Leap Day is here!

A person who was born on February 29 may be called a "leapling". In non-leap years they may celebrate their birthday on 28 February or 1 March.

For legal purposes, their legal birthdays depend on how different laws count time intervals. In England and Wales the legal birthday of a leapling is 28 February in common years (see Leap Years, above). In Taiwan the legal birthday of a leapling is also February 28 in common years. In both cases, a person born on February 29, 1980 would have legally reached 18 years old on February 28, 1998.

"If a period fixed by weeks, months, and years does not commence from the beginning of a week, month, or year, it ends with the ending of the day which proceeds the day of the last week, month, or year which corresponds to that on which it began to commence. But if there is no corresponding day in the last month, the period ends with the ending of the last day of the last month.^[2]"

There are many instances in children's literature where a person's claim to be only a quarter of their actual age turns out to be based on counting their leap-year birthdays. A similar device is used in the plot of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance. Frederic, born on February 29, was apprenticed to a band of pirates until his 21st birthday, meaning that with all the missed birthdays, until he was 84 years old.

Centential Kickoff last weekend with the Frosty 5k as well!

Pictures from a great weekend!

Talking to 4th graders at Village School

This is the 8th year that I have talked to fourth graders at Village school. Yesterday morning was the day! This years class was very bright, engaged and asked some great questions. I was grilled on immigration, the environment, where I lived, and many more questions. All in all a great morning!

Sobering thought however that the first group that I spoke to 8 years ago, are graduating from High School later on this year. That amazing since I have not aged at all! Many thanks to Mrs. Fainman for inviting me!

Freight Congestion-- CN and EJ&E Merger

I am a member of the Suburban Transportation Commission a bipartisan group founded by Congressman Mark Kirk and Congresswomen Melissa Bean. Recently railroad company CN has proposed to purchase the EJ & E freight line which would pump nearly 30 freight trains a day through the Barrington area, and throughout the region.

While I am opposed to the purchase for a variety of reasons, the one that will resonate with Round Lake residents is that if the merger is completed and improvements and safety upgrades to the 100's of at grade intersections are made this will deplete transportation funds from other needed projects, such as one of our areas favorite, the 120 bypass!

There are many other reasons to oppose this, many of them are listed on this excellent website. The video above is from the public information hearing the Suburban Transportation Commission held in Lake Zurich a few weeks ago, and while I had a small speaking part (not in this video) I think Congresswomen Bean articulates the case very well.

NOTE I am having problems posting the video so the link to it is here.

Wine Tasting for the Round Lake Area Park District Foundation

Don't forget the Round Lake Area Park District Foundation's "A Taste of the Grape" wine tasting fundraiser on Saturday, March 8 from 6:30-9:00 pm at the Rolek Community Center. Tickets are $30 per person and are on sale at the Registration desk at the Rolek Community Center, 814 Hart Rd. Round Lake, and the Sports Center 2005 Municipal Way, Round Lake Beach. This event is one of a series of fundraisers to raise money to renovate the Hart's Woods playground. Bring your friends. For more information go here.

The format is simple, everyone gets a glass and can move around 4-5 tables sampling, and deciding on which wines they want to order for home use.

Ice Festival This Saturday!

NOTE: Sorry about not posting earlier, I just plan forgot to hit the publish button!

February 23, 2008 - Ice House Festival

• 1pm - 4pm games for children of all ages
• 1:30 to 3:30 ice sculptor demonstration
• 2:30 Marcia Gutierrez will be presenting of the history of Round Lake in story format

The first 100 attendees will receive a special Centennial surprise, Hot chocolate and cookies will be offered throughout the event. The event will take place just south of the Village Hall with parking available in the Metra parking lot. See you there!

Lunar Elcipse in Round Lake

The last total lunar eclipse until 2010 occurred last night, with cameo appearances by Saturn and the bright star Regulus on either side of the veiled full moon. If you looked out of my house, the moon rose over the 120 bypass's future centerline! What a coincidence! I attempted to take a picture of the action last night but failed utterly so I have a diagram for your viewing pleasure instead.

