National Public Health Week

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) will join communities around the country in celebrating National Public Health Week (NPHW) April 2-8, to draw attention to the need to help protect and improve the nation’s health.  This year, American Public Health Association (APHA) will continue its broad vision to make America the healthiest nation in one generation by addressing the importance of prevention and wellness through the theme "A Healthier America Begins Today: Join the Movement".

Daily themes during NPHW include active living and healthy eating, reduce alcohol and tobacco consumption, encourage proper hand-washing and food preparation habits to limit communicable diseases, promote access to preventive health services, and educate the community about depression and other mental health disorders.  “We need to recognize that improving our nation’s public health can be done with small changes to our daily routine,” said Patrick J. McNulty, MCDH’s Public Health Administrator. “From eating less fatty and unhealthy foods to enacting smoke-free policies that improve air quality and protect individuals from secondhand smoke, we can all make a difference in helping people live healthier and longer lives.”

Each year, chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes are responsible for millions of premature deaths.  With nearly 1 million Americans dying every year from diseases that could be prevented, even small preventive changes and initiatives can make a big difference in living healthier lives. These preventive measures can help create a healthier nation and reach the country’s goal of becoming the healthiest nation in just one generation. Small actions are needed for communities, homes and families to see the large benefits of preventive care and grow the movement.

“National Public Health Week helps educate Americans about ways to live healthier lives. The events that take place this year will help construct an America that is more aware and focused on preventing illness and enhancing its overall health and well-being,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E), executive director of APHA. “Our ultimate goal is to make America the healthiest nation in one generation. Taking simple preventive steps within our families and our communities will help create healthier communities.”

For more information about National Public Health Week, visit www.nphw.org.

Avoiding A Credit Crunch

Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., and Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Ill., have introduced a bill to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank to avoid a credit crunch in trade finance and grow U.S. exports. The bank, whose authority expires May 31, helps finance sales of U.S. goods overseas. 

“Exports create jobs in Washington state and across the nation. The Export-Import Bank is an essential tool that allows our exporters, large and small, to sell their products overseas,” Larsen said. “The Export-Import Bank has been a huge success story, financing billions of dollars of U.S. exports each year and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. Failing to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank would have disastrous consequences for American manufacturers.”

“I represent one of the most export-intensive districts in the nation, and the Export-Import bank fills a vital gap in trade finance,” Manzullo said. “Directly, Ex-Im helped sustain and expand jobs at many companies in the 16th District of Illinois by providing $143 million in desperately needed export credit assistance since 2007. Indirectly, Ex-Im helped dozens of local suppliers to aerospace, heavy equipment, and power generation manufacturers. This was all done at no net cost to the taxpayer. We cannot allow export credit to dry up for these manufacturers. Passage of this bipartisan, bicameral legislation represents a win-win for good paying jobs and the taxpayer during these tough economic times.”

Larsen added: “Not only does the Ex-Im Bank not cost American taxpayers a single dollar, it returns a profit to the U.S. Treasury helping us reduce our deficit. The bank is important for large manufacturers like Boeing, but also small and medium manufacturers that are seeking to grow their exports overseas. I am pleased to join Congressman Manzullo in introducing this straightforward bipartisan bill to keep America open for business. In addition I would like to thank Senator Cantwell for her leadership on this legislation in the Senate.”

In 2011, the Ex-Im bank supported nearly 290,000 export-related jobs in the United States, helping to finance more than $41 billion in sales from more than 3,600 American companies.

The Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2012:

• Extends the Bank’s authority through September 30, 2015;
• Adjusts the Bank’s aggregate loan, guarantee and insurance authority by $10 billion a year to $140 billion by 2015;
• Directs the Bank to review its current domestic content requirement to ensure the bank is driven at promoting U.S.-produced exports and creating U.S. jobs;
• Strengthens Congressional oversight of the Bank, requiring it to submit a 5-year strategic plan and yearly evaluations and reporting;
• Improves the Bank’s transparency by requiring the Bank to provide more notice and details to the public about transactions over $100 million;
• Strengthens risk oversight so risk to taxpayers is fully considered and mitigated; and
• Enhances restrictions against financing for entities that do business with Iran.

