MONTREAL The Montreal literary community has lost a talent, as Joel Yanofsky has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 65 years old. His wife Cynthia Davis spoke of Yanofsky being a kind and pleasant person to be around. I am very grateful for the 23 years I was lucky enough to share with Joel, she said. He was completely devoted and always kind to those of us blessed to be loved by him. I cannot imagine a better husband or father to our son. Joel made everything fun for us and we miss him so. Writers, academics, friends and fans of the written word began posting their thoughts and memories of the man on social media when it was announced that Yanofsky had died.
Updated 12/21/2020 8:11 PM
The final day of candidate filing added four more contested village president and mayoral races in the Fox Valley to what was already shaping up to be a spring election with possible sweeping changes in local government.
Geneva, East Dundee, Hampshire and West Dundee will all have contested races for the top spot in local government.
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns has been part of the city government since 1997. To keep that streak alive, he ll face a rematch of the 2017 election. Resident Tom Simonian will take another shot at unseating Burns.
Simonian has remained highly critical of the way things are done in Geneva over the last four years. He lost to Burns by about 1,500 votes in their first contest.
An earlier version misspelled Jennifer Konen s name.
There will be at least three contested mayor and village president elections this spring in the Fox Valley, including in St. Charles and Sugar Grove.
St. Charles aldermen Maureen Lewis and Lora Vitek are seeking to become the city s next mayor and submitted their nominating petitions Monday, the first day of filing for most municipal and school positions in the April 6 consolidated election. Incumbent Mayor Ray Rogina isn t seeking reelection.
Meanwhile, Sugar Grove Village President Sean Michels, who has held the office since 1999, is being challenged by village Trustee Jennifer Konen, who has been on the board less than two years.