The Fox Lake Police Department responded to a call about 9:30 a.m. Friday to the area of Nippersink Boulevard and Grand Avenue for a report of a child found wearing only underwear and “appearing to have been battered,” according to a police news release.

“A local business employee reported observing the child with blood on his face and multiple welts, bruises and scratches across his body,” officials said in the release.

The 11-year-old child was taken into protective custody and taken to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital for an evaluation, according to the release.

Police said officers then went to the child’s home, making contact with the mother, Pricilla P. Marshall, 34. After interviews with Marshall and the child, the was arrested, police said.

Two other children, ages 1 and 2, were in the home and “appeared unharmed.” They were also taken into protective custody, along with two other siblings who were in school at the time, according to the release.

“All of the children were transported to the Lake County Child Advocacy Center in Gurnee, where medical evaluations and forensic interviews were conducted,” police said in the release.

The Lake County and Illinois departments of children and family services assisted in placing the children in the temporary care of an extended family member, according to the release.

Police allege the 11-year-old suffered abuse by Marshall and her boyfriend, Cody R. Marion, 35, “over multiple years.”

“The investigation revealed the victim was allegedly struck with household objects, had dish soap poured into his mouth and ears and was not permitted to attend school,” officials said in the release.

Marshall and Marion were each charged with felony aggravated battery to a child as well as domestic battery and endangering the life or health of a child, both misdemeanors. Police said the pair were both being held in Lake County Jail after the judge denied pretrial release.

Called Cary Out Coffee Breakfast and Lunch, the drive-thru and curbside business will take over the Burger King at 62 Northwest Highway. The Burger King has sat empty for nearly eight years after it debuted as the country’s first drive-thru-only location in 2016.

Co-owner Tim Tath is opening the shop with his sister May Chen, who has multiple coffeeshops in California. The siblings were looking in the Chicago area to open a gourmet coffeeshop when they came across the vacant Burger King in Cary, he said.

Tath describes the menu as gourmet coffee served conveniently and “good food made with good ingredients.” The menu includes lattes, teas and coffees with various milk and flavor options, smoothies, frappes and other iced caffeinated drinks. Breakfast and lunch food choices feature bagels, avocado toast, burritos, pastries, smash burgers, sandwiches and wraps, according to village documents. There will be no dine-in seating.

To update the existing building, Cary Out Coffee will be getting financial assistance from the village through its facade improvement and interior buildout grant. Village officials unanimously approved a $10,000 grant for exterior signs and lightning improvements during Tuesday’s Village Board meeting.

The total cost of improvements is estimated to be almost $64,000, according to village documents.

“I think the branding looks great, and the menu looks great,” Trustee David Prusina said. “Hopefully they’re going to execute it at a high level.”

Owners are expected to work on improvements this spring with hopes to open “within the next few months,” Community Development Director Brian Simmons said.

Recently, the board also approved facade improvement grants to new downtown restaurants Leo’s 121 and Cynthia Ann’s Wine and Whiskey, the Cary Street Apartments and All Marine Motorsports, according to village documents.

The “shop-in-shop experience” called the Baby Boutique will have almost 2,000 new products shoppers can see, touch and compare in person, according to a Target news release.

Big-purchase items like strollers and car seats will be displayed for easy comparisons and testing. Personalized guidance will also be available through free and appointment-based expert services.

Dozens of new brands will be added to Target in the baby boutique section, including UPPAbaby, Bugaboo, Stokke and Doona, Joie, Nanit, Amara, Tubby Todd and Little Spoon.

“Guests trust Target to show up for them during life’s biggest milestones,” Amanda Nusz, senior vice president of merchandising, essentials and beauty, said in the release. “Our focus is on bringing together products busy families will love at the value they expect, paired with expert guidance and joyful, easy-to-shop spaces that make preparing for a new baby feel both special and practical.”

The Baby Boutique is rolling out online and in almost 200 stores nationwide this month. The full list of Illinois locations include:

Developers are looking to construct a two-tenant building at 5999 Northwest Highway on about 1 acre that would be occupied by Dutch Bros Coffee and a LensCrafters or a similar medical retailer.

