New Flavoring For Sea Food

As of 2009 the US NAVY was to implement undersea warfare testing in various ocean regions around the US in open waters effecting the oceans themselves including all sea-life. Each one of the testing ranges is under a 5-year operational blanket.

In 2012 new expansions have been made to some of the ranges including in and around the Gulf of Mexico, in and around Florida, and Maine.

Another plan would encompass the Hawaiian Islands  all the way to California, essentially making it into a massive testing ground for undersea warfare.

A third range will also be added effecting more undersea habitats and  marine life alike causing major concern for some.

Visit Rosalind Peterson’s website at AgricultureDefenseCoalition.org

Words Of Wisdom

"The natural cure for an ill-administration, in a popular or representative constitution, is a change of men."

 --Alexander Hamilton

The First Thanksgiving In A New Country

"I do recommend and assign Thursday ... next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be."

 --George Washington, 1789

Words Of Wisdom

"Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence."
--Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833

Thanksgiving

A special day of thanks.
 Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday during the height of the Civil War.
On Oct. 3, 1863, President Lincoln issued a National Thanksgiving Proclamation.
"The year that is drawing to a close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies," he wrote.

Filled with optimism in the midst of the Civil War, Lincoln believed the North was gaining the upper hand and that peace soon would be restored to the divided country.

"It has seemed to me fit and proper that [the blessings] should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people."  
A. Lincoln

Rakow Road Update

Although the roadway is now completely open to traffic, crews are still putting the final touches on things.  There will be occasional lane closures over the next couple of weeks as this remaining work is finished.

 Workers and trucks will be on site, so please be alert while driving.  Remember that the speed limit is 45 mph. 

Thanks, again, for your patience over the last two years!

Words Of Wisdom

:"We should be unfaithful to ourselves if we should ever lose sight of the danger to our liberties if anything partial or extraneous should infect the purity of our free, fair, virtuous, and independent elections."

  --John Adams, Inaugural Address, 1797

Crystal Lake Council Membership Changes

A new council member was named to replace retiring member Carolyn Schofield who was recently elected to the McHenry County Board representing District 2. Illinois Statutes prohibit members from serving on more than one governmental board. She will be seated on the County Board at the December 4 meeting.

Ms. Schofield noted that she was eager to represent Crystal Lake on the County Board as she has done on the City Council.

Mayor Aaron Shepley announced that Cameron Hubbard will fill the vacancy.

Christmas Is Near

Other matters handled by the Council included a reminder by Dianna Kenney of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce that Santa is coming to town Friday.

The annual Festival of Lights is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. beginning at City Hall. Floats in the parade accompanying Santa will be stopping at Crystal Lake Avenue and Williams Street, where the annual tree lighting ceremony will take place.

Truth In Taxation

It has been determined that the 2012 tax levy is to be $14,783,056. This is less than 105% of the aggregate extensions for 2011 tax levy which was $14,407,692. There is no need to publish what is known as the truth in taxation notice. The tax levy ordinance is to be considered at the December 18 Council meeting.

Its official—the regularly scheduled January 1, 2013 Council Meeting has been cancelled as approved by the Council at Tuesday’s meeting.

Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault Of A Child-Conviction

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Robert Lucht, 56, formerly of Lake in the Hills, was sentenced to 25 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for three counts of the offense of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child and one count of the offense of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse. The Defendant was found guilty at a jury trial on October 3, 2012.

This case was investigated by the Lake in the Hills Police Department. The victim of the assaults was an 11 year old child who was admitted to a hospital for suicidal intentions and for harming herself. She then reported that she had been sexually assaulted by the defendant multiple times between the ages of seven and nine.

When the defendant was confronted with the allegations by the police he gave a written confession admitting he assaulted the child. The case was prosecuted by Sharyl Eisenstein and Michael Combs, Chief of the Criminal Division of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office

Government At Work-McHenry County Zoning Board

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21--

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

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

Sass - Hebron Township -- Reclassification from the A-1 Agriculture District to the A-2 Agriculture District.

Government At Work - Crystal Lake City Council

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20—

7:30 p.m. – Crystal Lake City Council –

Meeting in the City Council Chambers, 100 West Woodstock Street.

Cancellation of the January 1 Council Meeting. The Council will not meet on the first day of January, although that is the date of regularly scheduled Council meeting.

The Council is being requested to approve a resolution regarding the annual tax levy ordinance, which will be considered during a public hearing scheduled December 18. The actual dollars collected from the 2012 tax levy are not received until fiscal year 2013/2014 and the City has not yet considered an annual budget for this period.

Action regarding the annexation of five properties on State Street, Crystal Lake Manor is to be continued to the January 15 Council meeting.

The Council is being requested to adopt an ordinance granting a Special Use Permit for property at 39 N. Williams Street. This retail space was formerly occupied by J. Scott Menswear and is adjacent to Dalzell Jewelers.

