Crystal Lake food truck takes second place in first-ever WGN burger contest!

October 7, 2025

Smash’D wins first runner-up in inaugural WGN Radio competition

Congratulations to Crystal Lake-based Smash’D Burgers & Fries for coming in second place in WGN Radio’s first-annual Best Burgers Tournament!

The food truck, which is a well-known sight at McHenry County festivals and farmers’ markets, beat out 62 other competitors as it made its way up the bracket. It lost to the winner, Nick’s Tavern of Lemont, by only 133 votes.

Smash’D was created three years ago by Kevin Byrnes, a father of six and a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo.

Congratulations to Kevin and his family, and good luck next year – hope you take the crown in 2026! And congratulations to The Tracks, in Cary, for making it to the bracket.

We’re so happy that McHenry County was well-represented in this inaugural burger battle. McHenry County also is a very fierce competitor in WGN Radio’s annual Pizza Madness competition – watch for it this spring!

Roosevelt University hosting MBA open house at University Center

Are you looking to advance your career? Are you ready to take the next steps to earn your master’s degree closer to home?

Roosevelt University and the McHenry County College University Center are hosting an open house to let the public know about RU’s Master of Business Administration Program. The open house takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28 at the University Center, 222 E. Church St., Woodstock.

Attendees will learn about the MBA class format and how it could meet their education and career goals. They also will learn about the admissions and financial aid process, tour the University Center, and have the ability to apply that afternoon if they wish.

Please visit this webpage to RSVP for the free open house. If you have questions, call 815-479-7600 or email ucenter@mchenry.edu.

Come to the McHenry County Historical Society Fall Festival this Sunday

As long as you’re in Marengo for Settlers’ Days this weekend, why not hop a few miles over to the McHenry County Historical Society & Museum for the annual Fall Festival?

The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 12, at the museum, 6422 Main Street, Union. Events include an apple bake-off competition, a petting zoo from 10 to noon, model trains, a barn raising, and more!

FYI, if you come across articles stating that the festival is taking place at the historic Pringle School, you can disregard – it was moved back to the Union museum.

Local governments talk collaboration at MCMPI Annual Expo

About 40 local government and private sector partners gathered last Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the 2025 McHenry County Municipal Partnering Initiative Annual Expo to share the latest information on permitting and stormwater requirements, cybersecurity best practices, asset management, and more!

Thank you to City of Crystal Lake Public Works Director Mike Magnuson, Douglass Strempek of Concentric Integration, and Travis Parry of Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. for your thought-provoking presentations, and to County Coordinator Chalen Daigle for bringing everyone together! And of course, thank you to the City of Woodstock and the Woodstock Opera House for hosting the event!

The MCMPI is just one of many initiatives underway in McHenry County and its regional partners to encourage more cooperation and sharing of services with other governments.

McHenry County Water Forum video is now online

The eighth annual McHenry County Water Forum was, once again, a tremendous success.

Residents, businesses, advocacy groups and local governments attended the annual event last month at McHenry County College to learn more about McHenry County’s water supply, and how to ensure its sustainability for future generations. The forum is hosted by the McHenry County Department of Planning and Development, with generous support from the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and a wide range of sponsors.

If you missed it, don’t worry – you can watch it on YouTube at your leisure. And if you want to learn even more about McHenry County’s water resources and how they can be protected, visit the webpage of the McHenry County Water Resources Division.

This year’s theme was “Watersheds: Water Quality, Flooding, Land Use and Resiliency in McHenry County.”

Celebrate The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s 50th birthday in style

The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been a Halloween staple for the past half-century. And once again, the Woodstock Opera House is celebrating Halloween with a showing for newcomers and die-hard fans alike.

Dressing up to participate in the show is encouraged! (If you’re new to the experience, prepare to have you mind blown.) For the record, if you do bring props, organizers are asking people not to bring the common play-along items of rice, water pistols, lit candles, lighters, confetti, toast, hot dogs and prunes.

Tickets are $15 for the showing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, and can be purchased online.

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McH Thrive is a collaborative initiative being implemented by McHenry County and the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) in partnership with the McHenry County community, including cities and villages, businesses and residents.