The site had previously been approved for a car wash, according to city documents.

With concerns over traffic and the “restrictive” size of the parcel, the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission voted against recommending the coffeeshop proposal in a 5-2 vote last month.

But Crystal Lake City Council members indicated they trust developers’ traffic mitigation plans, and are enthusiastic that the land will be reoccupied by something other than a car wash.

“I am deadset against any more car washes in this community, so I am pleased to see this,” Mayor Haig Haleblian said.

The plan, which needed a supermajority vote, passed unanimously by the Council Tuesday.

After the planning and zoning meeting, developers revised the Dutch Bros. building elevations by removing the blue tower and replacing it with a slate gray brick to match the rest of the building, according to city documents. Council members appreciated the change, with Haleblian calling the new look “more elegant.”

“This is the only market where I’ve been able to get Dutch Bros. in particular to move away from their blue coloring on the tower, and they’re doing that specifically because they want to be here and we’re trying to make this site work,” Core Acquisitions Vice President of Development Adam Bell said.

The Washington-based national coffeeshop chain has more than 1,000 locations across the country, Bell said. Others are lined up elsewhere in the Northern Illinois area, including Oswego.

“This could be one of the first ones to break ground in the Chicago area,” Bell said.

Despite the small site, there will be plenty of space for car stacking, Bell said. The building is planned to be about 4,388 square feet, with Dutch Bros. being just over 1,300 square feet on the 1-acre site. The plan has room for 29 stacking cars and 29 parking spaces.

“Dutch Bros. does a tremendous job about managing traffic, especially during opening periods and peak periods,” Bell said.

The plan’s only access point is off Heritage Drive, but it connects to multiple streets, so city staff predicts there will not be a negative impact on traffic flow.

The city does not want to have an access point at Main Street, and the Illinois Department of Transportation would “never permit an access on Route 14,” Community Development Director Kathryn Cowlin said.

As identified in the city’s capital improvement project plan, a traffic light is planned to be installed at Liberty Road and Main Street at some point in the future, Cowlin said.

Farther east on Route 14, plans were just announced for another drive-thru coffeeshop in Cary at a former Burger King.

Tasty Bistro, located at 394 W. Virginia St., permanently closed Tuesday following an announcement on social media last week that cited “escalating operational and hiring costs.”

But there may be newfound hope after the beloved Asian cuisine restaurant shared in a Facebook post Wednesday noting how customers have shown their support, some visiting multiple times in its last week of business.

“They are eager for us to remain operational,” according to the post. “Our team was deeply moved by the overwhelming display of support.”

The owners now are welcoming suggestions on how to stay afloat, with hopes that they can reopen the Crystal Lake location next month.

“We are genuinely seeking guidance on how to move forward within one month,” according to the post.

How viable any suggestions may be remains unknown. In the post, Tasty Bistro officials mentioned inconsistent sales since last year that were “barely covering expenses.”

Owner Kevin Chen could not be immediately reached for comment.

For now, the restaurant is following its plan to merge with Tasty Sushi in Cary, which is under the same ownership.

The Crystal Lake restaurant opened in 2022 following the success of its Cary location, which opened in 2019. The Tasty restaurants feature sushi, a variety of Asian cuisine and an all-you-can-eat menu.

Last year, in a 5-1 vote and in front of a full house of residents voicing their objections, the Cary Village Board approved the Seasons at Cary development off Route 31. Residents have been vocal in opposing the development, saying it will disrupt their quiet community – especially with the road that currently ends in a cul-de-sac being opened and extended to Route 31.

Seasons of Cary calls for 5 acres of retail space along Route 31 and 360 apartments. As part of the agreement, Fiduciary Development will work with the village to install – at the developer’s expense – traffic-calming signage, striping and infrastructure inside Cambria.

A conceptual plan of what the traffic-calming measures could look like was presented to the village board during a recent Committee of the Whole meeting for discussion purposes only. Options include installing two chicanes, relocating on-street parking and using pavement marking, raised crosswalks, a traffic circle, speed radar signs and directional signs.

