6-year-old Andrew Hernandez of Orchard School is one of the first kids to greet Santa after arriving on a fire truck during the Des Plaines annual Christmas tree lighting event in Metropolitan Square.
Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
16-month-old Zuzanna Derendar visits Santa in the Log Cabin with her mom Gaba Derendar, prior to the tree lighting in Bartlett Park.
Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
Mayor Arlene Mulder, right, visits with Lois Arbanas as she celebrates her 105th birthday at the Moorings Friday.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Montini football team members cheer as current and past trophies are displayed Friday afternoon at a pep assembly for winning its fourth consecutive IHSA state football championship last weekend.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
2012 Fittest Loser winner Michael White runs the bridge above the Fox River in Elgin near Voyageurs Landing Forest Preserve.
Christopher Hankins/chankins@dailyherald.com
Third grade teacher Kim Zilch, left, plays the roll of an illegal immigrant as courtroom deputy Michael Wing pretends to handcuff her during a visit from U.S. District judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan at Butterfield School in Libertyville Friday. Der-Yeghiayan is the first Armenian immigrant federal judge in the United States. The students have been involved in a six-week unit on immigration.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
About 400 watched a ten-minute firework show following the Mundelein annual holiday tree lighting and visit from Santa Claus at Kracklauer Park in Mundelein on Friday.
George LeClaire/gleclaire@dailyherald.com
Tommy Wagner, 3, of Mount Prospect is seated on the shoulders of his dad, Ken, following Saturdays 5k Santa Run in Arlington Heights. Tommy turns four on Christmas Day.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Runners leave the starting line during Saturdays 5k Santa Run in Arlington Heights.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Kathy Baldyga plays a Spanish Dancer, as she, along with other dancers from the Dance Center, perform scenes in storefront windows from The Nutcracker, during Jinglebell Jubilee in Lombard. Julia Walli, 11, center, and Lauren Wilinski, 7, right, both of Lombard, watch from the sidewalk.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Cub Scout Pack 317s Brian Beutell, along with other members from Patterson School, march in Napervilles Hometown Holiday Celebration, featuring the Little Friends Parade of Lights.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
13-year-old Patch wears his reindeer antlers as he walks with his owner Connie Peterson in the Merry Cary holiday parade Sunday in Cary. She works for Cary Bank and Trust and was walking with the float.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Mundelein High School basketball scorekeeper Jim Ackley is all smiles after being honored before Tuesday nights varsity boys basketball game for 50 years of service at Mundelein High School. .
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Connor Schomig Cheers on NIU in a Bowl Crashing Huskies shirt during the basketball- pep rally Wednesday evening at NIU.
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
A headless statue, Olive Gargoyle, next to Still Hall holds a dozen oranges. Students placed the oranges there in hopes of bringing good luck to their team.
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
NIU Husky fans give the school a mascot a high-five during the basketball game pep rally Wednesday evening. NIU will be taking part in the Orange Bowl in Florida.
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
Kelly Prescott of the Claytones embraces the crowd as Santa slips off the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train Tour and makes a stop in Pingree Grove Wednesday December 5, 2012. The Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet in length with 14 brightly decorated rail cars, including a modified boxcar that has been turned into a traveling stage for performers. The Northern Illinois Food Bank will benefit from all donations collected in Pingree Grove.
BRIAN HILL/bhill@dailyherald.com