Articles filed under Curious

• Researchers study secretions that let termites blow themselves up Jul 28, 2012 12:00 AM
  When trekking through a forest in French Guiana to study termites, a group of biologists noticed unique spots of blue on the backs of the insects in one nest. Curious, one scientist reached down to pick up one of these termites with a pair of forceps. It exploded.
  

   
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  Area wildlife center saving winged victims of the heat Jul 9, 2012 12:00 AM
  As last week's blistering heat went on and on, wildlife experts noticed a horrifying phenomenon -- young terns, unable to bear the heat, were jumping off roofs in Chicago and falling to their deaths. "These are underdeveloped nestlings, whose flight feathers haven't developed yet," says Dawn Keller of Flint Creek Rehabilitation, which has stepped in to rescue the remaining birds. "They're not even fledglings yet."
  

   
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  Military dog gets hero's welcome at O'HareJul 6, 2012 12:00 AM
  Lucca may only have three legs but she has an unbroken spirit. The bomb-finding dog saved soldiers' lives in Afghanistan but an explosion sidelined her. Now she's flying to a new life with an old friend — and stopped at O'Hare on her way.
  

   
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  Batavia author’s book relives Northwoods memories May 30, 2012 12:00 AM
  For many of us who grew up in the Chicago suburbs, Wisconsin was the place where we spent the vacations of our youth. These were carefree days filled with the sounds of screen doors slamming shut, the feeling of sand between our toes and the warmth of a bonfire at night. Batavia writer Marnie Mamminga revisits these memories with her recently published book, "Return to Wake Robin: One Cabin in the Heyday of Northwoods Resorts."
  

   
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  How do cranes get on top of skyscrapers? May 28, 2012 12:00 AM
  Perched above New York City's skyline, two tower cranes are piecing together the new One World Trade Center, which just became the city's tallest skyscraper. How do those cranes get up there?
  

   
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  Wheeling ladies still going strong at 100+ May 7, 2012 12:00 AM
  Addolorata Villa in Wheeling last week celebrated the lives of seven ladies who have turned 100 -- or more. The retirement center held a special Mass in thier honor, followed by a luncheon.
  

   
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  Learn about alpacas at Campton Hills open house May 2, 2012 12:00 AM
  What animal stands about as tall as a human, weighs 150 to 170 pounds, and is pregnant for nearly a year? You can learn about and visit alpacas -- and even buy one of the woolly creatures for yourself -- when Waldron Grove Alpaca Farm holds its spring open house and pen sale this weekend in the Campton Hills area.
  

   
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  Cary resident launches boxing promotions Apr 27, 2012 12:00 AM
  Paul Jonas really believes in boxing as a way to build character, especially in young people. The Cary resident has created Poundit Boxing Promotions, which will present its first amateur boxing event Saturday evening at The Lakemoor Banquets.
  

   
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  Bill Murray’s sister to perform at West Dundee church Apr 26, 2012 12:00 AM
  St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in West Dundee has found a really interesting way to celebrate the namesake saints upcoming feast day on Sunday. Sister Nancy Murray, whose brother happens to be actor Bill Murray, will play the saint in a one-woman play called <"Catherine of Siena: A Woman for Our Times."
  

   
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  Latino Elgin counselor is working for change Apr 17, 2012 12:00 AM
  Pita Betancourt doesn't believe in luck. She doesn't think she ended up in Elgin merely by coincidence. She came here from central Mexico to do important work as a bridge to the Latino community as a counselor at Elgin's Larkin Center. She also works with Morena-Illinois to encourage broader involvement by Mexican immigrants in the United States in Mexican politics.
  

   
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  Filmmaker and diversity trainer to lead ECC conference Apr 16, 2012 12:00 AM
  Elgin Community College will hold its first diversity and cultural competence conference on Thursday, April 19, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote multicultural dialogue on campus and in the community. Filmmaker and diversity trainer Lee Mun Wah will be the featured speaker.
  

   
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  Elgin family has 3 generations spanning 100 years as lawyers Apr 5, 2012 12:00 AM
  People in Elgin still tell stories about George Carbary noted trial lawyer and state's attorney from 1928 until 1936, overseeing enforcement of Prohibition. He passed the bar on April 3, 1912 with no law school diploma. Now, 100 years after Carbary became an attorney, his grandson reflects on the depth of his family history.
  

   
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  Elgin man honored for 25 years of safe driving Mar 29, 2012 12:00 AM
  Al Reinken is now part of an elite circle of UPS drivers. He became a member of the Circle of Honor this year for 25 years of accident-free driving, making him one of about 300 UPS drivers in Illinois. Reinken, 47, lives in Elgin and works out of the Palatine facility.
  

   

• Elgin’s ‘dark side’ made news in 1912 Mar 28, 2012 12:00 AM
  The dark side of Elgin appeared to be making news a century ago. This included stories of risqué motion pictures, dances involving drunkenness and debauchery, and men who were part of the black list. Heres a look at those and others stories that made headlines in March 1912.
  

   
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  Elgin man looks back on a life of travel and successMar 10, 2012 12:00 AM
  Ken Pages apartment in The Greens of Elgin is like a museum of his life. The 85-year-old man spent decades traveling throughout the world in his work with Sears, collecting treasures from Peru, Brazil, Portugal, Spain and Puerto Rico.
  

   
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  Elgin police lieutenant teaching police tactics in Kosovo Feb 28, 2012 12:00 AM
  Lt. Jeff Adam has been teaching aspiring officers investigations skills for years but this week he’ll have a new class of students. Adam is teaching members of local, state and national police forces in Kosovo a host of techniques he has honed in Elgin’s Police Department for the last 19 years.
  

   
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  Make-A-Wish gives Gilberts girl a chance to swim with the dolphins Feb 25, 2012 12:00 AM
  Swimming with the dolphins what 5-year-old Lola Walsh of Gilberts replied when asked by representatives of the Illinois chapter of Make-A-Wish organization what she always wanted to do. Now, she'll have her chance to do just that.
  

   
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  World War II wedding gown gets new life - again Feb 22, 2012 12:00 AM
  When Cay and Gene Voiland of Batavia married on Feb. 19, 1946, Cay's wedding dress was a rarity for a World War II era bride. It was made of silk from Gene's parachute. Cay never guessed it would be taken out of storage to be used again, twice. Daughter Ann and granddaughter Celeste have both worn the dress for their own trips down the aisle.
  

   
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  Elgin Knit Works to open Saturday Feb 7, 2012 12:00 AM
  Betsy Kuhn is about to become one of those handcrafters whose “pie-in-the-sky” dream comes true. The Elgin woman said opening her own knitting and yarn store is something she has wanted to do for a long time, but only seriously considered more recently. And then the stars aligned. Kuhn and her husband, Ian, plan to open Elgin Knit Works Saturday, Feb. 11, and ease into their new business venture before throwing a grand opening celebration sometime in March.
  

   
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  ‘Groundhog Day': 20 years later in WoodstockJan 30, 2012 12:00 AM
  It was 20 years ago that the film crews and movie stars came to Woodstock. In 1992, Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott and a little groundhog filmed the movie in Woodstock that would make the world take notice of the picturesque McHenry County town and its quaint square.