"Libya Faces Many Challenges In the Months and Years Ahead," Manzullo

Congressman Don Manzullo, a senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, issued the following statement on the reported killing of Libyan Dictator Muammar Qaddafi:

 “Muammar Qaddafi embodied the tyranny and evilness of a despotic regime that brutally oppressed its people and sponsored terrorism around the world.  We will never forget when his hatred for humanity, freedom, and common decency led to the senseless killing of 270 people, including many Americans, over Lockerbie, Scotland.

“Libya faces many challenges in the months and years ahead.  The transitional government in Libya must ensure that the legacy of Qaddafi is reversed.  We must be vigilant to prevent any radical elements in Libya from using this transition to take that country in the wrong direction.  I will work closely with the Administration to ensure that America’s interests are protected.”

Representative Manzullo is also Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and the only member of the Foreign Affairs Committee from Illinois.

Words of Wisdom

"No pecuniary consideration is more urgent, than the regular redemption and discharge of the public debt: or no delay be more injurious, or an economy of time more valuable. ... Cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible: avoiding occasions of expence [and] avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt ... not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burthen which we ourselves ought to bear."

--George Washington, December 3, 1793

Words of Wisdom

"I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection."

 --Thomas Paine

Friday Government At Work

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21--

8:15 a.m. -- Public Health and Human Services Committee --

Meeting in the Conference Room of the McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

The committee will be viewing several presentations. Regarding Valley Hi Admittance Policy, 2011 McHenry County Labor Report/ Workforce Investment Board, Workforce Network, Economic Development Corporation.

Under new business, the committee will be considering several resolutions, one Supporting Hospital Tax-Exempt Status; a Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Illinois Department of Commerce Opportunity; and a Resolution to a grant along with a necessary appropriation to the McHenry County Workforce Network Fiscal Year 2011 Budget. The award of $134,097 will be used to provide vocational training for dislocated workers from Intermatic in Spring Grove, Allstate in South Barrington, Motorola in Schaumburg, Caps Visual in Chicago, and Wells Manufacturing Dura-Bar Division in Woodstock.

- F

It's That Time Of The Year--Frost Advisory

The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a frost advisory which is in effect from 1:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. CDT Friday.

Temporary frost is expected to develop after midnight tonight, lasting through mid-morning Sunday.

Sensitive plants may be damaged or killed if left unprotected.

Precautionary-preparedness actions:

A frost advisory means that frost is possible. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.

Words of Wisdom

"We have heard of the impious doctrine in the old world, that the people were made for kings, not kings for the people. Is the same doctrine to be revived in the new, in another shape - that the solid happiness of the people is to be sacrificed to the views of political institutions of a different form? It is too early for politicians to presume on our forgetting that the public good, the real welfare of the great body of the people, is the supreme object to be pursued; and that no form of government whatever has any other value than as it may be fitted for the attainment of this object."

 --James Madison, Federalist No. 45

Governments At Work

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20—

8:00 a.m. – Finance and Negotiations Committee of McHenry County College Board—

Meeting in the Board Room of the College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake.

The FY 2011 Audit is to be presented to the Committee by Fred Lantz, of Sikich LLP.

A presentation is to be made on Private/Public Partnerships.

An Internal Auditor Report is being made by Ms. Nancy Gonsiorek, Internal Auditor. In the same category, a Charter for Internal Auditor’s Offices is to be considered.

An update on Staff Council Negotiations is also included on the Agenda.

8:30 a.m. – Planning and Development Committee of McHenry County Board—

Meeting in the Conference Room, County Administrative Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

CDBG Commission Revised Bylaws

The Committee is to consider a draft of revised Community Development Block Grant Commission Bylaws.

Village of Trout Valley Agreement

An Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village of Trout Valley for Building Permit Review, Inspection and other related contract services is being presented for consideration.

2012 Fee Schedule

Following a review of the costs for providing permitting, zoning and subdivision services, the fee schedule is to be revised so that the cost associated with the services are covered by the fee. The County authorized an increase in fees, mostly for Stormwater and Planning services that ranged from 5% for small and minor projects to 25% for large and major projects. This is a step toward having applicants cover the costs of those services.

