April, 2026

Serving Our Community

Road District: 847-381-7793

Township Office: 847-381-1924

Assessor's Office: 847-381-1120

Serving Our Community Since 1850

Welcome home! We hope everyone enjoyed a safe and restful spring break. As April arrives, we’re reminded once again why Cuba Township is such a special place to live—rooted in history, surrounded by natural beauty, and strengthened by an engaged community. With Easter approaching, we extend warm wishes to all our residents for a joyful holiday filled with renewal, reflection, and time with loved ones. He is Risen!

🌿 From Our Roots to Today

Every April, Cuba Township reflects on its beginnings. In April of 1850, residents gathered by lantern light at the home of Noble R. Hayes to formally establish township government. That first meeting marked the beginning of a proud tradition of local service, stewardship, and civic responsibility that continues to this day, more than 175 years later. This year’s Annual Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 14th at 6:00 PM. All are welcome. The same spirit that guided those early settlers continues to guide our planning, investment, and care for our community today.

🏗️ Investing in Our Future

In March, the Cuba Township Board finalized the annual township budget for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2027. This year’s budget places a strong emphasis on enhancing our physical infrastructure, reflecting our responsibility to plan wisely and think long‑term. As part of this commitment, we are embarking on a significant renovation project to modernize and strengthen township facilities. These improvements are designed to ensure that Cuba Township can continue serving residents efficiently and effectively for the next several decades. During this process, there may be temporary inconveniences, and we sincerely appreciate your patience as we make substantial progress.

Cuba Township is pleased to offer a variety of upcoming community programs focused on sustainability, stewardship, and community connection. We invite you to join us at the events below.

🗂️ Spring Paper & Electronics Shred Event

📅 Saturday, April 11, 2026 ⏰ 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Spring cleaning season is here—protect your personal information and the environment by joining us for our annual shred event:

• Secure paper shredding
• Responsible electronics recycling
• Quick, convenient, and eco‑friendly

🌱 Free Compost Day

📅 Saturday, May 9

Caring for the land has always been central to life in Cuba Township—from prairie farming to modern sustainability efforts.

Stop by the Cuba Township Office to receive:

• ✅ Up to 20 gallons of FREE compost per household
• 🌼 Free pollinator seed packets to support bees, butterflies, and healthy gardens

🏃‍♀️ 5th Annual Land We Love Run

📅 Sunday, June 28, 2026

One of Cuba Township’s and the Village of Barrington Hills’ favorite traditions is back!

• Run individually or as part of a team
• Special discounts available for Veterans and First Responders
•  All race proceeds will be donated to Folds of Honor

We look forward to seeing you at our events throughout the season.

Warm regards,



Christopher Karam

Supervisor

****Appointments for services are REQUIRED****

Passport Services

Passport Applications: Passport processing takes 2-3 weeks for expedited processing and 4-6 weeks for standard processing. Expedited processing is an additional $60 per passport. Passport appointments are required - call 847-381-1924 to schedule an appointment. To check the status of your passport, click here.

Visit Travel.state.gov's renewal page if you want to renew an adult passport.

Food Pantry

The Tuesday food pantry continues weekly, by appointment only, from 10 AM to 1 PM. If you need food assistance, please email info@cubatwpil.gov or call 847-381-1924. You can also complete an online Intake Form, save it to your desktop, and email it to info@cubatwpil.gov, to sign up for the food pantry. A staff member will contact you within 24 hours (except on weekends).

If you are interested in organizing a food drive or donating to the food pantry, contact Ant at 847-381-1924, and she will assist in promoting the drive.



Below is a list of needed items:

• Bags of brown or white rice
• Canned salmon
• Canned meals including chili (mild), stew, and pork & beans
• Canned soups, including vegetable, chicken noodle, and any chunky soups
• Cereals
• Pasta sauce with meat or cheese
• Snacks including Cookies, Crackers, Nuts, Dried Fruit and Granola Bars
• Toilet Paper and Paper Towels
• 32 oz bottles of liquid laundry detergent
• Shampoo and conditioner

Visit the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Online Portal for Reduced Fare and Ride Free Customers

The RTA's Fare Programs Online is a web-based customer portal that allows residents with disabilities and seniors to apply for, replace, and renew Reduced Fare and Ride Free Permits. It's quick and easy to use - go to Fares.RTAChicago.org. Please call our office at 847-381-1924 if you need assistance with your application.

