This may be the best present you'll get
This may be the best present you'll get - The Week in Pictures
At a Friday night football game the day before Halloween, several members of the Geneva High School marching band dressed up for the holiday as they played to the crowds in the stands. The horse playing a tuba was just one that had me laughing pretty hard. (I have no idea how the student could read the music sheet very well.) The other ones included a ghost playing the flute through a bed sheet costume and Chewbacca, from Star Wars on baritone. This photo was published the Perspective column in the print edition of the Daily Herald.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Therapy dog Toby gets a gentle pet from a patient Tuesday. The dog therapy program at Advocate Sherman Hospital has been around since the 1990s and has been a terrific success, according to patients and hospital staff.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Shales Soto, 15, shops for pillows as her brother Shane, 12, and mother Shanel Soto talk about his choices with Barrington Police Sgt. Keith Wrzala at Target in Lake Zurich Sunday morning. The Barrington Police and Fire Departments gave 16 families with 31 children a chance to shop for gifts for themselves during the "Shop With A Cop" program.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Sophie Di Diego, 3, sticks her head in her father Brian's concert tuba while her older brother, Evan, blows into it before the start of the TubaChristmas concert at Algonquin Commons mall in Algonquin Saturday. Sophie kept sticking her head in it and when noise would come out, she'd burst into laughter, run away and come back for Evan to do it again. "That's so funny!" she said a few times. Their father is stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Waukegan.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Elgin Symphony Orchestra Conductor Stephen Squires encourages the audience to sing O Come, All ye Faithful at the Magical Holiday Concert at the Hemmens Auditorium in Elgin Sunday. The Elgin Master Choral sang from the ailes of the on the first number while the Elgin Children's Chorus sang on stage. Later, 2014 Miss Illinois soprano Marisa Buchheit sang and the Midwest Dance Collective performed.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Derrick Sanders, of Spring Grove plays large handbells during 11th annual Concert by the Chicago Bronze English Handbell Ensemble at the Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich. The holiday concert featured 15 bell ringers performing several songs from "The Nutcracker" as well as several holiday classics.
Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
Michael Hanna, 7, of Elgin has his face painted like Santa by Kaitlyn Wiest, Sunday during Randall Oaks Zoo's Winter Festival in West Dundee.
Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
Jennifer Benitez, of Carol Stream, left, and her dog Rudy won first place during the second annual Santa's Reindog celebration in which dog owners dress up their pooches in the spirit of the holidays.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
The 14th annual Lego Train Show at Cantigny Park was packed with lego fans viewing the creations made by member of the Northern Illinois Lego Train Club.
Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
Mary Reczek, 8, of Wheaton travels to Chicago at least once a month to walk around the loop and hand out lunches to the homeless. She prays for them and has even formed friendships with some of the people she's met. Socks are greatly needed by the homeless, so Mary has been helping with a collection. The goal was originally 100, but she currently has more than 1,800 pairs piled in her home. She's gathered some friends and together they are writing handwritten notes on each pair. This month and next she'll be distributing them in the city. While her dedication is remarkable, and makes her a Person to be Thankful For, perhaps even more fascinating is her love for helping the homeless at such a young age.
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
Gene Mikulecky, of Wood Dale distributes Christmas gifts for veterans at Hines Hospital and local nursing homes. On the Thanksgiving holiday, Mikulecky did two eight-hour shifts at the Itasca Jewel and Walgreen's, soliciting money for Give to Yanks, which ended up making over 9,200 packages.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Members of the Lake Zurich Bare Voices choral group snap along to a song during Monday's performance at the Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich. The group is holding a concert Tuesday night at the Performing Arts Center.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Three-year-old Harper McKay talks to Santa, played by Fred Zimmerman, as families received meals and gifts from Operation Homefront during the annual Holiday Meals for Military program at Gurnee Holiday Inn on Wednesday. There event helped 100 military families with support from Walmart, Beam-Suntory, CDW, and others.
Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
Fourth grader Olivia Poell crafts her gingerbread house as kids in first graders and their and fourth grade buddies make gingerbread houses at Copeland Manor School in Libertyville Thursday.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Fourth graders Maddie Cardenas, left, and Angelina Lagori remove the brain from a squid as kids in third and fourth grade classes dissected a squid at Fremont Intermediate School in Mundelein Thursday.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Second grader Nico Villalobos smiles while May Watts Elementary School Principal Brian LeCrone talks to the children about winning a Blue Ribbon School award from the U.S. Department of Education Tuesday in Naperville.
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
Ten-year-old Kaitlyn Beers looks at the award she was given during the Wauconda Fire District meeting Thursday for saving her family from a fire. Wauconda Firefighter/Paramedic presented the award to her while her family watched on.
Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
Singer Alejandra Llorente, 11, a sixth grader at the Evergreen Academy in Chicago, sings Counting Stars as Phil Jacobson, formerly of Buffalo Grove, plays guitar as part of the Chicago chapter of Guns over Guitars.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Darrilyn Macklin, 23, of Arlington Heights prepares to experience the force in costume as Star Wars opens at the AMC theatre in Schaumburg on Thursday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Sophia Martinez, a sixth grader at Lincoln Junior High in Naperville Unit District 203, has created a project sewing pajama pants for kids who get shelter from DuPage PADS.
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
Firefighter/Paramedic Ben Carter, left, helps seven-year-old Bryce Langford pick out a present at Walmart in Round Lake Beach Friday. The Fox Lake Fire Protection District and Raymond Chevrolet teamed up to help less fortunate families in Fox Lake area area.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Lance Corporal Cody Evans holds an oversized key to his new home, presented to him by Sgt. Jason Smith, left, who Hersey student raised money for last year after suffering severe injuries. Hersey students raised $23,000. toward building a handicapped accessible home for Evans.
Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
Peyton Russell, 2, of Des Plaines is fearful as she stands near mom, Carolyn, while meeting Santa, played by Robbie Levensbaum, during "Breakfast With Santa" at Lambs Farm in Libertyville on Sunday. Families enjoyed brunch as children visited with Santa and made holiday crafts.
Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
Ava Yatabe, 8, of Highland Park hugs Santa, played by Robbie Levensbaum, during "Breakfast With Santa" at Lambs Farm in Libertyville on Sunday. Families enjoyed brunch as children visited with Santa and made holiday crafts.
Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
Mrs. Clause reads books to children at the Jinglebell Jamboree at Naper Settlement, Crafts, stories, and music were part of the holiday tours of the Martin Mitchell Mansion.
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
St. Matthew Lutheran School first grade student Emily Horbus blows up a balloon she received in a gift bag during the school's annual Christmas lunch Friday at the Hawthorn Woods school.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Becky Nicol, of Aurora, holds her son Logan, 5 months, as they play Mary and Jesus during the Faith Lutheran Church live nativity scene.
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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