Listen. It was the year 1818. The unshorn fields were boundless and beautiful. The prairies and the sights took all into the encircling vastness, wrote the poet Uo. The topography of DeKalb’s verdant terrain made possible a rich agriculture, the fur trade, and the tide of immigrants to build the
Often children are sensitive to fairness. Observe and listen when children interact and are not aware of others who have a presence and change the course of conversation. Among the repetitive refrains may be, “It isn’t fair.” Children may be taught to be fair, to maintain a sense of playing
Sam Renzetti was born October 20, 1980 to Lori and Joseph Renzetti in St. Charles. He has three brothers and a sister. He attended Aurora Christian School and was home-schooled. Sam earned an associate’s degree from Waubonsee Community College. Sam Renzetti began his experience with dance with he was eight
By Al Benson Aurora resident Huntley Brown, internationally acclaimed pianist, author, and martial arts black belt, played and preached recently at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Aurora. At the piano, Brown opened the service with praise music, and closed the service with “Onward Christian Soldiers.” As guest preacher, he delivered the
Editor’s Note: This week and next week we will include letters sent to Ask Grandpa that did not appear because they arrived following the death of the conductor of the column who worked ahead in preparation. We plan to include any reader comments following the notification we received at The
By Joseph Kertis October is here, and that means Domestic Violence Awareness Month is upon us. This month is a designation observed annually in America to spread awareness about the important issue of domestic violence. The intent is to spread awareness and information and help people connect with resources. But
Life throws us curves and we must adjust. Likely dreams, aspirations, and accomplishments become the focus of conversation when the information is received and shared on the death of a family member, friend, and/or acquaintance. That is why each day is important. Each day is a new opportunity to do
He was neither a scoundrel, nor a gentleman. Some where in between. His dress was business casual befitting his position as vice president in charge of sales for the organization. His body for all of its 50 years was lean and taunt. He insisted on the four times weekly gym
“Give me your tired, your poor, “Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, “The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. “Send these, the homeless, tempest tossed to me. “I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” For those of you who recently have arrived from Mars, the above are the
When news broke that two Chicago police officers were involved in a shooting in the Englewood community, it jolted the City. The shooting that took the life of Ella French, a 29-year-old Chicago Police Department (CPD) veteran officer, and the severe wounding of her partner by brothers, Emonte and Eric
Activities and events continue to return and grow in number with a sense of optimism since the widespread use of vaccines and because of the use of vaccines. The use of masks has helped. At the same time we do not want to rush where there are problems with the
He came from poverty. He became Someone. Whose word was his bond. If he shook your hand, it sealed the deal. No lawyers need be involved. They were not needed between gentlemen of honor. His first contract was finalized with a handshake and it stood for the ensuing decade. That
The past weekend I was in the basement reorganizing some of my valuable future family heirlooms, a.k.a. stuff no rational human ever would consider saving. I came across a sandwich bag containing a cigar butt and a faded yellow pay stub, souvenirs of days spent working on The Babe, a
There is latitude in this column space reserved for this writer. Politics, history, sociology, observations, exclamations, all may appear in this assigned space. There are weeks, however, in which important notes and points are most relevant, in part, because we receive many wonderful articles, press releases, and sources of information.
“If love is the treasure, laughter is the key.” —Yakov Shanahan I did not recognize myself. The dust and the din of the marketplace have reduced my senses to almost oblivion. Was that only yesterday or is it today? What do I remember? How much have I forgotten? Now I
Fall Equinox September 22 makes it a special season: “Autumn is the eternal corrective. It is ripeness, color, and a time of completion; but it is also breadth, depth, and distance. What person can stand with Autumn on a hilltop and fail to see the span of the world and
With the embarrassing conclusion of the American presence in Afghanistan, it is time to re-examine the U.S.’s foreign policy which had led up to the disaster. Our foreign policy and our military policy went hand-in-hand, and both were destined to share the same fate. Once upon a time, the United
Celebrations, remembrances, fiestas, annual events. There are a variety of ways we in the United States hold observances in both jubilation and in somber tones. Understanding, respect, significance, are part of our heritage, past, present, and in a changing society. The most recent example, of course is the 20-year anniversary
One of the most prominent festivals in the Hindu tradition concluded after a multi-day celebration in Aurora. Thousands of Indian Americans from Aurora, and throughout the western Chicago suburbs, gathered in an open-air tent in the State’s second-largest city to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, which honors the birth of Lord Ganesh,
Charles stood just like a dime store mannequin with beautiful clothing on the outside, but empty inside. Charles had perfected the print glossy, but had failed to integrate his personality to be authentic. He had inherited a considerable amount of money. Through gambling, drink, and women, he had gone through
