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Archive for May, 2024

“Barrington’s News You Can Use” by Karen Darch

Posted in BACOG, Barrington High School, DARCHED, Politics on May 31, 2024| 1 Comment »

Village of Barrington President Karen Darch

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Despite some rain on Sunday, the Barrington Art Festival was a success, with thousands of visitors enjoying beautiful artwork, food and beverages, and family activities. I especially enjoyed the Memorial Day Parade and heartfelt service that paid tribute to our nation’s fallen heroes.

I’m very pleased to announce that after a brief hiatus in 2023, the Barrington Farmers Market will be back on June 6 as a part of our weekly Thursday Night Out in downtown Barrington at Cook and Station Streets. Each Thursday evening, take a stroll into downtown Barrington, where you can enjoy the Farmers Market and classic cars, participate in family activities and more. Thursday Night Out has been a Barrington tradition for nearly 25 years – you won’t want to miss it!

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the recent police department promotions of Lori Allsteadt to Deputy Chief of Police and Garrett Oberkircher to Sergeant and welcome our newest officer, Jeremy Ocampo. Your commitment to maintaining the safety and well-being of Barrington is truly commendable.

Additionally, I am thrilled to congratulate Jack Schaefer, the 50th Barrington Area Development Council (BADC) Citizen of the Year. Jack’s dedication as a past president and current board member of the BADC, along with his service on the Village of Barrington Board of Trustees, Cultural Commission, and Barrington’s White House Advisory Board, has made a significant impact on our community.

And finally, I would like to extend a very special congratulations to the Barrington High School Class of 2024! Your hard work and perseverance have paid off, and I am excited to see the bright futures you will create.

I hope you will join us next week for the kick-off to Thursday Night Out and the Barrington Farmers Market.

Karen Darch
Village President

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Illinois 59 resurfacing in Barrington begins Monday

Posted in DARCHED, IDOT, Road construction, Taxes, Traffic on May 31, 2024| Leave a Comment »

 

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that a patching and resurfacing of Illinois 59 (Barrington Road/Hough Street) from Main Street, in Barrington, to Hawthorne Road (Illinois 59), in Barrington Hills, will require intermittent daytime lane closures beginning, weather permitting, Monday, June 3.

The project, which also includes constructing new ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps and cleaning and sealing cracks on Hawthorne Road south to Dundee Road (Illinois 68), is anticipated to be completed in September.

Access to residences and businesses within the work zone will be maintained throughout construction.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

For more information on IDOT projects, click here. Find traffic and road conditions at www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and X.

Source

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Festivals May 31 to June 6

Posted in DARCHED, Entertainment on May 31, 2024| Leave a Comment »

By Luke Zurawski | Daily herald

Friday, May 31

Live Music at Bridges Beer Garden: 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 31, at Bridges Beer Garden, 1400 Poplar Creek Drive, Hoffman Estates. The Dynamix will perform. Food and beverages available for purchase. Free. heparks.org.

End of School Campfire: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, May 31, at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Roast marshmallows over the fire and go on a tractor-drawn wagon ride. $5-$6; free for kids 2 and younger. Register at parkfun.com.

Saturday, June 1

Fishing Derby: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 1, at Plum Grove Reservoir on the Harper College campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. All ages can learn how to fish. Registration is $5 at the event. palatineparks.org.

Elgin Fish For Fun: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 1, at Rolling Knolls pond, 11N260 Rohrssen Road, Elgin. Elgin Izaak Walton League hosts a morning of fishing, prizes and food. They will have some equipment to loan out; bait is provided. Free. cityofelgin.org.

Deerfield Art Festival: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2, at 821 Park Ave., Deerfield. 100 juried artists in all mediums, including ceramics, glass, jewelry, metal, painting, fiber, photography and wood. Also, live music, food and kids’ activities. Free. amdurproductions.com.

Elgin Pride Parade and Festival: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Prairie and Grove avenues, Elgin. Second annual family-friendly LGBTQ+ PRIDE parade, followed by a festival with a vendor marketplace, live music and more. Free. elginpride.com.

Summer Family Event: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Crystal Lake Plaza, 6500 Northwest Hwy., Crystal Lake. An outdoor family event featuring free train rides, face painting, airbrush tattoos, balloon twisting, magic shows, reptile shows, food trucks, entertainment, raffles and a craft fair. Free. crystallakeplaza.com.

Rosemont UnCorked Wine Festival: Noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 1, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. The event features 14 wineries, live music, food and more. rosemont.com/thepark/event/rosemont-uncorked.

Bluesmobile Cruise Nights: 3-9 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at the East Metra parking lot, near the intersection of Route 83 and Northwest Highway, Mount Prospect. Classic cars, entertainment and more. mplions.org/cruise-nights.

