Bob and Janet Palkion of Joliet have fostered more than 30 children, adopted three of those fosters and serve the foster community in multiple ways, despite their own health challenges.

Jennifer Mobley, co-founder of “Big Hearts of Fox Valley” with her husband Minor, said she’s witnessed first-hand the power of a community coming together. Her nonprofit unites the police and fire department, schools and volunteers to help St. Charles D303 students in need.

Oswego planning and zoning commissioners unanimously recommended approval of the 25,000-square-foot building proposed in the Prairie Market East shopping center.

Rock Falls Rotary donated $250 to two different organizations that helped out the community during the holidays.

This past holiday season, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with the Illinois Department of Transportation and law enforcement agencies statewide for the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High. Get a DUI.” and “Click It or Ticket” campaigns.

When most people have put away the Christmas decorations, wrapping paper and ribbons, the director of the Whiteside County Toys for Tots program already is thinking about Christmas shopping.

The Henry C. Adams Memorial Library, 209 W. Third St., Prophetstown, held a Christmas Coloring Contest that started Nov. 26 and the winner was announced Dec. 29.

After a great Christmas with family, I think about what we have. How sometimes, we tend to “hang” in the past and forget that our future holds so much.

The Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club helped the Leaf River Lions Club at Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 13.

Groot Industries asks residents not to place their tree in a plastic bag. Waste stickers are not required for this free collection.

The Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club participated in the Dec. 20 Leaf River Fire Department’s annual Lighted Christmas Parade.

Stillman Bank held its 61st annual Holiday Giveaway drawing Dec. 22. The bank had a total of six winners throughout its six locations.

Stillman Bank recently held its annual Christmas coloring contest for children up to 10 years old.

Lydea King participated in the 151st Christmas Festival at Carthage College in the magnificent A. F. Siebert Chapel in Kenosha, Wisconsin. King, from Rock Falls, is a member of wind orchestra and philharmonic orchestra.

Rock Falls Tourism has announced the winners of the Winter Wonderland Business Window Decorating Contest and the House Decorating Contest. Each contest had 10 participants.

Over 300 guests packed the venue. Organized and brought to life entirely by the Joliet Township High School young entrepreneurs and presented with support from Midland States Bank.

Jeeps on the Run delivered an estimated $130,000 in toys and $60,000 in cash for the US Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots programs in Lake and McHenry counties – despite an overnight snowstorm the day of the event.

Yes, you can recycle your used Christmas tree. Here’s how if you live in DeKalb County.

If there’s a group that can compete with the Christmastime goodwill of Santa Claus, it’s the Goodfellows of DeKalb and Sycamore – a volunteer group that distributed thousands of gifts to children on Christmas Eve.

Forty-four families and 120 children received gifts through Peru’s Blue and Red Christmas program this year.

Police from local communities hosted Shop With a Cop events in Lockport, Plainfield, and Bolingbrook over the past week allowing children in need to shop for Christmas.

This Christmas morning, hundreds of children in Lake County will wake up to toys under their trees thanks to the generosity of a Facebook community that turns local residents into Secret Santas.

Check out these decorative Christmas homes and parks throughout the Illinois Valley.

Kendall County residents can celebrate the holidays safely by keeping these guidelines in mind when doing food prep and hosting parties.

This year, the Plainfield Lions assisted 192 families and more than 1,000 people in the Plainfield area with $61,500 in Jewel gift cards.

Dixon City Hall has announced its hours for the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

Forest preserve visitor centers also will be closed starting at noon on Wednesday and all day on Friday.

Hufford Junior High Orchestra

Wagon rides were offered Friday, Dec. 19, through the Holiday Lights Display in Rock Falls.

Although this Christmas will be warmer than usual, it is far from the record set on Christmas Day in 1982, when the temperature hit 64 degrees.

The city of Rochelle public works department will pick up Christmas trees at the curb from Jan. 2-16.

Before you run out the door this Christmas — whether it’s to buy last-minute gifts or simply get out of the house — it’s wise to double-check operating hours, which can differ depending on their location.

Members of the Rock Falls Police Department were dispatched Monday, Dec. 22, to complete operation Santa Claus.

Morrison firetrucks, filled with Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves, rolled through the streets Friday, Dec. 19, to deliver toys collected through the Morrison Fire Department’s annual Caring for Our Community Toy Drive.

“These times can be difficult, but also finding a way to help others can help us, too. Accepting the loss can be the most difficult," says hospital chaplain Darla Fernandez Draus.

Operation Santa Claus, a Rock Falls Police Department effort to bring gifts, food and household items to local families, went off without a hitch Monday, Dec. 22, 2025.

Visitors were treated to wagon rides through the lighted display in Rock Falls' Centennial Park on Friday, Dec. 19.

United Methodist Church of Geneva will host a candlelit Advent Spiral Walk Sunday as a way for participants to slow down and reflect during the holidays.

Santa Claus took time out of his busy schedule to parade through Utica on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. The Utica Fire Protection District has been hosting Santa since December 1941 and is one of the oldest Santa parades in the Illinois Valley.

The Plano Methodist Church collected over 125 items to be donated to the Kendall County Food Pantry.

The River Valley Wind Ensembles presented its annual Holiday Concert, preceded by Christmas carols, on Sunday at Olivet Nazarene University’s Larsen Fine Arts Center in Bourbonnais.

67-year-old Kankakee woman Lori Anderson is seeking a kidney donor.

Santa delivered gifts to over 120 kids through the through Blue and Red Christmas for Kids in Peru. The Christmas program was established in 2013 by the Peru police and fire departments. It donates more than gifts to children in need.

Downtown Joliet is dressed into holiday style, despite continued work on the Chicago Street Streetscape and city square projects. But despite ongoing construction, businesses still decked themselves out with plenty of good holiday cheer.

Putnam County Primary School has been transformed into a festive winter wonderland this holiday season, bringing excitement to students, staff and visitors.

Now the FIT Foundation – a meal prep company is seeking donations for Christmas dinners for Joliet and Crest Hill police officers who are working on Christmas Day.

Every year I am asked what I would like for Christmas. Each year my reply is “Peace on Earth.” I understand peace to mean not merely the absence of conflict, but also a wholeness to creation.

Rochelle Community Hospital on Thursday, Dec. 18, hosted its fifth annual holiday drive-thru dinner and distributed 200 meals to people in need.

The Blue Christmas service will be held at the Chapel on the Green, 107 W. Center St., Yorkville.

Tribute artist Dean Z will perform classic songs from all of the different eras of Elvis’ musical career.