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Barrington veteran ‘doing one small thing’ to help other vets

August 10, 2018 by Barrington Hills Observer

honor_coverIt’s easy to see why Ted Thome is a regular participant and volunteer at the annual Project Hero Barrington Honor Ride and Run that benefits veteran rehabilitation programs and other services.

Thome, 47, of Barrington, is a West Point graduate and an endurance athlete who served in the Army from 1993 to 1998. Sunday’s eighth annual honor ride and run is a way for him and other veterans to help fellow veterans.

“It’s something that’s important to me given my history and understanding of the military, to have some appreciation for all the sacrifices that the veterans have done,” said Thome, a portfolio manager.

“I think in our daily lives, they’re not always front and center for us, but I think it’s important to remember those that have sacrificed a lot, so that we can enjoy everything that we enjoy in our daily lives.”

Check-in and same-day registration for the ride and run benefiting Project Hero begins at 7 a.m. Sunday at the Barrington Hills Park District, 361 Bateman Road. Participants of all ages and ability levels can take part in a noncompetitive bike ride on scenic, bike-friendly routes of 14, 33 and 47 miles. There also are running and walking routes covering 3.8 miles or 1 mile.

All money raised goes to Project Hero, a national nonprofit helping military vets and first responders affected by post-traumatic stress disorder or injuries. Project Hero touts offering programs at lower costs while reducing drug-based therapies.

You can read the full article in the Daily Herald here.

Readers are reminded that there will be temporary disruptions in traffic on Village roads as the bike riders pass through Barrington Hills.  If you have the time, wave to the veterans as a small gesture to thank them for their sacrifices.

Posted in Barrington Honor Ride, Community Alerts, News Media, Organizations, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

$200K damage in Barrington Hills fire; three Porsches spared

August 9, 2018 by Barrington Hills Observer

Screen Shot 2018-08-09 at 3.17.59 PMNo one was injured and three Porsche cars were largely spared Wednesday night when a fire caused about $200,000 damage at a Barrington Hills home, officials say.

Barrington-Countryside Fire Protection District firefighters responded about 7:15 p.m. to a fire at a home along Ridgecroft Lane, just south of Spring Creek Road, officials said. Firefighters found a garage fully engulfed in flames and called for backup crews

Firefighters shuttled in water from surrounding departments because there aren’t fire hydrants in the area. Officials said it took 20 minutes for firefighters to control the blaze which had spread through the attic of the garage and house.

It appears the fire might have started in a golf cart parked outside the home, officials said, though the investigation continues.

The homeowners were not displaced.

More than 20 fire departments assisted in response to the blaze.

The full Daily Herald article can be found here.

Posted in BCFPD, McHenry, News Media, Topics Of Interest, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Cyclists ride to honor veterans on Sunday August 12 in Barrington Hills

August 6, 2018 by Barrington Hills Observer

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Hundreds of cyclists are expected to join military veterans and first responders for the annual Barrington Honor Ride and Run, Sunday August 12.

The self-paced, noncompetitive bike ride on routes with lengths of 14, 33 and 47 miles benefits Project Hero, a nonprofit organization that helps veterans and first responders affected by physical injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The event is highlighted by riders using hand cycles, recumbent cycles, custom tandems and traditional road bikes.

Check-in and day-of registration begins at 7 a.m. at the Barrington Hills Park District, 361 Bateman Road, followed by a ceremony at 8 a.m., ride at 8:15 a.m., cross-country trail run and fun walk at 9 a.m., and festival with food, music and family fun at 11 a.m. To register, visit projecthero.org.

To see the full article in the Daily Herald, click here.

Posted in Barrington Honor Ride, BHPD, Bicyclists, Community Alerts, Fundraisers, News Media, Organizations, Press Release, Resident Spotlights, Topics Of Interest, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Plum Tree Road Railroad Crossing CLOSED August 6-15

August 5, 2018 by Barrington Hills Observer

 

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Union Pacific has informed the Village that they will be closing Plum Tree Rd at the railroad crossing just south of Northwest Hwy from 8/6/18 thru 8/15/18 to rehab the crossing.

Posted in Community Alerts, News Media, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Barrington Hills awards top job to acting administrator

July 26, 2018 by Barrington Hills Observer

AnnaPaulBarrington Hills didn’t need to look far for its new village hall leader.

Former village clerk Anna Paul, who had been acting director of administration since January, will continue in that post on a permanent basis. The village board agreed to appoint her to the job Monday night.

“I am honored and appreciative that the board unanimously voted to appoint me for the position of director of administration,” Paul said. “Final details are still being worked out, but I look forward to continuing to serve the board and the residents of Barrington Hills.”

