No charges will be filed in the April 5 school bus crash that left a Beach Park man dead and injured students, announced the Lake County Sheriff's Office Tuesday.

"The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has reviewed the case and charges will not be forthcoming in this incident," stated a press release.

The deadly crash occurred shortly after 8 a.m. April 5 at Route 173 and Kilbourne Road in Newport Township, near Wadsworth.

The bus was transporting 35 kindergarten through fifth-graders to Newport Elementary School when it collided with a Jeep Wrangler then rolled into another vehicle.

The driver of the Jeep, Philip Smith, 62, of Beach Park, was killed. The Lake County Coroner’s toxicology reports found evidence of what is believed to be prescription medications in Smith’s system, reported the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of four injured students.

Related:

Update: Statement from Family of Man Killed in Wadsworth Bus Rollover

Lawsuit Filed in School Bus Crash

Update:

Buffalo Grove resident Mary Kay Affrunti, 60, died in the crash this morning near Mundelein, the Daily Herald reports.

Previously:

One person was killed Tuesday morning in a three-vehicle crash in unincorporated Mundelein, reports the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

At approximately 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 30, the sheriff’s office responded to an accident with injuries at West Erhart and North Gilmer roads in unincorporated Mundelein.

Two vehicles were involved in the crash and a third vehicle drove off of the roadway hitting a tree to avoid the accident. 

A white 1999 Mercedes 280 was traveling northbound on Gilmer Road north of Erhart Road when it crossed the southbound lane.

A blue 2006 Honda Odyssey was traveling southbound on Gilmer Road and struck the Mercedes.

A gray 2011 Buick Lacrosse was traveling southbound on Gilmer Road, swerved to avoid the collision and struck a tree.

The driver of the Mercedes was pronounced deceased at Advocate Condell Medical Center, according to a sheriff's press release.

The driver of the Honda was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican Holiday that celebrates the Mexican Army’s victory over France in the mid 1800’s, has become a bigger and bigger event here in the U.S., mostly due to our love of Margaritas and imported beer. However, it has morphed into a celebration of Mexican culture - so why not take the opportunity to teach your kids about Mexico in a fun way.

If you were thinking about inviting some friends or neighbors over this weekend to celebrate, here are five Cinco de Mayo party ideas the kids will love.  It’s a Fiesta!

Mexican Flag– Have the kids make their own Mexican Flags with this fun idea from the A Mom Not a Pro blog. Even a toddler can make this fun flag art.

DIY Mini Pinata– Mari over at the Inspired by Familia blog has a cute idea to make your own mini Pinatas out of paper cups.

Luchador Wrestling Masks– Got some crazy boys at the party? They will love making their own Lucador Mexican Wrestling Masks. Grab the template here.

Mexican Cuff Bracelet– Your little chicas will have a blast making these cuff bracelets that look resemble the Mexican Metal tooling technique.

Ice Cream Dessert- Finally, check out this super easy ice cream dessert kids can make for a Cinco de Mayo party. Adults are going to want to make some, tambien.

For more ideas for a Mexican-themed party, check out my Cinco de Mayo Party board on Pinterest. Felices Fiestas!

Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo with your kids?

************

Sue Kirchner is a family fun coach, blogger, kids party planner, and weekly contributor to Patch.com. Sue and her family fun ideas have been featured on TV, newspapers, magazines, blogs, as well as her own family fun site ChocolateCakeMoments.com.

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From elegant and stately mansions to modern, environmentally-friendly abodes, the North Shore is full of one-of-a-kind homes.

Each week, Patch features one ‘Wow House’ that catches our attention. This week, check out this Highland Park English Manor home with a breathtaking foyer.

The home at 2027 Partridge Lane is set on a serene, one acre lot with stone patios, pool and firepit. There's also recessed lighting in all rooms as well as surround sound. The lower level boasts an exercise room, wet bar, theater, sauna and wine cellar. 

Check out the photos above or click here for more.

Is your home a ‘Wow’ House? Want to nominate a spectacular, unusual or just plain cool property on the North Shore? E-mail us: highlandpark@patch.com.

The information below comes from Wm. H. Scott Funeral Home.

