Want To Pursue A Career In Home Inspections?

Those who have a working knowledge of the building trades industry and are interested in pursuing a career in home inspections can receive training with a Home Inspection Pre-licensing course that takes place from 6-9:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, from Jan. 27 through April 9, 2015 at McHenry County College in Room A112. The college is located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

This 60-hour training course is approved by the Office of Banks and Real Estate and will prepare future home inspectors for the state licensing exam. A variety of topics covered in class range from exteriors to electrical work to heating, along with marketing and business start-up.

People who have knowledge in the building trades, including remodeling, home handyman, contractors, firefighter and tradesman are ideal candidates for this course. Home inspectors could choose a full-time or part-time career or start their own business. Many home inspectors use computer software and digital cameras to generate their reports, so some computer skills may be helpful but are not required.

Books and materials are included in the $895 fee. For more information, contact Ruth Kormanak at (815) 479-7879 or rkormanak@mchenry.edu. To register for the class, call (815) 455-8588 and mention course ID: URE U04-004.

A Day Trip To Drury Lane Theatre

Join McHenry County College’s Trips and Tours program for a day trip to see the captivating musical “ West  Side  Story” at the  Drury   Lane  Theatre  from 9:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday,

February 18.

Drury Lane completes its 30th anniversary season with one of the world’s greatest love stories. A modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story tells the tale of two, star-crossed lovers caught between rival gangs. A revolutionary work that changed the course of the American musical, West Side Story features an electrifying Latin and jazz-infused score including “Somewhere,” “Tonight,” and “America.”

Enjoy a delicious meal, included in the price, before the 1:30 p.m. show. Cost is $99 per person. To register for this trip, call (815) 455-8588 and mention course ID: NST S33 001. For more information, call Claudia Terrones at (815) 455-8782.

MCC Board Candidates For 2015 Election

Two, six-year seats and one, four-year seat are open for the McHenry County College Board of Trustees in the April 7, 2015 Consolidated Election.

Petition filing for candidates ended on Dec. 22. All candidates who filed at 8:00 a.m. on Dec. 15 for the six-year term will be entered in a simultaneous petition filing lottery to determine ballot placement. A lottery for ballot placement for the six-year term will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 29 in Campus Public Safety Office, Room B176. As only one candidate filed between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Dec. 22, no second lottery will be needed.

Anyone wishing to file an objection regarding a candidate’s filed petition may still file objection in Room B176 on December 29, 30 and 31, 2014 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Objections must contain an original and two copies and must be filed no later than December 31, 2014.

Those filing petition objections may use the entrance at Building B, located by the flagpoles at parking lots B and D.

For more information contact: Pat Kriegermeier, Office of the President, at (815) 455-8726 or email her at pkriegermeier@mchenry.edu

Folksingers February Sky Returns To MCC January 11

McHenry County College’s popular Second Sunday concert season continues at 3 p.m. Jan. 11, 2015 when folksingers February Sky return with their multi-instrumental professional folk act. The performance will be in the Luecht Conference Center at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

February Sky, of Trout Lake, Michigan, features traditional singer and Celtic guitarist Phil Cooper with songwriter and singer Susan Urban.  Their combined talents on guitar, Cooper sings and plays his own arrangements of traditional songs and tunes on six string guitar and cittern, and he also interprets a number of carefully chosen songs from the best of modern folk song writers.  Susan Urban is a writer of story songs and humorous "slice of life" songs.  She accompanies her singing on guitar, six string banjo, mountain dulcimer, and hand percussion instruments.  In addition, the concert will feature folk musicians Margaret Nelson and Bob and Micky Holdsworth.

February Sky presents a combination of old and new songs addressing the widest possible range of human experience, complete with vocal harmony, intricate instrumentation and thoughtful stagecraft.

Second Sunday concerts are free and open to the public. For more information about Second Sunday concerts, call (815) 479-7814. To see the full concert schedule, go to www.mchenry.edu/artevents

Effective Customer Service For Automotive Industry Class At MCC

Effective customer service is key to keeping customers coming back in any industry. College students or service consultants in the automotive industry can gain a professional edge and become more marketable with Introduction to Service Writing, a new 12-week credit class beginning Feb. 11 at McHenry County College (MCC)

.

Service consultants are the front-line contact of an auto service business. First impressions start and end with them and repeat business depends on their professional, quality customer service and effective communication.

Participants in this class will learn how to write up work orders, explain warranties, recommend services and communicate well with customers, including asking the right questions. The instructor and guest speakers are experienced professionals from the automotive industry

This class is ideal for anyone looking to enter the automobile industry or those who already work in auto repair shops, auto dealerships or auto parts counters. This three-credit class may be applied toward MCC’s automotive certificate and degree programs or taken independently for professional development purposes.

Coursework includes fundamental topics needed for service consultants and is based on the Automotive Service Excellence (ACE) Validated Task List for Automobile Service Consultants and is consistent with material found on the ASE Automobile Service Consultant Exam (C2). Introduction to Service Writing will include guest speakers from across the industry and interactive exercises.

“This class helps build interpersonal skills to help give customers confidence and make them feel valued,” said Mike Albamonte, automotive technology department chair and instructor at MCC. “The skills learned in this class are also key to hiring and promotion opportunities.”

For more information or to register for this class, call Mary Lutz at (815) 479-7722 or Mike Albamonte at (815) 455-8941 in MCC’s Automotive Technology Department.

