August, 2026

Serving Our Community

Road District: 847-381-7793

Township Office: 847-381-1924

Assessor's Office: 847-381-1120

Supervisor Christopher Karam

Dear Cuba Township neighbors,

As we move into August and towards the end of the summer season, I want to recognize the generosity that continues to strengthen our community and support our neighbors in need.

Thank you to everyone who supported our 6th Annual Land We Love Run in partnership with the Village of Barrington Hills - at the end of June. The final race proceeds resulted in a donation to Folds of Honor exceeding $22,000! We couldn't do it without the support of sponsors, runners, walkers, and volunteers.

Hats off to State Representative Marty McLaughlin for the boxes and bags of food donated to the Cuba Township Food Pantry. We are also grateful to Morgan Stanley for its annual food drive and to our steadfast supporters who bring monthly donations throughout the year.

Every contribution makes a difference. These donations help keep pantry shelves stocked and ensure that residents facing difficult times have access to essential food and household support.

Important Dates

August 13: Route 59 Road Closure and Construction - learn more here.

Community Shred Event: Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to safely and securely dispose of personal documents.

Annual Fall Festival: Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Mark your calendars and join us for an afternoon of community, seasonal activities, and fall fun.

Thank you for continuing to support Cuba Township and one another. I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events.

Now get back to enjoying your family, friends, and the rest of your summer before school begins.

Warm regards,

Christopher Karam

Supervisor

Township Services

****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
Bags of lentils and split peas
Canned tuna, chicken or spam
Canned meals including chili (mild), stew, and pork & beans
Canned soups, including vegetable, chicken noodle, and any chunky soups
Cereals
Pasta sauce
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

Clerk Heidi M Shannon

The next Monthly Meeting is Set for Thursday, August 13, 2026

The next monthly meeting is set for Thursday, August 13 at 6:00 PM. View the Agenda for the Annual Town Meeting.

Ensure your students are registered to vote before heading to college!

2026 General Election Set for November 3, 2026

Who Can Register to Vote?

List of identification for registration

If you are new to the area and want to register to vote, you have several options.

Register in person at Cuba Township during office hours. Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 4 PM. up to 27 days preceding an election.
Online voter registration is available at the Illinois State Board of Elections website (ova.elections.IL.gov) until 16 days before the election.
Mail-in voter registration. Completed applications must be postmarked or delivered to the Lake County Clerk’s office 28 days prior to Election Day. If your identity cannot be verified or sufficient proof of identity is not provided with your application, you must vote in-person the first time and present valid identification before a ballot is issued.
Mail-In Voter Registration Form - English Voter Registration Form to complete and print for mailing. A Spanish Voter Registration form is also available.
Mail-In Voter Registration Forms should be completed if you want to vote by mail this year only or if you want to vote by mail permanently. Ballots are mailed starting 40 days before Election Day.

After "deputy registrar" and "mail-in voter registration" closes, Grace Period Registration is available, allowing you to update your voter record or register for the first time. Learn more here.

If you want to confirm your early voting or election day voting location, request a mail-in ballot, or print your ballot in advance, visit Lake County Clerk's Voter Power site.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you!

Sincerely,

Heidi Shannon

Assessor Nicole E. Knapik, CIAO

Dear Neighbors,

Tax Relief Exemptions

Filing for exemptions is quick and easy through Lake County's Smartfile E-Filing Portal. If you can't file online, you may contact our office at info@cubaassessoril.gov or 847-381-1120 to schedule an appointment.

The Low Income Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (SCAFHE) Threshold Increased FROM $65,000 to $75,000 - Learn more here.

Homeowners 65 or older with an income of $75,000 or less may qualify for the Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze. Proof of income must be filed along with Senior Freeze applications. You must own the property as your principal residence for two consecutive years (January 1). If you currently receive the Senior Freeze, the Lake County Assessor's Office mails reminder letters in March 2026. The SCAFHE must be filed annually to verify income eligibility

General Homestead Exemption (GHE)

If you purchased a residence in Cuba Township, and it is your principal residence, you may be eligible for the General Homestead Exemption (GHE). The GHE is $8,000.

Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption (SHE)

In addition to your General Homestead Exemption, if you or your spouse turns 65 at any time in 2026, and your property is your principal residence, you may be eligible for the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption. The SHE is $8,000. There is no income requirement and no annual renewal.

Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities (HEPD)

This exemption may be claimed in addition to the General Homestead Exemption and the Senior Homestead Exemption, if applicable. Applicants must be disabled under the Federal Social Security Act and supply evidence of disability, in addition to completing the PTAX-343 Application for Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities and PTAX-343-A Physician's Statement.

Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities

You may claim this exemption in addition to the General Homestead Exemption and the Senior Homestead Exemption. Disabled veterans qualify if they have at least 30% and up to 100% service-connected disability. Evidence of disability is required along with the completed PTAX-342 Application for Homestead Exemption or PTAX-342-A Annual Verification of Eligibility.

We are here to serve you!

Nicole E. Knapik, CIAO

Highway Commissioner Thomas J Podgorski

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

Fall Paper and Electronics Shred event is set for Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 8:30 to 11:30 AM. Recycling trucks fill up quickly - arrive early.

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.

Mulch Madness!

Mulch is now available for delivery to Cuba Township residents ONLY, for a delivery charge of $125.00 per truckload. Mulch is delivered on Fridays from 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM. Each load is 6-8 yards. The mulch is a double-ground mixture of hard and softwoods from removed Cuba Township trees. Email Sue at info@cubaroads.org or call 847-381-7793 to schedule your delivery.

Driveway Alert for Unincorporated Homeowners

If you are a homeowner in unincorporated Lake County and planning to put in a new driveway over an existing culvert, contact the Cuba Township Road District to inspect the culvert.

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

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

At Their Back was Revolution (Part 2) by Barbara L. Benson

The Kelsey family reached Illinois in 1842, when they had come by way of the land route from Shelden, in New York State. Francis Kelsey's account of their journey is one of the few that have been found in local historical records. There are actually two versions of the letter that Kelsey wrote about his journey, and both are transcriptions from the original letter that was sent to an unrecorded recipient.

I have chosen to adapt from the older transcript and the one in family records provided to me by Mrs. Kay Griffith. They were leaving Sheldon in Wyoming County, New York to follow the wagon trails to Chicago.

Kelsey wrote that they had departed Saturday, July 20, 1842. He reported the weather as being fine; the routes good; and as having made the journey without misfortune, "except for the third day. They stayed close to Erie, July 22, "In the Ohio." Wealthy, Diantha and Angeline had been walking. ( Francis' daughters). Defores fell from the wagon, and the hind wheel ran over his breast. " (Defores was 4 years old and survived).

They took him to a doctor in the next village, about a mile down the road, where he was bled. Kelsey continued that they stayed until the next stage arrived and then went on. (The earliest travelers would not have had the benefit of a stagecoach route.) They arrived at Tecumseh (in southeastern Michigan) August 5, and stayed with Alonso Williams, leaving there on the 8th.

On the 20th day, August 9, they arrived at Chicago. Kelsey wrote "there they found their household goods safe, having been shipped by water."

The accounts differ somewhat in the two transcripts as to their route after they left Chicago. Did they cross the Des Plaines River and go west to Elgin, or did they first follow the northerly route first to Janesville and then down the Fox River also to Elgin? In one respect the account is similar as follows:

"We were all well and healthy till now, when we began to have ague and fever. Mother passed her journey well and cheerful. After we stopped, she was well and appeared smarter than she had for some......(time) before. She was taken sick on the 7th of September. and died on the tenth of September. The doctor called her sickness the billious..... Our prospects were quite gloomy at that time, We had ague and fever for a few weeks......in the opinion of the doctor our sickness was environed by going through Michigan and some families that have moved up the Lake by water have been well and healthy, and those that have come by land generally sick men only."

Kelsey goes on "Lyman Clifford heard of my living at Elgin and thought I had better move up the river as it is very healthy, and I now live in the south part of Lake County."

When the First Cuba Town Meeting was held on April 2nd, 1850, Francis H. Kelsey was elected Overseer of the Poor, and he and his descendants continued to serve in local and State government for many years. Francis Kelsey and his wife Wealthy Samantha Ackley are buried in White Memorial Cemetery. Their headstones were replaced in 1967. Angeline is also buried there as is Defores, in spite of his fall and injuries received on his journey lived to the age of 77.

They lived eventful lives, coming from the heritage of Revolution, to build and prosper in new territories, and have their final resting place in a peaceful, still country cemetery. Theirs' is one story. There are multitudes more. As we look around, we give thanks for them all.

Find a Grave with a link to the White Memorial Cemetery: https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/108836/white-memorial-cemetery

Recycle Latex Paint for Free at SWALCO's HCW Events

SWALCO will accept latex paint free of charge at Household Chemical Waste (HCW) collection events. Lake County residents can bring up to 20 gallons of leftover latex paint per drop-off for recycling at no cost. Previously, SWALCO accepted latex paint for a fee at Special Material Collection events. Residents will still need to make an appointment to recycle latex paint at HCW events.

