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Chicago Tribune
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Young Aurora woman hopes to bring style and community together with runway show in city's downtown
She's only 22 years old and barely a year out of Columbia College, but Breyona Smith is about to bring a different kind of style to her hometown. The young woman – a graduate of West Aurora High School – is producing what could be the city's first runway show that she describes as a 'celebration of Aurora's vibrant identity through the lens of fashion, art and culture.' 'The Fashion Mosaic' will not only feature local models, businesses and designers, it will include community interactive art performances, a pre-event VIP Hour filled with art and food experiences, music by a live DJ, contributions from the Aurora Historical Society and culinary creations by Matrix's Chef Alonso Beckford. And this unique event, to be held July 12 at Society 57 in downtown Aurora, all came about because a major beauty company did not offer an internship position to Smith after she won first place nationally in a 'new product/new concept' global competition, she said. She and two other fashion students from Columbia had teamed up to reinvent a hair comb to protect textured hair in L'Oreal's 'Brandstorm' contest, which earned this U.S. championship team what Smith described as a 'transformative' trip to London and second place in the international competition. 'I thought I'd have a job after graduation in New York,' she said. 'But it never materialized.' Disappointed but undeterred, Smith applied for full-time jobs in the fashion industry and did some freelancing – including a gig assisting creative director and producer Ayoka Lucas in a Chance the Rapper magazine photo shoot – before deciding to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit that ran in her family. Walking around the city's downtown one day last November, she realized that while Aurora has a 'thriving arts and culture vibe, it does not have much of a fashion scene' despite 'so many cute boutiques and shops.' So Smith thought, why not put together a fashion show – like Chicago and downtown Naperville – 'only let's put a twist on it,' she told me. 'Let's not only celebrate fashion but all artists, all creatives.' And so, after plenty of creative thought of her own – and a 14-page business plan – Smith began soliciting guidance from mentor Angelina Perino, mother Trina Maxwell and mom's best friend (and event planner) Shamone Seay. Then Smith began cold-calling groups and businesses, where she found plenty of enthusiasm from those buying into this young woman's vision and passion for fashion, the latter of which was learned at the knee of her late great-grandmother Bernice, who never stepped out of the house without being fully glammed-up and accessorized. Smith also assembled a team of advisors, held a local model call and put together a 'pitch deck' that would succinctly explain her idea to potential sponsors. Perino, founder of the Chicago production agency COVE, who's mentored Smith since the start of the year, noted how she's been 'consistently impressed' with the young Aurora woman's 'rare combination of drive, boldness, creativity and purpose. 'When she first shared her idea for a one-of-a-kind event that would bring fashion, art and community together in Aurora, it was just a seed,' said Perino. 'In a matter of months, (Breyona) transformed that seed into something beautiful and real.' And this event, she insisted, 'is just the beginning for her.' Watching from the front row, mom Trina Maxwell, who owns a birthing doula business, is proud of how her daughter took a major disappointment and turned it into something not only positive but unique and inclusive. She's not surprised, however. From the time she was a little girl, Breyona was tenacious, creative and a hard worker, Maxwell noted. And she 'always paid attention to details,' which included not only learning about fashion from the great-grandmother who helped raise her, but also about cooking, baking, sewing, even manners and etiquette. And yes, added Maxwell, her daughter always possessed that entrepreneurial spirit, evident early on by the bakery business she started at age 10 with best friend Nadia Brown, who will be emceeing the upcoming fashion event. Working two part-time jobs in style and merchandising at Nordstroms and Winston Retail, Smith has poured every spare amount of time and energy into this runway show, which will feature fashions from Clotheshorse, Wyckwood House, Undisputed Vintage, Offbeat Thrift and Vintage Collective, DDC Wraps, Slitz by HER, Tailored Couturier – all Aurora-based – and Christos Fur & Leathers from Westchester. Tickets – $75 for VIP, $35 for general admission – are available at Smith told me she does not expect to make any money from this first-ever venture, and in fact, is already looking into ways to turn The Fashion Mosaic into a nonprofit. But certainly the networking and other experiences she's gleaned are invaluable and help pave the way for more such events. 'A big part of what inspired me to create The Fashion Mosaic comes from putting myself out there and being in rooms with young innovators from all over the world,' Smith insisted. 'Even within my college experience, just collaborating and building a team to create something meaningful showed me how special these kinds of moments are. 'Community is community. And the arts really are the glue that holds us all together, especially in times like this.'
