International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the genocide of two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population and one-third of the overall Jewish population, as well as millions of others by the Nazi regime.

Jan. 27 was chosen as International Holocaust Remembrance Day because on that day in 1945, the Red Army liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp.

On this day, we remember and mourn the six million Jews whose lives were cut short during the horror of the Holocaust. We also remember the millions of Roma and Sinti, Slavs, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and political dissidents who were murdered at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators.

The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie is a great way to honor the memories of those who were lost and those who survived by learning universal lessons that combat hatred, prejudice and indifference.

Samuel R. Harris is one of the survivors highlighted by the museum. He is one of the youngest survivors of the concentration camps during the Holocaust. He was four years old when the Nazis occupied Poland.

Harris, his seven siblings and parents were forced into the ghetto where they lived for almost three years. Harris’ entire family, except two of his sisters, were deported to Treblinka and murdered. One of his sisters worked as a slave laborer in the concentration camp outside of Deblin and was able to hide him. In 1945 they were liberated and were able to move first to Austria and then to New York City where they were adopted by two different families. Harris then lived in Chicago, and went to college, married and had children. He was an integral force behind the building of the Holocaust Museum and Education Center of which he is the former president.  

In a world where hate is on the rise, use this International Holocaust Remembrance Day to learn, remember and mourn.

Sam’s bio: Samuel R. Harris - Illinois Holocaust Museum (ilholocaustmuseum.org)

Survivor Profiles: Holocaust Survivor Profiles | Illinois Holocaust Museum (ilholocaustmuseum.org)

Holocaust Museum: Illinois Holocaust Museum | Chicagoland Museum (ilholocaustmuseum.org)

It’s been 160 years since former President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that made Thanksgiving a national holiday.

“I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens,” the proclamation stated.

Although previous presidents had called for a Thanksgiving celebration in a similar fashion, each state still continued to celebrate on separate dates. After Lincoln issued his proclamation, states began celebrating Thanksgiving on the same date, thus giving Lincoln the credit for nationalizing the holiday.

Lincoln issued the proclamation following significant events that happened in 1863, such as the Battle of Gettysburg. The proclamation was made in part to honor the fallen soldiers of the civil war and their families. Additionally, a strong proponent for the holiday, Sarah Josepha Hale – a magazine editor – wrote to Lincoln directly calling for Thanksgiving to be made a national and fixed festival to solidify it as an American custom and institution.

Her request was granted by Lincoln after spending 15 years advocating for a national Thanksgiving holiday. Now, 160 years later, people across the nation look forward to celebrating with their loved ones and spreading gratitude thanks to Lincoln.

Some of the very best donut shops are located right here in Illinois! From glazed to Boston cream, the selections are endless.

National Donut Day is celebrated every first Friday of June of each year, succeeding the donut event created by The Salvation Army in Chicago in 1938 to honor their members who served donuts to soldiers during World War I. The day not only celebrates the sweet treat but often gives everyone a chance to indulge, with many bakeries and stores offering free donuts on this day.

Last year, Yelp compiled a list of the 100 best donut shops across the U.S., four of them being in Illinois! If you have the chance to sink your teeth into these delightful donuts, consider yourself lucky!

Four bakeries in Illinois were listed among the best spots to enjoy unique donuts, with two in Chicago, according to the list.

This Saturday marks another Squirrel Appreciation Day! In the town of Olney lies a truly unique colony of albino squirrels. Every year volunteers gather to scavenge the town to get an official tally of how many albino squirrels are left.

Roughly 100 years ago there was an estimate of 800, however with the territorial grey squirrels coming into the parks over the years, the numbers have decreased significantly. The 2022 count noted 886 gray squirrels counted and 64 albino white squirrels. Based on the numbers, the gray to albino ratio in 2021 was 12.46 to 1 compared to the gray to albino ratio in 2022 of 14.38 to 1.

The white squirrels are extremely important to the residents in Olney, and are even protected by law and have the right of way on all streets – which is signified by squirrel crossing signs posted around town. The city encourages residents to set up feeding boxes, and even offers free corn to refill those boxes annually.

Since the 1980s, this volunteer-based squirrel count is held each fall. Both white and gray squirrels are counted as well as stray cats, a natural enemy of the squirrels. Making sure to get all their acorns in a row, the Olney community has made it known that they are working on reviving the albino squirrel colonies in town and ask every resident to pitch in to ensure the continuation of their furry friends.

Last week, we celebrated the 15-year anniversary of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign announcement, which took place right here in Springfield. On Feb. 10, 2007, Obama announced his presidential campaign at the Old state Capitol Building, and he went on to become the first African American president in American history.

Fifteen years later, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Old State Capitol Foundation announced plans to place a historical marker on the Old State Capitol Lawn to commemorate Obama’s historic moment.

A year and a half after his presidential campaign announcement, Obama returned to the Old State Capitol to announce then-U.S. Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, would be running alongside him. Like his previous announcement, this gained international attention.

On Nov. 4, 2008, Obama was elected the 44^th president of the United States. Prior to becoming president, Obama was a U.S. Senator representing Illinois.

 “[Lincoln] chose to announce his candidacy at the Old State Capitol because of its historic ties to Abraham Lincoln, but he was also making history himself,” said David Joens, president of the Old State Capitol Foundation. “That history needs to be recognized, and a permanent marker will do that.” Obama took a historic place and increased its historic significance. 

The historic marker has been completed and will be put into place later this year.