New Haven Drive currently has on-street striped parking adjacent to New Haven townhomes and a speed radar sign near the entrance to the Cambria subdivision, according to village documents.

About a dozen residents gave feedback during the discussion. Many were opposed to the traffic circle, which is proposed to replace a cul-de-sac and connect to the new development. Residents asked for it to be turned into a four-way stop or moved, pointing out the awkward positioning with multiple driveways connecting to it.

“I’ve never heard of a circle like that having driveways – multiple driveways – in the middle of it," resident Susan Clark said.

Chicanes, which act as raised medians, are proposed to direct the changes of on-street parking from one side to the other, according to village documents.

Trailblazer signs along Georgetown Drive are also proposed to direct traffic towards Three Oaks Road for Route 31 access.

Trustee Rick Dudek asked for developers to share what their budget is for traffic mitigation measures, which wasn’t shared at the meeting.

“At the end of the day, this is a good start. In my mind, it is far from what’s acceptable,” he said. “We don’t want to cause an additional problem that wasn’t there before, and some of this looks like it might be doing that.”

After the discussion, village staff and developers will continue working on adjustments to the plan and present changes to the board.

“Absolutely nothing has been decided,” Mayor Mark Kownick said. “We’re going to take all of your information that you’ve given us right now, we’re going to give it to their team and we’re going to come up with a plan and we’re going to re-present.”

Construction for the Seasons of Cary development is set to start in the spring, with the first units opening in spring 2027 and the final units in spring 2028, Fiduciary Development Vice President Tony DeRosa said at a previous board meeting.

The St. Charles Police Department responded to a call at 11:34 p.m. Friday to the area of East Main Street and Hunt Club Drive for a report of a person “running in and out of the roadway towards vehicles,” according to a police department news release.

Officers tried to speak to the man, later identified as Licurgo Diazsandi, 23, of St. Charles, but he “quickly brandished a knife and charged” at the officers, according to the release.

A Taser device was deployed and struck Diazsandi. Another officer fired his gun, but did not hit Diazsandi, according to the release.

Police said Diazsandi was taken to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, and then later taken into custody.

“One of the involved officers was also taken to another nearby hospital, per protocol,” according to the release.

Diazsandi is charged with attempted murder, two counts of armed violence, attempt to disarm a police officer, aggravated assault to a police officer with a weapon, criminal damage to government property and resisting a police officer.

Diazsandi currently is being held in Kane County Jail awaiting his detention hearing, according to the release.

Anyone who may have information regarding the incident is encouraged to call the St. Charles Police Department at 630-377-4435.

South Barrington-based developer Projades aims to build a 19-unit townhome development on Petrick and Lesley lanes on about 21,000 square feet. The townhomes would sit along Grant Street between Woodstock and Brink streets.

The plan stems from the Pingry Place townhomes that were first approved in 1992. Fourteen townhomes were built, but the remainder never were. Now, Projades is looking to complete the second phase of townhomes, 34 years after it was first proposed, minus one townhome from what was originally proposed.

The originally approved plan from 1992 didn’t expire and still is valid, City Planner Elizabeth Maxwell said.

Crystal Lake’s Planning and Zoning Commission gave a 6-1 recommendation for the project last month. The City Council unanimously approved it on Tuesday.

Called Jade Station, the three-story townhomes are proposed to have three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms and two-car garages with selling prices in the $400,000 range, Projades CEO and President Ram Prashantha said.

The new units aim to become a part of the existing Pingry Place Homeowners Association on that property.

City Council approved for developers to remove triangular windows and faux chimneys from the design, which are featured in the first round of townhomes, for a more modern look.

The plan includes landscaped driveway dividers, which Council member Ellen Brady said she would like to see removed because of the tedious maintenance they require.

“Because those are a nightmare to maintain,” she said. “Nothing grows in them; everything in them dies.”

Projades has two other projects in Crystal Lake: a townhome development called Bard Estates at Bard and Huntley roads and a 93-unit apartment complex at 551 Exchange Drive.

Business owner Sumish Parikh proposed to convert a long-shuttered auto repair shop at 154 S. Virginia St. into his third local Dunkin’ late last year. Parikh owns the other Crystal Lake locations off Route 14 and Manor Road, and at Routes 176 and 31.