Chicago Tribune
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Aurora area to celebrate the Fourth of July with parades, fireworks and more
Fireworks, parades and more are in store as the Aurora area prepares to celebrate the Fourth of July. The city of Aurora will hold its annual Fourth of July fireworks show on Thursday, July 3, city officials said in a press release. Two viewing locations will be available for the public — the Aurora Transportation Center at 233 N. Broadway and McCullough Park at 150 W. Illinois Ave. The gates will open at both locations at 6 p.m., with fireworks starting at approximately 9:15 p.m. With numerous food trucks set up at both locations, DJ Suavesmooth will provide music and entertainment at the Aurora Transportation Center, while DJ Pena will provide the music at McCullough Park, the release said. Six free park-and-ride shuttles will be operating round-trip ride services from 6 to 9 p.m. to help attendees reach both fireworks locations, the release said. The shuttles will resume service following the fireworks show, with the last shuttles departing at 11 p.m., officials said. For more information on the shuttles, go to Additionally, the RiverEdge Park Pedestrian Bridge, which is currently closed due to the construction taking place at the park, will be temporarily opened on July 3, allowing attendees from the west side of the Fox River to cross over and watch the fireworks show from the Aurora Transportation Center, officials said. On Friday, July 4, the city will host its annual Fourth of July Parade, beginning at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Benton Street and Broadway in downtown Aurora. The Reviewing Stand will be placed in front of the David L. Pierce Art and History Center at 20 E. Downer Place, according to the release. Also on Friday, the Aurora Historical Society will hold its annual Independence Day celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the William Tanner House Museum at the northwest corner of Oak Avenue and Cedar Street on Aurora's near West Side. A 60-year tradition, the celebration is a free, family-oriented event open to the whole community, according to a press release from the Historical Society. During the celebration, the historic Tanner House, built in 1857, will be open for tours, according to the release. Outside on the museum grounds there will be a petting zoo, face painting and balloon creations. Hot dogs, chips, drinks and ice cream will be available for purchase. Entertainment will kick off at 11 a.m. with a musical performance by the Seidel Family Musicians, the release stated. Juggler Andy Head will perform from 12:15 to 1 p.m. At 1 p.m. the children in attendance will gather to ring the historic bells at the site, including the old Center School bell (1869) and Aurora's Liberty Bell (1918). The ringing commemorates the first ringing of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia upon adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the release stated. The ringing of the bells will be followed by a patriotic mini-concert by the American Legion Band. The afternoon will conclude with a pie-eating contest, according to the release. North Aurora will hold its annual Independence Day Celebration on Thursday, July 3, at North Aurora Riverfront Park, with festivities starting at 5 p.m. Organizers invite the community to bring in their own blankets and chairs, food and drinks to the event There will be live music from 6 to 9 p.m. with Hillbilly Rockstarz taking the stage. Parking will be available at North Island Park and various village lots near State Street, officials said. The evening will end with fireworks, which will launch at approximately 9:30 p.m., according to officials. Yorkville will celebrate the Fourth of July with a variety of activities on Friday, July 4. The Independence Day Parade will begin at 9 a.m. at Yorkville High School and end at Town Square Park. The parade route will go from Game Farm Road to Somonauk Street, Church Street, West Main Street and end at the park. There will be activities at Town Square Park beginning immediately after the parade and ending at noon. Activities will include children's foot races, bounce houses and a performance by the Yorkville Community Band. In addition to family activities, food and drinks will be available for purchase from local vendors at Town Square, officials said. Yorkville's Independence Day fireworks show will begin at dusk and will be shot off near the corner of Route 47 and Countryside Parkway. Oswego's Independence Day fireworks event will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Prairie Point Park, 4120 Plainfield Road in Oswego. The Batavia Fourth of July fireworks show will take place on Friday, July 4, at Engstrom Park on Main Street, across from Batavia High School. A variety of food vendors will be on hand at the park beginning at 5 p.m. From 8:30 to 9:15 p.m. the Batavia Community Band will preform. The fireworks show will be held beginning at 9:30 p.m. The annual July 4 fireworks in St. Charles on Friday will be launched from Langum Park at Seventh and Madison avenues in the city's downtown. The fireworks can be seen along the Fox River with the best viewing locations in downtown St. Charles, south of Main Street, event organizers said. For more on the fireworks, go to the St. Charles Park District website at The city of Plano is planning a number of activities on Sunday, July 6, to celebrate Independence Day. Scout Troop 71 and Cub Pack 317 will host a Fun Fest featuring a variety of activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lathrop