Helen Churchill of Highland Park, Illinois, passed away on April 17, 2013.

She was born on December 23, 1922, in Pocatello, Idaho. She was preceded in death by her brother, Everett; son, Carl; and daughter, Kelly. She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Robert; daughter, Kimberley (Simon) Feuz; son, Kevin (Mary Ann); five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Helen served in the Women's Army Corp, United States Army, and was stationed in Berlin, Germany during the occupation after World War II.

She will be missed by all who loved and cherished her association. Helen was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved serving others. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at www.ldsfoundation.org.

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In February, Chicago-area home prices dropped for the sixth straight month according to new data released this week by S&P/Case-Shiller.

The data reflects single-family home prices fell 0.8 percent in February compared with January.

However, Chicago area home sales prices were up 5.1 percent compared with Feb. 2012, which is the second smallest year-to-year increase after New York in a 20-city index provided by S&P/Case-Shiller, reported Crain's Chicago Business.

“Home prices continue to show solid increases across all 20 cities,” said David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, in a statement. “The 10- and 20-city composites recorded their highest annual growth rates since May 2006.”

Local prices are down about 34 percent from their peak in September 2006, reported Crain's.

In March, Patch reported that home sale prices in Highland Park were up 6.8 percent in 2012 compared with 2011.

For years, people who love McDonald's egg McMuffins and sausage biscuits have wondered "why oh why can't we get these any time of the day?"

Sit tight. McDonald's is still considering it, according to a story in Bloomberg Businessweek.

Highland Park McDonald's locations:

• 2748 Skokie Valley Rd.
• 1988 1st St.

In an interview with CNBC, McDonald's President and CEO Don Thompson said the restaurant has heard the cries from fans to serve breakfast 24 hours a day and in fact offers "Breakfast After Midnight" at select locations—just none around here.

Thomas told CNBC that McDonald's has looked at some "innovative ways" to expand breakfast hours for customers. "I think we'll be seeing some of those things in the near future."

Delivery service is another concept McDonald's is considering. Burger King is already doing this in major cities including Chicago, reported the Huffington Post.

Weigh in: Do you want McDonald's to serve breakfast all day? Would you consider getting fast food delivered?

When it comes to dating, Chicago residents have a not-so-flattering title.

The city is ranked the 4^th most superficial city in America, according to WhatsYourPrice.com. The online-dating auction used Google Analytics to determine the amount of time needed for men and women to decide if they’d date someone. The data uncovered that it only takes Chicagoans 8.6 seconds to make that determination.

The website also asked more than 4,500 people to rank the most important qualities in an online dating profile, Chicago’s top five were profile picture, income, occupation, body type and age.

The top five most superficial American cities based on average browsing time are as follows:

1. Salt Lake City, UT: 7.2 seconds
2. Portland, OR, 7.7 seconds
3. Houston, TX 8.3 seconds
4. Chicago, IL, 8.6 seconds
5. Washington, D.C., 9.8 seconds

Do you agree with this data? Do you feel that Chicagoland residents are superficial when it comes to dating? Tell us what you look for in a potential date in the comments section. 

The College of Lake County seated its newly elected trustees this week—incumbent Barbara D. Oilschlager, of Grayslake, who has served since 1989, and Dr. Philip Carrigan, of Waukegan, who previously served on the board from 2005 to 2011.

Both were elected April 9 to a 6-year term.

Carrigan replaces John W. Lumber, who served since April 2007.

The board also conducted its annual reorganization, selecting Amanda Howland, of Lake Zurich, to serve as chairman; Jeanne T. Goshgarian, of Round Lake, to serve as vice chairman; and Philip Carrigan to serve as secretary.

"I am looking forward to working with everyone," said Howland. She then praised outgoing chairman, Richard Anderson, whom she described as having "worked harder for the college than anyone."

The board also seated the new student trustee, Kendall Welton, of Wauconda, to serve a one-year term.

Submitted by the College of Lake County

Mark Rosen wants you to work in his office.

No, he doesn't want you to work for him. The Deerfield resident has opened up an office space in downtown Highland Park that he hopes will appeal to the growing number of people who work full-time jobs remotely.

"It's hard to have meaningful social interaction when you're working from home," Rosen explained from the space on Wednesday. "It's nice when you have two people sitting here working."

The new space, called Plugin, boasts a conference room, workspaces with wireless internet and outlets, a coffee lounge and an expansive view of Laurel Avenue.

Now all it needs is members.

Rosen got the idea for Plugin shortly after he sold his last venture, Sugar River Cheese Company. He worked as a consultant for some time, but began to feel isolated working from home.

"Working at home doing consulting was not as fun as when I had my business," Rosen said. "I happened upon the whole concept of co-working."

Co-working in this sense refers to people who don't work for the same company sharing an office. It's a trend that's been picking up steam in New York and along the West Coast for years. 

Rosen wants to bring it to the suburbs of Chicago.

"All these people are doing this in the city and I see a suburban dynamic that I think would work," Rosen explained.

Rosen wants to create a setting that's warm and inviting for people to work in. He wants to create a setting where people who work in different areas will feel comfortable asking each other for suggestions or advice.

"you create a little ecosystem here," Rosen said. "It's a missed opportunity if you're working from home."

Rosen also believes that the clean workspace away from the distractions of a home or cafe will encourage members to work more efficiently.

"I assume everyone has a home office, so I'm not trying to replace it, just trying to augment it," Rosen said.

Membership prices range from $100 to $250 a month, according to Plugin's website. Rosen wants the space to be successful because it's a business he's invested time, energy and funds into. But he says that's not the only reason he'd like to see it work. He likes the idea of helping people to establish new connections that will help them do their jobs better, and consequently make them more better off than they would have been. He doesn't want Plugin to just be a short-term convenience for members; he wants it to be long-term investment.

"if I'm successful it means a lot of peoples lives are a little better or a lot better," Rosen said. "I would really like to do that."

For complete Highland Park news and updates, sign up for our free newsletter, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

A new study by Consumer Reports revealed that more than half of ground turkey purchased from grocery stores nationwide is contaminated with fecal bacteria.

The lab analysis conducted by the magazine showed that 69 percent of the turkey meat sampled contained Enterococcus and 60 percent showed E.coli, the Huffington Post reports. Both strains of bacteria are associated with fecal contamination. Some of the meat was also laden with salmonella and staphylococcus aureus, which are both known to cause foodbourne illness.

The National Turkey Federation says Consumer Reports chose to “sensationalize findings and mislead people,", the Wall Street Journal reports. Among several comments made to defend the turkey industry, the NFT said that while Enteroccus and E.coli were found in the meat, they are not considered sources of foodbourne illness. Read more from the NFT on the Wall Street Journal’s website. 

The investigation into the death of Highland Park resident and Highwood restaurant owner Giacomo Ruggirello in a suspicious house fire last September continues to uncover more information and spark unconfirmed rumors of possible mob ties.

A story in Thursday's Chicago Tribune reports the investigation has uncovered a missing restaurant safe and a will that may have been finalized by Ruggirello days before his death that disinherited his daughters and left his money to a friend in Italy.

Read the full story here.

Suspicious death

The badly burned body of Giacomo Ruggirello, who owned Trattoria Giacomo in Highwood, was found inside his Highland Park home shortly before 1 a.m. on Sept 25, 2012, Patch reported.

An accelerant may have been used in the fire, according to reports.

Stories that Ruggirello owed people money, along with the condition of his body was when it was discovered, has led to talk of a possible mob connection.

In another odd twist to this intriguing case, the Tribune reported last month that defense attorneys for Steven Mandell, an ex-Chicago cop from Buffalo Grove who is accused in a plot to extort and kill a Chicago real estate mogul, subpoenaed the Highland Park Police Department for its records into Ruggirello's death, suggesting a possible connection.

Related:

Suspicious Death of Highwood Restaurant Owner Resurfaces

State Sen. Terry Link's bill proposing expanded casino gambling in Illinois, including in Lake County, passed the Senate this week with a vote of 32 to 20.

The bill, which proposes five new casinos, moved to the House Thursday.

Prior to the Senate vote, Link told members the new casinos could generate an initial $1.2 billion for the deficit state, reported the Daily Herald.

