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Archive for July, 2025

Village Board of Trustees meet tonight

Posted in Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Clown Car, County, Dinky, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Dumb and Dumber, ePacket Agendas, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Going green, Heritage and Environs Committee, Hill ‘n Dale Farm, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Disconnection, McHenry, Minutes, Open Meetings Act, Pension Funding, Plan Commission, Police Reports, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Transparency, Unions, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President, Village Treasurer, Yabba Dabba Doo, Zoning Board on July 28, 2025| 1 Comment »

The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting this evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Items on their agenda include:

A copy of their agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

*“Commercial development planned off Ridge Road in unincorporated McHenry County“

Related: “Barrington luxury home proposal draws criticism from plan commissioners, residents, park district,” “Barrington Plan Commission Public Hearing tomorrow night regarding planned 88 single-family residential homes at former PepsiCo site,” “Barrington posts further information on proposed Claremont development,” “Barrington posts Public Hearing notice regarding proposed 88 home development at former PepsiCo site,” “88 custom home development planned for former PepsiCo Research & Development Center property in Barrington”

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McLaughlin Hosting “Don’t Overpay!” Property Tax Appeal Event Friday

Posted in Barrington Area Library, Politics, Property Taxes, Resident Spotlights on July 27, 2025| Leave a Comment »

BARRINGTON, IL – State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington) will host a free “Don’t Overpay!” Property Tax Appeal event on Friday, August 1st, at the Barrington Area Library. This event is designed to help local residents better understand and navigate the property tax appeals process.

“Property taxes and out-of-control government spending continue to hurt families across our region,” said Rep. McLaughlin. “As a former mayor who lowered our village’s tax levy seven times, I understand how critical it is for taxpayers to be informed and proactive in ensuring fair and accurate assessments.”

Event Details:

Friday, August 1st
10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
Barrington Area Library
505 N. Northwest Highway, Barrington, IL

In addition to a presentation on how to appeal property taxes, Rep. McLaughlin’s legislative staff will be available to answer questions about state issues and provide assistance with constituent services.

RSVP or Learn More:

Call: 224-634-8300
Visit: RepMcLaughlin.com
Email: RepMcLaughlin@gmail.com

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Saint Anne Catholic Church and School debuts new website

Posted in Education, Organizations, Saint Anne Parish School, St. Anne Catholic Community, Topics Of Interest on July 26, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“You may have noticed something new….! Saint Anne Catholic Church and School has launched a brand-new website, designed with you in mind! We will be sharing more details soon to help our school parents navigate all you need to know. See you soon, Cardinals!”

Click here to explore the new site.

Source

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Editorial: Soaring ComEd bills have us all on edge. Springfield must confront our electricity woes head-on.

Posted in Chicago Tribune, Economy, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Taxes on July 26, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Rows of tall ComEd electrical towers follow a north-south pathway through Barrington Hills on May 23, 2023. | Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

The politics of energy in Illinois are hot this summer. And they’re only going to get hotter.

Residents throughout the Chicago area only now are opening their electric bills and seeing the effect of our sweltering June, combined with substantially higher electricity rates, on their household budgets. With inflation top of mind for everyone, you can add the cost of keeping the lights on and the air conditioners humming to food, insurance, housing, health care and more items making it harder for ordinary folks simply to pay their bills every month.

A spike in the cost of energy that took effect June 1 along with higher usage in one of the hottest Junes Chicago has experienced resulted in a $67.28 increase in the average June 30 household electric bill, according to Commonwealth Edison. So far, July has been no picnic either in terms of heat and humidity, so next month’s bills aren’t likely to provide relief.

And, adding to the electric-bill angst, there was news Tuesday that next summer’s electric bills will see more upward pressure after the results of a power auction just completed by PJM Interconnection, the power-grid manager for a multistate territory running from northern Illinois east to the mid-Atlantic. The details of that auction are somewhat technical; PJM solicits bids from power generators and others for what the industry calls “capacity” and what effectively are promises from those power-plant operators to produce energy during high-demand periods over a year. The amount paid to those selected operators for those promises comes from power consumers throughout the PJM region — that is, virtually all households and businesses — and is embedded in the overall price they pay utilities or other suppliers for energy.

Much of the reason for this summer’s increase in ComEd rates is due to a spike in the current cost of capacity. That capacity cost will rise another 22% in the year beginning in June 2026 after PJM’s latest auction. ComEd says that change by itself will hike ComEd rates another 2%, raising the average residential bill by $2.50 per month.

Politicians and environmental groups, among others, are castigating PJM for the increases and blaming the grid operator for being too sluggish in approving high-voltage connections of renewable power sources such as wind farms to population centers.

Read more here.

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What does $400K get you in Chicago’s housing market?

Posted in Property Taxes, Real Estate, Topics Of Interest on July 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Mariah Rush | Chicago Sun*Times

Supply down, prices up: Chicago’s inventory of homes for sale in June was just over 4,200, a 13.8% year-over-year drop, according to the Chicago Association of Realtors’ latest report. With increasingly limited supply, prices also rose, with the city’s median home price rising to roughly $400,000, a 5.8% year-over-year increase.

Why is inventory so strained? The low inventory of homes may be due to some sellers not believing they have enough options to purchase a new home, said Erika Villegas, president of the Chicago Association of Realtors. “We have buyers probably lined up to sell their home,” Villegas said. “But then where are they going to go and buy a home if it doesn’t exist in the market today?”

What the median price will get you: That depends on the kind of home you’re looking for. In the Loop, we found a 1,200-square-foot condo, built in 2005, that’d come with $1,123/month homeowners association fees. In Logan Square, a similarly sized condo comes at the same price came with a $298/month HOA fee. In Austin, you can get 1,734 square feet. Check out more examples in the full story.

Read more here.

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No. 2 no more: Illinois property taxes rank highest in U.S.

Posted in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Economy, Illinois Policy Institute, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Springfield, Unions on July 25, 2025| 1 Comment »

Illinois just ranked as having the highest property tax rate in the country. Property taxes in Illinois are an especially heavy burden without the tradeoff seen in states such as Texas or New Hampshire, where there are either no sales taxes or income taxes.

By Charlotte Rotkis | Illinois Policy Institute

After years of ranking No. 2 to New Jersey, the latest data shows Illinoisans paid the highest property taxes in the nation during 2023. Worst, Illinoisans also pay steep income and sales taxes.

Illinois homeowners paid an average effective property tax rate of 1.83%, the highest in the nation. On a median-priced home of $250,500, that amounts to $4,584 per year. Neighboring states had significantly lower rates, making the idea of finding a home outside of Illinois appealing.

Property taxes are based on the idea that the people paying benefit from the services the taxes go to fund. Yet nearly 3-in-5 Illinoisans feel as if the value of public services they receive is not worth their high property taxes.

Are Illinois property taxes a reason Indianapolis and St. Louis are in the top 10 housing markets?

The disparity between taxes and services received stems from pension spending crowding out other essential services. In addition to limiting funding for key services, pensions are the leading force for driving up property taxes. Growing pension payments redirects money away from property tax relief or better public services.

Read more here.

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Things to do July 25-31: Lake, DuPage and McHenry County Fairs, Long Grove Vintage Days, Lollapalooza and more

Posted in Entertainment, Fundraisers on July 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The GooRoos will perform on Saturday, July 26, at the Lake County Fair, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday, July 23-27, at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake. | Courtesy of The GooRoos

By Luke Zurawski | Daily Herald

Friday, July 25

Lake County Fair:  Friday and Saturday, July 25-26; and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 27, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Rides, food, live music, motocross, monster trucks, demolition derby, bull riding and more. Music lineup: Wednesday: Operation Glow: Taylor Swift at 8 p.m.; Thursday: The Dixon Bandits at 5 p.m. and Brass From The Past at 8 p.m.; Friday: Second Hand Soul at 6 p.m. and Hi Infidelity at 9 p.m.; Saturday: GooRoos at 9 p.m. and No Limit at 9 p.m.; and Sunday: Chicago Latin Groove at 5 p.m. and Classical Blast at 5:30 p.m. $15, $5 for kids 6-12 and 65 and older for one day; $55/$20 for a season pass; free for kids 5 and younger and active military, veterans and dependents with ID. lcfair.com/2025.

Fun Day In The Park: 10-11 a.m. Friday, July 25, at Fabbrini Park, 1704 Glenlake Road, Hoffman Estates. Kids’ entertainment featuring “Shrek Jr. the Musical.” Free. heparks.org

Cary Children’s Entertainment: Noon Friday, July 25, at Lions Park, Silver Lake Road, north of Three Oaks Road, Cary. Entertainment from Ben Tatar and the Tatar Tots. Free. carypark.com.

Downtown Elgin Market: 3-7 p.m. Friday, July 25, on South Riverside Drive, Elgin. Featuring farmers, makers, live music, Sip N’ Shop, kids’ activities. Dog-friendly. LINK Matching program. downtownelgin.com/market.

West Dundee French Market: 4-8 p.m. Friday, July 25, at The Pump House, 98 Oregon Ave., West Dundee. A mixed market offering fresh produce along with a variety of other goods such as honey, greens, soaps, breads, cheeses, flowers, artwork, wearables and other products. wdundee.org.

The DuPage County Fair in Wheaton runs Thursday through Sunday, July 24-27. | Sandy Bressner/Shaw Local News Network

DuPage County Fair: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, July 25; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 26; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 27, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. Entertainment, animals, food, exhibits, carnival rides and more. Drone light shows at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, and 10:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Music lineup: Sammy and The Knights at 7 p.m. Thursday; Two Beer Tommy at 8 p.m. Friday; Michael Lynch Music at 8 p.m. Saturday; and Thankful Dead at 5 p.m. Sunday. $12 for 13 and older; $8 for 62 and older and kids 6-12; and free for kids 5 and younger and active military with ID. Enter at County Farm Road and the main entrance. dupagecountyfair.org.First Friday Summer Dances: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, 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, July 25, at Hawthorn Woods Community Park, 5 Park View Lane, Hawthorn Woods. Deja Vu will perform. Free. vhw.org.

Finally Friday: 7:30-9 p.m. on Friday, July 25, at The Pump House, 98 Oregon Ave., West Dundee. Live music, food vendors and fun outdoors. Dirty Mac will perform. wdundee.org.

Sounds of Summer Concert Series — Main Stage Concerts: 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, at Fred P. Hall Amphitheater, 256 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. Superfly Symphony will perform. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Free. palatineparks.org/sounds-of-summer

Trio de Chats Noirs: 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, at First Congregational Church, 256 E. Chicago St. in Elgin. The ensemble — featuring Rachel Velvikis (horn), Mark Fry (bass trombone/euphonium), and guest pianist Christopher Powell — will perform works from Shostakovich, Brahms, Alec Wilder, J.S. Bach, Gary Kulesha and George Gershwin. Free. triodechatsnoirs.org

Saturday, July 26

Wauconda Triathlons Multisport Fest: Kids’ race at 6 a.m. Saturday, July 26, and adult race at 5 a.m. Sunday, July 27, at Cook Park, 600 N. Main St., Wauconda. Sunday includes a Post Race Fest with music, beer garden, awards and more. Registration: $42 for kids, starting at $55 for adults. waucondaparks.com/triathlon.

Christmas in July: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at Springbrook Nature Center, 130 Forest Ave., Itasca. Arts and crafts fair featuring 35 local artisans. Plus, Sweetest Moments food truck, photos with Santa, carols, bounce house, games and activities. Support the Friends of Springbrook Nature Center with a donation for a wineglass and enjoy a free wine tasting (cash only). Rain or shine. Free. itascaparkdistrict.com.