Park on North Street in Plano. The annual Family Walking Parade will begin lining up at 12:30 p.m. and kick off at 1 p.m. at Lathrop Park. Families and kids are invited to decorate strollers, bicycles, wagons and themselves to join in a parade with fire trucks, police cars and antique tractors, organizers said. No reservation or sign-up is required. Youth organizations and sports teams are also invited to participate, organizers said. To secure a spot, call Plano Mayor Mike Rennels at 630-552-8275. The day ends with fireworks at Plano High School. Those attending can sit in the stands at Reaper Stadium, located at 704 W. Abe St., or bring chairs and set-up in designated areas. Gates will open at 7:30 p.m., with concessions offered by Plano Sports Boosters. Fireworks will begin at dusk. No alcohol, tobacco, firearms, coolers or tailgating are allowed at the event, organizers said.
Chicago Tribune
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: New exhibit to highlight Aurora's rich baseball and softball history
As I watched my 14-year-old grandson playing baseball with his youth travel team Wednesday evening on Aurora University's beautiful field, I looked around at all the other bustling diamonds in this section of the Fox Valley Park District's Stuart Sports Complex and thanked the heavens for making the game part of my life. Baseball really is America's sport. More specifically, baseball and softball have huge legacies in this area. So on Thursday, when I found out the Aurora Historical Society will be featuring the exhibit 'Play Ball, Aurora!' at its museum at 20 E. Downer Place starting June 6 at downtown's First Fridays event, I gave Executive Director John Jaros a call to find out a little more about the deep roots baseball and softball have here in our community. Jaros told me this exhibit is similar to the popular display that ran through the summer of 2014, featuring photos, trophies, uniforms and other memorabilia from 'old-timers who played the game' back in the day when both baseball and particularly fast-pitch softball really did rule. 'A lot of good material came into the collection at that time … including Aurora's 1959 World Softball Championship Trophy,' said Jaros. It was 65 years ago in September of 1959, according to the Aurora Historical Society, that the Aurora Sealmasters, a fast-pitch softball team sponsored by Stephens-Adamson Company, made history by winning the Amateur Softball Association National Tournament. (At the time, it was the World Softball Championship). Aurora pitcher Harvey 'The Horse' Sterkel – who had been recruited from Denver after Stephens-Adamson decided to get serious about the game – dominated this Florida tournament, winning eight of the team's nine games, including pitching three shutouts on the final day of the tournament. Sealmasters would go on to win Amateur Softball Association championships again in 1961, 1965 and 1967, and would win the first International Softball Federation World Tournament in 1966 and '68. Sterkel himself would dominate for a good 20 years, earning a well-deserved spot in two major softball Halls of Fame. And as I found out while writing this column, one of the fields in the Stuart Sports Complex on Jericho Road where I watched by grandson play this week is named in his honor. Aurora's winning ways in softball continued into the 1970s, culminating with a win at the international Softball Congress World Tournament in 1980. Under Dolan & Murphy Real Estate, which took over sponsorship in 1988, Aurora continues to field men's and women's teams, and according to its website, has qualified for and played in the world tournament since 1994 – a record – finishing as high as second in 2012. While some of those championship players are still with us, Jaros noted, many have died, including the legendary Sterkel, who passed away in 2019. 'We wanted to pay tribute to those who are still around,' he said, adding that the decision to reintroduce the exhibit is also because 'it was very popular … the sport is big in Aurora.' Baseball in this community actually dates back to the 1870s, with the city being home to some minor league teams back in the early days including the Aurora Blues, whose roster in 1911 included the legendary Casey Stengel. By 1912, Stengel was in the majors playing for Brooklyn. The number of amateur baseball teams grew in the 1930s and '40s as more city and neighborhood leagues formed. And it became even more popular in the 1950s as youth leagues came into existence. 'Back then everybody played ball,' said Jaros, noting that Aurora also had several semi-pro teams. 'Baseball really was America's pastime.' It was in the 1930s, he added, that softball – originally called 'diamond ball' – came into prominence in Aurora, with two men's recreational leagues: The Industrial League – 'every factory had a team' – and the Protestant Church League. But the sport here was far different then what Jaros grew up playing, with big 16-inch softballs and no gloves, in his North Side Chicago neighborhood. 'When I came to Aurora (in 1984), they told me this was a big softball place,' he said. 'I loved softball but when I saw how they played, throwing really hard with a smaller ball and they all had gloves, I thought, this is not how I played.' While Jaros never participated in any Aurora fast-pitch games, he never lost his appreciation for the sport or the special spot it holds in this city's story. 'We have a lot of cool material that comes in and out of storage,' Jaros said. 'We just felt this was a good time to bring it out again.'
