Obamas celebrate late

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama observed their 22nd wedding anniversary a day late with a celebratory dinner Saturday night in the city’s Georgetown neighborhood. For their anniversary dinner they picked Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons Hotel, about a six-minute drive from the White House.

IVAR has new fundraiser

Get back to your Italian and German roots with Illinois Valley Animal Rescue’s Ethnic Food Festival fundraiser. It’s a new fundraiser for the local animal shelter.  The Ethnic Food Festival is from 11-3 Sunday at Peru Rotary Park. You’ll find the park between Pike and Schuyler Streets on Third Street. To buy food, you’ll need to buy tickets at the festival.
You can learn more about it by listening to an interview available at the WLPO AM and FM dot com news page.

State helps park to expand

An old campground is now part of Starved Rock State Park.  Governor Pat Quinn was at the park Saturday morning to announce the state has acquired 51 acres of land west of Route 178 that was formerly White Oak Campground.  The acreage is north of Grand Bear Lodge. Quinn says investing in the state’s oldest park is important as it allows families to renew their spirits. The State worked out a private deal for the land for $900,000 dollars.  Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller says the new land includes more canyons and opportunities for habitat and trail development.

Pope gathers church leaders

Pope Francis has opened a 2-week meeting of 200 cardinals and bishops from around the world as part of a Vatican effort to understand why many in the Catholic Church have gone their own way on sexual and family issues like contraception, pre-marital sex and divorce.  At a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Sunday, Francis says a creative, humble approach is needed. Conservatives want to reinforce Vatican doctrine. Liberals hope for more openness to the realities of Catholic families.