The Virginia Street building, about 16,700 square feet with six parking spaces, would not have inside seating for customers, only a drive-thru and a walk-up window, which would be for mobile order pickups only.

The plan calls for right-hand turns only out of Dunkin’ onto Lake Shore Drive and for restricting right-in and right-out only access at the Lake Shore Drive and Route 14 intersection. To create the right-only turns at the intersection, a concrete “pork chop median” would be installed.

Many residents have spoken at previous meetings with concerns about increased traffic and pedestrian safety, especially with the newly opened Lake Roots market and cafe about one block away, causing spillover parking issues in the adjacent residential area.

Since then, the City Council delayed voting on the matter twice: once to give Parikh more time to find a compromise with residents, and again after discussing the project at length last month.

Tuesday’s meeting was met with less backlash, with over a dozen residents speaking in favor of Parikh and his business. Community Development Director Kathryn Cowlin said the city also received over 60 letters of support.

But some still had concerns. Resident Erin Wagner worried that the business would hinder nearby small businesses like County Donuts and Lake Roots.

“So it feels rather baffling that the City Council would even consider a third Dunkin’ Donuts location that would directly compete with these two local, unique establishments,” she said.

Council members approved the plan in a 6-1 vote. Council member Ian Philpot, who lives near the property, was the sole “no” vote to represent his neighbors opposed to it.

“This directly affects [the neighbors] differently than anyone else,” he said. “Tonight, I’m planning to vote against this as a voice for the residents who are not in favor of the project. That does not mean that I wouldn’t otherwise vote for it. I’m generally in favor of it.”

Mayor Haig Haleblain commended Parikh’s willingness to invest in the community by covering the costs for the porkchop median at Lake Shore Drive, which he estimates will be $50,000.

“If I had to guess, he’s going to throw about $2 million into this thing, and what we’ve got right now is junk sitting there. It’s been sitting there for four years,” Haleblian said.

The Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for the special-use permit in a 4-1 vote in November.

Casa Tequilas Mexican Grill, located at 1505 S. Randall Road, was taken to court by building owners SWM-Briarwood LLC in an eviction case filed in August in which they claimed the restaurant owed more than $23,000 in unpaid rent.

In a February court filing, McHenry County Judge Joel Berg ordered the restaurant owners to vacate the premises within a few days and pay back rent owed, then totaling $40,792.79, court records show.

The base monthly rent was slightly more than $7,600, according to court records.

Casa Tequilas’ owners could not be reached for comment. As of Feb. 20, the restaurant remained open for business, despite the judge’s order requiring them to leave by Feb. 17.

But Wednesday evening, the restaurant was shut down, with a sign posted on the front door written in permanent marker that it is closed “for remodeling.”

This is the restaurant’s second location. The first opened in Elgin in 2024, which was followed by the opening of the Algonquin location last year. It occupied the space where Giordano’s Pizza previously operated.

Attorneys representing the building owners could not be reached for comment.

NAMI McHenry County debuted the Foglia Family Living Room and the Drop-In Center during an open house event Thursday. The doors to these new spaces, located at 338 Memorial Drive in Crystal Lake, officially open to the public Monday.

The living room model is described as “an evidence-based alternative to emergency departments for adults experiencing a mental health crisis,” according to a NAMI McHenry County news release. Instead of bright lights and long waits, people can enter a homelike atmosphere for completely free services, with no need for insurance.

“Walking into a living room feels like walking into a friend’s home,” NAMI McHenry County Executive Director Abbey Nicholas said in the release. “It feels human. People are greeted with warmth, listened to without judgment, and supported in a way that restores dignity and choice during one of the hardest moments of their lives.”

Created by the Illinois Department of Human Services, this is the first living room program space in McHenry County. There currently are 22 other living rooms in the state, including in DeKalb, Aurora and Waukegan, that are provided by a number of different organizations, according to the IDHS.

Visitors can come to the space on their own, and NAMI works with hospitals and law enforcement to recommend this new service to those who may need it.

