Utica

There are a handful of community Christmas celebrations planned this weekend.

The La Salle County Historical Museum at 101 E. Canal St. in Utica is the new home to a display commemorating the Crusaders drum corps that played every parade it could until it disbanded in 1980.

Waltham Elementary School released its honor and high honor rolls for the first trimester of the 2022-23 school year.

Communities across the Illinois Valley will celebrate Christmas with town-wide events. Here is a listing of events scheduled.

Waltham Elementary will host a public hearing on raising taxes and then impose a 10-cent increase on Utica-area tax bills.

The Utica Garden Club will have its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Utica Community Building.

The piano students of Stacy Konczak of Maestro & Mi Music Academy will be performing two recitals at 1 and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Auditorium Ballroom, located at 109 Wright St. in La Salle.

The Mad Hatter Ball celebrated students in the arts Friday with a fundraising event showcasing and recognizing their skills at the Grand Bear Lodge in Utica. The ball is organized by the North Central Illinois Artworks.

Utica’s tax base grew by about $2.5 million — thanks mainly to rising residential property values — and that means the village tax rate is going down a little.

By the end of Tuesday, 39,620 votes were cast in La Salle County for a turnout of 55.9%.

Large crowds gathered Sunday in downtown Utica for the annual veterans parade and air show. Billed as one of the largest in the state, crowds were treated to many floats and an air show.

Members of the Utica Fireside White Sox Club recently presented a $1,500 donation to Helen Maurice, administrative assistant, Lighted Way.

Jim Huffstodt, a 1965 graduate of La Salle-Peru High School, published his fourth book in August, a biography about the life of Dr. Frank Chapman, called “The Man Who Loved Birds.”

There's music, art, theater, a veterans parade and a 4-H rocket launch scheduled this weekend in the Illinois Valley.

Members of the Utica Fireside White Sox Club recently presented a $1,500 donation to Lacey McNelis, qualified intellectual disability professional, Ottawa Friendship House.