.It is a little ironic I think that the negatives are mostly coming from many of same people you were aligned with at one time.again kudos to you for doing the right thing since you have been the board.
I, for one, thought the private fireworks were way worse this year than in the past. They were louder and lasted well into the night and for days before the 4th. Something needs to be done about this as it is beginning to get out of control.
Sounds like we have a lot of volunteers on this page to help manage next year's event.
Lois, All the things you suggest and any other suggestions require sound leadership and intelligent thought by elected officials. Neither one of those qualities are currently available with Peru's current crew of rubber-stamp know nothings. Has any city of 10,000 ever paid such excessive salaries to so many appointed officials and employees for so little return on investment? Harl uses hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars each and every year to buy political loyalty from appointees with long phony titles and nobody is really in charge becuase nobody is really qualified to fulfill all the requirements of the phony titles. WTF?
9:23 AM
Nothing in life is perfect and I have never suggested that this year or any year is perfect with any event, always room for improvement or changes. Most of the comments I read were posted on social media, aka as fb. The majority of posters were not happy with the event and the only posts that were not were from those associated with it or the city as you probably are.
I didn't go to Peru's or anyones fireworks, my choice. But families with children and young adults did and those are the people that comment on the success or lack of, so that is who you need to listen to.
I will not comment on the Peru Park Board for personal reasons and my comments are not welcome and never have been even when they should have been. When has the Park Board or Peru Recreation Committee which is the correct term ever listened to anyone beside themselves and close friends. Not much different than what goes on at city council meetings which people have abandoned for the same reason. Everybody is stupid if you are not on their friend or like list. Made this comment for numerous people who feel the same. Sometimes it is wise to watch and learn from what is taking place around you.
Lois,
You sound like a broken record. It is all a conspiracy. You won't say anything about the Park Board because you think it will effect your friend. Well I would hope to say that wouldn't happen, if it did then petition the council for a change. Not everybody is stupid, but there are those who would argue with any decision or comment that came out of 4th and Fulton.
As for 10:15 You have to be have to be smoking something here Please explain your statement. Again I would ask for proof evidence, any documentation.
"Has any city of 10,000 ever paid such excessive salaries to so many appointed officials and employees for so little return on investment? Harl uses hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars each and every year to buy political loyalty from appointees with long phony titles and nobody is really in charge becuase nobody is really qualified to fulfill all the requirements of the phony titles. WTF?"
Or are you just a bag of wind
This conversation is ridiculous. Every town that has fireworks has crowds, parking and traffic issues. The fireworks themselves are a matter of preference. I personally watched fireworks with relatives in a nice suburb and we sat in traffic for an hour trying to get out of there. Most people were nice, but some were just stupid.
From what I heard, Peru's traffic and parking situation was very well managed and the fire works were just okay. Big deal! Maybe they will amp it up next year, but it sounds like the venue was a huge improvement and it ran well fro the first time. Also I know many more people were able to watch from their own yards, people were parked at the Parkside school and similar places and could watch, which only helped the crowds because you could see it from all over.
For your complainers, aren't you spoiled when you can sit in your air-conditioned car and criticize the police and whine about the fire works being good enough? I say how blessed are we to live in a place where fireworks are among our biggest complaints?
I commend people for listening and trying something new. There are a hundred different opinions on how to do this, so they tried something new and I hope it sticks. As for LaSalle or whoever else being so much better, then for heaven's sake, go to LaSalle and watch theirs! Why complain? Who cares what idiots are saying on Facebook? The answer is no one, except other people who whine and complain in blogs and Facebook.
I love it. They are going to have a public meeting for what to do with the Washington property and it is somehow a scam. 8:17 the mayor is hoping to keep "attendance low" for the forum? Really? Then why did the city announce it? I am not hearing that or getting that impression at all. It's a "dirty meeting that is open to the public." Lol
Why don't you shut your pie hole, get off your damn computer and go express your opinion where it matters? The whining and crying is pathetic.
The city can do whatever they damn well please with that property once the school district hands it over and yet you complain because they have a public meeting asking for your input.
omg it is killing some folks of the success of the event. Unbelievable but totally expected from the PAC.
city government should not be in the business of providing entertainment. The park board needs to become self sufficient through fees and fund raisers. No tax dollars should be spent on any entertainment, including park maintenance. As far as the fireworks go, it would be cheaper, and probably more entertaining, to burn a bushel basket full of 100 dollar bills on 4th street. And don't get me going on the freeloading baseball. Peru little league makes more money than the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. They should pay for all park maintenance!
