Author: Fox Valley Magazine

Rocky Wirtz, the man who as owner of the Chicago Blackhawks engineered perhaps the most remarkable turnaround in professional sports history, passed away yesterday after a short illness. Wirtz was 70 years old. Wirtz’ improbable remaking of the the Blackhawks, dubbed in 2004 by ESPN as “The Worst Franchise in Professional Sports,” began after the death of his father, Bill, in 2007. Rocky took the reins of the franchise after his brother Peter, who had been far more involved in the organization, declined the position. Wirtz immediately began to transform the franchise, finally securing radio and TV deals (something his…

Update: The City of Geneva has also announced a citywide spray, according to a press release. Spraying is scheduled from dusk to dawn from July 26 into Thursday, July 27. A mosquito surveillance trap in Kane County has tested positive for West Nile Virus.  The sample was taken the week of July 17, from a trap in the City of Batavia monitored by the Kane County Health Department.   This is the first sample from the county to test positive for the virus in 2023. As a result, the City of St. Charles announced today that it will be conducting a…

Some “Old-Time Rock-n-Roll” is coming to RiverEdge Park in Aurora this weekend as Hollywood Nights, The Bob Seger Experience, will perform on Friday at 8pm. Hollywood Nights is coming back to Aurora after wildly popular RiverEdge concerts in 2021 and 2019. Audiences don’t just get hit by pure American rock-and-roll classics like “Night Moves” and “Old Time Rock-n-Roll,” they get a 10-piece band to back up those lyrics everyone can sing along to – 30 years of music forever embedded into America’s DNA – from “Turn the Page” to “Against the Wind” and “Travelin’ Man.” RiverEdge Park is located…

According to a Geneva press release, the Geneva Police Department and several other agencies responded in force Monday evening to a man who had barricaded himself in a home in the 600 block of Nichole Lane on the City’s east side. The incident began around 7:45pm and garnered a significant police presence, including officers from Batavia, St. Charles and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office. Streets in the area of Nichole Lane and Division Street east of Kirk Road were blocked off, with neighbors instructed to stay inside as a precaution. Police indicated that the man had threatened to harm himself,…

The City of Elgin will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, July 26, to celebrate the upcoming renovation and addition project for the Hemmens Cultural Center, a historic landmark and renowned venue for the performing arts in the Fox Valley. Designed and constructed by Cordogan Clark & Associates, this project aims to modernize the facility while preserving its legacy as a premier destination for national, regional, and local performing and presenting organizations. A key element of the renovation will be the new reception area with an outdoor balcony, designed in harmony with the center’s current architecture. This addition will not only…

The Naperville Police Department has released crime statistics for the half of 2023, and the results are mixed. Property crimes (theft, fraud and vandalism), which comprise approximately 65% of the city’s criminal activity, have risen slightly while crimes against people are down. While small in number, the uptick in extortion cases to 14, from 2 in the first six months of 2022, is of particular concern as 11 of the 2023 incidents involved “sextortion” involving teenage boys sending inappropriate pictures of themselves to an unknown person, who then threatens to release the photos publicly unless payment is made. Drug overdoses…

As one of the largest industries in Illinois, agriculture was the foundation for what is known today as the DuPage County Fair. Over 180 years ago when local farmers felt it was important to bring the community together, they decided to take turns hosting a Fair. The gatherings promoted agriculture and farming and included livestock judging; judging of produce, flowers, grains and baked goods; exhibits of new farming equipment and various contests for the entire community to enjoy. The Fair moved to its permanent home in 1955. The legacy of the community’s agricultural roots is honored at the annual DuPage…

Downtown Third Street in Geneva serves as a picturesque backdrop for the annual Geneva Arts Fair on Saturday and Sunday, July 29-30. For over 20 years, the juried Geneva Arts Fair has risen in attendance and notoriety, resulting in its #1 ranking as “Best Art Fair” by artfaircalendar.com.  The show runs from 10am-5pm both days, and showcases fine artisans from around the country in a host of mediums.    Patrons can purchase original works of art and have the unique opportunity to meet exhibiting artists, learn the sources of their inspirations and ask questions about techniques. Landscape architects Plandscape Inc.…

A man is dead and his passenger in critical, life-threatening condition after a head-on collision in Sugar Grove Friday evening. According to a press release from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 11:09 PM Friday, Kane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the report of an accident with injuries in the area of Bliss Road at Seavey Road in Sugar Grove Township. Upon arrival, deputies learned that a silver BMW X5 traveling south on Bliss Road crossed the center line of the roadway in a no passing zone and struck a Chevrolet Silverado truck traveling north on Bliss, head-on. It…

Welcome to our latest edition of Fox Valley Magazine’s 4 FOR THE WEEKEND where the road to Hell is paved with bottles of Scotch… So let’s get to it, starting with….. Weren’t “Boils” One Of The Plagues Of Egypt? OK, we know it’s not THAT kind of boil. Relax, will you? If you dig corn-on-the-cob (and if you don’t, you should turn in your Midwesterner card immediately and move to New York City), we’ve got the place for you this weekend. Sugar Grove. Corn, music, corn, carnival rides, corn, beer, corn…What else do you need? Click here for more. For…