By Ricky Rieckert Welcome back again to this week’s Aurora History Tour. We start our tour on the East Side, on North Avenue heading west from Jackson Street. As we head west, the first street is Bevier Place, which heads north to Benton Street and runs south to Fourth Avenue.
An estimated 3,000 persons jammed Aurora’s M.L. King Park Saturday for the city’s 24th annual Juneteenth celebration. Sponsored by African American Men of Unity, an Aurora nonprofit, the free event celebrates family, community and culture through singing, dancing, storytelling and food.Other features were a Black history tribute, a drum and
Louisville, Kentucky, isn’t your typical missionary destination. But seven members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Aurora headed to the home of the Kentucky Derby on Sunday for a week-long mission trip. Volunteers were Gena Gerdin and Rob Creaney, chaperones; and high school students Clodagh Creaney, Andrew Friend, Daniel Miller,
Ms. Alex Rose, Science editor of Ocean Geographic Magazine, Founder of Blue Ring, Explorers Club Fellow, award winning nature photographer and environmental journalist, will be presenting a session, “Strange and Beautiful: Our Oceans and How to Protect Them,” on Wednesday 18, 2025 as part of the Hicks/Wright Organization’s Summer STEAM
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council approved Tuesday, an ordinance providing for the issuance of an amount not to exceed $95 Million in general obligation bonds of the city of Aurora, Kane, DuPage, Kendall, and Will Counties. The purpose is for the issuance of the Series 2025 C General
Aurora Lions Club was among 70 vendors at the 114th annual Aurora Farmers Market which opened Saturday morning, June 7, at Water Street Square in downtown Aurora. Aurora Lions offered information and collected sneakers and eyeglasses for recycling. The oldest in Illinois, the Aurora market will continue from 8 a.m.
Mayor John Laesch, center, joins representatives from Ellie’s Mental Health to cut the ribbon on the facility at 1315 N. Highland Avenue, Suite 202, in Aurora.
The City of Aurora’s new alderman at-large, Will White, was officially sworn in to office by mayor John Laesch, Tuesday, June 3. White’s appointment to the role, which was created when former alderman at-large John Laesch, was elected as the City of Aurora’s 60th Mayor, was unanimously approved by the
The oldest farmers market in Illinois will set up shop once again in the heart of downtown Aurora. Established in 1912, the City of Aurora’s market will open Saturday, June 7 at Water Street Square and run through October 4. Each week, vendors from across the state will bring their
For a fourth year, eight suburban faith groups will celebrate a joint Aurora Pride Sunday, June 8. New England Congregational Church, 406 W. Galena Boulevard in Aurora, will host events leading up to the noon parade. The public is invited. Admission and parking are free. From 8:30 a.m. to 10
The City of Aurora’s Fleet Maintenance Division is excited to announce the donation of a retired hybrid fleet vehicle to West Aurora High School’s Automotive and Technical Center. The Center, which offers automotive technology classes that specialize in various areas of study, including brakes and computer control, will utilize the
By Ricky Rieckert(Part 2) Greetings readers! I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day. I have enjoyed participating and watching the parades in the Aurora downtown. What has been growing all the time, is the number of people attending and all the different nationalities in attendance. Seeing that, makes me
At Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole Meeting, the city of Aurora honored a longtime City staff member, community stalwart, and Aurora advocate as he embarks on the next chapter of his star-studded career. Clayton Muhammad, Aurora’s chief engagement and equity officer, is set to depart from City Hall May
Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch, right, swears in recently-appointed Aurora Police Chief Matthew Thomas at the May 20 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Celebrate the Aurora library community with a refreshing Community Walk Fundraiser from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 15. Participants are invited to park and meet at the Eola Road Branch of the Library, where we will commence our walk along the beautiful Waubonsie Lake Park Trail. For just
John Laesch, the 60th mayor of Aurora, was sworn-in by Aurora City clerk, Jennifer Stallings, Tuesday, May 13 at the Paramount Theatre.
Celebrating National Physical Fitness and Sports month, 1,200 Aurora middle school students competed in the city’s 31st annual Sports Festival Friday, May 9. Aurora’s Youth Services Division sponsored the event at Phillips Park for students from 14 middle schools. Events included basketball, soccer, softball, bowling, skating, chess, checkers, cornhole, volleyball,
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council, Tuesday, May 13, expressed appreciation and a farewell to Ward 4 alderman Bill Donnell, Ward 7 alderman Brandon Tolliver, alderman-at-large Ron Woerman, and chief management officer, Alex Alexandrou. Recently alderman Donnell announced he wouldn’t run for another term. Aldermen Tolliver and Woerman lost
The historic Tanner House Museum, 305 Cedar Street, Aurora, will open for the 2025 season Sunday, May 18. The museum will be open on Sunday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. through September 21. The Tanner House, an 1857 home, is furnished and decorated in Victorian-era style. Visitors to
By Ricky Rieckert(Final part) With this final article about the history of Aurora’s social, nationality, and service clubs, I hope you have enjoyed the stroll down memory lane. It’s a privilege to write about the history of this great city, Aurora. As the Luxies cemented themselves as a premier club
