PEORIA MAGAZINE June 2022

COVER STORY 42 The Antidote To What Ails Us: Get Outside By Mike Bailey

SPOTLIGHTS 14 An Oasis In the Desert By Phil Luciano 20 A Friend and Florist for Every Occasion By Mike Bailey 32 Pickleball ‘Craze’ Invades Central Illinois By Steve Tarter 36 A Grand Slam for Central Illinois By Kirk Wessler 52 From the Hub of the Universe, the Curse Of the Bambino By Phil Luciano 56 Pro Soccer Arrives in River City By Nick Vlahos 74 Take a Chance on Chillicothe By Laurie Pillman 76 A Riverboat Captain Reminisces By Steve Tarter

ON THE COVER: Hiking through Forest Park Nature Preserve. Photo by Ron Johnson May 2022

2 JUNE 2022 PEORIA MAGAZINE