Posted in Aunt Blabby, Barrington High School, Community Alerts, Entertainment, Equestrian Commission, Lighting Ordinance, Politics, Public Safety, Riding Club Commission, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Transparency, VBHPD on July 4, 2026| Leave a Comment »
“The Barrington Hills Police Department would like to inform you that a Permit for a professional Fireworks Display has been issued for July 4th starting at 9:30pm at Barrington High School. Please remember that it is illegal to use or explode unpermitted fireworks. Please celebrate this Holiday safely. Thank you Thank you, Village of Barrington Hills.”
Sent via email a second time 24 hours after the first. Apparently they are trying to avoid as many complaints as they can.
Posted in Barrington Area Library, Barrington Courier-Review, Barrington High School, Nostalgia, The Greatest Generation, Topics Of Interest on July 4, 2026| Leave a Comment »
“As the temperature began to soar up to a high of 100 degrees and the sun beat down upon the pavement residents of barrington began to line the streets in anticipation of the biggest 4th of July parade the village had ever seen.
Seats in the shade were a premium and most of the spectators had to brave the searing sun to watch the marchers in their trek through the streets.
The parade led off with a color guard from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Red, white and blue predominated as the many floats wound their way down Main St. and up Hough Ave.
Photo by Barry Jarvinen
Photo by Barry Jarvinen
Local precision marching units and drum and bugle corps provided the music along with the Barrington High School Band for the hundreds of boy and girl scouts in colonial costumes.
Floats depicted scenes of the Revolutionary War and our frontier past brought smiles to the faces of the younger spectators in between the times they were scrambling for candy and prizes tossed to them.
The thermometer reached 100 degrees Saturday during the Barrington Bicentennial parade, one of several events which signaled the conclusion to the 8-day celebration. And while the marchers trudged along with cool thoughts in their minds, these dogs stationed themselves next to a bucket full of water, refreshing themselves at their leisure. | Photo by Barry Jarvinen
Area fire departments sent their engines to fill the air with the sounds of wailing sirens and the antique automobiles tried mightily to answer back with their bulb horns.”
Editorial note: The Barrington Area Library maintains archives of the Barrington Courier-Review.
Posted in Barrington High School, Entertainment, Fundraisers, Politics, Resident Spotlights, School Districts, Signal Hill NSDAR, Unions on July 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Barrington All-Star Brass Quintet – 8:30 AM
Enjoy the bright and bold sounds of the Barrington All-Star Brass Quintet as they perform live on the porch of Barrington’s White House. This all-star Barrington ensemble will deliver classic American standards and patriotic favorites before the Independence Day parade.
*Note: In the case of inclement weather, the performance will be moved inside to the 3rd floor ballroom.
Special thanks to the Signal Hill NSDAR for sponsoring this free event.
Register for this free event here.
The Barrington 4th of July Parade – 10:00 AM
Barrington is home to so many wonderful businesses, neighborhoods, charitable organizations, churches, sports teams, riding clubs, dancers and musicians. Bring your chairs and gather your friends and family for this year’s parade as we celebrate America250 and all things Barrington down Main Street!
Lions Club Brat Tent – 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Wool St Parking Lot
A beloved community staple, the Barrington Lions Club Fourth of July Brat Tent Festival returns to the Wool Street parking lot. The event promises food, beverages and entertainment for all ages, including dedicated children’s activities.
Information can be found on their Facebook Page.
Celebrate America’s 250th with the Barrington History Museum
Join the Barrington History Museum for its special A250 programs.
More information on these events can be found on the Village’s A250 page. More information about the museum can be found here.
4th of July Fireworks – 9:30 PM
The Barrington Community Fireworks display begins at 9:30 p.m. from Barrington High School and can be seen from many locations around town. More information here.
Please note that parking at Barrington High School (616 N. Main St.) will be more limited this year due to the school’s major auditorium construction project.
Thank you for helping keep our community safe, and we hope you enjoy the fireworks celebration!
Weather Advisories
Please stay tuned to the Village’s social media pages and the website for the latest event information. In the event of cancellations due to inclement weather, information will be shared with the public on these communication channels.
Info posted from a Village of Barrington email.
Posted in Aunt Blabby, Barrington High School, Community Alerts, Entertainment, Equestrian Commission, Lighting Ordinance, Politics, Public Safety, Riding Club Commission, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Transparency, Unions, VBHPD on July 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »
“The Barrington Hills Police Department would like to inform you that a Permit for a professional Fireworks Display has been issued for July 4th starting at 9:30pm at Barrington High School. Please remember that it is illegal to use or explode unpermitted fireworks. Please celebrate this Holiday safely. Thank you Thank you, Village of Barrington Hills.”
Sent via email.
Posted in AI, BACOG, Cook, County, Data Center, EJ&E/Canadian National, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, News Media, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Unions on July 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Courtesy Construction Review
By Joel Mairura | Construction Review
The proposed 185-acre data center in Hoffman Estates by Karis Critical has been cancelled as the firm bows out. The firm has withdrawn its request to rezone land for the controversial data center project in Illinois. Its scope entailed being constructed at the edge of the village of Hoffman Estates’ municipal boundaries. Moreover, it would have bordered the nearby areas of South Barrington and Barrington Hills.
However, it raised serious questions about how the neighboring towns, which have no official say in decision making, are impacted by such projects (?). “After several weeks of conversations with the Village and residents, we’ve decided the right step is to withdraw the current rezoning request,” Karis Critical spokesman Patrick Skarr said.
“We heard the feedback clearly, including the call for a more specific plan before any rezoning. We’ll take the time to get that right. Should we bring a proposal forward in the future, the Village and the community will have the details they need to evaluate it fully and on its merits.” Residents have always been against the project as shown by a recent public hearing where they showed up in numbers. Despite bowing out, other data centers across the US are still advancing such as “Project Marvel” in Bessemer which QTS has been identified as its developer.
The proposed 185-acre data center in Hoffman Estates by Karis Critical has been cancelled as the firm bows out. | Courtesy Construction Review
Factors Leading to Opposition of Proposed Data Center in Hoffman Estates
One of the major factors that led to opposition of the proposed data center in Hoffman Estate was transparency concerns. When the Plan Commission held its meeting, discussion was limited to the issue of rezoning the site from traditional neighborhood and commercial mixed-use districts to a manufacturing district. Moreover, residents were told there were no specific site plans for a data center project.
Other residents had concerns about the impacts of a large-scale data center on traffic, noise and light pollution and air quality. Hoffman Estates has two other data centers under construction. However, they are in areas already zoned for manufacturing that residents said are more appropriate than the residential area near forest preserves.
“Nobody here is saying, ‘Don’t do a data center,’ everyone’s saying, ‘Don’t do it here,’” Barrington Hills resident Karen Trzaska said. A public records request seeking communication from village stuff about the project also revealed much. It noted that the project had been in discussion as early as 18 months ago, raising more concerns on the project’s transparency.
Article continues here.
Posted in Barrington High School, Entertainment, Topics Of Interest on July 2, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Posted in BACOG, Data Center, EJ&E/Canadian National, FPDCC, Goat Rodeo, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Unions on July 2, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Per a Village of Hoffman Estates release:
“On June 30, 2026, H.E. Holdings, LLC, owner of the property at 4800 W. Higgins Road, (commonly known as “Plum Farms” and hereafter referred to as the ‘Subject Property’) notified the Village of Hoffman Estates in writing that it has withdrawn its application to rezone the three lots that comprise the Subject Property to the Village’s M-2 zoning district. As a result of this withdrawal, the existing zoning of the Subject Property will remain in place (Lot 1: TN, Lots 2 & 3: C-MU).
The withdrawn petition for rezoning will not be considered by the Village Board at the July 6, 2026, Village Board Meeting. Any application for zoning changes to the Subject Property by the current or future owners will require a new application. Future applications concerning the Subject Property will be required to start at the beginning of the zoning amendment process outlined in the Village Code.
The public hearing scheduled for July 6, 2026, to consider the termination of the annexation agreement governing the property at 4800 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates, has been canceled.”
Posted in AI, BACOG, Cook, County, Daily Herald, Data Center, EJ&E/Canadian National, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Plum Farm development, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, School Districts, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic, Unions on July 1, 2026| Leave a Comment »
By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald
The firm that owns the 186-acre Plum Farms property at Higgins Road and Route 59 in Hoffman Estates has withdrawn its request to rezone the site to manufacturing use that potentially would have enabled a data center there.
“We got word last night that it had been withdrawn,” Hoffman Estates Village Manager Eric Palm said Wednesday.
That immediately removed the decision from the agenda of Monday’s village board meeting, at which a large crowd of opponents from Hoffman Estates, Barrington Hills and South Barrington was expected.
Report continues here.
Related: “Barrington CUSD 220 opposes rezoning of Plum Farms,” “Proposed data center in Hoffman Estates sparks resident outrage,” “HOFFMAN ESTATES NOTICE OF (PLUM FARMS) PUBLIC HEARING JULY 6,” “‘Wrong project, wrong place’: Critics push back on rezoning plan for potential Hoffman Estates data center,” “Change.org Petition: ‘Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates’,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” “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”
Posted in 220, AI, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Conflict of interest, Data Center, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, Illinois Federation of Teachers, League of Women Voters, OMA, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, Video Recordings, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on July 1, 2026| 2 Comments »
At their special meeting Monday, the 220 Board of Education voted on approving the, “Written Decision Regarding Uniform Grievance Procedure Complaint Concerning a Board Member,” and the, “Public Release of the June 10, 2026, Uniform Grievance Procedure Investigation Report and Findings.” Here’s how that went:
“Ficke-Bradford: The next motion, I’d like to invite Aris Talianas, the Board attorney, to come to the table in case the Board has any questions.
