Christmas Holidays Have Ended - What To Do With That Natural Christmas Tree

The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) encourages you to recycle your natural Christmas tree after the holiday season. Many solid waste haulers provide curbside collection of Christmas trees. However, if your licensed solid waste hauler does not offer curbside collection of Christmas trees, then there are several area locations that will recycle your tree into mulch at no cost to you. Mulch used in landscaping provides multiple environmental benefits such as conserving moisture, improving soil structure, reducing weeds and soil erosion, and provides a source of plant nutrients all while reducing the amount of waste discarded at a landfill. Christmas trees dropped off for recycling must have all decorations removed.  Artificial trees will not be accepted.

OPEN TO MCHENRY COUNTY RESIDENTS McHenry County Conservation District Dec 26 - Jan 15 Drop-off Sites: · Glacial Park, Ringwood, IL (off Harts Rd.) · Rush Creek, Harvard (at Twin Oaks Parking Area, west of pond) · Algonquin Township Headquarters For details, call 815-338-6223	OPEN TO ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS  Algonquin Township Road District 3702 U.S. Hwy. 14, Crystal Lake, IL Open 24/7, Dec 26 – Jan 31 For details, call 847-639-2700,ext. 6
OPEN TO DORR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS Dorr Township Road District 12322 Davis Road, Woodstock, IL Dec 26 - Jan 31, M-F during business hours For details, call 815-338-1060	OPEN TO NUNDA TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS Nunda Township Road District 3518 Bay Road, Crystal Lake, IL M-F, 7am-3:30pm or Saturdays 8am-12pm For details, call 815-459-4410

For more information, contact Kristy Hecke, MCDH’s Solid Waste Manager, at 815-334-4585.

Plan To Undermine White House's Negotiations With Iran

A group of Democrats are joining Republicans in trying to undermine the White House's negotiations with Iran by imposing a new set of sanctions—and you have a Democratic senator who is either one of them, or who is still silent on the issue.

Please take a moment for this urgent action: Sign and send a petition to your senators now and tell them to oppose these dangerous and irresponsible sanctions.

How would new sanctions hurt negotiations? The White House is warning Congress that the Iranians could see this as a failure to negotiate in good faith, driving them from bargaining table and empowering hardliners in that country. Everyone loses in that scenario.

So far, 15 Democrats, led by Sen. Bob Menendez, have come forward to push these sanctions. That’s waaay too many Democrats on the wrong side of this issue. At this rate, it could even lead to a veto-proof majority that would override the Obama administration's attempts to secure a peaceful end to Iran's nuclear ambitions.

We need to make sure that every single Democrat who is still undecided on this issue comes out strongly in favor of diplomacy.

Email your senator right now: Tell them to oppose Sen. Menendez’s sanctions and to support diplomacy.

A Little Unhappiness

Regarding AT&T

Has anyone had U-Verse and then cancelled it?

We just had an incident—the e-mail has been inoperable since there needs to be some insertion of a user name and password for smtp.att.yahoo.com and pop.att.yahoo.com. I understand the problem, too many too unengaged idiots.

Not being technically savvy, we called ATT to find out where to enter. We have attempted to find an answer of where to enter these. But no one could answer. So it remained. Did finally get with people in Atlanta. Thought it was to be resolved, since we have been unable to get into our e-mail. A tech person was to fix the problem. or discuss it.

While talking to people there, and put on hold, we had a power shut down briefly, but could not get back immediately... For the past week e-mails received have been piling up since could not get in as there was no authority. Was in the process of attempting to reach a tech person, when I noticed all the pending e-mails were deleted. Still cannot get into the e-mail and the notices remain to enter the smtp and pop. Thinking of doing away with ATT and U-verse.—This certainly is not the telephone company I have done business with since the 1950s. This seems to be a large thieving corporation.

Annual Miss Crystal Lake Pageant April 4

Miss Crystal Lake Pageant Offers $1000 Scholarship Opportunity for Crystal Lake Girls Ages 16-21

There is still time to register for the 2014 Miss Crystal Lake Pageant. The Annual Miss Crystal Lake Pageant will be presented Friday, April 4 at 7pm at Hannah Beardsley Middle School. The pageant organizers, the Crystal Lake Park District and the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce are seeking local girls, ages 16-21, to participate as contestants.  Miss Crystal Lake receives a $1000 cash award to be used to further her education. 

Additional scholarship awards may be available for runner-up contestants.  The winner of the Miss Crystal Lake Pageant competes in the Miss McHenry County Pageant, and if she wins, advances to the Miss Illinois County Pageant. 

Pageant preparation rehearsals will take place Wednesday evenings, February 5-April 2. Rehearsals will include workshops on personal development, community knowledge and communication.

