Comedian Mike Toomey Returns With More Comedy In January

Laugh your way into the new year with WGN Morning News regular Mike Toomey! Familiar with Raue Center, he has performed at Lucy’s Comedy Café as well as recently opening for Bob Saget this past November. This time he brings his show Mike Toomey’s TV & ME to Raue Center For The Arts on January 14 at 7:30 pm.

Mike Toomey grew up glued to the tube, and TV & ME is the manifestation of his obsession. His ability to remember his favorite programs verbatim and impersonate the voices of his favorite characters made Toomey very popular with his classmates, if not his teachers. Once told by a grade school principal that “no one ever made a career out of watching television,” he set out to prove the principal wrong. He continues to this day on his life-long mission to prove her wrong. To make a career out of watching TV: To boldly go where no man has gone before!

Take a journey back into 60’s and 70’s TV Land. In the show, Toomey relates how his childhood television watching has shaped his adult life, while sharing his unique observations about his favorite programs and their characters. This multimedia presentation features over 300 slides and sound bytes plus Toomey’s dead-on impersonations of your favorite TV celebrities. TV&ME is a must see for all members of the TV generation. It even earned praise from Batman star, Adam West, "I don’t have to do this anymore, Mike Toomey, you’re that good."

Don’t miss your chance to see who the Chicago Tribune describes as “one of the funniest and most talented performers to ever work in Chicago." Tickets are $31, $28, and $25 and are going quickly!  Be sure to get yours now by visiting www.rauecenter.org or the Box Office at 26 N. Williams Street or by calling 815.356.9212.

About Raue Center For The Arts

Raue Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts. For 11 years, they have provided quality programming – striving to make it pertinent, available and affordable to all. As a painstakingly restored, 1920s regional showcase theatre named for its benefactor—Lucile Raue—Raue Center has attracted the finest stars, Broadway shows, musicians and artists. Named on the League of Historic American Theatres, Raue Center is one of the finest examples of restored art and decor in the nation. The 750-seat theatre, located in historic, downtown Crystal Lake, is a gathering place for our region’s citizens and has become a true destination. For additional information, visit www.rauecenter.org,  www.facebook.com/RaueCenter and www.twitter.com/RaueCenter.

Words of Wisdom

"The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State governments, in times of peace and security." –

James Madison, Federalist No. 45, 1788

Ricky Nelson Remembered Comes To The Raue January 13

Twenty-six  years after his tragic passing, celebrate the iconic and timeless music of Ricky Nelson performed by his sons Matthew and Gunnar Nelson.  Ricky Nelson Remembered comes to Raue Center For he Arts on January 13 at 7:30 pm.

Ricky Nelson Remembered is a unique multi media entertainment event featuring the live music of Ricky Nelson's hit songs (including “Hello Mary Lou", "Travelin' Man” and “Garden Party").

This show stars Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, the identical twin sons of Rock’n’Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Nelson and grandsons of ‘50s TV icons Ozzie & Harriet Nelson. Relive when Matthew & Gunnar hit #1 on the Billboard with their rock band Nelson and their self-penned #1 mega hit "(Can't Live Without Your) Love & Affection". The Nelson family is listed in The Guiness Book of World Records as the only family in entertainment history with three generations of #1 hitmakers.

With their rock band Nelson, Matthew and Gunnar have Five Top 40 Billboard hits, Four  #1 MTV videos and have sold over 6.5 million albums worldwide.

Also included is never before seen big screen video footage of the Nelson family with interviews from celebrities influenced by Ricky Nelson. The show appeals to a wide audience and multiple generations and celebrates the life of America’s original ‘Teen Idol’. 

Help the Nelson sons remember their father in a special evening of great music. Tickets are $35, $32 and $29 and are going quickly!  Be sure to get yours now by visiting www.rauecenter.org or via the Box Office at 26 N. Williams Street or by calling 815.356.9212.  This show is sponsored by Country Inn and Suites.

