I've noticed that Peoria has various entities that bestow awards on well deserving individuals. "Forty Under Forty" comes to mind. The YWCA recently honored Peoria City Clerk Mary Haynes for her exemplary service in government. No one deserves it more. How Mary greets every over the top request from media, citizens, and City Council with hard work, effort, and a smile is a miraculous mystery to say the least.
This morning I read that Bruce Brown was given the "Leaguer of the Year" award by the League of Women Voters. I wonder, did he have to dress in drag to accept that one? I like Bruce Brown. Energetic, optimistic, idealistic, and intelligent. A rare combination now days. However, every time I see him I am daunted by one question: "How does Bruce Brown stay SO tan 365 days a year?!" It is hard to imagine a guy like Bruce vain enough to go to a tanning salon or using bronzer, but Peoria is grey nine months of the year and the man spends most of his time cooking and slaving away at his Peoria Heights restaurant, Paparazzi.
Once again, I digress.
Anyhoo, it seems to Polly that the accolades go not only to the well deserving, but also to the well known. Perhaps the two go hand in hand. It seems to me that some credit should be paid to those who stand up and demand better for their neighborhoods. Those average Joans and Joes who attend charrettes, City Council meetings, organize neighborhood clean ups and block parties. The ones who are active in their Neighborhood Associations, plant flowers, and refuse to surrender their homes and streets to thugs who have nothing better to do than terrorize hard working, tax paying property owners.
I don't always agree with these people, but damn, I always admire their chutzpah. These folks aren't politicians, they aren't necessary media savvy, and they don't tend to dress up or practice sound bites for the camera. They just demand to be heard and cry "Foul!" when the rest of us are too tired, busy, shy, or just plain lazy to shoulder our fair share of civic burden.
The following folks come to mind:
Paul Wilkinson
Levetta Ricca
Karen Ratledge
Sara Partridge
Karrie Alms
Mitch Mitchell
Nancy Mitchell
I'm sure that I'm leaving a lot of well deserving people off the list, so I'm taking suggestions. As well as nominees, I would like ideas on a good prize. I'm looking for something meaningful and creative... in lieu of costly. Polly is on a strict budget. Way too much shoe shopping lately. I'm thinking about a golden (spray painted) megaphone.
You can leave a comment with your nominee and or prize suggestion, or e-mail it to pollypeoria@yahoo.com