Cuba Township Half-Fare Taxi Program

The half-fare taxi program is available for Township residents who are 65 or older. The Township will subsidize half of the taxi fare up to $10.00. Please stop by the office to sign up for this program. Proof of age and residency is required. Limits may apply.

Metra Access Pilot Program

Metra Access is a pilot program running through December 31, 2026, offering a reduced fare on all Metra lines and zones for individuals enrolled in the SNAP program who reside within the RTA six-county region (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties). To apply, you will need a SNAP eligibility letter, a government-issued ID, and a 2" photo of yourself. You may apply at Fares.RTAChicago.org. Please call our office at 847-381-1924 if you need assistance with your application.

Cuba and Barrington Township PACE Service

The Pace program is subsidized by Cuba and Barrington Townships, and the Villages of Barrington, Lake Barrington, North Barrington, South Barrington, and Tower Lakes.

The service is available to seniors and disabled persons. Service hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM. The fares are $2.00 each way. Advanced reservations are required. Call 1-800-451-4599, Monday - Friday, from 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

For additional assistance, call Pace customer service at 800-606-1282, option 2.

Ride Lake County - PACE Service

Seniors aged 60+ and people with disabilities interested in using Ride Lake County are encouraged to register by calling the Pace Call Center at 1-800-201-6446.

Registering early for Ride Lake County will allow riders to schedule trips. Seniors must provide their date of birth at registration, and individuals with disabilities must provide their RTA Reduced Fare Permit number at registration. Learn more

Utility Assistance Programs - Appointments Required

Applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Nicor Assistance began October 1, 2025, and are continuing. View the income guidelines (above) and required documentation for applicants (below). Call 847-381-1924 or email Ant Simonian to make an appointment.

The following documentation is required:

• Proof of gross income from all household members for the 30 days prior the date of application.
• Most recent, original utility bills.
• Proof of Social Security numbers for all household members.
• Applicant Identification (Driver's License or State ID)
• Proof of residency (lease for renters; owners verified at Cuba Township)

For the latest updates on roads, please follow us on Facebook!

Spring Paper and Electronics Shred event is set for April 11, 2026, from 8:30 to 11:30 AM. Recycling trucks fill up quickly - arrive early.

Our next brush pick up will be the week of April 13th. Please call Sue the week prior – by April 10th 2026 at the Road District and supply your name, address and phone number if you have brush ready for pick up. 847-381-7793

Brush pickup guidelins are as follows:

• The diameter of branches needs to be less than 8”.
• The pile should be neatly stacked
• No wider than 10’ (looking at it from the street), 4’ high, and 5’ deep.
• No root balls, stumps, decorative grasses, leaves or yard waste.
• If the brush pile exceeds this guideline, the remaining branches WILL NOT be picked up!
• One pile per household.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

The Cuba Township Road District operates 24/7 during inclement weather. You can call us if the matter concerns falling trees blocking roads. Please get in touch with your utility company for power outages.

Instructions for Trees or Limbs Touching Utility Lines or Power Outages

If you have issues with trees or limbs touching utility lines, contact the utility company directly. The Township cannot trim trees or limbs within 10 feet of utility lines.

If trees are blocking the road, dial 911.

Need to report a pothole?

• Lake County roads - (847) 377-7400 or visit the LCDOT site.
• Unincorporated Cuba Township Roads - 847-381-7793

Self-Serve Mulch

Self-serve mulch is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The mulch pile is next to the textile recycling bin in the same lot as the road salt.



The Road District does not offer year-round electronics recycling. Visit LRS Recycling, Wauconda Recycling, or the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County.

In the mid-nineteen twenties, land was rapidly changing hands. Scarcely an issue of the Barrington Review went by without mention of the buyers' names and their business associations. Forty, eighty, one-hundred acres or more were changing hands, as the old farmers sold, but sometimes stayed on with the new owners as their property managers. The local Realtors were E.C. Thies and Kathleen Otis.

