December 2009
8 posts
A brief look at Triblocal
Triblocal is an easy-to-use, hyper-local string of Web sites and weekly newspapers that rely on user generated content to inform and engage residents with their news sources.
I am the Community Manager for the Barrington, Palatine, Cary and Fox River Grove communities.
I’ve included most of the stories I’ve written for Triblocal in this portfolio, but not every single one.
To go...
Palatine takes third at Oldham Invitational
Palatine High School came in third at its Oldham Invitational Dec. 19 with 137.275, placing behind Libertyville High School (137.825) and Prospect High School (137.700). Palatine has gnabbed first place at its first three meets, but failed to take the title at the invitational, held at Palatine High School.
“This meet went decently for us,” assistant coach Scott Hagel said....
Palatine High School choir performs at White House...
Palatine High School’s choir will be performing at the White House Dec. 21 for the annual Christmas Open House.
After sending a CD of the high school’s choir to a White House contact, music director Steve Sivak waited to hear back for nearly two months, hoping White House staffers would select the his singers for the 2010 festivities. Instead, he was notified this week that his students would be...
Foreclosure rate in Palatine slows
With another year of increased foreclosure rates across the country coming to a close, Chicago’s metropolitan suburbs have fared no differently.
There have been 352 foreclosures in the first three quarters of the year in Palatine, an approximately 25 percent increase since 2008. That year, Palatine experienced an 86.6 jump in foreclosures from 2007, according to a study by the Woodstock...
Jaycees discover the best pizza in Palatine
The Palatine Jaycees hosted their annual Best Pizza in Palatine competition Dec. 6.
With pizza-lovers casting their votes throughout the evening in eight different categories, Pizza Bella, 100 W. Northwest Hwy., came out on top with three wins.
The Jaycees host the event every year to bring out the community and raise money for a local charity. Funds raised from the entrance fee was...
Barrington seeks citizen input on pension woes
Facing mounting payments into pension funds, Barrington officials decided to take a unique course of action and voted Dec. 1 to add an advisory referendum question regarding pension funds to the Feb. 2 ballot.
“We’re saying there’s a pension issue and [the question] allows tax payers to weigh in on this,” Barrington Village President Karen Darch said. Area municipalities...
Junk Warehouse, Etc. turns trash into trendy home...
Nestled on a tiny side street off Highway 14 in Lake Barrington, a row of block-style buildings house numerous auto body shops, an iron works and a company that manufactures gym mats.
Inside a space sandwiched between Commercial and Industrial avenues, color jumps off the walls, huge collections of antique chair and table legs lay in piles and a former chicken coop hammered to the wall doubles...
The 'Owl Man' brings comedy, education to...
If you have two smiles, you know what you have? Peregrines. Mark Spreyer is the director of the Stillman Nature Center in South Barrington. He is a naturalist, ornithologist, biologist, scientist, educator and comedian—not just because he’s constantly cracking bird-related puns—he was also part of a science-based comedy troupe in the mid-90s. Humerous he may be, but Spreyer is...
November 2009
7 posts
Cary's largest company expanding facilities
Sage Products, a medical products manufacturing company, is expanding their plant in Cary. Already the 7th largest employer in McHenry County, according to the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation, the plant will soon hire more employees and increase their building size by approximately 160,000 square feet of floor space, bringing the total facility from 365,000 up to more than...
Village symbol recalls Cary's beginnings
Any official document from the Village of Cary bears a simple, blue and white symbol. Although not officially adopted by the village, the image of a water pump and well house is printed on business cards, fax forms, letterheads—even the weekly e-mailed newsletter.
The symbol pays homage to a bygone era in Cary.
“It was a meeting place for the farmers, a trough for watering horses,”...
Teachers, Board of Education reach agreement in...
After six months of negotiation, teachers in Barrington Consolidated Community Unit School District 220 finally have a new three-year contract. The agreement, which includes changes to the health care program, was ratified by the Barrington Education Association Nov. 2 and approved by the Board of Education Nov. 3. Salaries will increase 1 percent for all teachers in the current 2009-10 school...
Harper student reflects on life in Afghanistan
In many ways, Nooria Bibi is like other Harper students—she lives near the Palatine campus, balances obligations with schoolwork and engages in campus life.
Unlike other Harper students however, she spent her summer break campaigning for her husband’s bid for president of Afghanistan. Although he did not win—he came in fourth of 41 candidates—he remains there to build a national party.
...
Cary plans for extensive three-year roadwork
The Village of Cary recently designated the $5 million they received through Build America Bonds for extensive roadwork over the next three years. Build American Bonds are financed through the Treasury Department and were made available through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. McHenry County received $18.3 million in bonds from the federal government, under the Recovery Zone...
Flamm announced as sole Democrat running for...
Palatine resident Matt Flamm announced his candidacy for State Representative in the 54th district Friday. Flamm, 56, will be the only democrat running for the seat next November. “Voters here are educated,” Flamm said. “They make up their minds based on the issues. I think there is an opportunity to give the voters a choice.” Current State Rep. Suzie Bassi, a Republican,...
