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Small Business Saturday to offer deals at mom-and-pop shops

Posted in Entertainment, Resident Spotlights on November 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Downtown Barrington

Downtown Barrington

By Andrew Hensel | The Center Square

As big box retailers get ready for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, many are reminding shoppers not to forget Small Business Saturday as a way to support smaller shops.

The Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, with many retailers offering lower prices on different items.

Many shoppers may think of Black Friday and Cyber Monday first, but Charlie Owens of the National Federation of Independent Business is reminding shoppers of Small Business Saturday.

“It was first observed in 2010 during the holidays, and it is the counterpart to those big events, Black Friday and Cyber Monday,” Owens told The Center Square. “Those two events tend to feature more big box stores and large online retailers.”

Owens said Illinois and other states have small businesses that can offer as much as, if not more than, some big retailers.

“They’re going to have great deals,” Owens said. “The real important thing is lots of times they will have products you don’t find in those other two venues.”

Read more here.

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Things to do Nov. 24-30: Navy Pier’s Light Up the Lake, tree lightings, holiday markets, ‘Nutcracker’ and more

Posted in Entertainment, Fundraisers, Topics Of Interest on November 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Navy Pier

See fireworks on Saturday nights when Light Up The Lake returns to Chicago’s Navy Pier. (Courtesy of Navy Pier)

By Luke Zurawski | Daily Herald

Ongoing

Chicago Christkindlmarket: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through Dec. 24, at Daley Plaza. 50 W. Washington St., Chicago. German-style outdoor market featuring international and local vendors selling a variety of wares. Free. christkindlmarket.com/daleyplaza.

Lightscape: 4:30-9:15 p.m. select days through Jan. 7 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Take an after-dark stroll through an array of illuminated displays from new installments to favorites like the Winter Cathedral. In advance: $30-$34 for adults, $17-$19 for kids 3-12; day of: $33-$37 for adults, $19-$21 for kids 3-12. chicagobotanic.org/lightscape.

“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”: 1 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; and 1 and 5 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 30, at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The inspiring true story of Carole King’s journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Ticket prices start at $55. marriotttheatre.com.

Big & Bright Trail of Lights Festival: 5-9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, through Dec. 31, at Sonny Acres Farm, 29W310 North Ave., West Chicago. Holiday lights show includes a Christmas Market, photo ops, fire pits, s’mores, hot chocolate, adult specialty drinks and more. $10-$15. sonnyacres.com.

Rosemont’s Chicago Wolves Ice Rink: Noon to 10 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 21. Free admission. Bring your own skates or rent skates on-site for $8. ParkwayBankPark.com.

ZooLights: 4:30-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4:30-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, through Jan. 7, at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago. Lighted displays, photo ops and interactive programming. $10 Fridays and Saturdays, $7 most weekdays, free on Mondays. lpzoo.org/event/zoolights.

Long Grove Vintage Days: Through Dec. 23 in downtown Long Grove, 145 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Carriage rides Fridays through Sundays; holiday caroling; merchant open houses and promotions; and Santa visits from noon to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Nov. 24-26. Free. longgrove.org/festival/holiday-season.

Friday, Nov. 24

Light Up The Lake: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, from Nov. 24 through Dec. 31 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Outdoor ice skating, ax throwing, outdoor firepits, light displays, live music, a holiday artisan market, fireworks on Saturdays and more. Free, fees for some activities. navypier.org.

Brookfield Zoo

Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic kicks off Friday, Nov. 24, with over two million twinkling LED lights, live entertainment, roaming carolers, ice carving and more. – Courtesy of Brookfield Zoo

Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic: 3-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Nov. 24-26, and Thursday, Dec. 1, and other dates through Dec. 31 at Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. See more than two million twinkling LED lights. Entertainment from 5-8 p.m. at North Pole at The Pavilions featuring Those Funny Little People, Juggling Elves, pictures with Santa, roaming carolers and ice carving at the Nature Stage. Advance tickets are not required for North Gate entry, but are required for South Gate entry. $20.95-$29.95. czs.org/HolidayMagic.

Arlington Heights Tree Lighting: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at North School Park, 307 N. Evergreen Ave., and Harmony Park, 7 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. The countdown to the lighting of the tree and park will take place at 5 p.m. in North School Park. Hop a trolley and enjoy holiday fun at Harmony Park from 4:30-6:30 p.m., including an ice carver, a reindeer, a giant ornament of lights, photo stations and a free professional photo. Trolleys will be looping between Harmony Park and North School Park from 3:45-6:45 p.m. Free. vah.com/treelighting.

