Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for September, 2025

Editorial: Is ‘exclusive inventory’ a new way for real estate agents to keep commissions high?

Posted in Chicago Tribune, OP/Ed, Real Estate on September 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The @properties Christie’s International Real Estate headquarters is seen in Chicago on March 20, 2025. The company was sold to Compass in January. Compass Inc. announced on Monday that it had agreed to acquire Anywhere Real Estate for around $1.6 billion. | Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune

Compass is swallowing @properties, Coldwell Banker, Century 21 and others. Reason to worry.

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

Rent a car from Avis, Budget or Payless and you are doing business with the same holding company. Same with Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty. Real estate brokerages are going the same way. So when Compass Inc. announced on Monday, the New York Times reported, that it had agreed to acquire Anywhere Real Estate for around $1.6 billion in a deal likely to close in 2026, the amount of competition in the Chicagoland real estate industry was set to shrink exponentially.

Anywhere is the parent company of such familiar local names as Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Jameson Sotheby’s International Real Estate and Corcoran. Meanwhile, Compass now owns @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, itself a product of a purchase.

Such is life, you might say. But close observers of this industry see something beyond the usual push for market share that drives consolidations in all industries. Compass is known for its focus on “exclusive inventory,” meaning homes and apartments that have not yet appeared on the traditional Multiple Listing Service or MLS. Or on Zillow, the free-to-enter online site where many look for homes for sale or to determine the likely selling price of one they already own.

Generally, those homes and apartments do show up on the MLS a week or two later, but that’s if they are not already sold. Especially when the inventory is as low as is the case in Chicago and its suburbs, a savvy buyer of real estate knows that you have to keep a close eye on new listings if you want to beat the competition to an especially desirable home or one that is notably underpriced. The situation is analogous to going to an estate sale. Arrive midmorning and you’ll find dealers took all the good stuff while you still were having breakfast.

This all is great for Compass, since exclusive listings surely will help it attract and retain agents and keep commissions in house. It’s also great for Compass agents, since they can tell potential clients that only if they hire them will they get access to fresh, off-market listings. Snooze until they’re on Zillow, they can say, and you’ll lose.

Read on here.

Read Full Post »

Editorial: Google’s admission of censorship during COVID shows jawboning cuts both ways

Posted in Chicago Tribune, Deception, Ethics, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, The Other Half, Transparency on September 25, 2025| 1 Comment »

“If Americans want to protect free expression, we must demand consistency from leaders of both parties.” | Josh Edelson/Getty-AFP

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

In recent weeks, Americans have grown increasingly anxious over mounting threats to free expression. New revelations about government influence during COVID show this is not new.

Google and YouTube’s parent company, Alphabet, disclosed on Sept. 23 that the Biden administration pressured the company to suppress content that went against the accepted narrative during the pandemic — even when it didn’t violate company policy.

The federal government interfered with how the nation’s dominant search engine and its most widely used online video platform moderated speech.

Alphabet admitted Biden officials leaned on the company to remove posts questioning pandemic policy — even when they didn’t break its rules. In a letter to the House Committee on the Judiciary, Alphabet’s attorneys wrote: “While the Company continued to develop and enforce its policies independently, Biden Administration officials continued to press the Company to remove non-violative user-generated content.”

This comes after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared much the same story last year.

In a letter to the House Judiciary Committee on Aug. 26, 2024, Zuckerberg said senior Biden administration officials “pressured” Meta during the pandemic to remove or demote some COVID-19 posts, including humor and satire, called that pressure “wrong,” and said Meta took actions it “shouldn’t have.”

COVID was chaotic, and officials were trying to keep people safe. But that doesn’t excuse overreach.

Read more here.

Read Full Post »

Savor the season: Fall fun, tasty treats beckon at Long Grove Apple Fest

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

Submitted by Jody Grimaldi

If autumn had a flavor, it would taste like apples in Long Grove. The historic village’s oldest and most popular festival will return for its 33rd year, inviting visitors to savor the season.

Festival hours are noon to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, in historic downtown Long Grove, 145 Old McHenry Road. Admission is $7 per person, per day, or $15 for a three-day pass; children 12 and younger are admitted for free. For tickets and details, visit longgrove.org/festivals/apple-fest.

