Village Board to Consider Economic Incentives for Westfield Hawthorn

Vernon Hills officials are preparing to vote on an economic incentive agreement that would help fund redevelopment and renovation plans at Westfield Hawthorn shopping mall.

Westfield Hawthorn is just a Village Board vote away from getting permission to begin its redevelopment.  Approval of an economic incentive agreement is all that stands between Vernon Hills and the owner of the shopping mall. Under the proposed agreement, the village would pay about $17 million to Westfield over a decade-long agreement. The money includes a $9.41 million sales tax rebate for Westfield-owned portions of the property, including the proposed AMC Theater. The money would help Westfield pay for construction-related costs such as remodeling the mall entrances, building the movie theater, relocating utilities and improving the parking lot. The rebate would not apply to the four anchor department stores. Westfield also requests 7.…

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Lake County's Largest Job Fair Thursday

Looking for work? More than 70 employers will be represented at the College of Lake County's job fair on Thursday.

Job seekers are invited to attend the JobMarketPlace Job Fair on Thursday, May 23, sponsored by the College of Lake County Career and Placement Services office. The fair will be held from 1-5 p.m. in the P.E. Center, Building 7, 19351 W. Washington St., in Grayslake. This is Lake County’s largest job fair, where participants can explore full-time, part-time, seasonal and professional job opportunities with more than 70 employers. In 2012, about 50 employers attended the annual job fair, according to Sylvia Johnson Jones, executive director of the CLC Career and Placement Services office. "It appears that the number of employers registering for JobMarketPlace may be an indication that the economy is picking back up. Employers have job …

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Vernon Hills Cops Sit on Roof, Ask for Cash

Vernon Hills police officers will climb onto the roof of Dunkin' Donuts May 31 to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics.

Vernon Hills police officers will climb onto the roof of Dunkin' Donuts May 31 to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics of Illinois. Customers at the donut shop will be greeted by the officers from above between 5-9 a.m. that morning. Those who donate money to the Special Olympics will receive a coupon for a free doughnut or coffee. This is the sixth year for the "Cops on the Rooftop" event in Vernon Hills, which has raised more than $5,776 in the last five years. It is also the second of three main efforts this year by the police department to raise money for the cause.  In Feburary, five police officers, one telecommunicator and two family members  jumped into the icy cold waters of the Fox Lake as part of the Polar Plunge. …

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Jewel Repeals Mandatory Cart-to-Car Service

Patch readers had a lot to say last month when asked what they thought of a new store policy in which baggers were obliged to follow customers and their carts out to their vehicles whether they wanted help or not.

If you've avoided shopping at Jewel-Osco for fear of being awkwardly trailed to your car by an employee, you're not alone, but there is good news. The once mandatory policy created by Jewel's new owners, Cerberus Capital Management LP, has been repealed. A statement on the store's website says the cart-to-car service will still be offered to customers, but it will no longer be forced upon them. Parts of our customer service philosophy are things that every grocery store should do, like ensuring the stores are clean, the shelves are well stocked, and asking if you need help finding an item. Now, we’ve expanded our service to include taking your groceries out to your car. And, if you don’t want or need help, that’s fine too. Many customers …

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Notable Lake County Resident to be CLC Commencement Speaker

Reboot Parnters, Inc. Chairman Dean DeBiase, of Lake Forest, will be the College of Lake County's commencement speaker.

Lake Forest resident Dean DeBiase, a former College of Lake County student who gained distinction as a Silicon Valley and Chicago business leader, will be the keynote speaker at the college’s commencement ceremony on Saturday.. DeBiase, who transferred from CLC a few credits short of earning a degree, will also receive an honorary associate degree and the Illinois Outstanding Citizen Award. A co-author with Seth Godin of the best-selling business book The Big Moo: Stop Trying to Be Perfect and Start Being Remarkable, DeBiase’s keynote address, "Semper Paratus," will touch on the entrepreneurial movement and content from a new book he is developing. DeBiase graduated from Lake Forest High School a year early in 1975 and wanted to travel the…

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Celebrity Apprentice Finale to Feature Walgreens Ice Cream

Sunday's "All-Star Celebrity Apprentice" will name the winner of the best new ice cream flavor created for Deerfield-based Walgreens.

Deerfield-based Walgreens' own brand of ice cream, Delish, is getting some major promotion thanks to Donald Trump's popular TV show "All-Star Celebrity Apprentice." Two of the show's contestants, country singer Trace Adkins and magician Penn Jillette, were recently challenged to create a new Delish flavor for the show's finale, reported the Chicago Tribune. Tune in Sunday night to find out which flavor wins—Adkins' "Maple Macadamia Mash-Up" or Jillette's "Vanilla & Chocolate Magic Swirtle." Both flavors are being sold at Walgreens stores across the country. Have you tried either flavor? Which one did you favor?

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Ground Officially Broken at Trader Joe's Site

"This unique grocery store draws loyal customers from a wide area and is sure to be a popular and convenient stop for the surrounding workforce," said Tom Williams, managing partner at Paragon Real Estate.

Officials broke ground Monday on a planned Trader Joe's store in Libertyville, with the store expected to open later this year. Trader Joe's announced in February that it will open a 12,500-square-foot store on the site of the old Frank's Nursery, located at 1600 S. Milwaukee Ave. The real estate developer handling the project, Paragon Real Estate, also plans to build an 8,100-square-foot multi-tenant building on the 3-acre parcel. "We are fortunate to have Trader Joe's as our anchor tenant," Tom Williams, managing partner of Paragon Real Estate, said in a prepared statement. "This unique grocery store draws loyal customers from a wide area and is sure to be a popular and convenient stop for the surrounding workforce." Many readers on …

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Vernon Hills Business Makes Fortune 500

The 2013 Fortune 500 list was just released and includes 32 Illinois companies.

Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas in Vernon Hills

If you haven't already, it's time to start thinking about Mother’s Day gifts. Here are some ideas that can be found in Vernon Hills.

It's better late than never when it comes to Mother's Day gifts.  Here are some gifts ideas from the Vernon Hills Patch Directory. 1. Big things in little packages You can't go wrong with jewelry. Check out jewelry stores in Vernon Hills for a great gift she will love. 2. Day of relaxation Give her a day of relaxation with a gift certificate to a Vernon Hills salon or spa.  3. Flowers If you are looking for flowers, here are some florists in Vernon Hills. 4. Treat mom Certainly you don't expect mom to cook dinner on Mother's Day! Take her out for a special meal or bring home a sweet treat at these Vernon Hills restaurants and food stores. Above all, remember: It's truly the thought that counts! Tell Us: What's the best Mother's Day deal in…

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