Aurora’s new Police Chief, Matthew Thomas, sworn in
Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch, right, swears in recently-appointed Aurora Police Chief Matthew Thomas at the May 20 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Aurora Library Community Walk fundraiser June 15
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 sworn in as 60th mayor of Aurora
John Laesch, the 60th mayor of Aurora, was sworn-in by Aurora City clerk, Jennifer Stallings, Tuesday, May 13 at the Paramount Theatre.
Aurora sports festival, 1,200 middle schoolers compete
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,
Aurora City Council offers farewell to aldermen, CMO
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
Aurora Tanner House Museum to reopen
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
Aurora Luxies, grand finale to the clubs of Aurora’s history
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
Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin thankful to live his dream
By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, the outgoing 59th mayor, says goodbye Tuesday, May 6, at his last Aurora Committee of the Whole meeting as mayor, after sharing the achievements of his administration. “To my beloved city of Aurora, I came, I saw, we conquered.” Irvin served on
Aurora Luxies’ trouble in 1990s, bounce back strong
By Ricky Rieckert(Part 8) As we begin this week with Aurora’s social clubs, let us take a moment to remember our fallen heroes of our Armed Service clubs and those who have passed from the many social, nationality, and service clubs from this great City of Aurora, as Memorial Day
Aurora Memorial Day Parade May 26
The City of Aurora’s annual Memorial Day Parade will step-off at 10 a.m. Monday, May 26, in downtown Aurora! The Parade will begin at the intersection of Benton Street and River Street;March east on Benton Street to Broadway (Rt. 25);March north on Broadway (Rt. 25) to Downer Place;March west on
All-day event, 1,200 student-athletes vying for championship
The City of Aurora government’s Youth Services Division will honor National Physical Fitness and Sports month by hosting the 31st Annual Sports Festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 9 at Phillips Park, 828 Montgomery Road in Aurora. The time-honored Festival, which features more than 1,200 student-athletes competing
Sunken Garden in Phillips Park in Aurora, great spring stop
Thousands of tulips were in bloom at the Sunken Garden in Phillips Park in Aurora on the beautiful spring day, Sunday, May 27.
Aurora to swear in new officials May 10
The City of Aurora government proudly invites the community to gather Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m., at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Boulevard as we formally swear in our newly-elected officials, marking the next chapter in Aurora’s continued growth and prosperity: •Mayor-elect, John Laesch; •Ward 1 alderman, Dan
History of Aurora social clubs: Cosmo, Diabetes Club, Lions
By Ricky Rieckert(Part 7) Dear readers, I hope everyone is enjoying the articles as we head in to part 7 of Aurora social clubs. We start with the Cosmopolitan Club. The Cosmopolitan Club of Aurora was established in 1927 as a local chapter of the international organization founded in 1918.
Cleaning up community: ‘Earth Day of Service’
More than 50 Aurora area volunteers, adults, and children celebrated “Earth Day of Service,” by removing litter Saturday, April 26 at Aurora and Montgomery parks and lakes and along Fox River banks. Community cleanup locations were Waubonsie Lake Park and Trail in Aurora and Montgomery canoe and kayak launch. Cosponsors
13th annual Tri-County Aurora/Ward 9 Clean-up the Streets Day
All individuals and groups are invited to the 13th annual Tri-County Aurora/Ward 9 Clean-up the Streets Day, starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 3 at the Eola Tennis Academy, 239 S. Eola Road (behind Dunkin Donuts). Sign in and breakfast will start at 8:30 a.m.. The cleanup, alongside the scavenger
Service clubs in Aurora: Optimist Club, K of C
By Ricky Rieckert(Part Six) Welcome back to part six about service clubs in Aurora; the ones that once were, and the ones that are still out there, fighting for good causes to help people. We’ll start with the Optimist Club. I believe they’re no longer existent in Aurora. Their mission:
Mayor-elect of Aurora, John Laesch announces Transition Team
City of Aurora mayor-elect John Laesch recently announced the formation of his official Transition Team—a dynamic and diverse group of civic leaders, policy experts, organizers, and longtime public servants who will help shape the future of Aurora’s city government. Although the transition team includes three sitting Aldermen, Laesch will be
Aurora Council honors Sikh Awareness and Appreciation month
By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin presented a proclamation in honor of April being national Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month at the April 15 Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting. Mayor Irvin invited members of Aurora’s Sikh community to share more about the Sikh faith and the purpose
More on fraternal, nationality, social clubs in Aurora
By Ricky Rieckert (Part 5) Welcome to the fifth part, of fraternal, nationality, social clubs, and social clubs of Aurora. This week, I want to start out by stating that I have belonged to all of the clubs, except the Seventh Ward Club, which I went to a few times.