Jo Fredell Higgins’ new book storytime event
The Aurora Public Library District (APLD) is thrilled to welcome an esteemed author for an upcoming special storytime event. Longtime Aurora resident, and former The Voice columnist, Jo Fredell Higgins, will share her delightful new children’s book, A Zoo Menagerie, with families at the Eola Road Library Branch at 10...
Yellow Bird Books in Aurora inviting, positive
Stop at the new bookstore at 34 S. Stolp Avenue in downtown Aurora to be delighted. Owner Karen Nicholas had chosen the “Yellow Bird Books” name because she finds that name to be “inviting, memorable, and reflecting a positive image.” When her son, Will, was a toddler, they would sit...
On recalling devastating 1996 flood in Aurora
Can it really be almost 30 years ago that the Aurora area went through the experience of the tragic 1996 flood? Susan Wyeth, a teacher then of second grade at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Aurora, was in South Carolina at the time of the flood July 19, 1996 due...
Jacques Pepin: Chef, author, artist, superb
Chef, author, and artist, Jacques Pepin was born in 1935 and began his formal apprenticeship at age 13 at the Grand Hotel de l’Europe in his hometown of Bourg-en-Bresse, France. For two years he sharpened knives, refreshing the wood or coals, scaling fish. He was finally allowed to approach the...
Season of hearts, cupids, flowers: Enjoy
It was in the village of Birstwith in Yorkshire, England that Emily celebrated the Valentine’s Day of 1980. She had been touring the English countryside during a fortnight vacation and decided to linger in the village. The medieval wool trade thrived here. There was an open park area that was...
Bits and pieces: Eiffel to Sistine Chapel
Time for this and that. Bits: Northern Illinois University student body includes every state as well as 76 countries. Last enrollment international students numbered 966. Pieces: Some of the endangered species include wild salmon, ferrets, jaguar, whooping cranes, polar bears, Canadian lynx, and the grizzly bear. Bits: Starting 45 centuries...
Grand Canyon truly a grand experience
“There goes God with an army of banners.” —Poet Carl Sandburg comparing the Canyon to a Divinity. The Grand Canyon in Arizona is 277 miles long, a mile deep and as much as 18 miles wide. All of it has been carved out by erosion of the Colorado River. The...
Dorothea Dix early reformer for mentally ill
“Silence is the fence around wisdom.” — Elizabeth Rathbone A difficult childhood, a mentally ill mother, an alcoholic and abusive father who was an itinerant bookseller and Methodist preacher led Dorothea Dix to live with her grandmother and subsequently with other relatives so much so that she never felt she...
From prince at birth to residue, dumped ashes
“For pomp is a tenacious force. And a wily one too. How numbly it bows as the emperor is dragged down the steps and tossed in the street.” A Gentleman in Moscow He was the prince from the moment he was born. The heir. The chosen. The selfish young man...
Henry David Thoreau simple life revealed
“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” — Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau was an American poet and naturalist, who was born in Concord, Mass. in 1817 as the son of a pencil-maker. He studied at Harvard College, taught school, and worked in his father’s pencil factory....
Wonderful memories of Granada, the Spanish night
From AD 711 until 1492, Iberia was in Islamic hands. There was a peaceful intermingling of Muslim, Christian, and Jew under the tolerant caliphs. This was the tenth-century Cordoba. Power and wealth created a civilization of affluence. The Alhambra shows the glories of Cordoba when it was Christian ruled. It...
Top Ten books of the year difficult task
To choose the Top Ten for this year was quite the task. During the Winter months, I would read at least eight books each month. But, here goes. Some of the finest. Bonus: John Grisham’s latest title “The Exchange” and “Mary Churchill’s War” are worthwhile reading....
Christmas celebration clearly enjoyable in Italy
“And so as Tiny Tim observed, “God bless us every one.” Dickens A Christmas Carol And so it was December again and the city of Florence, Italy looked like an angel food cake dusted with powdered sugar. The first light snowfall had covered everything with an icy white glaze. Maisie...
Winged spirits, angels, busy before Christmas
“Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven seek not the praise of men.” —Paradise Lost, John Milton Winged spirits converged around the long wooden table contemplating all that still needed to be done before Christmas Day. Angels were everywhere. And they were busy. All of the sweet treats needed to...
Sir Winston Churchill girls served nobly in WWII
“Never, never, never give up.” Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was a British statesman, soldier and prime minister of the United Kingdom who was born November 30,1874 to Lord Randolph and Lady Randolph Churchill of wealthy British aristocratic lineage. He was not a handsome man, with a bulldog...
Christmas past in Ireland relived in joy
The tableaux of Bethlehem on that first Christmas night centered on the Christ Child nestled among the straw of a wooden manger. His mother Mary, and Joseph the Carpenter, were seeking shelter among the doves and donkeys and fragrant evergreens. The family of three was to change the beliefs of...
Service setting backdrop for Thanksgiving
“What with still hours of calm delight thy songs and image blend. I cannot chose but think thou wert an old familiar friend.” —Annabel Abbs The kitchen was a beautiful spacious room with sunlight filtering through the tall windows facing east. So Eliza could see the morning sun as it...
Marie Antoinette reign ended in guillotine
Marie Antoinette was born November 2, 1755 as an Archduchess of Austria and became dauphine of France at age 14 upon her marriage. And on May 16, 1770 she was joined in marriage with the heir to the French throne, the future King Louis XVI in the Royal Chapel at...
Book on U.S. president’s secret service shocking
When first lady Barbara Bush visited the Aurora campus of Waubonsee Community College, I was on the welcome committee to greet her. Secret Service were all over the building talking into their sleeves. Mrs. Bush came up to me and shook my hand, her piercing, blue, radiant, eyes looked straight...