Also penalty fees are to be charged for after the fact stormwater permits and zoning petitions.

Appointment to McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission

Lynn Gray’s appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission is being presented for committee approval.

5:00 p.m. Finance and Administrative Committee of McHenry County Conservation District

Meeting in the Brookdale Administrative Offices, 18410 U.S. Highway 14, Woodstock--

In addition to considering bills to be paid, the Committee is slated to consider change orders and amendments for Carmichael Construction, Inc.

Also to be considered are policy amendments regarding the salary and wage compensation administration.

The agenda also includes an item, Bond Indebtedness – Statutory Debt Margin

6:00 p.m. McHenry County Conservation District Board –

Meeting in the Administrative Offices as listed above.

The Board does set an executive session to be followed by reconvening at 7:00 p.m. for regular session.

Two officers are to be given special recognition including Officers Stewart and Wolfe.

This is followed by reports from:

Committee assignments and reports;

A verbal report from the Finance and Administrative Committee;

County Board Liaison Report

Included on the Board Business – Consent Agenda are the necessary matters such as minute approvals, Treasurer’s Report, Staff Monthly Report.

Matters requiring action from the Board include:

Awarding a contract to O’Leary Sand and Gravel, Woodstock for removal of exotic brush at Pleasant Valley Conservation Area for a cost not to exceed $25,200;

Awarding a contract to Tri-Cor International, Lombard, for the purchase of associated hardware for the installation of automatic entrance gates for accost not to exceed $43,768.72;

Awarding a contract to Conservation Land Stewardship, Inc. of Elmhurst, for the construction of three rain gardens at the Lake in the Hills Fen Conservation Area for a cost not to exceed $36,994.60;

Authorizing the Executive Director to execute two Professional Services Agreements with Bio Technical Erosion Control, Ltd., Inc. of Harvard, for the engineering and planning for the Konopasek Dam Removal and Brookdale Fish Passage Study for a cost not to exceed $28,900;

Authorizing the Executive Director to execute a grant agreement with the United States Corps of Army Engineers on the Kishwaukee River Marsh Study;

Ratification of Change order No. 5 from Carmichael Construction, Inc. for an increase of $11,491.00 and a reduction f $2,600.21 for the Fel-Pro RRR Conservation Area Grant Project.

7:30 p.m.—Crystal Lake Park District Board of Commissioners

Meeting in the Park District Administrative Office, One E. Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake.

The first matter to be handled is a Public Hearing regarding the District’s intent to sell bonds in the amount of $2.1 million for the payment of land condemned or purchased for parks, for the building, maintaining, Improving and protecting the same and the existing land and facilities of the District and for the payment of the expenses incident thereto.

Two matters are included on the consent agenda—a request from Health Bridge Fitness Center and a raffle request from Nunda Township.

The tax levy will be considered and the Board is requested to approve a proposed tax levy for $6,883,927.46. A truth in Taxation Hearing is scheduled to be held November 17.

The donation of property is to be considered by the Board.

The Board is slated to consider approval of Woodland Park Wetland Revitalization to be handled by LandKeepers, Inc. in the amount of $19,959.

EMERGENCY MESSAGE FROM MCHENRY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Just received a notification from the McHenry County Emergency Telephone System and McHenry County Sheriff's Office regarding an escaped while male burglary suspect in the area of Hillside and Walkup Avenue, Crystal Lake area. Residents are being advised to remain indoors until further notice. The individual is reported to be wearing blue jeans, black hooded jacket and tennis shoes.

Residents are advised to remain indoors.

Crystal Lake Planning And Zoning Commission Meets This Evening

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission is meeting this evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Crystal Lake City Hall, 100 West Woodstock Street.

A public hearing on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Map-- was slated to be heard this evening. That has been continued to the November 2 Commission meeting.

Sage YMCA, 701 Manor Road -- public hearing -- scheduled for this evening has also been continued to November 2 meeting.

Main Street Apartments – East Main Street and N. Congress Parkway—

This is part of a larger tract of land considered for annexation in 2007 and was then referred to as Main Street Crossings. Annexation for this was planned for a development into retail, office and manufacturing for 62 acres divided into five lots along an extended Exchange Drive. Final approval for the project never proceeded to the City Council.,

The property owner has engaged in a tree removal program to better showcase the property. The removal was approved under the City’s tree preservation ordinance.