One such report, circa 1925, was headed "Winnetka Publisher Buys 26 Acres for Country Home Site". The Winnetka publisher was Henry E. Miller, publisher of "My Book House for Children". What it did not say was that his wife was Olive Beaupre Miller, the by now famed and creative author of the "Book House" stories, which had made their publishing house one of the most successful in its time. But they had both worked ceaselessly and now sought respite in a country home.

The publisher's 26 acres were an old farmstead on Merri Oaks Road, a property with a small lake that they named Green Meadow Farm. They remodeled the old farmhouse, built stables for Harry's horses, and a tennis court for their daughter Virginia. Remembering their travels in Europe, they built a small Hungarian-style cottage on the edge of the lake, where for the next 10 years, Olive wrote many of the Children's books, multiple volume series. That, thanks to the marketing genius of her husband, would make her successful and famous, in her time equal to that of J.K. Rowling today.

Olive Beaupre was born in Aurora, Illinois, in 1883, the descendant of two distinguished families there: the Brady's and the Beaupre's. She was a voracious reader and wanted to be a writer. Graduating from Smith College with a B.A. in 1904, she taught English at East Aurora High School, where she met a textbook salesman from D. Appleton and Company. Wisconsin-born Harry Edward Miller was attractive and charming, and by 1907, they were married.

At first, they traveled, and in 1912, their daughter Virginia was born. Olive found little that pleased her to read to her daughter, and began writing her own rhymes and stories. Harry thought they were of exceptional quality and took them to the publisher H.P. Volland and Company. Olive's first published stories were "Sunny Rhymes for Happy Children" in 1917, and more titles followed for that publisher. Olive also wrote stories and poetry for the Christian Science Monitor. In 1917, the Millers also moved to Winnetka. In 1919, they undertook their own publishing venture, "My Book House for Children Publishing Company. Harry was the business manager, and Olive the Editor, and the 6-volume namesake series established Olive as the foremost children's writer of her time.  

There was one marked difference in her stories. The six volumes of "My Book House" were the first age-graded collection of children's literature. By 1925, a second Red series of Book House volumes had been published, and a large office had been opened in Chicago, with, unusual in those days, a trained sales force of educated young women. Branch offices were opened across America, some managed by women. The Millers were ahead of their time as equal opportunity employers. 

And so it was that, needing a tranquil and pleasant retreat, Green Meadow Farm was purchased from a syndicate, and the local broker was Gilbert D. Johnson, who was also a substantial local property owner. The Millers' 10 years here in the Barrington countryside were marked by happy weekends when they often invited their staff at the Publishing company out for a day in the country, and Olive would write in her treasured Hungarian cottage.

It lasted until 1935 when Olive and Harry were divorced. Olive, heartbroken, sold Green Meadow Farm to the Kemper family of Kemper Insurance and returned to the city, where she took full control of the publishing company and continued writing, her creativity seemingly endless. But she kept strong ties to Barrington. Her daughter Virginia married Edwin Read of Barrington, and he joined the Book House company. They continued to live in Barrington.

Olive Beaupre Miller treasured her time in the Cuba Township countryside, an enormously talented and creative spirit, alongside captains of industry who also found respite here, and knowingly and unknowingly, helped to preserve much of the open space that we can still enjoy today.

Author's note: This article was adapted from two features that appeared in the May/June 2016 and July/August 2016 issues of Quintessential Barrington Magazine.

• Village of Lake Barrington
• Village of North Barrington
• Village of Barrington
• Village of Port Barrington
• Village of Barrington Hills
• Village of Tower Lakes
• Lake County Permit Facility
• Lake County Sheriff's Office
• Barrington Countryside Fire Department
• LRS Recycling
• Wauconda Recycling
• Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO)
• Barrington Area Council on Aging (BACOA)
• Barrington Area Volunteer Connection
• Barrington Youth & Family Services
• Nicasa Behavioral Health Services
• PADS Lake County
• Barrington Area Council of Governments
• GiGi's Playhouse
• Smart Farms
• Citizens for Conservation
• Flint Creek/Spring Creek Watershed Partnership

County Board Commissioners

• Commissioner Mike Danforth – District 17

Illinois State Legislators

• State Senator Darby Hills – 26th Senate District (includes all areas of 52nd and 51st House Districts below)
• State Representative Marty McLaughlin – 52^nd House District (Cary, Fox River Grove, Port Barrington and parts of Lake Barrington, Barrington Hills, and Barrington)