Latest news with #BarringtonHighSchool
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Dad of teen girl killed by Metra train in Barrington, Illinois wants to know why there's still no pedestrian gate
The father of a 17-year-old girl hit and killed by a Metra train in Barrington, Illinois, last year says his grief will never go away — and he is ramping up his fight to keep other students safe. Mike Lacson is raising new concerns about why it has taken the Village of Barrington so long to install a pedestrian gate to prevent such tragedies. Lacson's daughter, Marin Lacson, was on her way to Barrington High School on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, when she was struck and killed by a Union Pacific Northwest Metra train. Almost a year and a half later, there are still fresh flowers. Marin Lacson Family Photo/CBS But there is no pedestrian gate. "I can't believe that 15 months in, we're still asking for gates to be put up," said Mike Lacson. Lacson's interview with CBS News Chicago was the first time he spoke one-on-one about losing his daughter — and the pain that never goes away. "There's no healing for us. There's no healing from this," he said. "It's learning to live with it." Marin was a junior at Barrington High School. Like dozens of other students, she crossed the tracks at Hough and Main streets to get to school on that gray, foggy January morning last year. She waited for one Metra train to pass. When it did, she began to cross — and a train coming from the other direction hit her. "The witnesses that saw the accident — I think one of them actually said, you know, that train jumped out of the fog," said Lacson. Shortly after Marin's death, Lacson began fighting for a pedestrian gate at the crossing. Dozens in the community joined him. "We will not take excuses anymore," said Roma Khan. Khan and other activists are also fueled by the knowledge that Marin wasn't the only student hit at Hough and Main streets. Eleven years earlier, then-11-year-old Dominic Szymanski lost his foot in a similar incident. CBS News Chicago spoke to Dominic's mom last year. "I had very strong feelings about what needed to change," said Gayle Szymanski. "My answer was gates." In February 2024, CBS News Chicago asked then-Barrington Village President Karen Darch if she thought the village had dropped the ball at the Metra crossing. "I feel like it has been — we can put things place that enhance safety," said Darch. Darch said at the time that getting a gate was complicated. But officials said one should be in place by early 2025. A frustrated Lacson confronted the Barrington Village Board this past April. "You've delayed this process," he told the board. "You have delayed this process." In fact, it took until late March of this year for the Village of Barrington event o submit a petition, as is required for the project, to the Illinois Commerce Commission. Lacson said this also followed 14 months of victim-blaming. "They are actively telling people it is Marin's fault," he said, "and I'm not going to accept that, because if there were pedestrian gates there, she would still be here." Newly elected Illinois state Sen. Darby Hills lives in Barrington. "This has been an issue my constituents have been bringing up to me from day one," Hills said. Hills supports a ped gate at the crossing too. "I, again, am jumping into this, and I'm trying to find out where the missteps are, or where there's some sort of way I can help," said Hills. Lacson and his wife recently met with Marin's lacrosse teammates at what would have been one of her final games as a senior. "One more thing," he told the girls on the team. "Hug your parents." Some members of the team wore shirts in Marin's honor. Lacson said his way of honoring his daughter will be getting that gate installed — and he is going to keep fighting until it happens. "Absolutely," he said. "Absolutely." So why the delay? According to a Barrington village spokesperson, the Illinois Commerce Commission — which must improve the ped gate — recommended that all renderings and reports be completed before the project petition was submitted. The ICC will hold a hearing on the hearing on the ped gate on Thursday, June 5.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Memorial Day events in RI: Parades, Boots on the Ground for Heroes and more
It's the gateway to summer and the fashion maven's first chance to wear white shoes, but Memorial Day weekend is first and foremost a solemn recognition of the men and women who sacrificed their lives to protect the freedom of all Americans. Pay your respects by bringing the family to one of the many parades and wreath-laying ceremonies across the state. And then try some of our other suggestions to get into the summertime spirit. Barrington ( Monday, May 26. The day starts with a wreath-laying at Barrington High School at 9 a.m., followed by a parade from the school to Town Hall, where there will be a formal ceremony at 11 a.m. with bagpipers, speeches and another wreath-laying. Charlestown ( Sunday, May 25. At 1 p.m., the parade steps off on Old Post Road at Ridgewood Drive, winding along Route 1A and Route 1 to Narrow Lane. There are observances during the parade at Cross' Mills Baptist Church and Cold Brook; another follows at Charlestown Naval Airfield Memorial at Ninigret Park. East Greenwich ( Monday, May 26. Starting at 10 a.m., the parade steps off at Academy Field and winds through the Hill and Harbor District via Mawney Street to First Avenue for a wreath-laying ceremony at the World War II Memorial on Cliff Street. Closing ceremonies and a fly-over by the 143rd Airlift Wing follow at Town Hall. East Providence, Monday, May 26. The annual parade steps off at 10 a.m. from Old Oldham School on Bullocks Point Avenue and proceeds to American Legion Post 10 on Willett Avenue. Exeter ( Sunday, May 25. The town celebrates its 50th annual Memorial Day Parade this year along Route 102, winding from Sunderland Road to the Exeter Public Library. It steps off at 1 p.m., followed by a ceremony honoring veterans and family fun at the library. Lincoln ( Monday, May 26. Stepping off from Keefe Funeral Home at 11 a.m., the parade moves down Smithfield Avenue to Chase Farm, where there will be a celebration with food trucks and live music. North Providence ( Monday, May 26. The annual event steps off at 1 p.m. from North Providence High School on Mineral Spring Avenue, turning onto Douglas Avenue and ending at Governor John A. Notte Jr. Park with a closing ceremony, wreath-laying and food. South Kingstown ( Monday, May 26. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. at Holley and Main streets in Wakefield and concludes at the Saugatucket Park Veterans Monument at 101 High St. There, a ceremony will include musical performances, an honor guard gun salute and a wreath-laying. Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery will host its annual grave-flagging ceremony on Saturday, May 24, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The effort encourages volunteers and visitors to 'take the flags and go to any section to place the flags at the top of each headstone.' On Monday, May 26, the cemetery will host the annual service to veterans beginning at 1 p.m. Gov. Dan McKee and other dignitaries are expected to attend. Rogers High School senior Grace Rochelle will serve as the keynote speaker, delivering her first-place essay in the VFW Voice of Democracy contest. Boots on the Ground for Heroes ( Fort Adams State Park, Newport. This patriotic display of more than 7,000 boots and flags will be open for remembrance and to honor post-9/11 fallen U.S. service members. Each boot bears the service member's name, photo and biographical information. The event, sponsored by Operation Stand Down Rhode Island, is free and open to the public May 23, 24 and 25 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and May 26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Gaspee Days Arts & Crafts Festival ( May 24 to 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pawtuxet Park, Narragansett Parkway, Warwick. Stroll the blocked-off streets around Pawtuxet Park and browse the handcrafted wares of more than 100 fine artisans while enjoying live music, games and fair food. The event is family-friendly and free. Newport Vineyards ( 909 East Main Road, Middletown, celebrates Memorial Day weekend and kicks off its 30th anniversary summer by opening its Tank Patio. On Friday, May 23, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the area will overflow with live music, free axe throwing on Friday, cupcake pairings on Saturday and the chance to enjoy beer and wine tastings, sangria slushies and treats from the new charcuterie cart or the patio menu. Rogue Island Comedy Festival ( runs from May 22 to 25 in locations around Newport. This year's lineup includes Natasha Legerro, Ian Lara, Geoffrey Asmus and more. Ticket prices vary. Roger Williams Park Zoo ( 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence. Enjoy Breakfast with the Elephants before the zoo opens on Saturday, May 24, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. After a hot meal al fresco, you can join zookeepers to learn about training, feeding and caring for the zoo's herd of African elephants. You'll even help prepare the yard for the day and perhaps watch as an elephant creates a piece of custom art. Later the same day, regular zoo admission allows you to take part in Penguin Palooza (rain date is May 25) from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The new penguin habitat will be ceremoniously opened with penguin-themed activities and treats. Rhode Island Football Club ( hosts the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday, May 24, at 4 p.m. at its Centreville Bank Stadium, Pawtucket. It's Military Appreciation Day and tickets start at $27. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 2025 Memorial Day events in RI: Parades, Boots on the Ground and more
Chicago Tribune
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Barrington resident's Jeopardy winning streak qualifies him for Tournament of Champions
Barrington resident Liam Starnes exhibited his knowledge of a broad range of topics by winning his fifth match on 'Jeopardy' on April 24. That accomplishment puts the 20-year-old University of Chicago senior in next season's Tournament of Champions on the TV quiz show, in which he will compete with other winners for a $250,000 prize. We don't know if Starnes won any more games after that achievement. The shows are recorded in advance, but contestants are sworn to secrecy. Competing on that show was a long-time dream for Starnes. 'It's been something I've wanted to do since I was 12 or 13 and I started watching 'Jeopardy,'' he said. 'I took the teen test. I didn't make it. I took the college test. I didn't make it. And then, the first time I took the real test, I made it on.' Preparing for the 'Jeopardy' competition isn't easy because 'there's not really a study guide,' Starnes said. 'But one thing that really helped me was looking at old Jeopardy questions and trying to figure out the writing style. What kind of tricks do they put in? How are the questions phrased? Also, trying to brush up on my weak areas.' His strongest area is definitely sports, Starnes reported. 'I am a big sports fan,' he said. 'I was really happy two days ago when the sports category turned up.' Competing on 'Jeopardy' has been wonderful, Starnes indicated. 'The experience of it all,' he declared. 'Getting to actually be out there on the stage in front of the audience behind the podium.' Starnes reported that the first scholastic tournament that he entered was when he was in sixth grade. 'I did not do very well at all but I had so much fun that I knew that this was going to be something that I loved to do,' he said. He participated in Scholastic Bowls at Barrington High School and College Bowls at the University of Chicago. His most notable achievement, Starnes said, was when he was Team Captain of a winning team at Barrington High School. 'My team won the High School National Championship in Scholastic Bowl my senior year,' he reported. 'It was a big disappointment because the tournament was all online because of COVID. But it was still something we're all very proud of.' Starnes said that he enjoys competitions because, 'It's a lot of fun to play the games and you always learn a lot along the way.' The University of Chicago senior, who graduates in June, is majoring in data science and statistics. 'I'm currently planning to go into research,' he said. 'I'm thinking about the area of biostatistics.' Meanwhile, Starnes has acquired a huge fan base, cheering on each of his 'Jeopardy' wins. They praise him online, with many of them insisting that he bears a strong resemblance to the character Sheldon from 'The Big Bang Theory' television show. 'I don't really see the resemblance,' Starnes declared. 'I've been called that a few times before but I was not expecting that to be the thing people thought of when they noticed me.' Perhaps it's not so much his physical appearance that makes them think of the Sheldon character. It might have more to do with the intelligence that the character and the real person both exhibit.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barrington teen killed in DC plane crash with mom had an ‘encyclopedic knowledge of figure skating'
Spencer Lane is shown competing at the Eastern Sectional Championship at The Skating Club of Boston in November 2024. He won the men's intermediate competition. (Photo courtesy of The Skating Club of Boston) Barrington High School is offering counseling and support services to its students and staff after learning that a former student and his mother died in the fatal plane crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday night. Spencer Lane, a figure skater who attended Barrington schools until 2023, and his mother Christine Lane, were among the 64 people on the American Airlines jet when it collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopter around 9 p.m. Wednesday. No survivors have been recovered. 'Spencer was a talented and driven young athlete with a bright future, and this is an unimaginable loss,' Barrington Public Schools Superintendent Rob Wargo said in a statement Thursday. 'As our community grieves alongside the nation, we encourage everyone to lean on one another and seek support during this difficult time. We will remember Spencer for his compassion, dedication, and tenacity, and we will honor the memory of both Christine and Spencer by spreading kindness, positivity, and unity in our district.' Spencer, 16, and his mom, were among a group of six skaters, coaches and parents with The Skating Club of Boston on the plane. They were returning from a U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp, said Skating Club CEO and Executive Director Doug Zeghibe. 'Our sport and this Club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy,' Zeghibe wrote in a statement posted to Facebook Thursday morning. 'Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together 6 or 7 days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like a family.' Jinna Han, a skating club member who lived in Mansfield, Massachusetts, and her mother Jin Han, were also on the plane, along with coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, according to Zeghibe. 'Spencer was one of the most talented athletes we've ever seen on the ice here at The Skating Club of Boston,' said the center's director, Mia Bailey. 'We are talking about a 16-year-old who had their whole life in front of them on and off the ice. We were just fortunate to know him as a good person and an athlete.' Bailey said she last saw Spencer on Sunday afternoon at his practice at the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas. She returned home ahead of Spencer, on Monday. 'He was looking stronger than ever,' she said. 'He was excited about the opportunity. He had earned his spot there, much like the other athletes. Spencer had big dreams. He was destined to be on Team USA. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of figure skating.' Spencer 'transitioned out' of Barrington High School in late 2023 to pursue a figure skating career, Wargo said. In an interview with WPRI-TV 12, Douglas Lane, Spencer's dad, described his son as 'a force of nature,' and 'loved by everyone.' Douglas and Christine Lane adopted Spencer and Spencer's younger brother, Milo, from South Korea, WPRI reported. In addition to mental health counselors and social workers, the Barrington School District is also bringing the Barrington Police Department's comfort dog, Levi, to the high school to provide support for students and staff, Wargo said. Victor Morente, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Education, said resources for students and staff affected by tragedy are determined by individual school districts. 'We are heartbroken by this tragic news and send our condolences to family and loved ones of the victims during this difficult time,' Morente said in an emailed statement Thursday. 'RIDE is aware that Barrington Public Schools is providing the school community services and has offered additional support if necessary.' Barrington Town Council President Braxton Howard Cloutier plans to formally honor the family as part of the council's next scheduled meeting on Feb. 3. 'Our thoughts are with the family at this time,' Cloutier said in an interview Thursday morning. 'We definitely share in their grief.' Cloutier said it was too early to announce additional events or resources, but stressed the importance of mental health services for the community. With additional reporting from Editor-in-Chief Janine L. Weisman. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
