A network of correspondents providing impartial news reports and analysis in 33 languages from locations around the world Up-to-the-minute news and analysis from around the world and in Chicago Hosted by WBEZ's Mary Dixon and NPR's Steve Inskeep Newshour is the award-winning flagship program of the BBC World Service the world’s largest news gathering operation 1A convenes a conversation about the most important issues of our time smart reflection on world news as it’s happening innovators and artists from around the globe with news from Chicago from WBEZ’s Lisa Labuz Reset digs into how the news has moved since you left the house discussing and unpacking the biggest stories and issues in Chicago and beyond right in the heart of the day Fresh Air is a weekday “talk show” that hardly fits the mold Fresh Air Weekend collects the week’s best cultural segments and crafts them together for great weekend listening The show is produced by WHYY and hosted by Terry Gross and features from 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End" unpacks how soap operas have shaped popular culture and told intergenerational stories that continue to resonate a new theme and a variety of stories on that theme Sound Opinions is hosted by Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot In-depth interviews with brilliant creators A mix of live performances and interviews from WXPN Philadelphia’s daily program featuring important established and emerging artists Weekly film podcast and radio show from Chicago featuring in-depth reviews The first 50 years of modern advertising was based on hard-sell The next 50 years was persuasion through creativity and media tonnage But as advertising squeezed into the 21 century it was forced to shed its elbowing ways and become a delicate dialogue The goal is no longer to triumph by weight CBC's Under the Influence is hosted by Terry O'Reilly A wrap up of the week's news and a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics Have a laugh and test your news knowledge while figuring out what's real and what we've made up It's Been a Minute features people in the culture who deserve your attention Plus weekly wraps of the news with journalists in the know Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers A radio journal of news and culture produced from a Latino perspective and offbeat features from Chicago and around the world with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior shape our choices and direct our relationships Your guide to examining how the media sausage is made Important ideas and practical advice: Code Switch features fearless and much-needed conversations about race—and Life Kit offers practical advice on things in life no one prepared you for Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX Reveal is public radio’s first one-hour radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting A weekly program presented by the New Yorker magazine’s editor killer beats and the edgiest new talent in storytelling come together for a weekly show that straps audiences into an audio rollercoaster Radiolab is known for its deep-dive journalism and innovative sound design Created in 2002 by former host Jad Abumrad the program began as an exploration of scientific inquiry Over the years it has evolved to become a platform for long-form journalism and storytelling Radiolab is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser Ashbey Beasley recorded video of federal immigration agents as they approached a home in Highwood Thursday She says the agents told her they were at the home to conduct “a wellness check.” When Ashbey Beasley heard that federal agents were patrolling in nearby Highwood Thursday morning she got into her car and went out to look for them It didn’t take long before she saw a group of agents out in front of a resident’s home “I noticed then that there were several cars and that there were several agents And so I just pulled up and I just started filming,” Beasley said I just decided it should be a live recording.” Beasley, who witnessed the Highland Park July 4th parade shooting said the agents told her that they were doing a wellness check There had been reports on social media that federal immigration agents were knocking on doors for wellness checks and using the tactic to find people to deport An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman confirmed officers were conducting investigations into whether unaccompanied children released to sponsors from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement are victims of human trafficking or exploitation “ICE is fully engaged and committed to child safety and accountability,” the agency said in the statement The Trump administration has ramped up enforcement efforts as part of its promise to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S a man was arrested in Highwood and sent to an immigration detention center in Indiana The North Shore community of Highwood is just north of Highland Park and about 40% of its population identifies as Latinos Community members reported seeing ICE agents in an area near Oak Terrace Elementary School where many Latinos live often sharing one home between multiple families The footage taken by Beasley shows at least seven agents outside the Highwood building. It’s hard to hear in the video, which she posted on Instagram but Beasley said the agents asked the woman to let them come inside Beasley said the woman refused so the agents questioned her outside her door if she felt safe where she lived and if she was free to leave her house Immigration attorneys are hearing of similar “wellness” checks happening across the country “They’re using these so-called wellness checks as a subterfuge to find out if the sponsor is in the United States illegally or could be theoretically accused of harboring the individual and that’s gotten a lot of immigration lawyers very riled up,” Yale-Loehr said Yale-Loehr said people still have the right to remain silent and not open the door to authorities unless presented with a court warrant While Beasley was videotapping the interaction But she maintains that she wasn’t because she was talking to people watching the live video Everyone has constitutional rights to video-record the encounter as long as they aren’t impeding or interfering with ICE agents who added that he believed Beasley was within her constitutional rights based on a video posted on Instagram “They can videotape things whether it’s on the sidewalk or in their car,” Yale-Loehr said “That’s a basic constitutional right that everyone has.” who survived the Fourth of July Highland Park shooting with her son is seen outside the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan on Aug 3 2022 after the arraignment of accused shooter Robert Crimo III REITs invest in the majority of real estate property types Nareit’s REIT Directory provides a comprehensive list of REIT and publicly traded real estate companies that are members of Nareit The directory can be sorted and filtered by sector CEM Benchmarking’s 2024 study also reveals allocations and risk-adjusted performance of 12 asset classes over 25-year period Partnerships are occurring across a range of REIT property sectors is the REIT industry’s largest annual gathering of executives REIT industry by ensuring its members’ best interests are promoted by providing unparalleled advocacy continuing education and networking.  says market rotation plan will strengthen long-term growth opportunities The latest edition of the Nareit REIT Report podcast featured an interview with Ed Fritsch who stepped down as CEO of Highwoods Properties (NYSE: HIW) on Sept 1 following a career of more than 30 years at the Raleigh Fritsch joined Highwoods in 1982 at the age of 23 and was a partner in the predecessor firm before its IPO in June 1994 He served as COO from January 1998 to July 2004 and was vice president of operations and secretary from June 1994 to January 1998 He became the company’s president in December 2003 and CEO in July 2004 Fritsch also served as Nareit chair in 2016 Fritsch said that holding a variety of positions throughout his career at Highwoods enabled him to “leverage that information to the good of the company.” Highwoods implemented a strategic plan that remains in place today but I was keenly interested in how we could make it better and no property was sacred—we popped the hood and questioned every part of the engine,” Fritsch said Highwood’s quality balance sheet has provided the company with significant flexibility to dramatically improve its portfolio He pointed out that Highwoods recently announced a market rotation plan which he expects will continue to provide opportunities to strengthen long-term growth “we all know it’s well beyond the ninth inning but so many aspects remain positive are companies that own or finance income-producing real estate across a range of property sectors These real estate companies have to meet a number of requirements to qualify as REITs and they offer a number of benefits to investors REITs historically have delivered competitive total returns steady dividend income and long-term capital appreciation Their comparatively low correlation with other assets also makes them an excellent portfolio diversifier that can help reduce overall portfolio risk and increase returns These are the characteristics of real estate investment Nareit serves as the worldwide representative voice for REITs and real estate companies with an interest in U.S Nareit’s members are REITs and other real estate companies throughout the world that own as well as those firms and individuals who advise the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts®, is the worldwide representative voice for REITs and publicly traded real estate companies with an interest in U.S Nareit's members are REITs and other businesses throughout the world that own National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts® and Nareit® are registered trademarks of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit) Deere Park is from childhood friends chef Todd Stein and Josh Kaplan Todd Stein’s commute from Wilmette to his newly opened Highwood restaurant, Deere Park For a chef who’s spent the majority of his career in Chicago not needing to