“This has been a dream for the mental health community for a really long time,” Nicholas said.

NAMI McHenry County has 11 full-time staff members, one being a veteran through the Veterans Assistance Commission of McHenry County. The veteran support specialist will be in the living room two days per week, with plans to add additional staff support.

NAMI McHenry County, which provides services to people with mental illness and their loved ones, was able to purchase the new location last October through an anonymous $1.3 million gift.

The Foglia Family Foundation, a major contributor to McHenry County College and other area endeavors, launched the campaign with a $100,000 lead gift, and NAMI McHenry County’s new living room has been named in the family’s honor.

Right next door is the new drop-in center, which aims to combat the “loneliness epidemic,” Nicholas said. Equipped with a game and computer room, Nicholas envisions the space to be used as a way to create community, make friends and simply serve as a safe space where people can be themselves.

“Loneliness is one of the most overlooked drivers of mental health conditions,” Nicholas said in the release. “The drop-in center gives people a place to belong—whether that means sitting quietly with a book, working on a puzzle, or joining a yoga, meditation, or workforce development class.”

A calendar of activities for the drop-in center will soon be available that includes craft nights, support groups and game nights.

Nicholas said the organization welcomes any donations of video games and video game systems, DVDs, musical instruments, yoga mats, yoga blocks, meditation cushions and anything else that could benefit the space.

“We also, of course, are always taking monetary donations too,” she said.

The Living Room will, at least initially, operate from 12:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. The aim is to expand hours as additional funding becomes available. Both the living room and drop-in center serve adults 18 and older. Bilingual support is available in both programs.

More information about the programs and services is available at namimch.org/support.

An adult and a teenager fell through the ice while attempting to ice fish near the East Beach area on Jan. 13. As a result of quick actions by civilians, off-duty firefighters and first responders, the two people were rescued within eight minutes, according to a previous news release.

The Cary Fire Protection District recently presented the Miltion A. Neeley Lifesaving Award to firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians Ben Delatorre, Cody Delatorre and Kyler Ochab. The award is described as one of the fire district’s “highest honors and is reserved for members whose actions directly result in the saving of a life under particularly dangerous conditions,” Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said in a news release.

The off-duty firefighters were first on the scene and immediately began rescue efforts. They were able to get the teenager out of the water, who was 50 to 75 feet from the shore, Vucha said in a previous news release. Ochab arrived with additional crews. Wearing a Mustang survival suit, he entered the freezing water and rescued the second person.

“Their coordinated actions and willingness to place themselves in harm’s way were instrumental in saving lives and bringing the incident to a successful outcome,” Vucha said in the release.

Lake Killarney resident Steven Willis was awarded the Community Service Award for his courageous attempts to rescue the two people before first responders arrived. He first discovered the two victims after hearing yelling from the lake. Willis also fell through the ice but was able to self-rescue, Vucha said in a previous news release.

“His willingness to act in an emergency and provide support played an important role in the overall rescue effort,” Vucha said.

The Cary Fire Protection District Unit Citation was awarded to NERCOM telecommunicators Penelope Wegner, Bridgette Veronese, Tracy McNamara and Grant Havens, along with Lt. Steve Nelson and Lt. Peter Penkava.

They were recognized for their “critical roles in coordinating, supervising and supporting the incident, ensuring that resources were dispatched quickly and that the rescue operation was carried out safely and effectively,” Vucha said.

This year’s annual awards dinner, called “The Chamberlympics,” was themed after the 2026 Winter Olympics hosted in Milan, which coincided with the dinner.

The event, held on Feb. 21 at the Boulder Ridge Country Club in Lake in the Hills, celebrated and reflected on local enterprises’ successes over the past year with a group of about 140 guests representing local businesses, government leaders and nonprofit organizations, Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Greg Urban said.

The Chamber awarded Volunteer of the Year to Tina Grzeca for her “dedicated service to the chamber through board leadership, committee involvement and event support,” Urban said.

First National Bank of Omaha Branch Manager Ric Zydorowicz accepted the Community Impact Award. The organization was recognized for its “ongoing sponsorships, volunteerism and community partnership,” Urban said.