The text of the bill as introduced can be found here. A section-by-section breakdown of the bill can be found here. The legislation was first introduced in the Senate as an amendment to the JOBS Act by Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Tim Johnson, D-S.D., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala.

The Export-Import Bank helps finance billions of dollars in sales from U.S. companies to overseas customers. In Washington’s 2nd Congressional District, which Larsen represents, the Ex-Im Bank has supported more than $21 billion in exports since 2007. In Illinois’s 16th Congressional District, which Manzullo represents, the bank has supported more than $143 million in exports since 2007.

For information on Ex-Im-supported exports from Washington’s 2nd Congressional District, visit: http://www.exim.gov/congmap/#/WA-2. For information on Ex-Im-supported exports to Illinois’ 16th Congressional District, visit: http://www.exim.gov/congmap/#/IL-16.

Hydrant Flushing In Crystal Lake

The Crystal Lake Water Division continues flushing fire hydrants throughout Crystal Lake. The schedule and locations are listed below, and indicated on the Hydrant Flushing Map. Conditions permitting, flushing will continue into May.

Fire hydrant flushing is necessary to clean the City’s water distribution system and to allow the Water Division to perform an inspection of City hydrants. During flushing, water may become temporarily discolored due to material being removed from water mains. The water will continue to be safe to drink, but may stain clothes that are washed during the flushing in your area. Residents should limit water usage during this time, but if this is not possible, the City offers Rover, a chemical that can be used as a cleanser in laundry to remove iron stains, free of charge, should problems occur.

Hydrants will be flushed in accordance to the following schedule as conditions permit. An updated schedule will be maintained on the City’s website at www.crystallake.org to make residents aware of any changes or delays that may occur.

Scheduled for the coming weeks

Section 2 – April 2nd -April 6th
South of Rt. 176 to Rt. 14
East of Main St. to Rt. 31(south of Crystal Lake Ave)
East of Rt. 31 and south of Rt. 14 to Wal-Mart

Section 3-April 9th-April 13th
South of Rt. 176 to Rt. 14
East of Rt. 14 to Main St.

Reminder

The McHenry County Emergency Management Agency reminds residents to prepare for severe weather.

Power Outages

If you lose power to your home you should always call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661) to report the outage.  Reporting your outage ensures that ComEd has the most up to date information for restoring power to your area.

Generators and Generator Safety 

Do you and your family have a plan for power outages?  Have you thought about what you will do if you lose power for three days?  How about for a week?  Have you considered purchasing a portable generator to be able to provide for your family’s basic needs?  When the power is out a portable generator would allow you to operate a few lights in the dark, run fans to stay comfortable, and keep your essential appliances working so food doesn’t spoil.

While generators are great tools, they can also be hazardous when not used properly.  The following tips will help ensure the safety of you and your family when using a portable generator. 

Portable Generator Safety Tips

Always use generators outside, away from doors, windows, and vents. NEVER use generators inside your home, garage, basement, crawl space, or any other enclosed area (even with proper ventilation).

Follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use.

Plug all appliances directly into the generator, or use a heavy-duty outdoor-rated extension cord.

Make sure that the entire extension cord is free of cuts/tears and the plug has three (3) prongs, especially a grounding pin.

NEVER plug the generator into a wall outlet (known as back-feeding).  This practice can cause an electrocution risk to utility workers and others served by the same utility transformer.

If you must connect a generator to house wiring, make sure to have a qualified electrician install the appropriate equipment.

Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool.  Fuel spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.

Always store fuel outside of the living areas in properly labeled, non-glass containers.