brave traffic from the North Shore to the city is a game-changer avoiding bumper-to-bumper situations along the Edens Expressway wasn’t the driving force behind why Stein opened his “American brasserie.” He knew firsthand how successful a suburban restaurant could be Sales could match or exceed what a Chicago restaurant could make but without the headaches of traffic and parking: “Why not make my life a little easier while doing what I love?” Stein says Stein wants to ensure customers are comfortable on all visits from grabbing a glass of wine and a burger at the bar to celebrating an anniversary Stein helped open MK in 1998; helmed the Bristol, often hailed as the ultimate neighborhood restaurant; and ran Formento’s, the red sauce Italian spot along Randolph Restaurant Row. He sees Deere Park in the same vein as great Chicago restaurants from the ’90s and ’00s like Blackbird and MK There’s a casual come-as-you-are vibe with great food Stein says suburban diners have surprised him He wasn’t sure if diners would take to a trio of vegetable dishes — carrots with savory pumpkin seed crunch and cilantro; beets and burrata with watercress and seeded honey; and crispy artichoke hearts with bearnaise aioli and lemon The latter is a tribute to how he prepped artichokes in the ’90s at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London those three dishes have been Deere Park’s top sellers but Stein and his staff are putting thought behind dessert with selections like a lemon gelato pie Deere Park also retained about 20 workers from Greenwood and their cohesion immediately paid off on opening night Stein says its point-of-sale system crashed on opening night and the seasoned staff immediately shifted toward hand-written tickets without missing a beat Highwood, a town of 5,300, is about 30 miles from Chicago. The tiny city has quite a restaurant scene, including Alex’s Washington Gardens. Rumors are also swirling that One Off Hospitality Group — Big Star, Avec the Publican) is working on a Highwood project When asked what’s the difference between a neighborhood restaurant in the city versus one in the suburbs Stein had a simple answer: “Trees and grass.” Deere Park Lake and McHenry County Scanner A woman was charged after she crashed into a guardrail and rolled her car over in Highwood requiring firefighters to extricate her and transport her to the hospital The Highwood Police Department and Highland Park Fire Department responded around 12:58 a.m Thursday to the area of Sheridan Road and First Street in Highwood for a report of a vehicle crash Highland Park Deputy Fire Chief Frank Nardomarino said crews arrived to find a single-vehicle crash A car had struck the guardrail and rolled over Firefighters worked to remove the adult female driver from the SUV which came to rest on its driver’s side Nardomarino said the woman was transported to a local hospital for evaluation of non-life-threatening injuries The crash occurred on a curve along Sheridan Road just north of First Street where vehicles routinely crash into the guardrail Highwood Police Chief Dave Wentz said an officer was traveling northbound on Sheridan Road behind the Land Rover Range Rover prior to the crash The officer witnessed the Range Rover crash into the guardrail which resulted in a large amount of the guardrail being damaged The 38-year-old Lake Forest woman was allegedly driving under the influence and was cited for the offense Wentz said the fire department had to extricate her from the car due to the way the vehicle came to rest No other vehicles were involved the road was not closed for an extended period No part of this website may be reproduced or stored in any form without written permission from Lake and McHenry County Scanner To keep you informed about the latest news across Lake and McHenry counties as it happens This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page visiting my friends was like being in my own home: the same foods were served and I saw pictures of relatives on their walls posted in a fashion similar to mine at home The promotional calendars of the local Italian insurance firm hung right next to the pictures of the pope in all our kitchens My friends’ parents spoke broken English with the same Italian accent as my parents They imposed identical rules and doled out similar discipline after which the boys accompanied their fathers to the local coffee shop while our mothers and sisters went back home to cook the Sunday family meal The whole lot of us looked and acted alike our similarities even more pronounced because we Italians all knew each other’s business The only wrinkle to this homogeneity was Fort Sheridan The children from the Fort joined us in school and in play They provided a different look and a diverse way of doing Their food was distinct from ours as were their homes and daily routines The Fort introduced us to people of unfamiliar ethnicities we easily accepted and adapted as we grew and melded together but it also delivered valuable exposure for us children The Fort reflected the evolving American landscape we lived in makeshift living quarters that shared a common wall with my aunt’s garage in her back lot They had constructed a space with a small kitchen and a bathroom with a pedestal sink … but absent a bathtub or shower — we used my aunt’s bathtub/shower when needed while my sister and I slept on cots that were folded and stored upright against the wall when not in use the sleeping area also served as the living room The total space was much like the square footage of our house that we had just left in Italy and provided a comfortable area in which to entertain fellow immigrants opening my presents in the middle of the pulled-out exposed couch bed while many people stood around me clapping as I showed them my birthday items My father worked as a carpenter Monday through Friday in Fort Sheridan onto his shoulder and walked the 10 blocks to the Fort he walked to fellow Italians’ homes to help them with their construction projects or repairs If no side job presented itself on a particular Saturday My father accepted whatever work he could find to expediently meet loan payments that had accrued because of our immigration my mother worked from home as a seamstress and also pressed shirts for business executives from an affluent suburb just to our north so her immersion wasn’t as immediate as my father’s needed to be My sister was allowed only one day to acclimate I remember holding my mother’s hand at the bottom of the long flight of concrete steps that led to the kindergarten doors and watching my sister ascend in her pink snowsuit who coordinated all church and school matters for immigrants I would not need to walk up those stairs for another 10 months After eight months of sharing the garage behind my aunt’s house we moved to a rental house that afforded us much more space and a galley kitchen now gave us room to comfortably move without always running into each other The house sat on a large lot and was tucked at the back of the property ours was the last house before a steep descent to a sparsely wooded natural area with a shallow lagoon and the shrubs cleared for construction of houses that sit there today Our location next to a swampy area meant mice would frequently enter the house in which I followed him but didn’t participate; it dealt with emptying and resetting the traps Two years at that location led to a better-suited home across the street from the church and school and thus in 1958 the parish became our landlord My sister and I finally had our own bedrooms We also had a basement where we could play The basement was large enough to accommodate my father’s and mother’s workshops as well which allowed my parents to save enough money to submit a down payment on a house in Highland Park They didn’t require a bank loan; rather they borrowed the additional money they needed from an Italian immigrant working as a landscaper at many properties He had accumulated a small fortune that he gladly loaned to fellow Italian immigrants at a fraction of the interest rate charged by banks Tags In her 2023 documentary “We Are Art Through the Eyes of Annalaura,” Naples-based multimedia artist … This is the best memoir I have read in a very long while I grew up in Highland Park at that same time If you have a mailing list I would like to be added to it Thank you for your kind words…much appreciated but all of my stories published to date can be read in Fra Noi Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Click here for details Stunning 3,700+ sq ft shingle-style Cape Cod home in the premier gated community of Ballymeade Estates This thoughtfully designed residence blends timeless New England architecture with upscale modern living The first-floor primary suite features a cathedral ceiling The gourmet eat-in kitchen flows into a bright living room with gas fireplace and coffered ceiling Upstairs offers three bedrooms (one en-suite) and a partially finished basement add to the appeal The Cape Club offers a championship golf and amenities for the entire family or join the private Sacconnesset Golf Club designed by Rees Jones Enjoy the professionally landscaped yard and close proximity to Falmouth beaches & the Shining Sea Bike Trail An exceptional home in a sought-after location which recently was ranked as the second-best school district in Montana by the website Niche Bozeman claimed the top spot, and Geraldine was rated #3. Click here to see the complete list Report a typo 2024 at 10:56 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Ring in 2025 with a variety of celebrations on Chicago's North Shore dining experiences and live music on New Year's Eve it's time to reflect on the last 12 months while also planning for what's ahead Whether you’re staying local or looking for something special it's time to decide how and where to ring in the new year If you're looking to head out to celebrate the start of 2025 here are some ideas and happenings in and around Highland Park and Highwood on Dec A lively party at the Highwood distillery is set to feature music by DJ Mobbin with hits from the 70s to today The event promises a vibrant suburban atmosphere and convenient access to the Highwood Metra station for a night of music Experience a dazzling winter