This change comes as Illinois launches the statewide Paint Stewardship Act, P.A. 103-372 (SB 836). The program, managed by PaintCare, will be funded by a fee on new paint sales and will feature hundreds of convenient drop-off locations across the state beginning in December 2025.

SWALCO offers two options for HCW disposal:

Year-round collection events twice a month at SWALCO's Gurnee facility (1311 N. Estes Street, Gurnee, IL 60031)
Mobile events from May through September at various Lake County locations

Visit the SWALCO website to schedule your appointment today at https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/ab9f2c49

Join us - Eliminate Textile and Shoe Landfill Waste

Clothing and Textile and Reuse-A-Shoe Drop-Off Location – SWALCO Partnership

Did you know clothing is now the fastest growing waste in the US waste stream today? Join us in dropping off used clothing, linens, and shoes at the Cuba Township Textile, and Reuse-A-Shoe drop-off locations in partnership with SWALCO.

Clothing, textile, and shoe recycling is a full-circle program, diverting your new and gently used donations from landfills.

Clothing/Textiles

Unacceptable Items:

Wet, odorous, or moldy items
Nylons and Pantyhose
Fabric Scraps
Craft Scraps (yarns, threads & other craft materials)
Pillows
Sleeping Bags
Mattresses
Rugs
Carpet
Cushions
Foam furniture and foam mats
Large Luggage
Electric Blankets & Mattress Pads
Non-Fabric Household Linens: Vinyl Shower Curtains, tablecloths, furniture covers, etc.

Shoes

Dress boots, hiking boots, and rain boots are accepted. NO WINTER BOOTS ALLOWED. Shoes in any condition, from new or gently used, to those that are worn, will be accepted. And, the great news is that 95% or more of all the materials collected will be recycled or reused.

Before dropping off your shoes, please tie the laces of each pair together; if they are sandals or have no laces, please place a rubber band on the pair to keep the shoes together.

UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS include Roller Blades, Ice Skates, and Winter Boots.

Homebound and need a State ID?

The Homebound State ID program is a service program for older adults, bedridden individuals and people with disabilities who are unable to leave their homes to obtain a state ID card from a Secretary of State facility. The card may be used for identification purposes in the same way as a standard driver’s license is used for identification.

Certain documents are required to obtain the card. Once an applicant submits the information via our web form below, we will determine eligibility and the documents required to complete the transaction. For assistance to help determine if you or your loved one qualifies for this service, call 312-814-3121.

Quick Links

Homebound State ID Card Contact Form

Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County

The Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) promotes the welfare of honorably discharged veterans of military service and their families. The VAC acts as a central service office for all veteran organizations and has general oversight of the distribution of emergency assistance to military veterans and their families.

Types of Assistance

Assistance with rental and mortgage payments.
Utility payment assistance.
Emergency medical care is provided to any member of the Veteran’s
immediate family who qualifies. Medical care includes hospital payments,
outpatient care provided by Lake County clinics, and emergency dental, and vision
care.
Job service assistance.
Proper burial for indigent veterans.

For more information, please visit their website: https://www.vaclc.org/ and view their most current newsletter Here.

Illinois Battery Stewardship Law

Beginning January 1, 2026, all single-use and most rechargeable batteries will be accepted at retail and government locations throughout the state, thanks to the Illinois Battery Stewardship Law. The non-profit organization Call2Recycle has been working to establish a network of collection sites to meet the requirements of the new law. To find a location near you, visit the Battery Network site. As some retailers continue to adjust to the new regulations, please call locations before visiting to confirm they will accept your battery type.

The following batteries are accepted at SWALCO's household chemical waste (HCW) collection events:

Single-Use Non-Rechargeable Alkaline and Primary Batteries: AAA, AA, C, D, 9v & 6v, Lithium, Zinc-Air, Zinc-Carbon, Zinc Chloride, and button batteries labeled CR/SR/LR
Non-Automotive and Non-Marine Lead Acid Batteries: Backup sump pump, riding lawn mower, and small sealed lead acid batteries
Rechargeable Batteries: Lithium-ion (Li-Ion), Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)

This month, SWALCO will host Gurnee drop-off events on January 17 and January 31. These events are free for all Illinois residents, and appointments are required. Schedule your appointment today: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/ab9f2c49