Important Meeting Taking Place Wednesday, October 17

The Towncrier published information regarding the upcoming public event taking place Wednesday, October 17 from 7 to 9 pm. in Room B170 of  McHenry County College Conference Center,  8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake.. The information which was provided to The Towncrier indicated there is a $5 admission fee.

We have been informed that the sponsors of the event are not asking for a set fee but instead are requesting a donation to offset the cost of renting the MCC facility.

Granted, the college is “owned” by the citizens of the County, and operates on county tax dollars. However, a donation to help offset added costs for this event is not unreasonable.

Please donate what you can. The pro and con information on the topic is extremely important in order to make an educated vote decision in the November 6 election. Both sides of this issue are to be presented at this meeting. 

Used Book Sale Starting Monday

The Environmental Defenders will hold a Used Book Sale at the Woodstock Square Mall, 110 S Johnson St, lower level (elevator available), starting Monday, October 15 through Saturday October 27, from 11 am - 4 pm. And beginning Saturday, October 20, books will be $5 a bag! Payment is by cash or check only.

For over 40 years, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County has been a leader in encouraging re-use and recycling practices throughout McHenry County. Each year, the Woodstock-based nonprofit holds several sales of good-quality used books, albums, videos, and software that have been donated by private citizens and area libraries. Items are sold at extremely low prices to keep them in use and out of landfills. All proceeds go to support the environmental programs and services offered by the Defenders.

The sale offers flea-market prices on thousands of top authors and best-selling novels, biographies, sports, travel and adventure books, self-help titles, cookbooks and crafts, philosophy and religion, business guides, computer manuals, and much more.

Book donations can always be made (even after the sale ends) at the drop box in front of the Woodstock Square Mall or at the Defenders’ “Green Spot” used book store, located on the first floor of the building, during regular hours.

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 www.mcdef.org or call 815-338-0393.

Stop! Don't Throw Away That Used Tennis Ball

“Did you know that tennis balls are NOT biodegradable?  That means that of the 300 million or so that are manufactured yearly, 380,000 pounds of them could end up in landfills.  Is that how we want our precious ecosphere to be comprised?  Staff at The Racket doesn't think so!

The Racket Club Maintenance Supervisor John Cwiklik has found solutions.  First, local animal shelters and schools are always in need of used balls and accept them from us with great delight.  Next, there are companies now that re-pressurize balls and redistribute them to those who may not have the means to use brand new balls, helping to grow the sport among those previously without access to the necessary equipment.

Please help in this very worthwhile endeavor.  The Racket Club, a Crystal Lake Park District facility, located at 9101 South Route 31 in Algonquin  has ball recycling stations in the form of large bins resembling Penn tennis ball cans in the court hallways and foyer.  Instead of throwing your used balls in the garbage, visit The Racket Club and throw them in these containers so that someday and somewhere, a sweet doggie, school student, or new player may benefit. 
 "Thank you," from The Racket Club!

Words Of Wisdom

"There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate upon real favours from Nation to Nation.  --George Washington

Walkup Avenue Work Moving Along

North Section:
Asphalt is being placed on the west side of Crystal Lake Rd.   Early next week, traffic will be shifted to the newly placed asphalt lane.  Topsoil, seed, and erosion blanket placement has begun in the right-of-way.  Earth excavation has begun in preparation for the remainder of the widening.

South Section: 
On IL Route 176, stone base placement has begun in preparation for curb installation next week.  Work continues on the retaining wall in front of the shopping complex west of Walkup on Route 176. On Walkup Road, stone base placement has begun in preparation for asphalt placement next week.

Should McHenry County Change Form Of Government?

Should the government of McHenry County be fundamentally altered by electing a County Executive? All residents should be informed about the potential impact of such a significant change to our governmental structure.

This proposed binding referendum is a permanent change to local government. What impact would this have on your local representative’s ability to act according to the wishes of their constituents? What would the costs be to implement such a system? What additional personnel will be needed and how would they be funded?

On Wednesday, October 17, Patriots United will host a Referendum Impact Forum featuring a panel discussion to present both sides of the argument.

