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Things to do July 31 to Aug. 6: Lake and McHenry County fairs, National Night Out and more

July 31, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By Luke Zurawski | Daily Herald

Friday, July 31

Lake County Fair: Noon to 11 p.m. Friday, July 31; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1; and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Rides, food, live music, motocross, monster trucks, demolition derby, bull riding and more. $15; $5 for kids 6-12, 65 and older, and military, veterans and dependents with ID, for one day; $55/$20 for a season pass; free for kids 5 and younger and active military in uniform. lcfair.com/2026.

Lake Zurich Farmers Market: 3-7 p.m. Friday, July 31, at Henry J. Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich. Fresh produce, baked goods, sauces, spices, honey, cheese, eggs, meats and more. With live music, pop-up events, kids’ activities and more. Free. lakezurich.org/366/Farmers-Market.

West Dundee French Market: 4-8 p.m. Friday, July 31, at The Pump House, 98 Oregon Ave., West Dundee. A mixed market offering fresh produce, honey, greens, soaps, breads, cheeses, flowers, artwork, wearables and more. wdundee.org.

Saturday, Aug. 1

Dundee Depot Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at The Depot, 319 N. River St., East Dundee. Vintage finds, handmade goods, bakery goods and locally crafted products. Free. eastdundee.net

Celebrations Around the World Flower Show: Noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at American Legion Post 911, 515 S. Main St., Wauconda. Floral designs and horticultural exhibits. Free. grayslakegardenclub.org.

Uncaged in the Zoo: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at Lords Park Zoo, off Grand Boulevard, Elgin. See live animals up close with Chi-town Exotics. Free. elginil.gov.

Shakespeare in the Square: 5-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, on the historic Woodstock Square, 121 W. Van Buren, Woodstock. Woodstock Shakespeare Players perform “Bit O’ The Bard: Fair and Foul.” Free. woodstockil.gov

Yappy Hour at Bridges Beer Garden: 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at Bridges Beer Garden, 1400 Poplar Creek Drive, Hoffman Estates. Meet dogs available for adoption from local shelters. Free. heparks.org

Taste of Roselle offers food from local vendors Friday though Sunday, July 31 through Aug. 2. (Sofía Oyarzún/Daily Herald)

Corn Fest and Craft Fair: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Community Church of Rolling Meadows, 2720 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows. Fresh local sweet corn, grilled sandwiches, watermelon and soft drinks. Craft fair, face painting, balloon artist and Kona Ice. Adults $15; seniors $13; kids 4-10 $5; and free for kids 3 and younger. ccrm.church.

Navy Pier Summer Fireworks: 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, and 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Fireworks display set to music. Free. navypier.org/summer-fireworks.

Sunday, Aug. 2

Buffalo Grove Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, at Mike Rylko Park, 951 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove. Fresh local food, food-related services, local organizations and businesses. Free. vbg.org/FarmersMarket.

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

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

Schaumburg’s Shakespeare in the Park: 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, at Meineke Park, 220 E. Weathersfield Way, Schaumburg. Goodly Creatures Theatre’s annual production features the comedy “As You Like It.” Bring chairs, blankets and snacks. Rain date: 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9. Free. goodlycreatures.com.

Tuesday, Aug. 4

McHenry County Fair: Noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 5-6; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 7-8; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at the McHenry County Fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock. Nearly 100 acres of animals, food, music and entertainment. Single day $10/$5; $30 season pass. mchenrycountyfair.com/tickets.

Sounds of Summer Family Series: Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at the Fred P. Hall Amphitheater, 256 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. Little Miss Ann will perform. Free. palatineparks.org/sounds-of-summer

Wauconda National Night Out: 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, 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.

Crystal Lake Concerts in the Park: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake. Wild Daisy will perform, with line dance lessons at 6 p.m. before the concert. Food truck. Free. crystallakeparks.org/special-events.

Wednesday, Aug. 5

Riding Club members take note!

Wickstrom Lincoln Concert Series: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Arboretum of South Barrington, 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. Hillbilly Rockstarz will perform. Free. shopthearb.com.

Thursday, Aug. 6

Barrington Thursday Night Out: 5-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at the BMO Lot, 210 W. Station St., Barrington. Local vendors, classic cars, live music, family activities and more. Free. barrington-il.gov/events/thursday-night-out

Long Grove Music in the Park: 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, in Covered Bridge Park, 145 Old McHenry Road, Historic Downtown Long Grove. Saturday June Band will perform. Free. longgrove.org.

Algonquin Summer Concert Series: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at Towne Park’s Jerry Kautz Pavilion, 100 Jefferson St., Algonquin. Jesse’s Girl will perform. Food trucks at 6 p.m. Algonquin.org/summerconcerts.

Elgin’s Concerts in the Park: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at Wing Park bandshell, 1010 Wing St., Elgin. Sgt. Sauerkraut’s Polka Band will perform. Food trucks. Free. elginil.gov or facebook.com/cityofelgin.

Find much more here.

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

BMO Bank moves to foreclose on Barrington Hills home over alleged $5M default

July 30, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

BMO Bank’s Darrel Hackett and Michael and Marilyn Stopka with the home in Barrington Hills (BMO Bank, LinkedIn, Google Maps, Getty)

By Janani Jana | The Real Deal

Chicago-based BMO Bank is moving to foreclose on the residential property of a Barrington Hills couple in Cook County Circuit Court over an alleged mortgage loan default of nearly $5 million, court filings show.

The home along Goose Lake Drive, owned by an entity called Chateau Arlington LLC, is tied to Michael and Marilyn Stopka, who ran a home decor company, e-commerce firm Design Toscano, that filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in June 2025, according to public records.

BMO Bank, in its complaint, states that the couple mortgaged the residence to secure the debt Design Toscano undertook and had granted the bank security interests in real and personal property. The Stopka residence is a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom property that was purchased for more than $1 million in 2003, according to listing website data.

The complaint states $9 million as authorized debt to the couple’s business venture, Design Toscano. It claims, however, nearly $4.7 million plus interest and attorney fees is in default.

The couple is fighting to prevent the foreclosure. BMO Bank and the Stopkas’ legal representatives did not return requests for comment.

Report continues here.

Posted in Real Estate, The Real Deal | Leave a Comment »

Pritzker Followed Fauci’s Guidance Blindly: The Illinois COVID Failures Nobody Owns- Wirepoints

July 30, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By: Mark Glennon*

JB Pritzker didn’t just consult Dr. Anthony Fauci during the pandemic, he publicly attributed much of Illinois’ pandemic governance to him through at least the first two turbulent years of Covid. Pritzker regularly and forcefully endorsed Fauci’s pronouncements in his daily Covid briefings and elswhere. In September 2020, for example, Prizker said he “would not hesitate to follow the advice of Dr. Anthony Fauci” whenever case surges required action. Fauci was a “very reliable source of information, Pritzker also said. “I rely on the guidance I hear from him.”

Even in April 2022, well after Fauci’s credibility was broken by dissenting epidemiologists and other experts and Fauci himself had changed course on some matters, Pritzker was still clinging to Fauci’s authority, saying he “hoped and prayed” Fauci was right that the worst was behind us.

But Pritzker and Fauci were wrong on fundamental issues from the start. Just two months after the pandemic started, it had become glaringly obvious to us at Wirepoints that facts were being grossly distorted and that Illinois’ policy response was patently irrational. Many mistakes were obvious even as they were made, which we documented with dozens of articles collected here.

It wasn’t about measured differences of opinion about science. It was a governor – and many others — who repeatedly hid behind a federal bureaucrat’s pronouncements to justify sweeping, often indefensible mandates on 12.7 million Illinoisans. Among the other guilty is the Illinois General Assembly, which stood aside as Pritzker ruled by executive fiat through his 39 consecutive emergency orders lasting from March 2020 to May 2023.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or relying on legacy media), you probably know that Fauci has already been exposed as a world class fraud. As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fauci was the face of establishment “science” on Covid. Most recently, his published diary exposes levels of narcissism and megalomania for the record books. The diary describes some of Pritzker’s phone conversations with him and Pritzker’s expressed admiration of him. On Thursday Fauci took the Fifth Amendment before Congress on most everything — over 100 times — despite the blanket pardon President Joe Biden gave him.

Among the topics during the pandemic on which Fauci was wrong or dishonest are these: probable leak from Chinese lab as the original virus source, asymptomatic spreading, fatality rates, blanket lockdowns, school closures, impact on youth, relevance of acquired immunity, social distancing, outdoor spread, masks, variant impact, vaccine efficacy and vaccine risks.

Overlay that against the list of Covid policy errors made by Illinois that we printed earlier and is copied below in full. I urge you to read it fully to appreciate the gravity and length of the list. Pritzker’s obedience to Fauci is linked to most but not all of it.

Article continues here.

*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.

Posted in Crime, Deception, Ethics, Perjury, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, School Districts, Transparency, Wirepoints | Leave a Comment »

Pritzker signs bell-to-bell school phone ban

July 30, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By Sean Reed | The Center Square

As Illinois students return to school this fall, school boards and families will begin discussing and implementing a bell-to-bell cell phone ban, stemming from a new law that provides few exceptions for phone use during a school day.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the phone ban legislation Tuesday morning at Elgin High School, which has already implemented a phone ban within its district in the previous year.

Many specifics of how bans will be enforced are left up to local school boards, which have a full school year until they must adopt a policy that fits within the law’s minimum requirements.

“Students are distracted. Teachers sometimes have trouble getting students’ attention. Principals are experiencing disruption that smartphones create throughout the school day,” Pritzker said. “Parents have been concerned and have seen cyber bullying and of course the mental health impact that social media and phone usage are having on our kids.”

Suzanne Johnson, U-46 school district superintendent, said the implementation of their ban had a slightly turbulent start, but is now widely popular among students, teachers and parents.

“During our student summit in the spring, where we welcome over 200 high school students to provide feedback and guidance on U-46 efforts and focus areas, students were asked to identify one thing we should not change. And they identified the new cell phone personal device guidelines they needed to stay in place,” Johnson said.

The bill didn’t specifically provide school districts with funding to implement the ban, which has been common in other states for products like magnetic locking bags to secure phones throughout the day.

Article continues here.

Posted in 220, 300, AI, Barrington Education Association, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, School Districts, The Center Square | Leave a Comment »

Illinois sales taxes near top in U.S.

July 29, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Chicago will have one of the highest big-city rates in the country when the transit tax inches up Aug. 1.

By Adam Gorcyca | Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois’ high sales taxes are about to get higher in the Chicago area.

Across Illinois, the combined state and average local sales tax is 8.98%, according to the Tax Foundation. That’s eighth-highest in the U.S. and highest in the Midwest.

The state did end its 1% grocery tax Jan. 1, though more than half the local governments in Illinois have one.

For over a decade Illinois has been one of the nation’s least competitive states in terms of sales tax. The last time Illinois placed outside the top 10 highest sales tax rates was 2013.

Of the states bordering Illinois, Missouri has the highest combined average rate, but it’s still over a half a percentage point lower than Illinois’.

Wisconsin in particular stands out in comparison with Illinois, with a combined average rate of 5.72%, and Kentucky is not far behind, at 6%.

Article continues here.

Posted in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Illinois Policy Institute, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes, The Chicago Way, Unions | Leave a Comment »

District 220 board members violated campaign policies, investigation finds

July 28, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Leah Collister-Lazzari

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

Two Barrington Area Unit School District 220 board members violated board policies by posting images of students, district property and the district’s chess piece logo on campaign social media sites, an outside investigator determined.

Board members Leah Collister-Lazzari and Barry Altshuler have since deactivated those campaign Facebook pages.

Barry Altshuler

The same investigation cleared board President Sandra Ficke-Bradford of alleged wrongdoing for a photo of her in front of Barrington High School that appeared in a 2025 Daily Herald article.

The school board on Thursday accepted the results of the investigation, which was conducted by the law firm of Robbins Schwartz. None of Collister-Lazzari, Altshuler or Ficke-Bradford addressed the report during the meeting.

Collister-Lazzari and Ficke-Bradford later declined to comment on the findings.

“I admit that I’m not a perfect person,” Altshuler said after the meeting. “I’m just not sure it had to go the way it went.”

The investigation was sparked by a complaint made anonymously under the school district’s Uniform Grievance Procedure.

The investigation report said Collister-Lazzari stated that in 2023 she followed what was district protocol at the time in using the school district’s logo in campaign materials.

Report continues here.

Related: “Proposed Policy Change Would Strip Anonymous Formal Grievances in Barrington District 220,” “Reminder: CUSD 220 Board of Education meeting tonight,” “CUSD 220 Board delivers second (slappier) slap on the wrist to member Erin Chan Ding,” “CUSD 220 Board of Education public comments we applaud,” “Special District 220 Board of Education meeting Monday,” “Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency” and “Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’”

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Daily Herald, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? | 1 Comment »

Village Board of Trustees meet tonight

July 27, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

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

  • [Vote] Accept the Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2025 – Eccezion
  • [Vote] Resolution Approving the 2026 Stormwater Management Program Plan (SMPP) and Authorizing its use for the Collection of Data Necessary to Prepare the Village’s Annual Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System(MS4) Report Resolution 26 –
  • Land We Love Run America250 5K/10K or 2-Mile Walk Summary

A copy of their agenda, including info on listening to the meeting, can be viewed and downloaded here.