Here is the full list of this year’s winners:

New business:

Club/Organization/Nonprofit:

Hospitality/Food/Entertainment:

Home office:

Retail:

Personal/Home service:

Professional service:

The Village Board approved an ordinance earlier this month to eliminate all permit fees for building projects that require two or fewer inspections. The fee elimination goes into effect Sunday. The permit process remains, however, to ensure all work is done safely and up to code, according to a village news release.

“Given rising construction costs, our zero-cost permit program is designed to help our residents make improvements to their homes,” Village President Marc McLaughlin said in the release. “By removing the financial hurdle of the permit fee, we hope people will take advantage of the opportunity to reinvest in their property and start projects after the zero-cost permit is issued.”

Examples of permitted upgrades or repairs that will have no fees include work on driveways, roofs, water heaters, decks, siding, fences, furnaces and water and service lines, according to the release. Fees remain for plan reviews, new construction, additions and other projects that require more than two inspections.

The permit fee waiver is one of many financial relief initiatives made by the village to offset a 1% non-home-rule sales tax and an extension of the 1% municipal grocery tax approved by the board last year. Fees and taxes were dropped for local residents and business owners in electricity, natural gas, cable TV and telecommunications bills last year.

The idea is that adding a sales tax – which is applied to anyone shopping in Fox River Grove – can lessen the burden for taxes that apply only to residents and businesses within the village.

The village warns in the release that the building permit fee waiver would be void if any work that requires a permit is started before a permit is issued. In such cases, the property owner will be charged the original permit fees, plus a fine for performing work without a permit.

The village announced Thursday that it is the recipient of a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant from Illinois. Willoughby Farms Park, located at 2001 Wynnfield Drive, is a 12-acre community park originally developed in 1996.

The park currently features a playground, baseball diamond, basketball court that converts into an ice skating rink in the winter, tennis and pickleball courts, walking trails, a parking lot and a surface water pond.

The planned renovations feature four new pickleball courts, a nature-themed play area, zip-line, gathering plaza with water features, pergola with swings, restroom building, new native planting areas and a multiuse court for basketball, badminton and futsal, a variation of soccer, according to a previous village news release.

Finalized plans were announced last year for the redevelopment after months of planning and gathering input from residents through open houses and online surveys.

The project’s estimated total cost is $4.6 million, according to the release. Another $1.25 million will be funded by Lennar, which is developing a residential area of 99 single-family homes and 150 townhouses south of the Willoughby Farms subdivision. Approved by the Village Board in 2024, the new development does not include a community park, but the village requested that Lennar pay a fee to support the nearby park renovations.

Construction is expected to start in the spring with an estimated completion set for summer 2027, according to the release.

“This project is about reinvesting in a park that has meant a great deal to the surrounding neighborhood for decades,” Village President Debby Sosine said in the release. “By leveraging state funding and local resources, we’re preserving what residents value about Willoughby Farms Park while making responsible improvements that benefit the community as a whole.”

The grant is part of $36 million funded statewide by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The IDNR awarded OSLAD grants to 67 communities for local park and outdoor recreation projects, according to the release.

Huntley Park District was awarded $600,000 for its first phase of developing Project Horizon, a “cornerstone” initiative “focused on enhancing parks, facilities, and recreational opportunities for the community,” according to a Huntley Park District news release.

The McHenry Township Fire Protection District responded to a call at 12:03 p.m. to South Riverview Drive for a reported structure fire. First responders arrived in under seven minutes to “two houses and a detached garage on fire,” according to a McHenry Township Fire Protection news release.

Upgrading the response to a working fire, crews deployed two hose lines and got the fire under control within 15 minutes. The fire was fully extinguished in about 30 minutes, according to the release.

All three buildings were deemed uninhabitable after sustaining fire and smoke damage. The American Red Cross is assisting the homeowners affected. Officials did not have a damage estimate as of Friday.

No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation by the McHenry Township Fire Protection District.

Fire departments from Cary, Crystal Lake, Fox Lake, Nunda, Round Lake, Wauconda, Wonder Lake and Woodstock assisted in the call. The Salvation Army Canteen also brought support.

