Eva Tipps, of Sleepy Hollow, shovels her driveway Monday morning near a birch tree covered in new snow.

Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

During the recent 2-day extreme cold snap we had a couple of weeks ago, I was out early looking for people braving the 0 degree temperature. Reluctant as I was to get out of the car, I spotted some workers from the Geneva Park District spraying water on a skating rink at Wheeler Park. With wind chills at about 15 degrees below zero, I was making some frames when I stopped my aperture down to about f16 and realized I couldn't see through my viewfinder. Ice was forming on my lens from the spray. And on my face. I decided to call it a morning.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

Parts of the Batavia Riverwalk are showing their age after 16 years and some lack of maintenance. The people who were the driving forces behind the original work are now organizing a campaign for its fix-up as well as some enhancements.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

Megan Blakeman, left, and Tami Mitchell try to think of 100 Topsy Turvy words during Copeland Manor School celebration of the 100th day of school.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Rebecca Stephenson works on a drawing of a pretzel using the numerals 100, during Copeland Manor School celebration of the 100th day of school.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Marie and Steve Smith, of Lombard, walk with their dog April across the frozen lake at the East Branch forest preserve Wednesday.

Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Doug Pekny and his daughter Noelle, 8, of Glen Ellyn, enjoy the day sledding at Newton Park in Glen Ellyn Sunday.

Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Eighth grader Ian Goff, left, helps fourth grader Alex Kozic operate a robot during the Academic Fair Wednesday at St. Patrick Catholic School in Wadsworth. Eighth grade students presented their projects on topics ranging from robotics, to Walt Disney World, to the Salem witch hunts.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Eighth graders Julia Ward, left, and Hana Holman use an iPad to play a DreamWorks game called Shrek Kart during the Academic Fair Wednesday at St. Patrick Catholic School in Wadsworth.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Shannon Downing measures out a solution as Copeland Manor fifth-graders conducted chemistry experiments with parent volunteers Thursday in Libertyville.

Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Eighth grader John Baker demonstrates his bow at his exhibit on archery during the Academic Fair Wednesday at St. Patrick Catholic School in Wadsworth.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Melody Lin, 9, thinks about her next move in Connect 4 during a snow day Thursday at Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Meha Krishna, 8, left, Sruja Konada, 8, and Emery Etzel, 9, play Blokus during a snow day Thursday at Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Deandre Butler wears Minnie Mouse ears to reflect her project on Walt Disney World during the Academic Fair Wednesday at St. Patrick Catholic School in Wadsworth.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Arlene Mulder gets an applause after being introduced at her final Arlington Heights Chamber Mayor's 26th Annual Community Prayer Breakfast.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Austeja Dauneckis waits with her luggage on a ship taking her to America, as Riley School 2nd graders explore what it was like to be an immigrant coming to America at the turn of the century.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Jack Cadre hoists his luggage in the ship's steerage while coming to America, as Riley School 2nd graders explore what it was like to be an immigrant coming to America at the turn of the century.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Brian Stith clears his driveway Friday morning in Mundelein after a winter storm hit the area Thursday night.

Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Clem Vath, of Mundelein, ducks under a hanging branch as he helps a neighbor clear his driveway in Mundelein Friday morning after a winter storm hit the area Thursday night.

Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Susan Evans of Berwyn admires the Amish craftsmanship of a table in Romeo Panozzo's Custom Furniture Design USA booth at the Old House New House Home Show at the Mega Expo Center and Ballroom at Pheasant Run Resort Saturday. Evans and her husband own a 106-year-old Frank Lloyd Wright home in Berwyn.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Cassie Devita, 2, of Villa Park, enjoys a smores at the Lombard Park District annual Winter Carnival.

Paul Michna | Staff Photographer

Steve Belliveau of Getting Excited About Science shows Sean Sima, 10, of Mundelein, how to open a can of pop that has been shaken without it erupting during a program at the Aspen Drive Library in Vernon Hills Saturday.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Thomas Mathson contorts himself to avoid getting hit during a dodgeball tournament at Hampshire High School Sunday. The 12-year-old was playing on a team of friends called Bananas in the fourth annual tournament to benefit local families in need. The Bananas won their first two games against much older teams of competitors.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Chloe Tratar, 7, tries her skills on the Pull The Rug Out challenge at the Fermi Lab Family Open House Sunday in Batavia.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Owen Payton, 6, of West Chicago, bowls during the Children's Organ Transplant Association's Have a Heart for Owen bowling fundraiser at Bowling Green Sports Center Sunday. Payton, who was born with a congenital heart defect, is in need of a heart transplant.

Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Zoey Perlman, 7, of Buffalo Grove, dances with her father, Sean, during the Valentine's Dance Sunday at the Chevy Chase Country Club in Wheeling. Raising Up Our Angels sweetheart dance was sponsored by the Kiski Valley Veterans and Patriots Association to support the Wounded Warrior Project.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Tyrone Davis, of Great Lakes, looks at a silent auction with his daughter, Olivia, 4, during the Valentine's Dance Sunday at the Chevy Chase Country Club in Wheeling.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer