Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Organizations’ Category

Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 4)

Posted in Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Clown Car, Data Center, Deception, Ethics, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Lennie, One Barrington Hills, OP/Ed, Plan Commission, Plum Farm development, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Simple Minds, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Village Board, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Government, Village President on June 12, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A list of Barrington Hills trustees who currently follow The Barrington Hills Observer posts on Facebook.

On Saturday, May 23rd, around 7:30 AM, we posted, “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” shortly after we received a copy of a notice sign posted on Old Sutton Road. That post was sent to all subscribers of this publication’s website and all those following our Facebook page, including those Trustees pictured above.

Subsequent to our posting of the Hoffman Estates Plum Farms notice, we followed up with subtle hints to our Board of Trustees (BOT) to take action, including:

Shortly after the Hoffman Estates Plum Farms meeting ended on June 3rd, CBS News reported, “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project.” The next day, the Daily Herald reported, “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” and residents were quick to react to the news commenting:

  • “NOT A SINGLE MEMBER OF THE BARRINGTON HILLS BOARD OF TRUSTEES WAS THERE THAT I SAW. WOW!!!!!”
  • “Where was the leadership from Barrington Hills? No one from the Board was there. Paula (McCombie)and the numerous South Barrington Trustees were there and stayed for the entire meeting. Grateful for their support.”

We also posted, “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” last Friday, June 5th, but outside of the hearing notice posted on the Village Facebook page, residents heard absolutely nothing from our elected trustees.

Then on Monday, June 8th, our Village posted, “UPDATE: HOFFMAN ESTATES PLUM FARMS REZONING REQUEST” on their Facebook page (See “Village Board once again tests our tolerance for fabrications (BS)”) that included a letter from Brian Cecola that was clearly backdated to June 2nd, since:

  • No one is copied on the letter. That is unheard of considering the number of interested parties in the matter.
  • No one read the letter aloud at the Hoffman Estates Plum Farms hearing.
  • The letter would have been “shouted out” via social media and a press release June 2nd given the embarrassing position Cecola put himself in when he fronted a, “110 Acre AI data center campus pitched to Village Board,” next to Pond Gate last December that he caught Hell for.

It is well known that Mr. Cecola is not the sharpest tack in the box. However, he can be smart from time to time.  This is not one of those times and he has insulted the intelligence of residents and his peers.

As for not one member of our Board of Trustees attending the well-publicized Plum Farms hearing, shame on them. There is no excuse.

But to a person, BOT members will whine, “But the Director of Administration (Anna Paul) went to the meeting.” The problem is she is not an elected official of the Village of Barrington Hills. They need to be reminded she has no standing to act on behalf of the Village of Barrington Hills, nor does she present herself that way. The BOT, unfortunately, seems to conveniently forget this.

This Board must show up and speak their mind at the next Plum Farms meeting which may be July 6th. Not to do so would likely decimate any remaining credibility they may have among many residents.

Related: “Village Board once again tests our tolerance for fabrications (BS),” “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Follow-up),” “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 3),” “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 2),” “Do you trust our Board of Trustees? We don’t. But you decide for yourself once we have finished. (Part 1),” “7 things to know about Illinois data centers,” “Data Center group concerned over pause,” “110 Acre AI data center campus pitched to Village Board”

Read Full Post »

‘Twenty years to grow and 20 minutes to cut down’: Barrington streetscape improvements irk some

Posted in Audubon Society, Daily Caller, Fools and their money, FUBAR, Politics, Tree Preservation Ordinance on June 10, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A picture of the corner of Cook and Station streets shows a tree that was recently taken down as part of the Barrington streetscape improvements. | Courtesy of Bill Hartman

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

The owner and manager of a downtown Barrington building are upset that a mature tree was cut down during the village’s streetscape improvements around Cook Street Plaza.