If approved, possible locations for a casino in Lake County include Park City, North Chicago and Waukegan.

Senators representing Lake County who voted in favor of SB1739 were Democrat Terry Link, of Waukegan and Democrat Julie Morrison, of Deerfield. Voting no were Democrat Melinda Bush, of Grayslake and Republican Dan Duffy, of Lake Barrington, according to the vote history posted by the Illinois General Assembly.

Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed two earlier bills related to gambling expansion, though his office has responded to this latest proposal by stating it is being reviewed  "appears to be moving in the right direction," reported the Lake County News-Sun.

What do you think? Should casino gambling be expanded in Illinois? Would you want a casino in Lake County?

A woman riding her bike in unincorporated Lake Villa lost her life Thursday afternoon after she was struck by a car, reported the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The victim, whose identity is not being released pending family notification, was pronounced dead at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

Police responded to the accident scene at about 2:15 p.m. Thursday.

A white 2000 Toyota Camry was traveling south on Route 45 north of Grand Avenue in unincorporated Lake Villa and collided with a bicyclist, who was also traveling south on Route 45, according to a sheriff's press release.

The bicyclist was taken by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where she was pronounced dead. 

The driver was not injured and voluntarily submitted to toxicology tests.

Charges have not been filed at this time and the accident remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Accident Investigation Unit.

Very few events are celebrated around the globe, but Earth Day is. This year, it’s come and gone. But we’re here to ask: What can we do to show our love of the earth on that day, and every day? 

On May 31st, Sony will release After Earth, an action-packed movie that takes place 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to leave. It’s the kind of scenario that makes you want to donate to Greenpeace, recycle everything, and start biking every where, immediately. So, in honor of Earth Day, Patch has teamed up with Sony to present these ideas for making every day Earth Day.

How can we make every day Earth Day?

Begin with little things. Easy things. Obvious things. Things we take for granted each day, and use and/or abuse because of our lack of knowledge. Let's start there. Remember that children learn from what we do.

There are some wonderful family activities you can do together while learning about the environment. Make a "to do" list and make it fun! Do as many hands-on projects as you can each day to help save the earth in little ways. Have the children keep a chart or journal about everything they do.

Here are some suggestions:

Indoors: Learn more about the earth with your kids - surf the web, read books, magazines, and newspapers. Conserve energy and save water by letting children find (and a parent fix) dripping faucets; only running the dishwasher when full; taking short showers; turning the water off while brushing your teeth; turning off electrical items when not in use; doing full loads of laundry only. Recycle cans, bottles and newspapers.

Outdoors: Plant a tree. Plant a garden. Clean up roadside litter. Create a habitat by putting up a birdhouse. Build a compost for food scraps, leaves and lawn clippings. Save rainwater and reuse for outdoor gardens.

At School: Urge teachers and administrators to do activities for Earth Day and every day. Suggest ideas for projects: write poetry; create environmentally-themed music; have an environmental poster contest. Check to see which sources of electricity you can conserve in your school (electric pencil sharpener, lights on in rooms not used, etc.) and keep a chart about how many ways you saved energy.  

At Work: Make a company Earth Day resolutions list. Conserve paper and electricity. Close shades in the summer to prevent high heat in offices. Don't use air conditioning all the time. Recycle cans, bottles and newspapers at the office.

While Traveling: Visit parks and nature centers. Visit a maritime museum. While on a drive, have children count how many things might be polluting the air, land or water, and then research if anything is being done to correct the problem.    

For Pets: Attend a dog-friendly Earth Day event. Organize a dog park cleanup. Take a hike on a dog-friendly trail. Use natural flea control. Buy organic pet food. Avoid plastic and synthetic toys and dog beds, and use natural fiber products. Scoop up the poop, compost it, or use biodegradable poop bags if you live in the city. Adopt a pet from a shelter. Spay or neuter your pet.

Join a Group: Join organizations that help save endangered animals. Adopt an endangered species online. Join any group that supports Earth Day issues. 

Community Service: Volunteer your time in any way that will improve the environment.  Does your community have a nature center? Maybe you can volunteer there.