Communication During Power Outages 

There are many ways the County can provide information to and communicate with residents under normal circumstances.  But what happens when the power goes out?  Do you know how to get updates from the County under these conditions?  When you lose power you oftentimes also lose your ability to use your home phone, cable, and internet. But there are still ways you can stay informed and be ready.

Register your phone number with the Emergency Alert System.  Click here for more details. NIXLE.

Register with ComEd at https://www.comed.com/customer-service/outage-information/pages/outage-alerts.aspx for outage alerts and estimated repair times.

For smart phones, Emergency Closing Center at: www.emergencyclosings.com.

Have a battery powered radio and listen for updates on STAR 105.5, WGN 720, WIND 560, and WBBM 780.

Words of Wisdom

"It has long, however, been my opinion, and I have never shrunk from its expression ... that the germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution of the federal Judiciary; an irresponsible body, (for impeachment is scarcely a scare-crow) working like gravity by night and by day, gaining a little today and a little tomorrow, and advancing its noiseless step like a thief, over the field of jurisdiction, until all shall be usurped from the States, and the government of all be consolidated into one."

--Thomas Jefferson, letter to Charles Hammond, 1821

Invitation And Report From Congressman Joe Walsh

Please join me from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. tomorrow, March 31st, for a Cup of Joe with Joe in Schaumburg.

Exact location: Frato’s Pizza, 628 South Roselle Road, Schaumburg.

Time: 1:00pm -2:30 pm

This event is open to anyone and everyone, so come out and let me know what's on your mind!

Report From Congressman Walsh

This year marks the 13th anniversary of the Congressional Art Competition which showcases the artwork of talented students across the nation and acknowledges young artists.

Judging will be conducted by both the community and a panel of judges. The first place winner of the IL-8 competition will have his or her artwork displayed in the Capitol for one year. This competition is open to all eligible high school students in Illinois' 8th district.

The deadline for submissions is next Friday April 6. Click here or see below for more information, and I look forward to viewing the 2012 artwork!

Last week, I learned that the Office of Justice for Victims of Overseas Terrorism at the Department of Justice has finally reached out to the families of American victims of Palestinian terrorism to inform them that it is now working to bring the terrorists responsible to justice in American courts.

This action is in direct response to a bipartisan letter led by Rep. Berman and myself and signed by 50 other members of Congress to Attorney General Holder. While I am disappointed that it has taken the Department of Justice six years to begin this process, I am pleased that it will finally provide closure to the grief-stricken American families and bring these Palestinian terrorists to justice. 

While in Washington, I hosted an open house to meet with my constituents who were in DC this week. It was great to meet with everyone and always great to meet with people from IL-8 while I am in Washington!

Hope to see you in Schaumburg tomorrow

Illinois State House of Representatives Approves 2013 Budget

State Representative Mike Tryon, R-64th reports he  joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives in approving a budget blueprint for fiscal year 2013 that includes spending that is significantly less than what Governor Pat Quinn proposed in his budget address, and puts Illinois back onto a path toward financial stability.

Tryon reports, "House Resolution 706 was approved Thursday in a 91-16 vote, with three additional members voting present. This appropriations plan allows us to pay off at least $1.5 billion in overdue bills while still making a full pension payment next year of $5.1 billion. While the steps we took are difficult, they are necessary if we are to stop the practice of living beyond our means and of mortgaging our state’s future on the backs of our children.

"The plan calls for $32.9 billion in spending, which is a decrease in spending of $300 million from what is projected for spending for the current fiscal year. This is a necessary step if we are going to make the "temporary" tax increase truly temporary.

"With yesterday’s approval, members of the appropriations committees will begin the process of going through the budget line by line and cutting an agreed-upon 5.4 percent. A separate committee will also look at ways to reduce the Medicaid liability by an additional $2.7 billion.

"If we fully implement this plan, we will, for the first time in many years, operate with more revenues than expenditures in Illinois. The fact of the matter is, we need to do this. This will be as difficult of a year as we’ve ever had if we do this properly, but years of mismanagement and overspending have created a situation where we have no choice.