Laptop issues today...so no post for you!

Friday Night out at the Library

I got this email from Candice Lutz at the library earlier this week and she asked me to write about it.

The last time I wrote to you I announced the start of the Round Lake Area Public Library’s performing arts series, Sunday Sampler. It has been a resounding success, offering top quality professional entertainment to the Round Lake area community for free.

In fact, on Sunday, February 24 at 2 our most popular performers ever, the steelpan combo Musical Steel, will return. I’m writing to you now because the library is launching another new life enrichment program. This one is called Friday Night Out, an event that will debut on Friday (!) February 29 from 7 – 9 p.m. at the library.

For our first program dance instructor Ivette Roque will teach an hour of salsa, followed by an hour of dancing those new moves to music. Ms. Roque will be on hand to help the uncertain until the program ends. We will serve light refreshments, and all are welcome. That means that families with kids, teens, singletons and couples can enjoy an evening out learning something new for no cost.

Plans are in the works to offer a “rhythm in the round” program for April’s Friday Night Out, an opportunity for all to play percussive instruments in individual groups and as a whole, with the rhythms intertwining. I’m pleased that the library is able to provide these cultural opportunities for enjoyment and enrichment at no cost to area residents, and I wanted to let you know about it.

COMMENTARY-- Dredging the Channel (Part 3 of 3)

The last component of my proposal is the dredging of the channel that runs northwards from Washington Street and into Round Lake. Former trustee John Huebner tells me that 30 years ago or so the channel was 8 feet deep. Today it is 18 inches deep. I have been trying for a few years to find federal funding for this project with limited success, but over time it has become, I feel, more important to our long term interests. Coupled with the land purchases I think that this has enormous potential to show our commitment to the older section of Round Lake and our namesake lake!

Blogger Issues Fixed?

I missed a couple posts last week due to some unknown Blogger problems, not sure if they were "Bill" related or "Blogger" related, however as mysteriously as they appeared they vanished! So I am back!

So the third part of my Round Lake Lake posts will appear tomorrow, lots of people have asked me what we are doing this weekend, so there is some interest in the project and its seems to be quite positive as well!

Blogger Issues

Happy Valentines Day

Well there was supposed to be a picture here, but blogger is not cooperating today! So Happy Valentines Day!

COMMENTARY-- Round Lake Lake land purchases? (Part 2 of 3)

Last week I proposed to the village board a two step process to better manage our portion of Round Lake. In Round Lake (pictured here from 1939) there are a few pieces of undeveloped land that are in our corporate limits and undeveloped that can play a process in making and ensuring access to and a healthy high quality lake.

One parcel has the ability to become a park on the lake itself, and provide us the access to the lake as a municipality, something we do not have right now. As this is our centennial year, and the lake is our name sake I also proposed that if all of this goes as planned we could name it Centennial Park. Of course the land may be acquired during our centennial the park won't be complete then if all goes well.

The second parcel is not adjacent to the water but rather the channel that flows northwards from Washington Street. It is about 4 acres of land that is currently vacant and could serve as a means of preventing silt from getting into the channel which is heavily silted up right now. This parcel also ties into the unused railroad right of way that connects up into the downtown area as well, and we are going to approach the railroad to see if we can make in more then an informal path and make it a more formal path!

RIP-- State Senator Adeline Geo-Karris

Yesterday I learned that former State Senator Adeline Geo-Karris passed away at 89 years young.

I met her about 7 years ago right after I became Mayor and in her direct way she dissected me and my political beliefs, always accusing me of being a Republican which I denied, because of course I am not. Our standing joke was always me trying to convert her to the wisdom of the democratic party and hers was to convert me.

Since she was Greek we had her visit us for Greek Easter periodically which was always an adventure, I had to drive to Zion, pick her up, drive her giant Lincoln (which was like driving a giant pillow) all the while listening to her shout at me that there was stop sign coming up, and calling me Billy the whole time. Which only my sister is currently allowed to call me!

Anyway even though the village of Round Lake has exactly one parcel of land in the 31st Senate District and no residents, Geo always and I mean always, looked out for the village of Round Lakes interests. When I called she responded and helped.