Owners of the property have been approached to sell a 6.5 acre portion of the land located in the southwest corner of the overall 62 acres. The project will seek Illinois Housing Department Authority approval and finding. A full application is required by December for next year’s funding and zoning approval from the City is one of the application requirements. A full public hearing is slated for November 2 Commission meeting.

The proposed apartment complex would provide a maximum number of 71 units with a proposed density of 10.9 units per acre. The R-3B district permit nine dwelling units per acre unless certain standards are met with the development. Added variations may also be needed.

All the details are scheduled to be provided at the November 2 Commission meeting.

Curran Martial Arts Academy -- 110 Woodstock Street – The Academy is presently located at 221 Liberty Road where they were granted a Special Use Permit in 2008. They are downsizing since their co-tenants at that location moved out of their existing location.

The site they seek to utilize on Woodstock Street is currently occupied by a variety of service, office and manufacturing tenants. The site was rezoned in early 2008 to R-4 to allow for a PUD for a 57-unit townhome development, which has not been constructed and has been granted extensions until 2013.

A use variation is required for the Martial Arts Academy since commercial recreation is not permitted in the R-3B zoning.

Area Democrats Meet In Grayslake

“Obama for America” is meeting 6:30-9:00 p.m. this evening at The Full Slab, 34500 N. U.S. Highway 45, Third Lake/Grayslake.

On the agenda will be clips from the Colbert Report showing how PACs are created and donors are hidden.

Feel free to bring friends, family, co-workers or anyone else youknow who wants to find out more.

RSVP to Jeanne Dauray at 224-338-8205 or send an email.

Who Committed The Murder?

What: Death at the Dole Presents “Murder at the Masquerade” murder mystery dinner theatre

Where: Dole Mansion, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake

When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 AND 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23

Description: Guests will witness the action-packed mayhem when a simple swap goes awry. A key character in this year’s Death at the Dole interactive murder mystery event will be played as a Northwest Herald reporter. The reporter pits his wits against a gang of jewel thieves who are trying to carry off a big heist.

The reporter is hot on the trail of who’s who in the suspected gang of thieves as dinner theatre guests examine clues and crime scenes throughout the mansion to try and solve the mystery.

Actors include MCC students and alumni, directed by MCC speech instructor and Forensics program director Bonnie Gabel. The “Murder at the Masquerade” script was written by Lauryn Lugo, an MCC alum who performed in last year’s production of Death at the Dole. She also is an award-winning MCC Forensics team member.

The MCC Forensics Team is an award-winning speech team focusing on performance of literature, platform speaking and debate. Forensics is a co‐curricular activity emphasizing the development of communication skills that are so essential today.  Students represent MCC by competing in public speaking and performance of literature categories. Among numerous state, regional, and national awards, the team’s best showing was placing 5th in the nation at the 76th Phi Rho Pi National Tournament held in New Orleans April, 2010.

The monies raised through this event are benefitting the Lakeside Legacy Foundation and supporting the Forensics team’s trip to the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament in April, 2012.

McHenry County Board Agrees On Proposed Budget For Next Year

McHenry County has a proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2012 (December 1, 2011 through November 30, 2012) and it is on the County website. The County Board anticipates the proposed $254,177,214 budget will be adopted at the November 15 Board meeting.

A copy of the proposed budget may be found in the County Clerk’s office or on the County Website at www.co.mchenry.il.us.

Reaching agreement on this budget was not easy. Most of the County Board meeting Tuesday evening was taken up by discussions on this budget, including pleas from some outside groups, such as 4-H, not to cut their budget.

A copy of the proposed McHenry County FY12 Budget is available in the County Clerk’s Office or on the County website at www.co.mchenry.il.us under “Quick Links”.

Briefly, the proposed budget is $254,177,214. Compared with the FY11 budget which was approved at $242,507,244. This increase is attributed primarily to the County’s plans to retire early the remaining debt issued to construct the County’s nursing home, Valley Hi.

The County Board had some tough decisions to make in a weak revenue environment. Control of expenses was a key factor and was accomplished as follows:

There are no dramatic cuts to services, but there are some cuts in almost all areas of County Government.

The FY12 Budget responded to the State awarding two new judges beginning in December. This requires providing the necessary new staff that will accompany these new judges.

Approximately 50 positions are “frozen” or eliminated in the FY12 budget or 50 fewer positions that were funded three years ago in FY09.

The proposed FY12 Budget maintains compensation parity between union and non-union employees.

Social Security Announces 3.6 Percent Benefit Increase For 2012

Cost-of-Living Adjustment is First Since 2009

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 60 million Americans will increase 3.6 percent in 2012, the Social Security Administration announced today.

The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that nearly 55 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2012.  Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2011.

Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages.  Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $110,100 from $106,800.  Of the estimated 161 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2012, about 10 million will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum. 

Information about Medicare changes for 2012, when announced, will be available at

www.Medicare.gov

 

For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums.   

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated.  To read more, please visit   www.socialsecurity.gov/cola/

Words of Wisdom

"An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens....There has never been a moment of my life in which I should have relinquished for it the enjoyments of my family, my farm, my friends & books."

Transportation Considerations

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19 --

8:15 a.m.—Transportation Committee of McHenry County Board, meeting in the Main Conference Room of the McHenry County Division of Transportation, 16111 Nelson Road, Woodstock.

The Committee will be considering a number of resolutions:

Intergovernmental agreement between Greenwood Township and McHenry County –

To provide paratransit services for Greenwood Township residents through an agreement with Pace  Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority providing services within the Townships of Dorr and McHenry and Cities of Crystal Lake, McHenry and Woodstock, and to Pioneer Center for Human Services clients in the geographic area.

The fare for a one-way trip is to be $3.00. The Township and the County are given the authority to limit the number of trips per day in order not to exceed the maximum local share of $7,000.

An agreement between the Regional Transportation Authority and McHenry County –

Is being presented for approval for acceptance by the County of a Job Access Reverse Commute Grant for the area including the municipalities of Crystal Lake, McHenry and Woodstock as well as initiating services for seniors and the disabled in Greenwood Township. Two service extensions will be included to serve the Fox Lake Metra Station and Valley-Hi Nursing home. The total project budget is estimated at $993,650.

New Freedom Grant –

Another grant from the RTA to fund the consolidation of the County and municipal services under one County contract as part of the McHenry County Service Integration and Coordination project.

Also an Intergovernmental Agreement for Dial-a-Ride services in 2012 is presented for approval by McHenry County.

Appropriating Funds for 2012 Transit Grant Program  

Approval by the County Board is being sought for the following projects.

• $754,000 for MCRide Dial-a-Ride Pace Contract. This project twill be reimbursed $50,000 in Senior Grant funding and an estimated $500,000 from the City of Crystal Lake, City of McHenry and City of Woodstock and USDIOT

• $43,000 for data and additional transportation services to Faith in Action of McHenry County.

• $13,000 for data and additional transportation services to the Algonquin Township Road District.

• $10,000 for an additional weekday hour and Saturday service in the City of Marengo, Village of Union, Riley Township, and Marengo Township

• $5,000 for fuel and vehicle lease expenditures to the Veterans Affairs Commission

Don't Kick Penguins-Workshop On Bullying Issues

Don’t Kick Penguins is a workshop program that addresses bullying issues for adolescent youth. It will be presented on Saturday, October 22, 2011, at McHenry County College from 8:30 AM until 1 PM. The primary goal is to address issues that can cause stress and bullying in middle school students’ lives.

This is the second year Don’t Kick Penguins is being offered by Principled Minds and McHenry County College.

According to Harold Rail, Executive Director of Principled Minds, “We believe there is value in offering avenues for information about key bullying issues middle school students may be facing. It is our goal to help students get information that can create positive changes in their lives, to try to help them avoid suffering some of the difficulties adolescents face, and to show them healthy ways to address the issues they may be experiencing at a pivotal point in their lives.

The sessions are open to all McHenry County middle school students.