Holly McClintock, who owns the plaza near Cook and Station streets, and Kristin Beecher, who manages it and lives above Cook Street Coffee, which is part of the development, confronted the village board Monday, as did another concerned resident, Bill Hartman.

Beecher and McClintock said the village the tree, located on the east side of Cook Street Coffee at Cook and Station streets, could stay.

“We were told the tree would stay,” Beecher said. “Twenty years to grow and 20 minutes to cut down.”

Beecher said she was told May 15 the tree needed to come down, but she scheduled a meeting with village officials the next business day to discuss it. Before the meeting could be held, she said, a crew cut it down. She said a street superintend

The corner of Cook and Station streets, the former location of a tree recently removed as part of ongoing streetscape improvements. | Steve Zalusky/szalusky@dailyherald.com

In its place the village is building a seat wall where downtown visitors can sit. Beecher is concerned new trees will struggle to grow within the four-foot-deep fixture.

Article continues here.

Read Full Post »

Barrington Hills Park District (Riding Cult) meets tonight

Posted in Agendas, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Countryside Elementary School, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, FRVPC, Goat Rodeo, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Lighting Ordinance, Look For The Union Label, Open Meetings Act, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Riding Center Advisory Committee, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Taxes, The Other Half, Topics Of Interest, Unions, Village Government on June 10, 2026| Leave a Comment »

 

The Barrington Hills Park District Board/Riding Cult of Barrington Hills will hold their monthly meeting this evening in person and via Zoom at 6:00 PM. Some topics on their agenda include:

  • Advisory Committee Report
  • Plum Grove Farms* Data Center
  • Administrator’s Report
  • Trainer Registrations
  • Facility Rentals (RCBH rider fitness class)

A copy of their agenda can be viewed here. Instructions for accessing the meeting remotely can be found here.

*It’s actually, “Plum Farms.”  It’s so cute when they try, though.

Read Full Post »

Change.org Petition: “Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates”

Posted in AI, Cellular Service, Cook, County, Data Center, EJ&E/Canadian National, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Unions on June 9, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Issue

“We need your support to stop Hoffman Estates Village Board from rezoning the 185-acre Plum Farms property at the northwest corner of 72/Higgins and Rt 59/New Sutton Rd from Mixed Residential and Retail to zoning that will allow for data centers, manufacturing, and distribution. Residents in Hoffman Estates, South Barrington, and Barrington Hills cherish the high quality of life, fresh air, and safe environment — not the 24/7 hum of diesel generators and industrial noise. Specifically, this petition request is to halt Hoffman Estates’ approval of a zoning change that would allow for a third data center property within a few miles of two existing data centers. A data center situated across the road from hundreds of residents and very close to two other data centers is not a reasonable location. The noise, diesel emissions, and industrial-scale activity don’t belong near homes, many retail, restaurants, and wonderful outdoor venues on the South and East side of Rt. 72 and Rt. 59.

Local residents, city and state officials, environmental, and public health advocates voiced their concerns at the June 3 Hoffman Estates Plan Commission Meeting regarding the Plum Farm rezoning request. Hoffman Estates Planning Board recently voted at the end of a long evening against the rezoning request, with a vote of 4 to 2.  However, the decision now rests with the Village Board, which is not obligated to adhere to the Planning Commission’s recommendation.  We need to get everyone’s voice to each and every Village Trustee to ensure they understand the voice of the people, and to accept the recommendation of their own Planning Board.”

View and please sign the petition here, then share.

Read Full Post »

What’s next for Pritzker’s stalled housing plan?

Posted in Commodius Maximus, Daily Herald, Elections, Ethics, Land Use, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Privacy, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Traffic, Unions, Village Code, Zoning Board on June 8, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Wood trusses are moved into place on townhomes being built in Pingree Grove last month. A series of proposals backed by Gov. JB Pritzker to encourage more multifamily housing failed to move through the state legislature before its spring session ended. | Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com

By Russell Lissau | Daily Herald

A plan to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois wasn’t the only high-profile legislative proposal not to cross the goal line before the General Assembly’s spring session concluded last weekend.

Neither did Gov. JB Pritzker’s controversial measures encouraging more multifamily housing construction by mandating less-stringent zoning rules.

Named Building Up Illinois Developments, or BUILD, the proposal was introduced by the governor in February to resolve a housing shortage in the state. It consisted of multiple bills in the state House and Senate and was promoted by Pritzker in the months that followed.

But as the clock ticked down in Springfield, the plan fizzled. No votes were taken on any of the primary BUILD components; in fact, they weren’t even assigned to committees for debate.

“The fact that this proposal did not even make it through committee speaks volumes about how little support it had, even among Democrats,” said Republican state Rep. Martin McLaughlin of Barrington Hills, an outspoken BUILD critic.

In a news conference after the General Assembly adjourned, Pritzker said he’ll continue to fight for BUILD. He noted the new state budget includes hundreds of millions of dollars for housing initiatives.

Article continues here.

Related: “Gov. JB Pritzker’s multiunit housing (BUILD Act/Plan) plans for Illinois stall in Springfield’s spring session,” “Why McHenry County officials could ask voters for home rule powers,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie provides an update of Pritzker’s proposed BUILD Act,” “Village of Barrington President shares perspectives on Pritzker’s BUILD plans,” “(Ignoring public opinion) Pritzker says of BUILD Plan for homes would not cost taxpayers,” “Gov. JB Pritzker’s ambitious housing plan for Illinois: More four-flats, looser rules,” “Pritzker to propose statewide zoning laws to spur homebuilding, limit local control,” “McLaughlin’s press conference video recording regarding Pritzker’s proposed municipal zoning powers grab posted,” “‘It’s just a bad idea’: Suburban officials oppose Pritzker’s plan to reduce local control over residential It’s just zoning”

Read Full Post »

CBS features McGraw coyote research

Posted in Animal Welfare, Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, Topics Of Interest on June 8, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The McGraw Report | Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation

CBS highlighted Dr. Stanley Gehrt, head of McGraw’s wildlife research department, and his work with coyotes on the May 24 nationwide broadcast of “Sunday Morning.” Dr. Gehrt, who also is a professor of wildlife ecology at The Ohio State University, has led the Urban Coyote Research Project under McGraw’s aegis for more than 25 years.

“Back in the late 1990s, the concept of a coyote living in an urban setting was basically unheard of,” Dr. Gehrt told the interviewer. “Yet they started appearing in suburban sites around Chicago, and people became concerned or scared.”

Dr. Gehrt’s research has won international recognition for himself and McGraw. It has been described in innumerable research papers, mainstream news outlets, and has helped to launch the careers of many scientists who began their graduate work at McGraw.

In addition, Dr. Gehrt and McGraw Executive Vice President Kerry Luft teamed up to write the 2024 book “Coyotes Among Us,” a distillation of his research for the general public.

“Stan is known as the world’s leading coyote expert for good reason,” Luft said. “Less well known is the fact that he has been a pioneer in technology, including the use of GPS technology to better track coyotes and stable isotope analysis to help understand their diets.

“His research is a source of great pride to the Foundation, and he has become a great friend to many people here at McGraw, including me.”

For the general public, Dr. Gehrt’s message is that coyotes should not automatically be considered dangerous.

“If you’re walking your dog and encounter a coyote, don’t run away,” he told CBS. “If you have a small dog, pick it up and walk away. If you have a large dog, stand still and shout at it, and it should leave.”

With coyotes becoming a common part of the urban landscape, Dr. Gehrt added, “A certain amount of tolerance is necessary.”

As he and Luft wrote in their book, the coyote is an enormously adaptive creature that has survived and thrived even as other predators are wiped out. And they are endlessly fascinating – how else could Dr. Gehrt study them for the better part of three decades and still have plenty of questions worth investigating?

See the video here:

Visit the Urban Coyote Research Project website here:

Copies of Dr. Gehrt’s book “Coyotes Among Us” are available for purchase at Pond Cottage and through numerous online retailers.

Read Full Post »

Reminder: Celebrate America 250 with The Land We Love Run to Support Folds of Honor

Posted in Entertainment, Folds of Honor, Fundraisers, Press Release, Resident Spotlights, The Land We Love Run, VBHPD on June 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Neighbors & Friends –

Join us as we kick off the America 250 celebration 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 on Sunday, June 28, 2026, with the annual “The Land We Love Run” through Barrington Hills! Brought to you by the Village of Barrington Hills and Cuba Township The Land We Love Run starts at 7:30 am from Cuba Township, and offers 5k & 10k runs and a 2 mile walk.  Come out to enjoy our beautiful Village and to support our Heroes!

Our 5k and 10k 🏃‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️ courses are certified and professionally chip timed.

Compete in the Team Competition 🙌 Put together your team of 3 or more for camaraderie, bragging rights, and to compete for fun prizes!

Police 👮🏻 monitored routes with age-based awards 🥇, and water/aid stations. Stay for the award ceremony, refreshments and fun following the run.

All proceeds to benefit Folds of Honor – Chicago, a National organization with a local presence that provides scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled Service Members and First Responders. Donations are also being accepted to the Cuba Township Food Pantry, addressing Barrington-area residents’ food insecurity needs.

It’s a HILL of a RUN!
Hope to see you and your friends and colleagues on June 28th! 

You don’t run? Consider volunteering or sponsorship!

Sponsorship levels are:

  • America 250 Sponsor $2,500 Recognition on Website, Logo on T-shirts, Race Banner, American 250 Banner, 10 Race Entries, Space for Table/Tent
  • 1776 Sponsor $1,776 Logo on T-shirts, Race Banner, 5 Race Entries
  • Liberty Sponsor $1,000 Logo on Race Banner
  • Freedom Sponsor $500 Logo on Water Station Signs

***SPONSORSHIP MUST BE CONFIRMED BY MAY 27th TO GUARANTEE LOGO ON T-SHIRTS***

Click for SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION & FORM

We appreciate you forwarding this invitation to any who might be interested in participating and/or sponsorship.

Read Full Post »

‘Something spectacular’: Towns to go all out on July 4 for America’s 250th year

Posted in Daily Herald, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Entertainment, Topics Of Interest on June 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Katlyn Smith | Daily Herald

A fireworks and drone show. A Sousa-heavy municipal band season. A field of flags, many tagged with handwritten notes for those who served.

Strike up the band

The brass and percussion sections of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra promise a “thunderous performance” at Citizens Park amphitheater in Barrington the evening of July 1. The Barrington Lions Club will cook up its Brat Tent Festival from July 1 to 4. The Barrington All-Star Brass Quintet will perform from the stately porch of Barrington’s own White House before the Independence Day parade.

“Barrington is a very patriotic town, and really the highlight of our event season any year is our Fourth of July parade,” said Clancy Potts, the village’s events manager.

Article continues here.

Editorial notes: Barrington 4th of July Parade – “The parade steps off at 10AM from Barrington High School on Saturday, July 4. More details about signing up your organization or business can be found here!”

4th of July Fireworks – “The Barrington Community Fireworks display begins at 9:30 p.m. from Barrington High School and can be seen from many locations around town.”

Read Full Post »

Upcoming Stillman Nature Center events include bird walk, campfire, pond study

Posted in Education, South Barrington, Stillman Nature Center, Topics Of Interest on June 5, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Join Stillman Nature Center naturalist and reptile enthusiast Lara Sviatke July 12 as she shares her knowledge about turtles and snakes | Courtesy of Stillman Nature Center

By Stillman Nature Center

Stillman Nature Center at 33 W. Penny Road, South Barrington, will offer the following events and programs. For details, visit stillmannc.org, email stillmangho@gmail.com, or call (847) 428-OWLS (6957).

