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A Message from Karen Darch |
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Every March, as we start to see just a few glimmers of the warmer weather that brings the sounds of the birds singing and our children and neighbors venturing outdoors once again, I am always filled with hope.
And this March feels particularly hopeful as we have now seen the official lifting of the mask mandate and the start of a new chapter. And while our attention has been on COVID-19 and recent world events, there have been some exciting accomplishments here in Barrington, and I would like to congratulate several members of our community this week.
First, a big shout-out to Barrington High School swimmer Griffin O'Leary, who is the newly crowned state champion in the backstroke. We are so proud of you, Griffin!
Second, I would like to bring forward the outstanding contributions that both Bob Lee and Karen Lambert have made to our community. Bob was recently named one of America's Top 100 Civic Volunteers, and Karen was honored last month with a Career Achievement Award for her leadership at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital. Both Bob and Karen are true gems in our community, and we are grateful for all their service and dedication to Barrington. You can read more in the articles below.
I would also like to remind everyone that the bi-annual Jeffrey Pride Foundation Gala is tomorrow night. The foundation's mission is to find a cure for pediatric cancer, and I have been a supporter of this organization since its inception. If you are not attending, I would like to encourage you to consider donating i f you are so able and inclined.
Finally, I wanted to say thank you to our Barrington events staff and our Public Works crew who brought the first Brr-ington Winter Fest to downtown last weekend. On a cold, clear day, over 1,000 people enjoyed ice carvings, drank more than 15 gallons of hot chocolate, roasted 800 s'mores over bonfires, and met Disney's Frozen favorites, Elsa and Anna. It was a wonderful day for all, and hopefully the start of a great new winter tradition.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Karen Darch
Village President
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Meet Your Village Board of Trustees:
Jennifer Wondrasek
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Trustee Jennifer Wondrasek was elected as Trustee in 2017. She is an engineer and community leader who has lived in the Barrington area for more than 30 years.
A graduate of Barrington High School, Jenn has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and currently works as a Technical Project Manager at Optimal Design in Arlington Heights.
For the last 15 years, Jenn has consistently served in leadership positions promoting education, youth and family mental health, cancer care and support, and other Barrington community service efforts. She is a past fundraising chair for Wellness Place, past board member of Barrington Youth and Family Services, past president of the Hough Street Elementary PTO, member of the Barrington PTO President’s Council, and board member of the St. Anne’s Women’s Club. She is a former Barrington High School Robotics Club mentor, and has taught religious education at St. Anne’s for more than 10 years. She also served for five years as a member of the successful Barrington Sesquicentennial Committee, and chair of the 1865 Street Festival, honoring the village’s vibrant 150-year history.
Jenn lives in the village with her husband, Gerry, and her two children, Tommy and Paige.
To learn more about your Village Board of Trustees, click here.
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State Champ! BHS Swimmer Griffin O'Leary Wins the Backstroke |
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Congratulations to Barrington High School swimmer Griffin O'Leary, who last weekend won the state championship in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 47.83 and finished second in the 100-meter butterfly. Way to go, State Champ!
Griffin will be heading to the University of Southern California (USC) this fall, and hopes to compete in the Olympic Trials in 2023.
We'd also like to congratulate Lucas Bucaro for this 12th place finish in the 500-meter freestyle. Congratulations to all our BHS competitors!
Read the Daily Herald article here. Photo courtesy of the Daily Herald. Thanks to the Barrington Scoop for additional information.
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Congratulations to Bob Lee, Small Town Civic Volunteer Award Winner |
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Barrington uber-volunteer Bob Lee was recently named one of America's Top 100 Small Town Civic Volunteers, a national program that honors 100 extraordinary public service volunteers in localities under 25,000 population. It spotlights the urgent need for citizens to fill critical civic volunteer roles, including local government boards and councils, volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and the many advisory committees that support key local government functions.
Bob Lee has significantly impacted the Barrington area in numerous ways over many years. He is considered by his fellow residents to be the consummate volunteer - always available and ready to organize and lead new initiatives in town that fulfill an unmet need.
Bob is a dedicated leader of the Barrington Area Development Council, which has sponsored numerous new community initiatives over the years. For example, through the BADC, Bob's most recent endeavor has been to spearhead the new Barrington Area Volunteer Connection, which is a software tool that connects volunteer needs in the community with willing volunteers by matching interest areas and other criteria. Bob helped found the organization that is leading this effort, and his project management and leadership skills have ensured that the new program has received extraordinary publicity and is now used by over 100 volunteer groups in the Barrington area. Other BADC initiatives led by Bob Lee have been hurricane relief coordination and other humanitarian efforts in regions impacted by natural disasters.
In addition, Bob has been a very active member of the Village of Barrington's Bike and Pedestrian Committee for many years. He is an avid cyclist and promotes biking and walking in town, spearheading initiatives to make our town bike and pedestrian-friendly. He has also turned his love of cycling into a significant fundraiser for the cause of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), twice riding his bike over 3,000 miles cross-country to create fundraising support for this cause, as well as cancer research and Hospice. The initiative was called "A Ride for 3 Reasons" and gained national publicity.
Bob and his wife, Anne, were recognized in connection with their service by the Barrington Village Board in 2017. In addition to recognizing all of the wonderful volunteer efforts of the Lees, the Village also named them as the citizens to “light the tree” at the annual holiday tree lighting ceremony. This recognition is given to local residents who demonstrate extraordinary contributions to the community.
Finally, Bob is a talented photographer and has made a hobby out of photographing Barrington's important community events and milestones, then uploading his professional-quality images to Flickr to be used for FREE by anyone in the community needing access to these photos. This photo archive is a treasure trove of both the culture and history of Barrington over nearly 20 years, and the fact that it can be accessed for free is an extraordinary gift to the community.
Congratulations, Bob, and thank you for your extraordinary service!
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Good Shepherd's Karen Lambert Honored with Career Achievement Award |
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Congratulations to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital President Karen Lambert for her recent Career Achievement Award from the Chicago Health Executives Forum (CHEF) and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
Karen Lambert’s 36-year career in Advocate leadership includes serving as President of both Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital and Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. Prior to her time at Good Shepherd, Karen held numerous leadership positions at Advocate Christ Medical Center.
She has been very active in numerous endeavors in the Barrington community, including participating in both the first and most recent Barrington Town-Warming events, as well as Dancing with the Stars for BACOA. We thank her for her tremendous leadership!
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Route 14 Underpass Project Video and Information Available on Village Website |
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Last week's Public Information Meeting for the upcoming Route 14 underpass project was very well attended. If you missed the meeting, information is now available on our web site to review.
An very informative video reviewing the project history, status, construction sequencing and a drive-through rendering of the completed project was shown at the meeting and is now available, along with all meeting exhibits, on the Village's website at https://www.barrington-il.gov/underpass.
Village Staff and the project team are also working together to compile a list of commonly asked questions from the meeting and will update the Village website's FAQ section to address these items this month.
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District 220 Construction Update: Hough Street School and Barrington High School |
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The Village Board has reviewed and approved the Barrington 220 referendum construction projects for Hough Street School and Barrington High School, and you will begin to see construction on those projects moving forward in the coming months.
Exterior projects at Hough Street School include a new rear addition, which will serve as a sensory room for students with special needs. In addition, there will be ADA upgrades to the main entrance on Lake Street.
Exterior projects at Barrington High School include a two-story addition to the front of the building, which will serve as a flexible learning space and a new student commons area. In addition, the parking lot will be reconfigured to add more parking spaces and ease traffic congestion. There will also be several athletic facility improvements, including relocating the tennis courts to accommodate the parking lot changes, enhancements to the Fields of Dreams Complex and Varsity Baseball Field, and a new multi-purpose practice field.
The Village is excited to welcome these exciting school enhancements to the community!
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Turn Clocks Forward on March 13; Check Those Smoke Alarms |
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Daylight Savings Time begins on March 13, which means you should turn your clocks forward.
Many people will use this opportunity to change their home’s smoke alarm batteries as well. Because working smoke alarms are a critical element of home fire safety, NFPA supports any and all efforts to reinforce the importance of working batteries. However, today’s smoke alarms are not all designed the same, making battery messaging more nuanced.
Following is information to help make sure all smoke alarms have working batteries, accounting for the multiple types of smoke alarms on the market and their varying battery requirements:
- Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
- Smoke alarms with any other type of battery need a new battery at least once a year. If that alarm chirps, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
- When replacing a battery, follow manufacturer’s list of batteries on the back of the alarm or manufacturer’s instructions. Manufacturer’s instructions are specific to the batteries (brand and model) that must be used. The smoke alarm may not work properly if a different kind of battery is used.
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Yard Waste & Food Scrap Recycling Resumes Friday, March 18 |
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It's nearly time for the "Green Monster" again! Beginning Friday, March 18, residents may resume placing yard waste in their "Green Monster" recycling containers for curbside recycling.
Please have recyclables, compostable yard waste and refuse at the curb before 6:30 a.m., but no more than 24 hours before pickup. Please do not place any containers in the street. Also, please remember to promptly remove your empty bins from the curb after pickup.
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Motorists: Help Make Our Roads Safe for All Users, Including Cyclists & Pedestrians |
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5 Bicycle Safety Tips for Motorists
- Pay attention to your surroundings. In parking lots, at stop signs, when backing up, or when parking, search your surroundings for other vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians.