Find reclaimed, handmade and antique items at Long Grove Vintage Days Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, at 145 Old McHenry Road. | Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com, 2018

Long Grove Vintage Days: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 26, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 27, at 145 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Features all things vintage, reclaimed, handmade, upcycled, antique and repurposed in an open-air marketplace. Free. longgrove.org/festival/vintage-days

Uncaged in the Zoo: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at Lords Park Zoo, off Grand Boulevard, Elgin. Get up close and personal with live animals. Chi-Town Exotics will be on hand. Free. elginil.gov

Car Show: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at Heritage Park Performance Pavilion, 201 Community Blvd., Wheeling. See classic cars and future classics and chat with the owners. Music from Rick Lindy and the Wild Ones. Food for purchase. Free. wheelingparkdistrict.com

Lucky Duck Race Fundraiser: 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at Barefoot Bay, 1461 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Adopt a duck and watch them race. Participants don’t need to be present to win. Ducks are $10 each and adoptable at givebutter.com/xn2oaM.

The Streamwood Summer Celebration, which runs Friday through Sunday, July 25-27, at Hoosier Grove Park in Streamwood, will feature a parade on Saturday. | Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com, 2017

Streamwood Summer Celebration Parade: Steps off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 26, from Bartlett Road and Streamwood Boulevard, runs west on Streamwood Boulevard to the festival grounds at Hoosier Grove Park, 700 Irving Park Road, Streamwood. Free. streamwoodsummercelebration.org.

German Beer Garden & Summer Concert: 4-7 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at Merkle Cabin at Spring Valley, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Play backyard games while listening to live music. Pretzels, bratwurst, local craft beer and soda for purchase. Free. parkfun.com

Morton Arboretum walking play: 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27, starting at Thornhill Shelter at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Full-length plays, adapted exclusively for The Morton Arboretum and performed by local professional actors. 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 for seating. $27 for ages 18 and older, $17 for ages 2-17, $10 less for members, free for children younger than 2. mortonarb.org/explore/activities/events/walking-plays.

Venetian Night Chicago: 6 p.m. Saturday, July 26, on the Chicago Riverwalk. A vibrant homage to Venice, Italy, celebrating cultural heritage through music, art and a lighted boat parade at 8:30 p.m. Free for spectators. iahrf.org/venetian-night-chicago.

Navy Pier Summer Fireworks: 10 p.m. Saturday, July 26; and 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Fireworks display set to popular and special occasion soundtracks. Free. navypier.org/summer-fireworks.

Sunday, July 27

Crystal Lake Farmers Market+ At The Dole: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 27, 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.

Lambs Farm in Libertyville will hold a Car Show Benefit Sunday, July 27. | nDaily Herald file photo

Lambs Farm Car Show Benefit: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 27, at Lambs Farm, 14245 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville. Variety of makes and models of cars, bikes and trucks in the main parking lot. Free for spectators. lambsfarm.org.

Railroad Street Block Party: 2-5 p.m. Sunday, July 27, at Duke’s Alehouse parking lot, 110 N. Main St., Crystal Lake. Featuring talented local bands, food from local eateries, and family activities and games for kids. Free. facebook.com/dukesalehouse.

Wheeling’s Sounds of Summer Concert Series: 5-6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 27, at Heritage Park Performance Pavilion, 201 Community Blvd., Wheeling. Are You Ready For It? 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

Tuesday, July 29

The McHenry County Fair, which runs from Tuesday through Sunday, July 29 to Aug. 3 at the McHenry County Fairgrounds in Woodstock, includes a demolition derby, rides, music and more. | Courtesy of McHenry County Fair Association

McHenry County Fair: Noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 29; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 30-31; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 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 ages 6-12 and 65 and older and military; $30 for season passes. mchenrycountyfair.com/tickets

Arlington Heights Police Department National Night Out: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, at North School Park, North Evergreen Avenue and East Eastman Street, Arlington Heights. Live entertainment, activities and more. Free. vah.com.