About Raue Center For The Arts

Raue Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts. For 11 years, they have provided quality programming – striving to make it pertinent, available and affordable to all. As a painstakingly restored, 1920s regional showcase theatre named for its benefactor—Lucile Raue—Raue Center has attracted the finest stars, Broadway shows, musicians and artists. Named on the League of Historic American Theatres, Raue Center is one of the finest examples of restored art and decor in the nation. The 750-seat theatre, located in historic, downtown Crystal Lake, is a gathering place for our region’s citizens and has become a true destination. For additional information, visit www.rauecenter.org, www.facebook.com/RaueCenter and www.twitter.com/RaueCenter. 

Words of Wisdom

"We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt."

--Thomas Jefferson

Green Wednesday Coming Next Week

In McHenry County, the first Wednesday of each month is Green Wednesday! On January 4th, from 5pm - 7pm, the McHenry County Green Drinks group gets together upstairs at Duke's Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main Street in Crystal Lake. Everyone is welcome - make new connections, learn new environmental information, and have fun!

This should be a great program - Lane Linnenkohl will speak about his experiences in sustainable farming with minimal technology (yeah - horses!) after 10 years of living the life. Come and hear (and see) some of the highlights.

Preset drink menu includes fun, food and friends, info and inspiration, business and pleasure. Come talk about “greening” the future with others. Must be 21 to purchase alcohol - non-alcoholic drinks are available, of course!

There will be an information table set up, and you are welcome to bring information about your green products and services each month to share.

Additional parking is available at the train station.

To be added to their email list, send a note to: GreenDrinks@mcdefenders.net or friend them on FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/GreenDrinksMcHenryCounty

If you’d like more information about this topic, access www.mcdef.org. To schedule an interview, contact the office at 815-338-0393 or e-mail mcdef@owc.net.

Words of Wisdom

"Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread." –

Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography, 1821

New Chief of McHenry County State's Attorney Criminal Division

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s office has a new Chief of the Criminal Division beginning January 3, 2012.

State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi announces that Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs has been promoted to Chief of the Criminal Division for the State’s Attorney’s Office. He replaces Philip Hiscock who is leaving the State’s Attorney’s Office to pursue an opportunity with the Federal Government of the United States.

Combs is a seasoned felony prosecutor, who was previously assigned to the Special Prosecution Unit of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office handling high profile cases and cases involving complex evidentiary issues. Combs was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1999, and was admitted by the Supreme Court of Illinois as a member of the Capital Litigation Trial Bar in 2007.

Michael Combs is a 1996 graduate of Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and a 1999 graduate of New York Law School in New York, New York. Prior to his arrival at the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, Combs served as First Assistant in the Ogle County State’s Attorney’s Office supervising and training attorneys and support staff.

He also served as team leader of the felony trial team in the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office and acted as first chair in 35 jury trials, including four First Degree Murder trials, all resulting in convictions. Combs also tried 40 jury trials as an Assistant Public Defender in the Winnebago County Public Defender’s Office. 

Improve The Environment

The following reminder is from Representative Mike Tryon:

“Beginning January 1, it will no longer be legal for individuals to dispose of unwanted electronics in their regular trash.

“Discarded electronics, including computers, monitors, electronic keyboards, scanners, fax machines and many other electronic devices, must now be taken to a registered recycler for proper management. It will be illegal for the consumer to dispose of them in the trash and it will be illegal for Illinois landfills to accept them.

“This newest phase of electronics disposal will include individual citizens in the effort to keep electronics, which contain a variety of potentially toxic contaminants, out of the state’s 48 active landfills.

“A 2007 report showed that electronic products were the fastest growing portion of the solid waste stream. That year, three million tons of electronic products became obsolete, yet only 14 percent of those products were recycled. During calendar year 2011, electronics manufacturers are being required to collect and recycle or refurbish more than 28 million pounds of products. The reuse of these products, including metals, plastics and glass, conserves natural resources and saves energy. 

“The Illinois EPA maintains a web site at: http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/electronic-waste-recycling/index.html, which explains requirements for individuals and for manufacturers, a list of registered collectors, as well as a complete listing of all electronic items.