10:51 Because I am Lois's friend I don't ever want her to ever think she cannot voice her opinion whether we agree or disagree. I have to say that even though I was not at the mall I did view the fireworks from a distance and was disappointed. As a rec board member I was also discouraged to hear and read that many viewers felt the pyrotech portion of the event was shorter than usual and less impressive as the past 2 years.
Lois, you said you heard from other people to make up your mind. You must remember what Judge Judy always says, "Don't tell me what you heard from others".
Don't you think 10:15 AM is referring to the hundreds of thousands of salary dollars paid every year to appointed officials put on the payroll by Harl? Get a clue 10:51 AM. DUH!
1:06 PM
You surely know better than to think that I make up my mind from listening to other people. I read FB comments with interest but if you think I go along to get along you are very wrong. Don't try to make something out of nothing.
12:02 PM, July 05, 2016 - I told my Alderman that the property should be sold to the highest bidder. We don't need another park. Sell it and pocket the cash. It will be needed soon.
3:24 I know for a fact that there are some aldermen who agree with you so why not go and express your opinion. I actually wish the Peru school district had done this and kept it out of the city's hands and sold it off but they knew what they were doing.
Our lobbyist is still trying to get that Horse Shoe Pit grant money. Maybe Andy Skoogs will come to town around Halloween with a big cardboard check to build that zippy line along with the horse shoe pits. That would be good for the Rat Labor. They could milk that project out for months with prevailing wage and overtime. Don't forget all the eMAZEing stuff that will need to be purchased... wooden posts, nails, and other various things. And remember, Ace is the Place with the Connected Hardware Man, so some butter will be spread on that bread as well.... can't look a gift lot in the mouth without "creating" some jobs and "creating" some votes.
6:24
you are so bitter and you just make me want to vomit with all your hate.
7:52 AM, July 06, 2016 - I'm quite happy and I hate no one. However, our Yokel leaders around here make it quite easy to show how wasteful government can be without supervision from the stake holders - i.e. the Citizens. I guess I do hate one thing... government waste and Crony Capitalism. And we have plenty of it around here.
What I just read in the News Tribune made my heart skip a beat. The Peru City Council is discussing a project to make stone monument signs at the entrances to the city.
12:15 Peru Little League has Spent major amounts of money into the diamonds. They continue to have fundraisers to due repairs on the diamonds. They Updated lights, fields, fences, and score boards and much more over the years. They work with the mayors and the alderman to have some of the best ball diamonds in the area. It sickens me to see how stupid people are in our community. The few Knowitall Loudmouths do your research before you comment.
11:17 AM, July 06, 2016 - Peru Little League is a private organization. It should not be supported by taxpayer dollars. They do the work on the baseball fields to support their own entertainment. Which is fine. If that is all the parks are going to be used for, then we should sell them to Little League, Inc. and put the property back into the tax pool.
What are these connections? And who? Because the Park Board won't listen to you individually is that wrong? And what idea of yours did they dismiss?
Sell the school property for a public housing area? What are you smoking?
I think a few of you misguided residents have bought the conspiracy potion from those who have been jilted by the voters of Peru.
Crony capitalism is the term one of jilted used? Do you have any evidence of that?
A few of those drinking the potion have bought the conspiracy selling that has been going on for much too long! Before you drink-----consider the source, and consider their goal. All of those selling the drug have either been defeated or not reelected. All have very different agendas then public service and in a small city like ours it's very hard to hide them.
12:43 PM
Well thought out comment. The same thing has happened at Hegler Park in La Salle as in Washington Park in Peru.
Remember when a park meant a swimming pool, a snack shack and playground equipment. The big diamond has always been there and used to even be used by adult leagues. Tennis courts seem to have survived the best.
At one time Washington School utilized Washington Park for recess for the students. Kids were always at the park but now, very few are seen there unless there is a baseball game and they are playing baseball.
I see a very serious problem sprouting in North Peru. There are now electric car charging stations being installed near the grocery store. We need to nip this in the bud while we can. The people that use these charging station will not be paying sales tax or motor fuel tax. We must not allow this. The city needs to immediately pass a tax before more people start using Peru roads for free!
