She’s back. La Niña, last winter’s dominant climate pattern, will recur. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s outlook for December through February indicates a La Niña winter for the second year in a row.
La Niña, Spanish for “the girl,” is characterized by unpredictable weather, according to experts, so don’t be surprised by mild temperatures early in the season. But make sure to keep snow boots, woolen gloves and snuggly scarves handy for a suburban cold snap during January and February.
“La Niña winters are known for pretty volatile temperatures,” said Ricky Castro, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Romeoville.
“That means our area is a battleground-type zone,” said Castro, explaining the upcoming season could consist of “episodes of substantially warm (weather) or really deep cold as well.”
To that end, Castro recalls last year which began with mild weather followed by five or six weeks of cold and snow from late January to mid-February.
“Any winter often has dueling periods of warm and cold,” said Castro. “The volatility of the temperature pattern in La Niña tends to be higher variability.”
The Longmeadow Parkway Bridge over the Fox River is built and being partially used but completion has been delayed by the pandemic and soil issues found at the site, officials said. The parkway starts in Huntley, crosses through Algonquin, Carpentersville and Barrington Hills, and ends at Route 62. (Gloria Casas / The Courier-News)
Longmeadow Parkway Bridge over the Fox River is partially open to motorists but its completion has been delayed by steel shortages and the removal of lead-contaminated soil found at the site, Kane County officials said.
The $115 million, four-lane toll bridge links the two sides of a four-lane roadway corridor built to alleviate traffic congestion in northern Kane County. It begins at Huntley Road in Huntley, crosses through Algonquin, Carpentersville and Barrington Hills, and ends at Route 62.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a steel shortage, which delayed some signal improvements needed at Route 25, said Tom Rickert, deputy director of transportation for the Kane County Division of Transportation.
Shortages of other items, including semiconductor chips, and increased prices in materials have also played a role in the project not being completed earlier this year, Rickert said.
It’s projected the traffic signal improvements at Route 25 should be finished in late November, he said.
Three Village campaign committees have reported their third quarter financial reports from the April 2021 election to the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE). Those filings were due on October 15th. Click on any link below to view their reports:
The “One Barrington Hills” committee missed the filing deadline, and as of this posting, has yet to file their report. Their committee’s ISBE web page can be viewed here.
According to the ISBE website:
“Pursuant to Section 125.425 of Board Rules and Regulations, civil penalties will be assessed for any late filing of a Statement of Organization or campaign disclosure report. For a committee’s first violation, the fine will be stayed (will not need to be paid) unless the political committee subsequently files a late report. Upon the second violation, the political committee will be required to pay civil penalties assessed for both violations. Click here to view Section 125.425.”
Also, “Late filing of a Quarterly Report may result in a civil penalty of up to $5,000.”
No doubt, this was a simple oversight on their part. Once their report is filed, we’ll be sure to post it.
Long Grove’s annual pet costume parade steps off at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24.
Pier Pumpkin Lights: 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily through Oct. 31 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Explore a variety of pumpkin pop-up installations, enjoy Pier-wide deals, see jack-o’-lantern towers and glowing light displays with names like “Juggernaut of Jack-O-Lanterns,” “Garden of Totems,” “An Audacity of Gargoyles” and more. A Scavenger Hunt app will be available. Free. navypier.org.
Little Park of Horrors: 6-9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, Oct. 21-24 and 28-31, at Wing Park, 1010 Wing St., Elgin. Drive-through event features horror props with lighting and audio effects. Enter on McClure Avenue only. $10 per vehicle. Tickets only available in advance at www.cityofelgin.org.
Six Flags Great America Fright Fest: 6-11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21; 5-11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23; and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee. Family-friendly shows and attractions during the daytime hours; haunted houses, scary shows and roaming monsters at night. Tickets start at $39.99. sixflags.com/greatamerica.
Military Miniature Society of Illinois Show: 3-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg, 50 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg. Show features the work of hundreds of modelers from around the world: painted stock figures, original sculpts, historical, fantasy, armor, aircraft, categories and dioramas. A large vendor area offers kits, tools, and books. Admission includes an auction of finished work and seminars and presentations. $10, free for kids younger than 12. www.military-miniature-society-of-illinois.com.
Halloween Trick-or-Treat Trail and Spooky Movie: 5-6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, on Main Street in downtown Algonquin. Paint pumpkins, trick-or-treat at local businesses, and watch a showing of “The Addams Family” at dusk in Towne Park (bring a blanket or lawn chair). www.algonquin.org.
