Photographer: Heather Coit

Franklin Chen, 8, a second grader at Westview Elementary School , playfully tries on a dragon head as he and other students prepare for their performances at that evening's Lunar New Year event at the school in Champaign on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Madden Penn, 2, of Champaign, shows off his wind-up dragon for his mother, Kellie Penn, as they wait for dinner to be served before that evening's Lunar New Year celebration performance at
Westview Elementary School in Champaign on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Penn's siblings, who are students at Westview, were also there for the celebration.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Westview Elementary School students dress in traditional Asian clothing, representing different countries, as they prepare for that evening's Lunar New Year event at the school in Champaign on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013.

Photographer: John Dixon

Stand Alone - University of Illinois students, from left, Yizhou Wang(cq), Chris Pattermann, Brandon Hovick and Mark Schorfheide(cq) play a game of pick-up basketball in the afternoon sunshine, on the court at Illini Grove in Urbana on Wed. Feb. 6, 2013.

Photographer: John Dixon

Stand Alone - Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School Kindergarten students, From left, front, Rickira Woodson(cq), Anna Wang, Melissa Ning(cq), and, from left, rear, Naomi Torrey, Katarina Diego-Thomas and Mia Tu(cq), sing, 'The Train to Freedom', at a Black History Month celebration at the school in Urbana on Tuesday Feb. 5, 2013. Students from several grades sang Spirituals, Jazz and Civil Rights protest songs, and listened to a performance by Jonathan Blanchard.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Pele, a malamute owned by truck driver Robert Glidewell, Georgetown, waits for his master to return in the driver's seat of the truck Glidewell stopped to mail a payment at the Catlin post office Monday February 4, 2013. Glidewell was on his way to Champaign said the dog usually travels with him.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Brian Bishop, bottom, and Duke Smith, O'Neil Brothers, Champaign, work on the Fairchild Street subway replacement project Monday February 4, 2013, preparing the site for storm sewer line, the work is part of the overpass building project to replace the subway on the street is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Bismarck-Henning Elementary third-graders Mason Wilson, left, listens to Alexis Dodson disguise her voice as she reads from the book Under the Bridge at the school in Bismarck Monday February 4, 2013. Students in Becky Morris' class were taking part in the reading exercise, taking turns reading out loud and to the class to increase fluency.

Photographer: John Dixon

Stand Alone - Mike Buerkett(cq), a tree trimmer, puts away a wagon load of Christmas light for a client on McKinley Ave. in Champaign on Wed. Feb. 7, 2013.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Competitors take aim during the Schlarman Shootout at Danville High School Saturday Feb. 9, 2013. The 2nd annual event was hosted by Schlarman Academy, Danville, one of 10 schools competing. Around 350 students in grades fourth to 12th grades, in three divisions, elementary, junior high and high school with the goal of advancing to state and national tournaments.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Jefferson Middle School, (champaign) sixth grader Lara Sweid scores to shots during the Schlarman Shootout at Danville High School Saturday Feb. 9, 2013. The 2nd annual event was hosted by Schlarman Academy, Danville, one of 10 schools competing. Around 350 students in grades fourth to 12th grades, in three divisions, elementary, junior high and high school with the goal of advancing to state and national tournaments.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Competitors shoot at target during the Schlarman Shootout at Danville High School Saturday Feb. 9, 2013. The 2nd annual event was hosted by Schlarman Academy, Danville, one of 10 schools competing. Around 350 students in grades fourth to 12th grades, in three divisions, elementary, junior high and high school with the goal of advancing to state and national tournaments.

Walls are being formed as construction continues through the winter on the Crystal Lake Park Family Aquatic Center at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013. The pool is scheduled to open for the 2013 summer swimming season.

Photographer:

Greg Gerdes of Devonshire Signs installs the new sign at the Common Ground Food Coop at Lincoln Square Village in Urbana on Thursday, February 7, 2013.

Greg Gerdes of Devonshire Signs installs the new sign at the Common Ground Food Coop at Lincoln Square Village in Urbana on Thursday, February 7, 2013.

Curious George keeps an eye on Rubi Cornejo, 4, Champaign, add she finishes her sundae during the Champaign Early Childhood Center's Lunch Bunch reading event sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Champaign-Urbana's Young Children Priority One Committee at the Center in Champaign on Friday, July 7, 2013.
Parents were invited to join their Pre-K students for a pizza lunch at school. Each family received a bag with learning activities and the book Curious George and the Pizza.We will have fun activities, pizza for lunch and a copy of our featured book “CURIOUS GEORGE AND THE PIZZA” to take home.

Dashaun Hughes, Jr., 4, center, Champaign, hangs on to his parents Dashaun Hughes, Sr. and Kristy Carpenter as they look at pictures they took of themselves during the Champaign Early Childhood Center's Lunch Bunch reading event sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Champaign-Urbana's Young Children Priority One Committee at the Center in Champaign on Friday, July 7, 2013.
Parents were invited to join their Pre-K students for a pizza lunch at school. Each family received a bag with learning activities and the book Curious George and the Pizza.We will have fun activities, pizza for lunch and a copy of our featured book “CURIOUS GEORGE AND THE PIZZA” to take home.

Parents were invited to join their Pre-K students for a pizza lunch at school. Each family received a bag with learning activities and the book Curious George and the Pizza.We will have fun activities, pizza for lunch and a copy of our featured book “CURIOUS GEORGE AND THE PIZZA” to take home.

Kiwanis Club members served pizza and sundaes during the Champaign Early Childhood Center's Lunch Bunch reading event sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Champaign-Urbana's Young Children Priority One Committee at the Center in Champaign on Friday, July 7, 2013.
Parents were invited to join their Pre-K students for a pizza lunch at school. Each family received a bag with learning activities and the book Curious George and the Pizza.We will have fun activities, pizza for lunch and a copy of our featured book “CURIOUS GEORGE AND THE PIZZA” to take home.