Please join us at McHenry County College, Conference Center Building, Room B170, on October 17 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Panel discussion will follow with Q & A. Become informed before November 6th. This is your government. Own it with knowledge and action. We look forward to seeing you there.

$5.00 Admission fee

Seating is limited, please arrive early!

Five Year Sentence For Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse

According to information released today by Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, 40-year old Jimmy J. Dill of Huntley, was sentenced to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the class 2 felony offenses of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse.

The Defendant is reported to have pleaded guilty and admitted to placing his hands on the breasts of a female under the age of seventeen years old.

In sentencing the defendant to the Department of Corrections, the Court found that a sentence of probation would deprecate the serious nature of the offense and that the sentence to the penitentiary was necessary to protect the public.

This case was investigated by the Huntley Police Department and was prosecuted for the State by Assistant State’s Attorney David Metnick.

Words Of Wisdom

"They are not to do anything they please to provide for the general welfare, but only to lay taxes for that purpose. To consider the latter phrase not as describing the purpose of the first, but as giving a distinct and independent power to do any act they please which may be good for the Union, would render all the preceding and subsequent enumerations of power completely useless. It would reduce the whole instrument to a single phrase, that of instituting a Congress with power to do whatever would be for the good of the United States; and as they would be the sole judges of the good or evil, it would be also a power to do whatever evil they please...Certainly no such universal power was meant to be given them. It was intended to lace them up straightly within the enumerated powers and those without which, as means, these powers could not be carried into effect."

--Thomas Jefferson, Opinion on a National Bank, 1791

Senior Citizen Car Safety Check Day -- Friday

WHAT:          2nd Annual Cary Senior Citizen Car Safety Check Day

MCC Automotive Students to Perform Vehicle Safety Inspections for Seniors

WHERE:       Korean Church, 525 Ada Street in Cary, IL (Ada St. & School St.)

WHEN:          9 a.m. to noon on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012

Description:   MCC Automotive Technology students and instructors, in conjunction with the Cary Police Department, will perform vehicle safety inspections for any needed basic repairs or maintenance.

Students and instructors will inspect the vehicles for tire safety, tire pressure, oil and fluid level, belts and wipers.

This complimentary safety inspection is aimed to provide seniors with the peace of mind knowing which repairs their vehicle needs without fear of repair fraud. Seniors will be provided a checklist of recommended repairs that they can bring to their preferred repair shop with confidence.

For more information, contact Officer Eiring of the Cary Police Dept. at (847) 639-2341 or Mike Albamonte, MCC automotive instructor, at (815) 455-8941.

Government At Work

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11 –

7:00 a.m. – Search Committee of McHenry County Mental Health Board—

Meeting in the Mental Health Board Main Conference Room, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake.

The Committee is to review and accept the Meyers Group as vendor for search services for Executive Director in response to an RFP.

Also the Committee is to review and make final recommendation of the Executive Director Job Description.

The Committee may make recommendations regarding the position.

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Legislative Committee –

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

The Committee is to consider a recommendation of Legislative Support for the Advancement of the Agricultural Conservation Easement and Farmland Protection Program.

Also, a discussion is to be held on Detailed Financial and Policy Reporting by Units of Local Government.

The 2013 State Legislative Program Proposals is also an item for discussion.

9:00 a.m. — McHenry County Continuum of Care For Homelessness—

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

A Data Report is to be provided regarding Continuous Quality Improvement.

Old Business includes:

• Approval of proposed by-laws
• Technical Assistance Update
• Super NOFA- Next steps ion planning

New Business for the organization includes: 
New Bonus Project

• Funding for Ten Year Plan
• Permanent Shelter Discuss and action steps
• Participation in Regional Roundtable
• Housing Commission Update

Members comments and miscellaneous business and announcements are listed before adjournment.

1:00 p.m. – McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals

1:00 p.m. – McHenry County Planning & Development Committee

The Zoning Board and the Planning and Development Committee are meeting to review the draft Unified Development Ordinance. The meeting is taking place in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

Words Of Wisdom

"History by apprising [citizens] of the past will enable them to judge of the future; it will avail them of the experience of other times and other nations; it will qualify them as judges of the actions and designs of men; it will enable them to know ambition under every disguise it may assume; and knowing it, to defeat its views."

--Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, Query 14, 1781

Government At Work

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10 –

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Natural & Environmental Resources Committee –

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

The Committee is to consider a request from the McHenry County Agricultural Conservation Easement and Farmland Protection Commission (ACE) to support legislation funding an agricultural conservation easement and farmland protection program.

Voters would be asked to decide through a referendum whether they agree to raise taxes to purchase agricultural conservation easements and establish grants to units of local government for redevelopment purposes addressing stormwater management, groundwater protection and reinvestment in developed sites.

The Committee is also to consider a resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement between McHenry County and Lake County Stormwater Commission to allow communities located in both counties to be certified under the Lake County Watershed Development Ordinance.

1:30 p.m. – McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals –

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

The petitioners are requesting a reclassification from A=1 Agriculture District to the A-2 Agriculture District for their property located at 4304Rt. 173, Richmond. This property is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of IL Route 173 and Hawks Point Trail, in Richmond Township 

Words Of Wisdom

"[D]emocracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes and no man's life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one of these will soon mould itself into a system of subordination of all the moral virtues and intellectual abilities, all the powers of wealth, beauty, wit and science, to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, and the execrable cruelty of one or a very few."

 --John Adams, An Essay on Man's Lust for Power, 1763

Government At work

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9 –

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Human Resources Committee –

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

In addition to considering for approval, a resolution authorizing a Workers’ Compensation Claim Settlement, the Committee is also to consider for approval, authorization of salary ranges for FY 2012-2013. This is based on action taken in 2008 accepting Job Evaluation Classification System developed by RSM McGladrey as the McHenry County Job Classification System .

The firm, now known as Verisight, is recommending a 2% adjustment to the County’s wage and salary ranges for FY 2012-2013. This increases the midpoint of each wage/salary range by 2%, thereby increasing both the minimum and maximum of each wage/salary range by 2%.

If the committee recommends approval and the County Approves same, the increases will take effect beginning December 1, 2012.

The Committee is also to consider acceptance of a $298,994 “We Choose Health” grant through the Illinois Department of Public Health.

9:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Finance and Audit Committee –

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

The Committee will be considering five resolutions regarding budget line item transfers before considering a resolution to expand the Board of Review for assessment Year 2012.

A resolution authorizing the adoption of the salary ranges for FY 2012-2013 is being presented for committee approval.

Another resolution is to authorize a budge line item transfer between General Fund Departments – County Administration and Non-Departmental in the FY 2012 Budget.

The Committee is also to consider two ordinances. One is providing for the levy of taxes for McHenry County for the Fiscal Year December 1, 2012 through November 30, 2013.

A second ordinance for consideration is the annual Budget and Appropriations Ordinance f the same period.

11:00—McHenry County Board Liquor and License Committee –

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

The Committee will consider a new liquor license for Shri Sai 12 Corporation, doing business as U.S. Speed Mart.

Four raffle permit requests are being presented for approval including for the Cary-Grove Jaycees, Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois, Spring Grove 4 ^th of July  Committee, Inc. and Woodstock Country Club.

The Committee is also to discuss approval of Multiple Raffle License Letter.

7:00 p.m. – Lakewood Village Board –

Meeting in RedTail Golf Club 7900 RedTail Drive, Lakewood

The Board is to discuss the topic of Voluntary Annexation of Additional Properties.

Other matters handled by the Board include the payment of bills, approval of 2013 Village Board Meeting Calendar.

New York Italian Population Responsible For Columbus Day

Columbus Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October each year. It is generally accepted that Christopher Columbus was the first European to have discovered the New World of the Americas. 1992 marked the 500th anniversary of the Columbus discovery. Across the United States people celebrate the day Columbus landed in America because it changed the course of history.

It is interesting that Americans might not have a Columbus Day if Christopher Columbus had not been born in Italy. Out of pride for their native son, the Italian population of New York organized the first celebration of the discovery of America on October 12, 1866. The following year, more Italian organizations in an increased number of cities held banquets, parades and dances on that date. In 1869, when the Italians of San Francisco celebrated October 12, they called it Columbus Day.

