Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

standalone-Ron Evans. Ron Evans, Four E's Trees , Decatur and his employee Alec Shaw deliver trees to the Illini Foresters tree lot on the corner of Race and Windsor in Urbana to vice president(of Illini Foresters) Tyler Hassert. The tree sale will be Dec. 2-4, 24 hours a day. The photo taken on wednesday November 30,2011

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Photographer: Robert K. O'Daniell

STAND ALONE - - Tsering Phuntsok and Alan Welkis install three murals by Peter Sis in the children's department of the Champaign Public Library in Champaign, IL. Wednesday, November 30, 2011. They work for Evergreene Architectural Arts in New York City. Sis will be at the library on December 14th for a talk and book signing. He has written and illustrated 21 kids books.

Photographer: Robert K. O'Daniell

STAND ALONE - - Alan Welkis trims an edge. Three murals by Peter Sis in the children's department of the Champaign Public Library in Champaign, IL. Wednesday, November 30, 2011. They work for Evergreene Architectural Arts in New York City. Sis will be at the library on December 14th for a talk and book signing. He has written and illustrated 21 kids books.

Photographer: Robert K. O'Daniell

STAND ALONE - - Alan Welkis, left, and Tsering Phuntsok install three murals by Peter Sis in the children's department of the Champaign Public Library in Champaign, IL. Wednesday, November 30, 2011. They work for Evergreene Architectural Arts in New York City. Sis will be at the library on December 14th for a talk and book signing. He has written and illustrated 21 kids books.

Photographer: Robert K. O'Daniell

STAND ALONE - - Tsering Phuntsok, lefl, and Alan Welkis install three murals by Peter Sis in the children's department of the Champaign Public Library in Champaign, IL. Wednesday, November 30, 2011. They work for Evergreene Architectural Arts in New York City. Sis will be at the library on December 14th for a talk and book signing. He has written and illustrated 21 kids books.

Photographer: Robert K. O'Daniell

STAND ALONE - - Alan Welkis, top, and Tsering Phuntsok put up a center panel . The were installing three murals by Peter Sis in the children's department of the Champaign Public Library in Champaign, IL. Wednesday, November 30, 2011. They work for Evergreene Architectural Arts in New York City. Sis will be at the library on December 14th for a talk and book signing. He has written and illustrated 21 kids books.

Photographer: Robert K. O'Daniell

STAND ALONE - - Tsering Phuntsok and Alan Welkis, foreground, install three murals by Peter Sis in the children's department of the Champaign Public Library in Champaign, IL. Wednesday, November 30, 2011. They work for Evergreene Architectural Arts in New York City. Sis will be at the library on December 14th for a talk and book signing. He has written and illustrated 21 kids books.

Photographer: Robert K. O'Daniell

STAND ALONE - - Tsering Phuntsok, front, and Alan Welkis install three murals by Peter Sis in the children's department of the Champaign Public Library in Champaign, IL. Wednesday, November 30, 2011. They work for Evergreene Architectural Arts in New York City. Sis will be at the library on December 14th for a talk and book signing. He has written and illustrated 21 kids books.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

standalone-Fran Schlorff,Urbana,crochets a hat at the bazaar. She sells hats, gloves sweatshirts, both here and at the Lincoln Square Holiday Market on saturdays. Illini Union Board sponsored the IUBazaar Winter Craft Fair in the Illini Union, wed. Nov. 30 and Thursday Dec. 1.
The photo taken on thursday december 1,2011

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Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

standalone-Kevin Psinas, Pekin,gets out more trays of jewelry for Charity Benefield, UI student, who was shopping for her mother. Illini Union Board sponsored the IUBazaar Winter Craft Fair in the Illini Union, wed. Nov. 30 and Thursday Dec. 1.
The photo taken on thursday december 1,2011

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Photographer: Robin Scholz

stand alone-Dominic Gilliland, 8, Braodlands, joins a line of men rolling sock pairs while volunteering in the Toys for Troops event at the ILEAS building in Urbana on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011. the group hoped to have 100 boxes of donated gifts and food to send overseas.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

