November, 2025

Serving Our Community

Road District: 847-381-7793

Township Office: 847-381-1924

Assessor's Office: 847-381-1120

Let's support the Barrington High School Broncos this Friday night at the season's first playoff game - go Broncos!

Wishing everyone in Cuba Township a safe, fun, and spooky Halloween! May your night be filled with treats, laughter, and community spirit. Stay safe and enjoy the festivities!

Barbara Benson, a local historian, offered to write an article for each of our monthly newsletters, and they have been a hit! Thank you, Barbara, for generously sharing your stories and historical insights into Cuba Township. Your knowledge and passion for preserving local history are truly inspiring. Through your storytelling, you bring the past to life and deepen our appreciation for the community we call home.

Your contributions are a gift to all of us who value the richness of our shared heritage. I’m grateful for the time and care you’ve taken to keep these memories alive.

Special thanks to Barrington Countryside Elementary School families for their generous food drive donations.

The Barrington Area Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council is hosting a fall food drive, and donations may be dropped off at the Cuba Township Food Pantry on November 16, from 9 AM – Noon. Financial contributions to Cuba Cares, a 501(c)(3) organization, are also welcome and deeply appreciated.

Honoring our Veterans

In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I. Twenty years later, Veterans Day became a federal holiday, originally known as Armistice Day, in 1938. Happy Veterans Day to all who served and their loved ones. Also, November 10, 2025, is the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps - Semper Fi!

Looking forward, fall leaf pickup occurs every Monday in the unincorporated areas of Cuba Township, Firewood Fridays are November 7 and November 21. Click for the entire Firewood Friday schedule.

The holiday season is upon us, and we wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving on November 27. The Cuba Township is closed Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28, for Thanksgiving.

Cuba Township is a proud supporter of Barrington Giving Day. A Giving Day box is in our front lobby for folks who would like to drop off new or gently used coats, boots, hats, and gloves, as well as new toys. You can learn more about Barrington Giving Day here.



Thank you for your continued support and engagement—together, we make Cuba Township a wonderful place to live.



Warmly,

Chris Karam

Cuba Township 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 we will assist in promoting the drive.



Below is a list of needed items:

• Canned chicken, spam, and tuna
• Bags of brown or white rice
• Canned meals including chili (mild), stew, and pork & beans
• Canned soups, including vegetable, chicken noodle, and any chunky soups
• 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.

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 July 31, 2025, providing a reduced fare on all Metra lines and zones for individuals enrolled in the SNAP program who live 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.

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 Begin - Appointments Required

Applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Nicor Assistance begin October 1, 2025. View the income guidelines (above) and required documentation for applicants. 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)

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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 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.

Mailbox Check

Be sure to check your mailbox post before the snow begins. Most mailboxes knocked over during a snow event are commonly due to weak bases.

Firewood Fridays Kick-Off November 7, 2025 - Click here for full schedule

Must be registered – call Sue at 847-381-7793 if you need to register. Pick-up begins at 7:30 AM and ends at 2:30 PM or sooner if supply runs out. Firewood pick-up is subject to cancellation due to weather conditions. Limit 2 bundles per household.

Leaf Pickup for Unincorporated Areas Only

 The Road District's office will pick up leaves in the unincorporated neighborhoods of Cuba Township each Monday in November, unless it is snowing. Leaves must be raked to the edge of the yard, next to the road within 4’ (not in the road) by 7 AM. If it snows during that period, they will not be removing leaves. Please visit cubaroads.org for updates or contact our office directly.

"Light Up" Cuba Township

Days are getting shorter and we want our residents safe when walking, running, and cycling. We highly recommend reflective gear and bike/running lights, so you will "light up" for passing motorists.

Putting in a new driveway?

If you are putting in a new driveway, a Road Bond is required. Please complete the Permit Application and email it to info@cubaroads.org.

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.

On September 20th, Cuba Township residents enjoyed the fun-filled activities of the 27th Annual Fall Festival, they did so against the backdrop of one of the Township’s most historic buildings, now the Road District’s office. Known as The Grove, the office is in fact two houses, the one original to the site, and the second, originally located on Cuba Road just opposite the entrance to West Flynn Drive.

It was there, when it was the home of Noble R. Hayes, that the first Town Meeting was held on April 2, 1850. Hayes was elected Town Clerk at that meeting, which was the beginning of local Government. Thereafter, township settlement was steady, and dairying was an important component of its development. That included cheese making. The best documented of the cheese makers was the Fricke family, whose factory was by the creek at the southwest corner of Cuba and Buckley roads.

In 1889, the factory was destroyed by fire. Its consumption of milk from nearby dairy farmers and cheese production was significant, and rebuilding began immediately. Already housing some workers in the house on Cuba Road across from the factory, more worker boarding was needed. This was where the Noble R. Hayes house came in again.

In the early 1890s, the Hayes house went on a journey. It crossed a wagon trail that connected Barrington to Fox River Grove, adjacent to the railway, and then over the Chicago and Northwestern tracks to follow west Cuba Road. A team of draft horses would have pulled the flat bed onto which the house had been hoisted. It was a slow journey through the quiet of the countryside, only the sound of hooves and perhaps the occasional steam train chugging by. The Noble R. Hayes house came to its final resting place alongside the Fricke house.

At that time, there were no utilities to complicate the move, as there were later when moving buildings became a frequent occurrence in Barrington. August “Foxy” Scherf kept good records of the many houses, business buildings, and barns that he moved over a half-century. Those records have been searched for any notation of the Hayes house, which was likely moved with the help of local farmers.

The Fricke Cheese factory hired more workers with its increased boarding capacity. With the factory’s proximity to the milk platform at the Cuba and Kelsey Road crossing, they continued shipping their products to market in Chicago. Exactly when the factory closed is not recorded. But it was also later moved, along Cuba Road near the railway crossing, and became a residence.

The Noble R. Hayes house embodies 175 years of local history and steady government from the first meeting house to the present Cuba Road District’s center of operations. A good conclusion after a bumpy ride sealed its future.

If you would like to email Barbara, send it to Barbara, and we will share your thoughts with her.

• 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)