Gregory Harutunian

Bauske's Boat Basin was purchased by the Fox Waterway for the purposes of maintaining sediment and debris control at the Route 12 Bridge, which separates Nippersink and Pistakee lakes. (Gregory Harutunian/ for the Lake County News-Sun)

Fox Waterway Agency uses state grants to buy historic boat marina to maintain Chain O’ Lakes Fox River areas

August 15, 2025 at 1:20 p.m.

The Fox Waterway Agency has purchased the historic Bauske’s Boat Marina for $2.4 million, largely from two capital grant appropriations through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

An estimated 400 people disconnected their cell phones and attended the Unplugged Festival in Lake Zurich on Sunday, the fifth edition of the annual event. (Courtesy of Lake Zurich Parks and Recreation)

Hundreds attend Unplugged Festival in Lake Zurich sans phones; ‘Wouldn’t it be great … to connect on a personal level?’

August 11, 2025 at 4:21 p.m.

The other purpose was live demonstrations and interactive displays from local businesses, along with outreach programs available in the area.

Family members point to the name of a loved one inscribed on The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Washington D.C. Vietnam Veterans Memorial, as Vietnam veteran Steve MacInnis looks on. (Gregory Harutunian/For the Lake County News-Sun)

Antioch hosting Vietnam Veterans Memorial ‘Wall That Heals’; ‘This is simply a very hard and touching honor to pay tribute to them’

July 17, 2025 at 4:33 p.m.

The memorial is situated on the football field at 39 Depot Street until Sunday, and open for viewing around the clock.

Todd Vandiver-Wunder, as Hagred the giant, and Cruzanne Lewis, as Bellatrix, greet visitors and wizards at Diagon Alley. Cosplay, or costume play, is an important element of the Wizards Weekend. (Gregory Harutunian/ for the Lake County News-Sun)

Wizards Weekend transforms Antioch’s historic downtown for 7th year

June 16, 2025 at 3:32 p.m.

Antioch’s historic downtown area was transformed into a surreal landscape meant for young apprentice wizards, and their muggle (non-wizard) counterparts, on Saturday.

The Bangs Lake stream outfall remedial project began last week and includes new closed piping and open ditches to alleviate flooding. The $3.5 million cost was covered by a state grant and local funding. (Photo courtesy of Lake County)

Project to mitigate flooding in the Bangs Lake area in Wauconda officially breaks ground

June 14, 2025 at 6:32 a.m.

The Bangs Lake Outfall Improvement Project officially broke ground earlier this month and will include more than 4,000 feet of stream upgrades.

Volunteer tutors use one-on-one teaching methods to help students with their reading skills. The personalized assistance targets the overall improvement for literacy rates within a given school and classroom. (Courtesy of the Reading Power Program)

Tutoring program aims to improve literacy in young students; ‘Our true goal is to transform as many lives as possible’

May 15, 2025 at 3:34 p.m.

The group plans to do so by targeting children below the 25th percentile in reading on Illinois standardized assessments.

Colors flow along a canvas held at different angles, as Zion Central Middle School students participate in the creative arts after-school program run by Black's Academy of Excellence. (Gregory Harutunian/For the Lake County News-Sun)

Zion D6 partners with academy for afterschool program; ‘What better foundation can we offer?’

May 5, 2025 at 11:07 a.m.

The goal was to provide children with an opportunity for exposure to crafts and hobbies that could lead to a future career path.

Teams play on one of the soccer fields located in Viking Park. A master plan in development will include more walking paths and an all-inclusive playground area. (Photo courtesy of Gurnee Park District)

Plans underway to revitalize Gurnee’s Viking Park; ‘It … reflects the village’s rich heritage and strong sense of community’

March 4, 2025 at 7:35 a.m.

If the funding amount of $600,000 being sought is awarded at the end of the year, the actual physical aspects of construction will take place in May of 2026.

A total of 225 Navy recruits were seated across the length of the Antioch VFW Hall for a home-cooked holiday meal, and a chance to relax. (Gregory Harutunian/For the Lake County News-Sun)

Hundreds of Navy recruits served holiday meal at Antioch VFW; ‘I feel real welcome here’

December 10, 2024 at 7:30 a.m.

For the last 18 years, the Sailors Community Christmas Dinner has brought a little bit of home to new Navy personnel away from home for their first holiday season.

Main Street in Lake Zurich will receive new sidewalks, road resurfacing and Edison-style streetlamps, starting next year. (Gregory Harutunian/For the Lake County News-Sun)

Lake Zurich starting $4M Main Street corridor project; ‘It will totally change the look and feel … for decades’

December 9, 2024 at 4:43 p.m.

The project will come in two phases, kicking off with the Phase I Main Street beautification. It was held back, waiting for the redevelopment efforts that brought new apartment dwellings...

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