Terror in the Timbers: 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 22-23 and 29-30, and Thursday, Oct. 28, at Camp Big Timber, 37W955 Big Timber Road, Elgin. Take a haunted ride through the woods to see scenes of gore and horror. New this year will be an add-on pumpkin haunt walk through the wild woods of Camp Big Timber. Timed tickets at www.terrorinthetimbers.com.
Halloween Haunted Trails: 7-8:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, at Deicke Park, 11419 Route 47, Huntley. Kids 8-17 can trick-or-treat through the haunted woods. Bring your own bucket to collect candy. Not recommended for young kids. Adults may walk through with children at no additional cost. $5-$7. Register at huntleyparks.org.
A Country Christmas Arts & Craft Show: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at Crystal Lake South High School, 1200 S. McHenry Ave. Crystal Lake South’s Booster Club’s annual show featuring crafts for the home and holidays. $2 admission. clsboosters.org/craft-show.html.
Haunted Hoffman Family Fest: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at Fabbrini Park, 1704 Glen Lake Road, Hoffman Estates. Music, dancing, pumpkin-carving contest, zombie zumba, kids’ costume contest, doggie costume contest, hayrides, mini golf, crafts, games and more. Free; trick-or-treat path from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. is $5 per child and requires registration. heparks.org/event/haunted-hoffman-family-fest.
Pet Costume Parade: 11:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, in downtown Long Grove. Begins with a complimentary dog agility training session. The parade steps off at 12:30 p.m. and winds through historic downtown Long Grove. A pet costume contest will cap things off at 1:15 p.m. Free to enter or watch. All dogs must remain leashed. longgrove.org.
At Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, the Board heard anupdate on student enrollment numbers in Barrington 220. Thirty days into the 2021-22 school year, the district’s total enrollment was 8,165 students, which is a decrease from last school year.
This downward trend is happening across the country and the state of Illinois. The 30-day enrollment figures are a snapshot in time. Enrollment will fluctuate during the school year as it has in the past and the district will continue to monitor it accordingly. You can view the entire enrollment presentation beginning here.
The Barrington Area Development Council (BADC), the not-for-profit civic organization with a long history of sponsoring initiatives and organizations that have benefited the Barrington Area community, is inviting nominations for its 2021 Citizen of the Year Award.
Each year, BADC selects a local resident who has shown exemplary leadership and contribution to the greater Barrington area through their volunteer efforts.
BADC is now looking for nominations of worthy recipients for its 2021 Citizen of the Year Award, which will be announced by Quintessential Barrington magazine in its January 2022 issue.
A BADC Citizen of the Year Committee will select the winner from nominees representing, but not limited to, diverse fields such as: Work with our Youth, Public Service, Philanthropy, Healthcare, Conservation, Preservation, Education and Transportation.
This year’s winner will be the 47th recipient of the annual award.
Last year, BADC presented its 2020 Citizen of the Year Award to Brian Battle, former Barrington 220 school district board president, in recognition of his extensive volunteer efforts in support of youth development programs.
In the prior year, the organization honored local volunteers and philanthropists Vincent and Patricia Foglia, for their integral role in supporting, advising, and mentoring local not-for-profit organizations including GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers, and the NeuroBalance Center in Barrington.
To submit a nomination online, go to the BADC website at: www.barringtonareadevelopmentcouncil.organd select the “Call For Nominations” button for more details, and to complete the online form and attach an overview of a candidate’s accomplishments and contributions. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, November 7, 2021, at noon Central Time.
The District 220 Board of Education meets this evening at 7:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. A copy of the agenda can be viewed here.
The meeting will be livestreamed on the district YouTube channel.
Illinois lawmakers plan to take up a measure allowing municipalities to hold remote meetings at any time – pandemic or not – during the fall veto session this week.
Currently, the governor or the state health department must issue an emergency proclamation before a city can conduct any business remotely.
“We would like to have the elected officials locally to be able to have that authority going forward if the disaster proclamations end at some point which I’m sure they will,” said IML Executive Director Brad Cole.
Cole said the remote meetings allow more people to become involved with local government.
“A lot of communities are seeing more public engagement,” Cole said. “More people are on the Zoom calls than were attending in person.”
The bill includes a provision that a city’s presiding officer must state why an in-person meeting is not practical.
