Author: Fox Valley Magazine

(Capitol News Photo By Jerry Nowicki) By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinois Changes may yet come to the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform before its Jan. 1 effective date, but some of its major proponents in the General Assembly said the results of the Nov. 8 general election have signified that the ship has sailed on drastic amendments to it. “I will say, when it came to the idea of gutting it, that was a bipartisan thing that was real, and I will acknowledge that,” Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, said at a news conference Tuesday. “But what I will say is…

It’s the grand opening of the Christmas season in Aurora this evening as the downtown area dons its holiday finest and welcomes in the cheer. It all starts with the WINTER LIGHTS PARADE at 6:30pm. The parade begins on Downer Place and travels from Water Street to River Street. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will lead the parade with an exciting array of costumed characters, community groups, performers, public safety vehicles, and the magical Christkind from the Christkindlmarket Aurora! After the parage, the traditional TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY will take place at the GAR Memorial Museum, at 23 E. Downer Place. The…

The Geneva Steeple Walk returns to usher in the holidays, greeting patrons with a variety of seasonal music concerts at four local churches. Presented by the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission, the Steeple Walk takes place from 2 to 4:30pm Sunday, Dec. 4. Two audience groups will attend 20-minute concerts played simultaneously at the United Methodist Church of Geneva, 211 Hamilton St.; and Geneva Lutheran Church, 301 S. Third St. Following the performances, the groups will switch venues to enjoy the other concert. Patrons will then walk to the final concerts – and similar rotation format – at both the Unitarian…

On an early morning in June of 2019, Jason A. Carter of St. Charles entered a neighbor’s residence, found her sleeping on a sofa and sexually assaulted her. Carter, 45, now faces up to six years in prison. Carter was convicted by a Kane County jury earlier this week on 2 counts of Home invasion (Class X felony), and 2 counts of Criminal sexual assault (Class 1 felony). At about 2 a.m. on June 16, 2019, Carter heard the victim and her boyfriend return home to the neighboring residence. A short time later after the boyfriend briefly left the residence,…

Art and Market Aurora will be back at Society 57 for three dates this holiday season starting Saturday, Nov. 19. The Aurora Downtown group’s indoor market will feature several local makers at Society 57, 100 S. River St. The market will be open with both food and artisan vendors for holiday shopping from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on November 19 and December 10 and 17. The market is free to enter. “We’re excited to see the market grow. The market is now becoming a spring and fall staple, and it helps support local makers including some of our own…

The Christkindlmarket will come to Aurora this holiday season. In his State of the City address, Mayor Richard C. Irvin announced the market will have its 2022 season debut at RiverEdge Park, in downtown Aurora. The event organizers will work with the City of Aurora and the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA) to bring the beloved holiday tradition to Aurora and give visitors an additional option, outside of the City of Chicago, to experience the wonder of the market. “We are so happy to bring the Christkindlmarket back to the western suburbs, especially at a site as beautiful as RiverEdge…

EagleMania – The World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute Band. That isn’t their slogan by mistake. Hear for yourself this evening at the Piazza in Aurora. Doors open at 5pm and the show starts at 8pm. EagleMania has dedicated themselves to faithfully reproducing the music of The Eagles. Since their inception, EagleMania has been thrilling audiences all over the country with their stunning five part harmony and their uncanny ability to emulate the unmistakable sound of The Eagles. Their show consists of the Eagles’ greatest hits, as well as some of the solo work of Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Joe Walsh.…

Bull dealt drugs, got caught, and served his time. For a decade, he’s thought about one thing: coming home. On the day Bull is released from prison, he returns to his old Chicago neighborhood, Lakeview, now unrecognizable. Hopeful and eager, he is ready to resume life with his family, only to discover how much has moved on without him. His dream now within grasp, what will it take to get home? BULL: a love story, now playing at the Copley Theatre in Aurora, was originally presented in January, 2021 as a virtual staged reading as part of Paramount’s new play…

Local music legend Noah Gabriel will take a backward look at his 20 years in the Fox Valley with a performance at The Venue in Aurora this evening. Honesty is where the best songs come from, and nearly 2 decades ago – within the first lines of the first song from his very first album, no less – Gabriel was already making that abundantly clear. “I don’t know what to say, but I won’t turn away,” from the appropriately-titled “Pride,” ushered Gabriel into the Chicago roots-rock scene, crafting his own blend of amiable roots-rock that pulls equally from fiery blues…