- If you pass a bicyclist, do so safely and give the bicyclist room. Illinois State law requires motorists to give cyclists three feet of clearance when passing.
- Yield to bicyclists as you would motorists and do not underestimate their speed. This will help avoid turning in front of a bicyclist traveling on the road or sidewalk.
- Look Left, Right, and behind you before pulling out onto a road. Drivers turning right on red should look to the right and behind to avoid hitting a bicyclist approaching from the right rear. Stop completely and look left-right-left and behind before turning right on red.
- Obey the speed limit. Reduce speed for road conditions and drive defensively to avoid a crash with a cyclist.
If you have any questions, please contact the Barrington Police Department for further information at (847) 304-3300.
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Take the Healthier Barrington Coalition Survey |
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The Healthier Barrington Coalition is currently conducting a survey to assess the needs of
the Barrington Area Community.
The survey’s goal is to improve the quality of life in the Barrington area by assessing the needs and opinions of community members and addressing concerns through programming and partnerships.
Take the survey by clicking the button below and be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift card courtesy of the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce. Let your voice be heard!
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Have Feedback on Suburban Transit?
Take the RTA Survey by March 11
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The RTA is developing the next regional transit strategic plan to guide the future of public transportation in northeastern Illinois. After a six-month season of listening and engagement, the RTA has developed an emerging vision statement, principles, and outcomes and are looking for feedback by March 11, 2022.
This survey has 11 questions, all of which are optional. Take the survey by clicking the button below. Further feedback can be sent to communications@rtachicago.org.
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Have Old Holiday Lights? Recycle Them! |
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The Barrington Public Works Department partners with Elgin Recycling on its Holiday Light Recycling Program. Drop off your used holiday lights at the Public Works Facility, 300 N. Raymond Avenue, until March 31, 2022. Accepted are: mini-lights (or Italian lights), C7 lights, C9 lights, rope lights, LED lights, and extension cords. The Village does not accept garland, live greens, wreaths, or other non-recyclables.
For more information on this program please contact the Public Works Department at (847) 381-7903 or visit www.elginrecycling.com.
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UPCOMING EVENTS AT BARRINGTON'S WHITE HOUSE
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Tickets Now on Sale for Barrington's White House Spring Season Events! |
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Barrington's White House Cultural Director Rollin Potter has assembled an inspiring season of spring events and we can't wait to see all of you at the House!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, March 9
Courageous Conversations: Uncovering Hidden Violence Against Women
Thursday, March 10
2nd Thursdays Jazz Cabaret Series
Friday, March 11
“I Knew I Was in Trouble When...” Storytelling Event
Sunday, March 13
Katherine Beck, Lyric Opera Ryan Center Mezzo Soprano
Thursday, March 17
3rd Thursdays Art Night out: “Transparent by Nature” with Michael Ireland
Sunday, March 27
“Sophia Hayden Deserves Better”: A Play Reading by Stephanie Walker
Each event currently has an in-person viewing opportunity and various events have the option to be viewed virtually. For more information on all events, go to barringtonswhitehouse.com/events.
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Call JULIE Before You Dig
Across the country, every nine minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without calling a one-call center such as JULIE first. For your convenience, you can enter a self- service, locate request anytime (24/7/365) by going to www.illinois1call.com or by simply calling 8-1-1.
Recycle Corks at Public Works
Save your corks and dispose of them in the receptacle at the Public Works facility, 300 N. Raymond Avenue. This cork is sent to industries that make new products with it. Because cork is such a durable material, it can be recycled into anything from craft supplies to flooring.
Battery Drop-Off at Public Works
Residents can drop off batteries at Public Works ONLY during business hours of 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily. There are no outside collection boxes - please bring them into the Public Works front office.
Please Read Before Battery Drop-Off:
Primary/Single-Use batteries cannot be recharged and must be disposed of or recycled once they wear out: Alkaline, lithium, silver oxide, zinc-air, zinc-carbon, zinc-chloride and CR/SR/LR (button batteries).
Alkaline Batteries: AA, AAA, C, D, 9V and 12V* (*12V should be taped on terminal ends) Rechargeable and Lithium Batteries: Lithium (Li-ion), Nickel (NiCd, NiMh, Ni-Zn) Small Sealed Lead Acid (SSLA/Pb) and button batteries all need to be taped. The reason for this is because battery terminals that touch metal surfaces or other batteries can spark causing a fire or explosion during shipping.
Sanitary Sewer Backup?
If you experience a sanitary sewer backup due to an extreme rain event, please contact the Public Works Department as soon as possible: we are available Monday through Friday at (847) 381-7903 or after hours at (847) 270-9111.