Woodstock Food Truck Festival on the Square: 4-9 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at 121 W. Van Buren St., Woodstock. Third annual food truck fest with live entertainment. woodstockilchamber.com.

Side Street Studio Arts Battle of the Bands: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Zeigler Court, Elgin. Regional bands perform throughout the summer in the 11th annual all-ages competition. Doors open at 7 p.m. $10. sidestreetstudioarts.org/battleofthebands.

Sunday, June 2

Buffalo Grove Pride Parade: 11 a.m. Sunday, June 2, at Mike Rylko Community Park, 1000 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove. BG Pride and The Pinta Pride Project present Buffalo Grove’s sixth annual family-friendly Pride Parade. Retired Illinois State House Majority Leader Greg Harris is the Grand Marshal. “Drag Us to the Polls” is the 2024 theme. buffalogrovepride.com.

Pride Picnic: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at Mike Rylko Community Park (near the Spray ‘N Play), 1000 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove. Live entertainment by Radio Gaga, food trucks and beverages, and family entertainment featuring inflatables, lawn games and face painters. Free. bgparks.org/pride-picnic.

Cicada Celebration: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at the Fox Bluff Conservation Area, 1300 Cold Springs Road, Algonquin. Educational stations, activities, hikes and more that educate about the life cycle and ecology of the 17-year periodical cicada. One-mile-long guided hikes will be offered. Free. Kids 13 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. mccdistrict.org.

Fahrrad Tour Von Schaumburg Bike Ride: Noon to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, 101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Celebrate Schaumburg’s German heritage with a police-guided, one-hour tour of its bikeways. This bike tour is over 5 miles. Not for beginners and riders with training wheels. Free. parkfun.com.

Rhubarb Fest: Noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at Heritage Farm at Spring Valley, 201 S. Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg. Games, crafts and learn about the versatile plant. Treats and rhubarb plants will be for sale. Free. parkfun.com.

Tuesday, June 4

Sounds of Summer — Family Picnic Series: Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, at Fred P. Hall Amphitheater, 256 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. Istvan & His Imaginary Band will perform. Free. palatineparks.org/sounds-of-summer.

Crystal Lake Concerts in the Park: 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, at Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive. The Crystal Lake Community Band will perform. Free. For parking locations, see crystallakeparks.org/special-events.

Wednesday, June 5

Food Truck Socials: 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich. A rotating selection of food trucks will be available each week. lakezurich.org.

UnPlug at the Park: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at Childerley Park, 506 McHenry Road, Wheeling. Special performance by Those Funny Little People Show. Free. wheelingparkdistrict.com.

South Elgin Summer Concert Series: 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at Panton Mill Park, 10 N. Water St., South Elgin. Strung Out will perform. Free. southelgin.com.

Itasca Outdoor Concert Series: 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at Usher Park, 200 S. Walnut St., Itasca. Roger That will perform. Bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets. Free. itascaparkdistrict.com/239/Summer-Concert-Series.

Sounds of Summer — Palatine Concert Band: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at Fred P. Hall Amphitheater, 256 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. Palatine Concert Band, under the direction of Dr. Frederick Lowe, will perform. Free. palatineparks.org/sounds-of-summer.

Thursday, June 6

Barrington Thursday Night Out: 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Cook and Station streets in downtown Barrington. Barrington Farmers Market, classic cars, live music, family activities and more. Free. barrington-il.gov/events/thursday-night-out.

Bow Wow Dog Expo: 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Happy Tails Dog Park, 835 Commerce Court, Buffalo Grove. Vendors, an adoption program, pet suppliers, veterinarians and more. Dogs allowed. Free. bgparks.org.

Sounds of Summer Concert Series: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Harmony Park, 7 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Boy Band Night performs. Free. vah.com/explore/sounds_of_summer_concerts.php.

Summer Sounds on the Green Concert Series: 7 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Village Green, 5510 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. The Nite Hawks will perform. Bring a picnic, coolers, food, drinks, chairs, blankets and small tables. Seating is first-come, first-served. Food and beverages for purchase. Free. hoffmanestatesarts.com/summer-concert-series.

Harper College Summer Concert Series: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at the Drs. Kenneth and Catherine Ender Pavilion on Harper’s campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Harper Radio Presents Calico Loco and Moontype. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Park in lots 9 and 10. Free. harpercollege.edu.

Find much more here.

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Care for a little music as you Explore the Forest Sunday?

Posted in Crabtree Nature Center, Entertainment, FPDCC on May 31, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Alloy Horn Quartet will be joining us this Sunday, June 2nd for our Explore the Forest Event with their Soothing Sounds Program at Crabtree Nature Center.