Plans are to locate Dalzell Estate Sales at this location for the retail of estate items, excluding firearms.

Several other zoning matters are to be considered by the Council for approval. Included are:

Whitey’s Towing, 710 Eastgate Alley – Variation to construct an 8-foot-high fence 17 feet into the required 30-foot corner side yard setback along Commercial Road.

Walmart, 1205 S. Route 31 – Final Planned Unit Development Amendment to allow elevation changes to alter the approved color scheme.

Factory Plaza Subdivision, Lot 3, 7109 Pingree Road – Rezoning for Lot 3 from “M” Manufacturing to the “B-2” General Commercial district.

Resolution designating two City Councilmembers as liaisons to the Crystal Lake Public Library Expansion Planning Group.

The Council is expected to conduct an executive session for several personnel matters including the ordinance amending the section of the City Code to increase the number of Historic Preservation Commission voting members to nine from the current seven.

Also to consider reappointment of a member to the Police Pension Board and the appointment of a new council member to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Councilmember Carolyn Schofield, who resigned after being elected to the County Board. Laws prohibit serving on both boards.

Government At Work-McHenry County Board

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20—

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Housing Commission—

Meeting in the Planning and Development Department Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

In addition to considering a staff report, pictures for the web page and talking points for municipality meetings, the committee is expected to consider the People In Need Volunteers.

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Tuberculosis Care and Treatment Board –

Meeting in the McHenry County Department of Health, Building B, 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock.

The Board will consider the monthly reports of the TB Nurse as well as statistics.

The Kane County TB outbreak update is to be considered as well as the TB Board meeting scheduled for 2013.

Other matters include information and communication regarding “Homelessness is a risk factor for TB” as well as “Tuberculosis, Drug Resistance and the History of Modern Medicine” These are recently published related articles.

6:45 p.m. – McHenry County Board Transportation Committee –

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

The Committee is to consider Approving Right-Of-Way Land Acquisition Management Services Agreement and Appropriating Funds for the Noe Road Project.

Also to be considered for approval is Right-Of-Way Land Acquisition Management Services Agreement and Appropriating Funds for the River Road at Dowell Road Intersection Project.

7:00 p.m. – McHenry County Board –

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

Several special recognitions are to be presented the board including the recognition of Mary Donner for her services to the Veterans Assistance Commission and a proclamation recognizing Marlene Lantz for 32 years of exemplary Service to McHenry County. Also to be consider are the recognition of Departing County Board members.

These include District 1, Robert Bless; District 2-James P. Kennedy, District 3, Kathleen Bergan Schmidt, District 4, Pete Merkel, District 5, Virginia Peschke, District 6, Randall Donley.

Four zoning matters are to be handled including:

Dunham Township -Chisamore for a change from A1-to A1VB.

Richmond Township -Varga -– from A1-to A2

Nunda Township --Krueger Tower/ComEd – from A1C-to A1C

Dunham Township - Solarte/Ojeda –from  A1C - A1C

Several grants are to be accepted including an HIV Grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health; a Dental Needs Assessment Grant from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation; A 2012 State Criminal Alien Assistance Program Award to the Sheriff’s Department for 2013.

The Board is to consider a number of resolutions including

• Authorizing an Adjustment to the Job Classification Structure in the County’s Job Evaluation/Classification System;
• Authorizing a contract agreement between the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, Facilities Management Department and The County;
• Approving an intergovernmental agreement between the county of McHenry, the City of Crystal Lake, the city of McHenry, and the City of Woodstock for the McRide Dial-a-Ride Transit Services for 2013;
• Allocating funding for McRide Transit Services in 2013.
• Approving an engineering services agreement amendment and the funds for the Illinois Route 31 Western Algonquin Bypass Project.
• Approving an amended intergovernmental agreement wit the State of Illinois for the Western Algonquin Bypass Project;
• Approving engineering services agreement supplement and appropriating funds for the Johnsburg Road Project.:
• Approving an early start-up engineering services agreement for Contract 1 of the Charles J. Miller Road Construction Project.

Other resolutions to be considered include:

• Authorizing acceptance of the 2012 McHenry County Emergency Operations Plan
• Approving the County of McHenry’s Owned or leased Vehicle Use Policy;
• Authorizing an intergovernmental Agreement Between the County and the McHenry-Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District for obtaining wetland services.
• Authorizing additional 2012 Community Development Block Grant funding Allocations 

Crystal Lake Library Closed Wednesday Through Friday

The Crystal Lake Public Library will be closed on Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 5 pm through Friday, November 23, 2012 for the Thanksgiving holiday.  The Library will re-open to the public at 9:00 am Saturday, November 24, 2012.

Republicans Are Hoping To Change The Election-Legally

The following was provided by a Republican organization, World Net Daily.

