McHenry County Lifestyle
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‘Investing in an experience’: $5 million interior upgrades at Hawthorn mall part of broader reinvestmentJul 25, 2026 8:00 am - As the sweeping redevelopment of the Hawthorn mall property in Vernon Hills continues with new restaurants, luxury apartments and more, a $5 million investment inside the traditional mall is underway.
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Father-son duo expand auto body shop business with new Geneva locationJul 22, 2026 4:58 pm - Derrick Crome, 26, of St. Charles, has taken over the former State Street Collision body shop in Geneva, renaming it Bodylines Inc., after previously commuting over an hour to work at his Belvidere shop with his father Roger.
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‘Magical’: 2 more piping plover chicks hatch in Waukegan, bringing total to 4Jul 22, 2026 1:20 pm - Pepper and Blaze had another surprise up their wings, it seems. The Waukegan piping plover mates welcomed not just two, but four new chicks over the weekend, according to the Lake County Audubon Society.
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Harper College joins nationally recognized Metallica Scholars Initiative as workforce education program expands to over 90 schoolsJul 22, 2026 12:31 pm - Harper has been selected to join Cohort 8 of the Metallica Scholars Initiative, a national workforce education program that supports community college students preparing for high-demand careers.
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In honor of Dennis: Elgin Classic bike race honors veteran whose death changed Illinois cycling lawsJul 22, 2026 10:34 am - The Elgin Classic in Memory of Dennis Jurs honors a cyclist and Vietnam veteran whose death in 2015 inspired a law granting bicyclists the same rights as motorists.
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Home & garden calendar, July 21-Aug. 1Jul 21, 2026 1:12 pm - Upcoming gardening club meetings and events in the Chicago suburbs, covering topics like Blanding’s turtle research projects, green initiatives and more. Also listings on garden shows, nature walks, and workshops.
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‘Hunger doesn’t look just one way’: How Loaves & Fishes helps families get back on solid groundJul 20, 2026 9:45 am - Fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs. What might be a simple weekly grocery list for some may be out of reach for families just trying to make ends meet. That’s where Loaves & Fishes Community Services in Naperville comes in.
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‘Nature is so healing’: PAWS Chicago breaks ground for Rescue Ranch in Hawthorn WoodsJul 17, 2026 12:14 pm - PAWS Chicago breaks ground on Rescue Ranch, a 20-acre homeless pet adoption, enrichment and education facility in Hawthorn Woods.
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Transportation projects on tap in Lake County will link regional trails and address ‘near misses’Jul 16, 2026 8:18 pm - Impactful transportation projects in the Libetyville, Vernon Hills and Gurnee areas are set to get underway.
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Student-run Batavia newspaper for seniors earns top prize at pitch night, plans to expandJul 15, 2026 1:27 pm - “The Windmill Weekly,” a newspaper for senior citizens run by students in Batavia High School’s INcubator business program, recently earned the program’s top prize and plans to expand its coverage.