A Moment of Zentz: September 2007

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Changing Course

Changing Course
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Harley Dodson, 11, Reyna Ventura, 10, Austin Ventura, 11, and Dylan Brown, 9, cook s'mores while camping with their family along the Hennepin Canal just west of historic lock 21 near Wyanet on Labor Day weekend. The family, from Spring Valley, comes to the canal nearly every weekend throughout the summer to camp and go fishing. The 104-mile canal connecting the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, which is this year 100 years old, was made obsolete by the railways not long after its completion. After twenty years of neglect, the canal was turned into parkland in 1971. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Changing Course

Changing Course
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

John Ast of Evanston walks along the Hennepin Canal trail between historic locks 17 and 21 while hiking in July with other members of the Friends of the Hennepin Canal, a group dedicated to the preservation of the canal. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Changing Course

Changing Course
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Water flows over a waterfall created by lock 5 near Bureau Junction in September. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Changing Course

Changing Course
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

The parkland along the Hennepin Canal is teeming with wildlife, from a variety of birds to fish, bugs and wildflowers. Along the canal near Sheffield, a little green heron comes in for a landing on a tree positioned on its shore. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Changing Course

Changing Course
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

From left, Austin Ventura, 11, Dylan Brown, 9, Harley Dodson, 11, Reyna Ventura, 10, and Addalissa Ventura, 8, all of Spring Valley, splash around in the shallow waters of the Hennepin Canal next to their camp site moments before being told by a park ranger that there is no swimming in the canal due to sanitary concerns. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Changing Course

Changing Course
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Jason Picatto of Utica fishes with two of his children, Dylan Vizzone, 7, and Hannah Vizzone, 5, beneath historic lock 21 while camping nearby with his family on Labor Day weekend. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Changing Course

Changing Course
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Boaters travel east on the Hennepin Canal near Sheffield in July. The shallow waterway, only a few feet deep, is used by small motorboats, kayaks and canoes in limited sections between the locks, which no longer function. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Changing Course

Changing Course
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Matt Archer of Standard camps with his wife Janice and daughter Nicole along the Hennepin Canal near Wyanet on Labor Day weekend. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Changing Course

Changing Course
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Using a wooden fishing stick fashioned by her father, 3-year-old Sarah Kalapp of Sheffield waits patiently for a bite while her older sister Melissa, 9, helps gather some extra line while fishing along the Hennepin Canal not far from their home. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Changing Course

Changing Course
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

A grasshopper rests on a blade of grass along the Hennepin Canal near Bureau Junction in August. The hundred-plus miles of parkland along the canal are teeming with wildlife such as fish, a variety of birds and wildflowers. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Changing Course

Changing Course
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Michael and Robin Buyers from Toronto bike along easternmost stretch of trail on the Hennepin Canal near Bureau Junction on a Sunday afternoon in August. "We think this is a great facility," Michael Buyers says. The 104-mile Hennepin Canal, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, was designed to connect the Mississippi and Illinois riverways. Not long after its completion, however, the canal was made obsolete by the railways and closed in 1951, not to be restored and made into a park until 1970. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Monday, September 24, 2007

Life cubed

Cubed
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Phil Doubet shows off a fake door he has jokingly positioned in front of his minimalist home in Hanna City. There is no actual front door on the home. Visitors must climb a staircase on the side of the house to enter. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Life cubed

Cubed
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Admittedly into "dark art," the home of Phil Doubet in Hanna City is sparsely decorated with macabre pieces both purchased, such as this piece placed in the corner of the second floor television area, and pieces he has made himself using computer programs such as Photoshop. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Life cubed

Cubed
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Phil Doubet's minimalist home in Hanna City is a two-story square construction noticably different from the traditional homes of his neighbors. Particularly unique is the simple shape, a front door that is on the second level, and a rooftop patio. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Diabetes Walk

Diabetes Walk
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Brady Hough, 8, tries to tackle Jake Driscoll, 9, who has diabetes, while playing football with friends and family following the third annual Central Illinois Walk to Cure Diabetes, hosted by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Sunday afternoon at Glen Oak Park. Thousands walked to raise money and awareness to help find a cure for juvenile diabetes. Colorful hairdos, such as that sported by Hough, and facepainting were offered to the kids by the volunteer staff. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Diabetes Walk

Diabetes Walk
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

A group of young peformers wait backstage before entertaining several hundred attendees of the third annual Central Illinois Walk to Cure Diabetes, hosted by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Sunday afternoon at Glen Oak Park. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Diabetes Walk

Diabetes Walk
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

The third annual Central Illinois Walk to Cure Diabetes, hosted by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International Sunday afternoon at Glen Oak Park. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

ZZ Top

ZZ Top
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

A cheetah-skin rug was part of the set dressing as ZZ Top performed at the Peoria Civic Center Arena Sunday night. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

ZZ Top

ZZ Top
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

ZZ Top performs at the Peoria Civic Center Arena. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

ZZ Top

ZZ Top
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Guitarist Billy Gibbons performs with ZZ Top at the Peoria Civic Center Arena. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Close encounter

Close encounter
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Ella Metzger, 7, peers through a hole in the side of a beehive display as children from the Agudas Achim Jewish Synagogue in Peoria learn about bees and making honey as part of Rosh Hashanah Sunday afternoon. The Jewish tradition of eating honey on the high holy day celebrating the Jewish new year is to literally show God that they want a sweet year. Following a presentation by beekeepers Danny and Janet Hart of Brimfield, the children made their own Rosh Hashanah honey jars. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Velva

Velva
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

Chicago band from the future, Velva, entertains a small crowd at TeJ's in Peoria Saturday night. Photo by David Zentz

TeJ's

TeJ's
Originally uploaded by davidzentz

TeJ's bar in Peoria. Photo by David Zentz