Pioneer Local

North Barrington gardener works to create ‘edible landscapes’

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:01:42 -0500

NORTH BARRINGTON — The rapid growth and popularity of the local, organic food movement is on display in North Barrington resident Carl Alguire’s backyard. About 16 months ago, Alguire took his backyard gardening skills to a new level by creating Smart Gardener, a unique garden planning service. Officially launched in January, 2012, Alguire said the service has been growing at a faster pace than the crops. “We have an online website that teaches people to plant, plan and manage a garden,” Alguire explained. “It started with the idea that so many people wanted to learn to do this. People are …

Neighbor helps Mundelein police catch suspects in string of burglaries

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:11:34 -0500

An observant neighbor helped Mundelein police stop a string of burglaries in several Lake County towns. Police arrested Jose M. Peiera-Cerna, 22, of North Chicago, and Jose L. Macedonio-Alvarez, 20, of Waukegan, on May 20 after a Mundelein resident allegedly saw the men entering a home in the 200 block of N. Pershing Avenue.

Trump wins at trial, calls woman suing him ‘horrible human being’

Fri, 24 May 2013 02:20:52 -0500

A jury has cleared Donald Trump of any wrongdoing in a civil suit brought by an 87-year-old Evanston woman who claimed he ripped her off. After deliberating for about five hours at the end of a week-and-a-half long trial, the jury returned the verdict Thursday afternoon. Trump was not in court.

La Grange businesses: Need another downtown parking garage

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:10:00 -0500

LA GRANGE — Business leaders are reviewing steps to head off a major parking crunch before dining, shopping and village events heat up for the summer. Members of the La Grange Business Association and village staff members met informally May 22 to gauge support for several initiatives and how best to proceed. Michael LaPidus, who owns Q BBQ and The Hot Dog Company, urged fellow owners and managers to adopt a multifaceted approach, following the success of the village parking garage with 368 spaces at 80 S. 6th Ave., built in 2005. “We had extreme opposition to the parking structure …

Northwestern returns historical documents to France

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:46:00 -0500

EVANSTON — While sifting through an archival box at Northwestern University four years ago, Jason Nargis lifted the lid on a few hundred years of history.

Purple Hotel set for demolition again

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:04:00 -0500

Lincolnwood’s iconic Purple Hotel appears to be dead. Plans to use the hotel as part of a $20 million mixed-use development have been spiked, after the hotel owners announced Tuesday a decision to demolish the colorful building and start fresh with plans for a larger mixed-use development. The big purple landmark that has maintained a presence at 4500 W. Touhy Avenue since 1961 will be demolished at the expense of property owners Skokie-based North Capital Group, which announced the change in plans to village trustees Tuesday night. North Capital Group acquired the property for $8.3 million in a bankruptcy sale …

Evanston teen charged in shooting near Old Orchard mall

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:53:24 -0500

An Evanston teenager has been charged in the shooting of a boy near Old Orchard mall last week. Rayshawn Taylor, 17, of the 1900 block of Jackson Avenue in Evanston, was charged with one count each of aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon, according to Skokie police. He is accused of shooting a boy about 9:45 p.m. on Friday, May 17, in the 4800 block of Golf Road in Skokie, police said. Emergency personnel found the boy lying on the ground with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the abdomen area. In court Wednesday, Taylor was …

Census: Despite population growth, Chicago still at a loss

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:05:41 -0500

Chicago gained nearly 10,000 people from July 2011 to July 2012, but was the slowest-growing major city in the country according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released Thursday.

Jury deliberates whether Donald Trump ‘conned’ 87-year-old woman

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:21:35 -0500

Is Donald Trump a “reprehensible” conman who ripped off an Evanston grandmother and “stole her faith in other people?” Or is the real estate magnate being unfairly sued by a “sophisticated investor” who bought two hotel condos in the Trump Tower “with her eyes wide open” but got buyer’s remorse and backed out?

Wilmette school’s fifth-grade twins contend for Guinness title

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:36:33 -0500

WILMETTE — Four months ago, 11-year-old Ryan Novosel was reading the latest Guinness Book of World Records that he and twin brother Luke received for Christmas. He happened upon a particularly interesting record – the most twins in the same academic year at one school.

Transferred Highland Park teacher resigns in impassioned YouTube video

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:09:21 -0500

A video bombshell was dropped late Tuesday on top of an emerging controversy in North Shore School District 112 when one of the four teachers transferred out of Lincoln Elementary School posted a YouTube video announcing her decision to leave the district.