There will be a brief experiential intro­ductory session and a closing session that will give hands-on tools for both parents and students.

There will be workshops on same sex relationships; healthy relationships; ethnic and racial issues; social self image; peer issues with electronic technology including safety, dangers, and challenges; developmental dis­abilities; mental health and depression; and families of those incarcerated.

Each workshop session will last 45 minutes with a 15 minute breaks between. There will be three workshop periods and each will offer choices of three different topics. Students will have the opportunity to attend a total of three different sessions.

Parents, teachers and counselors will receive condensed presentations on all nine workshops in the MCC Conference Center.

Local social service agencies will have information tables set up outside the cafeteria. Music entertainment will be held in the student commons area. Snacks and beverages will be provided.

Fees for the day are $10 for students and for parents and cover partici­pation in the sessions. a T-shirt, snacks and drinks. Fees can be waved in case of need.

The goal of Don’t Kick Penguins is to provide a way for students to explore bullying issues in an open and safe environment. The workshops will be arranged so that students can interact and explore new information by work­ing together with other students and with facilitators. The goal of each program is to initiate discussion and an examination of the various issues that students may be facing and to open the new way of thinking that could have life-changing results. Session facilitators are professionals in the areas covered.

Among the organizations lending support and expertise to the program are Phi Theta Kappa, McHenry County Schools, Community Partnership Coalition, and many of the social service agencies offering support programs in McHenry County.

High School District 155 Preparing For Winter

Winter is on the way. This is evidenced by preparations being made for snow removal by various governing bodies. A recent one, High School District 155 Board --Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South, Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge and Haber Oaks -- are considering snow plow bids at a meeting of the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Board this evening at 6:45 p.m. in the Center For Education,One South Virginia Road, Crystal Lake.

Words of Wisdom

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

- Thomas Jefferson

Government At Work

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18 –

7:30 p.m. – Crystal Lake City Council

Meeting in the City Council Chambers, 100 Woodstock Street –

 A number of proclamations have been requested by various groups including National Massage Therapy Awareness Week;

1776 Restaurant,-20^th Anniversary

 Accumation, Inc,- 40^th Anniversary

GKI, Inc – 40^th Anniversary

The Players Bench – 35^th Anniversary

ServiceMaster by Pletz -25^th Anniversary

The Council is being requested to support a Resolution in support of the Northwest Municipal Conference White Paper for solutions to inadequate ComEd outage response to repeated power outages in the Chicago region this summer. This has prompted municipal leaders in Chicagoland, in conjunction with the Northwest Municipal Conference, (Crystal Lake is a member) to craft solutions that implement higher reliability and outage response standards to better protect the health, safety and welfare of resident and businesses.

The recommendations of the NWMC White Paper call for measures to be adopted prior to any further consideration of legislation that raises rates and guarantees ComEd profits.

This consideration is the result of electric power outages that accompanied a series of severe storms in June and July resulting in extended power outages that left public facilities inoperable during crisis periods when residents and businesses were most dependent on these operations. Additionally, many communities needed to divert police and fire personnel to watch over downed power lines blocking streets for days while awaiting ComEd repair crews to arrive.

The White Paper of the NWMC has some recommendations for such situations including the recommendation of specific protocols for ComEd power restoration during widespread outage events. Also recommended are legislative and regulatory actions needed to ensure ComEd emergency management and preparedness is up to the task in future outage situations.

State Legislators are being asked to defer any further consideration of Senate Bill 1652 until the recommendations in the White Paper are adopted. SB 1652 is ComEd’s legislation to increase electric rates and corporate profits as part of implementation of “smart grid” technologies.

Among other matters before the Crystal Lake City Council for consideration are changes in parking for areas near South School with various times but primarily during drop-off in the morning and pickup in the afternoon.

Another parking issue being handled is to restrict parking Cress Creek Lake near the intersection of Cress Creek Court. Parking in this location makes it difficult for garbage trucks to make heir routine pickups along Cress Creek Lane

McHenry County Board Considering Compensation Tuesday Evening

7:00 p.m. – McHenry County Board, meeting in the County Board Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

An overview of the Water Resources Action Plan (WRAP) is to be presented to the County Board.

