Author: Fox Valley Magazine

It’s time for Aurora Downtown’s annual Cocoa Crawl in conjunction with the downtown group’s monthly First Fridays event on December 1. The popular seasonal event offers more than 40 holiday activities throughout downtown including photos with Santa, holiday shopping, live music, and more. To participate in the Cocoa Crawl portion of First Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., an official Cocoa Crawl mug and button are needed. Mugs and buttons are currently on sale at a handful of downtown locations including Aurora Historical Society, Aurora Regional Fire Museum, G.A.R. Military Museum, Renew Salon and Spa, Society 57, and Wyckwood…

A jury has found an Elgin man guilty of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13. Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced yesterday that 38-year-old Sergio Varela was found guilty of the offenses of Predatory criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony (2 counts); and Aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony. Varela sexually assaulted the child, whom he knew, over a three-year period from 2014 to 2017. “I am grateful to this victim for her courage to face her abuser in court,” said Assistant State’s Attorneys Stacey Wittman. “My thanks to a second victim…

An Aurora woman who lead police on a high-speed chase down I-88 early Saturday morning has been denied pre-trial release. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced today that Judge Anthony Coco granted the State’s motion to detain the 22-year-old woman after she was charged with two counts of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding (Class 4 Felony) and one count of Misdemeanor Attempt Aggravated Assault. According to police, on Saturday morning at approximately 1:18am, officers with the Naperville Police Department conducting surveillance in the parking lot of Bowlero, which is located at 1515 Aurora…

Bring the family for a magical and memorable experience – just like visiting the North Pole! Blackberry Farm is a winter wonderland amid thousands of twinkling lights, festive holiday decorations and happy holiday music. Take a ride on the Holiday Express train – a charming tour around scenic Lake Gregory – and enjoy a hay wagon ride, too. Back in the historic pioneer village, you’ll enjoy crafts, a reindeer food bar, story readings of holiday classics at the one-room schoolhouse, and…a special visit with Santa. Food and drinks available for purchase. Get ready for some holiday cheer – all aboard…

After months of hints and backtracks by Board members regarding additional taxes for the coming fiscal year, and against the explicit support for such tax hikes by Board CFO Kathy Hopkinson, the Kane County Board has approved a budget of $394 million for Fiscal Year 2024 without raising property taxes. “With deliberation, the Kane County Board voted to use its reserve fund to balance this year’s budget, marking the 14th year of a restrained property tax levy,” said Kane County Board Chairman Corinne Pierog. “The budget would not have been possible if not for the talents of our county staff,…

On Friday, December 1, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra will present the Greater Elgin Do-It-Yourself Messiah at the Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community College. Elgin resident Mally Miceli came up with the idea for a locally produced Sing-Along Messiah after traveling to Chicago’s Do-It-Yourself Messiah for years. A supporter of the Elgin arts community, Mally realized that the Northwest suburbs have a wealth of musical and vocal talent that could be showcased through a community sing-along. The evening begins at 6:30 pm with the singing of familiar holiday carols, including a special carol performance by the…

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced today that Judge Anthony Coco granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for two Naperville men accused of beating a man outside a Naperville apartment complex and then breaking into an apartment at the complex. Police allege that in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving, two Naperville men travelled from Maywood to an apartment complex located in the 1500 block of West Jefferson Avenue to confront an individual with whom they had been communicating. Upon their arrival, the men encountered an individual outside the complex…

On Wednesday morning, a suspect in the murder of 47-year-old Martin K. Pegues of Aurora eluded Aurora police after an attempted trafiic stop, only to be arrest later in DeKalb. At approximately 9:30am Wednesday, Aurora Detectives located a homicide suspect inside of a vehicle near the 1400 block of North Farnsworth Avenue in Aurora. Officers in the area attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle and the driver of the vehicle fled officers leading them in a pursuit. The pursuit was later terminated, but the driver was located in Dekalb through other investigative means and was taken into custody by…

The more, the merrier. Montgomery Merry & Bright lights up the night starting Sunday, December 3. Festivities begin with the Tree Lighting and visit with Santa at 5:00P on Sunday, December 3, in front of Village Hall (200 North River Street). The event will feature Santa, giveaways, musical performances, and the opening of the Festival of Trees, which will run through December 28 at Village Hall and along River Street. Together with the Greater Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce (GMACC), the Village of Montgomery has hosted this event for twenty-seven years. The annual Tree Lighting & Visit with Santa event…

Tradition and surprise. It wouldn’t be Christmas without them, and Geneva’s Christmas Walk and House Tour offer both.  The Christmas Walk begins at 6 pm Friday evening, December 1, with Bob’s Candy Cane Parade and Graham’s Chocolates first candy cane of the season being presented with great fanfare followed by the arrival of Santa Lucia, the Swedish symbol of the season, who will offer Swedish cookies to merry-makers.  The Christmas Tree is lit and the Courthouse lawn becomes aglow.  The young and young at heart will wait with anticipation as Santa Claus arrives. Santa will open his home for visits…