Register Your Pets, But Dog Tags No Longer Required
Registering your pets with the Barrington Police Department is a great way to recover your pet if they become lost. You are no longer required to purchase dog tags; instead, please register your pet at www.frontlinepss.com/barrington.
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**Sign Up for Emergency Alerts**
To sign up to receive Reverse-911 Emergency Alerts in the event of an emergency in Barrington, click here.
Spot an Emergency at a Railroad Crossing?
If you are involved in or spot an emergency at a railroad crossing, first dial 911.
Then locate the blue and white Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign at the grade crossing.
Call the railroad’s emergency contact number listed on the blue sign and communicate your location. The sign includes The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) National Crossing Inventory Number, which identifies the exact location of the crossing to the railroads.
Permits and Inspections
The Village of Barrington will continue electronic permit review and issuance procedures until further notice. Village staff will continue to evaluate permit procedures and how to safely and efficiently serve the community moving forward. We strongly encourage you to visit the electronic permit submittals page to review permitting requirements and submittal procedures.
The Village is conducting permit inspections on limited days of the week, and certain limitations are still in place for inspections of occupied buildings. Please contact (847) 304-3400 and select “3” for Development Services to schedule inspections and visit the website to learn more!
Commuters: Quarterly Hang Tag Renewals
New quarterly hang tags may be purchased at any time for a prorated cost using the Passport website.
If you have purchased a hang tag during the quarter and realize you no longer need it, you have the option to return the tag for a prorated refund. The refund will be prorated based on the day the tag is received at Village Hall.
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March 19: Coffee & Conversation with Reps. Marty McLaughlin and Chris Bos |
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Illinois State Representatives Marty McLaughlin and Chris Bos invite you to join them for Coffee & Conversation on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at one of their two listening stops across the 52nd and
51st districts.
In Barrington, join them at McGonigal's Pub from 11:30 am to 12:30 p.m. on March 19.
They are meeting with their constituents
to discuss the critical state issues affecting our communities along with providing an overview of session and take questions.
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Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce 2022 Scholarship Applications Now Available |
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Applications for the 2022 Lauren Brown Memorial Scholarship are now available from the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) at BarringtonChamber.com, or through the Chamber office located at 190 E. James St. in Barrington. Eligible students must be from the Barrington area, or the student of an employee of a Chamber member business.
BACC awards the scholarships each spring to local high school students pursuing higher education through a university, community college, or vocational/trade certification program. Scholarships range from $500 to $1,500. There are no restrictions regarding race, religion, nationality, gender, or physical ability.
To be eligible, the completed application and all supporting documents must be received no later than Tuesday, March 15. All supporting documents should be single-sided. Incomplete applications will be disqualified. Please return the complete package to: Scholarship Committee, BACC, 190 E. James Street, Barrington, IL 60010. For more information, please call 847-381-2525.
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Rental Assistance in Both Lake and Cook Counties |
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LAKE COUNTY
Renters who face financial hardship related to COVID-19 may apply for the new Lake County Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (FERA) Program, which provides help for individuals paying rent and/or utility bills. Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of past due rent and up to three months of assistance with future rent, but no more than 12 months of assistance total. Payments from the program will be made directly to landlords and/or utility companies. To learn more about who is eligible, and for a link to the application, visit lakecountyil.gov/renthelp.
COOK COUNTY
If you live in suburban Cook County and need help paying rent and utilities due to COVID-19, the Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance program pays up to 12 months of missed rent and utilities payments and up to 3 months of future rent payments. Payments will be made directly to landlords and utility companies.
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Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt |
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As many of you know, the federal and state moratoriums on evictions ended on July 31. That means landlords have likely begun to start filing eviction papers. In Cook County, all aspects of evictions can go forward on September 1 which means judges can order evictions and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office can start enforcing the orders.
However, we also know that renters in financial crisis who are unable to pay their rent today will not be able to pay rent, security deposits, and move-in fees for a new home tomorrow. Housing insecurity and homelessness have been shown to lead to food insecurity, domestic violence, mental illness, exacerbated and unattended preventable health conditions, and substance abuse. Uprooting families, especially now as we inch toward recovery, would be destructive.
CCLAHD can help provide free legal aid, mediation services, and connections to other resources including rental assistance for tenants and landlords. And as the moratoriums lift, we are hoping we can steer landlords to look at alternatives to eviction.
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Tuesday, March 8
Plan Commission/ZBA, 6 p.m.
Thursday, March 10
Architectural Review, 6:30 p.m.
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Monday, March 14
Committee of the Whole, 6 p.m.
Board of Trustees, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, March 28
Committee of the Whole, 6 p.m.
Board of Trustees, 7:30 p.m.
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200 S. Hough Street | Barrington, IL 60010
(847) 304-3400 | barrington-il.gov
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