Village President Martin McLaughlin said Paul topped about 35 candidates for the job. She earned the position and a two-year contract with her performance over the past six months, he said.

“We’ve had some significant rain issues and road issues that really tested her,” McLaughlin said Tuesday. “We had a lot of flooding in the village that we had to coordinate with multiple agencies and towns and townships. She did a great job.”

Paul, who previously worked as village clerk and Barrington Hills’ communications chief, became acting director of administration Jan. 1. She replaced Robert Kosin, who retired after serving as director of administration since 1986.

McLaughlin said Paul knows Barrington Hills’ roughly 30 square miles “from head to toe.” He said there are more duties for Barrington Hills’ director of administration who heads a small village hall staff, compared to similar positions in larger communities.

“There are a lot of nuances to the village,” he said. “I mean, Anna really will be running everything from phone lines to computer systems to coordinating with four counties, two townships, two school districts.”

The rest of the Daily Herald article can be found here.

Posted in Appointments, News Media, Topics Of Interest, Uncategorized, Village Board, Village Government | 1 Comment »

Barrington Hills weighing plan to livestream meetings

July 17, 2018 by Barrington Hills Observer

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Barrington Hills village board members say they want more information before deciding whether to livestream audio of government meetings online.

A similar suggestion to livestream video of meetings did not gain traction at a recent village board session after concern was raised about the potential cost.

A memo from acting Director of Administration Anna Paul and Clerk Nikki Panos states first-year costs for streaming audio or video would be $10,000 to $25,000, as proposed by Minnesota-based technology firm Granicus.

Panos told the village board livestreaming video ultimately would cost more than audio because of a need to buy cameras and other equipment. More information is expected to be provided to the village board before they are expected to addresses the audio issue again July 23.

Larger towns have an advantage over smaller municipalities with few employees, such as Barrington Hills, when it comes to offering live online video, Panos said.

“They have dedicated control rooms, dedicated staff (for) livestreaming, dedicated staff making sure that this (video) works for every meeting,” she said at last week’s village board session.

Barrington Hills posts audio of meetings, such as the village board’s and plan commission’s, on its website after the meetings are held. Officials said the streaming system offered by Granicus would eliminate the need for a Barrington Hills employee to handle that.

To read the full article in the Daily Herald, click here.

Also, of related interest is the Daily Herald’s January 8, 2018 article Why Carpentersville might stop video recording, streaming board meetings , which stated in part:

“Carpentersville officials are considering cheaper alternatives for video recording and streaming village board meetings — a service that costs the village more than $17,000 per year.  Purchasing its own cameras and operating the technology in-house are among the village’s options for replacing the videographer hired to record each meeting, IT Director Kevin Goethals said. To save money and staff time, the village board is also contemplating whether to cease recording altogether.

“There’s nothing not transparent about this open meeting and not broadcasting it for this kind of money,” Trustee John O’Sullivan said. “This is a ridiculous waste of taxpayers’ funds.”

Videography services cost the village $575 per meeting, resulting in an annual price tag of roughly $13,800, Goethals said. The village spends an additional $3,600 per year to broadcast the meetings live online and make them available for replay through Granicus, a digital services company, he said.

…A maximum of 30 people watch the meetings live, and videos are typically replayed 50 to 100 times, Goethals said. To some trustees, including O’Sullivan, those numbers aren’t worth spending the money on recording devices.

“Forgive me, but the cost per viewer is outrageous for the taxpayer,” he said. “These are public meetings. Thirty viewers are welcome to come here and see it live.”

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Village road work updates

July 8, 2018 by Barrington Hills Observer

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2018 ROADS PROJECT UPDATE
The Cook County Department of Highways and Transportation 2018 Road Project:

OTIS AND BRINKER ROADS: Paving was completed last week, and weather permitting, striping is scheduled for this  week which will conclude the resurfacing project.

BARRINGTON HILLS 2018 ROADS PROJECT:

HONEYCUTT AND HILLS AND DALES ROADS: Monday, July 9th, they are placing the Final Surface Asphalt.

CHURCH ROAD AND ALGONQUIN RIVER ROAD: Wednesday, July 11th, they will be placing the Final Surface Asphalt on the remaining section of Church Road up to Algonquin River Road, and begin placing the Final Surface Asphalt on Algonquin River Road.

**Not part of the roads project but a notice to our residents that the low depressional area on Chapel Road is still completely underwater and has been determined to remain closed. Road closed signs are still in place.

Posted in Community Alerts, Cook, County, News Media, Press Release, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, Roads and Bridges, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Uncategorized, Village Government | Leave a Comment »

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