Participants will be expected to attend many community functions as well as perform community service.  The months of preparation will culminate in the pageant on Friday, April 4, where participants will compete in the categories of formal wear, business attire, question/answer session and the awarding of the crown and scholarship.

Registration forms are available online at www.crystallakeparks.org or at the Administrative Office located at One East Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake.  The registration fee for the program is $64.  Crystal Lake Park District residents may register and pay the $49 resident discount fee.  Registration deadline is February 1. For further information contact Connie Cooke at (815) 459-0680, ext. 213.

Influenza Cases Increase

Health Dept urges residents to protect self, family with flu vaccine

As of December 28, 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported influenza-like illness in 19 states, with Illinois being one of 25 states reporting widespread influenza activity along with six pediatric deaths.  Two influenza A strains (H3N2 and H1N1) along with influenza B have been identified this season, according to the CDC. To date, the H1N1 strain has been the predominant virus.

Due to these recent reports, McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) encourages anyone six months and older to get a flu shot to protect themselves against influenza.  The flu season typically runs through May with flu activity peaking this month and into February. Flu vaccine is readily available at physician offices, clinics, retail pharmacies, grocery stores and other locations throughout McHenry County.

Flu can make anyone, including the healthiest, seriously ill.  It’s not too late to get vaccinated to protect you and your family against influenza. Consult with your physician if symptoms (which can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue) are worsening.

Even if you don’t develop symptoms yourself, you can still pass the virus on to others like pregnant women, young children, those with chronic health conditions (like asthma, diabetes, heart disease) and people 65 and older who are especially at risk for complications from the flu.  Once vaccinated, it takes 2 weeks for antibodies to develop to provide protection. Practice the 3 C’s – clean your hands, cover your cough and contain your germs by staying home when sick. 

For more flu information, visit http://www.mcdh.info.

Words Of Wisdom

"Of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people, commencing demagogues and ending tyrants." --Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 1 (1787)

Government At Work

TUESDAY JANUARY 7--

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Planning and Development Committee-

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

The Committee is to consider a resolution requesting an exception from a potential conflict of interest involving the PY2013 HOME CHDO investment partnership program funding between McHenry County Habitat for Humanity and McHenry County Housing Commission Member Jerry Monica.

9:00 a.m. – McHenry County Board—

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

County Auditor Pam Palmer is to present the GFOA Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and the Popular Annual Finance Report

In addition to handling routine reports, the Board is to consider a resolution authorizing the Department of Planning and Development to initiate legal action for the demolition of a structure located at 2811 Myang Avenue, McHenry.

Another resolution is being presented adopting revised bylaws for the McHenry Community Development Block Grant Commission.

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

Meeting in the Council Chambers, 100 West Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake.

Several matters are being handled on a consent agenda including:

Annexation Public Hearing for Doherty Properties north and south of Route 176 and east of Route 31 is being continued.

An ordinance is being presented for approval regarding the2014 Crystal Lake Zoning Map

Knights of Columbus Father McCormick Council #3880 Class 16 Temporary Liquor License request.

Several bid awards are being presented for Council approval including:

Bid award and resolution authorizing execution of an agreement for the Test Well and New Well #18. Services and 10% contingency for unforeseen changes to the scope

Bid award and resolution authorizing execution of an agreement for a contract for Water Distribution System Valve Turning Services.

Bid award and resolution authorizing execution for an agreement for the purchase and installation of one service body, crane, and air compressor.

Words Of Wisdom

"I ... place economy among the first and most important of republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared. ... Taxation follows that, and in its turn wretchedness and oppression."

--Thomas Jefferson, Letter to William Plumer, 1816

Government At Work

MONDAY JANUARY 6

8:15 a.m. – McHenry County Board Law and Justice Committee—

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

Four individuals have expressed an interest in filling a one-year term for the Fox River Grove Fire Protection District. Three of the four are to be interviewed by the committee. The fourth individual is unable to be present.

Several resolutions are to be considered by the committee including:

Authorizing the Sheriff to enter into option year two of the Galls Uniform and accessories contract awarded in Fiscal Year 2011.

Authorizing a fuel services and miscellaneous petroleum products bid and contract

Accepting a public safety answering point reimbursement from the emergency telephone systems board

The committee is also to discuss propane usage for MCSO vehicles

And consider a resolution authorizing a claim settlement case.

10:00 a.m. – McHenry County Board Liquor and License Committee—

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

The committee is to consider a new liquor license request for Classico Restaurant and Banquets as well as raffle permit requests for Journey Care Foundation, St. Peter’s Catholic Church and Riverwood Elementary School PTO.

Also to be considered is a request by Plum Tree National, Inc. for a change in officers and directors along with a request for application waiver.

The Committee is also expected to hold discussion on video Gaming