STAND ALONE---Deb Lewis wraps a gift at the American Legion Auxiliary's "gift shop" at the Veterans Affairs Illiana Healthcare System in Danville Tuesday December 6, 2011. The auxiliary group allowed inpatient veterans to select gifts for family members, then volunteers wrapped and sent them to the loved ones for Christmas. Around 500 items were provided by the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Illinois. Lewis, from Cisco, is the 19th District president of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Vanda Bidwell/ The News Gazette
standalone-Students pose for a picture with their display of snowmen art at the gallery. Next Generation art teacher Ella Brown Dunn brought a tour of kindergarten students to Indi Go Artist Coop on University Ave. in Champaign. photo taken fridayDecember 9, 2011

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Vanda Bidwell/ The News Gazette
standalone-Ella Brown Dunn talks to her students about the pictures. Next Generation art teacher Ella Brown Dunn brought a tour of kindergarten students to Indi Go Artist Coop on University Ave. in Champaign. photo taken fridayDecember 9, 2011

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Photographer: Heather Coit

STAND ALONES- Benny Gardner, left, of Champaign, a worker with City of Urbana, gets a refresher course on snow plows from John Collins, an operations manager, at City of Urbana Public Works in Urbana, Ill on Friday, Dec. 9, 2011. Mike Robards, operations supervisor, said an anti-icing truck was out early Friday as a precautionary measure after a light snowfall. Primary routes in Urbana were also pre-treated with liquid salt brine this past Thursday in preparation of the snow. All Public Works union employees, no matter what their job title, are expected to plow snow when the weather calls for it.

Photographer: Robert K. O'Daniell

STAND ALONE - - Brandon Bailey, Urbana, works on a new light at the corner of Fourth and Daniel in Champaign, Ill. on Friday, December 9, 2011. Champaign Signal and LIght is installing new traffic signals and streetlights along Fourth street between Green and Armory.

Photographer: John Dixon

Stand Alone - Campus Investors employees Ben Freeman, left, and James Faulkner move kitchen cabinets into a box truck on First Street in Champaign on Tuesday Dec. 13, 2011. They were removing old cabinets from apartments at the building to make way for new ones.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Vanda Bidwell/ The News Gazette
standalone-l-r- Marianne Moulin,Claudine Freard-Rose,Giulia Barbieri,Lizzie Carrubba and Kristin Sandone on a huge pile of donated items. At the Unitarian Universalist Church in Urbana which houses the East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual Assistance Center(ECIRMAC) Students and staff from Next Generation School in Champaign deliver the over 550 winter clothing items they collected for the Center. .photo taken tuesday December 13, 2011

Photographer: Heather Coit

STAND ALONES- Kindergartner Alena Kelly, 5, tells
Champaign Urbana Public Health District hygienist Terri Jesiolowski (cq), of Gilman, know that her cleaning "tickles" as Jesiolowski joins fellow hygienist Kimberly Wilkins, second from left, of Mahomet, and dentist, Robert Grenda, far right, of Philo, in providing dental services to eligible children at Garden Hills Elementary School in Champaign, Ill on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011. The district staff will continue to provide services at Garden Hills until possibly Thursday this week. Jesiolowski (cq) said health district staff have provided the service to over 1,000 kids at schools in Urbana and part of Champaign this school year.

Photographer: Heather Coit

STAND ALONE- Katie Fulton, of Monticello, adds toys to the table with her son, Alaric (cq), 5, daughter, Amara, 3, and husband, Brian Fulton, not pictured, as Sean Williams, far left, public relations specialist with Carle Foundation Hospital, assists during the final hour of the Carle/Salvation Army Toy Drive at the drive-thru collection site of Carle Champaign on Mattis in Champaign, Ill on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011. Carle has sponsored the annual toy drive for the past 27 years.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Savoy Fire Department's Lt. Sam Freeland, right, and firefighter Kevin Murphy use a ladder truck to safely bring down an injured worker with A&R Mechanical Contractors Inc. in Urbana from the roof of Illini Nissan in Savoy, Ill on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011. Assistant Chief David Well said the department received the tone at 9:13a.m. that morning. A co-worker with A&R, who arrived after the accident, said the injured worker was replacing a heat exchange on the roof when he slipped on some rocks and turned his ankle. The co-worker, who wished to be unidentified, said the injured worker was solo when the accident happened. ProAmbulance was on the scene for assistance.