Five Zoning Board matters are being presented for approval including:

 Nunda Township -- Andrew/Jennifer Myers, request for a reclassification from A1-A1 Conditional Use on a five-acre parcel located on the west side of the intersection of Hillside Road and Oak Street in Nunda Township. The petitioners desire to use the property for the operation of a landscaping and snowplowing business and for outdoor storage of commercial equipment and vehicles. Recommended Approval

Algonquin Township – Richard Norwood/Nonika Zajac, requesting a reclassification from R1 to  R1V on property located at 214 Hickory Nut Grove Road, Cary.

Recommended Approval

Algonquin Township – Tom and Joan Claypool, request reclassification from R1 to R1V, to construct a storage shed to be located east of the existing residence in the front yard. Recommended Approval.

Coral Township – Grismer Trust, request reclassification A1 to A2,on 2.7 acres of a larger five-acre parcel located on the west side of Leech Road. Recommended Approval

Chemung Township - Kenneth/Mimi Book, request reclassification A1 to A2C.  The property is located on the south side of Graf Road adjacent to the McHenry/Boone County line. Recommended Approval

Two Resolutions dealing with compensation for County Board members and for certain Elected Officials whose terms begin December 1, 2012 are also being presented. As being presented for consideration by the full board, Compensation for the County Board Chairman is listed: “The Chairman of the Board will receive an annual salary of $82,200 for FY 2013 and FY 2014.

“Vice-Chairman of the Board: The Vice-Chairman will receive $5,000 per year more than Board members.”

“Members of the Board: The Members of the Board will receive an annual salary of $21,500 for FY 2013 and FY 2014.”

As for fringe benefits, it is proposed: “The Chairman and Members of the Board may choose to participate in any or all of the benefit programs made available, now or in the future, to all County Employees including, not limited to health, dental and vision plans, subject to the same rates, benefit levels, rules and regulations established for all County Employees.”

“It is further resolved that the Chairman and members of the County Board shall receive an annual increase for FY 2015 through FY 2021 based on the Consumer Price Index (CP) as provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Chicago-Gary Kenosha labor market, or the same pay rate increase provided to non-union employees, or 5%, whichever is less.”

Also being presented for approval in the compensation resolution is a statement as follows: “It is further resolved, that County Board Members will not accept mileage reimbursement attending County Board Meetings or County Board Committee Meetings.”

The rate for this has been 55.5 cents per mile traveled.

Additionally, for consideration is the statement.” Future County Boards may adjust Board salaries for years 2015 through 2021 if a resolution is approved by a County Board at least 180 day prior to the beginning of a new term.

Appointments Available for Cardiovascular Screen

Appointments are still available for the October 20^th cardiovascular screen being held at the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH)’s Crystal Lake office (7:30am-9:30am, Community Room) located at 100 N Virginia Street. 

The screening requires a 12-hour fast and includes total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, blood pressure, cardiovascular education and heart age assessment.

  Appointments are required at 815-334-4536; cost is $35.00.   

Having high blood cholesterol puts you at risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states about 1 of every 6 adult Americans has high blood cholesterol.  In McHenry County, heart disease is the 2^nd leading cause of death (857 deaths in 2007 and 204 deaths from stroke). 

The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chances of developing cardiovascular disease.  Knowing the risk factors of heart disease is the first step towards lowering your chances of having a heart attack, stroke or similar health condition.

For more information on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, visit the CDC http://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/.

Words of Wisdom

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." 

--Thomas Jefferson 

Let Your State Representative Know What You Think

State Rep, Mike Tryon, R-64^th, has been meeting with constituents and learning about the issues important to them. 

As a continuation of that effort, Tryon advises that he is continuing that effort this Fall. The purpose of these meeting is two-fold. First, Tryon explains that he will provide a short legislative update about pending legislation and financial issues in Illinois. What he considers more important is the opportunity to take questions from attendees to the meetings and listen to their ideas of how he can best represent them in Springfield.

Representative Tryon will hold a town hall meeting Thursday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the Crystal Lake City Hall, 100 W. Woodstock Street. This is one of a number of these meetings which last approximately one and one-half hours and includes light refreshments.