"In fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2012 and now for 2013, legislators have led by example by voluntarily agreeing to frozen and/or reduced wages and to no cost of living adjustments, and today I call on Governor Quinn to do the same. The Governor needs to follow our lead and impose a wage freeze for all of Illinois’ elected officials and state employees.

"I will continue to update you as the budget issue makes its way through our spring legislative process, and as always, if my staff or I can assist you in any way, please do not hesitate to call my Crystal Lake office at 815-459-6453."

Take A Trip To West Coast

Enjoy the spectacular scenery of the California Coast and majestic Sierra Parks with an exciting trip in autumn offered by McHenry County College’s Trips and Tours program that departs Sept. 30 and returns Oct. 6.

Visitors will fly to Los Angeles and experience an incredible seven-day coast and mountain California National Parks tour, which includes a one-way deluxe private dome rail car, travel from Los Angeles to Monterey.  Tourists will spend two nights in Monterey with tours of the aquarium and Carmel’s Scenic 17-mile drive. Other highlights include a tour and lunch at author John Steinbeck’s boyhood home, two nights in Coarsegold and day trips to Yosemite, Sequoia Redwoods, and Kings Canyon national parks. 

Cost per person is $3,814 for single, $3,224 for double and $3,194 for triple occupancy.  A trip preview will take place from 4-5 p.m. June 12 in room A119 for anyone who is interested in learning more about this trip.

To register for the trip preview or for more information, contact Claudia Terrones at (815) 455-8782.  Spaces are limited, so early registration is recommended.

Help Illuminate Darkness Sourrunding Sexual Violence

Join the Student Peace Action Network and MCC Student Life in illuminating the darkness surrounding sexual violence for a presentation on April 11, 2012 starting at 5:30 pm in the MCC commons area with an information and resource fair.

Guest speakers Erin Williams (VOICE) and Sarah Payton (Turning Point) will be presenting in the Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. followed by a march to the Peace Pole for a special vigil (includes glow sticks).

All are welcome to be part of this wonderful event! For more details contact MCC Student Life at (815) 455-8772 or email us at MCCspan@gmail.com. 

MCC Student Pottery Sale Coming

McHenry County College will host its annual Student Pottery Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10 in the Commons Area in Building B at the college.

A variety of handmade pottery and unique clay objects will be for sale. Ten percent of the sales will go to support the Ryan Long Memorial Fund, which provides awards to two students each year.

The college is located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake. For more information on MCC’s ceramics classes, contact Tom Vician at (815) 455-8786 or tvician@mchenry.edu.

Words of Wisdom

"No pecuniary consideration is more urgent, than the regular redemption and discharge of the public debt: on none can delay be more injurious, or an economy of time more valuable."

--George Washington, Message to the House of Representatives, 1793

Severe Weather Preparations

The McHenry County Emergency Management Agency reminds residents to prepare for severe weather.

Power Outages

If you lose power to your home you should always call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661) to report the outage.  Reporting your outage ensures that ComEd has the most up to date information for restoring power to your area.

Generators and Generator Safety 

Do you and your family have a plan for power outages?  Have you thought about what you will do if you lose power for three days?  How about for a week?  Have you considered purchasing a portable generator to be able to provide for your family’s basic needs?  When the power is out a portable generator would allow you to operate a few lights in the dark, run fans to stay comfortable, and keep your essential appliances working so food doesn’t spoil.

While generators are great tools, they can also be hazardous when not used properly.  The following tips will help ensure the safety of you and your family when using a portable generator. 

Portable Generator Safety Tips

Always use generators outside, away from doors, windows, and vents. NEVER use generators inside your home, garage, basement, crawl space, or any other enclosed area (even with proper ventilation).

• Follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use.
• Plug all appliances directly into the generator, or use a heavy-duty outdoor-rated extension cord.
• Make sure that the entire extension cord is free of cuts/tears and the plug has three (3) prongs, especially a grounding pin.
• NEVER plug the generator into a wall outlet (known as back-feeding).  This practice can cause an electrocution risk to utility workers and others served by the same utility transformer.
• If you must connect a generator to house wiring, make sure to have a qualified electrician install the appropriate equipment.
• Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool.  Fuel spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.
• Always store fuel outside of the living areas in properly labeled, non-glass containers.

 Communication During Power Outages 

There are many ways the County can provide information to and communicate with residents under normal circumstances.  But what happens when the power goes out?  Do you know how to get updates from the County under these conditions?  When you lose power you oftentimes also lose your ability to use your home phone, cable, and internet. But there are still ways you can stay informed and be ready.

Register your phone number with the Emergency Alert System.  Click here for more details. NIXLE.

Register with ComEd at https://www.comed.com/customer-service/outage-information/pages/outage-alerts.aspx for outage alerts and estimated repair times.

For smart phones, Emergency Closing Center at: www.emergencyclosings.com.

Words of Wisdom

"The bosom of America is open to receive not only the opulent and respectable stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all nations and religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment."

--George Washington, Address to the Members of the Volunteer Association of Ireland, 1783

Sales Help For Small Business Owners

Moving a customer from “How much does it cost?” to “I’ll buy it!” is a technique that every business owner should know as they are the number one sales person on staff.

To gain or enhance sales closing skills, area business owners are invited to attend the Illinois Small Business Development Center’s (ISBDC) Meet 4 Lunch event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on April 24 featuring “Making the Sale,” presented by motivational speaker Jeff Gee. The event will take place at the Shah Center of McHenry County College, located at 4100 W. Shamrock Lane in McHenry.

Jeff Gee, a widely recognized outstanding speaker, instructor and consultant, will challenge the audience members to “go for it” 100 percent and see how everything changes for the better in both their professional and personal lives.

Gee has spent 30 years helping corporations reach and sustain excellence and has developed processes for communicating, managing, and leading in the business world. He is the author of several books, including “OPEN Question Selling,” “The Winner’s Attitude,” “SuperService,” “The Customer Service Toolkit,” published by McGraw-Hill, and “Mission Possible,” with Brian Tracy and Stephen Covey; “Nuts & Bolts” with Denis Waitley and “Pillars of Success” with Alexander Haig.

Cost is $25 and includes a boxed lunch. To register, contact the ISBDC office at (815) 455-6098 and reference course ID: NDB S66-001.

Environmental Scholarship Available

Each year, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County awards a scholarship to a high school senior interested in pursuing a career in environmental work. The $500 scholarship will be given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated a commitment to his/her schoolwork, the community, and the environment.

The applicant must be a resident of McHenry County, and the following must be included with the application:

• Documentation of volunteer work for an environmental organization
• Two letters of recommendation, with one being from a high school teacher
• Grade point average from high school transcript
• An essay on student’s goals and aspirations in regard to the environment

An application can be picked up at the Defenders’, S. Johnson St, Suite 106, Woodstock, IL, or downloaded from the Defenders’  website 

(http://www.mcdef.org/Community_Scholarship_Application.pdf)

Completed applications must be received in the office of the Defenders by April 30, 2012. If you have any questions regarding the scholarship, please call the office at 815-338-0393. The winner will be notified by May 9, 2012.

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment. The group provides community residents with educational programs and volunteer action on pollution prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource conservation. Donations are encouraged and are tax-deductible as charitable contributions.  For more information,  visit or call 815-338-0393.

Words of Wisdom

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

--Thomas Jefferson

A Comparison

Note: This is not exactly local, However, after spending a semester (20 or more years ago) at former Mundelein Weekend College, studying what led to the Holacaust, there seems to be some similarities. 

The Federal government is now allowed to store personal information about private citizens with absolutely no ties to terrorism for up to five years, expanding previous authority under new rules implemented by the Administration of Barack Obama.

