Horseradish is a spicy root vegetable commonly made into a pre-packaged sauce. The strong, biting flavor of horseradish sauce adds a kick to any dish, and it is an important ingredient for shrimp cocktail sauce. In Illinois, this specialty crop is mainly grown in the American Bottom areas in St. Clair, Madison, and Monroe counties, with Collinsville serving as the hub location. With more than 60 percent of the world’s horseradish supply grown in this area, Collinsville is known as ‘The Horseradish Capital of the World.’ 

The year 2023 saw stadiums, arenas, parks, bars, and all concert venues in between packed throughout Chicagoland and Illinois. While other entertainment sectors may be struggling to fill seats to the level they did before the pandemic, there was no such issue for concert venues in Illinois in 2023. The list of marquee acts to hit the stage was impressive, including Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran breaking records at Soldier Field. 

Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. December 25 has been a federal holiday in the U.S. since 1870. Christmas traditions include gift exchanges, decorating Christmas trees, attending church services, sharing meals with family and friends, and waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Meet our newest legislators. This week the House Republican Caucus welcomed Nicole La Ha and Brandun Schweizer to its ranks. The two new legislators were appointed to fill vacancies created with the retirements of State Representatives Michael Marron and John Egofske.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been tracking Santa Claus’ progress in delivering Christmas presents to children since 1955. NORAD, which is responsible for protecting the skies over the United States and Canada, activates its tracking system at 6 a.m. Eastern Time each year on Christmas Eve.

This week the House Republican Caucus welcomed Nicole La Ha and Brandun Schweizer to its ranks. The two new legislators were appointed to fill vacancies created with the retirements of State Representatives Michael Marron and John Egofske.

On Wednesday, Nicole La Ha took the oath of office to become State Representative of the 82nd District, which includes the communities of Willowbrook, Burr Ridge, Willow Springs, Darien, Western Springs, Homer Glen, and Lemont.

Tamales have been a staple in Mexican culture for centuries, dating back to the times of the Aztecs, Mayans, and Olmecs. Tamales are regarded as a sacred food for the gods and eaten on special occasions, including holidays. Eating tamales during Christmas time is a deep-rooted tradition for many Mexican families, and that tradition has become a part of the culture in other areas of the world as well.