IN OUR COMMUNITY
WCHS Robotics
The Washington Community High School Robotics Team, Mechanical Monarchy #5442, offers students the opportunity to learn career skills (Design, Programming, Electrical, Fabrication, and Marketing) in a rewarding and competitive environment. Students gain useful knowledge and skills working under the supervision of adult mentors. This year’s team has 48 students - 58% of whom are new members!
For nine weeks, the team spends 15 hours per week outside of regular school hours designing, building, programming, and testing their industrial-sized robot to prepare for multiple competitions. Mechanical Monarchy #5442 will be debuting their 2026 season robot at an Open House event at WCHS on Saturday, March 14th from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
This year’s FIRST Robotics game, REBUILT, was announced on January 10th. During the game, two competing alliances try to score points by scoring “fuel” (yellow balls) in their “active hubs” (ball scoring device) and by climbing a tower. Robots can score additional rewards by meeting specific requirements. For the first 20 seconds of each match, the robot must operate without human control; for the remaining 2 minutes and 20 seconds of the match, students have remote control of the robot. The alliance that earns the most points wins the match!
Winter Fun!
Bundle up for the 2nd Annual Washington Winter Walkabout, hosted by the Washington Chamber of Commerce! This month-long, town-wide scavenger hunt runs all February and invites community members to explore Washington while supporting local businesses.
Participating businesses will be displaying special Winter Walkabout signage from Joyful Yards—some proudly in their storefront or office windows, and others hidden inside their business for an extra layer of fun! If a sign is located indoors, it will be clearly noted on the tracking sheet.
Community members are invited to “walkabout” Washington—driving around town, spotting signs, and checking them off as you go. Any business located in the 61571-zip code or a Washington Chamber member may be part of the hunt.
To play, simply download tracking sheet starting February 1st at https://washingtonilcoc.com/winter-walkabout2026/ or pick one up at pick-up locations that will be announced once the Walkabout begins. When you’re finished, turn your completed sheet in to the Washington Chamber of Commerce to be eligible for prizes.
Pack the Place
It’s Senior Night Pack the Place at the Washington High School Torry Gym on February 10th at 7:00 p.m. Washington takes to the court to battle Morton! Special activities include Chuck a Duck, free popcorn, a shirt giveaway, and a WCHS Competition Cheer performance after the game!
A Celebration of America’s 250th
Heartland Festival Orchestra presents Hope & Home: A Celebration of America’s 250th—a compelling program exploring the nation’s musical spirit through heritage, heart, and horizon. The evening features acclaimed cellist Joshua Roman as soloist, alongside iconic works that reflect America’s ideals and influences, from Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man to Dvořák’s beloved Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.”
This celebration takes place on Saturday, February 7th from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Washington Five Points. Purchase tickets at https://heartlandfestivalorchestra1.thundertix.com/events/249720
Engineering Day
Transform your future with “Engineering Day” on Thursday, February 22nd from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Plan your visit on their website today at https://www.RiverfrontMuseum.org
This is a FREE DAY at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, where exciting and engaging engineering activities will be provided throughout the museum by local engineering groups. All exhibitions, daytime planetarium shows and activities are free and open to the public!
Sponsored by Caterpillar and other local engineering firms and groups.
Super Bowl Party
Bring your family and friends to Grace Bible Church at 1109 South Main Street for an evening of food, fun, and fellowship on Super Bowl Sunday, February 8th at 5:00 p.m.!
Watch the big game on a large screen in the fellowship hall, enjoy wings galore and all the classic game-day sides you love. While the game is on, everyone is welcome to shoot some hoops, and kids can run and play in the gym—there’s something for all ages!
Come hungry, come excited, and come ready for a fun night together. All are welcome!
Glo Bingo
Glo Bingo returns on March 6th at Countryside Banquet Facility! Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with bingo to start at 7:00 p.m. The Park District is looking for sponsors, raffle donors, and table groups to help make this year’s event the biggest yet!
Over the past three years, YOU helped make huge things happen in Washington:
• $14,000 raised in 2023 - new pickleball courts
• $13,000 raised in 2024 - upgraded playground equipment
• $9,000 raised in 2025 - improvements to athletic fields
The 2026 Glo Bingo proceeds will once again support playground improvements across Washington so kids have safe, fun, and accessible places to play. To help sponsor the event or purchase tickets, vist https://apps.daysmartrecreation.com/dash/x/#/online/wpd/programs/9/level?facility_ids=1&
Interested in helping or want more details? Email swood@washingtonparkdistrict.com
Til Death Do Us Part
Love, lies, and a little murder…on Saturday, February 14th from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. at Washington Five Points Event Center! ’Til Death Do Us Part is a murder mystery dinner full of twists, drama, and delicious food. Wedding dresses & formal attire are encouraged.