wonderland through Jan music and art at the Chicago Botanic Garden's Lightscape themed dress-up nights and a 21+ evening with handcrafted cocktails under the lights This event features performances by Chris Carter (The Mentalist) The Sons of the Never Wrong and Corky Siegel joined by Ernie Watts Evanston restaurants are offering New Year’s Eve specials and there are free and paid parking lots available nearby Celebrate New Year’s Eve with an all-access pass to games Guests 21 and older can enjoy console booths board games and a midnight champagne toast In Chicago, catch the fireworks along the Chicago River or the Navy Pier with simultaneous shows occurring at midnight. Block Club Chicago reports that for the Chicago River show fireworks will be launched from six bridges spanning the river from Franklin Street to Columbus Drive additional activities will precede the fireworks starting at 9 p.m The transition from one year to the next is often marked by the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish folk song whose title roughly translates to “days gone by,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica and History.com Related: What New Year’s Resolution Did You Keep? How Did You Do It? [Patch Survey] The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates back 8,000 years to ancient Babylonians who made promises to return borrowed items and repay debts at the beginning of the new year which was in mid-March when they planted their crops the pagan gods would grant them favor in the coming year Many secular New Year’s resolutions focus on imagining new The failure rate of New Year’s resolutions is about 80 percent but a big one is they’re made out of remorse — for gaining weight for example — and aren’t accompanied by a shift in attitude or a plan for coping with the stress and discomfort that comes with changing a habit or condition Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Chris “KOZ” Kozloff and Laura “Lulu” Reich view two of the Highwood murals that Reich curated last year Laura “Lulu” Reich was living in New York during the July 4, 2022, parade shooting in Highland Park She’s an art dealer and curator in New York and once owned her own gallery there But last summer, determined to help Highland Park heal from the tragedy that took seven lives, she returned home to curate a collection of 12 street murals in neighboring Highwood for the town’s first Highwood International Mural Festival Walking Highwood streets earlier this month Reich blinked back tears as she admired the walls The festival had such a profound impact on her that she and her fiance Kozloff is co-owner of Silvertuna Studios production company “I know how much everyone has gone through there,” Reich says “Our artists painted their hearts out for us and their work shows how public art heals by bringing us together.” The couple plans to return not only to reconnect with Reich’s roots but because they say they realize their work is needed Some of the artists who painted in Highwood might sell out a big-city gallery their work is featured on walls that are an easy day trip from around Chicago and the suburbs The new murals “turned (Highwood) into an art city.” Reich commissioned six artists from Chicago six from New York and one from the Netherlands to paint the library sides of stores and restaurants and walls fronting the Metra train tracks that run through town watching murals from the train in New York was how she fell in love with graffiti and street murals prompting her to switch occupations from her corporate job to the art world “this is changing people’s commute every day,” Reich says Their creations include caricatures of Highwood and Highland Park residents; multi-tier Mario Bros.-inspired kitsch; kaleidoscopic animal faces; rainbow-colored hand-written text musings; pastel robots and more Reich originally approached Highland Park about the murals but the city wasn’t ready to accommodate them at that time She hopes to work with that city in the future Highwood isn’t planning another mural festival this year She said the event joins Highwood’s long tradition of festivals and celebrations It’s about beautifying the community,” she says Highwood resident Lenny Innocenzi, owner of Buffo’s Restaurant says he’s proud of the multi-tier Mario Bros art running up the sides and rooftop of his eatery ending with a green-spotted mushroom on top He hopes the festival returns with more murals around his beloved city Terms of Use • Privacy Notice • Cookie Policy • Terms of Sale Alex’s Washington Gardens of Highwood has evolved to WG Pizzas with dreams of expansion in Chicago Most major American cities offer hundreds of pizza options but the Chicago market is even tougher as the city is saturated with an abundance of different styles including its two most popular — deep dish and tavern style These pizzerias cure rolled-out dough for exceptionally thin crusts not everything needs to be slimmed down for the New Year but not as much as South Side spots like Beggar’s Pizza Another difference in Washington Gardens’ approach is its pepperoni America has fallen in love with pepperoni cups Washington Gardens uses old-school pepperoni that doesn’t invert and crisp up in the oven Some pizzerias prefer cups because the sausage is precut — there’s less labor involved for employees it was a bit refreshing to bite into Washington Gardens’ traditional pep with so many pizzerias jumping on the cup bandwagon pop in to see folks eating sausage and giardiniera or the Black and White pizza topped with a balsamic drizzle and parmesan cheese Alex’s Washington Gardens is a taste of home Ownership has been scouting locations in Chicago looking for a space to open The Glazers want to open multiple restaurants spreading the gospel of tavern-style pizza across the country The Glazers grew up on the North Shore and Ben Glazer would go to school at the University of Wisconsin. He recalls touring Big 10 schools in a bus They’ve opened for big-name acts such as OAR: “I feel like I’ve lived two lives,” Glazer says The pizzas will be available in Highwood and Chicago Ben Glazer says he feels the same adrenaline in running a restaurant as he did playing music But as he and his family continue their expansion plans The new locations won’t be the same as Highwood: “I don’t think I can recreate this Alex’s Washington Garden, 230 Green Bay Road in Highwood, WG Pizzas available for pickup or delivery via third party The last of three men convicted in the murder of a 20-year-old Highland Park man who was shot robbed and had his body dumped has been sentenced to 32 years in prison was charged in 2013 with first-degree murder armed robbery and possession of a stolen vehicle Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti sentenced Schenk to 32 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections during a court hearing last Tuesday who has been held in custody since his arrest over 10 years ago previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Schenk also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault of a corrections officer for an incident while in custody that occurred in February 2016 He received a one-year prison sentence last Tuesday on that charge He will receive credit on his sentence for 4,428 days of time already served awaiting trial The charges against Schenk stemmed from the murder of Colin Nutter on the border of Highland Park and Highwood two others were also charged in Nutter’s murder — Philip Vatamaniuc Evidence at Vatamaniuc’s trial showed that Vatamaniuc were together in Highland Park at the residence of a friend Coffee and Schenk passed a firearm back and forth between each other and Coffee talked about who they could rob to obtain drugs and money according to evidence and testimony at trial Nutter’s name came up and Coffee called Nutter and arranged to meet him under the guise of meeting to purchase marijuana The three suspects left Hahn’s house to meet Nutter while one of them was still armed with the gun Nutter arrived at the meeting spot and the trio got into his vehicle Schenk testified that Coffee turned the volume up on the radio and yelled “Do it,” at which point Vatamaniuc shot Nutter in the back of the head and took the marijuana that the victim possessed Schenk and Vatamaniuc put Nutter’s body into the trunk of the victim’s car and Coffee drove them back to Hahn’s house where Schenk and Coffee cleaned the inside of the vehicle with bleach Coffee and Schenk left the home and began driving around before finding a secluded spot where they dumped Nutter’s body in some brush and covered it up They returned to the location an hour later to steal Nutter’s wallet Coffee took cash from the wallet and Schenk threw the cards that were in Nutter’s wallet out of the car window as they drove on the expressway Vatamaniuc was convicted at trial in 2017 and sentenced to 54 years in prison. Coffee pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 years in prison in March 2024 Following Schenk’s sentencing last week told Lake and McHenry County Scanner she was disappointed that he was not sentenced longer for taking her brother’s life Nutter said Schenk will be eligible for parole in eight years “It should never have taken almost 12 years to sentence him This benefited him because of a new law in 2024 allowing parole eligibility for those sentenced after its enactment I believe he’s a dangerous person and should be kept out of society,” Nutter said She added that Schenk’s co-defendants were sentenced to 40 years and 54 years and there is a big discrepancy in the sentences despite all being convicted of murder told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that he is glad the court cases are finally over after nearly 12 years “I am glad this is finally over and that the three killers of my son Colin are now all sentenced They are dangerous people and I hope they can be rehabilitated in prison,” Nutter said “I also hope this will provide some closure now for me and my family for the legal process at least,” he added GREAT FALLS — Tommy Michael VanHoose has been charged in federal court in Great Falls with filing false income tax returns after an undercover investigation determined he did not report approximately $1.4 million of his gross receipts resulting in a tax