Chicago Tribune
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Tanner House Museum in Aurora set to open for the season
The historic Tanner House Museum at 305 Cedar St. in Aurora will open for the 2025 season on Sunday, May 18. The Tanner House, an 1857 home, is furnished and decorated in Victorian-era style. Visitors to the museum are conducted on tours by staff and trained volunteer docents, according to a press release from the Aurora Historical Society. The museum will be open this season on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. through Sept. 21, according to the release. Admission is $5 for those 16 years old and older and $3 for those 5 to 15 years old. Children under 5 years old and Historical Society members get in free. The Tanner House was built in 1857 for local hardware merchant William Tanner, his wife and their nine children, according to the release. Tanner family members occupied the house until 1934, and in 1936 the family donated the home and property to the not-for-profit Aurora Historical Society, which still owns and operates the house. For more information about the museum, call 630-906-0650 or go to The annual Steak Fry and Lobster Boil fundraiser, hosted by the Marmion Alumni Association, will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, June 6, at Alumni Hall at Marmion, 1000 Butterfield Road in Aurora. Dinner tickets are $50 and include a choice of a steak or lobster dinner, complete with sides, dessert and unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks, according to a press release about the event. Tickets can be purchased in advance at The event will also include a bags tournament, to feature 16 teams with two players per team. The cost is $20 to enter. To reserve a spot, go to There will also be a raffle with a $25,000 grand prize. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased online at All proceeds from the evening will go directly toward academic scholarships and financial aid at Marmion Academy, organizers said. The St. Charles Public Library on Thursday, May 22, will feature Debra Miller, who will portray author Laura Ingalls Wilder in a show called 'All That I Have Told Is True.' The program will begin at 1 p.m. at the library, 1 S. Sixth Ave. in St. Charles. Miller is a professional actress, vocalist and voice-over talent with over 30 years of experience as a performer for live audiences, television and film, library officials said. For more information or to register for the program, go to or call 630-584-0076.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aurora City Council approves millions of dollars in funding for community organizations
The Aurora City Council on Tuesday evening approved millions of dollars in funding for community service organizations along with a new five-year plan that will guide the city's spending of federal funds on housing and community development. The roughly $2.5 million in funding is being distributed to community service organizations for a variety of different uses, including housing projects, neighborhood revitalization, mental health, education and more. The funding mostly comes from the federal government, though some also comes from the city's tax on gaming. The 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan, as well as a large portion of the funding, was approved as a part of the meeting's consent agenda, which is typically used for routine or non-controversial items that are all approved with one vote and without discussion instead of needing to vote on and talk about each individual item. However, funding through the Quality of Life Grants program, which will provide around $910,000 for projects ranging from meeting people's basic needs to supporting mental health, was discussed and voted on separately. Although it was still approved with a unanimous vote — with Ald. Edward Bugg, 9th Ward, recusing himself from both the discussion and vote — some aldermen took issue with what they said was falling funding through the program for the Aurora Regional Fire Museum and the Aurora Historical Society. The two organizations requested a total of $145,000 in funding, but city staff only recommended $70,000, according to a presentation given by Aurora Community Services Director Chris Ragona at the Feb. 25 meeting of the Aurora City Council's Public Health, Safety and Transportation Committee. Ald. Daniel Barreiro, 1st Ward, who retired from the city in 2021 as its chief community services officer, said the two groups used to be considered for funding separately, but now they are competing with other community organizations for funding through the Quality of Life Grants. For the next grant cycle, he would like staff to reconsider how the two organizations' requests for funding are treated, he said. Ald. Michael