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Images: Best 2013 photos Kane/DuPage/McHenry counties

  Jim Erboe, a part-time employee at River Valley Memorial Gardens in West Dundee places Christmas wreaths on the graves of veterans buried at the picturesque cemetery. Christopher Hankins/chankins@dailyherald.com
  Elgin Community College student Anneliese Pfatschbacher bows as she finishes her poem entitled “Strength of Voice” during the Poetry Slam Wednesday in the Spartan Auditorium. Christopher Hankins/chankins@dailyherald.com
  Looking as if it’s a part of a decorative sign, a horse grazes in a front pasture at Red Gate Farm along Red Gate Road in St. Charles on Friday, May 10. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Bison graze in the pasture as the sun rises over Fermilab in Batavia. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Pon Rattan of American Legion Post 57 takes a moment to reflect as names of the deceased are read during the Memorial Day celebration at Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin Monday. Rattan of Elgin served in the Marines. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Fans watch the downpour from cover after the Bears game was delayed due to dangerous weather Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  As I stood with my hand on my heart listening to the national anthem play at a Rosary girls swimming invitational in September, the reflections of four swimmers in the still water caught my eye. Then I saw the 4FT sign on the edge of the pool, realized there were four sets of feet there and I couldn’t resist taking a photo. The combination of lines, reflections and a bit of humor made for an image I thought would be perfect for this week’s Perspective image. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Repetition in nature can be beautiful, but that beauty can definitely be in the eye of the beholder. This dandelion has flowered and is ready to spread its seed for next year. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Covered in green slime, a frog peeks from the Fox River in a shallow area adjacent to Ferson Creek Park in St. Charles. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  East Dundee firefighter Nick Beauchaine carries a scared Roxi after helping her owner from her home on Fox River Drive along the Fox River in East Dundee during spring flooding. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns checks results in his re-election bid at his office in Geneva during elections last spring. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  St. Edward’s William Bothwell (45) listens to coach Mike Rolando after their loss to Harvard during the IHSA Class 4A playoff game. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Wet and snowy conditions last February created a perfect opportunity for a budding artist to adorn this tree with a smile along Wing Street in Elgin. Christopher Hankins/chankins@dailyherald.com
  A gambling addiction caused Melynda Litchfield of Bartlett, a mother of three, to lose the job she had held as a registered nurse for 27 years last spring. After seeking help she put herself on the state´s casino self-exclusion list. Once you´re on the list, you´re immediately arrested and charged with trespassing if you´re caught in a casino again, even if it´s just when your driver´s license is scanned on the way in the door. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  I admit that I’m a sucker for several photographic clichés. So when I saw the combination of golden light from the setting sun and silhouettes of people in cowboy hats before the Championship Bull Riding event at the Kane County Fair in St. Charles, I couldn’t help myself. There are worse tropes I suppose. Right? PERSPECTIVE is a weekly Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Lafi Lealaua, looking left, huddles with his teammate on the Fox Valley Maoris Rugby football Club, after their win over the Green Bay Celtics in September. Lealaua considers his teammates his family, often referring to them as brothers. It’s a close-knit group. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Truffles, 5, of Cary, shows his “Best in Camouflage” trick for the crowd at Cary Park District’s kids dog show on Saturday, July 20. Truffles, owned by the Schwarm family, loves to be buried in stuffed animals. Allyssa Schwarm, 8, had the idea to use this as their trick. The trick brought lots of smiles and laughs to the crowd, but Truffles took the title for “Loudest Bark.” Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Dr. Edward Cho tries to get a nervous Nayomi Baumeister, 4, of Elgin to open up to him a little bit by making a balloon glove Friday as volunteers from the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation provided free dental care to underserved Illinois children age 5 and younger during the first Dentist By 1 Community Service Event at Elgin Community College. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Nick and Nan Gagliano of Algonquin load sand bags into a canoe to make it easier to get the to their home along the Fox River, seen in the background. Christopher Hankins/chankins@dailyherald.com
  Protesters against pension reform Monday outside the office of State Representative Fred Crespo at 1410 W. Schaumburg Road in Streamwood. About 50 picketers walked for an hour before darkness fell. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Mike Mindykowski relaxes in the sun as his kids enjoy themselves at the final day of the Streamwood Summer Celebration in Hoover Grove Park on Irving Park Road Sunday. It was his son’s birthday. They live in Streamwood. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  A thunderstorm rolls over the McHenry County Fair. The rain stopped the midway rides and the McHenry County Queen pageant for a short time. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Runners start at sunrise on First Street at the Fox Valley Marathon in St. Charles. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Ross Martin, 28, of Burlington, WI, tips his bike in the deep dirt of a bend and loses his first place lead in the 250 A class race at the motocross racing event at the McHenry County Fair in Woodstock on Friday, August 2. Martin has been racing since he was nine years old. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Queen Anne’s Lace blooms at LeRoy Oakes in St. Charles. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Arcada Theatre organist Jim Shaffer, of Aurora, plays a short set before local band 8-Track opens the show for Scottish heavy-metal band Nazareth at the St. Charles theater. Shaffer, who is 78, has been volunteering at the theater as an usher and organ repairman for over 30 years at the Arcada through all it’s changes in management. It wasn’t until a few years ago that he learned how to play the organ and became the theater’s one and only organist. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
  Streaks of lightning flash across the sky over Elgin last summer as thunderstorms roll through the northwest suburbs. Christopher Hankins/chankins@dailyherald.com
  This goose probably wishes he had flown south for the winter. While photographing people during last week’s snowstorm, I spotted this goose pop up behind a snowdrift. From my perspective, it looked like a submarine at periscope depth in the snow. It is good to always be aware of what’s going on around you because a good photo op might pop up unexpectedly. Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
  Ruben Pineda, mayoral candidate for West Chicago, right, celebrates his victory on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in West Chicago with his campaign manager Melissa Birch, center and Gary Saake, left, candidate for District 94 Board of Education. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
  Ashley and Victor Atalla push the second of their two cars out of the floodwaters at Four Lakes subdivision in Lisle, Monday. The Atalla’s were forced to park in the low lying area after the raised parking lot at the Towers at Four Lakes affiliated with their apartment building was full. The couple has only lived in their apartment for one year and was unaware of the potential for flooding in the parking lot. The couple plans to try and salvage their cars. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
  The Main Street parade! What would summer be without the marching bands on Main Street, hot weather, flags, and enthusiastic crowds lining the street? Events like this are popular with photographers sporting all sorts of cameras, including cellphone cameras. This photo of the Willowbrook High School marching band in Lombard’s Lilac Parade was taken in the panorama mode with my iPhone 5 cellphone camera. When used like this, it bends reality a little, along with the street, but I think it is an interesting effect. Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
  DuPage County Chairman Dan Cronin embraces Patricia Nicarico and her husband Tom, right, as DuPage County officials dedicate the new Jeanine Nicarico Children’s Advocacy Center. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Members of the Gurudwara of Palatine hold a vigil to honor victims of the shooting at a Sikh temple in Milwaukee. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
  Firefighters honor the fallen during a Sept. 11 Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony at the Carol Stream Fire Protection District Headquarters. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Dan Sullivan takes a moment to pray with Charles Sondgeroth and his wife Joanna of Sandwich during a recent stay at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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