loss of almost $500,000 Attorney Jesse Laslovich said in a news release on Friday District Court charges VanHoose with five counts of submitting a false tax return skimmed cash from his firearms business and did not report 20 percent of his gross receipts to the IRS which resulted in a substantial underpayment of income taxes to the United States After a thorough investigation conducted by the IRS we allege VanHoose’s own statements to an undercover agent were accurate which is why he is charged with multiple counts of submitting a false federal tax return,” Laslovich said The indictment alleges that VanHoose owned and operated Highwood Creek Outfitters LLC a firearms distributor and shooting range in Great Falls listed the business for sale for $1,750,000 inquired about the list price by calling the real estate agent in February 2023 The real estate agent told the undercover that “[N]ot everything flows to the tax returns.” the real estate agent told the undercover that they would not identify in writing any “off the books” income but the actual amount of income was “substantial.” The agent toured Highwood Creek Outfitters with VanHoose in May 2023 VanHoose stated that he skimmed approximately $450,000 in cash and repeatedly stated he did not report 20 percent of the gross receipts to the IRS Based on his own claims and on records obtained through a search warrant VanHoose underreported approximately 20 percent of his income for tax years 2018 through 2022 resulting in him owing the IRS approximately $492,254 The indictment alleges that when individuals purchase firearms from Highwood Creek Outfitters they are required to complete a Bureau of Alcohol The agent asked VanHoose how underreporting of income was possible when the ATF tracked gun sales by serial number through ATF Form 4473s “they don’t know what I’m paying for or I’m getting in income off those guns.” IRS agents executed a search warrant on June 14 the ATF Form 4473s to determine the amount of unreported income The actual gun prices were attached to the ATF Form 4473s and confirmed that VanHoose skimmed cash and underreported his gross receipts to the IRS VanHoose told MTN News: "“The fact that they think we make so much money as a gun business that they had to come investigate all the thousands millions of dollars whatever it is we supposedly absconded with anybody that knows the margins in the gun business knows they’re not that high." Van Hoose said at the time that the agents were cordial and professional Van Hoose told MTN News that his shop had a good relationship with the Bureau of Alcohol claiming that because his shop carries “fun guns” like AR-15's and AK-47s their level of licensing draws more scrutiny “We have a reputation of dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's because there's so much legal fun to be had,” said Van Hoose “It's just not worth doing things that are going to get you in trouble.” Several days after his business was searched a rally was held to show support for VanHoose: The indictment also alleges that VanHoose sold firearms for a higher price than what he entered into a point of sales system for the business; gave or sold firearms to others in which he did not record the transaction; and lied to his accountant by providing incomplete records to underreport income to the IRS and one year of supervised release on each count A summons was issued for VanHoose to appear for arraignment on September 10 before U.S Magistrate Judge John Johnston in Great Falls The news release notes that an indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt 2024 at 3:02 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}With trick-or-treat hours spanning the afternoon and early evening local officials recommend that families remain vigilant about safety and as communities across the North Shore gear up for the holiday local officials have issued recommended hours to help families safely enjoy trick-or-treating trick-or-treating runs from 3:30 to 7 p.m. official recommended trick-or-treating hours begin at 4 p.m trick-or-treating hours are set from 3 to 7 p.m. trick-or-treaters are encouraged to head out after school Officials reminded parents to ensure their little ghouls and goblins stay on sidewalks use marked crosswalks and avoid darting between vehicles to keep everyone safe on Halloween night and communities across the North Shore are dedicated to making sure everyone has a safe and memorable night Parents should keep the following tips in mind to ensure everyone stays safe and has a spooky good time: a group backed by seafood entrepreneur Jordan Mazzetta announced the acquisition of Maine-based seafood processor and distribution company Nova Seafood owned by Angelo Ciocca and George Branco for the past 30-plus years will continue to operate under the same management and practices expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition: "We are thrilled to welcome Nova Seafood into the Highwood Harbor family and their team have built an incredible legacy over the past three decades Note: All comments are displayed with user's screen name Please go to My Account to update your screen name Comment Policy: SeafoodNews.com and Urner Barry have made the comment feature available to encourage further discussion of our news stories or comments deemed not relevant to the story will be removed SeafoodNews.com and Urner Barry may restrict the right of individual subscribers to offer comments comments represent opinions of the poster only opinions or estimates put forward by SeafoodNews.com and Urner Barry ANALYSIS: Squid Market Faces New Crosscurrents Amid Recently Imposed Tariffs Squid continues its volatile trajectory into 2025 with many of the same challenges persisting and one significant new development poised to reshape the broader market landscape Supply across most squid species and origins entering the U.S the market continues to show signs of disruption.. “I’m Starting to Get Real Upset,” Sullivan’s Frustrated Call for Fisheries Surveys in Alaska Last week, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) Paul Dabbar, the nominee who will likely be the new Deputy Secretary of the Department of Commerce, on fisheries stock surveys in Alaska.  Sullivan pointed out that if staffing and approved funding from the Department are not prioritized there will be no fishing. Sullivan also demanded that Dabbar and Commerce officials work promptly with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to sign the pending maintenance contract for the Kodiak.. The Nova Scotia government is trying to strengthen international trade partners in light of the United States’ tariffs which are impacting provincial economic uncertainty are in Spain and then the United Kingdom for events around the industry the pair will be promoting Nova Scotia’s seafood in Barcelona and discussing defence and security “Leaders and the business community from other countries repeatedly tell me how highly..." European Council Postpones Vietnam's Seafood Inspection Until Year End HANOI — The European Commission (EC) has delayed its fifth inspection of Vietnam's efforts to combat illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to the end of 2025 according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) The ministry received the notification from the EC’s Directorate – General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG-MARE) in early May which requested Vietnam to submit a progress report on implementing the EC’s recommended improvements before September 15 The commission will dispatch an inspection team to the country in late 2025 if the report demonstrates sufficient advancements.. Maine Lobsterman Charged with Illegal Possession of Certain Lobsters New Hampshire (WMTW) — Officials with New Hampshire's Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division have charged a Maine man with several charges related to illegal fishing practices they boarded the vessel "For the Win" operated by Rodney Genthner The vessel had been closely monitored because officials say Genthner did not have appropriate licensing and did not follow required equipment regulations Genthner faces several state and federal charges after finding V-notched female.. Senator Collins Releases Statement Celebrating Full Restoration of Sea Grant Funding Senator Susan Collins recently released the following statement after the University of Maine announced it has received full funding for Maine Sea Grant After a February announcement from the Department of Commerce that the program was being defunded Senator Collins contacted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and the Trump administration to explain all that is at stake for Maine’s coastal communities with the loss of Sea Grant funding Secretary Lutnick directed NOAA to renegotiate the terms and conditions of the work to be performed by Maine Sea Grant to ensure that it focuses on advancing Maine’s coastal economies Lawmakers OK $1.1B for Salmon Habitat Restoration in Washington State Another billion dollars of highway construction to restore salmon habitat will likely be coming to Western Washington over the next six years The state Legislature approved an additional $1.1 billion for court-ordered Department of Transportation culvert replacement projects bringing the program's roughly two-decade total to $5.2 billion Bob Ferguson still has until May 20 to review and veto items in the budget Representatives from the state and tribal nations are also expected to begin mediation over the program's schedule and.. USGS Challenges Simple Narrative Linking Menhaden to Osprey Decline Geological Survey (USGS) sent last week to the House Natural Resources Committee indicates multiple environmental stressors - not just prey availability - are responsible for recent osprey reproduction issues in the Chesapeake Bay The USGS' conclusions challenge narratives pushed by menhaden fishery opponents Bryan Watts of the Center for Conservation Biology which linked a decline in osprey reproduction in Virginia's Mobjack Bay to reduced availability of menhaden Menhaden increase in osprey diets is statistically insignificant Donald Trump's Trade Policies Take Aim at Currency Exchange Rate The US administration’s April 2 tariff announcement (later paused for 90 days) is part of a broader strategy aimed at compelling foreign governments to reduce trade barriers to American goods the policy targets non-tariff barriers such as agricultural regulations Countries have been given a three-month deadline to make concessions or face new tariffs ranging from 10% to over 50%.. GAPP Gets USDA Funds for 2025 Trade Missions The Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) a group focused on marketing and researching Alaska's pollock industry between its receipt of federal funds for exploring emerging markets and the release of its most recent round of Partnership Program funding for which proposals are now being accepted Exploring emerging markets in South America and Asia GAPP announced its receipt of federal funding through the U.S Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA-FAS) Emerging Markets Program (EMP) to explore emerging markets.. Full $4.5 Million in Maine Sea Grant Funding Restored The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration informed the University of Maine on Monday that it was reinstating all $4.5 million in federal funding it had previously cut from Maine Sea Grant The 20-person program provides technical and research support to the state's fisheries and coastal economies "The groundswell of support for Maine Sea Grant and the stories that have surfaced about its incredible impact on our state's working waterfronts have been extraordinary and effective," UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy.. Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Opens from California/Oregon Border to Humboldt Bay Following a recommendation from state health agencies(opens in new tab) the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced(opens in new tab) the reopening of the commercial rock crab fishery in northern California from the California/Oregon border (42° 00.00’ N Lat.) to the Humboldt Bay entrance at the north jetty (40° 46.15’ N This area has remained closed for nearly a decade following a domoic acid outbreak and lack of sampling effort in subsequent years.. The Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association (FIFCA) and its Spanish associates said that following the early closure of the first Loligo season (March 1 to April 27) given the scientific reports and with total catches close to 38,000 tons FIFCA said that "whilst the early closure of the first Loligo season – with just a few days remaining - is disappointing we understand the reasons behind the decision it is important that we collectively protect our resources and maintain a sustainable fishery..." NZ Snapper Trial Promising Underwater Pen is Innovative 'Stepping Stone' Towards Open Ocean Farming Finfish are being trialled in an open ocean aquaculture test system for the first time in New Zealand – in a “soft” Plant & Food Research has moved around 2000 snapper from its Nelson finfish facility to its prototype pen in Tasman Bay about 6km off the western coast of D’Urville Island after the project got fast-track approval last year Programme lead Dr Suzy Black said the system developed by Plant & Food Research was the first of its kind.. Violence and Organized Crime: Inside the Lawless East Coast Elver Fishery In the chill dark of a March night on a Nova Scotia river a hip-wader-wearing woman put Canda’s sovereignty to the test the 40 or so net-wielding members of Sipekne’katik First Nation on the opposite bank were calling Canada’s bluff They caught juvenile American eels (elvers) under their own band-issued licenses in defiance of a Fisheries Act requiring them to have licenses approved by the federal fisheries minister “I think it was the fourth call to DFO I asked their dispatch if they..." OPINION: About Time Lobster Rules Were Informed by Lobster Fishery Turbulent" is a word often used in reporting about the relationship between the people who lobster for a living and the people who regulate that business The state of Maine last week announced something that might take the temperature down: As it develops new rules for fishing it has undertaken to conduct the first survey of commercial lobstermen in almost 20 years This regulatory landscape is generally uneven and hotly contested Britain can keep its post-Brexit ban on sand eel fishing - designed to protect puffin populations - a European court has ruled after the EU attempted to overturn the policy The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that the UK was not legally obliged to reverse bans in either English or Scottish waters despite the EU arguing the policy broke the terms of the Brexit trade deal It is being interpreted as a "great Brexit win" for the Government at a time when Westminster and Brussels are locked in negotiations over fishing.. SeafoodNews.com is the most widely read seafood industry news in North America We provide a quick daily snapshot of the global seafood industry we focus on the business side of the industry Our largest reader category is seafood buyers Subscription: There are two options the free subscription which you can find here. this will give you access to updates every 72 hours or you can upgrade to premium access learn more here. Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline Silver Bay Partners with BBEDC to Purchase Former Icicle Stake in OBI Seafoods Seafood Expo North America 2025: Day 1 in Photos What Trump Tariffs Mean for Food and Agriculture Trade The Winding Glass: Seafood Consumption in Crossfire as Global Tariff War Erupts 18 States Sue Over Trump’s Halting of Wind Power Projects The halt threatens jobs and holds back energy production at a time the president has claimed an “energy emergency,” state attorneys general said Eighteen states sued the Trump administration Monday over its halting of permits for wind-energy projects arguing that its actions posed an existential threat to the burgeoning industry “This administration is devastating one of our nation’s fastest-growing sources of clean reliable and affordable energy,” said Attorney General Letitia James of New York Tuna Seller Alliance Select Triples Q1 Net Income Tuna cannery Alliance Select Foods International Inc (ASFII) said Monday that its net income after tax (NIAT) in the first quarter of 2025 reached $215,000 (about P12 million) more than triple or 219% higher than earnings booked in the same period last year the company said "NIAT improved despite an 8% decrease in net revenue resulting from lower volume of key products." The tuna exporter said gross profit in the period reached $1.82 million up 15% compared to the same period last year.. A Massive Coastal Restoration Project Is in Peril Amid Claims Louisiana Concealed a Critical Report An ambitious project to restore a rapidly vanishing stretch of Louisiana coast devastated by the 2010 Gulf oil spill has been thrown deeper into disarray amid claims by Gov Jeff Landry that his predecessor concealed an unfavorable study that could imperil the $3 billion effort An ambitious project to restore a rapidly vanishing stretch of Louisiana coast that was devastated by the 2010 Gulf oil spill has been thrown deeper into disarray amid claims by Gov Jeff Landry that his predecessor concealed an unfavorable.. Bills Aimed at Rescuing Ailing Alaska Seafood Industry Face Tough Budget Challenges squeezed by depressed fish prices and increased costs Also in a crisis is the Alaska state budget with both investment income and oil revenues in sharp decline That presents a dilemma for lawmakers trying to find ways to help the beleaguered seafood industry What can they do to boost the industry's fortunes at a time when they are staring down a big budget deficit Some bills are pending in the Legislature that aim to aid fishers Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #7 Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #7." This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week.. West Coast Fisheries Infrastructure Waxes and Wanes: Part 1 Shoreside fisheries support decreases following limited fishing seasons  Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part series on the struggles facing shoreside infrastructure that supports West Coast fisheries submitted by Pacific Fishery Management Council Executive Director Merrick Burden Parts 2 and 3 will be published later this week.  Stand on a dock in any West Coast fishing town and you will see similar things: worn wood these are just some of the more obvious signs of an underlying problem that is making fishing off the West Coast exceptionally difficult: The decay and loss of shoreside infrastructure.  Infrastructure is everything that supports a healthy fishery It means docks that need to be maintained in the harsh elements; harbors that need to be regularly dredged; fuel docks to keep vessels moving; bait suppliers; and support businesses to sell and store the gear that a fishing boat needs It means ice to chill the fish; a dock and hoist to land them; a buyer to buy them; a processor to filet and package them; cold storage; and a distribution network and reliable markets and repair services for when things go wrong The past few years have been rough for West Coast fisheries.   Russian Financial Conglomerate AFK Sistema Sells Major Salmon Fishing Asset in Kamchatka The Russian financial conglomerate AFK Sistema has decided to sell its major fishing asset one of Russia’s largest Pacific salmon fishing companies with a business value of approximately RUB 15 billion (USD $183 million).   which is owned by Russian businesswoman Milana Kerimova.    Voskhod Holding is considered one of Russia’s largest Pacific salmon producers The company's main assets are located in Kamchatka fish farms have seen a spike in attacks from sea lions prompting companies to request the use of rubber bullets as a deterrent Sea lions "have breached the system and are being aggressive to staff," wrote Krista Sandberg regional manager of aquaculture environmental operations at Fisheries and Oceans Canada describing the situation at a fish farm run by the aquaculture company Mowi near Port Hardy "[They] have requested to [use] rubber bullets to gain control of the situation..." Fortune Sues Former Executive and Salmon Company Vikenco for Stealing Trade Secrets (Fortune) recently filed a lawsuit against former employee Christopher J Marchese and Norwegian salmon company Vikenco North America argues that the defendants stole confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets and engaged in direct competition with the plaintiffs despite contractual and common law obligations that prohibited such activity.. CHANNEL ISLANDS -- Strands of kelp glow in the dim morning light off California's Channel Islands as fish and sea lions weave through the golden fronds It's a scene of remarkable abundance — the result of more than two decades of protection in one of the state's oldest marine reserves life in the vast Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument faces a very different future The Trump administration has moved to reopen 500,000 square miles (about 1.3 million square kilometers) of previously protected waters there to.. Lobster Industry Worried About Prices as Season Begins The Maritime Fishermen's Union is concerned that prices paid to lobster fishermen in northern New Brunswick won't be enough to cover their rising overhead costs but they are concerned that "rumoured" prices of $6 to $6.50 per pound are not enough to cover the rising costs of fuel and they believe $8 per pound would be better CDFW Announces Closure of Mad River Fish Hatchery The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Friday the end of fish rearing at the Mad River hatchery citing millions in repair costs the department is on the hook for during a state budget crisis along with some rainbow trout living there will be released in spring Hatchery operations will then cease come June or early July “This place has been struggling with financial issues for decades,” said Peter Tira Vietnamese Ca Mau Seafood Overcomes the Fear of US Tariffs After the US announced new counterpart tariffs on imported goods seafood processing and exporting enterprises have proposed solutions The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau Province said that Ca Mau Fisheries products exported to the US market were mainly shrimp the export turnover of the province to the US market in 2023 was 70.98 million USD (accounting for 5.91% of the province's exports); In 2024 it reached 76.78 million USD (accounting for 6.07% of the province's exports) Jury selection commenced Monday for the trial of the 23-year-old Highwood man accused of fatally shooting seven people and injuring dozens of others during Highland Park’s 2022 Independence Day parade It began with Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti admonishing prospective jurors to “keep an open mind a mind that is free of any misconceptions” and “resist jumping to conclusions” as questioning began shortly before 11 a.m Seated next to his attorneys — Lake County Public Defender Greg Ticsay and assistant Lake County public defender Anton Trizna — defendant his attorneys and prosecutors questioned prospective jurors The defendant faces 21 counts of first-degree murder and dozens of other charges related to the July 4 attack which claimed the lives of Highland Park residents Katherine Goldstein which also claimed the lives of Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza Authorities allege the suspect perched atop a downtown Highland Park building and fired dozens of shots from a military-style rifle into the crowd gathered for the parade remains incarcerated in the Lake County jail he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison the defendant did not return from the jail for the afternoon session Rossetti has admonished him several times that the trial will continue without him if he chooses to be absent a radio reporter who was part of the media pool was removed from the courtroom after prosecutors named him as a potential witness 2024 at 10:03 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Here's what is on the ballot in Highland Park IL — Election Day is nearly here as voting for the 2024 general election in Highland Park Highwood and the rest of Lake County comes to an end Tuesday Eligible voters who have yet to register may do so in person while casting a ballot Tuesday although early voting site with grace period registration also offer the opportunity to register and vote in one fell swoop The Highwood Library and Community Center at 102 Highwood Ave offers early voting and grace period registration from 9 a.m on weekdays through Election Day and 9 a.m Other nearby early voting locations include North Chicago City Hall 200 Deerfield Road and Lake Forest City Hall (A list of all early voting and grace period registration sites in Lake County While the closest and most nationally consequential race on the ballot is expected to be the presidential contest between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris there are several other notable races on the ballot in Highland Park and Highwood Voters in the city of Highland Park and Moraine Township public bodies that are mostly but not entirely overlapping are set to decide on a pair of referendums on Nov The binding township referendum proposes the establishment of a community mental health board composed of appointed volunteers to oversee new mental health services funded by a property tax increase of about $10 per year per $100,000 of home value Supporters highlight the lack of local resources noting that 90 other Illinois communities already have similar boards and citing a pressing need within the township where 49 residents are on waitlists for intellectual and developmental disability services and annual data from Highland Park Hospital and Highland Park High School indicate hundreds of local youth face severe mental health and substance abuse challenges will allow voters to endorse a change in the city code to allow liquor license holders to serve on the City Council undoing a clause that forced Councilmember Jeff Hoobler to resign due to his co-ownership of a local brewery when Mayor Nancy Rotering and a pair of her City Council allies blocked an amendment to the code that would have allowed Hoobler — the largest vote-getter in last year's election — to remain on the council Read more: Mental Health Board, Liquor License Referendums On Highland Park, Moraine Township Ballots In the Illinois General Assembly's 58th District, which includes Highland Park and Highwood, State Rep. Bob Morgan, the Deerfield Democrat who sponsored the statewide ban on assault weapons, faces a challenge from Highland Park Republican Carl Lambrecht, a local precinct committeeman who made a series of dubious claims at a recent forum Read More: 58th District State Rep. Bob Morgan Defends Legislative Record, Carl Lambrecht Makes Dubious Claims Voters across the county are deciding whether to authorize Lake County Forest Preserve officials to borrow $155 million to buy more land restore and improve it and enhance flood controls the bond issue would end up costing the owner of a $300,000 home about $33 in the first year of the increase Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart is running against Republican Lake Bluff Village Trustee Mary Cole a former assistant state's attorney in his office who says she quit because of how politicized it became after Rinehart's election four years ago Read more: Lake County State's Attorney Forum: Rinehart Repeats Trump Jab, Cole Calls Out Hawaii Cost the second-generation co-owner of a local funeral home incumbent Highland Park Democrat Paras Parekh a marketing executive for a pharmaceutical company is being challenged in his bid for a second term by Lake Forest Republican Andy Dalkin a former Cook County prosecutor who now represents police unions Read more: 12th District: County Board Candidates Clash Over Property Taxes, Billionaire Influence There are three statewide advisory questions — non-binding referendums sometimes used by Illinois politicians to block citizen-led initiatives from appearing on the ballot or to otherwise buttress their policies — on the ballot the questions ask whether insurance plans should cover assisted reproductive treatments if they cover pregnancy if a 3 percent tax on incomes over $1 million should fund property tax relief and if candidates should face penalties for interfering with election workers Illinois lawmakers put them on the ballot in May through Senate Bill 2412, which also changed the rules for slating candidates that a judge later found to be unconstitutional highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family With more than five years of writing experience Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites Share LinkThe Illinois Fall Festival With The World’s Largest Display Of Jack-O-Lanterns You Simply Have To SeeThe Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival in Highwood is a free annual event featuring thousands of jack-o-lanterns The annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival in Highwood Boasting more jack-o-lanterns than you've ever seen at once this celebration of all things pumpkin will leave you mesmerized Plan on participating in the all-you-can-carve pumpkin stations throughout town competing in contests from pumpkin pie-eating to children and pet costumes and eating and shopping your way through the vendors new this year is Pumpkin Town USA at the center of Everts Park Let's check out the many reasons why this event should make your autumn calendar The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival is an important weekend to locals around the area offering three days of live music from two stages The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival/FacebookEach year folks attempt to break the Guinness World Record for most pumpkins carved and lit at once The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival/FacebookThe number of jack-o-lanterns to beat is 30,851 The day before this giant pumpkin festival volunteers come to carve pumpkins to help meet the goal The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival/FacebookDig deep and drag out the best pumpkin carvers you know to help out The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival/FacebookWith all of the work completed the main spectacle at the biggest pumpkin festival in Illinois is the ever-growing rows of carved pumpkins The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival/FacebookTo earn the win as the largest display in