Author: Fox Valley Magazine

Naperville’s CityGate Hospitality’s and Calamos Investments’ combined effort to support humanitarian efforts in the Ukraine raised almost $32,000 last week. The funds support World Central Kitchen (WCK), the organization founded and led by Michelin Star Chef José Andrés, which has been in and at the border of Ukraine providing meals to those fleeing their homeland for safety and those remaining in the war-torn country to protect it. The effort was sparked by CityGate Grille Manager Tom Meehan’s suggestion that a fundraiser for Ukraine be held at the restaurant. His idea was not only embraced but expanded to all five restaurants…

After a COVID-inspired cancellation in 2021, there are signs that Elgin’s annual Halloween celebration, “Nightmare on Chicago Street,” will be making a comeback. The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin (DNA), an influential a 501(c)3 non-profit organization representing Downtown Elgin, recently disseminated a survey designed to get feedback from downtown businesses regarding the potential return of the celebration. The online survey lists a serious of questions probing the interest of downtown businesses in a return of the festival, including “issues or concerns…related to topics such as staffing, supply chain, ability to scale up to meet crowd size, etc…?” Nightmare on Chicago…

Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced that a jury found Elgin’s Moses V. Williamson, 33, guilty of the offense of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, a Class 2 felony. The defendant failed to appear in court for the trial causing him to be tried in absentia.  Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Lori Anderson and Jake Matekaitis presented evidence that, at about 6 a.m. on January 23, 2019, Aurora police served a search warrant at the Williamson’s residence located in the 1100 block of South Fourth Street, Aurora. During the search investigators found a Ruger…

Batavia police have now identified the victims in Monday’s fatal, multi-vehicle crash on Kirk Road in Batavia. According to a press release, Violette Uwumuremyi, 50, and Anastasie Nyiramanyenzi, 58, both of the 800 block of South Lake Street, Aurora, were killed when their Ford Taurus hit a tractor semi-trailer setting off a chain of collisions that ended with their car coming to rest on its roof. Uwumuremyi was the driver and Nyiramanyenzi was the passenger, according to the release. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The police also provided further details on the specifics of the incident. The…

According to a report from the Naperville Police department, major crime reported in Naperville decreased in 2021 compared to 2020 and remains low compared to other cities of Naperville’s size throughout the country. Every category of major crime decreased except for arson and criminal sexual assault, where one additional incident of each was reported in 2021 compared to the previous year. The report does highlight, however, an increase in shootings and firearm seizures compared to previous years. There were 12 reported incidents of shots being fired within City limits compared to eight (8) in 2020 and three (3) in 2019.…

During a three-year period from August 2016 to August 2019, a child younger than 13 years old was sexually assaulted numerous times by someone the child knew, 44-year-old Elgin resident Joel Rivera. Rivera will now spend the next 27 years in prison. In August of 2021, Rivera pleaded guilty to the offense of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, Class X felony, 3 counts, and today Judge Salvatore LoPiccolo handed down his sentence. “The victim and her family are true survivors of this defendant’s habitual abuse. They have had their lives forever changed by his actions and his choice…

We talk with legendary comedian Jay Leno about his one experience with road rage, why he works to be a “likable” comedian, his reaction to criticism when he left the Tonight Show, and much more. Jay will be appearing at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora this Saturday, March 26 at 8:00pm. For ticket information, visit https://paramountaurora.com/events/jay-leno-2020/.

Two people are dead and four injured after a six-vehicle pileup on Kirk Road in Batavia this afternoon. According to a police press release, a total six vehicles were involved in the crash that occurred early this afternoon, including a tractor semi-trailer, an additional tractor pulling a fuel tank, and four passenger cars. No hazardous materials leaked from the fuel truck as a result of this crash and no HAZMAT response was required. Preliminary investigation indicates that while attempting a lane change, one of the passenger cars struck the semi-trailer causing the passenger car to cross over into oncoming traffic,…

(Photo and Video Credit: Kevin Ketchum) Superstar actor and rising musician Kiefer Sutherland played an acoustic show at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles last night. Here’s what it looked and sounded like. (To listen to our exclusive interview with Kiefer, click here.)

By the Elgin History Museum How about an Elgin trivia game? So, did you know that Elgin was founded in 1835? The earliest settlers of Elgin, the Giffords and Kimballs, thought this was the perfect spot to establish a town because it was on the route between Chicago and Galena and on the banks of the Fox River. The river provided waterpower for future mills and factories in a time before electricity. Here’s another one. Did you know that Elgin was once home to the largest watchmaker in the world? That’s right, the Elgin National Watch Company was built in…