Two-year-old Brianna Kolinski of Montgomery sits down with Santa Claus at the Phillips Park Visitor's Center during the Festival of Lights in Aurora last year. Santa will be there again this year. (Sun-Times Media File)
It's Christmas time in the city. But silver bells? They might be out of the question this year. The still-slumping economy is threatening to descend, Grinch-like, on Whoville and steal away Christmas -- or at least parts of it. Cities, towns and villages up and down the Fox Valley are facing massive budget deficits in 2010, and as revenue continues to decline, many are cutting back on non-essentials.
CenterStage We reward big mouths
Finish that drink/brunch/show/yoga class and leave a review at Centerstage Chicago. Each week's most brilliant and helpful review wins a killer prize (think gift certificates to great places).
A suburban police patrol car recently hosted a large and perhaps inadvertently adventurous Felis Catus under its hood. “It's like nothing I've heard,” police Cmdr. Steve Husak said Friday of the incident.
Three run to All-State honors
The state cross country meet is all about survival of the fittest.
The first mile is typically run at a breakneck pace. For example, in Saturday's Class 3A meet, eventual winner Lukas Verzbicas of Sandburg, who was attempting to break Craig Virgin's 37-year-old course record of 13:50, took the field out in a blistering 4:28 before tiring and finishing in 14:07.
Foxes surprise with 2nd in 2A
The Yorkville girls' cross country meet headed to the IHSA state Class 2A meet at Detweiller Park Saturday hoping for a top-5 finish.
The Foxes got it, and then some.
Led by All-State performances from Ali Hester and Esther Bell, Yorkville scored 124 points to pick up a team trophy with a second-place performance. The Foxes, who placed 12th a year ago, finished just six points behind team champion Springfield.
Auroran makes mobiles from old CDs
Aurora resident Joe Hornyan is an artist of sorts, although he is quick to downplay the objects he makes as "junk art." Hornyan, an 83-year-old widower who has lived most of his life in Aurora, makes movable mobiles out of colored compact discs.
Kane Cougars hope to make Upper Deck a hit
Even though the minor league baseball season has been over for weeks,
the Kane County Cougars are hoping that their new Upper Deck facilities
will keep Elfstrom Stadium hopping even during the off-season.
State Street Dance to perform 'Nutcracker'
State Street Dance Studio of Geneva will present "The Nutcracker" on Dec. 19 and 20 at the Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles, marking the studio's sixth annual performance of the classic holiday ballet.