Concerts in the Plaza: 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, at Independence Grove, 16400 W. Buckley Road, Libertyville. Soul Sacrifice 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, July 29, at Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake. Crystal Lake Community Band will perform. Free. For parking locations, see crystallakeparks.org/special-events.

Dundee Township Concerts in the Park: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, at Lions Park in East Dundee. Centerfold will perform. Food and drinks sold by Dundee Township Lions Club, with proceeds benefiting the community. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Free. dtpd.org/concerts-in-the-park

Wednesday, July 30

National Sports Collectors Convention: 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 30; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, July 31 to Aug. 2; 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 ages 12 and younger. nsccshow.com.

Arbor Evenings: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, at Morton Arboretum’s Frost Hill, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Music, lawn games, food and drinks. Color Me Amused will perform. $15 for ages 13 and older, $5 for kids 4-12. Advance tickets required: mortonarb.org

Wickstrom Lincoln Concert Series: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, at the Arboretum of South Barrington, 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. Bon Journeyed will perform. Food for purchase. Free. shopthearb.com.

Arbortheater Concerts: 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, at the Memorial Arbortheater, 50 S. Fairway Drive, Vernon Hills. School of Rock will perform. Free. vernonhills.org.

Arlington Heights Community Concert Band: 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, at North School Park, 307 N. Evergreen Ave., Arlington Heights. The theme is “The Greatest Show in the Park,” with circus-related music. Free. arlingtonheightsband.org.

Olivia Rodrigo, seen here performing at the Stereo Picnic music festival in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, March 30, will take the stage at Lollapalooza Friday, Aug. 1, in Grant Park. | AP, March 30, 2025

Lollapalooza: Noon to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, July 31 to Aug. 3, in Grant Park, Chicago. Scheduled performances 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. Tickets start at $189 for one day, $378 for two days, $415 for four days. lollapalooza.com.

Barrington Thursday Night Out: 4-8 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at Cook and Station streets, Barrington. Barrington Farmers Market, classic cars, live music, family activities and more. Free. barrington-il.gov/events/thursday-night-out

Pearl Street Market + Concert in the Park: 5-8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at Veterans Park, 3400 Pearl St., McHenry. Live music, local vendors and food trucks. Lara Bell Band will perform. Free. facebook.com/pearlstreetmarketmchenry.

Music in the Park: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 31, in Covered Bridge Park, next to 445 Robert Parker Coffin Road, Long Grove. L&M Experience performs eclectic acoustic covers and originals. Free. longgrove.org/event/music-in-the-park.

Thursday Nights Live: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at Wheeling Town Center, 351 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling. Free concerts in the plaza with food and beverage options from local restaurants. Deadfest performs. Free. thewheelingtowncenter.com/events.

Algonquin Summer Concert Series: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at Towne Park, 100 Jefferson St., Algonquin. Libido Funk Circus performs. Food trucks at 6 p.m. Bring a lawn chair. For the weekly list of food trucks, see Algonquin.org/summerconcerts.

Elgin’s Concerts in the Park: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at Lords Park, 100 Oakwood Blvd., Elgin. Side Street Studio Arts Open Mic Night. Food truck. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. In case of bad weather, the event will be canceled. Free. elginil.gov or facebook.com/cityofelgin.

Sounds of Summer Concert Series: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at Harmony Park, 7 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Billy Elton will perform. Free. vah.com/explore/sounds_of_summer_concerts.php.

Summer Sounds on the Green Concert Series: 7 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at Village Green, 5510 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. Jose Valdes and The Mambo All-Stars perform. Food and beverages for sale. Free. hoffmanestatesarts.com/summer-concert-series

Palatine Outdoor Movie Night: 7:30-10 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at Fred P. Hall Amphitheater, 256 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. See “Toy Story.” Free. palatineparks.org.

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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AI fuels higher ComEd bills

Posted in ComEd Four, Economy, Hoffman Estates, Plum Farm development, Politics, Sears, Topics Of Interest on July 24, 2025| 1 Comment »

ComEd customers are already reeling from a big jump in monthly electric bill prices. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times file

Reporting by Brett Chase | Chicago Sun*Times

Buckle up: The multistate electric grid operator PJM Interconnection confirmed Tuesday that power demand continues to be high and that the price of electricity is likely going up next year.

