State rep. Amy Briel, D–Ottawa, will host a mobile DMV event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at the Richard A. Mautino Memorial Library, 215 E. Cleveland St., Spring Valley.

Tour La Salle's Hegeler Carus Mansion and Ottawa's Reddick Mansion during holiday open houses this weekend.

The Bureau Valley FFA Greenhand Leadership Team will hold a pancake breakfast.

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Experience the magic of the season with a cozy carriage ride through the Celebration of Lights in La Salle. Carriage rides are offered in November and December at Rotary Park. The last ride is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11. Prices are $25 per person or $200 for the entire wagon up to a dozen people. The carriage rides are organized by the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce. For more information visit https://www.ivaced.org/carriage-rides.

The Illinois winter weather rule limits utilities from disconnecting eligible customers in who use electric or gas as their primary source of home heating

Hall High School will host a Kids’ Night Out event for children ages four through fifth grade from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22.

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The concrete pathways have been poured and completed at Baker Lake in Peru, but they will not be plowed this winter in order for the concrete to properly cure. Plowing the walkways too soon and applying salt could cause cracking and divots to the surface. Construction work began in early October and the park remains closed to the public.

Churches across La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties have announced their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service schedules for 2025.

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The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” with live orchestra and local dancers for two shows this weekend at Matthiessen Auditorium. The holiday performances are scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at La Salle-Peru Township High School District 120. Dancers from The Dance Center of La Salle, Gray’s School of Dance in Ottawa, and Dancenter of Streator and Pontiac will perform alongside the orchestra. The Illinois Valley Youth Choir, directed by Jenilyn Roether, will join the production as the Snowflake Chorus.