“Additional information can be found under "Electronics information" in the McHenry County Green Guide www.mchenry.edu/recycling. “

What To Do With Christmas Trees After Christmas

MDC Environmental Services, Crystal Lake City’s refuse contractor, will begin Christmas tree pick-up on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 and will continue through Friday, January 13, 2012.

Residents should dispose of Christmas trees with their regular garbage.

Questions regarding Christmas tree pick-up should be directed to MDC Environmental Services at 815-568-7274

Also—

Christmas tree recycling is taking place now until January 15 at several sites in the County as noted by McHenry County Conservation District (MCCD).

These included:

MCCD - Glacial Park, Ringwood (off Harts Road)

MCCD - Rush Creek, Harvard (at twin oaks parking area—west of pond)

Algonquin Township Headquarters, 3702 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake

Words of Wisdom

"Remember democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."

 --John Adams, letter to John Taylor, 1814

Another Important Date

Now that the Christmas Holidays are fading, it is time to prepare for the next “big event”. This is not to dismiss the New Year, which occurs every year.

The next big event that requires active participation, is the March 20 Primary Election.

McHenry County is divided between two Congressional Districts following the recent redistricting process. All of Algonquin Township is located in the Sixth Congressional District while the remainder of the county is part of the 14^th District.

The Sixth District also includes portions of Lake, Cook, Kane and DuPage Counties.The Fourteenth District encompasses 16 of McHenry County’s 17 Townships along with portions of Lake, Kane, DeKalb, DuPage, Kendall and Will Counties.

According to information on the State of Illinois website the following persons have filed petitions seeking nominations:

SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:

Leslie Coolidge

345 Old Sutton Road

Barrington Hills, IL

Democratic Party

Geoffrey Petzel

695 Windemere Lane

Lake Zurich, IL Democratic Party

Democratic Party

Tim Ritter
239 North School Street
Cary, Il 60013

Democratic Party

Maureen E. Yates

729 Indian Way

Barrington, IL 60010

Democratic Party

Peter J. Roskam

141 Shelley Lane

Wheaton, IL 60189

Republican Party

FOURTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATES

Dennis Anderson

4682 Kings Way North

Gurnee, IL 60031

Democratic Party

Randy M. Hultgren

1S651 Verdun Drive

Winfield, IL 60190

Republican Party

Words of Wisdom

"If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true republican simplicity of manners, of zeal for the honour of the Supreme Being and the welfare of the commonwealth; if men possessed of these other excellent qualities are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation."

--Samuel Adams, November 27, 1780

Former Scots Baseball Team Member Honored With Induction Into MJCAA Region IV and Illinois Skyway Colelgiate Conference Hall of Fame

McHenry County College (MCC) will honor NJCAA Region IV and Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Hall of Famer Tony Bacci on Jan. 3, 2012 at halftime (approximately 8 p.m.) during the MCC’s men’s basketball game against South Suburban College. The presentation will take place in the MCC Gym, located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

He will be presented with honoree plaques for both inductions. Bacci played baseball at MCC during the 1995 and 1996 seasons, leading the Scots to the school’s first NJCAA Region IV title in his sophomore season. Tony, a southpaw, was an NJCAA All-American his sophomore year, leading the nation with 139 strikeouts in 86 innings, sporting a 2.39 ERA, and having 17 pick-offs, while finishing with an 8-3 record. In addition to his pitching prowess, Bacci hit .439 as an outfielder with 21 stolen bases, 43 RBI’s and 58 runs scored, in garnering NJCAA All-Region IV and All-Skyway College honors, as a two-position player, leading to his NJCAA All-American selection.

After his MCC career, Tony Bacci pitched in the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball organization for three seasons going 15-14 before continuing his professional career nationally and internationally, over several additional years, in the Northern League and in Australia. Bacci now makes his home, along with his family, in Western Australia.

Words of Wisdom

"[W]hen all government, domestic and foreign, in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the center of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided of one government on another."

--Thomas Jefferson, letter to Charles Hammond, 1821

McHenry County Government Center Closed For Holiday

McHenry County Government Center is closed today for the Christmas Holiday. It will open with regular hours on Tuesday. However, there are no County Board Committee metings scheduled for the week.  

Merry Christmas