Schaumburg Tree Lighting Ceremony: 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Holiday caroling begins at 6 p.m. Santa will be escorted by the Schaumburg Fire Department and will arrive at 6:30 p.m. to light the tree at the Jack Siegel Memorial Plaza. Santa will meet with children in the Prairie Center’s Maggie Atcher Theatre, where parents/guardians are encouraged to bring their cameras for photos. Bring nonperishable food items for the Schaumburg Food Pantry. Free. prairiecenter.org.

Festival of Lights Parade: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, at Williams and Brink streets, Crystal Lake. Santa Claus comes to town for the parade and stays for the lighting of the community Christmas tree in the Brink Street Market courtyard. The parade starts at West Woodstock and North Caroline streets and heads south to West Crystal Lake Avenue, east to Grant Street, northeast to East Woodstock Street, and southeast to North Williams Street. downtowncl.org.

Theatre 121’s “White Christmas”: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 25-26, at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St., Woodstock. Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.” $10-$26. woodstockoperahouse.com.

Saturday, Nov. 25

Run Fox Run 5K: 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Fox Run Golf Links, 333 Plum Grove Road, Elk Grove Village. $25. Register at elkgroveparks.org.

Holiday Pop-up Shop: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 25 and Dec. 9, at Arts in Bartlett, 215 S. Main St., Bartlett. Local artisans and crafters will be selling unique items. Free. artsinbartlett.org.

Handmade Holiday Craft Fair: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Elara Convention Center, Holiday Inn Crystal Lake, 800 S. Route 31, Crystal Lake. Handmade works by local artists, crafters, bakers and chefs. Free. artisan-markets.com.

Holiday Cheers Sips of the Season: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, in Elgin. Over 20 downtown businesses offer hot cocoa with festive toppings, warm apple cider, mint mocha, Ponche Navideño, warm tea and more. Order a commemorative Holiday Cheers insulated cup for $25 at downtownelgin.com/hollydays.

Holiday Craft Fair: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Village Barn, 2 Lagoon Drive, Hawthorn Woods. Vendors and businesses will be selling unique and handcrafted items. Free. vhw.org.

Holidays at The Haight: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at The Haight, 166 Symphony Way, Elgin. Sip and shop from a curated collection of over 40 local makers and their goods. It is also one of the 20 stops in downtown Elgin’s annual Sip & Stroll from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free entry. facebook.com/thehaight166.

Santa House Visits: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m. Sundays, and 6-8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, from Nov. 25 through Dec. 23, at Williams and Brink streets, Crystal Lake. Bring your camera for a visit with Santa in his Santa House. Free. downtowncl.org.

Spring Valley Holiday Craft Fair: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 25-26, at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Handcrafted gift items including jewelry, home decorations and more. The Spring Valley Nature Club will be selling food and beverages. Free. parkfun.com.

Fox Lake Festival of Lights: 3-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Millennium Park, 23 Rollins Road, Fox Lake. Kriss Kringle Winter Market located at the Community Garden Green will be open from 3-6 p.m. The parade is at 5 p.m. at Grant Community High School, 285 E. Grand Ave., Fox Lake, followed by the tree lighting at Millennium Park and the opening of the Santa Cottage. foxlake.org.

For King + Country’s “A Drummer Boy Christmas — The 2023 Tour Experience”: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at NOW Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $29.99-$205. nowarena.com.

“A Christmas Carol”: Various times and dates from Saturday, Nov. 25, through Dec. 24 at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. For ages 5 and older. For tickets, see metropolisarts.com.

Sunday, Nov. 26

Cookies & Churros with Santa: 2:30-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at Flores Banquets, 240 N. Throop St., Woodstock. After the annual Woodstock Christmas Parade, enjoy Cookies and Churros with Santa. Free. Sponsored by the City of Woodstock, Hispanic Connections, and the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry and other sponsors. woodstockilchamber.com.

Itasca Winter Wonderland: 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at the Usher Park gazebo, 203 S. Walnut, Itasca. Santa, Mrs. Claus and their North Pole companions will join the holiday tree lighting by the village and park district. Music from the Holiday Dickens Carolers, a holiday performance from the Inner Prestige Dancers, and hot chocolate and cookies. Free. itasca.com.

An Evening with Chevy Chase and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $49.75-$89.75. chicagotheatre.com.

Wednesday, Nov. 29

Luminaria Walk: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, through Saturday, Dec. 2, at Veteran Acres, 431 N. Walkup, Crystal Lake. Stroll under the stars along the lit trail through Veteran Acres. $1 per person or $5 per family donation appreciated. Donations go toward future Nature Center education programs. crystallakeparks.org/special-events.

Thursday, Nov. 30

Craft & Vendor Fair: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, at McHenry Senior Center, 3519 N. Richmond Road, McHenry. Annual craft and vendor fair. (815) 344-3555 or seniorservicesassoc.org.

Discover many more entertainment opportunities here.

