'Tis the season to see green
The day after Thanksgiving isn't just about early-morning store stakeouts for deep discounts on big-screens and handbags.
Some Tri-Cities-area residents used their holiday time Friday for more natural, or seasonal, pursuits.
Here are some examples:
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Among the 30 hikers on the Kane County Forest Preserve District's annual post-Thanksgiving hike, Kaeden Van was perhaps the most enthusiastic.
Showing no signs of turkey-induced sluggishness, the 3-year-old boy was the first to point out the difference between red oak tree leaves and white oak tree leaves.
"They have different points!" he shouted in response to naturalist Valerie Blaine's question.
Leaves from the white oak, Illinois' state tree, are more rounded at the tips than those of a red oak, Blaine told the group hiking through the Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve in St. Charles Township. Young Kaeden came with his family, which included grandparents Don and Pat Riemer of Schaumburg.
The 90-minute hike has been a forest preserve tradition for about 15 years.
"It's been very popular as people are looking to alternatives (to shopping)," said naturalist Ben Katzen. "Another big thing is to work off the Thanksgiving turkey."
-- Lisa Smith
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About 40 parishioners were at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Batavia at 8:30 a.m. Friday to help set up eight large outdoor nativity scenes.
The scenes are painted on cutouts of plywood and they depict the annunciation of Mary, the Christ child in the manger, the angels proclaiming the birth to the shepherds and the coming of the wise men.
Seven scrolls which accompany the artwork tell the story of the birth of Christ. The scenes will be illuminated by electric lights and recorded Christmas hymns will be playing to add to the experience of viewing the art.
The ambitious project is the brainchild of church trustees Jim Hagemann and Dan Gatz, both Batavia residents.
"We've been talking about it for three or four years," Gatz said Friday after most of the installation work was completed. "Last Christmas we noticed that many homes in the area had lights, but the church was dark. We made an announcement at our ministry fair in September that we needed people to help."
"They came out of the woodwork," Hagemann said. "We seem to be blessed at this church with people who help. And it's good for fellowship. You meet more people doing stuff like this than sitting in the pew having to behave."
According to Gatz and Hagemann, the scenes are the culmination of about 500 man hours with about 45 people volunteering.
The chief artists are Kris Ford and Anna Sedberry. A person who wishes to remain anonymous donated 45 sheets of plywood, 60 2-inch by 4-inch boards and 30 gallons of paint and primer, including four gallons of clear acrylic.
The Rev. Ron Weidler, senior pastor, said he is "overwhelmed" by the project.
"I didn't know that Anna Sedberry and Kris Ford were such good artists," Weidler said. "And Jim (Hagemann) is a professional painter. He doesn't just slap paint on walls. He's an artist, also.
"It's just amazing," Weidler added. "I'm hoping that this will be our gift to the community. We want people to come by, get out of their cars and stroll by and see it."
The church is at 950 Hart Road about a mile south of Pine Street.
-- Nancy Gier
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John Guarrine and his nieces, Angela and Anna Remus of Des Plaines, stood in the Marmion Abbey fields looking at a tree that could only be charitably described as crooked.
"He likes to get 'original' trees," Angela explained.
Guarinne, of West Chicago, said the outing was planned for a year since he found out last year his nieces had never cut down their own tree.
Angela wondered if the pine tree, which bent at almost a 45-degree angle, would be high enough off the ground, but Guarrine said he could put it up on cinder blocks if necessary.
"Then there'll be room for more presents underneath," he said.
"That's a good idea," Angela decided.
So Guarrine set to work cutting down the tree, and the girls decided which longer hanging ornaments could decorate the far side of the tree.
"I think I know which way it's going to fall," Guarrine quipped before the tree toppled and the girls cheered.
Friday was opening day for the Marmion Abbey Tree Farm in Aurora. It will remain open from 9 a.m. to dusk each day through Dec. 23.
Hundreds of trees -- the vast majority of them vertical -- are available for $25 to $30 for anyone who wants to cut their own. For more information, visit www.marmion.org/trees or call (630) 897-3011.
-- Leslie Hague
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In early afternoon in St. Charles, a small crowd gathered at the courtyard of the Filling Station to watch artist Joseph Gagnepain IV turn a block of ice into a sculpture of a fox.
Wearing a green felt stocking cap that made him look like an elf (which offset his safety glasses), Gagnepain wielded a 14-inch chainsaw, putting it down occasionally to chip away with smaller chisels and tools.
"It looks like fun, but it looks like it would be very hard," said Annie Elliott of Cincinnati. Elliott's mom and dad brought her, her sister and brother to see the work. They are in town visiting Tom Elliott's parents.
Gagnepain is a well-known local artist, with many murals and statues on display throughout the Tri-Cities. He will make another ice sculpture from noon to 2 p.m. today in front of the Municipal Center, 2 E. Main St.
In January he will be part of a three-man team, The Starvin' Carvists, competing in a snow-carving sculpture contest in Italy.
-- Susan Sarkauskas