Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Obama Presidential Center helped by $123 million in public infrastructure improvements

May 11, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

The former Cornell Drive, which ran between the Obama Presidential Center’s museum tower and the lagoon, was removed as part of the campus’ publicly-funded infrastructure improvements. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

By Lee Bey | Chicago Sun*Times

When the Obama Presidential Center opens next month, and its funders are honored and congratulated, there are two major financial contributors worthy of a bow or two: Chicago and Illinois taxpayers.

The Chicago Department of Transportation said it has spent $123.3 million since 2022 on capital projects aimed at remaking the roadways and green space in Jackson Park and around the center.

And there’s still more work to be done. The final public infrastructure costs are likely to approach $200 million.

The costs are not part of the presidential center’s privately-funded $850 million price tag.

“The Chicago Department of Transportation has delivered a series of roadway and mobility improvements in and around Jackson Park in coordination with the Obama Presidential Center,” CDOT said in a statement to the Sun-Times.

One major change included ripping up a half-mile of Cornell Drive between Midway Plaisance and Hayes Drive. The center’s landscape architect, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, turned what was an obtrusive six-lane highway ripping through Jackson Park into walkable green space that links the Obama campus to the park’s historic lagoon to the east.

Other projects included adding a third southbound lane on DuSable Lake Shore Drive between 57th and Hayes drives; reworking Hayes Drive east of Stony Island Avenue that involved reconfiguring intersections at Cornell, Richards and DuSable Lake Shore drives; and adding a pump station to help fix flooding at the 59th Street pedestrian underpass.

Article continues here.

Posted in Chicago Sun*Times, Cook, County, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Look For The Union Label, Politics, Taxes | Leave a Comment »

Midterm message

May 11, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By Scott Stantis | PUBLISHED: May 8, 2026, The Baltimore Sun

Posted in Elections, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Scott Stantis | Leave a Comment »

Editorial: A cautionary tale from UK local elections as Brits move to the extremes

May 10, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

People walk past a polling station sign during the United Kingdom’s 2026 local elections in London on May 7, 2026. (Kin Cheung/AP)

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

Britain held its local elections Thursday, and one headline was the ascendency of Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform party over the traditional Conservatives. But the day hardly brought succor for the Labour Party; the traditional party of the left lost ground in key constituencies to the Green Party, historically a marginal entity in the United Kingdom but now the party of choice among 18-to-24-year-old voters.

Even Labour’s first minister of Wales, Baroness Morgan of Ely, lost her seat.

Beleaguered British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, meanwhile, was just about hanging on. To many minds, he is a dead man walking, soon to be abandoned by his Labour Party.

What is the takeaway? The results certainly look dismal for moderates of any persuasion; the Reform and Green supporters hate each other with a passion. They’re also a vote of no confidence in the legacy parties.

And they’re further evidence of how Britain, not unlike the U.S., is now deeply divided between the affluent, educated urbanites who embrace progressive ideals and government spending — in Chicago we’d call them lakefront liberals — and the population living in rural areas and hollowed-out factory towns who feel abandoned by the elite establishment, many of whom abhor Britain’s porous borders and lament what they see as an immigration-driven collapse of both social services and a traditional British life.

Age came into play, too. Despite a popular leader in Kemi Badenoch, the traditional Conservative Party increasingly is seen as a gerontocracy appealing only to the aged. Labour has some of the same problems, having lost a hefty chunk of its traditional working-class supporters. All of the energy is at their flanks.

Editorial continues here.

Posted in Chicago Tribune, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Economy, Elections, New Normal?, OP/Ed, Politics | Leave a Comment »

Chocolate Fest to kick off festival season in Long Grove May 15-17

May 10, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Submitted by Jody Grimaldi

Festival season begins in Long Grove the only way it knows how: with chocolate. From May 15-17 the village’s iconic Chocolate Fest returns, transforming historic downtown Long Grove into a lively, chocolate-filled celebration that draws visitors from across the region year after year.

Set among colorful historic buildings and anchored by the village’s famous covered bridge, Chocolate Fest offers a weekend that feels both nostalgic and energetic. It’s the kind of place where you can wander with a chocolate treat in hand, discover something new around every corner, and settle in for an afternoon that easily turns into an evening.

Now firmly established as one of the suburbs’ signature spring festivals, Chocolate Fest marks the unofficial start of Long Grove’s event season. It’s a weekend built around indulgence, live music, and community, all set within a charming and walkable downtown.

A weekend built around chocolate

From classic favorites to creative twists, Chocolate Fest is known for its wide range of chocolate-inspired offerings. Visitors can expect everything from chocolate-dipped strawberries and funnel cakes to specialty desserts and inventive treats crafted just for the weekend. Local shops and restaurants join in with their own chocolate-themed menu items, giving guests plenty of reasons to explore the village beyond the main festival areas.

New this year: themed music days

This year introduces a fresh twist with themed music days that shape the energy of each evening:

Friday’s music will have a country theme, with headliner Whiskey Friends, a Morgan Wallen tribute, alongside a full lineup of live performances.

On Saturday it will be a ’90s throwback with tributes to Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Smashing Pumpkins, and more.

Sunday will feature a laid-back, classic rock finale headlined by Mr. Blotto with a Woodstock-inspired set.

Live music will take place across multiple stages throughout downtown, with additional family-friendly programming at the Fountain Square Stage. The full music schedule can be found at longgrove.org.

More than just a sweet tooth

Chocolate Fest delivers a full weekend experience beyond the desserts. Guests can enjoy a classic carnival with rides, kids activities, interactive experiences, and a variety of food and beverage vendors throughout the village. Downtown Long Grove’s more than 30 independently owned shops will be open all weekend, offering everything from handcrafted goods and home décor to clothing, gifts, and specialty items. Many will feature chocolate-themed merchandise and festival specials.

Restaurants, breweries, and tasting rooms also will be in full swing, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks throughout the weekend, with select chocolate-inspired creations added just for the occasion.

All proceeds from this Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association event are directed toward downtown improvement projects such as permanent street lights, maintenance of Covered Bridge Park, entry signs, banners, and free activities for visitors.

Long Grove Chocolate Fest 2026

When: Noon to 11 p.m. Friday, May 15; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 16; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 17
Where: Downtown Long Grove, 145 Old McHenry Road
Admission: Tickets are $7 and may be purchased online or at the gate. Gates accept cash or card payments. Children age 12 and younger admitted free. Discounted admission prices are available when purchasing three-day passes online only.
Parking: Free public parking available throughout downtown; ride-shares encouraged. A remote parking lot and free shuttle are available Saturday and Sunday; see the website for a map and details.
Details: longgrove.org/festival/chocolatefest

Posted in Entertainment, Topics Of Interest | Leave a Comment »

At the Iroquois Steeplechase, the foxhounds kick off the horse races with a howling fun dog parade

May 9, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Hounds run on the track during the Parade of Mells Foxhounds at the Iroquois Steeplechase in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

By KRISTIN M. HALL | Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — While the jockeys and the horse owners compete for the top purses at the Iroquois Steeplechase, the perennial favorite event of this 85-year-old tradition is the parade of foxhounds.

More than 20 foxhounds, a breed specifically trained to run alongside horses and hunters, took to the turf course Saturday to kick off the race day as fans cheer and take photos and videos.

The huntsman and his team, who are called whippers-in, has the sometimes difficult task of keeping the hounds on course, especially when they can get distracted by the tens of thousands of spectators in the infield and all their delicious tailgating food.

One hound loved the attention from the fans so much that she veered off course, said Charles Montgomery, a master and huntsman with the Mells Foxhounds, the hunting group that runs their pack in the steeplechase. “She had the best time. She loved going into the beer tents,” Montgomery said.

Foxhounds bark as they look out of their trailer at the Iroquois Steeplechase in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

She loved it so much, she ran to the beer tent again the next year, so now she’s not invited back to the race, Montgomery said.

The Iroquois Steeplechase is one of the premier American steeplechase races, with a total of $730,000 awarded in purses, on a grass turf course with hurdles that opened in 1941 as a Works Progress Administration project. The Nashville race was founded by members of the Hillsboro Hounds, another fox hunting club in the Nashville area.

Genevieve Kennan leads the hounds during the Parade of Mells Foxhounds at the Iroquois Steeplechase, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Steeplechase racing and fox hunting are wedded together, said Stephen Heard, one of the trustees of the Iroquois Steeplechase and a member of the Mells Foxhounds group. The tradition came from the British Isles, where horses were raced from church steeple to church steeple and trained to jump obstacles like fences while hunting with dogs.

“Many of the horses that we use fox hunting are ex-steeplechase horses, Heard said.

With 25,000 spectators who are eating and drinking in tents and in the stands, the dogs need some time to adjust to the noise and smells.

Charles Montgomery spends time with his hounds before the Parade of Mells Foxhounds at the Iroquois Steeplechase in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

“I took one dog last year and he heard the speakers and he said, ‘This is not for me,’” Charles Montgomery said.

Article, video and additional photos can be found here.

Posted in Associated Press, Topics Of Interest | Leave a Comment »

Editorial: Mother’s Day isn’t about brunch. It’s about being seen.

May 9, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

A florist prepares a flower bouquet for a customer on March 1, 2024, at Asrai Garden in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

Mothers spend their days making decisions. Small ones, constant ones, invisible ones. What everyone eats. What everyone wears. Where everyone needs to be, and when. They carry it all in their heads, quietly keeping the machinery of family life running.

Knowing that, take note: She does not want to plan her own Mother’s Day.

To hear some people tell it, motherhood is mostly a story of exhaustion and sacrifice. There’s truth in that. But reducing it only to hardship misses something essential. It’s also deeply meaningful. Both things can be true, often at the same time.

Which is exactly why the work mothers do deserves recognition.

Our modern Mother’s Day is meant to honor the way mothers keep families running. The day itself may be arbitrary, but the sentiment behind it is not. In fact, the holiday didn’t start as a day for brunch reservations or last-minute gifts. Early efforts to establish Mother’s Day were rooted in women’s effort to build community, tend to the sick, promote public health and even advocate for peace in times of war. It was meant to recognize care work, not market it back to mothers. That distinction has gotten a bit lost. What was once about recognizing care has, in many cases, become another obligation.

Ask most mothers and they’d tell you to ditch the trappings and trimmings. They just want to know you appreciate them. And perhaps to enjoy a few minutes to themselves.

Editorial continues here.

Posted in Chicago Tribune, OP/Ed, Topics Of Interest | Leave a Comment »

Plan Commission Special Public Meeting May 28: Lot Consolidation #2

May 8, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Before the Plan Commission
Village of Barrington Hills
Plat of Subdivision – Lot Consolidation

Notice is hereby given that a Public Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. by the Plan Commission of the Village of Barrington Hills at the Barrington Hills Village Hall, 112 Algonquin Road, Barrington Hills, IL, concerning an Application filed by the owner of 19 & 21 Peraino Circle, Barrington Hills, IL to request approval of a final plat of subdivision consolidating Lots 8 and 21 of the Subdivision of Barrington Ridge in Barrington Hills, IL to create a single lot. Affected properties are identified by PIN 13-33-301-024-0000 and 13-33-301-016-0000.

A copy of the application and proposed plat for lot consolidation is available for examination in the office of the Village Clerk at the Village Hall, by appointment, during hours of operation. Any interested party will be given an opportunity to provide comment. Written comments on the application for lot consolidation, which will be provided to the members of the Plan Commission, will be accepted in the Office of the Village Clerk through 3:00 PM, May 27, 2026.

By: Village Clerk
Village of Barrington Hills
Clerk@vbhil.gov
112 Algonquin Road
Barrington Hills, IL 60010

Source

Posted in County, Lake, Land Use, Plan Commission | Leave a Comment »

Plan Commission Special Public Meeting May 28: Lot Consolidation #1

May 8, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Before the Plan Commission
Village of Barrington Hills
Plat of Subdivision – Lot Consolidation

Notice is hereby given that a Public Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. by the Plan Commission of the Village of Barrington Hills at the Barrington Hills Village Hall, 112 Algonquin Road, Barrington Hills, IL, concerning an Application filed by the owner of 60 Spring Creek Road, Barrington Hills, IL to request approval of a final plat of subdivision consolidating property commonly known as 56 Ridge Road and 60 Spring Creek Road in Barrington Hills, IL to create a single lot. Affected properties are identified by PIN 20-29-400-006, 20-29-400-007, and 20-29-400-017.

A copy of the application and proposed plat for lot consolidation is available for examination in the office of the Village Clerk at the Village Hall, by appointment, during hours of operation. Any interested party will be given an opportunity to provide comment. Written comments on the application for lot consolidation, which will be provided to the members of the Plan Commission, will be accepted in the Office of the Village Clerk through 3:00 PM, May 27, 2026.

By: Village Clerk
Village of Barrington Hills
Clerk@vbhil.gov
112 Algonquin Road
Barrington Hills, IL 60010

Source

Posted in County, Land Use, McHenry, Plan Commission | Leave a Comment »

Kite Fest Saturday from 10AM – 12PM

May 8, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Hanover Township, in partnership with Forest Preserves of Cook County and Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, will be honoring Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month by hosting a Kite Fest. This free event includes kite crafts, kite flying, nature activities, a bounce house, popcorn and snow cones.

The event partner, Brookfield Zoo, will also be bringing a surprise animal from their Animal Ambassador program.

***  Off-site parking at Streamwood High School with FREE shuttles to and from the event  ***

Carl R. Hansen Woods Forest Preserve (Sutton Road / Route 59, South of Shoe Factory Road, Hoffman Estates)

Email info@hanover-township.org for more information or call (630) 837-0301.

Source

Posted in Entertainment, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Politics | Leave a Comment »

U.S. Route 14 Underpass Update

May 8, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

 

Construction activity has ramped back up over the past month, with crews completing the following work:

  • Completed the walls and bottom of the Route 14 culvert, a storm sewer that will carry the relocated Flint Creek beneath the roadway. Formed and poured on-site, the next step is to form the top slab (deck) of the culvert. Once complete and cured, the structure can be backfilled.
  • Began work on the railroad bridge. Crews completed installation of sheeting for the north bridge abutment (the structural element on each end of a bridge) and began excavation within the sheeting area. Structural formwork will be placed as excavation continues. Once complete, the abutment will be poured in concrete. Similar operations will begin for the center bridge pier and the south bridge abutment over the coming months.
  • Made substantial progress on the storm sewer pump station building, including brick and roof truss installation. Most of the surrounding area has been designed to drain naturally away from the Route 14 underpass. However, during rain events, the sloped roadway sections will channel water toward the lowest point of the underpass. Large storm sewers will capture this water and direct it underground to the pump station, located just east of Jiffy Lube. The pump station will collect water in the completed pit, pump it back to the surface, and slowly release it into the relocated Flint Creek. This entire drainage system has been engineered to ensure positive drainage and has been reviewed and approved by the state, Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Continued relocation of utilities.

Weather permitting, the contractor plans to begin excavation and installation of a new storm sewer on Drury Lane over the next month, along with continued construction of the railroad bridge structure.

To stay informed and receive project updates, please visit the dedicated project website us14underpass.com or watch for email notifications.

Posted May 6, 2026

Posted in Aunt Blabby, EJ&E/Canadian National, IDOT, Public Safety, Real Estate, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, U.S. Route 14 Underpass | Leave a Comment »

Older Posts »