Saville, 6th Ward, agreed with Barreiro, saying that the Aurora Regional Fire Museum and the Aurora Historical Society have been an 'important piece of the puzzle for economic revitalization in our downtown.' Previously, the two organizations used to each receive $150,000, which then fell to $75,000, last year was cut to $50,000 and this year is reduced again to $35,000, Barreiro said. While the city has been a good partner to these institutions, museums have limited opportunities for funding and are not able to scale back services in the way other Quality of Life Grant recipients may be able to, according to Barreiro. Plus, he said the two groups are already on a 'shoestring budget' and are having a hard time. Mayor Richard Irvin said he agreed with both Barreiro and Saville, but that the reason funding has been falling is because the city's Hollywood Casino has been producing less and less tax dollars. The Hollywood Casino-Aurora used to produce around $15 million a year in gaming tax dollars for the city, dollars that go both toward the Quality of Life Grants program and alderman ward funds, Irvin said. Now, those tax dollars have dropped to around $5 million a year, but projections show that, with the casino's currently-under-construction future location near Interstate 88 and the Chicago Premium Outlets mall, the casino will once again produce around $15 million a year in gaming tax dollars for the city, he said. Ald. Ted Mesiacos, 3rd Ward, said he agreed with everyone but pointed out that the city just asked for more property tax dollars from its residents in December. In total, out of the 83 project applications sent to the city, which combined represented around $9.6 million in requests, the Aurora City Council approved 63 projects at a cost of around $2.5 million from a variety of funding sources. The city is expected to receive around $1.4 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant in 2025, according to Ragona's presentation at the Feb. 25 committee meeting. Of the 14 projects that would fit under this funding type, a total requested amount of nearly $2.3 million, 10 were selected to be funded, the presentation showed. Organizations chosen for Community Development Block Grant funding included Hesed House, The Neighbor Project, CASA Kane County and Rebuilding Together Aurora, among others, a funding summary sheet included with Tuesday's City Council meeting agenda showed. HOPE Fair Housing and Loaves & Fishes Community Services were also approved for a total of $150,000 in grants, with those funds coming to the city through the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program – American Rescue Plan, according to a staff report included with the meeting's agenda. The 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan, which was approved alongside the grants and will guide the city's spending of federal funds on housing and community development for the next five years, looks to preserve and expand affordable housing in the city; make sure the city's existing housing stock is safe, healthy and accessible; give assistance to public services and improve access to amenities, officials said. The plan's goals were intentionally left broad so that they could be flexible, according to past reporting. Last December, Aurora asked for the community's input to help create the plan, which the city is required to create so that it can receive an estimated $8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development over the life of the plan. In addition to community input, the plan was also created using 'significant research and analysis' along with input from focus groups ranging in topic from housing affordability to senior assistance that were made up of representatives from 65 organizations. A number of other plans and similar documents are set to work with the proposed 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan, including the 2025–2030 Affordable Housing Strategy, which was presented to Aurora City Council last year and is included in the Consolidated Plan. City staff are currently working to design a homelessness strategy, which is expected to also work with the 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan but is expected to be unveiled later this year, Ragona previously said. The city has also received around $3.5 million through a state grant intended to expand shelters, Ragona's presentation on Feb. 25 showed. Those funds will be used to partner with Hesed House, a homeless shelter, and Mutual Ground, a domestic violence shelter, on expanding and modernizing their shelters, he said at the time. Ragona recently told The Beacon-News that those projects are still going through the approval process, and a formal approval by the Aurora City Council is expected later this year. rsmith@