the world, they must be stacked on top of each other. look out for the spooky Skeletons on Display at the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival in Illinois some coinciding with this year's theme Rock N’ Roll Through History The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival/FacebookIn addition we'll see artistic guitars created by The Art Center Highland Park-commissioned artists is Community Appreciation Night featuring unlimited carnival ride specials The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival/FacebookThe rides are not part of the free admission Enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the fairgrounds and who knows you might be a winner in the costume contest The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival/FacebookSpeaking of treats the variety of delicious food at the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival is endless Facebook/The Great Highwood Pumpkin FestivalGrab a friend and spread some love this fall at the biggest pumpkin festival in Illinois The festivities of this spooktacular event will spread through Highwood City Hall 420-424 Sheridan Road; and the Highwood Metra Station Parking Lot Just look for the Great Pumpkin Walls that light up the town nightly Pumpkins are wonderful, but don't forget about autumn's other treats. Here are 11 delightful cider mills in Illinois to visit this fall. Choose your stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasNorthern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubscribe... If you'd love to see some of the most unusual attractions in the state, here is a road trip to some of Northern Arizona's quirkiest attractions. Thanks for subscribing. We’ll see you in your inbox! Highwood Emissions Management has announced the launch of their Emissions Intelligence Platform (EIP) a software that streamlines complex measurement-informed methane emissions accounting and reporting for the oil and gas industry "EIP closes the gap between measurement and action." said Thomas Fox "It uses empirical data to not only achieve – but to prove – strong performance maintaining investor confidence and methane accounting compliance in a world of conflicting emissions narratives." Developed collaboratively with a steering committee of leading international O&G companies consistent and framework-compliant methane inventories that comply with global methane initiatives and regulations like OGMP 2.0 "EIP's reconciliation workflow gives us confidence in our ability to achieve the OGMP 2.0 Gold Standard,” one user commented it empowers us to make informed decisions and have greater confidence in our methane emissions." EIP was co-designed with input from the Emissions Intelligence Steering Committee (EISC) comprised of four leading international and US-based O&G companies This collaboration ensures that the platform directly addresses the challenges faced by O&G companies from managing reputational risks to improving operational efficiency Improving mobility and connectivity for pedestrian We are adding a sidewalk to both sides of Highwoods Boulevard from Capital Boulevard to Atlantic Avenue we will also install a sidewalk on the west side of Poplarwood Court and Smoketree Court The project is a cost-share project with the Highwoods Property Owners Association.Adjustments to the sidewalk width and setback may be included in the final design to avoid significant impacts in certain areas as needed and determined by our Engineering staff The project is in the advanced design phase The approved 2017 Transportation Bond included $3 Million in the Public/Private Partnerships and Cost Sharing Fund City Council approved a resolution to consider Highwoods Boulevard Sidewalk improvements as a potential project on June 6 Council adopted a Public/Private Partnerships Policy to provide guidance on terms the City may consider in potential partnerships City staff worked with the Highwoods Property Owner's Association (POA) representatives on a cost-sharing partnership 2024 at 5:00 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Of the 11 registered sex offenders associated with Highland Park and Highwood one is listed as being currently incarcerated in state prison and two others have unknown addresses IL — There are eight sex offenders registered as Highland Park residents and three as residents of Highwood five are listed as non-compliant with the requirements of sex offender registration according to the Illinois Sex Offender Registry Of those who are not compliant with registration requirements two of them are listed with unknown addresses on the registry which registry is maintained by Illinois State Police which directed questions about non-compliant offenders to local police agencies Armando Basilio-Mancilla, 47, of Highland Park, who was convicted in Lake County of the aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a 12-year-old when he was 28; and Jose Raul Martinez who was convicted in Cook County of the aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a 16-year-old when he was 23 One offender associated with a Highland Park address is in the Illinois Department of Corrections until at least 2029 The below map indicates the eight addresses registered to sex offenders in Highland Park and Highwood Pins on the map represent addresses of offenders convicted of sex crimes they will display information about the registered offender at that address View larger map » Law enforcement officials and researchers caution that the registries play a limited role in preventing child sexual abuse and stress that most perpetrators are known to the child The U.S. Department of Justice, which oversees the National Sex Offender Public Website estimates that only about 10 percent of perpetrators of child sexual abuse are strangers to the child The Justice Department estimates 60 percent of perpetrators are known to the child but are not family members but rather family friends and 30 percent of child victims are abused by family members Nearly a quarter of the abusers are under the age of 18 The Association for the Treatment of Sex Abusers law enforcement and court officials involved in sexual abuse cases cautions that children do not face a heightened risk during the Halloween season: "There is no change in the rate of sexual crimes by non-family members during Halloween That was true both before and after communities enacted laws to restrict the activities of registrants during Halloween The crimes that do increase around Halloween are vandalism and property destruction 2024 at 1:02 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Early voting is underway in the Highland Park area ahead of the Nov where local voters will decide on mental health funding and lifting a council liquor license restriction IL — Early voting is in full swing as we head into the home stretch of the 2024 general election in Highland Park Residents have until Halloween to request a mail-in ballot and those who have yet to register must do so in person while casting a ballot or at an early voting site with grace period registration Celebrate Highwood has announced that its 14th annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival will go for two world records: the longest line of pumpkin pies (2,209 set in 2021) and the most jack-o'-lanterns on display (30,581 held by Keene fan favorite annual event will offer all-you-can-carve pumpkin stations throughout the festival grounds three days of live music from three stages children’s and pet costume and pumpkin pie eating contests Pumpkin Town USA and Superhero Skeleton Displays will be going up throughout Highwood beginning the weekend of Sept 28 to get the community in the Fall spirit The Skeletons and Pumpkin Town will be up all month long The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest grounds will be spread throughout Highwood at Highwood City Hall Street closures of Green Bay Road from North Avenue to Highwood Avenue and Highwood Avenue from Green Bay Road to Waukegan Avenue will welcome food drink and activity vendors as well as Great Pumpkin Walls that will be lit up nightly Attendees will enjoy three days of live music and contests from three stages throughout fest grounds including the Main Stage at North Avenue and Green Bay the Bandshell in Everts Park and the School of Rock Stage in Painters Park In combination with the 14th annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest the town will also boast Pumpkin Town USA in the center of Everts Park as well as the ever-popular Skeletons on Display with this years’ theme of scenes from superhero movies These artistic seasonal installations will be up all month long and encourage attendees to walk around downtown Highwood to pose for pictures patronize businesses and enjoy everything Highwood has to offer “The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest put Highwood on the map and it’s the perfect kickoff to fall after our summer series of events,” said Eric Falberg we are proving to the world why Illinois is The Great Pumpkin (pie) State by attempting to break the Guinness World Records for the longest line of (pumpkin) pies restaurants and groceries to make the pies which will be donated to nonprofits after the festival.” The public is also encouraged to BYOP (bring your own pumpkins) to once again go for the world record of the most jack-o'-lanterns lit and displayed Anyone interested in providing pumpkin pies to participate in the Guinness World Records attempt should email info@celebratehighwood.org or call (847) 432-6000 there will be a prelude to pumpkin fest opening night from 4-9 p.m with all-you-can-carve pumpkin carving stations set up throughout the festival grounds businesses and bars will be open for business as well Celebrate Highwood has chosen Kids Rank as the beneficiary of The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival Kids Rank creates a sense of stability and belonging for military kids wherever they go integrating them into their neighborhoods and developing them as future leaders in their communities “We are deeply honored to be the beneficiary of this year's Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest!” said Kelcey Liverpool founder and executive director of Kids Rank and it's where Kids