Local Business Headlines

CRYSTAL LAKE – After being closed for more than three months, The Breakers Restaurant is back to doing what it does best – mixing tropical drinks and serving up Chinese food.

After months of making steady progress, the housing recovery in the seven-county metropolitan Chicago real estate market kicked into a higher gear in April, according to an analysis by Re/Max.

WOODSTOCK – Seminars and workshops are available to all job seekers and are free of charge at the McHenry County Workforce Network, 500 Russell Court, Woodstock. Seminars are not considered training by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. For more information, call 815-338-7100, email workforcecenterrr@yahoo.com, or visit www.mchenrycountyworkforce.com.

CARY – Ten dynamic young women will be competing for the crown in the 2013 Miss Cary and Miss Fox River Grove Business Scholarship Pageant at 7 p.m. Saturday at Cary-Grove High School, 2208 Three Oaks Road, Cary.

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois has completed another successful tax season. 

CRYSTAL LAKE – Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Centers encourage community members to plan ahead for summer fun for kids and adults:

MARENGO – One of the reasons Sandy Scott has kept returning to Prairie Community Bank in Marengo for the past 15 years: The staff knows and greets her by her first name.

RICHMOND – On the rear wall of Brian Mikes’ garage turned classroom there are signs of a life well lived. A picture of Mikes shaking the hand of former President Lyndon B. Johnson. Numerous commendations and certificates. Newspaper clippings.

BOLINGBROOK – The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board voted Tuesday to allow independent Sherman Hospital to join the state's largest health-care system.

McHENRY – Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois’ “Let’s Go to Work!” program kicked off in McHenry recently at the Goodwill Retail Store, 2006 N. Richmond Road, McHenry.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Centegra Physician Care now accepts HMO Illinois members through the new Centegra Health & Wellness Network.

Prairie Community Bank ended its recent eStatement campaign with a drawing for $500 cash. The campaign encouraged customers to receive their account statements electronically, reducing paper, increasing security and saving them time. The winner of the $500 cash prize, Paul Fritz, is pictured with Christine Blum, vice president of Prairie Community Bank.

CRYSTAL LAKE – Local nonprofits could face growing recruitment challenges as the economy improves and Baby Boomers retire.

The McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated a ribbon cutting for the 20th anniversary of Greenscape Design Inc. in McHenry.  Pictured (from left) are: Todd Lowenheim, Lowenheim Insurance Agency; Wayne Seely, Visual Horizons Internet Marketing; Lisa Cowger, Palmarium Home Inspection Service Inc.; Kay Rial Bates, McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce holding Daniel Reyes; Joan Lila, owner; Tom Riggs, Any Key Computer Services; Kerry Webster, True Blue Coupons; Gina Kappler, The Gum Gal; Frank Hosticka, LegalShield; Greg Mayer, Country Financial; Kurt Rice, A Better Water Treatment Co.

Chamber members participate in Bob Blazier Run