In 1905, Colorado became the first state to observe a Columbus Day. Over the next twenty years other states followed. In 1937, President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed every October 12 as Columbus Day. Since 1971 Columbus Day has been celebrated on the second Monday in October.

Government At Work

MONDAY, OCTOBER 8 –

7:00 p.m. –Joint meeting of Planning and Public Relations Committees of Crystal Lake Public Library Board –

Meeting in the Library Director’s Office at the Public Library, 126 Paddock Street, Crystal Lake.

Words Of Wisdom

"Work as if you were to live 100 Years, Pray as if you were to die To-morrow." –

Benjamin Franklin

Make A Difference - Join Medical Reserve Corps

Did you know that the McHenry County Medical Reserve Corps is part of a program aimed at creating local volunteers to provide assistance to their communities during an emergency or disaster?

After the tragic events of September 11th, thousands of citizens responded by volunteering to help in any way they could. To provide a framework for volunteers, President Bush launched the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) in 2002.  MRC units contribute their skill and expertise throughout the year as well as during times of community need.

The County’s MRC is an important part of the McHenry County Department of Health’s (MCDH) emergency preparedness and response strategy.  MRC volunteers come from both medical and non-medical backgrounds and are pre-identified, trained and credentialed.  They help to fortify McHenry County’s ability to respond to terrorist activity, natural disasters and emergency health events.  MRC volunteers can also work to strengthen the overall health and well-being of the community by participating in MCDH activities throughout the year.

You can make a difference in McHenry County with your expertise, energy and enthusiasm by joining the MRC.  For more information, call Liz Hackett at 815-334-4932 or visit www.mcdhprepare.info to get an application and view other resources.

Get the latest news from MCDH at www.mcdh.info, on Facebook and Twitter www.twitter.com/mchenrycohealth. 

Flagger Training At McHenry County College

McHenry County College is offering a four-hour National Safety Council Flagger Training Certificate Course from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 12. The class will take place at the Shah Center, 4100 West Shamrock Lane, McHenry, in Room 121.

Students will learn flagging procedures and proper use of required equipment through classroom activities and hands-on training. The flagger training course is available for both novice and experienced construction zone flaggers.

In addition to controlling traffic through work areas, the program aims to minimize confusion by bringing standard flagging procedures to our nation's highways.

Cost is $125 per session. To register, call the MCC Registration Office at (815) 455-8588. For more information, call Dee Comella at (815) 479-7591.

Questions Without Answers

By Shepard Ambellas
theintelhub.com
September 6, 2012

"If you can imagine this, factions of your own government in conjunction with FEMA and DHS have been preparing for your very own demise.

"What do I mean by that you might say?

For years the plans have been in the works — programs like REX 84 (Readiness Exercise 1984), World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Guidelines, and globalist backed agendas all designed for the american and primary world population.

"First exposed in March of 2009 when I reported for Infowars.com and the Alex Jones Show about how the Military Industrial Complex Prepares Mass Graves for US Citizens, and yes we as taxpayers are footing the bill.

"Recently Paul Joseph Watson (Infowars.com) reported that;

The United States Congress has passed a bill which mandates the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prepare for “mass fatality planning” and funeral homes, cemeteries and mortuaries being “overwhelmed” in the aftermath of a mass terror attack, natural disaster or other crisis.

"The bill, H. R. 6566 or the Mass Fatality Planning and Religious Considerations Act, was  posted on the govtrack.us website this morning having been approved by the House on September 28.

"The legislation amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct FEMA to “provide guidance and coordination for mass fatality planning, and for other purposes.”

"Noting the necessity for emergency preparedness in relation to terror attacks, natural disasters and man-made disasters, the bill instructs FEMA to be sensitive to the fact that Jews and Muslims require bodies to be buried within 48 hours of death.

“Funeral homes, cemeteries, and mortuaries could be overwhelmed should mass fatalities arise from a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster,” states the legislation.

"Then of course there is all of the FEMA coffins readied for a major catastrophe to happen within the CONUS (Continental United States).

So what is all of this about?

"What is it all for?

"Who are they for?

"These are the questions one must ask.

"Is a major event heading our way, or are the globalist just profiteering?"