Where Is Spring? Another Snowy Day for Lake Zurich

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory until 11 a.m.

  Is Mother Nature playing a trick on us? Today is March 18, and we have yet another Winter Weather Advisory in effect. The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued the warning until 11 a.m. Snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected with up to an inch of accumulation possible. Heavy sleet could fall through mid-morning creating slick road conditions for drivers heading to work. According to Accuweather.com, the high temperature in Lake Zurich today is 38degrees with a “real feel” of 28. The low is 16 degrees with a “real feel” of -6. Temperatures won’t be any better the rest of the week, with temperatures just breaking 40 degrees by Saturday. This time last year, the temperatures reached 80 degrees. When spring finally arrives, what…

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How Would You Rate Lake Zurich's Snow Removal?

Were you satisfied with the village's services? Or do you think there's room for improvement?

This week's snow storm has been dubbed as the "biggest blizzard since 2011." Some 1,200 flights were canceled at O'Hare and Midway airports and Tuesday's rush hour was anything but delightful. O'Hare airport saw about 9 inches of snow on Tuesday. Lake Zurich saw about 6 to 7 inches of that evil white stuff known as "snow."   What were your impressions of the village's snow removal services?  Post a comment below or share a story (maybe your neighbor didn't move his car!). To vote or comment you must be signed in. 

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Snow Blower Etiquette: What Times of Day Are Appropriate to Snow Blow?

Snow blowers are extremely helpful after a big storm, but they can also be very noisy. How late is too late and how early is too early to use the machines?

  Get ready for more snow! Another winter storm is expected to dump 6-9 inches of snow on the Lake Zurich area from 3 a.m. to midnight Tuesday.   With snowfalls averaging 1.5 inches per hour, residents will likely have their snow blowers revved up and ready to go. Patch wants to know: How late is too late to snow blow your property and how early is too early? We posed the “snow blower etiquette” question to our Facebook fans during last week’s snow storm and here’s what residents had to say. (Comments have been slightly edited for grammar and clarity): "My kids are in bed by 8. It would be considerate to finish before then." "I thought the 'noise pollution' hrs were something like...nothing after 10 p.m. & nothing before 8 a.m." "Psh, I've…

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Winter Blast to Hit Lake Zurich: Tips for Safe Walking in Snow and Ice

The Snow & Ice Management Association offers tips to avoid a fall during slick conditions.

The Lake Zurich area is expected to get another blast of wintry weather today. Accuweather.com reports the village will get three to six inches of snow Thursday evening through Friday afternoon. High temperatures will reach 29 degrees Fahrenheit, with a low of 23.  While most people prepare for driving safely in the snow, rarely to people think about keeping safe while walking in icy conditions. "Every winter the hazards of driving in snow and icy conditions are noted, but rarely is walking on snow and ice addressed," said Martin B. Tirado, CAE, Executive Director of the Snow & Ice Management Association. "Slipping and falling while walking accounts for a large number of winter-related injuries and can have an impact on the quality of life…

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Molasses May Replace Salt to De-Ice Roads

The village of Wauconda is considering using Molasses instead of rock salt in the winter, the Chicago Tribune reports.

  Rock salt is the most common form of de-icing streets during the snowy winter months, but many suburbs, including nearby Wauconda, are considering using alternatives, the Chicago Tribune reports.  The village of Wauconda is considering using molasses, which would save them 10 percent in costs. Molasses has similar components to beet juice, which is another common ice-buster, although molasses has less pulp, the Tribune reports.  The village of Niles has been using a beet juice mixture to combat ice since 2011 for both cost effectiveness and environmental reasons. 

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Chili Open Cancelled Again Due to Ice Conditions

Ever-changing weather has prevented Crystal Lake from freezing enough to hold annual winter golf outing.

  Crystal Lake's Annual Chili Open Golf Classic has fallen prey to Mother Nature once again. The Crystal Lake Park District announced Monday the 42nd annual event held on the frozen lake surface near Main Beach, 300 Lake Shore Dr., has been cancelled due to unsafe ice conditions. "Ice conditions continue to deteriorate making it unsafe to complete any course preparations," park district spokesperson Jenny Leech said in the release. Registered golfers will receive a full refund. The Chili Open was originally scheduled for Jan. 19, but lack of ice and cold temperatures forced organizers to push the winter past-time to Feb. 2. Continued lack of ice necessitated organizers to reschedule a second time to Feb. 16. The nine-hole classic will not …

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Share Your Photos: Build Your Own Frosty the Snowman

Use your imagination and these tips to make the perfect snowman.

  There’s finally enough snow to build the perfect snowman, but where do you start? Just like in real estate, location is key. You don’t want to build your snowman in the sun, so find a spot with a bit of shelter and make sure there’s lots of snow beneath him or her, according to yahoo.com. Do you roll or pack the snow? It’s a matter of preference really, according to Yahoo.com. The site says you can roll the snow into a two-foot ball but it can be damp and cold. A key to this technique is to flatten the top of each ball before placing the next one on it, according to Pluggedin, on games.yahoo.com. If you just want to put the snow in a pile then shape it, use a good shovel, the site advises. Be creative with your snowman’s features, …

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Snow What? It's Still Fun Outside

Take a look at what people have been doing around town this winter.

There's been plenty of people getting out to enjoy winter throughout town. Here's a sampling of some of the things they've been doing.

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Ice Fishing Derby Lets Everyone Chill Out

A good time on the ice is had by all at the Annual Forest Lake Ice Fishing Derby.

Depending on which participant was asked, the Forest Lake Annual Ice Fishing Derby is either in its 20th or 21st year. Or maybe 22nd. “Twentieth, I guess,” said Chuck Redina, one of the organizers, although he’s not entirely comfortable with that designation. “I think it’s the twenty-first,” countered Roy Muller, another veteran of the derby. Held every year at roughly the same time, Muller explained that the Forest Lake residents who organized the annual event had to be mindful of slotting it so that it didn’t compete with the NFL playoffs or the Super Bowl. “We figured this was the weekend to do it,” said Muller. “There’s the Pro Bowl game today, but who watches the Pro Bowl? We also thought about holding it after the Super Bowl later in…

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Have You Noticed Something Moving on the Lake?

Those specks aren't ants, they're ice fishermen.

As long as the weather is cold, the ice fishermen come out everyday. They pick a spot, drill a hole into the ice to fish from and set up a hut to keep warm.

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