And I just want to do a little preamble on this one just to make sure it’s very clear.
After the receipt of a Complaint regarding alleged violations of Board Policy, an outside investigator was appointed to investigate the Complaint and the investigator issued a written report pursuant to the Board’s Uniform Grievance Procedure. The outside investigator’s report includes recommended findings that Board Member Ding violated Board Policy 2:80 relating to the Board Member Code of Conduct concerning the appearance of impropriety and the use of social media. According to the Board’s Uniform Grievance Procedure, the Board is required to issue a written decision following the issuance of the investigator’s report reaching its own conclusions, the Board’s own conclusions. Therefore, I am requesting a motion to approve the Board’s decision on the Complaint filed against Board Member Ding consistent with the following, and Board Members, you have a copy of this in front of you. I’m going to read through the bullets:
Do I have such a motion?
Collister-Lazari: So moved.
Srivastava: Second.
Ficke Bradford: All right. Any questions or comments from the Board?
All right, let’s do roll call.
Steve Wang? Yes.
Sandra Bradford? Yes.
Harathi Srivastava? Yes.
Diana Clopton? Yes.
Leah Collister Lazari? Yes.
Ficke Bradford: All right, motion passes. The next motion. Do we have a motion to approve the public release of the June 10, 2026, Uniform Grievance Procedure Investigation Report and finding?
Collister Lazari: So moved.
Clopton: Second.
Ficke Bradford: All right, so just to be very clear, this is the official report that we just took the former action on. So we… It’s marked as confidential. So the Board must take an action to waive that confidentiality. So that is what we are doing with this action. Any questions from the Board?
All right, let’s do a roll call, please.
Harathi Srivastava? Yes.
Sandra Bradford? Yes.
Steve Wang? Yes.
Leah Collister Lazari? Yes.
Diana Clapton? Yes.”
To view to the YouTube video queued to the start of the discussion, click here.
A copy of the June 10, 2026, Uniform Grievance Procedure Investigation Report and Finding can be viewed and downloaded here.
Related: “CUSD 220 Board of Education public comments we applaud,” “Special District 220 Board of Education meeting Monday,” “Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency”
AND
Posted in AI, Daily Herald, Data Center, FPDCC, Hoffman Estates, Land Use, Plum Farm development, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, School Districts, Sears, South Barrington, Taxes, Transparency on June 30, 2026| Leave a Comment »
By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald
A request to the Illinois Attorney General for a review of alleged Open Meetings Act violations is among the artillery being used by opponents of a potential rezoning of 186 acres in Hoffman Estates for a possible data center.
Barrington Hills resident Amanda Pollard filed the request Monday, asking that any finding of a violation be used to challenge the village board’s possible rezoning of the northwest corner of Higgins Road and Route 72 to manufacturing use at Monday’s board meeting.
She cited documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act as proof plans for a data center are more specific than the landowner or village officials have said aloud.
Pollard was particularly suspicious of requests for meetings with trustees or the mayor in correspondence between landowner Karis Critical and village staff.
Village Manager Eric Palm said the documents don’t chronicle potential Open Meetings Act violations and Mayor Bill McLeod said none have occurred.
Hoffman Estates officials are considering a proposal to rezone the 186-acre Plum Farms property at the northwest corner of routes 59 and 72 to manufacturing use, potentially enabling development of a data center. This view looks north along Old Sutton Road, just north of Higgins Road. | Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com, 2019
“No, we don’t do that,” McLeod added. “That doesn’t happen.”
At the June 3 plan commission meeting, attorney Matt Norton representing Karis characterized the rezoning request as simply a way to boost the Plum Farms site’s marketing potential for various industrial uses.
But a May 19 email from Hoffman Estates Director of Development Services Jennifer Horn to Karis officials speaks of a less generalized goal.
Article continues here.
Related: “Proposed data center in Hoffman Estates sparks resident outrage,” “HOFFMAN ESTATES NOTICE OF (PLUM FARMS) PUBLIC HEARING JULY 6,” “‘Wrong project, wrong place’: Critics push back on rezoning plan for potential Hoffman Estates data center,” “Change.org Petition: ‘Deny Rezoning of Plum Farms In Hoffman Estates’,” “South Barrington Mayor Paula McCombie shares an update on Hoffman Estates/Plum Farms Plan Commission meeting,” “Hoffman Estates plan commission rejects rezoning request for possible data center,” “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”
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