McHenry County Lifestyle
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‘A sense of comfort and peace’: How some suburban care facilities are using doll therapy for dementia and Alzheimer’s patientsSep 28, 2025 4:00 am - About a month after her mother moved into an Elmhurst memory care facility, Gail Bekin bought her a doll. “She never put it down,” said Bekin. For decades, health care providers have incorporated certain techniques — music, art and pet therapy as well as caring for baby dolls — to help treat people with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
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‘A thorough check is the key’: Cooler weather approaching but ticks still with usSep 28, 2025 12:00 am - Cooler days are coming but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the figurative woods when it comes to ticks, whose bites can cause serious illnesses.
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Long live the queen: Four seasons in a bumble bee colonySep 24, 2025 3:00 pm - The common eastern bumble bee, rusty patched bumble bee and nine other species live in Lake County. Their features differ. But the annual life cycles of their colonies and queens rhyme.
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Suburban private schools were told they earned Blue Ribbon awards. Then the Department of Education axed the programSep 24, 2025 1:04 pm - Ten Catholic schools and two other suburban Christian schools, that recently were told they met the criteria for the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School Award, are celebrating the win despite the U.S. Department of Education ending the program.
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Home & garden calendar, Sept. 28-Oct. 4Sep 23, 2025 3:54 pm - Upcoming events for garden clubs in the Chicago suburbs, including meetings, holiday luncheon, and plant shows.
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Lake County sees $1.96 billion in visitor spending, tourism bureau saysSep 23, 2025 3:32 pm - Lake County's visitor spending rose from $1.7 billion to $1.96 billion, according to the 2024 Illinois Economic Impact Report. It reinforces the county’s standing as the third largest tourism economy in the state behind Cook and DuPage counties, said officials with Visit Lake County during the group’s recent annual luncheon.
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Saint Viator students support Special Olympics athletes at regional tournamentSep 22, 2025 10:23 am - Saint Viator High School student volunteers gained valuable social and emotional skills while assisting at the recent Special Olympics Illinois regional volleyball tournament.
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Downers Grove couple recognized as Lutheran Social Services True FriendSep 20, 2025 1:07 am - Former BMO executive John Rudy and wife Liz will receive True Friend Award for philanthropy and service to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.
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Volunteers to repaint historic Pioneer Sholes School museum fence in St. CharlesSep 17, 2025 12:50 pm - An upcoming volunteer painting project will help spruce up the historic Pioneer Sholes School museum in LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve.
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Home & garden calendar, Sept. 21-27Sep 16, 2025 6:11 pm - Upcoming gardening events and clubs in the Chicago area, including presentations on monarchs, invasive plants, fall flowers, and harvesting herbs.