Caption This! Cat In a Tree

What's this cat thinking as it peeks out from the garland and branches of a Christmas tree?

Patch readers, you're up! We need your wit, creativity and animal psychic abilities to craft the perfect caption for the next edition of our pet photo caption challenge!  What's this cat thinking as it hides in a Christmas Tree? Suggest your caption in the Comments section below. Comments will close at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12. The winner will be announced Thursday, Dec. 13.  The author of the winning caption and pet owner will receive a Patch-branded version of the photo, with the caption inserted.  Congratulations to last week's winner, David Leader, with the winning caption to Caption This! Cat in a Hat If my mom sees this picture, I'm out of the will. Have a photo you'd like captioned in future editions? Add it to our collection and …

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Caption This! Dog Blinded by Bunny Costume

What's this dog thinking, as it's in the dark in a bunny costume?

Patch readers, you're up! We need your wit, creativity and animal psychic abilities to craft the perfect caption for the next edition of our pet photo caption challenge!  What's this dog thinking, as it's caught in a moment of humiliation in costume? Suggest your caption in the Comments section below. Comments will close at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21. The winner will be announced Thursday, Nov. 22.  The author of the winning caption and pet owner will receive a Patch-branded version of the photo, with the caption inserted.  Congratulations to last week's winner, Amy Seaburg Craig, with the winning caption to Caption This! Basset Hound Caught in the Act. Where else was I supposed to bury it? You won't let me dig holes in the yard. Have a …

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The Editor Speaks

Hello Oswego!

Meet the new editor of Oswego Patch.

  Good morning, Oswego! My name is Andre, and I’ll be your editor today. And, um, every day, actually. That’s right, I’m officially taking over for Steven Jack today, as he moves on to the role of associate regional editor for this section of Patch. Steve did an amazing job with this site, and I know I have some big shoes to fill. (Seriously, they’re like size 12. Big feet, our Steve.) So, a little bit about me. If you’re a regular reader of Oswego Patch, you’ve seen my byline more than a few times. I spent the last 16 months running Montgomery Patch, just up the road, and my stories have also appeared on this site since day one. Before starting with Patch, I worked for the Beacon-News for five years, so I have a bunch of experience …

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Patch, IDOT Offer Glimpse of Winter Road Conditions, Traffic

An Illinois Department of Transportation website allows motorists to see which roads are clear of ice and snow and which aren't. A new Patch feature lets drivers look at live traffic via Mapquest.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the entire Chicago-area and is forecasting three to five inches of snow fall for Oswego today. The Illinois Department of Transportation, meanwhile, has launched a new Getting Around Illinois website, which is designed to give area motorists a glimpse into snowy or icy road conditions around the state. You can also look at live traffic conditions near and around Yorkville via Mapquest in one of Yorkville Patch's newest features by CLICKING HERE. Below are some safety tips for driving in the snow or ice from the Weather Channel: Driving safely on icy roads If your rear wheels skid... If your front wheels skid... If you get stuck...

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Help An Illinois School District Win $100,000

Your vote could help make a world of difference for students in Bolingbrook's Valley View School District.

It was Benjamin Franklin who once said, "If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately." I know you're not from Bolingbrook, but Bolingbrook sure needs your help.  The Frohns, longtime residents of Bolingbrook, are among 24 national finalists for Patch's Deck the House contest.  What's at stake? A lot, actually. If the Frohns receive the most votes by Sunday, Jan. 8, the Valley View School District will get $100,000 for local students. Now we know your kids don't attend any of Valley View's schools. But the Frohns are the only Illinois candidate. And during these cash-strapped times we live in, anyone can realize the enormous effect $100,000 can have on a child's education. Please take a moment to vote for the Frohns and help…

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Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday

Don't forget to change your clocks as we fall back and gain an hour.

It's that time of the year to "fall back."  Daylight Saving Time will end Sunday, Nov. 6. at 2 a.m., at which point it will become 1 a.m. CST. Remember to change your clocks Saturday night so as to not arrive one hour early to everything on Sunday, and enjoy the extra hour of sleep!  According to the The National Institute of Standards and Technology:  Daylight Saving Time, or DST, is the period of the year when clocks are moved one hour ahead. In the United States, this has the effect of creating more sunlit hours in the evening during months when the weather is the warmest. We advance our clocks ahead one hour at the beginning of DST, and move them back one hour ("spring forward, fall back") when we return to Standard Time (ST). The …

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Touched By Terror: Patch Remembers 9/11 in Snapshots

Oswego Patch and hundreds of other Patch sites captured the faces, keepsakes, memorials, ceremonies, flags, fund-raisers, deployments and the still-raw emotions that followed the Sept. 11 attacks.

Millions of people across the country were affected by the 9/11 attacks. Some experienced the tragic loss of a loved one, some found an inspiring way to help those who were grieving, and others experienced a political awakening.  To help reflect the endless diversity of their experiences, Patch looked out across our sites to pull together 911 snapshots of everyday Americans whose lives were changed by the events of that day. From across the country, this Patch site and hundreds of others captured the faces, keepsakes, memorials, ceremonies, flags, fund-raisers, deployments and the still-raw emotions that followed the attacks. Taken together they create a powerful mosaic that is large in scope but often deeply personal. Click through to see…

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Patch Asks: Where Were You on 9/11?

Oswego Patch wants to preserve residents’ remembrances and experiences as the 10-year anniversary approaches.

For most Americans—at least those of us old enough to remember—Sept. 11, 2001 seems like it was just yesterday. But, in fact, it's been nearly a decade. From the war on terror and the thousands of brave servicemen and women who have given their lives to keep America safe, to a shifting political landscape, the events of that day have forever changed our country. The attacks touched all Americans, not just the ones in New York or Washington or a field in Pennsylvania that fateful day, or those who have suffered the unspeakable pain of losing loved ones to the attacks themselves and the wars that followed. On Sunday, the United States will mark a somber milestone: The 10-year anniversary of 9/11. And we want to hear from you. Everyone has a …

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Channahon Republican to Seek Seat in Congress

Chris Balkema will run for the newly drawn 11th Congressional District, which covers portions of Channahon, Shorewood, Oswego, Montgomery, Plainfield, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Woodridge, Darien and Naperville among other communities.

A Channahon Republican announced his intentions to run for U.S. Congress over the weekend, according to a Morris Daily Herald report. Chris Balkema, a Grundy County board member and longtime employee of Caterpillar in Joliet, will run for the new 11th Congressional District, which covers portions of Channahon, Shorewood, Oswego, Montgomery, Plainfield, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Woodridge, Darien and Naperville among other communities. "In order to create jobs and restore economic opportunity for middle-class families, we need to start making things here in America again," Balkema told the Morris Daily Herald. "Manufacturing is what built the U.S. economy into an international leader throughout the 20th century, an edge we've seen decline …

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Oswego Resident Announces Bid for 49th Senate Seat

Amanda Mancke says she will adhere to strong conservative fiscal ideals

Amanda Mancke, an Oswego Republican, said Wednesday she would be running for the 49th Illinois Senate seat. Mancke most recently lost her bid to become a village trustee in Oswego, losing by 17 votes to incumbent Trustee Terry Michels. The Yorkville High School Spanish teacher said if elected, she would adhere to strong conservative fiscal ideals and advocate living within the state's means. "Our state is spending too much money," she said. "We have serious fiscal issues. I know I can be part of the solution." Mancke said she is particularly interested in education policy. "Our education system must produce students who are better prepared to compete in our global economy. Together we can [find] new ways of finding and retaining good …

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