Posted in Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Big Red, Board of Health, Building Department, Clown Car, Conflict of interest, Deception, Dumb and Dumber, ePacket agendas, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Finance Committee, Folds of Honor, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Lennie, OMA, One Barrington Hills, Pension Funding, Plan Commission, Plum Farm development, Police Pension Board, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Riding Club Commission, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Unions, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village Government, Village President, Village Treasurer, Yabba Dabba Doo, Zoning Board | Leave a Comment »

Teen dies after being ejected in rollover crash that left SUV’s engine detached from vehicle in Barrington Hills

July 26, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Police investigate a rollover crash that resulted in severe damage and an occupant being ejected and killed at Brinker Road and Hills and Dales Road in Barrington Hills Saturday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

A teenager died after being ejected in a crash that left an SUV rolled over, resulting in its engine becoming detached from the vehicle, and two others hospitalized in Barrington Hills Saturday morning.

The Barrington Hills Police Department and Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District responded around 2:23 a.m. Saturday to the area of Brinker Road and Hills and Dales Road in Barrington Hills for a vehicle crash with injuries.

Police investigate a rollover crash that resulted in severe damage and an occupant being ejected and killed at Brinker Road and Hills and Dales Road in Barrington Hills Saturday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

Officers arrived and found a male victim ejected from the vehicle, according to Barrington Hills Police Department Public Information Officer William Walsh.

Emergency crews began lifesaving measures but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police investigate a rollover crash that resulted in severe damage and an occupant being ejected and killed at Brinker Road and Hills and Dales Road in Barrington Hills Saturday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

A preliminary investigation showed the Mercedes SUV was traveling northbound on Brinker Road, Walsh said.

The Mercedes left the roadway for unknown reasons and struck several trees.

Report continues here.

Posted in Accidents, BCFPD, Lake & McHenry County Scanner, Police Reports, VBHPD | Leave a Comment »

IL can’t give cheaper college tuition to illegal immigrants, judge rules

July 26, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, flanked by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, left, and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, right | Office of the Governor

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal Newsline

EAST ST. LOUIS — Illinois can’t give illegal immigrants special in-state discounts on college tuition or special grants to attend the state’s public colleges and universities, a federal judge has ruled.

On July 24, U.S. District Judge David W. Dugan ruled Illinois Democratic lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution by enacting laws specifically designed to allow illegal immigrants to attend Illinois public colleges and universities at the same tuition rate normally reserved for U.S. citizens and legal non-citizens who live in Illinois.

In the ruling, Dugan said the Illinois laws, known as the RISE Act and the Illinois DREAM Act, illegally give illegal immigrants state educational benefits that are not also extended to U.S. citizens who live outside Illinois.

“Put simply, U.S. citizens or nationals must be treated no worse than illegal aliens,” Dugan wrote in the ruling.

Following the decision, Steven D. Weinhoeft, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, praised Dugan’s ruling.

“Illinois sought to incentivize illegal immigration on the taxpayer’s dime by treating illegal aliens better than U.S. citizens living in other states, in clear violation of federal law,” said Weinhoeft. “This ruling enforces the statute Congress wrote and stops the State from putting illegal aliens ahead of American citizens.”

The decision marks a big win for Trump administration in their legal campaign to strike down so-called “sanctuary” or “welcoming” laws and policies in Illinois and other states.

Article continues here.

Posted in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Immigration, Legal Newsline, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Taxes, Unions | 2 Comments »

Hough Street (Route 59) Lane Reductions Begin Tomorrow

July 26, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

“Beginning Monday, July 27, Hough Street (Route 59) will be reduced to one lane in each direction south of Northwest Highway as work begins on the next phase of the Route 14 underpass project. This stage includes construction of the culvert that will carry the relocated Flint Creek.

Traffic changes include:

  • The northbound left turn lane from Hough Street onto Route 14 will be temporarily shortened due to adjacent construction. Consider alternative routes to proceed westbound on Route 14 to avoid traffic delays.
  • Lions Drive at Hough Street will be temporarily closed. Barrington Park District visitors can still access Lions Drive from Route 14.

This is the first stage of Hough Street construction, and the temporary traffic pattern is expected to remain in place for at least one month. During this time, the contractor will also evaluate opportunities to complete additional work as part of this stage, which could increase the duration of these lane reductions.

A traffic map is attached and shown below. Drivers, please plan for delays and use caution when traveling through the area.

Stay updated on the Route 14 underpass project by visiting the dedicated project website at us14underpass.com and subscribing to receive email alerts.”

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Community Alerts, Real Estate, Traffic, U.S. Route 14 Underpass | Leave a Comment »

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