Gardens galore at country estates
Tranquil ponds, stunning pools, potager gardens and perennial flower beds will all be on display this month in Barrington Hills.
Tickets are now on sale for the eighth annual Barrington Country Garden & Antique Faire.
Participants will spend a leisurely day strolling through the elegant gardens and grounds of three Barrington Hills estates.
Besides the garden tours, the event also features a French Market with more than 20 unique merchants, including Scentimental Gardens, Midnight Sun, Griffins & Gargoyles, Replenish and Bluebell Bazaar.
There will also be an upscale flea market, musical entertainment, gourmet food and horticultural and culinary presentations.
The Faire is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 20 and 21.
There is free parking at Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St., and across the street at 800 Hart Road. Shuttle buses taking people to the garden estates will depart there every 15 minutes.
A two-day pass costs $40 through June 15 and $50 after that. A special $75 "early buy" ticket is offered for before the gates open to regular ticket holders between 8:30 and 10 a.m. June 20.
Proceeds will benefit Hands of Hope, a Barrington-based nonprofit dedicated to the critical needs of women and children around the world.
In the past seven years, Hands of Hope has raised more than $1.3 million dollars, which has gone to help alleviate poverty in Africa.
For more information, call (847) 622-5201 or visit the Web site at handsofhopeoneline.org.
Golden moment: School board members in Barrington Area Unit District 220 took time this week to recognize two teachers considered among the best of the best.
The school board honored Nancy Kontney, a fifth-grade teacher at Sunny Hill School in Carpentersville, for being one of this year's 10 Golden Apple Award winners.
Sharon Kranz, a fourth-grade teacher at Roslyn Road School who was named a Teacher of Distinction by the Golden Apple Foundation, was also honored.
"We have many, many special teachers in the district, but (Kontney and Kranz) have been recognized for being a little bit more special," said District 220 Superintendent Tom Leonard.
Kontney said she already met the other nine winners and loves being part of such a great group of teachers.
"It has been unreal," she said. "My students are having the time of their life with this.
Kranz said the whole experience has been overwhelming.
"Everyone has been so encouraging," Kranz said.
Kontney, along with the other nine winners, will be honored at an award gala in September.
Chad Brooks covers the Barrington area. Contact him at (847) 427-4476 or cbrooks@dailyherald.com.