5:18
The people who use them will shop and eat while their car charges. Don't be a hater because people choose to go green.
5:18 PM, Don't be so sure Peru's phony elected officials have not devised a way for a "friend or supporter" to benefit from the charging stations. They buy Peru electricity so there will be an angle taken advantage of for a connected individual or two.
5;18 The problem with a few in Peru---a very few that control this forum--is that progress is a dirty word. I look in from the outside and see Peru as a progressive small town with low tax rates, a nice retail and medical service area, low crime rate, and many more quality of life issues that are important and the few take for granted.
I am not sure why a few that control the forum are so negative towards those in office?
8:42 your comments are so tired and old. Most are also ridiculous. All I know is I am thankful you are not in a position to decide what happens with my money. You are not even a rational person. Not even close.
Electric cars are NOT any better for the environment. Just as much, if not more, greenhouse gases are produced in producing the electricity required to power these things. Government studies have concluded that CO2 per mile is equivalent to the same size gasoline powered vehicle. But then you get into the batteries themselves. The rare metals used are strip mined. When the batteries reach the end of their useful life, they must be recycled through costly and dangerous processes using toxic chemicals. NO. These vehicles are more destructive than they are good.
10:17 AM
If you are truely looking in from the outside and by that I mean living outside Peru or perhaps Illinois, then you don't understand how the city functions. No one controls this forum, all may participate. Sometimes irrelevant or obnoxious comments are not printed but that is my decision as administrator.
Lois, you are not telling the truth about what is irrelevant or obnoxious comments, read what you let on the blog, it's ridiculous. You complain about transparency in government, how about being transparent with your blog. I bring up points of untruths on your blog quite often and low and behold they never get posted. What I try to post is not obnoxious it's mostly rebuttal of things being posted without facts. What is irrelevant to you is relevant to others, keep that in mind.
Peru Town Forum,
That is the problem YOU decide what is posted. If something is said about one of your 16 friends that feed the hate towards the city, you won't post.
Anything that promotes the city or any of the elected officials YOU won't post.
Anything that a person who supports the efforts of the City official,YOU won't post and YOU will allow your supporters to bash degrade and almost slander the elected officials who work for the betterment of the city.
You have such a chip on your shoulder that you can never be objective in any discussion the involves the City of Peru.
So fed up with this blog
11:46 Your answer was what was expected. And I don't understand the statement of how you perceive Peru functions. It sounds to me that you are promoting some type of inside conspiracy that faults Peru for all of those items that were highlighted by 10:17. Including tax rates, retail and medical availability, nice schools, great reasonable utilities and many more. Maybe its just those select few that participate that are looking for negatives in a not so perfect world. I find it very hard to understand why all of the negative comments are reflected towards those either elected or appointed.
I would like to point out the above positives and thank many who have held positions for a job well done.
10:17 Nobody controls this forum and what makes you think you know who those are that are so negative towards those in office? Do you attend meetings regularly? Are you involved in any manner with city government? Do you research meeting minutes, agendas, financial reports, disbursements, etc.? Do you FOIA information you're not sure of? Maybe, just maybe, some of the bloggers who post on this forum are involved and do research information before commenting? Do you? Maybe they are right and you are wrong.
As for the positive and negative comments, the thing that matters is what the vast majority think. It is very obvious that the few negative comments made by the same people on this blog from week to week simply does NOT reflect the feelings of a vast majority of people.
For one thing, one person decides what comments get through and that person has her own agenda. I'm not saying that as a criticism, we all have our agendas, but it is this is not an open discussion. I try to contribute an intelligent comment once in a while and I have had several deleted.
Also, the number of people here participating is tiny, relatively speaking. So this is just a fence post for a few people who like to gossip and bitch in anonymity. Nothing more. Again not a criticism I'm just stating that everything needs to be kept in perspective. And we will see if this gets posted. :)
But 1:33 you posted anonymously.
1:30 what are you talking about? The comments are screened and chosen quite carefully. If you think this is some open forum, you are dead wrong. Also, I do have a lot of information, and most comments are simply gossip, heresay or complete BS. That's fine, but to imply that this is somehow a place to get facts is silly.
5:09 so what? Everyone on here is anonymous? No double standard, it goes both ways. I just don't understand how the people so critical don't just run for office and fix the problems they see. I'm not on here bitching and complaining.
5:26
You are so right!!!!!!!!!!
Post a Comment