Images: New Year's Day in the Suburbs
See activities and first babies of the New Year as 2016 arrived in the suburbs of Chicago. A polar plunge was held in Waukegan, walks were held in St. Charles and South Barrington, and a peace rally was held in VIlla Park.
People dressed in costumes brave the cold waters of Lake Michigan during the 17th Annual Polar Bear Plunge in Waukegan Friday at Waukegan Municipal Beach Friday.
Steve Lundy/bhill@dailyherald.com
Jaxson Lee Ecker, son of Taryn and Kyle Ecker of Carpentersville, was born at 6:31 a.m. at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington, on New Year's Day Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Jessica and Tony Ortiz with their newborn son Oliver, who was born at 1:16 a.m. at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. The family lives in Rolling Meadows.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Zachary Wenner, left, and Felix Monterrosa, both of Highwood, high-five after participating in the 17th Annual Polar Bear Plunge in Waukegan Friday at Waukegan Municipal Beach Friday.
Steve Lundy/bhill@dailyherald.com
People brave the cold waters of Lake Michigan during the 17th Annual Polar Bear Plunge in Waukegan Friday at Waukegan Municipal Beach Friday.
Steve Lundy/bhill@dailyherald.com
Participants run the 17th Annual Polar Bear Plunge in Waukegan Friday at Waukegan Municipal Beach.
Steve Lundy/bhill@dailyherald.com
Nancy Schnaitman, who led the annual "Walk For Rhonda" New Year's Day bird walk records one of the many birds spotted Friday morning in the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center trails in St. Charles.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Bird watchers on the annual "Walk for Rhonda" New Year's Day hike watch a red-tailed hawk in an oak tree, near the center of the picture, Friday morning in the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center trails.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Rhonda Nelson, left, of St. Charles, whom the annual New Year's Day bird walk is named for, laughs with friends as they "Walk for Rhonda" Friday morning in the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center trails. The Kane County Audubon Society holds the walk every year as the first event of the new year.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
A three-mile hike through the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center trails started the year for more than a dozen bird watchers Friday during the annual "Walk for Rhonda" event in St. Charles.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Jaxson Lee Ecker, son of Taryn and Kyle Ecker of Carpentersville, was born at 6:31 a.m. at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington, on New Year's Day Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Jonathan Quist of Algonquin, left, walks with naturalist Mark Spreyer, right, who is leading the annual New Year's Day Walk at Stillman Nature Center in South Barrington Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Jerome Wrobel of North Barrington pauses to read a sign along the lake during the annual New Year's Day Walk at Stillman Nature Center in South Barrington Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Monica Schwarz, left, and Elizabeth Wrobel of North Barrington walk together during the annual New Year's Day Walk at Stillman Nature Center in South Barrington Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Azam Nizamuddin, chair of the Interfaith Committee talks to an audience during the Rally for Peace and Solidarity for the entire community on Friday at the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park .
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
Villa Park Village President Deborah Bullwinkel spoke at the Rally for Peace and Solidarity for the entire community at the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park.
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
Azam Nizamuddin, chair of the Interfaith Committee talks to an audience during the Rally for Peace and Solidarity for the entire community at the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park .
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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