Hot, hot, hot: Electric rates went up June 1. Most customers didn’t see the increases on their bills until this month. A ComEd customer who normally pays about $100 a month on average will see a spike of almost 11% on upcoming power bills.

AI caramba: Power demand across the country has skyrocketed, spurred by artificial intelligence operations and big data centers. Meanwhile, new sources of renewable energy including wind and solar have been slow to get connected to an electric grid that spans from Northern Illinois to the East Coast.

Read more here.

Related: “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “How data centers became the newest growth industry in the suburbs,” ”Done deal: Texas data center firm closes on deal for Sears campus in Hoffman Estates”

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Ding’s conflicted status confirmed

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Daily Herald, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois State Board of Elections, Look For The Union Label, New Normal?, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on July 22, 2025| 9 Comments »

Recently reelected District 220 Board of Education member and now candidate Erin Chan Ding poses with 220 Board of Education Vice President Barry Altshuler (giving thumbs up) for a photo at her June 18th launch of her Illinois State Rep campaign.

The District 220 Board of Education (BOE) met last Tuesday, and BOE President Sandra Ficke-Bradford began her presentation by addressing the elephant in the room (the elephant wasn’t actually in the room, as Member Erin Chan Ding was absent from the July 15 BOE Meeting) stating:

“As many are aware, District 220 Board Member Erin Chan Ding has declared her intent to run for State Representative of the 52nd District, and it’s within Erin’s right to do so, and Erin is aware of the Board policies and the laws that are in place.

We have consulted with our counsel, um, to confirm that merely running for an office, um, for political office, while refraining from engaging in any prohibited political activity while acting as a Board member or on School District property does not constitute a violation of the Board’s Code of Conduct. Erin and all Board Members are aware of the policies the Board does have in place.

Um, that being said, the goal of this Board is to focus on Framework 220 and the daily work of the School Board. Therefore, I will be working with you guys, the Board, um, in the coming weeks prior to our next Board meeting in August to assign other Board Members to the following committee assignments that Erin holds currently. Um, Policy Committee, ED-RED Representative and Legislative Committee. So, if you’re interested in those, please let me know. Um, but we will be making those changes before the next, before those meetings.”

Ficke-Bradford did not ask the other BOE Members if they had any questions or comments relative to the removal of Ding from her committee assignments. Following Public Comment, where a member of the community spoke about the conflicts presented by Ding’s decision to run for a partisan political position, Ficke-Bradford chose to reiterate some of her prior statements adding:

“I just want to touch on, I just want to repeat what I had said earlier, that um, regarding Erin Chan Ding running for um State Representative, um, we did consult with our counsel, and um, we did confirm that merely running for political office, again, while refraining from engaging in any prohibited political activity while acting as a Board Member or on School District property does not constitute a violation of the Board’s Code of Conduct. Um, but I would like to remind the Board, right, that we do have policies that are in place and we should be very careful to make sure that we do not violate the Open Meetings Act. So, thank you for that.”

In watching the video from the July 15th meeting, at 37:52, one can see Ficke-Bradford pointedly look towards Members Altshuler and Srivastava while she reminds the BOE Members of their obligations under the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA). As reported on by The Observer in Ding’s D220 Deception, both Altshuler and Srivastava were present at Ding’s launch party for her run for the 52nd. The Observer further pointed out the potential for an OMA violation in that article, as three Members of the BOE constitute a quorum and Ding’s platform for the 52nd District mostly surrounds her activities on the BOE. So, now Ficke-Bradford has put the entire BOE on notice due to Ding’s decision.

