Expect railroad crossing work to back up traffic
Getting through downtown Barrington is about to get a bit tougher.
Motorists who drive through the downtown area are being encouraged to build in some extra travel time next month while construction on the Route 59 railroad crossing is completed.
Union Pacific, in conjunction with Metra, is scheduled to reconstruct the railroad crossing between Sept. 18 through Sept. 28.
During this time, Route 59 will be closed between Lake-Cook Road and Route 14.
Union Pacific, with the approval of the Illinois Department of Transportation, will be establishing a temporary detour route during the construction period.
No local streets will be used for this detour; the route will use state roads only.
Updates will be posted on the Barrington village Web site at www.ci.barrington.il.us, as well as on local cable access Channel 4.
For more information, call Barrington's Public Works Department at (847) 381-7903, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Free books: Through a grant from Reading Is Fundamental, Barrington Area Unit District 220's Sunny Hill School has launched a new program that provides free books and literacy resources for kids in all grades.
The 500 students involved in the program at the Carpentersville school have the opportunity to choose three new books to add to or create personal libraries.
The first book distribution was held in May, with the second one scheduled for next month.
Reading Is Fundamental is the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit children's and family literacy organization. Founded more than 40 years ago, the program currently serves children in every state in the country at more than 20,000 sites.
Sheri Dressler, Sunny Hill's Reading is Fundamental program coordinator, said the children get excited about getting the books and really seem to enjoy reading them together.
With the support of Congress, the U.S. Department of Education and private donors, last year Reading Is Fundamental distributed more than 16 million books to nearly 4.5 million children across the country.
Those interested in either donating funds or volunteering with the Sunny Hill's Reading Is Fundamental program should contact Dressler at (847) 844-4237.
BHS grad returns:ΠBarrington High School is displaying the art work of former student Kristen Schuck in its Clair E. Smith Art Gallery.
A 2001 graduate, Schuck was heavily involved in the school's art department during her junior and senior years.
After Barrington, Schuck went on to attend New York University, where she received a bachelor of science degree in studio art and a minor in art history.
Shuck's work has previously been shown in several galleries throughout New York City.
An artists reception is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the high school, 616 W. Main Street, Barrington.
The gallery is open during school days and on the evening's of performances.
For more information, call (847) 842-3214.