Gun incident leads to felony charges -- A 61-year-old Buffalo Grove man was charged with three felony charges following an incident in the 1300 block of Johnson Drive.
Police say, Kevin Smith, was charged following an incident which, police say, was initially reported as an armed robbery, but later classified as a man with a gun call.
When police arrived, a witness reported hearing a gunshot and was then confronted by a male subject with a shotgun immediately after. The subject ordered entry into the building and then left the witness behind. A spent shotgun shell was located outside the address by police.
Smith was charged with three class 4 felonies; aggravated assault, aggravated unlawful use of weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm. The fourth charge, unlawful use of a firearm, is a class A misdemeanor. Additional information is available here.
Retail theft – A Deerfield woman was charged with theft after she stole items from Woodman’s on “multiple occasions.”
Burglary to motor vehicle – Police report that a vehicle in the 1200 block of east Deerfield Pkwy was broken into. Reports say the person or person “rummaged through the vehicle’s contents”, taking a pair of sunglasses.
Burglary to motor vehicle – A vehicle in the 1100 block of Windbrooke was broken into. Thieves stole various items including cologne, shoes, iPad, Air pods, and an undetermined amount of cash. This investigation is ongoing.
Criminal damage to property -- A vehicle parked near St. Mary’s Pkwy and Navajo Trail was broken into. Reports say its back passenger door was found open, the driver’s side door handle was laying on the ground, and the vehicle’s steering column was damaged. This investigation is ongoing. In a similar case, police report that a car, also a Hyundai Elantra, was damaged while parked in the 100 block of south Buffalo Grove Road. Reports say the driver’s side door handle was found on the ground along with a broken screwdriver handle. Reports say there were no signs of successful entry. In a third incident, also in the 100 block of south Buffalo Grove Road, police say a KIA Soul’s driver’s side door handle was damaged. No entry was made to the vehicle and no other damage was observed.
Retail theft – Someone was hungry. Police say someone took a sandwich from the Casey’s convenience store, 1251 McHenry Rd. without paying. But wait, there’s more -- the subject was found and paid for the sandwich. You could say he cut the mustard.
In Other Community News
Lake County weighs funding options
Lake County officials say they were informed in mid-March that more than $3 million in federally earmarked funds were eliminated from the Fiscal Year 2025 federal budget. These funds were intended to support critical infrastructure and affordable housing in Lake County.
Despite this setback, officials say the County is committed to advancing these vital projects. The County is currently evaluating all available options to move forward and secure alternative funding to address these community needs. More information is available here.
PZC weighs Indian grocery, golf school expansion
The Planning and Zoning Commission will consider a proposed expansion to the Chicago School of Golf, 1610 Barclay Boulevard and a special use permit for an Indian grocery store and carryout restaurant at 21 N. Buffalo Grove Rd. according to reporting in The Daily Herald. The PZC meets at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7. The meeting is in the Braiman Council Chambers at Village Hall, 50 Raupp Blvd.
County cites election success
Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega officially certified the results of the April 1 Consolidated Election on April 21.
This election marked Lake County’s first countywide implementation of vote centers, giving voters the freedom to cast their ballot at any site throughout the county on Election Day. More than 15 percent of Election Day voters took advantage of this flexibility, voting at a location other than their assigned polling place. Details about this program and the election day success are available here.
D21 fourth grader performs with Milwaukee Symphony
A fourth-grade student at Field Elementary School was one of eight students who performed with the Milwaukee Symphony on April 30.
According to the district, after winning the 2025 Bach Double Violin Competition, the student, identified by the district as Julia C. joined the other seven other students, for a special performance in Milwaukee.
Julia started playing the violin at the age of six, inspired after attending a friend’s graduation recital and hearing the violinist there play several melodies.
“I really enjoy sharing my music with others, and the music I can make with the violin,” Julia says.
In addition to receiving an honorable mention at the O’Malley Foundation National Concerto Competition in 2024, Julia holds leadership roles as concertmaster and assistant concertmaster in three school orchestras, including Field and in the Music for Youth program in Arlington Heights. She also serves as assistant concertmaster of the Philharmonia (sic) Orchestra at the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, and is a proud member of the Music Institute of Chicago’s Virtuoso Strings, a performance and touring chamber ensemble.
Native plant sale May 17, 18
A Native Plant Sale is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 17, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 18 scheduled at Independence Grove Forest Preserve, 16400 W. Buckley Road in Libertyville.
A wide selection of native flowers, grasses and hardy forbs will be available.
Experts will be onsite to answer questions and offer guidance. Prices vary and inventory is limited, so come early. Attendees should bring boxes for easy transport. Additional details are at this link.
Township to open new playground
Vernon Township is hosting a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the brand-new playground starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 10 at William E. Peterson Park,16652 N. Buffalo Grove Rd.
The new playground is more modern and replaces the 20-year-old structure that had reached the end of its lifespan. Learn more about the Peterson Park facilities here.
Grant applications available
Vernon Township-based nonprofit organizations that offer services related to mental health, substance use or developmental disabilities are invited to apply for the third round of funding from the Vernon Township Mental Health Board.
These grants are designed to support essential services and help reduce financial barriers for residents seeking care. New applicants are welcome and encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Friday, May 30. For more information and to access the application, click here.
Volunteers sought for food pantry garden
Vernon Township is seeking volunteers to help maintain its Food Pantry Garden this summer. Tasks will include weeding, watering, and harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables - all of which directly support local families in need.
Township officials say residents planting their own gardens this spring are encouraged to grow a little extra to donate. The Food Pantry always welcomes fresh produce donations to ensure healthy options for its clients.
To volunteer or learn more, call (847) 634-4600, or visit this link.
Returning student registration available in D21
Registration for returning students is now available for the 2025–2026 school year in School District 21. Registering early allows our schools to plan staffing and resources more effectively, and gives families one less thing to worry about later in the summer. District residents can visit this link to complete the process.
D21 sets kindergarten preview nights
District 21 is holding Kindergarten Preview Nights at the following schools.
· Poe and Riley - Wednesday, May 7
· Tarkington - Thursday, May 8
· Whitman - Monday, May 12
· Frost and Longfellow - Tuesday, May 13
· Field - Wednesday, May 14
D21 names new principals
School District D21 has named new principals for Holmes Middle School and Longfellow and Twain Elementary Schools. Ben Neidich will join Holmes as of July 1, succeeding Jenny Lagunas. Neidich has spent the past year serving as an assistant principal of Whittier Elementary School in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60.
Emily Gary is set to assume the principal role at Longfellow as of July 1, succeeding Michelle Friedman. Gary has spent the past four years as the assistant principal of Frost Elementary School, and prior to that was a bilingual teacher at Whitman Elementary School for six years.
Beginning July 1, Lisa Applequist will become the new principal at Twain. Applequist has served as assistant principal of Whitman for the past four years.
Prior to that, she served as an instructional coach at Wood Dale School District 7 and a middle school language arts teacher in Glenview School District 34.
Cooper musicians heading to state festival
For the third time in four years, Cooper Middle School’s Symphonic Winds will return to the Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival on Friday, May 9, as one of only seven middle school bands in the state to be invited to the state-wide event. The invitation-only festival, hosted by the University of Illinois School of Music, showcases some of the top middle school, high school, and university concert bands from across the state
Teacher named fellow
Tracy Crowley, a sixth-grade science teacher, has been named a 2025 Fund for Teachers Fellow, earning a $5,000 grant to embark on a self-designed professional learning experience abroad.
One of the nation’s leading organizations that supports preK-12 educators, Fund for Teachers provides educators with the freedom to determine what and where they need to learn to ultimately enhance the academic and emotional growth of students. The organization so far has recognized 10,000 educators who have leveraged $36 million into missions that pursue experiential learning in the U.S. and across the globe.
Former cop lands top spot
Former Buffalo Grove Deputy Police Chief Michael Rodriguez who retired from the BGPD May 2, didn’t have a long retirement. On Monday, he was named chief of the Lisle Police Department. -- Daily Herald.
Young author holds book signing
As reported here last week, 9-year-old author Maci Sossin took her first book, "What Will the Seed Grow Into?" to the public in a book signing April 30. A portion of each sale is scheduled to go to area libraries.
Need a Reason to Celebrate?
May 7
National Roast Leg of Lamb Day
May 8
National Coconut Cream Pie Day
National Give Someone a Cupcake Day
May 9
National Butterscotch Brownie Day
May 10
May 11
National Eat What You Want Day
May12
May 13
May 14
May 15
International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day
The usual stuff…
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