Photographer: Heather Coit

STAND ALONES- Fifth grader Lauren Claxon (cq), right, helps color red onto the nose of first grader, Jenna Purnell, before Purnell, as Rudolph, takes center stage with her reindeer at a holiday music program by kindergarteners and first graders at Dr. Howard Elementary School in Champaign, Ill on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011.

Photographer: Heather Coit

STAND ALONES- Kindergartner Daniel Juhn joins classmates in a performance of the song, 'Five Little Candy Canes' during the holiday music program at Dr. Howard Elementary School in Champaign, Ill on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011. The program, led by elementary music teacher, Lani McAuley, provided religious and secular songs for friends and family.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Savoy Fire Department's Lt. Sam Freeland, right, and firefighter Kevin Murphy use a ladder truck to safely bring down an injured worker with A&R Mechanical Contractors Inc. in Urbana from the roof of Illini Nissan in Savoy, Ill on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011. Assistant Chief David Well said the department received the tone at 9:13a.m. that morning. A co-worker with A&R, who arrived after the accident, said the injured worker was replacing a heat exchange on the roof when he slipped on some rocks and turned his ankle. The co-worker, who wished to be unidentified, said the injured worker was solo when the accident happened. ProAmbulance was on the scene for assistance.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Savoy Fire Department's Lt. Sam Freeland, right, and firefighter Kevin Murphy use a ladder truck to safely bring down an injured worker with A&R Mechanical Contractors Inc. in Urbana from the roof of Illini Nissan in Savoy, Ill on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011. Assistant Chief David Well said the department received the tone at 9:13a.m. that morning. A co-worker with A&R, who arrived after the accident, said the injured worker was replacing a heat exchange on the roof when he slipped on some rocks and turned his ankle. The co-worker, who wished to be unidentified, said the injured worker was solo when the accident happened. ProAmbulance was on the scene for assistance.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

STAND ALONE---Ashlynn Razmus, 5, Ridge Farm, talks about her wish list itmes during a visit with Santa at the Village Mall in Danville Monday December 19, 2011. Santa will be available to pose for photos and listen to Christmas wishes Tuesday through Thursday noon to 8 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Photographer: Heather Coit

STAND ALONE- A runner makes her way past bare trees on a rainy day off First Street in Champaign, Ill on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011.

Photographer: John Dixon

Stand Alone - A car sits lodged into the back wall of the Oishi Asian Cuisine restaurant at 2501 N. Prospect Ave. on Wednesday Dec. 21, 2011. The car struck the building about 2:30 p.m. No one in the restaurant was injured, and the two occupants of car refused treatment at the scene.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Guests are served their meals during the Community Christmas Dinner at First Christian Church on South Staley Road in Champaign Sunday December 25, 2011. More than 225 volunteers served (380 RSVPed) people who would otherwise be alone or without a special holiday meal to share on Christmas Day. Volunteers served a free, traditional sit-down dinner, complete with decorations, holiday music and gifts in the second annual event.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Guests file in during the Community Christmas Dinner at First Christian Church on South Staley Road in Champaign Sunday December 25, 2011. More than 225 volunteers served (380 RSVPed) people who would otherwise be alone or without a special holiday meal to share on Christmas Day. Volunteers served a free, traditional sit-down dinner, complete with decorations, holiday music and gifts in the second annual event.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Volunteers prepare plates during the Community Christmas Dinner at First Christian Church on South Staley Road in Champaign Sunday December 25, 2011. More than 225 volunteers served (380 RSVPed) people who would otherwise be alone or without a special holiday meal to share on Christmas Day. Volunteers served a free, traditional sit-down dinner, complete with decorations, holiday music and gifts in the second annual event.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Guests enjoy appetizers during the Community Christmas Dinner at First Christian Church on South Staley Road in Champaign Sunday December 25, 2011. More than 225 volunteers served (380 RSVPed) people who would otherwise be alone or without a special holiday meal to share on Christmas Day. Volunteers served a free, traditional sit-down dinner, complete with decorations, holiday music and gifts in the second annual event.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Patty Dudley with Connect FM 93.5 sings a song during the Community Christmas Dinner at First Christian Church on South Staley Road in Champaign Sunday December 25, 2011. More than 225 volunteers served (380 RSVPed) people who would otherwise be alone or without a special holiday meal to share on Christmas Day. Volunteers served a free, traditional sit-down dinner, complete with decorations, holiday music and gifts in the second annual event.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Guests enjoy their meal during the Community Christmas Dinner at First Christian Church on South Staley Road in Champaign Sunday December 25, 2011. More than 225 volunteers served (380 RSVPed) people who would otherwise be alone or without a special holiday meal to share on Christmas Day. Volunteers served a free, traditional sit-down dinner, complete with decorations, holiday music and gifts in the second annual event.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Taylor Killough, Danville, serves pie during the Community Christmas Dinner at First Christian Church on South Staley Road in Champaign Sunday December 25, 2011. More than 225 volunteers served (380 RSVPed) people who would otherwise be alone or without a special holiday meal to share on Christmas Day. Volunteers served a free, traditional sit-down dinner, complete with decorations, holiday music and gifts in the second annual event.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Heather Engelman, Champaign, serves a slice of pumpkin pie during the Community Christmas Dinner at First Christian Church on South Staley Road in Champaign Sunday December 25, 2011. More than 225 volunteers served (380 RSVPed) people who would otherwise be alone or without a special holiday meal to share on Christmas Day. Volunteers served a free, traditional sit-down dinner, complete with decorations, holiday music and gifts in the second annual event.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Guests are served their meal during the Community Christmas Dinner at First Christian Church on South Staley Road in Champaign Sunday December 25, 2011. More than 225 volunteers served (380 RSVPed) people who would otherwise be alone or without a special holiday meal to share on Christmas Day. Volunteers served a free, traditional sit-down dinner, complete with decorations, holiday music and gifts in the second annual event.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Taylor Killough, Danville, serves pie during the Community Christmas Dinner at First Christian Church on South Staley Road in Champaign Sunday December 25, 2011. More than 225 volunteers served (380 RSVPed) people who would otherwise be alone or without a special holiday meal to share on Christmas Day. Volunteers served a free, traditional sit-down dinner, complete with decorations, holiday music and gifts in the second annual event.

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Vanda Bidwell/ The News Gazette
standalone-Dixie, a 3 year old German Short Hair Pointer, enjoys the weather at the Urbana Dog Park. She was there with her person,Kent Jepsen of Urbana. Beautiful weather at the Urbana Dog Park. photo taken monday December 26, 2011

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Vanda Bidwell/ The News Gazette
standalone- Spencer Edwards and Richard Frost, Advanced Wayne Cain Roofing, shingle a roof at Parkland College wednesday morning. photo taken wednesday December 28, 2011

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Vanda Bidwell/ The News Gazette
standalone-Brian Skinner dismantles the Christmas tree at Lincoln Square Village wednesday morning. photo taken wednesday December 28, 2011

Photographer: Robert K. O'Daniell

STAND ALONE - - Mike Rice, Rice Tree Service, Fisher, uses an loader to move branches into a chipper on Lynn Street in Urbana, IL. Wednesday, December 28, 2011. A maple tree in the 700 block was rotted and needed to be removed.

Photographer: Heather Coit

STAND ALONES- Jake Seraphin, center left, 9, off Savoy, makes a grab for candy after his twin, Nicholas Seraphin, third from right, made the final blow to a pinata as Eliza Redes (cq), second from right, 8, of Champaign and Prithika Ravi, far right, 8, of Savoy join other children in diving for the sweet stuff during a the Itty Bitty New Year program at Savoy Recreation Center in Savoy, Ill on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. The children also enjoyed a balloon drop to count down to the New Year at noon.