Rank first launched its programs What began 13 years ago with 10 children in a small Highwood school has grown to serve over 200 children annually across nine schools in two districts Our mission is to foster a sense of belonging for military families and we are thrilled and grateful to be part of such a supportive community.” For a full music lineup and schedule, visit celebratehighwood.org or HighwoodPumpkinFest.com The weekend activities and events schedule will be constantly updated as activities are confirmed and the Highwood Metra Station Parking Lot Festival Opens; food and artisan craft vendors Trick-or-treating throughout festival grounds Noon Festival opens; food and artisan craft vendors Guinness World Records Attempt for Longest Line of Pumpkin Pies Noon Pet Costume Contest at Painters Park School of Rock Stage Kids Costume Contest at Painters Park School of Rock Stage Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest at Painters School of Rock Stage Matthew Murphy’s photography inspired “35MM,” a multimedia musical that tells stories through photos and songs. Performances take place at 221 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $15, $25. threebrotherstheatre.com The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, hosts a Latina Comedy Festival showcasing up-and-coming Millennial and Gen Z Latina comedians talking about their lives. The lineup includes Chicago stand-ups Christina Gutierrez, Courtney Zelazny, Hilary Jimenez, Jess Martinez and Monica Andrade. $30. (773) 697-3830 or thedentheatre.com The Hershey Super Sweet Adventure, a family-friendly attraction celebrating the candy brand, debuts at Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Hershey’s Kisses, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Twizzlers and Jolly Ranchers are among the candies featured as part of the interactive attraction. Tickets start at $24. hersheysupersweetadventure.com In keeping with the season, Chicago Seadog offers a 75-minute tour geared to adults of the Chicago River during which guides recall the city’s spooky and scandalous history. Tours depart from Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Tickets start at $50. cityexperiences.com The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, hosts its Cider and Ale Festival showcasing more than 30 local breweries and cideries. $75 admission includes samples and a commemorative pint beer glass; $85 VIP includes early admission at 11 a.m. and exclusive samples; $35 designated driver; $12 for kids 4-17. mortonarb.org Pianist Winston Choi joins The New Philharmonic for a program featuring Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. The performances mark artistic director/conductor Kirk Muspratt’s 20th season with the orchestra. $57. atthemac.org Chamber Music on the Fox opens its season with “A Celebration of Latin American Women” featuring the KAIA String Quartet performing music by female composers from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela. $15, $25, $30. chambermusiconthefox.org Grammy Award-winning Lewis Black (“Inside Out,” “The Daily Show”) brings his farewell tour “Goodbye Yeller Brick Road” to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $48-$75. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org a Chicago-based band founded by musician and philanthropist Rob Stepen will host a special charity performance on Saturday With WBBM Radio reporter and anchor Lisa Fielding as master of ceremonies a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for epilepsy research and awareness This second performance by The Generations following their October record release party for their vinyl album “Alternate View” — a project brought to life with the help of renowned audio engineer Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago — offers another opportunity to connect the power of music with a meaningful cause The evening will kick off with a networking reception from 7:30-8 p.m will deliver a presentation highlighting the organization’s mission and impact The night will conclude with a live performance by The Generations from 8:45-11 p.m Branded merchandise and the album will be available for purchase Tickets are available for $10 in advance or $12 at the door and can be purchased via RobStepenMusic.com album and merchandise sales will directly benefit Joey’s Song Founded in 2023 by Chicago musician and philanthropist Rob Stepen The Generations blends nostalgic ’80s rock with modern influences “Alternate View,” is the product of Stepen’s journey through the 1980s Chicago rock scene After recording two tracks in 1985 — “Have You Seen My Heart” and “Your Way” — the tapes were lost for decades until being rediscovered in 2023 The tracks were restored by Steve Albini and Taylor Hales at Electrical Audio mastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service and pressed at Third Man Records in Detroit The album blends the energy of 1980s rock with a modern sensibility creating a sound that resonates with both nostalgic and contemporary audiences The band’s current lineup includes Rob Stepen (rhythm guitar) Emi Fukuda (vocals) and Heather Bennett (vocals) For more info about The Generations, performance dates, or to purchase the album, visit RobStepenMusic.com Joey’s Song is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for epilepsy research and awareness who died in 2010 just shy of his 5th birthday after suffering a debilitating form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome the charity uses music to inspire change and support families affected by epilepsy For more information, visit joeyssong.org. Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. After earning his bachelor of arts at the University of Calgary, Jarret Stuart worked for a couple of years in the energy industry here. In 2006, he became principal of Helios Energy in Toronto, and in 2011, with friend David Walker, founded Stuwalk Energy based in Fort Nelson, B.C., that trucked fuels to natural gas companies in the field. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Article contentThen he was enticed to go east — first in Toronto and then to Nova Scotia where he became a successful businessman. But after purchasing Highwood Distillers in High River, he returned home to Calgary late last year. He says he became fascinated by the whisky industry while enjoying a dram in the company of his father-in-law. He mused about how it was produced and decided that he could make it. It was not an entirely new subject to Stuart, as his great-great-grandfather Alexander Stuart was instrumental in introducing Macallan Scotch whisky to Canada back in 1847. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Noon News Roundup will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Stuart decided he would distil his own farm-to-bottle whisky and, after much study — including a course with the Institute of Brewers and Distillers in Rotherhithe — he founded Caldera Distilling. He built the new distillery in River John, N.S., a tasting room in an old barn and added a warehouse. Settled by farmers and shipbuilders, the little port gained worldwide attention for the craftsmanship of its clippers — Caldera is named after one of its famous ones. Stuart says it really was a community project at the outset, as locals pitched into help bottle the Canadian rye and corn blend Caldera Hurricane 5 — named for a storm that pounded River John in 1939 — distilled in a tiny alembic still, using organic grain grown at the distillery and on nearby farms. It was launched at local farmers markets in 2013. Today, along with the cognac-blend second-label Caldera Champlain, it still enjoys widespread sales in Nova Scotia of around 6,000 cases per year. Stuart was kept busy making and selling his whisky, but in 2020 found the time to launch another company out of Halifax as co-founder of OceanSync, which developed automated weather stations enabling real-time, ship-to-shore transfer of high-resolution weather data. Stuart’s former business partner in the British Columbia venture had returned to Calgary and wanted to go into business with him again. Walker alerted his friend as soon as he heard the local distillery was for sale. After due diligence, they became partners again, and Stuart moved back in 2024 as a new owner of Highwood Distillers. The company was founded in 1974, making good use of the pure Rocky Mountain water and grain from local Twin Valley Farms that ensured every spirit was a true reflection of its unique landscape. Whisky brands such as Centennial, White Owl and Highwood five-year-old became popular, as well as a range of vodka, rum, gin and liqueurs. In 2005, the then-owners of Highwood purchased Potter’s Distillery in Langley, B.C., and moved its production to Kelowna — the merger meant the need for more warehouse space in High River and a new facility was built there in 2006. Stuart and his team at Highwood have certainly maintained the distillery’s high quality. Its 2023, Ninety 20-year-old Whisky and its gluten-free vodka received accolades as Judges Selection winner at the Alberta Beverage Awards, and at the 2024 Canadian Whisky Awards. Among 200 entries, Highwood Distillers had top-three positions in several categories. “We truly have some of the best tasting whisky around, blending exceptional local ingredients. We take our craft seriously,” Walker says. An additional award recognized Highwood’s partnership with ecoSPIRITS to significantly reduce the waste and carbon emissions from traditional packaging methods for spirits. Canada’s first ecoPLANT has been installed at Highwood, bringing its innovative circular distribution to Western Canada. We are glad to have Stuart back home with his wife Tracy — a two-time world champion and Olympic bronze rower — and their two daughters. Swimco suffered greatly through the pandemic and was forced to close all stores. The Calgary firm, founded in 1975, has worked hard to recover, and adding to stores in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, is opening a fourth later this month in Langley, B.C. David Parker appears regularly in the Herald. Read his columns online at calgaryherald.com/business. He can be reached at 403-830-4622. transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account