Reminder -- Crystal Lake Park District Program Brochure

Crystal Lake residents should look for the winter/spring 2014-2015 Crystal Lake Park District program brochure in the mail beginning December 19.  The Winter/Spring brochure includes programs and special events scheduled January-May. It also includes an 8 page Summer Camp planning guide. Registration for both park district residents and non-residents will begin immediately upon receipt of the brochure.  Registration is accepted at the Park District Administrative Office located at One East Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake, during regular business hours, by mail, by fax, or online at www.crystallakeparks.org.

All Crystal Lake residents residing in the 60014 and 60012 zip codes should receive a brochure in this mailing. Please call the Crystal Lake Park District at (815) 459-0680, ext. 1212, if you are a Crystal Lake resident and do not receive your brochure in the mail by December 29.  In addition to the Administrative Office at One East Crystal Lake Avenue, brochures are available at Grand Oaks Recreation Center, the Crystal Lake Public Library and the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce.  The winter/spring brochure is also available as an interactive PDF online at www.crystallakeparks.org.

Deadline Extended -- Annual Anti-Tobacco Media Design Contest

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) has extended the deadline to January 16, 2015, for high school and college students to submit an entry for the 11^th annual Anti-Tobacco Media Design Contest.  Since 2004, the contest has sought to highlight local talent while educating the community of the ill health effects of smoking and secondhand smoke.  The theme this year is “the dangers of nicotine”.  This project was made possible by funds received from the Illinois Department of Public Health.  

Entries are judged on originality, peer appeal, and simple, colorful design.  Students can work individually or as partners.  Making the final selection are teens from McHenry County Anti-Tobacco Advocacy groups, MCDH’s Health Promotion staff, as well as representatives from health departments throughout northern Illinois.  Three designs will be chosen.  Winning entries will have the student’s name, design and school name displayed on billboards, community posters and signs throughout McHenry County. 

Past winners have included students from Woodstock High School, Woodstock North High School, Marengo Community High School, Crystal Lake Central High School, Cary Grove High School, McHenry County College and Crystal Lake South High School. 

For a contest announcement and entry form, students should contact their school’s art teacher.  For more information about the contest, call MCDH 815-334-4851. Get the latest news from MCDH at www.mcdh.info, on Facebook and Twitter www.twitter.com/mchenrycohealth.

Flu Cases In McHenry County Reported High This Year

Even though flu is widespread in the County and across the State, McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) reminds residents it’s not too late to get a flu shot. MCDH reports flu cases remain high as compared to the same period in 2013 and 2012. 

The next flu clinic is scheduled from 4pm-6pm on Monday, December 29 at the Department’s Woodstock office, located at 2200 N Seminary Avenue, Building A. Call 815-334-4510 to reserve an appointment or go online at www.mcdh.info. The cost is $30; Medicaid and Medicare Part B accepted.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu shot for everyone 6 months and older. Remember, even healthy people can get the flu. Flu symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue and chills. Contact your physician within 48 hours of experiencing these symptoms as antiviral drugs can be prescribed to reduce how long you’re sick and how sick you become. Those most at risk for severe illness from flu complications (including hospitalization and death) are pregnant women, young children, those with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease and people 65 and older.

It will take about two weeks after vaccination for the immune system to build the antibodies the body needs to protect against flu virus infection. Simple ways to protect yourself also include covering your cough, washing your hands and staying home when sick.

For more information on protecting yourself from influenza, visit the CDC at 

Posted by Town Crier at Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Labels: MCDH Flu Shots

Flu Shots Available Monday, December 29

Even though flu is widespread in the County and across the State, McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) reminds residents it’s not too late to get a flu shot. MCDH reports flu cases remain high as compared to the same period in 2013 and 2012. 

The next flu clinic is scheduled from 4pm-6pm on Monday, December 29 at the Department’s Woodstock office, located at 2200 N Seminary Avenue, Building A. Call 815-334-4510 to reserve an appointment or go online at www.mcdh.info. The cost is $30; Medicaid and Medicare Part B accepted.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu shot for everyone 6 months and older. Remember, even healthy people can get the flu. Flu symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue and chills. Contact your physician within 48 hours of experiencing these symptoms as antiviral drugs can be prescribed to reduce how long you’re sick and how sick you become. Those most at risk for severe illness from flu complications (including hospitalization and death) are pregnant women, young children, those with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease and people 65 and older.

It will take about two weeks after vaccination for the immune system to build the antibodies the body needs to protect against flu virus infection. Simple ways to protect yourself also include covering your cough, washing your hands and staying home when sick.

For more information on protecting yourself from influenza, visit the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm.

See "West Side Story" On A Day Trip To Drury Lane Theatre

Join McHenry County College’s Trips and Tours program for a day trip to see the captivating musical “West Side Story” at the Drury Lane Theatre from 9:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18.
 

Drury Lane completes its 30th anniversary season with one of the world’s greatest love stories. A modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story tells the tale of two, star-crossed lovers caught between rival gangs. A revolutionary work that changed the course of the American musical, West Side Story features an electrifying Latin and jazz-infused score including “Somewhere,” “Tonight,” and “America.” 

Enjoy a delicious meal, included in the price, before the 1:30 p.m. show. Cost is $99 per person. To register for this trip, call (815) 455-8588 and mention course ID: NST S33 001. For more information, call Claudia Terrones at (815) 455-8782.