Aurora mayor Richard Irvin and leaders from PENN Entertainment/Hollywood Casino Aurora gathered to celebrate the ceremonial topping off of the new structure, December 19.
By Ricky Rieckert Dear subscribers and readers, I hope everyone had a merry Christmas. In last week’s article on Aurora’s Aurora’s historical Fox Street (now E. Downer Place), I forgot to mention about the Stallion Restaurant, 35 S. Broadway, on the northwest corner of E. Downer Place, and Broadway. Today,...
It’s election season, and I have questions. As someone who champions small business and cultivates community connections, I have several questions for the Aurora mayoral candidates. Some of the questions below are mine, while others are from involved community members. I encourage all of the mayoral candidates, including the current...
The St. Joseph Catholic Church children's choir sings Sunday, Dec. 15.
By Ricky Rieckert Hello everyone. I’m back to recount Aurora’s history, continuing from Fox Street, E. Downer, from Lincoln Avenue and heading towards downtown Aurora. On the southeast corner of Fox Street and Lasalle Street was the original Y.M.C.A.. It ended up being a drive-up for Merchants Bank. The “Y”...
Visitors to Do or Dye Designs salon in downtown Aurora enjoy hot cocoa at the sixth annual Cocoa Crawl the evening of Friday, Dec. 6.
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council honored the Aurora Gators 11 U youth football team at the Tuesday, Dec. 10 City Council meeting, for winning the Pop Warner Chicagoland State championship. The 2024 team is undefeated. •A video of the presentation can be viewed on the city government of...
The historic William Tanner House Museum is now festively decorated in holiday finery and is ready to receive visitors for the annual Tanner House Holidays, through December 29. Open days and hours are Sunday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., December 8, 15, 22, and 29; and Friday evenings...
By Ricky Rieckert This week in Aurora’s past, I’m going to write about the Main Hatters Store. But first, thanks to the subscribers and/or readers, and The Voice, for two more fan letters. Last week, we were discussing the Hammond family on Liberty Street. This week will be Main Hatters,...
Continuing a Thanksgiving tradition, approximately 20 off-duty Aurora firefighters played their 16th annual Turkey Bowl exhibition flag football game Thursday. The second-shift team beat the third-shift squad, 25-20. Despite 28-degree temperatures, the contest on the holiday morning took place at West Aurora High School’s football practice field. Players, family members,...
By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, and the Aurora City Council presented honors to the Rosary Beads swimming team Tuesday, Dec. 3 for their 9th State championship. The Beads secured the top spot at the State meet November 16, and Rosary and the City of Aurora held a...
By Ricky Rieckert As we enter a new week, I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving Day, and any extra, time with family and friends. Last week when writing about The First Presbyterian Church, we had a small glitch: It was organized in 1858, not 1958. On the First United Methodist Church,...
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council honored USPS mail carrier and Aurora resident Jaylen Lockhart at the Tuesday, November 26 Aurora City Council meeting. Lockhart, 26, was doing his routine mail delivery service recently when he noticed a senior citizen walking his dog seemed a bit unsteady. As he...
The City of Aurora government will hold a Special Census Initiative to count the City’s population, which will be held outside of the normal census and will begin February 3, 2025. During the 2020 Census, it was reported that Aurora’s population was reduced by approximately 17,000 residents. The reported loss...
The 18th annual Aurora Festival of Lights, the largest free outdoor drive thru holiday light display in the region, will return with dazzling displays and merry music that will delight children and adults Friday, Nov. 29. The event will run through Sunday, Dec. 29, each night, from 5 p.m. to...
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,...
I’m not sure that I ever pronounced it correctly, but Lumenaura sure was fun. Aurora’s inaugural light festival that branded itself as an interactive light and sound experience ran from October 4 through November 1. Lumenaura gave us another reason to explore downtown Aurora. Branded as an “illuminated art experience”...
The Entrance to the Christkindlmarket Aurora was busy on opening day, Friday, Nov. 2 at RiverEdge Park, 360 N Broadway, Aurora.
Illinois Math & Science Academy (IMSA) student, Arnav Patel, center, explains his Student Inquiry and Research project at the Japan Super Science Fair in Kyoto, Japan.
Aurora! It’s that holly jolly time of year to bring the family to downtown Aurora and help light up for the holiday season at the 2024 Winter Lights Fest, Friday, Nov. 22, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., downtown Aurora. The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Downer Place and...
