We are blessed in this space to have the flexibility to write on a wide range of topics. We are not confined to a narrow perspective. For example, we received a call earlier this week to ask if we had plans to write on the life and recent death of
Many years ago deep into college basketball history, the University of Illinois men’s basketball teams were dominant. Their dominance extended from the middle 1940 through the early 1950s. The Whiz Kids youth movement in the 1940s ran into the seasons in 1949, 1951, and 1952 when the school’s teams achieved
There is always more to the story. It is difficult for most comprehensive reports to tell all of the story. For example, the recently-completed Aurora Festival of Lights around Phillips Park in Aurora, November 26-December 26, was not produced in the blink of an eye. The annual holiday treat with
Limited space here, therefore short bursts and quick comments in the whirl of sports: • High school basketball tournaments this year, even with intermittent cancellations because of COVID-19, remain superior to last year. Simply: The Christmas holiday tournaments one year ago were nearly all canceled. Most tournaments have done their
The Voice offers a voice continually for as many readers and in as many corners as possible. Military veterans have been a focus for many reasons. One military veteran, who served in World War II, Richard Williams, recently, with the able assistance of his wife, Christine Williams and Wayne Johnson,
The focus has shifted. Instead of concerns over defensive play, new concepts, new players, or disqualifications, sports concerns have shifted to good health, spread of the various forms of the COVID-19 virus, and having a minimum number of participants on the court, on the ice, or, in the field. No
Charitable. Giving. Joyous: Words affiliated with the Christmas holidays. Words all of us should take seriously, understand, and purposefully put into action. There is an unbroken link, in a larger sense, in our country. Each person can enact good thoughts and good actions to be helpful. In a political realm,
Turmoil verses resolution. Toxic verses refined. Tumultuous versus reverie. We are worlds apart in many places and many view the world with friction instead of fraternity. We can make choices of how we want to see ourselves. In spite of the raucous behavior of some individuals instead of tenderness, those
Thanksgiving Day, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday! Then rest? Our society stays busy and in all seriousness all for good causes. Societies function better when their members believe in the world around them, in making a difference, and in helping others There are many facets in our lives
The view from game three can shed light on a high school football season. In a pivotal DuKane Conference football game, Batavia High School defeated visiting Wheaton North, 23-20, in overtime. Batavia head coach Dennis Piron purposely provided an unasked commentary: “Wheaton North is a really good football team.” Batavia
Holiday season is in full gear. Such a season covers a wide range for many of us from financial concerns to bad or good memories, of simple frowns in dealing with frustrations of all kinds. It is with confidence we can say it is possible to get through it, enjoy
Thanksgiving Day means the convergence of college football and college basketball and high school football and high school basketball and it is all good. It is relief, perhaps for long-suffering Bears’ fans who have suffered through five consecutive defeats and wanted to take it out on the 0-9-1 Detroit Lions
If we think to one year ago we should remember the countrywide shutdown because of COVID-19 was accelerating and not slowing down. It took until earlier this year that the pandemic was finding corrections and modification. Will we continue that course of improvement without sustaining setbacks? An optimist would find
Metea Valley High School in Aurora is in its 12th school year and is a part of District 204. Celebrations are under way with the school’s first athletic State tournament trophy. The Mustangs wasted no time in going right to the top. The girls volleyball team captured the Class 4A
As a society we continue along the path of constructing a mentality of pitting one person against another; of bringing two groups into a clash; of making minimal effort to seek true compromise. Those who make true efforts should be blessed with enough courage, wisdom, and understanding to help the
The change of seasons in the whirl of sports is more than painted Autumn scenery. It blends Fall and Winter seasons and we are in the midst of that transition. High hopes in Fall sports either reach reality, or reach a crashing conclusion. • In football playoffs Batavia High School
High school Fall sports playoff competition annually generates added community and fan interest. It is true this Fall in spite of coronavirus concerns the last 18 months, and in some cases because the COVID-19 pandemic caused cancellations. There were no high school football playoffs last year, and the six-game maximum
A system of communication is important in any community. In addition to precarious social media, newspapers have been involved in communications since the late 18th Century. Systems and times change. The Voice offers a platform to exchange ideas, provide community narratives, and offer opinions. We call attention to this week’s
Within more than these 60 days, society in the United States celebrates the holiday season, Halloween through New Year’s Day. There is a wide range of activity, commercial, religious, celebratory, fun, giving, caring, and planning. Much of it was muffled last year because of the reality of the COVID-19. It
High school Fall sports in playoffs: One and done. Cream rises to the top. Drama is played out. The special Fall season includes boys and girls cross country, boys soccer, girls volleyball, and eight classes of football. The conference championships in football have been decided and Friday, Oct. 29 the