Tasty Bistro, located at 394 W. Virginia St., announced the closure in a Facebook post Wednesday, citing “escalating operational and hiring costs.” The restaurant will close its doors Tuesday, just shy of its fourth anniversary.

It isn’t an absolute goodbye, as the business will be consolidated to Tasty Sushi in Cary, at 630 Northwest Highway. All staff will be moved to the Cary restaurant, and Tasty Bistro gift cards can be used there, owner Kevin Chen said in an email.

“Due to high operational costs and an uncertain future, sales are barely covering expenses,” Chen said. “Considering the abundance of sushi restaurants in town, I believe merging with Tasty Sushi is a prudent decision, which will also help competitors boost their sales.”

The Crystal Lake restaurant opened in 2022 following the success of its Cary location, which opened in 2019. The Tasty restaurants feature sushi, a variety of Asian cuisine and an all-you-can-eat menu.

More changes may be in store for Tasty in the future, as Chen said operators are “exploring opportunities to rebrand and relocate to a different town.”

The Crystal Lake building that underwent extensive renovations by Tasty Bistro will soon sit empty, ready for a new business. Anyone interested in purchasing or leasing the building can contact realtor Kevin Kaplan, Chen said.

For now, online and carry-out orders can still be placed through the Crystal Lake site and phone number, according to the Facebook post. Deliveries can be made to Crystal Lake residents for a “reasonable delivery fee” through tastysushicary.com, Chen said.

“Once again, we extend our sincerest gratitude to our loyal customer base for their unwavering support of our small business,” the post continued. “We eagerly anticipate serving you at Tasty Sushi Cary.”

South Barrington-based developer Projades aims to build a 19-unit townhome development on Petrick and Lesley lanes on about 21,000 square feet. The townhomes would sit along Grant Street between Woodstock and Brink streets.

The plan stems from the Pingry Place townhomes that were first approved in 1992. Fourteen townhomes were built, but the remainder never were. Now, Projades is looking to complete the second phase of townhomes, 34 years after it was first proposed, minus one townhome from what originally was proposed.

The originally approved plan from 1992 didn’t expire, and still is valid, City Planner Elizabeth Maxwell said.

Crystal Lake’s Planning and Zoning Commission gave a 6-1 recommendation for the project last week. The City Council is expected to vote on the proposal March 3.

Called Jade Station, the three-story townhomes are proposed to have three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms and two-car garages in about 2,000 square feet, Projades CEO and President Ram Prashantha said.

Commissioners were in favor of the project finally being built out. Some expressed frustration over the tight space, but they are powerless to change it with the plan already approved decades ago.

“The ship’s already sailed, but this is really tight, and what a shame,” Commissioner Kathy Repholz said, who was the sole opposing vote.

Repholz had concerns over the homes having no front yard and the lack of guest parking. The proposed townhomes will remove current parking spaces within the development. But Commissioner Jeff Greenman said plenty of spots are available nearby at the commuter parking lots for the downtown Crystal Lake Metra train station.

“When guests will potentially be using it, it generally will not be during the day,” he said. “It will most likely be in the evenings, and it will most likely be Saturdays and Sundays, and at that point, that lot will not be used by commuters.”

Projades has two other projects in Crystal Lake: A townhome development called Bard Estates at Bard and Huntley roads and a 93-unit apartment complex at 551 Exchange Drive.

Bard Estates ran into some construction problems last year when the city issued a stop-work order for “serious and widespread” problems that included a sewage backup. In a news release published in October, Projades officials said they resolved the issues and restored Huntley Road.

The Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 board unanimously approved the selection of Sarah Cacciatore as the district’s superintendent Monday. Cacciatore will start July 1 after a months-long, nationwide search, according to district documents.

The approval comes after a national search conducted with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, according to a District 26 news release. During the search process, the district engaged with teachers, support staff, parents, administrators and community members.

“After an extensive and highly competitive search process, the board is confident that Dr. Cacciatore is the right leader to guide our district forward,” Board President Dee Darling said in the release. “She brings a strong record of instructional leadership and a deep understanding of how to build trusting partnerships with staff, students, families and the community.”

The board evaluated a dozen applicants from a pool of 37, and interviewed six candidates before narrowing the search to three finalists.

Since 2023, Cacciatore served as the deputy superintendent for Mundelein’s Elementary School District 75 and Mundelein High School District 120 “where she has led initiatives in literacy improvement, staff development, leadership development and teacher evaluation,” District 26 officials said in the release.

She has an education doctorate’s degree in curriculum leadership from Northern Illinois University, and a total of 23 years experience in public education.

“I am honored to be selected as the next superintendent of Cary Community Consolidated School District 26,” Cacciatore said in the release. “This district’s dedication to its students and community is evident, and I look forward to partnering with the board, staff and families to continue building on the district’s strengths and accomplishing the goals outlined in the leadership profile and the strategic plan.”

According to district documents, Cacciatore will have a three-year contract starting at a $200,000 annual salary and 20 vacation days each year. Annual raises will be no less that 2% and no greater than 5% of the previous year’s salary, according to the contract.

The board also approved the appointment of Kristen Bordonaro as assistant superintendent of special services, relieving interim Kimberly Dahlem on June 30. Bordonaro currently serves as the Director of Specialized Programs for Wauconda School District 118.

Bordonaro has a single-year contract with an annual salary of $120,000, according to district documents.

The superintendent search started in May of last year after former Superintendent Brandon White announced he was moving to serve at Harvard School District 50 starting last July.

During the search, Jennifer Thomas served as the interim superintendent. She will be moving on as the Superintendent at the Special Education District of Lake County starting in July.

“We deeply appreciate the engagement of our community throughout this process,” Darling said in the release. “Their feedback was instrumental in helping the board understand the leadership qualities most valued in our next superintendent.”

The Cary Fire Protection District responded to Moders Avenue at 11:29 a.m. Wednesday for a reported fire coming from the rear deck of a home. First responders arrived to “fire showing from the roofline of an attached enclosed rear deck,” Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said in a news release.

Firefighters deployed hose lines to the rear of the home and “quickly extinguished” the fire, Vucha said in the release. The home remains habitable, as the fire was contained to the deck roof. The sole occupant was able to safely evacuate.

“I’m proud of how our crews worked together to get this fire under control,” Chief Brad Delatorre said in the release. “They did a great job keeping the fire contained to the deck and preventing it from spreading into the home. We were also fortunate the homeowner was home at the time, because this could have been much worse if it had gone unnoticed.”

Moders Avenue was closed to traffic for about an hour.

“As a reminder, residents are encouraged to practice electrical safety and regularly check cords, outlets and outdoor wiring for signs of damage,” Vucha said in the release. “If anything appears loose, damaged or unsafe, it should not be used until it has been repaired or replaced.”

The Cary Fire Protection District is investigating the cause of the fire.

The Crystal Lake Police Department responded to a burglar alarm about 7 a.m. Friday to the Smoke Depot, 435 Angela Lane. Officers arrived to the scene finding that “a vehicle had smashed through the front entry” of the store “causing extensive damage,” according to a Crystal Lake Police Department news release.

No offenders were located, and no injuries were reported.

“It is also unknown what, if anything, may have been stolen from the business,” officials said in the release. “The investigation is ongoing, and no suspect descriptions are known at this time.”

Crystal Lake police encourage anyone who may have information to contact the department at 815-356-3620. Anonymous tips can be made by texting the word CLPDTIP along with information to 847411.

The Huntley Fire Protection District responded to a call at 6:25 p.m. Monday to the 10600 block of Kathleen Avenue for a reported house fire. First responders arrived within minutes to “heavy flames coming from the rear of a single-story residence” at the corner of Kathleen Avenue and Algonquin Road, Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said in a Huntley Fire news release.

Firefighters deployed hose lines to the back of the home while searching inside the residence. The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes of arrival, Vucha said in the release.

All occupants were safely evacuated after being alerted by a passerby before firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported, according to the release.

The home is considered uninhabitable due to heavy fire and water damage. Three adults of the home are displaced and currently seeking help from family members.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Huntley Fire Protection District.