How do you make every day Earth Day? Tell us in the comments!

Smoked salmon, cream cheese and potato pancakes are traditional delicatessen fare but Bobby’s Deerfield has crafted the three ingredients into a popular appetizer at its upscale American bistro with an Italian influence.

Earlier: Bobby’s Deerfield Plans Sumptuous Menu

Bobby’s first turns the smoked salmon into a Pastrami before putting it over a layer of cream cheese which sits atop a potato pancake. It was part of a special tasting for Patch before the eatery opened in October and has been a popular dish since day one.

“We like smoked salmon, potato pancakes and cream cheese and tried to come up with all three in one dish,” co-owner Bobby Arifi said. “Smoked salmon and cream cheese are traditional together.”

The difference was putting those two foods on top of the potato pancake. “I like potato pancakes. They’re pretty simple so we thought (all three) would go together,” Arifi said. “They bring out the flavor (of all three) very well.”

Warmer weather will be here to stay soon, and with it comes the draw towards outdoor activities. While enjoying these activities, don’t forget to take action to prevent bites from ticks that share our outdoor spaces. Ticks can infect humans and wildlife with bacteria, viruses and parasites that can cause serious illness.

There are two species of ticks in Lake County, Illinois: deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) and wood tick (Dermacentor variabilis). Of these two species, only deer ticks can pass on Lyme disease. However, wood ticks, also referred to as American dog ticks, do have the ability to pass on other bacterial infections such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.

Before you go outdoors, choose light-colored clothing, tuck long pants into socks and apply an insect repellent containing DEET to your clothes. Products containing permethrin can kill ticks. These products can be purchased at many outdoor recreational retailers and are used to treat boots, clothing and gear for extended protection against ticks, mites and nuisance insects.

During outdoor activities, know where to expect ticks. They are most commonly found near wooded areas and tall grasses. Stay on trails when hiking and keep lawns and grass around play equipment trimmed short. Ticks wait on tall vegetation and grasp onto any large object that passes. It is a myth that ticks drop from above onto your head. They start low and crawl upwards in search of a protected site to latch onto the host’s skin.

Before you enter your car and after you come indoors, check your clothing thoroughly for ticks. Remove any ticks found on your clothing and dispose of them. Placing clothing in a dryer on high heat for one hour kills ticks and can prevent ticks from dropping off in your home to search for a host. Once clothing has been checked, check your body for ticks and shower soon after being outdoors. Showering can flush off unattached ticks and provides the best view for a full body tick check. Be sure to look in potential hiding spots as well as open skin. Check under your arms, in and around your ears, in your belly button, behind your knees and so on.

If you find an attached tick remove it immediately by grasping near its head with small tweezers, as close to your skin as possible, and pulling it straight out slowly. Following removal, watch for signs of illness such as rash near the attachment site or fever. Visit a health care provider if any symptoms develop.

For further details regarding tick prevention, visit the Lake County Health Department’s Environmental Services online. The Health Department offers visual identification tips, a fact sheet on tick prevention and a brief video on how to avoid ticks and what to do if you find a tick on yourself or your pet.

The majority of states may be experiencing a drop in gas prices, but not Illinois and other parts of the Midwest, according to AAA.

Record rainfall that led to flooding and reduced production related to refineries shifting over to "summer-blend" gasoline are part of the reason, reports AAA. There was also an explosion at a Detroit refinery on April 27, though that incident was not expected to contribute to higher prices for motorists.

The current average price for regular unleaded in Illinois is $3.95. Last month, the average was $3.84. A year ago the average was $4.02. The highest recorded average was $4.31 on May 5, 2011, according to AAA.

Highland Park gas

As of Friday morning, the following gas stations had the lowest prices in Highland Park, according to Mapquest:

• $4.14 at Clark HP Oil, 760 Central Ave.
• $4.14 at BP, 1881 Deerfield Rd.
• $4.14 at Thorntons, 55 Skokie Valley Rd.

"I use Gasbuddy for my android phone to find who has the best price between my office and HP. The fluctuation in gas prices is unreasonable," posted Greg Kenney on Highland Park Patch Facebook.

Tell us what you think about the gas prices in the comments.