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A Community event for all on Dec. 16 at Evergreen Cemetery

Posted in Fundraisers, Resident Spotlights, Signal Hill NSDAR, The Greatest Generation on November 23, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Evergreen 2023

Families bond at Wreaths Across America event at Evergreen Cemetery. (Courtesy Signal Hill Chapter, NSDAR)

By Jacqueline Marcus

Add one more entry to your gift list this year – an hour to honor those who protected your freedom to celebrate as you wish.

Since 2019, the Signal Hill Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), has sponsored Wreaths Across America Day at Evergreen Cemetery in Barrington to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.

The first Wreaths Across America Day at Evergreen Cemetery used government-issued grave markers to identify U. S. Military Veterans interred there. In the ensuing years, our genealogists have used public records to identify many more veterans there, and in the process, have written and submitted nearly 250 biographies to the Barrington Area Library Local History website for others interested in family history.

Signal Hill Chapter members have steadily supported this growing project, now offering more wreath laying opportunities for volunteers than any other northwest suburban cemetery.

Wreaths Across America Day includes veterans groups, families, youth organizations, and local business colleagues who join this patriotic remembrance by attending the brief memorial service and placing wreaths on more than 800 identified Veteran graves.

This year, give the gift of time by spending an hour with your community at noon on Saturday, Dec. 16, for the fifth annual Wreaths Across America Day, Evergreen Cemetery, 610 S. Dundee Ave., Barrington.

For information, or to register as a wreath laying volunteer, please visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/IL0113.

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Editorial: On 60th anniversary of JFK’s assassination, a fresh look at the day that changed everything

Posted in Nostalgia, Politics, Resident Spotlights, Topics Of Interest on November 22, 2023| Leave a Comment »

JFK

President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot, Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas. Riding with President Kennedy are first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, right, Nellie Connally, second from left, and her husband, Texas Gov. John Connally, far left. The 60th anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination, marked on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, finds his family, and the country, at a moment many would not have imagined in JFK’s lifetime. (Jim Altgens/AP)

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

Sixty years ago today, Americans of all stripes were shocked when Walter Cronkite told them, wiping away tears, that John F. Kennedy had been shot and killed in Dallas.

It verges on trite to say everything changed after that. It also happens to be true. As Stephen Sondheim famously wrote in a song lyric, “Something Just Broke.”

But, that truth has taken on new forms as time has passed. The legacy of JFK has evolved as has its lessons for America.

For the first few decades after the tragedy, the narrative was one of before and after. For many, JFK’s death marked the loss of the country’s innocence, as manifested in the turbulent 1960s, the sexual revolution and a litany of cultural changes.

Where were you when you found out? Virtually every American old enough to remember could tell you.

JFK in those early decades was put on a pedestal. He was seen as inspirational (“Ask not what your country can do for you,” “We choose to go to the moon”) and a symbol of a nation on the rise — of a younger, vigorous, forward-looking country.

In more recent times, the legacy has morphed into something more complicated and in some respects worrisome.

The theorizing rampant on the internet — a technological advancement JFK no doubt would find mind-boggling — in some ways has its origins in the still-raging debate over who was responsible for the assassination.

Read more here.

Related: “Resident pens revealing book on the Kennedys”

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It took 18 years to sell this Barrington Hills house

Posted in Mac's Property Management, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, Topics Of Interest on November 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Otis Road 2018

This photo shows the house in a 2018 real estate listing. When the house sold this week, agents removed photos from the present-day listings. | Credit: Re/Max of Barrington, 2018

By Dennis Rodkin | Crain’s Chicago Business

A house in Barrington Hills sold 18 years, four months and five days after it first went up for sale.

The property, a six-bedroom house on about 21 acres on Otis Road, sold for just over $2.38 million on Wednesday. The sellers, identified in Cook County public records as William and Colleen Noyes, first put it up for sale July 11, 2005, asking $6.6 million.

The property had not been on the market the entire time but jumped on and off the market over the years. It was actively listed for all but about 26 months of the 18 years, real estate records show.

The sellers could not be reached for comment. John Morrison, one of two @properties Christie’s International Real Estate agents who represented the sellers, said he could not comment before he got permission from the owners. Erin Vondra, the WDH Real Estate agent who represented the buyers, did not respond to a request for comment. The buyers are not yet identified in public records.

The original portion of the house, built in 1910 and seen in this article about the property’s history, was nice but relatively modest, built on a hilltop by Chicagoan John V. Walker as a country getaway.

Walker later sold it to Bill and Frances “Bunny” Horne. Bill Horne was a lifelong friend of Ernest Hemingway. Colleen and William Noyes bought the house from Horne in 1993 and, according to the article, “embarked on extensive renovations and improvements to the landmark, expanding the small farmhouse into a graceful 8,000-square-foot estate home with a Nantucket vibe.”

Read more here.

