By Ricky Rieckert Last week, I finished up at W. Downer and S. River Street in Aurora’s past. This week we’ll start there and head west. On the northwest corner of Downer and River is the Old Second National Bank. I believe it’s the oldest bank in Aurora. The bank
Fox Valley United Way is pleased to announce a significant commitment to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Aurora and nearby cities in Kane County with a donation from Follett Educational Foundation. A $100,000 foundation grant has been established to ensure that every child from birth to age five in
I drive by St. David’s Episcopal often, and I had no idea that it holds significant artistic treasures inside the red double doors facing Randall Road. The mid-century, wood chapel is set back at the northeast corner of Randall Road and Illinois Avenue. There’s no sidewalk or bike lane along
Musings: •Would you believe, dear reader, that T. Rump and The Chas are on the same page on something? The “something” is Daylight Savings Time (DST). The man who would be king thinks that DST is “inconvenient,” while the man who is smarter than he is thinks it is ”unnecessary,”
By Russ George The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley’s January Meet and Greet, organized by media chairperson, Ann McBride, to expose our Club and our mission, will be held this Saturday, Jan. 11, at Panera Bread, 1330 N. Orchard Road, in Aurora, from 9 a.m. to noon. Why not stop
By Ricky Rieckert As we enter the New Year, I hope everyone had a great time with family and friends, over the holidays. I had some feedback on Fox Street (now E. Downer Place) from some friends. First off, directly across from the present City Hall, is the building that
I read that by 2050 (by which date I will no longer care because I’ll be worm food) our oceans will contain, by weight, more trash plastics than fish, which is both good and bad: Good, because discarded Barbies are easier to catch, but bad because they’re more difficult to
Musings: •Happy New Year, dear reader! It’s 2025 already. Where does the time go? I’m going to make two New Year’s resolutions which I haven’t done in a long, long time. First, I resolve not to be dismayed by the election of Donald Trump (T. Rump), but will double down
Happy 2025 from APLD! Are you setting a new year resolution? As we step into 2025, many people will make resolutions as promises to improve themselves and their lives. Whether you’re aiming to get your finances in order, learn a new language, or unleash your creative potential, the Aurora Public
“Confessions of a Taxi Driver,” Part Five: Until now, I have been discussing those Crackerjacks who operate motor vehicles as if they were the only ones allowed on the streets/highways. Yet, not all Crackerjacks can be found in four-wheeled conveyances; many of them operate the two-wheeled variety. And, believe me,
So it’s practically Christmas! The hustle and bustle of the season has been proceeding before us, and if you are like me, or if most of us are in the same circumstances, we have not been able to enjoy a lot of it. For many older adults, the holidays take
Have you been receiving your fair share of “junk mail,” dear reader: All of those retail advertisements; solicitations from charitable organizations; offers of books, magazines, and newspapers which will improve your life? Would you like to know how to receive even more? If you answered “yes” to either question, you
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” or something along those lines. Hard to believe, but we’ll have convicted criminal sex abuser Dumbo Donald Trump to kick around again for four more years, with many of his cohorts and deviants at his side. He appears
By Ricky Rieckert I want to wish all subscribers, readers, and all, a happy Thanksgiving Day, with your families and loved ones. I was unable to write for a few weeks because I have been in the hospital with foot injuries. I’ll be out soon, hopefully. Back to Aurora’s history,
Each month is distinctive. November is known for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day. Each day has a distinction in how and why we celebrate specific local and regional holidays. It is important we reflect on the true meanings of these holidays. Veterans Day is to honor America’s veterans for their
Kamala Harris did not lose the election of 2024. The Democratic National Committee lost it by not supporting her in manner conducive to a winning candidate. The so-called “party of the people” has been inching rightward since the Harry S Truman Administration. The Democratic presidential candidates were all moderates and
Confessions of a taxi driver, part four: I now present a new category of “Crackerjacks,” which I call the “Pests.” Pests are those drivers who, while not posing any particular hazard to the free flow of traffic, nevertheless create uncertainty and/or anxiety just by their mere presence. Other Crackerjacks might
Elections are more than occurrences on the calendar. They are a necessary function to democratic rule. They are more than competition. They help define us as a society. We have small, civil elections, and large, National elections. This year we hold national elections for president. Regardless of which party wins,
Garry Adelman, chief historian of the American Battlefield Trust will present “The Battle of Gettysburg In-Depth”, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Oct. 20 at Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, Campton Hills. This event will be an immersive, educational experience featuring the 8th Illinois Cavalry Reenactors, 1860s music
Confessions of a taxi driver, part three: In my previous essay in this series, I designated a group of “Crackerjacks” as “Pushers,” as they tend to “push” other drivers out of their way because they are in such a bloody hurry to get somewhere, anywhere, even though the urgency is
