Holidays are important. In some variation, all holidays carry significance and to each person provide a meaningful understanding. Memorial Day originally started following the Civil War (1861-1865). A few years following the Civil War a huge number of survivors, many of them widows, decorated grave sites with flowers and memorabilia.
From the vault – revised (various dates): When I was writing “Common Sense” essays for TONIT (pronounced “Toe=nit”) – that other newspaper in town – I wrote a series of satirical observations on the types of motorists we must endure in our daily lives. I wrote them under the umbrella
Communication is important. Listening is essential. “The Voice newspaper in northern Illinois. How may I help you,” is a possible method of answering the business telephone. That’s the way we answer the telephone, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays, our usual deadline days in the function of the newspaper based in
For weeks students have protested the Israel-Hamas war. I have watched with mixed feelings about both the conflict and the protests. There are a few observations: The war between Israel and Palestine has gone on for thousands of years. According to tradition, it originated with the family dysfunction of the
Can we keep it? That question always surrounds the United States Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution. The scholarly, learned, and profound, delegates in the 1770s and 1780s who helped draft the legal course to our country had little guidance than the previous Articles of Confederation, and several European
By Ricky Rieckert A big wish to all of the mothers to have a happy Mother’s Day Sunday, May 12. Continuing my narrative on Aurora in the old days from an earlier column: On East New York Street, west of Eola Road at Eastern Avenue on the north side was
Special years can be understood in advance. This year, 2024, is such a year. If no other reasons, this year we will encounter the Summer Olympic Games and the major political parties’ national conventions. Any other items to be added make little difference in the quality of a year, however,
Members of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley will hold their May membership meeting Wednesday, May 8, at the Oak Street Restaurant, 945 Oak Street, in North Aurora. Meeting will be held in the East Banquet Room. Dinner is optional on members’ own from the menu at 5:30 p.m. and
By Ricky Rieckert This week I’m touching a bit to complete information on last week in Aurora history. The buildings on Broadway, from East New York Street to Benton Street had vaults in the front of the basements, that were right under the sidewalks, with steam pipes overhead, under the
Evidence of Spring each year, and most specifically in April, is the full growth of the tulip flowers in Aurora’s Phillips Park.
General special days are more prevalent at this time of the year, late April into May: April 22 each year is Earth Day, April 28 is Workers’ Memorial Day, May 1 has various designations to include International Workers Day and May Day. Actually, the calendar is full of special designated
From the vault, revised (various dates): Ever since we hairless apes swung down from the trees and began to walk upright, we have disposed of our wastes wherever it was convenient (and healthy!) to do so. As the millennia passed and our populations increased, we had to dispose of ever
By Ricky Rieckert As I enter the third week of writing, (It’s not a numbers game), I totally enjoy doing this writing. Another Aurora newspaper, stole my thunder on one topic. Seems, Aurora is in the process of covering up, what I was going to talk about, downtown sidewalks on
It is personal, however, the reflection casts a much larger shadow. It has been difficult these most recent months for this reporter/writer/servant/person, to continually function. That is, to function with a clear mind, solid soul, and positive spirit. Somehow, the task has been completed. Help has been available, and help
Did all of you readers of The Voice get a good look at the eclipse without going blind? Hopefully, you all had your eclipse shades on when you watched and didn’t try to drive anywhere while wearing them…as if you could. The only thing you can see through them is
By Ricky Rieckert My condolences for the passing of Donna Crane. I know she’ll be missed by many, especially Carter Crane and Jason Crane. I sent an E-mail to Aurora mayor Richard Irvin, a couple of weeks ago, about bringing back, Main Street. No reply, yet. We haven’t had a
News notes and thoughts: It should be fun, especially for train buffs and fans of rides. A gathering at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 13 will be at the Aurora Transportation Center, 233 N. Broadway in Aurora, sponsored by the Open Roads ABATE Chapter. The fun run into Chicago will leave
Musings: •Is Joe Biden too old to be president? Yes. Is Donald Trump too old to be president? Again, yes. All politicians should be given the boot when they reach the age between 65 t0 70 years, depending upon when their current term ends. There comes a time when they
By Ricky Rieckert Dear subscribers, restaurant, and/ or business readers, and all: On behalf of this great newspaper, I welcome you, with open arms and, among other things, pleasant reading of the history of the great city, Aurora. Here we go: Brothers Joseph and Samuel McCarty, ages 24 and 22,
By Jenny Donohue Geoffrey Baer of Channel 11 fame came out to speak about the History of the Forest Preserves Thursday, April 4 at Mayslake, Peabody Estate which is part of the Forest Preserve of DuPage County. Received by a sold-out audience to attend the impeccably prepared event at the