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Prosecutors want life in prison for ComEd 4, defense attorneys say

Posted in ComEd Four, Crime, Politics, Resident Spotlights on November 15, 2023| Leave a Comment »

CE Four

Defendants in the ComEd 4 corruption trial listen as the federal jury reads its verdict. (Courtroom sketch courtesy of L.D.Chukman)

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square

Prosecutors are seeking life sentences for four former Commonwealth Edison leaders convicted of conspiring to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, a defense attorney said.

A federal judge on Wednesday denied a request from defense attorneys to delay sentencing.

Defense attorneys had asked for more time to deal with what they said were complex issues regarding sentencing guidelines. At a hearing Wednesday, defense attorney Patrick Cotter said prosecutors would be seeking life sentences for the defendants.

“The government apparently is going to suggest that the guidelines of this case are life,” Cotter said. “And we are asking for what we believe to be adequate time, a couple extra weeks, to respond not only to the [pre-sentencing report] but to what the government files when they’re asking to put our clients in jail for life. And I think that that’s not unreasonable.”

U.S. District Court Judge Judge Harry Leinenweber disagreed. He noted the four were convicted more than six months ago and still have additional time before the sentencing hearings scheduled for January.

“It seems to me that there’s adequate time to get ready for sentencing without moving the date,” he said Wednesday.

Prosecutors had proposed shifting dates for some pre-sentencing court filings, but the prosecution’s schedule would keep the sentencing dates as previously set.

Prosecutors have yet to file sentencing memos for any of the defendants.

Any significant amount of time behind bars for the defendants could amount to life in prison given their ages. The youngest was 64 years old.

Read more here.

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Barrington at Lincoln-Way East Class 8A Semifinal tickets on sale now

Posted in Barrington High School, Entertainment, Resident Spotlights on November 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Capture

When: Saturday, Nov 18, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Where: Lincoln-Way East High School, 201 Colorado Ave, Frankfort IL

Tickets: $8 for general admission tickets available here.

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Brookfield Zoo Awards Dinner

Posted in BACT, Fundraisers, Resident Spotlights on November 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Crools

Barrington Hills residents Bryan and Josie Croll; Josie Croll is a Chicago Zoological Society Women’s Board member.

By Megan McKinney | Classic Chicago Magazine

The Brookfield Zoo moved to the Four Seasons for the evening on October 3, when Chicago Zoological Society’s Board of Trustees and Women’s Board hosted its 20th annual Conservation Leadership Awards Dinner. During the evening, recipients were honored for their collective impact and commitment to conservation and animal welfare. The fundraiser, attended by approximately 250 guests, raised nearly $335,000, with proceeds benefitting the Society’s conservation, education, and animal programs at Brookfield Zoo.

Read more here.

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Help Signal Hill, NSDAR, Honor All Veterans Interred at Evergreen Cemetery

Posted in Fundraisers, Signal Hill NSDAR, The Greatest Generation on November 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Wreaths

By Jacqueline Marcus

For the previous four years, the Barrington-based Signal Hill Chapter, NSDAR, has undertaken the task of raising funds to purchase individual wreaths for the community’s Wreaths Across America Day at Evergreen Cemetery, 600 Dundee Avenue, in Barrington, IL. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, December 16th, and the chapter asks for your help.

As with all things, the price of a wreath has increased from $15.00 to $17.00. While local DAR members privately donate toward the event costs, and local businesses and groups will donate, there is a known total of nearly 800 graves to be covered. Unfortunately, that number increases every year.

In addition to community participation, the chapter asks that individuals who could afford to purchase a wreath for general placement please visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

If you would like to purchase a wreath for specific placement for a loved one, but cannot attend, a DAR member will be honored to do the placement on your behalf. Should we reach our goal, any additional monies will be banked for the following year. The chapter also encourages community participation on the day of the event. Following a brief memorial service, citizens of the community will be encouraged to place wreaths on the nearly 800 identified Veterans’ graves at Evergreen.

Signal Hill, NSDAR is a Barrington based chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The 501(c)3 organization is dedicated to historical preservation, promotion of education, and encouragement of patriotic endeavors. For more information about membership requirements, the local chapter and its goals and accomplishments, please visit signalhilldar.com.

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Thanksgiving Food & Coat Drive this weekend

Posted in Fundraisers, Resident Spotlights, Saint Anne Parish School, Uncategorized on November 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »

St Anne Drive

By Barrington Patch

Saint Anne Parish Catholic Community is hosting a food, coat and gift card drive this weekend that will benefit St. Moses the Parish in the south side of Chicago. This food pantry supports over 500 underserved families heading into the holiday season and beyond.

Donations can be dropped off at 120 N. Ela Street on Saturday between Noon – 6 PM and/or Sunday from 7 AM – 12:30 PM. Read more here.

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