Fat Tuesday was celebrated in the Illinois Valley with Spring Valley Bakery and Bobaluk's selling paczkis. Paczki’s are rich, deep-fried Polish doughnuts traditionally filled with fruit preserves like plum or rose hip jam, and topped with powdered sugar or glaze. The pastries date back to the 1700's when bakers in Poland would use up their sugars, jellies and other items for the treats prior to Lent.

Fat Tuesday is known by many names – the day before Ash Wednesday, Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, or as Ken Elleson, owner of Elleson’s bakery in downtown Sycamore, calls it fondly: Paczki Day. “It’s going to be an 18-hour day,” Elleson said.

Downers Grove South won the West Suburban Gold girls track meet, Jaimee Cibulka scored two goals as Benet soccer completed an undefeated regular season, Max Kasallis threw a complete game as Montini baseball ran its win streak to 13 straight, Katey Pierce struck out 13 in a complete-game three-hitter and more in Wednesday's prep sports roundup.