Mayor’s Message May 22, 2026

Dear Residents,

Today we enjoy a slice of history – a pizza slice to be precise!

Today is the global celebration of Bitcoin Pizza Day! This day honors the groundbreaking moment when cryptocurrency was first used in a real-world purchase – two pizzas! On May 22, 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 Bitcoins for two large Papa John pizzas. Fast forward just nine months, and those pizzas were valued at $10,000; by 2015, their worth skyrocketed to an astonishing $2.4 million. With Bitcoin reaching an all-time high of $63,000 in 2021, those pizzas could have been worth a whopping $630 million! Happy Bit Coin Pizza Day!

MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY CLOSURE

Monday is Memorial Day and while we enjoy the holiday weekend with family and friends, I encourage you to take a moment to honor and remember the brave men and women who have given their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice and dedication will never be forgotten.

Please be advised Village Hall and the Police Administrative Offices will be closed on Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, May 26th from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

In addition, garbage and recycling collection will be delayed one day due to the holiday. Your garbage and recycling will be collected on Tuesday, May 26. Per Village Ordinance, please do not place collection carts at the curb before 3:00 p.m. the day before collection. Carts must be removed no later than 9:00 a.m. the following day.

We wish all residents a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend!

New Emergency Alert System Launching on June 1st

In the past few weeks, I’ve shared that our community is transitioning to Everbridge as our new Emergency Mass Notification System.

This new platform will replace CodeRED, and we strongly encourage all residents who wish to receive any of the South Barrington emergency notifications, weather alerts, or other important community updates to register. The Everbridge system allows Village officials and law enforcement to send real-time alerts regarding severe weather, public safety incidents, road closures, and other urgent situations. Notifications can be delivered through phone calls, text messages, emails, and mobile app alerts, allowing you to receive information in the way that works best for you.

Best of all, this service is completely free.

Residents can customize their accounts to receive all alerts or only the notifications that matter most to them. The system is designed to be flexible and user-friendly, giving you full control over both the types of alerts you receive and how you receive them.

Please note the Village will officially begin using the system for notifications on June 1^st.

To register, please visit the Everbridge homepage below:

https://member.everbridge.net/99507412926545/login

After creating your account and entering the required information, you will have the option to select the alerts you would like to receive, including Village Alerts and/or Weather Alerts. Since the system is managed through our emergency dispatch center, you may notice neighboring communities also appear as available notification options during registration.

You can keep all boxes checked and you’ll receive notices for all surrounding communities on the list along with all weather alerts or you can uncheck those that you do not wish to receive.

If you have any questions, please contact Makayla at mterfehn@southbarrington.org. We will happily walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have. Sign up today!

PROCLAMATION: SAFE BOATING WEEK MAY 16-22

At last Thursday’s Board Meeting, the Village passed a Proclamation declaring May 16–22 as Safe Boating Week in South Barrington.

As recreational boating continues to grow in popularity, it’s important that we all do our part to stay safe while enjoying time on the water. Whether operating a boat, jet ski, kayak, or any other vessel, taking the proper safety precautions helps protect both you and those around you.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers FREE Vessel Safety Checks to help ensure your boat is properly equipped and operating safely.

Learn more and locate a free safety check here:
https://cgaux.org/vsc/

GRADUATION SEASON: HARPER COLLEGE

Last week, I had the opportunity along with Trustee Kazi and the Village Administrator to attend the Harper College graduation ceremony for the many hardworking students reaching this exciting milestone and to congratulate them as they begin the next chapter of their lives.

It’s always inspiring to see students accomplishing their goals, pursuing their dreams, and celebrating their accomplishments. Congratulations to all Harper College graduates! On behalf of the Village of South Barrington, we wish you continued success!

Pictured from Left to Right: Trustee Brian Lawrence- Port Barrington, Mayor McCombie, Marc Klemencic- Vice President/Talent Management of AAR Corp. and Commencement Speaker, Dr. Avis Proctor- President- Harper College, Trustee Shazad Kazi of South Barrington

As always, I am here to listen to your thoughts and concerns. Feel free to email me at pmccombie@southbarrington.org, or use the anonymous comment boxes located in the lobbies of Village Hall and the Police Department. I review these messages privately and value your input.

Have an enjoyable weekend!

Paula McCombie

Mayor