Mayor’s Message for Friday, January 24, 2025

Dear Residents,

The New Year is in full swing which sadly means the Holiday season is over, and it is time to recycle your live trees and any other Holiday decorations no longer in use.

The LAST DAY for Groot’s program to recycle live Christmas trees is this Monday, January 27. Please remove all lights, ornaments, garland, and tinsel before putting your tree at the curb. If you need to dispose of old, used, or non-working holiday lights, you can recycle them in the bin outside of the Village Hall’s main entrance.

Tangled Roots
If enjoying quality local craft beer was one of your New Year’s Resolution (and even it wasn’t), then you are in luck. Tangled Roots is now open in The Arboretum, and to celebrate, Village Administrator Dropka, Police Chief Garrison and I attended the ribbon cutting this past Tuesday. Tangled Roots is all about high quality menus paired with authentic locally brewed craft beers, all served with a relaxed small-town welcome. With their full range of brews on tap, and a wide menu of chef-crafted dishes, you’re sure to find something to suit your taste.

Pictured above Mayor McCombie with others from Tangled Root and The Arboretum who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Stealth Robotics Met with the Mayor to Discuss STEM In Our Community

With AI and robotics becoming a big part of our future, the need for people with skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is greater than ever.

Here locally, South Barrington is home to STEALTH Robotics, which is a group of students, grades 8-12. STEALTH stands for Students Teaching Each other And Learning Through Hands-on Experiences. The team competes in the FIRST Technology Challenge (FTC) league and is an excellent example of student innovation and community spirit in South Barrington. They have not only qualified for the state championship in the last 4 years, but they also have excelled in building and programming competitive robotics and giving back to the community.

Pictured below left Village Administrator Dropka, students S Avula, T. Berlin., A. Jain, R Jain, and Mayor McCombie

There is no doubt these forward-thinking students will lead the way in the technology that will define our future. It was a pleasure meeting them and witnessing their passion for science and technology.

Pictured below left Village Administrator Dropka, students S Avula, T. Berlin., A. Jain, R Jain, and Mayor McCombie

Interested in learning more? Check out the next competition on Feb. 8th from 9-2 pm at Harvest Christian Academy, 1000 N. Randall Road, Elgin or visit stealth-robotics.org or https://www.firstillinoisrobotics.org/

Interactive Lightning Data

Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity in a lightning storm and there is so much we have learned about lightning and so much we still have to learn.
Those interested in getting a hands-on look at detailed U.S. lightning data can get information at https://www.earthnetworks.com/why-us/networks/lightning/.
The site provides detailed information about lightning and where in the country it hits most frequently.

Prepared by a team of AEM experts and leveraging the power of our Earth Networks Total Lightning Network (ENTLN), visitors to the site can get a comprehensive view of lightning activities from last year with interactive maps, rankings, and more covering:

• A comprehensive snapshot of 2024 U.S. lightning data
• Total lightning flash density by state and county
• Dangerous thunderstorm alerts
• Total thunder hours by state and county
• Thunder hour anomalies
• What these trends mean; how do they affect us

Storms and the Midwest go together like a horse and carriage. Storms are a big part of our lives and something we have to live with as Midwesterners and this site provides a wealth of information on the topic.

Recommendations on Salt Usage

Salting your driveway is as second nature as morning coffee in the wintertime.

But are you salting too much?
According to the Salt Brochure, “As temperatures fall and paved surfaces become slippery, salt can be a great resource, but it also increases the risk of chloride contamination in our groundwater. The chlorides in pavement salt doesn’t break down in water. Instead, they are carried away and stay indefinitely in the groundwater. While it may seem that using more salt will make the ice melt faster, the reality is that using too much salt can actually slow melting. A 12- ounce coffee mug full of salt is enough to treat a 20-foot driveway!”

Too learn more about proper salting, here is a copy of the SALT Brochure for more smart salting information.

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 a great weekend.

Paula McCombie
Mayor

Read more of my Friday message by clicking here.

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