While she did not change my political leanings she did encourage me to run for the State Senate and if I can be 10% the Senator she was I will be happy! Geo I will miss you and so will the village of Round Lake

COMMENTARY--Round Lake Lake Plans (Part 1 of 3)

Last week I reported to the village board on my attendance at the Round Lake Area Lake Management Commission's annual report to the villages. Trustee Don Newby also attended with me.

They have done an exceptional job of creating a viable workable framework and a road map forward for protecting the lake.

The commission is a 9 person board with each community that has its borders on the lake appointing via the Mayor three people to the commission, our three appointees are Doug Vehlow, Niel Flamm and John Gutknecht (serving as Chairman).

Some of the projects that the commission undertake are as follows:

• Annual Lake Clean up
• Fishing Derby
• Veneitian Night
• Detailed mapping of the lake bottom (no train engine was found)
  
• Participating in a Illinois State study on lake use by residents.

As I sat listening to the various lake issues I started to think about how we could do better as a muncipality with our lake namesake and in parts 2 and 3 of this commentary I will address them.

Wine Tasting for the Round Lake Area Park District Foundation

"A Taste of the Grape" wine tasting fundraiser is going to be held on Saturday, March 5 from 6:30-9:00 pm at the Rolek Community Center. Tickets are $30 per person and are on sale at the Registration desk at the Rolek Community Center, 814 Hart Rd. Round Lake, and the Sports Center 2005 Municipal Way, Round Lake Beach. This event is one of a series of fundraisers to raise money to renovate the Hart's Woods playground. Bring your friends. For more information go here.

The format is simple, everyone gets a glass and can move around 4-5 tables sampling, and deciding on which wines they want to order for home use.

Separated at Birth?

My 18 year old daughter and 23 year old nephew built this for me.

County Snow Alert

We remain under a Winter Storm Warning through this evening. According to information from the National Weather Service, this storm has been slower to develop than the models had originally predicted. Unfortunately, this delay in development may actually increase the amount of snow that falls over Lake County. All the models are now in very close agreement, and we should expect heavy snow throughout the remainder of today. The heaviest snow is expected to fall beginning around 10:00, with rates in excess of 3” of snow per hour possible. Heavy snow is expected to continue through the evening commute, then taper off by midnight.

The NWS has increased anticipated snowfall amounts for Lake County from their forecast yesterday of 8-10” to 10-12”, with the possibility of higher amounts locally where heavier snow bands occur. Gusty northwest winds will create blowing and drifting snow later today, and the high snowfall rates will cause challenges for snow removal efforts.

Travel will become increasingly difficult later today. Be prepared for extended drive times, and consider postponing unnecessary trips.

120 Project Status Update

I just wanted to point out to everyone that the website has been updated. Please go to www.120now.com to review the changes. Click on the tab entitled “Feasibility Study” and review the changes there. On the 13th at 7pm at the Police and Public Works facility is the first of what will likely be one many meeting as this process unfolds.

Enjoy Election Coverage

Food Bank Information

A local resident Jennifer Puzzo asked me a great question, about the location of food banks in the area. As many of you know I have been active with the Northern Illinois Food Bank. The Avon Food Pantry collects donations of non-perishable food items year-round. Please help make the upcoming holidays a little bit nicer for Avon Township families by dropping off your donations to the Village Hall or directly to Avon Township at 433 E. Washington Street (847-546-1446).

Here is a list of food banks in Northern Illinois for your benefit.

COMMENTARY--National Do Not Call Registry

As many of you know I am am running for state senator, and as such I have a campaign headquarters. The headquarters has a phone which we did not immediately place on the National Do Not Call List. I also misplaced the pin number for the voice mail and it took a few days for me to access the voice mail. So what do these two things have in common?

Well when I finally located the pin number and logged on I had in the space of less then 10 days we had 74 voice mail messages, which of course got me excited until after listening to them for 35 minutes and discovering that 62 of them were junk calls! Unbelievable!

I get no junk phone at the house and have been on the on the do not call list since it came out. Clearly one government program that works!