Neighbors band together to repair couple's home
On a cold, gray morning, neighbors and volunteers are hammering boards into place and spreading stones along the side of a Cary home. A fire crackles nearby, waning until a woman clears more brush and throws it on the flames. Most of these people don’t know each other. The Cary Grove Neighborhood Life Love Your Neighbor team has descended upon the house of Kris and John [last names withheld]...
October 2009
4 posts
CMAP helps Fox River Grove redesign marina area
When Fox River Grove was approached by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning in spring of this year to receive free urban design and comprehensive planning work in spring, the village jumped at the chance.
“We raised our hand and said ‘You can do one here,’” Village of Fox River Grove President Robert Nunamaker said.
CMAP, the Chicago region’s official comprehensive planning agency, has...
Bill seeks to delay villages' higher public...
**Note: this story was modified several times by other Triblocal staffers and served as the structure for localized stories around the northwest suburbs
Due to losses in investment funds and increases in payments required by the state legislature, municipalities must pay more money into public pension funds in 2010 than before, according to figures obtained by the Northwest Municipal Conference....
Local libraries celebrate Banned Books Week
Libraries across the nation are celebrating Banned Books Week by highlighting books that have been banned over the years. Some of the most challenged books of all time include classics like Huckleberry Finn and modern series like Harry Potter. The ten many challenged books of 2008 are young adult and most were challenges sited that the books were “unsuited to the age group,” according...
September 2009
3 posts
Local villages' tax revenue continues to drop
State tax revenue collections took a dive in the first quarter of 2009, dropping 11.7 percent compared to the same period last year, according to an analysis conducted by the Rockefeller Institute.
This is the largest decline in the 46 years for which quarterly data is available.
State revenues dropped drastically due to a hard decline in income and sales tax collections, which are considered...
August 2009
7 posts
50s Plus club crochets bags into blankets
While most plastic bags end up in a landfill, the 50s Plus club of Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Palatine has diverted hundreds of bags and repurposed them into mats for the homeless.
“It’s something you have to see to understand all the steps involved,” 50s Plus member Leona Krause said as she crocheted a mat sitting on her lap.
The group solicited plastic bags from members of...
Reese's Restaurant from behind the counter
To visit Reese’s Restaurant in downtown Algonquin is to visit history. The diner is designed to look like a turn-of-the-century living room. Owner Jim Lendmann has found sickles in the walls from the building’s days as a farm supply store in the 1870s. But more than that, the owners and servers know their customers’ personal histories. “We know the customers by name, sit down with them, know...
Barrington artist infuses color into the library
Those strolling through the Barrington Area Library’s stacks lately might have noticed something different lining the walls. The black-and-white, selective color photos, taken by local artist and photographer Kimberly Kuhlman. The photos have been on display since July 24. Selective color, or color-infused, as Kuhlman has named them, are color photographs that have been switched into black and...
Cary Battle of the Bands winner My Alumni
My Alumni have been playing together for two-and-a-half years, and have performed at dozens of Battle of the Bands competitions. The Berwyn-natives traveled far to play the Cary Battle of the Bands, but they believe the trip is worthwhile. “Half the kids we keep in touch with through Myspace, we met at Battle of the Bands,” said Kevin Flasza. Connecting with fans and meeting new people...
Algonquin Battle of the Bands winner Copper Harbor
Copper Harbor barely made the deadline to drop off their materials to enter the Algonquin Battle of the Bands. “We got lost trying to find the place,” said Dillon Anderson, vocalist and guitarist. But luckily, they managed to get their materials in, and then began planning their set.
Although Copper Harbor has been playing electrically for about a year now, they decided to go acoustic for the...
Battle of Bands winners gear up for Aug. 8...
Battle of the Bands competitions, often relegated to teen flicks, have become increasingly popular at Chicagoland park districts.
“It’s definitely something teens are into. There’s never been any era of our American society, when teenagers aren’t into music,” said Sarah Stefan, Algonquin battle of the bands organizer.
This year, Cary and Algonquin held competitions, the winners of which are...
Canoe the Fox River the right way
The Fox River carves through northwestern Chicago, providing scenic downtown views from downtown Algonquin to Lions Park in Fox River Grove. But the river has more to offer than a view, and for those who wish to really enjoy it, a canoe may be the best way.
Ken Michaelis, owner of The Canoe Shack, 10 S. River St., Elgin, regularly sends customers south onto the Fox River from Elgin, and...
July 2009
3 posts
Barrington renews its rail fight after crash in...
The ongoing battle over the former EJ&E rail lines running around Chicago took another step last week as The Regional Answer to Canadian National Rail (TRAC) demanded the Canadian National Railway (CN) safety record be inspected. The fiery CN crash in Rockford in late June was the latest of multiple recent accidents, raising questions about CN’s commitment to safety. The image of fire...
June 2009
2 posts
Get to know: new fire chief, Bob Falardeau
On June 2, nearly ten year veteran Fire Chief Norman Malcolm retired from the Palatine fire department. He was replaced with his right-hand man, Bob Falardeau. Falardeau has worked for the department for 29 years.