For nearly a month, The Observer has written about the conflict of interest Erin Chan Ding created when she announced her political ambitions weeks after being reelected to the BOE (see “Ding’s D220 Deception” and “Ding Doubles Down”).This past Tuesday evening, apparently without discussion or vote, Ficke-Bradford decided Ding’s position on 3 BOE committees would be eliminated, and not one Member of the BOE or the Superintendent voiced an objection to this decision.

It should be noted that the BOE had a lengthy Closed Session prior to the regular meeting of the BOE, with one of the Closed Session Agenda items being “Self Evaluation.”  School boards can hold closed-session meetings to discuss specific topics legally permitted under the OMA. These sessions are not open to the public, and the topics discussed are specifically limited by the OMA. It’s certainly possible that the BOE and Superintendent Winkelman determined to discuss Ding’s run for the 52nd in Closed Session, as Ficke-Bradford’s statement appeared to be prepared written comments. The Observer, however, cannot identify a legally recognized exception to the OMA and the premise that BOE actions should take place in front of the public which would have allowed for such discussions in Closed Session.

Ficke-Bradford’s choice clearly confirms her belief that Ding’s decision to run for a partisan political position makes her conflicted if she remains on the Board of Education. Further, so long as Ding remains on the BOE, every Board vote will require scrutiny for objectivity and everything Ding says or posts in her Democratic campaign for the 52nd District must also be scrutinized before it’s determined whether or not she should abstain from BOE activities.

The baggage Ding has now burdened our Board of Education with is one taxpayers were not bargaining on when they voted in April. And, if Ding chooses to keep her BOE seat, it will only serve to increase the burden of responsibility on her peers.

We believe that Ficke-Bradford, without calling for Ding to step down, has opened the door for Ding to do the right thing by taking that action on her own and step down before further action must me taken. The removal of Ding from committee assignments is a clear admission that her run for the 52nd District, including her website and social pages that actively advertise her BOE activities as support for her run, constitute violations of BOE policies.

Additionally, we’d like to point out from Ficke-Bradford’s comments, it appears that our BOE believes that the burden should be on the D220 taxpayers, as opposed to the Erin for Illinois Democratic political committee organized and raising funds on behalf of Ding’s run for the 52nd District, for the responsibility for obtaining legal opinions as to whether Ding is conflicted from serving the dual functions of partisan and non-partisan. We suggest to Ficke-Bradford, the BOE, Superintendent Winkelman and the D220 attorneys that this is an irresponsible use of taxpayer money and this burden should be on the Erin for Illinois campaign, not the taxpayer.

Related: “Ding Doubles Down,” “Ding’s D220 Deception,” “Chan Ding running in Democratic primary in 52nd,” “Three (3) Democratic candidates queued to run for the IL 52nd District House seat in 2026”

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Don’t give children under age 13 smartphones, new research says

Posted in Topics Of Interest on July 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Analysis by Kara Alaimo | CNN

Parents should avoid preteens’ use of smartphones and social media, according to new research. A study released Monday found that using smartphones before age 13 could damage kids’ mental health.

Smartphone use by children younger than 13 was associated with suicidal thoughts, worse emotional regulation, lower self-worth and detachment from reality, especially among girls, according to the study, which was published in the Journal of the Human Development and Capabilities.

For every year before age 13 that a person acquired a smartphone, their mental health and well-being were likely to be lower, the study found.

That’s likely because the kids who used smartphones before turning 13 accessed social media more and experienced sleep disruptions, cyberbullying and negative family relationships, according to the study. The data is based on self-reports in a survey of nearly 2 million people in 163 countries.

The results were so stark that the researchers called for global restrictions to prevent children younger than 13 from using smartphones and social media.

“This calls for urgent action limiting access of children under 13 to smartphones as well as more nuanced regulation on the digital environment young people are exposed to,” said lead study author Tara Thiagarajan, founder and chief scientist of Sapien Labs, the nonprofit that runs the survey.

While previous research focused on how smartphone use is related to anxiety and depression, this survey looked at symptoms not commonly studied, including emotional regulation and self-worth, and found they are very significant, said Thiagarajan, who is based in Arlington, Virginia.

Read on here.

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