The Alloy Horn Quartet combines their virtuosic musical talents, training in meditation, and deep respect for the natural world to offer Soothing Sounds. This unique program integrates the powerful wisdom of nature, resonant sounds of the French horn, and mindfulness practices to create an atmosphere of peace and wellbeing. Participants can enjoy the performance purely as a musical concert, or they can use it as a more integrative wellness experience.

They will be performing outside at Noon, 1PM and 2PM. Their 1PM performance will be accessible to all.

Related: “Explore the Forest Sunday at Crabtree Nature Center”

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Signaling your approach: Bicycle safety should rank top-of-mind for all riders (But it is not always in Barrington Hills)

Posted in Bicyclists, Contests, FPDCC, Letters to the Editor, Public Safety, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, VBHPD, Village Code, Village Government on May 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Posted speed limit signs dot Cook County Forest Preserve trails, this one at Old Stover Trailhead near Barrington. | Courtesy of Ralph Banasiak

By Ralph Banasiak | Daily Herald

“You can’t remind people about safety too much,” reader David Owens commented.

With warmer weather and more cyclists hitting the roadways, safety should rank top-of-mind for anyone sharing traffic with vehicles of greater mass and speed. As of early May, motorist crashes have already killed four Illinois cyclists, including two in Cook County. In 2023, 42 cyclists died in vehicle crashes.

Safety, however, applies to trails as well as roadways. For those biking on multi-user trails, roles are reversed. Cyclists are the “motorists,” faster, often heavier and more maneuverable. Trail traffic is diverse — runners, walkers, equestrians, dogs and others — all slower-paced.

A trail sign near Westminster, Colorado, offers safety advice applicable to all trails. | Courtesy of Ralph Banasiak

With trail users, ages range from toddlers to seniors, quick-reflexed to slow, able-bodied to those with disabilities, including visually and hearing-impaired. People frequent trails for different reasons, not necessarily to move quickly from point A to point B, like roadway users.

If we are all truly “along for the ride,” as this column aspires, responsibility for trail safety also must be top priority.

One Northwest suburban reader who walks frequently with her husband in numerous parks and forest preserves expressed frustration with zooming cyclists. Her complaint: they approach too fast and offer little warning or none at all. Consequently, the couple avoid Fabbrini Park and Barrington Road Pond in Hoffman Estates, and especially Busse Woods in Elk Grove Village.

Her fears are not unfounded. A June 2013 bike-pedestrian crash at Lake Arlington took the life of a trail walker there. A young biker collided with a 74-year-old woman who died from a head injury two weeks later (dailyherald.com/20130709/news/fatal-lake-arlington-trail-accident-renews-calls-for-safety).

The woman’s death led to improvements by the Arlington Heights Park District that included painted path arrows, directional signage and a change in the flow of biking vs. foot traffic.

Yelling is free

Cyclists can use horns, whistles or bells to signal their approach from behind. These inexpensive devices break the ambient calm of Mother Nature, easily heard even on windy days. Of course, yelling costs you nothing.

It’s just pure courtesy to alert someone you are about to pass. By the way, this also applies to all you speedier cyclists when overtaking riders like me.

Read more here.

Join the ride. Contact Ralph Banasiak at alongfortheridemail@gmail.com.

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4th annual Lake Geneva Bacon Fest starts tomorrow

Posted in Entertainment, Road construction on May 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Bacon wrapped drum sticks

“Yes, yes, we had you at bacon Lake Geneva Bacon Fest fills the city with the wondrous smells and tastes of unique bacon creations – from dishes to drinks – while enjoying live music from local performing artists across the downtown area. The 4th annual Bacon Fest runs all weekend from Friday, May 31st through Sunday, June 2nd.

The fun is centered on Flatiron Park in downtown Lake Geneva, which offers a beautiful view of Geneva Lake and is across from The Riviera, the historic Baker House, Sprecher’s Restaurant & Pub, and more. Tons of great shops and restaurants are within blocks, including Topsy Turvy Brewery. Of course, at the park itself beverages beyond bacon will be available, and part of the proceeds benefit the Walworth County Food Pantry and Diaper Bank.”

Details here.

Please note: For those planning to attend, be advised “IDOT has announced road construction like this will be taking place on Route 12 in Richmond and Spring Grove beginning May 28.” More here.

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Illinois’ new budget ends statewide grocery tax

Posted in Commodius Maximus, Politics, Springfield, Taxes on May 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The new state budget eliminates the 1% grocery tax, placing Illinois with 37 other states by 2026. But the bill gives municipalities the option to implement their own tax without voter approval.

By Kurtis Karg | Illinois Policy

Illinois lawmakers are putting an end to the 1% statewide grocery tax as part of the $53.1 billion state budget for fiscal year 2025.

But city leaders might be bringing it right back.

The change doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2026. Local governments will be able to institute their own 1% tax either on groceries or a local sales tax without holding a referendum.

Eliminating the grocery tax had municipal leaders complaining it would hurt their budgets. State leaders were not giving anything up with the change because the tax only went to local governments. The option for municipalities to add their own tax was a compromise.

Illinois will finally join the other 37 states that don’t have a state grocery tax. It was the only state among the 10 most populated with a grocery tax.

More here.

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Solar farm plan up for public review in South Barrington

Posted in Barrington Hills Farm, Horizon Farm, Land Use, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest, Village Code, Zoning Board on May 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

A solar farm has been proposed for this decommissioned landfill at 541 E. Mundhank Road in South Barrington. Village officials publicly will discuss the plan Thursday night. | Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com, April 2024

By Russell Lissau | Daily Herald

South Barrington officials will hold a special meeting Thursday to consider plans for a solar farm where a landfill once operated.

The special meeting follows the plan commission’s decision last week to recommend the board preliminarily approve the proposal, which focuses on 110 acres of vacant land at 541 E. Mundhank Road.

The site, owned by the Phoenix-based Republic Services waste disposal company, is on the east side of South Barrington between Willowmere Drive and North Freeman Road, just west of the Paul Douglas Forest Preserve. It was used as a landfill until the 1980s.

A New York company called AC Power wants to install a ground-mounted array of solar panels on about 25 acres of the site. The firm typically partners with land owners to turn low-value properties such as landfills and quarries into solar farms, with no upfront or maintenance costs to the owners, according to the company’s website.

Once the field is set up, the company would like to create a community solar program, which would allow nearby homeowners to connect their electricity accounts to the solar farm and get credits on their electrical bills for their share of the power produced.

AC Power has created similar operations in New York and New Jersey and is developing more in those states and elsewhere, including in suburban Cook County, its website indicates.

Some Hoffman Estates residents whose homes are near the site have voiced concern about what would happen to solar panels after they’re no longer usable, South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie said. Residents also have requested village officials insist AC Power create landscaping buffers to reduce the visibility of the proposed array from their homes, McCombie said.

Changes to the plan are pending, she said.

“They were heard,” McCombie said. “They were listened to.”

More here.

Related: “Fuhgeddaboudit”

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Illinois General Assembly oks $1.1B in tax hikes for record $53.1B spending

Posted in Commodius Maximus, Illinois Policy Institute, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes, Unions on May 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Illinois state lawmakers’ spending plans came in $410 million higher than what Gov. J.B. Pritzker originally proposed. Taxpayers will be forced to pay $1.1 billion more so Illinois can spend record amounts in fiscal year 2025.

By Bryce Hill | Illinois Policy Institute

Members of the Illinois General Assembly managed to take Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s record $52.7 billion budget proposal and boost it into a $53.1 billion spending plan, which also required them to take his $898 million in new taxes and hike them to $1.1 billion.

Those tax hikes were what reportedly delayed lawmakers, who originally anticipated passing the state budget and adjourning their spring session by May 24. Pushback from Democratic members on aspects of the various tax hike proposals delayed adjournment until May 29. An hour of debate at 1 a.m. was followed by a 65-45 (7 abstaining) House vote that sent the 3,300-plus page budget to the governor.

Despite $1.1 billion in tax hikes and record spending, the 2025 budget continues Illinois’ long-standing tradition of failing to make an actuarially sufficient pension payment. Appropriations to the five statewide pension funds will fall $4.5 billion below what the plans’ own actuaries have determined is required to actually begin paying off the state’s pension debt.

Lawmakers ultimately chose not to include Pritzker’s plan to extend Illinois’ pension funding ramp by through 2048 in order to increase the state’s funding target from 90% to 100%. Illinois’ pension systems should be targeting 100% funding to be fully funded. In addition to continuing to target a lower funding ratio, the budget ignores the basic fact Illinois’ pension contributions, while statutorily sufficient, remain insufficient on an actuarial basis – meaning they won’t meet real-world needs.

The state’s funding schedule will not contribute above current actuarially determined contribution levels until 2039, but that figure will climb each year the state fails to make an actuarially sufficient payment. In fiscal year 2023, actuarially determined contributions were less than $14.9 billion, more than $1.1 billion below today’s actuarially determined contribution.

Revenue changes

Most notably, the approved budget implements a series of tax hikes that are expected to cost Illinoisans an additional $1.037 billion in 2025. Taxes paid to local governments will also increase by an estimated $120 million because of the changes.

Read more here.

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Explore the Forest Sunday at Crabtree Nature Center

Posted in Crabtree Nature Center, Entertainment, FPDCC, Topics Of Interest on May 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Meet the people that make the forest preserves so special! Free activities for all ages including tree climbing, touch-a-truck, guided walks, animal encounters, music, beekeeping, and fishing pole casting practice.

FPDCC

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