As a long-time member of the Palatine fire department, you know how things are run, and I’m sure have been making plans for how you’re going to run the department. Are there...
Heineman celebrates its students fundraising...
Heineman Middle School’s dedication to Relay for Life was made abundantly clear when the entire school abandoned their books and celebrate their year-long fundraising effort. While the Mini-Relay for Life was the focus of the day’s events, students also participated in a talent show, climbed through large, inflatable obstacle courses, and got the opportunity to drop teachers and staff in a dunk...
May 2009
1 post
Chicago Tribune's Glorious Gardens contest... →
I uploaded, categorized and streamlined all the content on the site. Currently, I’m managing the site’s editorial content and solving any performance problems that pop up.
April 2009
1 post
Charles Apple's 31 College Students to Watch For,... →
I was recently featured on Charles Apple’s Visual Editors blog. Thanks Charles! It was an honor to be featured among such talented writers, designers, and photographers.
March 2009
9 posts
The 'Best Of'...
Although this tumblog is a nearly complete collection of my work, here are the highlights I am currently using as resume clips:
How to dispose of hazardous waste appearing on March 22, 2009 in the Chicago Tribune
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Iran in the Real World appearing on February 24, 2009 on Is Greater Than
It will take a lot of talking to defuse the destructive tension mounting...
Julie's Health Club blog
I have written numerous blog posts on Julie Deardorff’s Chicago Tribune blog, Julie’s Health Club. Scroll through and look for my byline, or click the links below for individual posts.
Biggest Loser to run marathon for redemption
America’s best—and worst—restaurants
How to self-diagnose a drinking problem
Drinking soda damages women’s kidneys
Handwashing:...
The Stew blog
I have written several posts for The Stew, a dining blog written by the Chicago Tribune’s Good Eating and Dining staffs. Scroll through and look for my byline, or click the links below for individual posts.
How safe is supermarket food?
21 reasons to smile →
This photo gallery expanded on a story that ran on page 3 of the March 30, 2009 Chicago Tribune. I contacted the source (to ensure we could distribute her photos online), located photos, resized them, and put them together in a gallery, which was featured on the main page of http://chicagotribune.com on March 30th.
Extended play →
This photo gallery corresponds with the Thursday, March 26, 2009 Play section front page story on addictive, fun or classic video games. I gathered photos, added dates and credits, inserted any necessary html codes, and ensured there were no errors in copy or style.
How to dispose of hazardous waste
published on Sunday, March 22, 2009 Chicago Tribune, Smart section, page 5
By Michelle Stoffel | Tribune reporter
It is pretty easy to assume that all the toxic waste dumped into our environment comes at the hands of big, faceless businesses—most of it does. But according to the Environmental Protection Agency, 1.6 million tons of hazardous waste originates from American households each year....
A few of our favorite green things
published on March 12, 2009 in the Chicago Tribune, Play section, page 5
By Michelle Stoffel / Tribune reporter
“Going green” has never been easier. And sure, checking out these green-named things won’t help the environment much, but at least the phrase still applies. In honor of the greenest of all holidays, St. Patrick’s Day here is a quick collection of restaurants,...
February 2009
3 posts
Iran in the Real World
Iran in the Real World
By Michelle Stoffel ⋅ February 24, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment
With Obama’s election, there have been whispers of talks between the U.S. and Iran. But it will take a lot of talking to defuse the destructive tension mounting between the nations. Secretary of State Clinton said we could “obliterate” Iran; Ahmadinejad said the “regime occupying Israel should vanish from the...
South alumni launch 'Dawg House'
published on Febraury 19, 2009 in Pioneer Press papers
By MICHELLE STOFFEL mstoffel@pioneerlocal.com
As kids ordering hot dogs, burgers and fries at the Paradise Pup and Superdawg, Stino Milito and Scott Gatziolis talked about how much fun it would be to run a place of their own.
Two decades later, they did. The two Maine South graduates returned to their roots and opened the Dawg House Grill...
Area residents organize sweet treats for the...
published February 5, 2009 in Pioneer Press papers
By MICHELLE STOFFEL mstoffel@pioneerlocal.com
With the United States at war and national attention shifting to economic problems at home, some of the focus on assisting U.S. soldiers fighting overseas has dwindled.
Jeff Stapleton, a Norridge native now working for the village of Skokie, decided to show his support by sending candy to the...
January 2009
3 posts
Exhuming the Fairness Doctrine
Exhuming the Fairness Doctrine
By Michelle Stoffel ⋅ January 16, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment
The Fairness Doctrine has once again been making headlines, leading conservatives to decry what they characterize as a ‘government gag order’. In case you haven’t been watching a lot of Fox News lately, the “doctrine” is an aging...
World's religions focus of class' whirlwind tour
published Thursday, January 15, 2009 in Pioneer Press papers
By MICHELLE STOFFEL mstoffel@pioneerlocal.com
Students from Northbrook’s Wood Oaks Junior High boarded salt-stained buses last month for a whirlwind tour of the world’s major religions. While listening to presentations at a synagogue, mosque, temple and church, the sixth-graders prodded religious leaders to explain the...