Sunday morning bird walk: 8 a.m. Sunday, June 7. Experienced birder David Johnson will lead this morning bird walk, intended for adults and children age 10 and older. Binoculars would be helpful. If you don’t have any, don’t worry, Stillman does. If it’s raining, the activity will be canceled. Wear shoes you don’t mind getting muddy. Call to RSVP if you plan to attend.

Bats and campfire: 8-9 p.m. Saturday, June 20; 7-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Ever wonder about these creatures that come out at night? Why are bats so mysterious? Join bat naturalist Lara Sviatko for bat information, a campfire, and roasted marshmallows. Participants will hear sounds of nocturnal wildlife and end the evening with a visit to Stillman’s resident owls. Suggested donation is $5.

Snakes and turtles: 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12. Join naturalist and reptile enthusiast Lara Sviatko as she shares her knowledge about these cold-blooded animals. Participants will have a chance to touch a snake as well as look for Stillman’s snakes and pond turtles. For adults and children ages 8 and older. Free, but call to reserve a spot.

Pond study: 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26. With the help of long-handled dip nets, families (including children ages 8 and older) will scoop into Stillman’s pond in hopes of catching crayfish, dragonfly larvae, tadpoles and other rarely seen pond creatures. Dress in clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting muddy. Free, but call or email to make reservations, since space is limited.

Read Full Post »

Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center

Posted in AI, BACOG, Clown Car, Cook, County, Daily Herald, Data Center, Dinky, Hoffman Estates, Plum Farm development, Property Taxes, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes on June 4, 2026| 3 Comments »

South Barrington Village President Paula McCombie adds her voice to that of 45 others criticizing a proposal for the rezoning of the 186-acre Plum Farms property at Higgins Road and Route 59 for a possible data center before the Hoffman Estates plan commission Wednesday night. | Eric Peterson/epeterson@dailyherald.com

By Eric Peterson | Daily herald

Hoffman Estates plan commissioners voted 4-2 Wednesday to recommend against rezoning the 186-acre Plum Farms property to manufacturing for a possible data center proposal.

The vote was called after 46 members of the public unanimously urged rejection of the request for an unspecified development by landowner Karis Critical of Florida, which saw a data center proposal in Naperville rejected in January.

Speakers opposed to the rezoning urged the board’s rejection of the proposal without knowing what would go there. They complained a data center would create environmental issues.

Most speakers were from Hoffman Estates, South Barrington or Barrington Hills. But independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett of Palatine, Democratic state Rep. Nabeela Syed of Inverness and Democratic candidate for state representative Maria Peterson of North Barrington were also drawn by the chorus of discontent.

South Barrington Village President Paula McCombie said her village and Hoffman Estates have had a long history of understanding that what happens in one community affects the other. She found the rezoning request out of sync with their mutual development of retail uses in that area.

“I’m not a resident of Hoffman Estates but we should be strategic partners,” McCombie said.

The full article can be found here.

Related: “Hoffman Estates Plan Commission rejects zoning change for new data center project,” “Hoffman Estates Plum Farm June 3rd Plan Commission Meeting Essentials,” “After being rejected in Naperville, company could build data center in Hoffman Estates,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie posts information regarding June 3 Hoffman Estates (Plum Farms) Plan Commission meeting,” “(Plum Farms) NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING JUNE 3,” “Hoffman Estates could see third data center campus with sale of Plum Farms property,” “Hoffman Estates approves sewer, water for development of 185 acres west of The Arboretum,” “Hoffman Estates approves tax incentive at routes 59, 72,” “District 220 lawsuit against Hoffman Estates, Plum Farms developers dismissed,” “South Barrington residents sue over Hoffman Estates development,” “Editorial: Listen to agencies that would feel consequences of Hoffman Estates development“

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »