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Archive for the ‘Resident Spotlights’ Category

Each box feeds a family of 6

Hills

16-year-old Madeline Hills of Barrington started the MGH Foundation to distribute hundreds of holiday meals to Chicago families in need.

BARRINGTON, Ill. — A group of teenage volunteers move boxes of food into vehicles loading up Christmas dinner into each family’s trunk Wednesday morning. It took place under the supervision of 16 year old Madeline Hills, a Barrington High School junior who started a foundation that provides meals to families in need.

“It’s just a great way around the holidays to give back to those in need,” said Madeline Hills, MGH Foundation.

The MGH foundation which stands for “making good happen” also happens to be Madeline’s initials. Hills, a rising star tennis player, is partnering with the XS Tennis and Education Foundation to distribute the meals on Chicago’s South Side. She lined up corporate sponsors to help as well.

“It puts you in the Christmas spirit and they’re doing a lovely thing for the community because there’s a lot of unfortunate people out here,” said Dewayne Peterson.

The foundation is also giving toys to several families, helping out Santa’s work just a little. Angie Weaver has a total of six adopted and foster kids who will be looking under the tree on Christmas morning.

“This is wonderful. I didn’t expect any of this,” said Weaver.

George Bady Jr. is picking up meals to help several families on the West Side.

“It’s a beautiful thing. Especially at a time like this,” said Bady.

Read and watch the full ABC7 report here.

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BGD

Families of Barrington School District 220 were able to “shop” for clothing and other household items during the Barrington Giving Day nonprofit organization’s winter distribution event Dec. 11, 2021 at Barrington Middle School-Station Campus in Barrington. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

After collecting donations of clothing, food and other essentials, volunteers with Barrington Giving Day distributed the goods earlier this month as part of the nonprofit community organization’s main giveaway event of the year.

Barrington Giving Day’s winter event, as it is called, took place Dec. 11 at Barrington Middle School-Station Campus, where organizers said more than 400 families received items donated by some 1,600 people. The charitable Barrington Giving Day organization benefits families of Barrington School District 220 who qualify for free or reduced meals or have been impacted by hardships, according to the BGD website.

“It’s amazing, you know, just talking to families who are just so appreciative,” said Barrington Giving Day Executive Director Dori Hough.

She said recent inflation trends and other insecurities have adversely affected many of the families served.

“I really believe we’ve gotten more families that are participating than before because I believe COVID has impacted them,” said Hough. “There are a lot of new families that have never done this before which shows me that there’s a greater need right now.”

Read more here.

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2021 HB

Barrington Children’s Charities will be hosting our celebration as an in-person event where we can truly celebrate our 10+ years of helping local children in need, alongside our sponsors, donors, and friends.

This year’s event will include all the festivities and more from past years. We look forward to your participation, however that may be – whether it be with us in person, sponsoring, donating, or a combination.

Date: Saturday, December 11, 2021
Time: 6:00 O’Clock in the Evening
Location: Barrington Hills Country Club

To purchase tickets or to donate, click here.  To visit the Barrington Children’s Charities website, click here.

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DH Contest

Rolling Meadows resident Ray Aviles won the Editor’s Choice award for the Northwest suburbs in last year’s holiday lights contest. (John Starks | Staff Photographer, 2020)

Monday is the deadline to enter the Daily Herald’s holiday lights contest.

Visit events.dailyherald.com to upload a photo. Online voting will run Dec. 8-12.

The top vote-getter will receive a $250 gift certificate redeemable at Ala Carte Entertainment restaurants throughout the area.

Previous grand prize recipients are not eligible to win again.

The winners of Editor’s Choice awards for DuPage County, the Fox Valley, Lake County and the Northwest suburbs each will receive a $50 Ala Carte Entertainment gift card.

The winners will be featured in the Dec. 22 edition of the Daily Herald.

Daily Herald report

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Gigi Keuer

15-year-old Gigi Keuer of Barrington (Brian Hill | Staff Photographer)

Buffeted by hurricane-strength wind, 15-year-old Gigi Keuer of Barrington is flung from one side of the chamber to another, her petite frame spinning, flipping end over end, and soaring into the air before plummeting face-first toward the floor.

But the wind in this chamber at iFly Naperville isn’t in charge. Keuer controls the action, maneuvering through winds approaching 160 miles per hour using subtle movements with her 100-pound body wrapped in a tight, black flight suit topped with a helmet.

“It’s not as complicated — when you do it — as it looks,” says Keuer, who will be competing in the 2022 World Cup of Indoor Skydiving this April in Belgium with teammates Kiana Adamson, 15, of Colorado; Bella Capra, 13, of Oregon; and Jill Knutson, 16, of New York.

Last month, the quartet of teenage girls on team Volare defeated a diverse collection of competitors, including adult men teams, to win the silver medal at the 2021 U.S. Indoor Skydiving Nationals at iFly in El Paso, Texas, and claim a spot in the world championship.

“We were all really proud of how we flew,” says Keuer.

Keuer says she understands the significance of teenage girls succeeding in a world full of barriers, as a volunteer who travels to Guatemala every summer to work with children living near a landfill known as the Guatemala City Garbage Dump Community.

Read more here.

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MM McHenry

State Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, seated at the table, speaks to the McHenry County Board law and government committee Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021.

McHenry County is currently the only county in Illinois where voters are allowed to vote to dissolve a township, but McHenry County Board members say the law has too many problems and needs changes.

Meeting Tuesday with each of the state lawmakers who represent parts of McHenry County, the County Board’s law and government committee asked the county’s lawmakers to change a law that allows only McHenry County voters to eliminate townships.

“We’d like to get our hands around either being free of this legislation or being a part of this legislation administered statewide,” said board member Jeff Thorsen, R-Crystal Lake.

The county wants lawmakers to take one of two courses of action on the law: either eliminate the law, so county voters can no longer vote to dissolve a township, or extend the law to all of Illinois’ other 101 counties.

No townships have been successfully dissolved by voters since the law was passed in 2019, but the constitutionality of the law has been the subject of lawsuits filed by Nunda and McHenry township road districts and several issues with the law were identified by County Board members.

The road districts argue state law prohibits legislation from only applying to a single county.

Board members said the law does not clarify how the county should absorb a township when it is dissolved.

Read more here.

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Hope Floats Santa

December 4th, 4 PM-6 PM at the Barrington White House

“When you step into our winter wonderland for your photo with Santa you will be able to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa as a family, write letters to Santa, and taste test some cookies that Santa will have on Christmas Eve! This family friendly event provides a special memory for families in our community while empowering families in Guatemala through HOPE’S IN’s work!”

Click here to purchase tickets.

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BHS Winterfest

The Barrington High School Fine Arts Department is proud to present the 2nd Annual Winter Wonderfest! Tickets for this district-wide event are now on sale.

Winter Wonderfest runs December 3-5, and it will be a spectacular walk-through event with lights, decorations, trees and performances from across the district. This year, the walking tour and hands on experiences will occur both outside and inside of BHS.

Please arrive during your time slot with your printed or electronic ticket to ensure that the event runs smoothly. All tickets are $10 per person. Click here to purchase a ticket.

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Grizwold

Daily Herald’s holiday lights contest returns.

“If passengers on flights approaching O’Hare can see your holiday lights, then this contest is for you.

Entries in the Daily Herald’s annual holiday lights contest will be accepted through Dec. 6. Visit events.dailyherald.com to upload a photo.

Online voting will run Dec. 8-12. The top vote-getter will receive a $250 gift certificate redeemable at Ala Carte Entertainment restaurants throughout the area. Previous grand prize recipients are not eligible to win again.

The winners of Editor’s Choice awards for DuPage County, the Fox Valley, Lake County and the Northwest suburbs each will receive a $50 Ala Carte Entertainment gift card.

The winners will be featured in the Dec. 22 edition of the Daily Herald.”

-Daily Herald report

Editorial note:  A link to the Village “Exterior Lighting Regulations” can be found here.

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madigan-bribery-768x576

It’s been just over a year since four people were indicted in the ComEd bribery scheme to influence former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, but the matter is far from over and lawmakers have since passed limited reforms to curb corruption at the statehouse.

ComEd admitted the bribery scheme in the Summer of 2020. The company subsequently agreed to pay a $200 million fine and to cooperate with federal investigators.

Around a week before Thanksgiving last year, three former ComEd officials and a close Madigan confidant were indicted.

Madigan has not been charged with a crime, but he was labeled as “Public Official A” in the ComEd deferred prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors. Madian was also the subject of a special House investigation. That committee released ComEd emails the day before Thanksgiving last year that referenced “our friend,” which was widely seen as a reference to Madigan. The House committee never subpoenaed Madigan to testify before concluding without any action. Madigan has denied wrongdoing. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said Madigan needs to answer questions about his actions.

In January, Madigan wasn’t reelected as Speaker, a seat he held for all but two years since 1983. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, a Democrat from Hillside, was elected Speaker. Madigan later stepped down from the office of state Representative before the end of his term and helped select his successor.

His former chief of staff and House clerk Tim Mapes was indicted in May.

The Chicago Tribune reported in August federal investigators continue to investigate, but offered no hints on new charges.

Read more here.

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