Apple Fest isn’t just about apples — it’s about atmosphere. Nestled around Long Grove’s iconic covered bridge and vintage storefronts, the festival embodies the best of fall’s in-between moment: when summer lingers but crisp autumn breezes arrive, and the whole town feels like a harvest postcard.

The food

Fresh cider doughnuts will be available at Long Grove Apple Fest. | Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com, 2024

Caramel-dipped, chocolate-covered, candied, baked in pies, pressed into cider, swirled into sangria — you name it, Apple Fest has it. Dozens of vendors and local restaurants will showcase apple-inspired treats, both classic and unexpected, from warm apple doughnuts to gourmet twists like apple wine. The village’s tasting rooms, taverns, and eateries join the fun with seasonal specials.

Fall traditions

Shoppers browse the offerings at last year’s Long Grove Apple Fest. | Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com, 2024

Apple Fest highlights include:

  • Classic carnival rides and games for all ages.
  • Apple-themed contests like pie-eating and bobbing.
  • A vendor marketplace with fall favorites, specialty foods, and unique seasonal finds.
  • Pet-friendly atmosphere, where even four-legged family members can join the fun.
  • New for 2025: Giant Pumpkin Weight-Guessing Raffle. Visitors can scan a QR code next to a massive pumpkin to submit their guess for its weight. The closest entry wins $1,000 (ties split the prize). The official weigh-in happens Oct. 18 during October Days in downtown Long Grove.

Live entertainment

Musician Joe Fascetta performs at last year’s Long Grove Apple Fest. Three stages of entertainment will be featured this year. | Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com, 2024

Three stages of entertainment keep the energy flowing, from acoustic sets by the pond to family-friendly action in Fountain Square. The Main Stage music lineup is as follows:

Friday, Sept. 26

  • iPod music, noon-2 p.m.
  • Rememories Band, 2-3:30 p.m.
  • Daniel Cronson Band, 4:30-5:50 p.m.
  • Rok Brigade (Def Leppard Tribute), 6:30-8:20 p.m.
  • Hi Infidelity, 9-11 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 27

  • Brothers Field — Battle of the Bands winner, noon-1 p.m.
  • Southwater, 1:30-3 p.m.
  • Santeria (Sublime Tribute), 3:30-4:30 p.m.
  • Rearview (Pearl Jam Tribute), 5-6:30 p.m.
  • Whatever, Nevermind (Nirvana Tribute), 7-8:20 p.m.
  • 7th heaven, 9-11 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 28

  • TBD, noon-1 p.m.
  • Chicken Dolphin Band, 1:30-3:15 p.m.
  • American English, 4-6 p.m.

Read Full Post »

Editorial: Teens on e-bikes are having accidents in the suburbs. We need real rules.

Posted in Accidents, Chicago Tribune, OP/Ed, Public Safety, Traffic on September 24, 2025| 3 Comments »

Scott Stantis editorial cartoon for Wed, Sept 24, 2025, on e-bikes and scooters (Scott Stantis)

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

E-bikes are a growing concern statewide, especially in the suburbs where teenage use is rising.

That problem turned into a tragedy last week when a 17-year-old boy from Mount Prospect was killed. Police say he failed to yield at a stop sign and crashed into a pickup truck.

Parents saw their own children in this tragedy. A knee-jerk reaction among some folks was to call for e-bikes and e-scooters to be banned. We understand that temptation, especially in light of this heartbreaking story.

Still, we wouldn’t go that far, but we recognize the growing tension as more e-bikes and scooters hit the streets and sidewalks.

We’ve seen these vehicles used responsibly, too, with drivers wearing protective helmets and navigating streets and sidewalks carefully and efficiently. Some of these drivers are teens getting to school.

But in practice, high-powered e-bikes function more like motorcycles, and yet teens can ride many classes of e-bikes under Illinois law without the licensing or training required for motorcyclists.

Illinois is struggling to keep up with changing technology and habits, but its rules must evolve and adapt.

Read more here.

Read Full Post »

Al-Azhar Islamic Foundation application for Special Use Permit amendment available for review

Posted in Public Hearing, Special Use Permits, Village Attorney, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Zoning Board on September 24, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The Zoning Board of Appeals will be holding a public hearing on September 30th, “concerning an application filed by Al-Azhar Islamic Foundation, a non-profit organization, which is seeking to amend its existing Special Use Permit which allows operation of a place of worship at 160 Hawthorne Road, Barrington Hills, IL PIN 01-15-200-014.” A copy of the application can be viewed and downloaded here.

Related: “Village of Barrington Hills Zoning Board of Appeals Public Hearing notice”

Read Full Post »

Barrington Board votes unanimously to approve the Claremont residential subdivision proposal 

Posted in BACOG, Barrington High School, BOHICA, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Taxes, Traffic on September 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Image courtesy Claremont Barrington

A link to the discussion and vote can be found here.

Related: “Village of Barrington Board of Trustees may vote on Claremont proposal Monday,”  “‘It just doesn’t seem very Barrington’: Commission opposes gated community at former PepsiCo site,” “Special Barrington Plan Commission Public Hearing regarding proposed 88 single-family home development at former PepsiCo site continues tonight (Round 3),” “‘It is an enclave’: Developer defends concept of gated community on former PepsiCo site in Barrington,” “Barrington Plan Commission Public Hearing regarding proposed 88 single-family home development at former PepsiCo site continues Tuesday,” “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”

Read Full Post »

Illinois’ Congressional Democrats reject gerrymandering – for wrong reasons

Posted in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Ethics, Illinois Policy Institute, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, The Chicago Way, Unions on September 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Illinois Democrats rejected a mid-cycle redistricting plan cooked up by U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to maximize Democratic partisan advantage in the state’s congressional district map. The reason? They don’t want to endanger their safe seats.

By Joe Tabor | Illinois Policy Institute

Opposition from Illinois Democrats has stalled a plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts as proposed by U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to counter midcycle gerrymanders in Republican-controlled states.

Democrats are right to oppose the plan that would make Illinois’ unfair map even worse. But reporting suggests their chief concern is not that the plan would disenfranchise even more voters, but the possibility of facing increased competition for their own seats.

“We have to look out and protect who we have because we fought hard to get them in,” U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Chicago, said, referring to fears that Democrats would also face more highly contested races if Republican-leaning districts were made more Democratic. “I’m not a mapmaker, but it seems like it will be very difficult.”

Kelly isn’t wrong. Illinois is already considered one of the most gerrymandered congressional maps in the country, according to Princeton’s Gerrymandering Project. Illinois received failing grades in partisan fairness, competitiveness and geographic features, or “compactness.” In simple terms, that’s how oddly the districts are shaped.

It also has one of the most unfair maps based on the Michigan State University and University of Michigan’s partisan advantage tracker. Only one of Illinois 2026 U.S. House races is considered competitive by the Cook Political Report. Even then, that race, the 17th District currently occupied by U.S. Rep. Eric Sorenson, D-Rockford, is a “likely Democrat” victory.

Read more here.

Read Full Post »

Barrington High School Homecoming 2025 is this Saturday September 27

Posted in Barrington High School, Entertainment, Topics Of Interest, Traffic on September 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

This year the parade will start at St. Matthews Lutheran Church at 720 Dundee Ave., march North on Dundee Ave. and head West on Lake Cook Rd. (Main St.) to march to BHS.

Below are the events and activities for this year’s Miami Nights themed homecoming:

Friday, September 26

• Welcome night for all alumni, with gatherings for reunion classes ending in 5 and 0.

 Saturday, September 27

• 10:15 AM: The BHS Homecoming Parade leaves from St. Matthews Lutheran Church at 720 Dundee Ave and marches to BHS.
• 11:00 AM: Barrington High School Tour led by alum and Principal Steve McWilliams.
• 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM: The annual BHSAA Tailgate Party for all BHS alumni and friends takes place in Chessie’s parking lot, 200 Applebee Street. Busses will be running to the football game and back.
• 12:00 PM: BHS Homecoming Football Game vs. Palatine at BHS Community Stadium. Purchase tickets online at https://gofan.co/event/3919949?schoolId=IL15415
• Evening: Reunion classes ending in 5 and 0 have events in the area to celebrate individually.

Celebrate Bronco pride and reconnect with friends old and new!

Important Notes:

• The time of the football game has been moved up to 12 PM (Noon) to allow BHS students more time after the game to prepare for the Homecoming Dance.

• This year the parade will start at St. Matthews Lutheran Church at 720 Dundee Ave., march North on Dundee Ave. and head West on Lake Cook Rd. (Main St.) to march to BHS.

• Expect slower than normal travel times during the weekend of Homecoming due to the Route 14 underpass project, as Route 14 through Barrington will be temporarily closed during this time, https://www.barrington-il.gov/government/departments/development-services/underpass/

Source: Barrington High School Alumni

Read Full Post »

District 220’s Lack of Transparency 

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Illinois Federation of Teachers, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on September 22, 2025| 1 Comment »

At the recent meeting of the D220 Board of Education we heard public comment surrounding social media posts made by a D220 educator. One of the speakers referenced the recent death of Charlie Kirk in making his public comment.

This, of course, piqued our curiosity as to what the public comments surrounded and we awaited a response to the comments from Superintendent Winkelman, President Ficke Bradford, or other BOE members. As we’ve seen in the past, Ficke Bradford picks and chooses what she will allow Winkelman to respond to, and we were left with no comment from the BOE this night. So, we did a little digging ourselves.  

It appears from posts captured by LibsOfTikTok, a D220 educator who identified herself on her Instagram as a 1st Grade Teacher at Barrington 220 School District, responded to a post about United States President Donald J. Trump, stating: “Makes me so sick. God I hate him, why can’t he die? That’s the only way to end this insane cult that has taken over our country.”

https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1966252902139519334?s=46

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, we’ve seen educators receive reprimands and even lose their jobs for such divisive and inflammatory comments on their social media pages. These discussions have appeared in the public, as school board meetings should, given that they exist to serve the public that elected them.

During this time we’ve received several inquiries related to an educator, Benjamin Fillo, teaching at Barrington High School, but the one located in Barrington, Rhode Island.

Apparently, several mistook the Rhode Island school for District 220. Well, we can report to you that there is one clear and glaringly distinct difference between the Rhode Island school, it’s school board, and teachers union, and that’s when its educators and board members violate the rules, they take action and they do so publicly so the public trust is not violated. In this instance, Educator Fillo, who also served as the NEA-Barrington Union Co-President, was put on administrative leave and removed from his Union position.

Nahum Mitnik, the other co-president of NEA-Barrington, spoke at Rhode Island’s school board meeting on Sept. 15, stating:

Tonight, I want to share with you the sentiments I conveyed to our members on Friday afternoon. We as a union believe it is important for you, and for the Barrington community as a whole to hear from us directly.

As you know, our colleague and co-president made a statement on his personal TikTok account that has receive widespread negative attention. We are deeply disappointed by his actions. Let me be clear: We unequivocally condemn violence in all its forms. Violence has no place in our schools, our district, or our society.

https://eastbayri.com/stories/barrington-high-school-teacher-removed-from-union-leadership-role,134142

It would be refreshing to have such transparency from our own Barrington D220 Board of Education and Superintendent Winkelman. Here, we have an educator who has violated school policies in making this violence charged comment while publicly identifying herself as a D220 educator and there’s been no discussion with the public on the actions being taken. But, then, as we have seen with President Ficke Bradford‘s and Superintendent Winkleman’s refusal to address the many violations made by Board Member Erin Chan Ding since running for the 52nd District, we are, sadly, not surprised.

Our hope is that the residents of this community have the boldness and courage of those of our namesake in Barrington, Rhode Island. There will be no action without the public’s request for it.

Read Full Post »

Village of Barrington Board of Trustees may vote on Claremont proposal Monday

Posted in Barrington High School, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Politics, Real Estate, Traffic on September 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“The Village Board is expected to vote on the proposed Claremont residential subdivision at its Sept. 22 meeting.

For information on the proposed development and other projects taking place around town, visit the Village’s website at barrington-il.gov/development-updates.”

Source

The meeting begins at 7:30 PM. A copy of the agenda can be found here.

Related: “‘It just doesn’t seem very Barrington’: Commission opposes gated community at former PepsiCo site,” “Special Barrington Plan Commission Public Hearing regarding proposed 88 single-family home development at former PepsiCo site continues tonight (Round 3),” “‘It is an enclave’: Developer defends concept of gated community on former PepsiCo site in Barrington,” “Barrington Plan Commission Public Hearing regarding proposed 88 single-family home development at former PepsiCo site continues Tuesday,” “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”

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »