Communities observe start of annual Christmas season
Madelyn Nemetz of Aurora accepts a candy cane from Mrs. Claus at the Montgomery tree-lighting Sunday, Dec. 5.
Distinguished mugs at the Cocoa Crawl event in Aurora
Five participants mug for the camera (so to tie in with the occasion) in downtown Aurora Friday, Dec. 3 at the annual Cocoa Crawl event as part of First Fridays.
Rental assistance due to COVID
By Jerry Nowicki The application portal is now open for another $297 million of rental assistance for Illinoisans who lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois Rental Payment Program, or ILRPP, money comes from the federal American Rescue Plan Act signed into law by President Joe Biden in...
Pearl Harbor Day, an 80th remembrance in Aurora
By Al Benson Aurora’s annual Pearl Harbor Day memorial luncheon saluted World War II veterans and outstanding high school youth. Several hundreds packed Gaslite Manor in Aurora for the 52nd annual event by Navy League Aurora Council and Aurora Rotary Club. Navy League Aurora Council is a nonprofit group supporting...
Lake Michigan water next: WaterLink
Water will, in fact, link the communities of Montgomery, Oswego, and Yorkville. For more than a year, elected officials and staff members from each municipality have researched and reviewed future alternate water source options individually and collectively as a regional team aptly named WaterLink. After months of meetings, presentations, conservation...
Batavia honors Dan Hoefler
A “tireless volunteer and leader” was named 2021 Batavia Citizen of the Year (COTY) recently. The Batavia Chamber of Commerce will honor Daniel ‘Dan’ Hoefler Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, at the Chamber’s Inspire 2022: A Celebration of Those Who Inspire Us! annual awards event. Additionally, the Batavia Community Band is...
Choices available each day and way of life reality
Turmoil verses resolution. Toxic verses refined. Tumultuous versus reverie. We are worlds apart in many places and many view the world with friction instead of fraternity. We can make choices of how we want to see ourselves. In spite of the raucous behavior of some individuals instead of tenderness, those...
Aurora enthusiasm expressed: Historic government budget
By Jason Crane At the Aurora city government Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday, mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin expressed enthusiasm about the historic City government budget of more than a half billion dollars, $529 million. Mayor Irvin said, “For the first time in years, probably over a decade, I...
Reader’s Voice: Christmas Cards for Vets: Thanks
December 6, 2021Dear editor; Christmas Cards for Vets is still going after 10 years, thanks to many helpers. Diane Beukelman and Beth Peshia from Oswego Senior Center were on hand at Christmas Walk Saturday this year for the final signing of the cards that have been made into ornaments. There...
Reader’s Voice: Zonta Club campaign: No violence
December 3, 2021Dear editor; The Zonta Club of Aurora asks you to join us and say, “No To Violence Against Women” during our annual campaign, November 25 through December 10. The Zonta Club of Aurora undertakes many service projects in keeping with Zonta International’s mission of advancing the status of...
Book on The 1619 Project provides connecting depth
Third of three parts The previous part is at thevoice.us/the-1619-project-creates-startling-reactions The 1619 Project: a New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah Jones, editor, recently was examined in Kirkus Reviews, which reviews books The first two parts set up part three which is a dialogue between Karen Long, manager of the Anisfield...
Art and Market Aurora adds two Saturdays
Art and Market Aurora will hold two more Saturday dates, December 11 and December 18 for holiday shopping. The Aurora Downtown group’s indoor market features several vendors at Society 57, 100 S. River Street. The market feature will be both food and artisan vendors from 9 a.m. to noon. The...
Holiday-card collection for Hesed House
This holiday season, State representative Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is collecting holiday cards to be delivered to residents staying at Hesed House, a homeless shelter in Aurora. “Families and individuals who are displaced from their homes, or are lacking housing are going through struggles and tribulations that no person should ever...
Collection through Dec. 10 of women’s necessities
To support families in need, State representative Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is collecting menstrual hygiene products and diapers to benefit the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry’s Women’s Empowerment Pantry through December 10. “Accessibility issues with menstrual hygiene products or diapers can cause many long-term, negative consequences for low-income families,” said Hernandez....
Dale Berman, North Aurora: Service, accomplishment
It was a beautiful September day and Dale Berman came to the Cole Center in Aurora for his Fox Valley Park District book interview. What a complete delight! Dale Berman was born January 3, 1934. He served in the U.S. Army, 1954-1956, in South Carolina with anti-aircraft artillery on the...
Reader’s Commentary: Warning: Substance abuse in holidays
By Joseph KertisNewport, Ore. The holiday season is upon us again. This year, we have an opportunity to celebrate and gather together for perhaps the first time since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began. The restrictions which prevented many groups of individuals from enjoying the traditional holiday gathering have been...
Girl Scouts to start online sales Dec. 13
Girl Scouts will start the 2021–22 Girl Scout Cookie Program with online sales beginning Monday, Dec. 13. Digital Cookie 8.0 allows Girl Scouts to take electronic orders for cookies. Customers can order and pay for cookies online and have the option to have the cookies sent directly to them (handling...
Christmas and Hanukkah story worth remembering
In celebration of Christmas and Hanukkah, I’m presenting the tale of this heartwarming event from my past, the days when I was a musician, traveling throughout the Midwest as part of a troupe of magicians and clowns presenting 90-minute Christmas magic shows twice daily to benefit charitable organizations. I was...
Free showing of film ‘Elf’ December 10 at Wesley in Aurora
Wesley United Methodist Church, 14 N. May Street in Aurora, will show the comedy film “Elf” at a family Christmas and movie night. The event will open at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10. The public is invited. Admission, parking, and refreshments, are free. In addition to the movie, activities will...
Recipe of the Week: Big Brownies
Ingredients1 cup butter, melted1 1/2 cups white sugar1 1/4 cups brown sugar1 tablespoon vanilla extract4 eggs1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder1 teaspoon salt1 cup semisweet chocolate chips Directions1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish. 2. Combine the melted butter, white sugar, brown...