Features

Salvation Army bellringer James Ojer casts a shadow at Walgreens in La Grange Triangle. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Hudson the polar bear, 3, gets a closer look at Melody Alleman and vice versa in the new Great Bear Wilderness at Brookfield Zoo. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Thani (left) and his mom, Indah, white-cheeked gibbons, hang out in Tropic World at the Brookfield Zoo. Thani celebrates his first birthday on April 3. The zoo will be marking Ape Awareness Month in April. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Brittany Vera (from left) and Oliver Del Angel check in with their third grade teacher Michelle Lindmeier for the first day of school at Turner Elementary School in West Chicago. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Diego Ortiz (left) hands off the hat, beard and black coat to Brandon Lima, who gets his turn in class to take the role of Abraham Lincoln. Prairie Oak School first graders celebrate Lincoln’s 200th birthday with a variety of classroom activities. Photo by Bill Ackerman

A feral calico cat keeps mostly out of sight, hiding behind rocks in a Berwyn backyard. Photo by Bill Ackerman

Milwaukee Road engine 261 crosses over First Avenue in Riverside on its second westbound run of the weekend giving Sunday morning drivers an unexpected sight and sound. Photo by Bill Ackerman

As a commuter heads to the north platform, construction workers Tony Topps (left) and Don McKain check the fit with a sample cornice piece that will be installed in the recently opened pedestrian underpass for the Lombard Metra station. Photo by Bill Ackerman