Before the change, the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) was supposed to immediately destroy intelligence information about Americans when they were deemed to have no clear ties to terrorism. Government officials who want the right to spy on every American have used terror attempts to justify their actions.

“Following the failed terrorist attack in December 2009, representatives of the counterterrorism community concluded it is vital for NCTC to be provided with a variety of datasets from various agencies that contain terrorism information,” Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said in a very recent statement. “The ability to search against these datasets for up to five years on a continuing basis as these updated guidelines permit will enable NCTC to accomplish its mission more practically and effectively.”

Officials claim the guidelines will make the Nation safer by making sure relevant terrorism information is readily accessible to analysts, according to The Washington Post.

Earlier this year, the FBI and the Department of Justice released a series of flyers that outline possible indicators of terrorist plotting. The flyers noted many obscure activities that many Americans do every day, such as paying for things with cash, taking photos, etc. Over the past several months, the government has taken steps to make it possible to subject nearly any person to the scrutiny of a terror investigation.

Rakow Road Construction Advisory

With the weather cooperating, the contractor will be switching traffic on both McHenry Avenue and Ackman Road Wednesday, March 28th to allow further work to proceed on those roads. 

This will result in a new traffic pattern with new striping and the realignment of the traffic signals so please be alert when driving through these cross streets.  Expect some delays as this work is done

Government At Work

Wednesday, March 28

7:00 p.m. – Valley Hi Operating Board –

Meeting in the Valley Hi Nursing Home, 2406 Hartland Road, Woodstock.

The agenda for this meeting includes New Business matters of IDPH Annual Survey Preliminary Results, Medicare B Prepay Probe, and a Resolution changing a position from full-time Nurses Assistant to a Full-Time Activity Assistant position.

Old Business matters include Operating Board Vacancy Recruitment and Customer Service Program.

Various reports are provided to the Committee as applicable, such as Administrator’s Report, Census Report, Staffing Report, Financial Report, Quality Indicator Report, Quality Assurance Meeting Minutes and Resident Senate Meeting Minutes.

Juvenile Pimping Results In Stay With Illinois Department of Corrections

A former Lake In-The-Hills man, 54-year old Donald R. Jones, has been sentenced to 7 ½ years in the Illinois Department of Corrections facility for a class 1 felony offence, Juvenile Pimping. This is the result of a negotiated plea.

Co-defendants, Kari Knox and Antwanette Atkins, were each found guilty of involuntary Servitude of a Minor following an August 2011 jury trial. The evidence at the trail of the co-defendants revealed that on December 31, 2009, Kari Knox and Antwanette Atkins actively participated in arranging for a 14-year old girl from Kansas to engage in prostitution and the proceeds were given to Donald R. Jones who had transported the minor victim to Illinois.

Both Knox and Atkins were each sentenced to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

This case was investigated by the Lake in the Hills Police Department and was prosecuted by Sharyl Eisenstein of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Rakow Road Construction Resuming

More construction activity on Rakow Road will be resuming in the upcoming weeks. 

The majority of the storm sewers are installed - only a few connections need to be made in the medians and the side streets.  Electrical work for both signals and lighting is starting.  Crews are also preparing for the concrete base in the new westbound lanes. 

Expect new lane configurations starting the week of April 2, 2012 at Ackman, McHenry and Pyott.  Work at the other cross streets will follow. 

Watch for workers, watch for new signal locations and please observe the work zone speed limit and the ban on cell phones in work zones

Please check out www.rakowroad.com for details.

Words of Wisdom

"Born in other countries, yet believing you could be happy in this, our laws acknowledge, as they should do, your right to join us in society, conforming, as I doubt not you will do, to our established rules. That these rules shall be as equal as prudential considerations will admit, will certainly be the aim of our legislatures, general and particular."

 --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Hugh White, 1801

Government At Work

TUESDAY, MARCH 27—

9:00 a.m. – Joint Meeting of County Board Finance and Audit Committee and Human Resources Committee—

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock

The only piece of business is a Resolution authorizing the implementation of a contract between Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers -- Division of Transportation and the County of McHenry.

