Kate Ning, 3, of Buffalo Grove uses her noisemaker during Saturday’s New Year’s Eve party at the Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Joe Morris, 17 of Waukegan, and Gabi Turcotte, 16, of Buffalo Grove take a casual stroll in the frigid water during the 13th Annual Polar Bear Plunge Sunday, New Year´s Day, at Waukegan Municipal Beach. Proceeds from the event benefit Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County through recreation program scholarships to individuals with special needs.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

This is a photo from the 13th Annual Polar Bear Plunge Sunday, New Year´s Day, at Waukegan Municipal Beach. Proceeds from the event benefit Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County through recreation program scholarships to individuals with special needs.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Chris Madsen of St. Charles, braves the cold along with fellow birders of the Kane County Chapter of Illinois Audubon Society, while on its annual bird walk at Nelson Lake/Dick Young Forest Preserve in Batavia.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Lexie Moe, 8, of Lake Forest holds her mom’s hand as she skates at Glacier Ice Arena during the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana “Cape and Skate” Monday in Vernon Hills. About 250 girls from 32 troops participated in the event. The tradition of wearing the red capes came from the 1940s when girls scouts would wear the capes Christmas caroling.

Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

White Sox Mascot Southpaw gives Linda Toaddy of Lombard a playful chomp on the head as he visits the Oakbrook Terrace Park District Fitness Center in celebration of it’s 20th anniversary, Monday.

Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Justin Mabry of Batavia flings a disc as he plays The Links at Wheeler Park disc golf course with friend Scott Langford Wednesday in Geneva. Mabry says he plays there just about every day, weather permitting, and played 2-3 rounds a day last summer after it opened.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

Wood Dale resident, Mike Detloff of the Northern Illinois Raptor Center, works with a Red-tailed Hawk at the Songbird Slough forest preserve near Itasca, Wednesday. The hawk was injured by a Bald Eagle as a baby and became imprinted on humans during it’s rehabilitation, making it non-releasable, so now the hawk is used or educational proposes. The Northern Illinois Raptor Center is headquartered in Hoffman Estates at Vogelei Park where the center is preparing to build their first mew. They currently have no birds on display.

Mark Black | Staff Photographer

A worker with DeLauter Development in Carpentersville takes a measurement while building the new fellowship hall and school addition at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Tuesday Arlington Heights. The 20,000 sq. ft. building is expected to be competed by May of this year.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

Debbie Biancalana of Arlington Heights, successfully holds onto her hat while braving the wintry cold conditions on her way to Walgreens at Town and Country Center in Arlington Heights.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Senior Airman Ben Rosengarden hugs his wife, Anna, as he is welcomed home Thursday in Buffalo Grove after serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Politicians, firefighters, policemen, and local residents greeted Rosengarden during a party at the Village Grill and Tavern.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

War veteran Jeremy Votaw of St. Charles works on his batting skills at the Bull/Sox Academy’s facility in Lisle, Thursday. Salute Inc. and the Bull/Sox Academy teamed up to give wounded military veterans a chance to attend the White Sox Fantasy Camp in Arizona this January.

Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Julie Papievis gets flowers and a hug from a library patron before speaking about her near-death experience and book at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library in Arlington Heights on Thursday, January 5th.

George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Dori Harkin of Palatine maneuvers her long board through the parking lots of Harper College. A long board is designed more for straight line speed as opposed to its shorter cousin the skateboard. Dori was a former student at Harper and now uses its parking lots for her long boarding.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Sam Willie, left, guards Jacob Reyna while playing basketball, as the temperature reaches 46 degrees at West Park in Des Plaines Thursday afternoon.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer