Aurora Winter Lights Festival 2025
The Aurora Winter Lights Festival parade delighted many onlookers in downtown Aurora November 21.
K-12 requested funding in Illinois likely to exceed resources
By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com If advocates, stakeholders, and members of the public were granted all their requests for public school funding next year, lawmakers would have to increase the State’s K-12 education budget by nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars. That’s the approximate total of all the requests that
Oswego headed to Class 8A State championship game
By Bobby Narang Oswego High School football coach Brian Cooney is headed back to the State championship game. This time, Cooney won’t be wearing a uniform. Cooney was a standout linebacker on Oswego’s 1992 Class 4A State championship team, and was a volunteer assistant coach on the 7A State title
Oswego High School heading to State championship
Oswego High School’s Kaleb Stumpenhorst (89) kicks the ball in an attempt at a 42-yard field goal under heavy pressure from Lockport in the Class 8A semifinal game Saturday, Nov. 22.
Diverse faiths celebrate Thanksgiving season
Celebrating the Thanksgiving season, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other faith groups gathered at an annual interfaith worship service Sunday, Nov. 23. Our Savior Lutheran Church hosted the afternoon “Thanksgiving Celebration of Music and Friendship.” InterFaith Aurora, an ecumenical group, sponsored the event that featured messages and songs from diverse area
Fox Valley Park District after-school program, $330K Dunham Grant
The Fox Valley Park District (FVPD) is continuing its longstanding commitment to youth enrichment with the launch of its new EPIC after-school program, which includes scholarship opportunities to support families in need through a $330,800 grant from the Dunham Foundation. For 13 years, FVPD, through its Fox Valley Park Foundation,
Reader’s Voice: Tax dollars defending illegal immigration
November 21, 2025Dear editor; Where does the State of Illinois and other states get the legal right to spend our tax dollars defending Illegal immigration, not talking about legal immigration? In the Beacon News dated November 19, 2025 Kane County State’s attorney, Jamie Mosser, clarified for the Kane County Board
Diabetes Club members tour research facility at UChicago Medicine’s-Kovler Diabetes Center!
By Russ George Thursday morning, November 20, 15 members and friends of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley hopped on Fox Valley Park District’s bus and headed out to the University of Chicago’s-Kovler Diabetes Center’s research facility, on the eighth floor, of the Gwen and Jules Knapp Center for Biomedical
Suburban retired teachers give back
Celebrating the holidays, Aurora Area Retired Teachers Association members will make greeting cards for a local charity. Tuesday, Dec. 2, the 11 a.m. meeting at Lincoln Inn in Batavia will feature holiday card-making for Wayside Cross Ministries’ patrons. AARTA members will sign supplied cards with first names with added short
Plano Rockin’ Christmas Events
The lighted vehicle parade will be Friday, Dec. 5, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Plano High School and will arrive at Plano Depot, 10 W. Main St. around 7:30 p.m.. The Ross Greiter Spirit Award will be given to a person that best represents the “Spirit of Christmas” throughout the
Fox Valley Park District Great Gingerbread Bake-off Dec. 5
Enjoy family-bonding and some friendly competition during the Fox Valley Park District’s “Great Gingerbread Bake-off” Friday, Dec. 5, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Eola Community Center, 555 S. Eola Rd. in Aurora. Families will have 90 minutes to build and decorate their best gingerbread house to present to
Montgomery Merry & Bright Dec. 7
Santa will arrive at the Montgomery Village Hall, 200 N River St., Montgomery, at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 by fire truck courtesy of the Montgomery and Countryside Fire District. Santa will join with mayor Matt Brolley to light the Village tree. Attendees can visit with Santa and enjoy crafts,
Paramount Arts Center history; community thanks
By Ricky Rieckert This week, I would like to share some lyrics from a song, written by James Pankow and song by Peter Cetera, the lead singer of the band Chicago, off their 1975 Album, titled Chicago VIII. The song easily could be titled Aurora. For you Baby Boomers, and
Oswego Citizens Police Academy registration 2026
The Oswego Police Department is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 Citizens Police Academy (CPA). The CPA is a free, weekly program designed to provide Village residents and business owners with an inside look at public safety operations and community partnerships. The Academy will begin
A day which will live in infamy, remembering military service
I don’t think I’m out on a limb by saying a good number of us old geezers and young geezers remember December 7 as Pearl Harbor Day, just like June 6 as D-Day. Donald Trump isn’t included in that good number of us because he thinks Pearl Harbor is some
Batavia’s Celebration of Lights starts holiday season Nov. 30
Batavia’s Celebration of Lights will take place at Batavia’s Peg Bond Center, 151 N Island Ave., Batavia, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. Santa Claus will visit to light the large community tree and visit with children when the community gathers to start the holiday season with
Annual Pearl Harbor Day Luncheon, December 8
The Aurora Navy League Council 247 and Rotary Club of Aurora United will hold their annual Pearl Harbor Day Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, at the Lincoln Inn, 1345 Batavia Ave (IL-31), Batavia. As usual, veterans will be honored, achievement awards will be presented to
Recipe of the Week: Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
Ingredients2 cups frozen peas and carrots2 cups frozen green beans1 cup sliced celery1.2 cup butter2/3 cup all-purpose flour1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon ground black pepper1/2 teaspoon celery seed1/2 teaspoon onion powder1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning1 3/4 cups chicken broth1 1/3 cups milk4 cups cubed cooked turkey meat – light and dark meat
Poem: The Parent Trap
Do you believe in Santa Claus? Perhaps you’d better!You must be cognizant that he’s a trend setter.We’re lucky that we get him on this Christmas gig;For as our kids are quick to tell you, he is BIG!And I can prove it—every Christmas, every letterThat they send Santa seems to make
Winter Reading Adventure to begin December 1 at APLD
As the days grow shorter and the winter chill settles in, there’s no better time to grab a warm drink, snuggle up with a good book, and join the Aurora Public Library District for one of our favorite annual traditions: the Winter Reading Adventure (WRA)! Launching December 1, this beloved