Sommerville family sings at Hope Chest resale store in Aurora
Sommerville members Reid Sommerville, from left, Kari Sommerville and Kurt Sommerville sing seasonal tunes Saturday inside Hope Chest resale store in Aurora.
The Constitution vs. the Commander-in-Chief
By John & Nisha Whitehead Every military servicemember’s oath is a pledge to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. It is not an oath to a politician. It is not an oath to a party. And it is not an oath to the police state. Yet what
A Focus on History: December 11 through December 17
December 11 In the aftermath of World War II, the General Assembly of the United Nations votes to establish the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), an organization to help provide relief and support to children living in countries devastated by the war. – 1946. Ten days after an
Oswego High School takes second in State, Class 8A
Chicago Mt Carmel High School quarterback, Emmett Dowling, 7, is under heavy pressure in the Class 8A State championship game Wednesday, Dec. 3.
2025 Batavia Citizen of the Year, Linda Schielke
The Batavia Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Linda Schielke as the 2025 Citizen of the Year (COTY), honoring her decades of service, leadership, and unwavering dedication to the Batavia community. The Batavia Chamber of Commerce will honor Linda Thursday, April 23, at the Chamber’s Inspire 2026: A Celebration
Trump cuts could shrink Illinois economy by $10 Billion
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Recent cuts by president Donald Trump’s administration could reduce the size of Illinois’ economy by nearly $10 billion each year, according to a new report released Monday by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute. The report offers a detailed looked at the effects of cuts enacted
Giving Tuesday: Suburban retired teachers give back
On Giving Tuesday, December 2, suburban retired teachers gave back. Members of the Aurora Area Retired Teachers Association celebrated an annual holiday luncheon at Lincoln Inn in Batavia with donations to Aurora community groups. Donations of winter hats, gloves, and other winter gear filled a table. The donations will help
25th annual Turkey Bowl flag football
A tackler brings down a ball carrier in the off-duty Aurora firefighters’ 25th annual Turkey Bowl flag football game Thanksgiving morning at West Aurora High School.
Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch honors two Aurora residents selected to perform at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
At Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, mayor of Aurora, John Laesch honored two West Aurora High School students who represented Aurora on the national stage, performing at last week’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Asher and Emily Lesniak were selected to perform as part of
Geneva History Museum Giving Trees, local nonprofit
Geneva History Museum, 113 S. Third St., will return its annual Giving Trees to benefit local nonprofits. The public is invited to vote for one of 16 trees until January 1, 2026. Votes may be cast at the museum or online at api.neonemails. Online votes require a $5 donation. The
DuPagePads receives $5 Million grant from Bezos Fund
DuPagePads to Expand Support for DuPage County Families Experiencing Homelessness with $5 Million Grant from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos 32 organizations across the U.S. receive a total of $102.5 million from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund to connect families with housing and hope DuPagePads, DuPage County’s largest
Reader’s Voice: Gratitude from food pantry in tough times
November 30, 2025Dear editor; On behalf of the entire Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry family, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the many businesses and individuals who helped make this Thanksgiving season a success. These past few months have been especially challenging for our community. Families have struggled
What to do if you’ve been diagnosed as prediabetic?; Diabetes Club of Fox Valley will hold their fourth annual Holiday Party, Saturday, Dec. 13
By Russ George Members and friends of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley will hold their fourth annual Holiday Party, Saturday, Dec. 13, at Oak Street Restaurant, 945 Oak Street, in North Aurora. Social gathering begins at 6 p.m., buffet dinner at 7 p.m., gift exchange and door prize drawings
Aurora Lions, sign-language Santa Dec. 9
A sign-language Santa Claus is coming to Aurora to visit with deaf and hearing-impaired children. From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, Aurora Lions Club will present an 18th annual yule party at East Aurora School District 131 recreation center, 417 Fifth Street, Aurora. The event will feature
Student art display in downtown Aurora
“Winter Garden of Youth,” an annual art show by area K-12 students, will be held December 5 through January 17, 2026 at Pierce Art & History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, Aurora. The public is invited. Admission and parking are free. Center hours are Wednesdays-Fridays noon-4 p.m. and Saturdays 10
Giving Machines back at Fox Valley Mall
The “Giving Machines” will be back December 17 through January 1, 2026 at Aurora’s Fox Valley Mall. Wednesday, Dec. 17 there will be live entertainment and photo opportunities. All of the proceeds go to the charities, which include Loaves and Fishes and Ronald McDonald House. Look for the big red
Aurora’s former police department and post office
By Ricky Rieckert Dear readers, This week, I’ll finish the meaningful lyrics of Old Days by the band Chicago: “Funny faces, Full of love and laughter. Funny places, Summer nights and streetcars. “Take me back, To a world gone by. Boyhood memories, Seem like yesterday. “Old days, in my mind
Snow totals from first winter storm of the season
The winter storm that swept across northern Illinois over Thanksgiving weekend, November 29-30, left differing totals. According to the National Weather Service, Chicago saw a record November snowfall, with 8.4 inches at O’Hare Airport November 29, surpassing the previous record of 8.0 inches set in 1951. Kane County communities also
Repeating of history, poignant words from Michelle T. Clinton
From the vault, June 12, 2014 (revised): School shootings. Assaults on minorities. Government troops in the streets. Congressional gridlock. Inflation. The list of societal woes goes on and on. How many times, dear reader, do we speak about the “good old days” when life was simpler, people were more civil,