9:30 a.m. – Finance and Audit Committee –

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

Several Resolutions are being presented to the Committee. One is Authorizing Monthly Transactions for the Delinquent Tax Program.

A second Resolution is authorizing a Contractual Agreement with Computer Software Incorporated (CSI) for Developing Permitting System and an Emergency Appropriation in the Planning and Development Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Budget.

Another Resolution authorizes Entry into a Contractual Agreement with Computer Software Incorporated (CSI) for Purchasing a Digital Plan Review System and an Emergency Appropriation in the Planning and Development Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Budget.

7:00 p.m. – Regularly Scheduled Village of Lakewood Board Meeting –

Cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled on April 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the RedTail Golf Club, 7900 RedTail Drive, Lakewood.

REMINDER -- DEADLINE APPROACHING

Nominations for Spirit of Public Health Award – March 30

Deadline is approaching for nominations from the public for McHenry County Department of Health’s (MCDH) 7th annual Spirit of Public Health Awards. 

 In celebration of National Public Health Week (April 2-8), MCDH will present Spirit Awards to those individuals who help make their communities a healthy place but may not be recognized for their efforts.  The deadline is Friday, March 30.  Past winners have included volunteers, senior citizens, professionals and students in the following areas–

Raising awareness for a chronic illness

Community service to needy children

Recycling efforts at a clinic

Role model for teens against tobacco use

Devotion to animal welfare at a local shelter

Helping seniors with home repairs

Providing mental health/pet therapy for at-risk youth

Nominations should be in short story format (a limit of 100 words) and can be submitted by email (daquackenbush@co.mchenry.il.us), fax (815-334-4635) or mail (McHenry County Dept of Health, Attn: Spirit Awards, 2200 N Seminary Avenue, Woodstock IL 60098).  A flyer for the Spirit Awards is posted on the MCDH webpage www.mcdh.info along with winners from previous years. Spirit Award recipients and their nominators will be invited to attend the MCDH Public Health Breakfast on April 16 at the McHenry County Government Center in Woodstock. 

Please direct questions to Debra Quackenbush, Community Information Coordinator/PIO at 815-334-4456 or daquackenbush@co.mchenry.il.us. 

Words of Wisdom

"Well, it's fine for candidates to run their campaigns on a high plane, but it would be like me wanting to conduct this column on a strictly grammatical basis. I would like to, but I just ain't equipped for it, and that's the way they are. With politicians as the tools, you just ain't equipped to conduct anything on a high plane."

--American humorist Will Rogers (1879-1935)

Scholarships For MCC Current And Future Students

The Friends of McHenry County College Foundation is offering 36 different scholarships for current and future MCC students who plan to enroll for the Fall 2012 semester.

he scholarships vary in amount and type of award and include those based on need, merit and/or program of study. Funding is available for students enrolled in a variety of majors, including construction management, culinary management, horticulture, plant sciences, early childhood education, education,  conservation or environmental science, technology, firefighter or EMT, photography culinary management, journalism, music, nursing, welding and several others with no specific major.

A new scholarship this year is the Joe Blanco Benevolent Heart Scholarship established in memory of MCC special needs tutor Joe Blanco, who volunteered for several different organizations in the community. The scholarship applicant must demonstrate and provide proof of community service and a high school or college GPA of 2.5 or higher.

In addition, students with disabilities, those who will be the first in their family to complete college and those who completed the GED and want to continue their college education, all have an opportunity to apply for scholarships.

The scholarships are available until they are filled. Recipients will be notified as they each are selected for the scholarships. MCC registration for general and new-student registration begins on April 30.

Scholarship applications and a complete listing of all of the scholarships are available online at www.mchenry.edu/scholarships. Applicants must complete the application online, print out, sign and return it to the Financial Aid Office, Room A262. Forms may not be submitted online. For more information, contact (815) 455-8761.