People In Need Forum -- Saturday, January 31

The McHenry County community is coming together again to sponsor and support the 12th annual People in Need Forum from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31 at McHenry County College. The People in Need Forum is ideal for service providers of all types and community volunteers to learn about the many resources that are available county-wide and at the state and federal level. Also invited are those seeking information on their own behalf to learn how to be their own best advocate. Prior registration is requested and may be done online now at www.mchenry.edu/peopleinneed.

The People in Need Forum features people and resources available in the area to help individuals in need through breakout sessions, panel discussions and workshops. The forum’s expo offers resources from more than 60 area service organizations. 

Professionals and experts will present informative sessions on a variety of topics, including food stamps and Medicaid, health care for uninsured, behavioral health services, veterans’ issues, housing and energy assistance, mortgages, foreclosures/short sales and money management; senior and elder issues, domestic violence, transitional services for youth, homelessness, townships and general emergency assistance, transportation, and employment/unemployment issues.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to provide vital information that is needed by so many in the McHenry County area,” said Bev Thomas, People in Need chairperson. “It’s often difficult to find the right place to refer someone in need, but we are happy to bring together the many social service providers in our area for a one-stop resource,” she said.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration and continental breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. in the Luecht Conference Center in Building B at the college. Each attendee will receive the 2015 Forum Resource Directory and a flash drive containing the directory, speaker presentations and additional agency information.

For more information, visit www.mchenry.edu/peopleinneed or call Bev Thomas at 

(815) 479-7792.

Spring Is On The Way!

If you need a little glimpse of spring, come learn about new garden trends, plants and techniques at the 2015 McHenry County Gardenfest, a day-long series of garden-related seminars and workshops.

Gardenfest 2015 will be held on April 11 at McHenry County College (MCC), 8900 U.S. Route 14, in Crystal Lake from 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Gardenfest is an annual educational event co-sponsored by MCC and the University of Illinois Extension McHenry County Master Gardeners. Nineteen presenters — including industry experts, U of I Extension educators, Master Gardeners and MCC instructors — will cover a myriad of garden-related topics. In addition, exhibitors will be onsite selling books, seeds, garden ornaments, tools and more all day. Door prizes will also be available to attendees.

The keynote speaker will be author and nurseryman Roy Diblik, co-owner of Northwind Perennial Farms, Burlington, WI. Diblik is the author of The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden (Timber Press, 2014) and is best known as the plantsman behind the Lurie Garden at Millennium Park in Chicago. He will discuss his concept of self-sustaining plant communities — plants that naturally grow well in harmony and require little maintenance, once established.

Other Gardenfest topics will include attracting pollinators, adding flea market finds to the garden, small-space gardening, conifers, creating hypertufa containers, hardscapes, composing a garden journal, hydroponics, growing rhododendrons and azaleas, tropical plants, succulents, vegetable gardening, identifying weeds and much more.

Gardenfest boasts 23 seminars and workshops offered in four segments; each segment lasts an hour and 15 minutes. Lunch is served midday in the MCC cafeteria.

Registration forms are available online at www.mchenry.edu/gardenfest. For more information, email conferencecenter@mchenry.edu or call 815-455-8764. Tickets can also be purchased at the door the day of the event.

The McHenry County Master Gardeners are a group of more than 115 volunteers sponsored by University of Illinois Extension. U of I Master Gardeners complete rigorous training in horticulture and botany and volunteer a minimum of 30 hours per year. The mission of a Master Gardener is to share unbiased, reliable, research-based information with home landscapers and gardeners, as well as to encourage people to enjoy gardening and vegetable growing. Contact the McHenry County Master Gardeners at 1102 McConnell Road, Box 1430, Woodstock, IL 60098, phone 815-338-3737 or visit http://web.extension.illinois.edu/mchenry.

Gardenfest 2015 Fast Facts

—Held on Saturday, April 11, 2015, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Route 14, Crystal Lake, Ill.

—Costs $40, which includes lunch.

—Sponsored by McHenry County College and the McHenry County Master Gardeners with the University of Illinois Extension.

—Suitable for gardeners of all skill levels.

—Twenty-three seminars and workshops will be held within four sessions throughout the day.

—Garden-related exhibitors will sell books, seeds, garden ornaments, tools and much more.

—For more information, visit www.mchenry.edu/gardenfest, 

email conferencecenter@mchenry.edu or call 815-455-8764.

Zumba Party --February 6 -- Crystal Lake Park District

Join us for a workout that feels more like a party! Glow with the crowd by wearing your white and neon workout clothes. Glow in the dark bracelets will be provided. No experience with Zumba necessary! Open to participants, ages 14 and up. Bring a towel and water bottle. Register online at www.crystallakeparks.org or in person at the Crystal Lake Park District Administrative Office, One East Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake. Registration in advance required by February 3. For more information contact Jennifer Peterson at (815) 459-0680, ext. 1219.

Black Light Zumba Party (code #4650-8)

Friday, February 6, 7:30-8:30 pm (Registration deadline: February 3)

Grand Oaks, 1401 W. Route 176, Crystal Lake

Resident Fee: $10, Non-Resident Fee: $15