We have one last, final chance to save America. We have one last, final chance to stop Barack Obama. One final chance. What is this final chance? Will the Republicans step up to the plate and do what is necessary?
 
 Barack Obama has not yet been re-elected president.
Yes, the election is over – but remember, a presidential election in America is not by popular vote. We vote for the candidate, but what we are really doing is voting for the electors who will meet on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December. That is when the actual re-election of the president occurs. Is there a way to stop this? Yes, there is and it is Constitutional.

 The 12th Amendment of the Constitution as well as Article II of the Constitution govern the Electoral College. According to the 12th Amendment, for the Electoral College to be able to select the president, it must have a quorum of two-thirds of the states voting. If enough states refuse to participate, the Electoral College will not have a quorum. If the Electoral College does not have a quorum or otherwise cannot vote or decide, then the responsibility for selecting the president and vice president devolves to the Congress.

The House of Representatives selects the president and the Senate selects the vice president. Since the Republicans hold a majority in the House, presumably they would vote for Mitt Romney, and the Democrats in the Senate would vote for Joe Biden for vice president.

Can this work? Sure it can, they say.

Democrats have actually set this precedent of refusing to participate to deny Republicans a quorum. They did this in Wisconsin and in Texas. Why can’t we do this with the Electoral College?

Mitt Romney was a terrible candidate, and he will not be a great president. But he will be infinitely better than Barack Obama.

So how do we do this?
Mitt Romney carried 24 states. We need to have conservative activists from all over the nation contact the electors, the Republican Party and the secretary of state in all of these states and tell them not to participate in the Electoral College when it meets on Dec. 17.

If we can get 17 of those states (just over one-third) to refuse to participate, the Electoral College will have no quorum. Then, as the Constitution directs, the election goes to the House of Representatives.

That is how we can still pull this election out and make Mitt Romney president in January.

We need this concept shared with every tea party, liberty and patriotic group throughout the country. We have time to act, but we must pressure Republicans to do the right thing.

It does not matter who gets credit for this. The credit is not important. Using our last chance to defeat Barack Obama is important.

Far too often the Republican Party seems more interested in losing gracefully than winning and governing.

This is our last chance. We the people must contact the electors, party officials and secretaries of state from every red state and insist that they refuse to participate in the Electoral College.

We can still save America and use the Constitution to do it. But this truly is our last chance.

Words f Wisdom

"There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily." 

--George Washington

Government At Work-Monday Evening

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19—

6:00 p.m. McHenry County Mental Health Board –

Meeting in the Mental Health Board Facility, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake.

In addition to the routine matters such as approval of minutes of prior meeting, the Board is expected to consider Behavioral Health Foundation Update, the 2013 Board Meeting Schedule, the wraparound Holiday Adopt-A-Family program.

Reports are to be considered from Director Todd Schroll and Treasurer Sam Tenuto.

A consent agenda is being presented for the Board’s consideration and includes Financial   Reports for the period ending October 31, Annual Insurance Renewals, Cost Allocation Plan, Selection of Vendor for RFP on Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Developmental Program Evaluation, Continuous Quality Improvement Services 24 funding contracts are being presented to board for approval.

7:00 p.m. Crystal Lake School District 47 Board –

Meeting in Indian Prairie School, 651 W. Village Road, Crystal Lake.

In addition to handling the various routine matters, the Board is to consider matters related to personnel employment, resignations, and leaves.

Also for Board consideration and approval is the 2012 Tentative Tax Levy along with approval for the publication of the Annual Statement of Affairs and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. As well as the Annual Teacher Joint Association Financial Statements.

The Board is also to consider approval of the 2012-2013 school calendar as well as necessary updates to the District policy.

7:00 p.m. – Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission –

Meeting in the City Council Chambers, 100 Woodstock Street.

The following projects are presented to the Commission for consideration:

Menards, 4850 Cog Circle is seeking a final PUD amendment for the sales, storage, and display of equipment for a propane fueling station.

Milestone Therapy, 394 Federal Drive , is seeking a Preliminary/Final/ approval for a medical facility at the Federal Drive location,

Jaster’s, 414 Virginia Street – A request is being made for the location of a bar in the Jaster Building, located at the northwest corner of Virginia Street and Pomeroy Avenue, and adjoins Taco Bell..

The building currently houses two apartments on the second floor, a restaurant and retail businesses on the first floor. On-street parking will be utilized.

The Other Side—93 Berkshire Drive— A request is being made for a variation and special use to allow a non-alcoholic beverage night club for recovering alcoholics.

7:30 p.m. – High School District 155 Board –

Meeting in the District Center For Education, One South Virginia Road, Crystal Lake.

The Board is to consider a Resolution to Adopt a Tentative Levy for 2012. as well as a number of retirement, resignations and employment matters.

Words Of Wisdom

"Every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country.

 --Noah Webster, On the Education of Youth in America, 1788

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