Sundling Jr. High Science teacher Kevin Keehn conducts The death of Tinkerbell demonstration for his class.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Sharon Abts, 2nd grade teacher at Nature Ridge Elementary in Bartlett and her husband Paul deliver presents to Hanover Township that were collected for needy families and the Toys for Tots Program on Friday.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Volunteers Greg Johnston of Beam, Inc. and Chicago Firefighter Charles Vasquez carry bags of donated food to cars of military families at Visual Pak Friday in Waukegan. The nationwide effort will supply over 2000 meals at 6 military bases across the country.

Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Owen Williams, 7, of Crystal Lake, prepares dinner for local families in need Saturday at St. James Episcopal Church in West Dundee. “We feel our duty is to feed people spiritually and physically,” Father Don Frye said. The church raised enough money to supply 119 meals, however do to supplies only could put together 95 meals, and donated the rest of the money to their local food pantry.

Steve Berczynski | Staff Photographer

Evangeline Osborne, 2, of St. Charles, munches on a candy cane while the Olde Towne Carolers perform Christmas songs on the steps of the old Kane County Court House on Third Street in downtown Geneva on Saturday, December 17.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Danielle Denner of Dover, formerly of Wheaton, sings Christmas carols with the Olde Towne Carolers on the steps of the old Kane County Court House on Third Street in downtown Geneva on Saturday, December 17. Shoppers were treated to traditional carols sung by carolers dressed in Civil War era costumes. Over 20 young people representing several area churches are in the group.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Matthew Merrill, 11, of the Lego Agents team from St. Paul School in Mt. Prospect reacts after his robot didn’t quite do what was expected during Saturday’s Lego robotics regional tournament at Lincoln Middle School in Mt. Prospect.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Dennis Hsiao, a sixth grader from Lincoln Middle School in Mt. Prospect, and members of the “Tofu Ninjas” team react after their robot competed its task during Saturday’s Lego robotics regional tournament at Lincoln Middle School in Mt. Prospect.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Alec Montgomery, left, and Jessica Jalowiec of the G.H.O.S.T. 2 team from Holy Ghost School, Wood Dale, celebrate after their robot successfully completes its task during Saturday’s Lego robotics regional tournament at Lincoln Middle School in Mt. Prospect.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Tony Perez, 4, of Carpentersville, hands Carpentersville CSO Marcus Clark, a gift to add to the basket during Shop with a Cop program at Wal-Mart in East Dundee Saturday, December 17, 2011.

Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Klementina Gjolli gives a haircut to Kevin Foley of Addison as Demiri Hair Stylists in Wheaton offers free haircuts for the holidays on Sunday.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Mary and Joseph, played by Lauren and Adam Reyes, hold the baby Jesus, Lincoln Reyes, in a manger in Bethlehem during the performance of “Bethlehem’s Cry Heard Around The World” Sunday at Quentin Road Baptist Church in Lake Zurich.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Stephanie Scialabba sings “Do You Hear What I Hear” during the performance of “Bethlehem’s Cry Heard Around The World” Sunday at Quentin Road Baptist Church in Lake Zurich.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Kindergartner Emme Adams dons antlers and a red nose as kindergartners work with third graders building gingerbread houses Monday at Copeland Manor School in Libertyville.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Dhaval Patel gets his shirt signed by Chicago Bear linebacker Nick Roach as he visits with 6th-graders at Kennedy Junior High in Lisle on Monday.

Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

Nathan Puzon, 5 of Glen Ellyn, peeks around a tree as he looks for a train in the Enchanted Train exhibit at Morton Arboretum in Lisle.

Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

Elgin’s Michael Arnold is the winner of the holiday lights contest sponsored by the Daily Herald giving his neighbors and the residents of Elgin a special present for Christmas.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Lilly Jarrard, 3 1/2, of Naperville, gets a hug from Santa as she visits the Santa House in downtown Naperville on Wednesday afternoon with her parents.

Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

Dr. Alex Lipowich delivered baby boys born to a mother and daughter on the same day. Briana Guerrero, left, holds her baby Ayden Botello, and her mom Jessica Rotter holds yet-to-be named “Baby” Rotter.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Jordan Kipper, 14 of Naperville shops with Naperville Police Officer Roger Otto during the Naperville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 42nd annual shop with a cop for disadvantaged children at the Target in Naperville, Wednesday.

Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Senior secretary of pastoral care Jeremy Miselbrook leads the group, including chaplain Caroline Biel and accounting clerk Pauline Jannotte, in prayer before the start of the Prayer Shawl Ministry Wednesday in the Women’s Center Chapel in the Hunter Family Center for Women’s Health at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital. The shawls are made for patients and families affected by serious illness.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Julia Olson, 7, and her brother Erick, 4, of Arlington Heights sit with Santa Claus at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg Thursday. “I wanted a robot and squinkies” Julia said afterward, and “I asked for a racetrack,” said Erick.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer