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Archive for July, 2025

McHenry County Planning, Zoning and Land Use Staff Plat Review Committee Public Meeting scheduled August 6th regarding 11719 Ridge Road application

Posted in BCFPD, Bicyclists, Citizens for Conservation, County, Entertainment, Hill ‘n Dale Farm, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, McHenry, Plan Commission, Privacy, Public Safety, Real Estate, Traffic, VBHPD, Zoning Board on July 31, 2025| 2 Comments »

A meeting of the McHenry County Staff Plat Review Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, August 6th at 8:30 AM to discuss an application for, “seven (7) Conditional Use Permits and one (1) Variance,” at 11719 Ridge Road.

The item on the agenda reads:

4.1    Z25-0062, Goldman, A-1 to A-1CV, Algonquin Twp

PIN:  20-32-400-006, 11719 Ridge Road, Barrington

Applicant is seeking seven (7) Conditional Use Permits and one (1) Variance

1) Intensive Agritourism with a variance to reduce the minimum acreage from twenty (20) to thirteen and a half (13.5) acres, 2) Agriculture Employee Housing, 3) Reception Facility, 4) Community Center, 5) Day Camp, 6) Art Gallery, and 7) Vacation Rental Facility

A copy of the agenda with attachments can be viewed and downloaded here.

Related: “Commercial development planned off Ridge Road in unincorporated McHenry County”

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Things to do Aug. 1-7: Lollapalooza, National Night Out events, North American Reptile Breeders Conference and more

Posted in Entertainment, Fundraisers on July 31, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Olivia Rodrigo will perform Friday at Lollapalooza, which runs through Sunday, July 31 to Aug. 3, in Chicago’s Grant Park. | AP

By Luke Zurawski | Daily Herald

Friday, Aug. 1

McHenry County Fair:  Friday and Saturday, Aug. 1-2; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at the McHenry County Fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock. Carnival, food, music, entertainment and more. Demo Derby at 6 p.m. Sunday. $10 for ages 13-64; $5 for kids 6-12 and 65 and older and military; $30 for season passes. mchenrycountyfair.com/tickets

National Sports Collectors Convention:  Friday and Saturday, Aug. 1 and Aug. 2; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. Sports card and memorabilia trade show with over 600 vendors, autograph signing and authentication, card grading and more. $30, $149.99 for a five-day pass, free for kids 12 and younger. nsccshow.com.

West Dundee French Market: 4-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at The Pump House, 98 Oregon Ave., West Dundee. A mixed market offering fresh produce and honey, greens, soaps, breads, cheeses, flowers, artwork, wearables and more. wdundee.org.

Lollapalooza: Noon to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, July 31 to Aug. 3, in Grant Park, Chicago. Headliners include Tyler the Creator and Luke Combs on Thursday; Olivia Rodrigo and Korn on Friday; Rufus Du Sol and Twice on Saturday; and Sabrina Carpenter and A$AP Rocky on Sunday. Limited tickets available, including verified resale, which start at various price points. lollapalooza.com.

Tots in the Park: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at the Alcott Center, 530 Bernard Drive, Buffalo Grove. Kids’ entertainment featuring Jeanie B on the lawn. Bring a blanket or chairs. Free. bgparks.org/tots-in-the-park.

The Taste of Roselle runs Friday through Sunday, Aug. 1-3, on Main Street in Roselle. | Daily Herald file photo

Taste of Roselle: 6-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, on Main Street, Roselle. 43rd annual block party featuring food, craft beer and wine, entertainment on three stages, an arts and crafts show, bingo and a kids’ carnival. Main stage lineup: Friday: F.L.O.A.T. (rock covers) at 6:15 p.m., 10-piece Devon Delux at 7:45 p.m., and Mock Star (’80s arena rock) at 9:30 p.m.; Saturday: Cavalcade of Stars at noon, Sounds of Good Life (rock covers) at 1:45 p.m., Schaumburg School of Rock at 3:15 p.m., Old Stumpy (bluegrass) at 4:45 p.m., Voodoo Dolls (covers) at 6:15 p.m., Bottled Blues (soulful blues) at 8 p.m., and Dixon Bandits (Southern rock) at 9:30 p.m.; and Sunday: Christian Tabernacle Church (gospel choir) at noon, Live Pete (rock) at 1:30 p.m., Shukin & The Ramblers (Rusty Roots Rock Review) at 3:15 p.m., Tryptic (grooves and jams) at 4:45 p.m., and Good Gumbo (Hippie Americana) at 6:30 p.m. Free. facebook.com/TasteofRoselle

Buffalo Grove Park District Summer Concert Series: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Tuesday and Thursday, Aug. 1, 5 and 7, at Mike Rylko Community Park Amphitheater, 1000 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove. Lineup: Anchors Away on Friday, Pino Farina Band on Tuesday, Bucket Number 6 on Friday. Food, beer, wine and soft drinks for purchase. No outside alcohol allowed. Bring blankets and chairs. Free. bgparks.org/summer-concert-series

First Friday Summer Dances: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at Schaumburg’s Towne Square, 200 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. Dance lessons by Schaumburg Arthur Murray Dance Studio from 6:30-7:30 p.m.; live music and dancing from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. parkfun.com

Hawthorn Woods Concerts in the Park: 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at Hawthorn Woods Community Park, 5 Park View Lane, Hawthorn Woods. Tank & the Beez will perform. Free. vhw.org.

Sounds of Summer Concert Series — Main Stage Concerts: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at the Fred P. Hall Amphitheater, 256 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. Anthem will perform. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Free. palatineparks.org/sounds-of-summer

Elgin Summer Movie in the Park: Dusk Friday, Aug. 1, at Lords Park, 100 Oakwood Blvd., Elgin. Join a sea-themed scavenger hunt with Moana and Maui before “Moana 2” starts at dusk. Concessions available. Free. elginil.gov.

Saturday, Aug. 2

Destination Asia Festival: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 2-3, at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Experience Asia’s diverse cultures through music, dance and food. Plus, a bonsai exhibition and vendors. Included with arboretum admission. mortonarb.org

Community Church of Rolling Meadows Corn Fest and Craft Fair: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Community Church of Rolling Meadows, 2720 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows. Fresh local sweet corn, grilled sandwiches, watermelon and drinks, plus a craft fair, face painting, balloon artist and more. A meal is $15, $13 for seniors, $5 for kids 4-10, and free for kids 3 and younger. ccrm.church.

Improvisational cellist Drew Wiegman will perform at the 44th Annual Festival of the Arts Sunday, Aug. 3, in Libertyville’s Cook Park. | Courtesy of Publicis Media

Festival of the Arts: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at Cook Park, 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Outdoor juried art and music festival. Performers include improvisational cellist Drew Wiegman on Aug. 3. Free. adlercenter.org/festival-of-the-arts.

North American Reptile Breeders Conference: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at the Schaumburg Convention Center & Hotel, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. Reptile breeders, vendors, auction and more. $15, $10 for kids 6-12, free for kids 5 and younger, two-day VIP passes for $50. narbc.com.

Dessert Walk: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, starting in Cook Park, 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Stroll around downtown Libertyville to sample desserts and shop. mainstreetlibertyville.org.

Garden Clubs of Illinois Inc. District IX Flower Show: Noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, in the Burnstein Hall at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Regenstein Center, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Presented by the Garden Clubs of Illinois, this show features judged flower arrangements and exhibits, as well as a cut horticulture competition. Included with general admission. districtix-gci.org/events.

Uncaged in the Zoo: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at Lords Park Zoo, off Grand Boulevard, Elgin. Get up close and personal with live animals. Deb the Frog Lady will be on hand. Free. elginil.gov

Morton Arboretum walking play “Pride and Prejudice”: 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 2-3, starting at Thornhill Shelter at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. A walk leader guides the audience to each scene, which takes place at several natural backdrop locations along a one- to two-mile hiking route. Bring water and portable chairs or blankets. $27 for 18 and older, $17 for kids 2-17, $10 less for members, free for kids younger than 2. mortonarb.org/explore/activities/events/walking-plays

Navy Pier Summer Fireworks: 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, and 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Fireworks display set to popular and special occasion soundtracks. Free. navypier.org/summer-fireworks.

Sunday, Aug. 3

Antique Tool Show & Sale: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at Garfield Farm Museum, 2N930 Garfield Road, Campton Hills. Over 30 collectors will display and sell their tools. Joint show by Early American Industries Association and the Mid-West Tools Collectors Association. $8, $3 for kids 12 and younger. garfieldfarm.org.

Crystal Lake Farmers Market+ At The Dole: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, on the front lawn of the Dole Mansion, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake. Live music, kids’ activities, beverages, food trucks and more. farmersmarketatthedole.org.

Mariachi concert: 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at Lords Park Zoo, 325 Hiawatha Drive, Elgin. All-ages concert featuring the Felipe Mendoza Band. elginil.gov

Railroad Street Block Party: 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at Duke’s Alehouse parking lot, 110 N. Main St., Crystal Lake. Local bands, food, family activities and games for kids. Free. facebook.com/dukesalehouse.

Wheeling’s Sounds of Summer Concert Series: 5-6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at the Heritage Park Performance Pavilion, 201 Community Blvd., Wheeling. Semple will perform. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Coolers are allowed; no outside alcohol permitted. Soft drinks, water, beer and seltzer for purchase. Free. wheelingparkdistrict.com

Monday, Aug. 4

Lords Park Zoo Family Concerts: Noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4, at Lords Park Zoo, 325 Hiawatha Drive, Elgin. Free family concerts. Bring chairs, blankets and lunch for a concert under the shade of the Tefft Farm trees. chambermusiconthefox.org.

Tuesday, Aug. 5

Adventures in the Zoo: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Lords Park Zoo, 210 Grand Blvd., Elgin. The weekly drop-in program features “Owls on the Prowl.” Free. elginil.gov.

Sounds of Summer Family Picnic Series: Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the Fred P. Hall Amphitheater, 256 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. Kids’ entertainment with Little Miss Ann. Free. palatineparks.org/sounds-of-summer

Hoffman Estates National Night Out: 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the Hoffman Estates Police Department, 411 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. Meet the police, plus food and drinks, live music, station tours, touch-a-truck, police cadet program information, emergency management programs and more. Free. hoffmanestates.org

Wauconda National Night Out: 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, on Main Street, between Bangs Street and Route 176, Wauconda. The village of Wauconda Police Department and other community organizations host a family night out featuring emergency and utility vehicles, games, food, raffles, prizes, music and more. Free. wauconda-il.gov.

Algonquin National Night Out: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Old Town, Main Street and Plaza, Algonquin. Live K-9 demo, activities with the Algonquin police and fire departments, giveaways, DJ and dancing. algonquin.org/recreation.

Deer Park National Night Out: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Vehe Farm Park, 23570 Cuba Road, Deer Park. First responders, vehicles, equipment and demonstrations, DJ, games, food trucks, Kona Ice, Glowby the Bubble Guy and more. Free. villageofdeerpark.com

Concerts in the Plaza: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Independence Grove, 16400 W. Buckley Road, Libertyville. Mississippi Heat will perform. $10 vehicle entrance fee starting at 4:30 p.m. lcfpd.org/things-to-do/concerts.

Crystal Lake Concerts in the Park: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake. Radio Gaga will perform. Free. For parking locations, see crystallakeparks.org/special-events.

Wednesday, Aug. 6

Algonquin Lunchapalooza Concert Series: 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Towne Park, 100 Jefferson St., Algonquin. Jeanie B. will perform. Free. algonquin.org

Palatine National Night Out: 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Falcon Park Recreation Center, 2195 N. Hicks Road, Palatine. Entertainment, food trucks, live demonstrations, police cars, fire trucks and more. Free. palatineparks.org.

Arbor Evenings: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Morton Arboretum’s Frost Hill, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Music, lawn games, food and drinks. Semple will perform. $15 for ages 13 and older, $5 for kids 4-12. Advance tickets required: mortonarb.org

Schaumburg’s Shakespeare in the Park: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Meineke Park, 220 E. Weathersfield Way, Schaumburg. Goodly Creatures Theatre’s annual production features the comedy “Much Ado About Nothing.” Bring chairs, blankets and snacks. Rain date: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7. Free. goodlycreatures.com.

Wickstrom Lincoln Concert Series: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at the Arboretum of South Barrington, 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. In The Stix Nashville Night. Food for purchase. Free. shopthearb.com.

Thursday, Aug. 7

“Stories Under the Hickory Tree”: 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Aug. 7, at Lords Park Zoo, 210 Grand Blvd., Elgin. Gail Borden Public Library staff present animated musical and participatory animal-themed programs for kids 3-6. Bring blankets or chairs. Free. elginil.gov.

Geneva Classic Car Show: 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at the Kane County Courthouse, off Fourth and James streets, Geneva. Music, food and vote for your favorite make and model. To display your vehicle: Show up after 4:30 p.m. and find a spot in the lot behind the courthouse. Free. genevachamber.com/events/classic-car-show.

Barrington National Night Out: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, in downtown Barrington. Burgers, wood workshop for kids, bike helmet giveaways, games, prizes and more. Free. barrington-il.gov

Kids enjoy a carnival ride during a previous Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days, which runs Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 7-10, on State Street in Hampshire. | Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com, 2019

Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7; 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 8; 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 9; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, on State Street in downtown Hampshire. Nightly entertainment, carnival, beer garden, food vendors, craft show, corn roast and more. Kids’ tent and petting zoo from 1-5 p.m. Aug. 9-10. Ice cream-eating contest at 5 p.m. Aug. 9. Music lineup: Aug. 7: Hi Infidelity at 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 8: Back Country Roads at 6:30 p.m. and Semple Band at 9 p.m.; Aug. 9: Whiskey Kitten at 3:30 p.m., Hillbilly Rockstarz at 7 p.m., and Modern Day Romeos after the fireworks; and Aug. 10: Smokin Gunz at 1:30 p.m. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Saturday and parade at noon Sunday. Free. hcccd.com

Sounds of Summer — Thursday Night Acoustic Series: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at Towne Square, 150 W. Palatine Road, Palatine. Prairie Station Acoustic Duo will perform. Free. palatineparks.org/sounds-of-summer.

Algonquin Summer Concert Series: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at Towne Park, 100 Jefferson St., Algonquin. The Boy Band Night will perform. Bring a lawn chair. Algonquin.org/summerconcerts.

Elgin’s Concerts in the Park: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at Wing Park, 1010 Wing St., and Lords Park, 100 Oakwood Blvd., Elgin. Rosie & The Rivets will perform. Food truck. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. In case of bad weather, the event will be canceled. Free. elginil.gov or facebook.com/cityofelgin.

Rockin’ in the Park Summer Concert Series: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Double Vision will perform culminating with a musical fireworks display. Free. rosemont.com/thepark/calendar.

Sounds of Summer Concert Series: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at Harmony Park, 7 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Valius will perform. Free. vah.com/explore/sounds_of_summer_concerts.php.

Summer Sounds on the Green Concert Series: 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at Village Green, 5510 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. The String Quartet from the Elgin Symphony Orchestra will perform. Food and beverages for sale. Free. hoffmanestatesarts.com/summer-concert-series or elginsymphony.org.

Windy City Comedy Fest: Shows starting at 7 and 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7; 6-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9; and 11:30 a.m. and 7 and 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, at various locations in Chicago. Features shows, clinics with industry professionals, and networking events for comedians and fans. Headliners include Luke Null on Thursday, Dwayne Kennedy on Friday, Kevin Kellam on Saturday and a Roast Battle on Sunday. Ticket prices vary. windycitycomedyfest.com

Ongoing

Bristol Renaissance Faire: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 1, off I-94 at the Illinois/Wisconsin border, 12550 120th Ave., Kenosha. Travel back in time for 30 acres of jousting, arts and crafts, food, music, dance, rides, games, entertainers and more. $40, $15 for kids 5-12, and free for kids 4 and younger. renfair.com/bristol.

Patterned by Nature: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Sept. 21 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Celebrates the universal attraction to patterns through playfully planted gardens and nature-inspired artistic installations. Admission: $19.95-$21.95 for adults, $13.95-$15.95 for kids 3-12, and free for kids younger than 3. chicagobotanic.org/patterns.

Find more here.

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Illinois teachers can opt out of unions in August. Here’s why they should.

Posted in 220, 300, Barrington Education Association, Deception, Education, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Policy Institute, Look For The Union Label, Organizations, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Unions on July 31, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Just 15% to 26% of Illinois teachers union spending was on representing teachers in 2024. But public education employees can opt out of union membership and keep their hard-earned money.

By Mailee Smith | Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois teachers unions have a terrible track record when it comes to spending money on what’s important, but August is when teachers can reclaim their priorities and pay.

The Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers – the state affiliates representing most teachers in Illinois – spend very little on representing teachers, which should be their core focus. Chicago Teachers Union, a local affiliate of IFT, does just as poorly.

Public education employees upset with the way their unions spend their dues have a choice. They can opt out of union membership and stop sending dues to the union without repercussion. They keep all their employer-provided pay and benefits. And they can obtain liability insurance and job protection coverage at a fraction of the price of union membership.

But time is of the essence. Most teachers unions will only stop deducting dues if teachers opt-out in August.

Illinois teachers unions spend little on teachers

Teachers spend hundreds – and some over a thousand – on union dues each year. But their unions don’t prioritize representing teachers.

The unions’ abysmal spending on teachers is admitted in own their federal filings with the U.S. Department of Labor. It’s a significant indicator that unions take teachers’ money yet don’t put those same teachers’ interests first.

IEA is the largest teachers union in Illinois with 132,565 members, according to its 2024 federal filing. But just 15% of its spending in 2024 was on “representational activities” – what should be its core purpose. The rest was on administration, politics and other union leadership priorities.

Nationally, IEA members are represented by the National Education Association, which fared even worse. Just 9% of its spending was on representing teachers.

Read more here.

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Fire tore through Arlington Park racetrack 40 years ago. Less than a month later, the season’s biggest event went on as scheduled.

Posted in Chicago Tribune, Topics Of Interest on July 31, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The exhibition halls and grandstand of Arlington Park racetrack burn out of control on July 31, 1985, in Arlington Heights. They still ran the Million race at the track less than a month later. | José Moré/Chicago Tribune

By Ron Grossman | Chicago Tribune

In the early hours of July 31, 1985, Tommy Trotter thought he smelled smoke.

“I’m a light sleeper,” he told the Tribune. “I went downstairs to check out the kitchen and it got stronger.” He could hear “cracking” in the ceiling.

The director of racing at Arlington Park racetrack in Arlington Heights, Trotter and his wife and son were staying on the second floor of the Horseman’s Lounge in the posh Post and Paddock Club. He woke up his wife, sent his son to notify security, and told the switchboard operator to call the fire department.

The first of what would become more than 150 firefighters battle a five-alarm blaze in the Post and Paddock Club at Arlington Park on July 31, 1985. | Paul F. Gero/Chicago Tribune

The enormity of the blaze was quickly apparent to firefighters.

“It went ‘bang, bang, bang, right up to five alarms,” said Bruce Rodewald, Arlington Heights’ fire chief. Two special alarms followed, summoning fire departments from Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows, Rosemont, Wheeling, Elk Grove Village, Buffalo Grove, Palatine and Des Plaines.

As firefighters arrived, two trainers salvaged 2,000 documents with the identification numbers of horses that raced at Arlington. ”Those foal papers we got out of there are like the title to a car,” Arthur Blaze, a trainer, said. “You can’t run a horse without them on any track.”

The racetrack opened in 1927; the Post and Paddock Club followed two years later and was periodically remodeled. There were false ceilings and sealed off spaces — through which the fire could travel unseen by firefighters. Some used chain saws, desperately trying to find the flames before they reached the wooden grandstands.

“My first thought was of the last fire I went through at Garden State Park, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey,” an Arlington Park jockey told a Sun-Times reporter. Three people were killed there in 1977. Neither humans nor horses perished in the Arlington Park blaze. The fire never reached the stables.

That was all the more miraculous. A watchman at Arlington told the Tribune the firefighters couldn’t attack the blaze until security officers brought a key to its gate.

Joseph Joyce, the track’s president and part owner, got a phone call at his Oak Park home shortly after 2 a.m. He threw on a pink blazer and headed to the track.

Workers emerge from the wreckage of the old Arlington Park grandstand after extinguishing a small fire that broke out as they were removing debris on Aug. 8, 1985. | Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune

“I was banging on the steering wheel,” he told the Sun-Times. “The traffic was so slow. I just kept saying to myself, ‘I just hope it isn’t the grandstand. If it wasn’t, we’d be up and kicking in a couple of days.’”

“We got here about 3 o’clock,” said Des Plaines Fire Chief Don Schultz. The fire was contained by midmorning but later it got out of control, he told the Tribune.

Read more here.

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All of Route 68/Dundee Road closed in the Village for unspecified reason until noon tomorrow

Posted in Aunt Blabby, FUBAR, Traffic, VBHPD on July 30, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Per VBHPD:

“Please be advised that Route 68 is currently closed between Route 62 and Penny Road due to a road hazard. The closure is now expected to remain in effect until Thursday, July 31, 2025, 12:00 PM (Noon). Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternate routes. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding. Thank you, Village of Barrington Hills.”

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Allison Springer: “Pony Club Saved Us” 

Posted in Barrington Hills Park District, Fox River Valley Hunt, FRVPC, Resident Spotlights, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Topics Of Interest on July 30, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Photo credit: ©Erin Gilmore Photography

Brought to you by Pony Club Week at Three Mares! From July 28–Aug 2 ,10% of all sales at Dreamers & Schemers Socks, The TackHack, and ManeJane Spur Straps go to National Youth Congress Academy of Achievement.

I just feel very lucky.

I was lucky I grew up without cell phones. I was lucky to be raised in Barrington, Illinois. I was lucky to kind of stumble into horses.

My parents grew up pretty poor—dad was from the south side of Chicago, mom from upstate New York. They were both animal lovers. My dad had a dream to one day have a little land and a tractor. My mom dreamed of being a veterinarian. Vet school wasn’t a reality for her so became a biology teacher instead, but they did get the land. They bought five raw acres in Barrington Hills just outside Chicago before it became anything huge and built the farm.

Horses weren’t really part of the plan. We got into them because I used to suck my thumb. True story.

I was in kindergarten and my dad said “You can have one thing, whatever you want, as long as you quit, but you have to completely quit today.” I think he thought I was going to ask for a Barbie doll. But I had ridden a pony that day for the first time, so that’s what I asked for.

My parents bought the neighbour’s pony for $15.

Her name was Marshmallow. We really didn’t know much about taking care of horses. Some of my early rides, it was my brother at one end of the pasture, my mom at the other end with a grain bucket or carrots, and the pony would run back and forth. So, when I say we didn’t know much, we really didn’t know much.

The introduction to Fox River Valley Pony Club came pretty quickly, though.

I can say with certainty that it was the Pony Club that saved the pony and us. Pony Club pretty much taught us everything. I mean, I learned how to clean a stall there.

But riding I took to really naturally. I was only five or six when we got Marshmallow. I’d already been skiing and water skiing at that point and I always feel like skiers can ride, riders can ski.

And it was just a lot of fun.

Barrington, Illinois is a very unique and special place. Obviously, the forest preserve there is extraordinary with the trail system maintained by The Riding Club of Barrington Hills. Then there was the Barrington Riding Center, which is owned by the Park District—that was the base of our Pony Club. The Fox River Valley Horse Trials and the Fox River Valley Hunt Kennels were there, so we had exposure to kind of everything.

Grassy Lakes Forest Preserve. ©Gregory C Sanders / Shutterstock

It was an awesome community to grow up in.

Read more of the Horse Network article here.

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Bipartisan group launches latest effort to remove partisanship from how Illinois legislative boundaries are drawn (Who are they kidding?)

Posted in Chicago Tribune, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield on July 30, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Former White House chief of staff William Daley in his Chicago Loop office of Argentière Capital in 2017. | Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune

By Rick Pearson | Chicago Tribune

For the third time in little more than a decade, a bipartisan group is being formed to launch a voter initiative aimed at amending the Illinois Constitution to try to remove the heavy partisan influence of lawmakers in the once-per-decade redrawing of state legislative boundaries.

Unlike the current controversy in Texas, where Republicans are looking to redraw congressional boundaries to maximize GOP seats in the U.S. House for the 2026 midterm elections, the Illinois effort is aimed solely at Illinois House and state Senate boundaries.

And unlike two earlier efforts, in 2014 and 2016, that were struck down by the courts, the current proposal is more streamlined and designed to fit through the very narrow window that previous Illinois Supreme Court rulings have left for a constitutional amendment by citizens’ petition to appear on the ballot.

The formal unveiling of the effort is set for Aug. 19, when the Lincoln Forum and the Union League Club of Chicago will host a discussion with the movement’s leaders, former White House chief of staff William Daley and former congressman and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the co-chairs of Fair Maps Illinois.

Daley is a longtime Democrat who is the brother and son of Chicago’s two longest-serving mayors, while LaHood was a Republican congressman from Peoria who served in President Barack Obama’s cabinet. He’s the father of current GOP U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood. Co-counsels for the effort are veteran election attorney Michael Dorf, a former general counsel for the state Democratic Party, and former GOP state election board member and chairman William Cadigan.

The latest effort comes as the current process for redrawing Illinois House and Senate boundaries has received serious scrutiny and follows years of criticism after its adoption as part of the state’s 1970 Constitution. Its reliance on the legislature to formulate and adopt a map has been described as lawmakers choosing their voters rather than voters selecting their representatives in Springfield, resulting in sharp, partisan gerrymandered lines that have produced few contested general election contests as primaries have become the de facto elections.

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State government salaries have grown 57% faster than private sector since 2021

Posted in Barrington Education Association, Commodius Maximus, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Policy Institute, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield, The Chicago Way, Unions on July 30, 2025| 1 Comment »

State employees represented by AFSCME Council 31 received an automatic annual raise on July 1, highlighting the salary discrepancy between government and private sector workers.

By Mailee Smith and Bryce Hill | Illinois Policy Institute

It pays to be a state employee in Illinois.

July brought “pay raise day” for the tens of thousands of state employees represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.

But it’s also the month which emphasizes the salary discrepancy between government workers and every other worker in Illinois.

Since 2021, state government worker salaries have grown 57% faster than pay for workers in the private sector.

As of 2024, the average Illinois state employee made $85,689 compared to an average of $78,267 in the private sector, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Survey of Employment and Wages data. That’s a $7,422, or 9.5%, difference.

The July 2025 raise was just part of a total 19.28% pay hike agreed to by Gov. J.B. Pritzker when he approved the state’s contract with AFSCME Council 31 in 2023. The agreement provides an automatic raise of 2.5% to 4.0% for each year of the contract. Compounded annually, that’s 19.28%.

No matter what happens to the economy and the private sector, the state is committed under the contract to raises that outpace what other workers are earning. Between 2023 and 2026, these AFSCME raises are expected to outpace private sector raises by 51%.

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Congress wants largest teachers union to pick kids over politics

Posted in Barrington Education Association, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Policy Institute, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, Unions on July 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

A bill in Congress would hold the National Education Association accountable, forcing it to once more put students and educators first or risk losing its special status as a chartered organization.

By Rich Witzel | Illinois Policy Institute

The National Education Association was given a federal charter to be a professional advocate for teachers and public education, but it has morphed into a hyper-partisan advocacy group.

Spending tens of millions of dollars on campaigns, lobbying and ideology-driven resolutions that have little to do with students has real consequences. It hurts teachers. It politicizes the classroom. It undermines trust in public education. And it’s happening under the recognition of a federal charter, a rare privilege possessed by fewer than 100 national-interest groups, such as the American Legion.

Congress is considering fixing that. The Stopping Teachers Unions from Damaging Education Needs Today Act, would hold the NEA to the same standards of neutrality, transparency and public service expected of any nationally chartered nonprofit. The STUDENT Act is intended to refocus the NEA on education.

NEA is more focused on power than education

In 2024, the NEA spent $23 million on political campaigns and another $3 million lobbying Congress. That same year, just 9% of the NEA’s spending was on representing its members, while the rest went to political causes and other union leadership priorities.

Its ideological drift isn’t hidden; it’s celebrated. At its 2025 Representative Assembly, the NEA passed a series of extremely partisan resolutions:

  • Praised anti-ICE and “No Kings” protests as models for “mass democratic demonstrations.”
  • Declared Trump’s political platform to be a form of “fascism” that the union must resist.
  • Denounced a Supreme Court ruling that supported parental opt-out rights from LGBT instruction.

This isn’t normal union advocacy for teachers. It’s a highly politicized agenda.

Educators join unions to advocate for better pay, safer classrooms and professional dignity, not to fund politically divisive causes. The results speak for themselves: the NEA has lost nearly 400,000 members since its peak in 2009. Teachers are walking away, and public trust is eroding.

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Economist explains flight of people, dollars from Illinois

Posted in Economy, Real Estate, School Districts, The Center Square, Topics Of Interest on July 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Vladimir Solomianyi | Unsplash

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

Outmigration has taken a major toll on the Illinois economy, according to a new report by Unleash Prosperity.

Using data from the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Census Bureau, analysts found that Illinois lost 881,012 residents from 2012 to 2022.

Economist Stephen Moore said only New York and California suffered more domestic outmigration than the Land of Lincoln.

“This is the sad story, same thing. New York and California and Illinois are just being bled to death,” Moore said.

VoteWithYourFeet.net breaks down the Census Bureau and IRS numbers from 2012 to 2022.

The data shows that Illinois was also one of the biggest losers for personal income, with a net adjusted gross income loss of $63,478,115,000 from 2012 to 2022. Only New York and California suffered heavier losses.

“Some of our friends on the left and some of our Democratic friends like to say, ‘Well, taxes don’t matter that much. They don’t really have an impact.’ You’re looking at the impact of taxes right here,” Moore said.

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