Winter Reading Program
A winter reading program for all ages!
Grab a blanket, fuzzy socks, and a favorite warm drink or snack, and get ready to beat cabin fever! Read 10 hours over 6 weeks (February 2 – March 15) to complete the challenge and earn prizes!
Register and start logging your reading to earn badges at https://washingtondl.beanstack.org/reader365
Youth Sports Registrations
The Washington Park District now has open registration for tee ball, lacrosse, baseball, and softball. Find all the details and registration deadlines at their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonParkDistrict
A Washington Community Cookbook!
Celebrate the flavors, families, and traditions that make Washington home. Roots & Recipes: Tales and Tastes from Washington’s Kitchens is a community collection honoring the stories and recipes that have been shared for generations.
Available for purchase in person at the Washington Chamber of Commerce office at 105 S Spruce St., on the 2nd floor of the Washington Park District, only during office hours of Monday-Wednesday 9:30am-11:30am. For quick pick-up downstairs, please submit the below form or call (309) 444-9921 to place an order. Quantities are limited – secure your copy today at https://washingtonilcoc.com/cookbook/
Free Throw Contest
Free Throw Contest
The Knights of Columbus is holding a Free Throw Contest for boys' and girls' divisions, ages 9-14 (age on January 1, 2026). Awards will be given to winners in 12 divisions. This competition is free to all participants and there is no registration required. Doors open at the East Peoria Central Jr. High Main Gym at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11th with the contest to start at 6:00 p.m.
Entertainment & Technology
Bundle Up for Excitement!
Get ready, MTCO TV customers—the 2026 Cortina Winter Olympics are almost here! From breathtaking alpine runs to thrilling ice‑track finishes, every moment of the Milan‑Cortina Games will be packed with world‑class competition and unforgettable stories. Tune in across your MTCO channels starting February 6th and cheer on Team USA as the world comes together for two weeks of winter excitement. Don’t miss a minute—your front‑row seat to the Winter Games is right at home!
Tech Trivia
A little trivia for you...What does the “i” in products like iMac, iPod, and iPhone originally stand for? (Scroll to the “New Laptops” article to see if you got it right!)
A) Internet
B) Intelligent
C) Innovation
D) Individual
TV Channel New Laptops
If you are looking for a new laptop, here’s a nice review of the best 15-inch laptops based on gaming, budget, best display, and more: https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-15-inch-laptop/
Tech Trivia Answer: When Apple introduced the iMac in 1998, the “i” officially stood for Internet, as it was designed to make connecting to the web easy. (Source: Kurt the CyberGuy).
Common Facebook Scams
Here are four common scams that cybercriminals use on Facebook to try to gain access to your money, personal information, and online accounts.
1. Fake Contests and Giveaways
Scammers try to lure you with fake
contests that promise cash prizes or
giveaways. They will ask you to provide
your personal information or pay them
a “fee” to steal your data and money.
2. Account Spoofing and Hacking
Duplicate Facebook accounts are
created that looks exactly like yours.
Then, they send malicious links or trick
your Facebook friends into giving them
money and personal data.
3. Marketplace and Shopping Scams
A cybercriminal will pretend to be a
seller and offer you an item that does
not exist and you won’t be able to
recover your money!
4. Fake Job Offers.
They post job listings that seem too
good to be true but require you to pay
them money for equipment or fees
before they “hire” you.
How To Stay Safe on Facebook
To follow up on Facebook scams, here is how you can stay safe:
- Be cautious about accepting friend
requests or communicating with anyone
you don’t know on Facebook. If the
account was recently created and has
very few posts, it’s likely a scammer.
- If anyone asks for payment up front to
enter a contest or gain employment,
it’s likely a scam. Legitimate
organizations won’t ask you to pay for
these opportunities.
- Be wary of promises of free money,
deeply discounted items, or prizes. If an
offer seems too good to be true, it
probably is.
Schedule a Text Message
Is it too late to in the day to send a text, or want to wish someone happy birthday before you forget? Here’s how to schedule a text on an android or iPhone: https://cyberguy.com/mobile/schedule-text-messages-iphone-android