RTA Reminder

September 1 is near with a deadline for RTA Senior Circuit Ride Free/Reduced Fare Programs. Only new Senior Circuit Ride Free permits will be accepted on CTA, Metra or Pace buses or trains. New permits were sent to all who previously registered with the program. If a new permit has not been received, RTA asks that a visit be made to www.cbrx.il.gov or call 800-624-2459.

If an application has not previously been made, Seniors are encouraged to apply online as the application process in this manner is much faster.

Income levels are $27,610 or less for an individual; $36,635 for a two-person household to $45,657 for a household of three or more people. Seniors should only apply for the Circuit Breaker program if they meet age, income and other eligibility criteria. 

All other seniors qualify to ride at a reduced fare which in most cases is approximately half fare.  Costello reiterated that seniors do not need to re-apply to the Circuit Breaker program or for the new Circuit Ride Free permit if they already have a Seniors Ride Free permit because the RTA will automatically mail the appropriate permits in August.

As a result of the new legislation, the RTA will now have two programs: the Seniors Circuit Ride Free program and the Seniors Reduced Fare program.  In early April, the RTA began sending correspondence to all seniors who are currently enrolled in the current Seniors Ride Free program advising them about the program changes.  Extensive communications and outreach efforts are ongoing.

Words of Wisdom

"A constitution founded on these principles introduces knowledge among the people, and inspires them with a conscious dignity becoming freemen; a general emulation takes place, which causes good humor, sociability, good manners, and good morals to be general. That elevation of sentiment inspired by such a government, makes the common people brave and enterprising. That ambition which is inspired by it makes them sober, industrious, and frugal."

--John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776

Time For The Next Green Drinks Gathering

Join the next Green Drinks gathering at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen, 110 N Main Street in Crystal Lake, on September 7th from 5:00-7:00 pm to learn more about how community members in southeastern McHenry County have been working together to help protect water quality in lakes, streams, and wetlands, and protect both the quality and quantity of groundwater resources needed for drinking water supply.  This collaboration is part of an initiative to develop a watershed action plan for the Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek watersheds. 

A watershed is an area of land that drains water into a common place, like a stream. Watershed planning is a collaborative, community supported approach to protecting water quality and watershed health.  Lynn Rotunno, Watershed Coordinator for the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, will discuss how this planning effort is providing an opportunity for community members from multiple jurisdictions to share information and work together to address common water resource challenges in ways that more closely match the flow of water.

“Over 120 community members from across the watersheds are participating in this planning effort to help develop a watershed plan with strong community input,” said Defenders’ Watershed Coordinator Lynn Rotunno.

In addition to protecting water quality and quantity, watershed planning can identify ways to help restore aquatic habitat and other natural resources, prevent flooding in communities, and address other water resource-related concerns important to communities. The watershed action plan will include planning goals and specific project recommendations to protect water quality and watershed health. Projects identified in the plan can become eligible for state and federal funding to help local groups and individuals implement those projects.

Communities within the watersheds include Oakwood Hills, Prairie Grove, and portions of Bull Valley, Cary, Crystal Lake, McHenry, and nearby areas of unincorporated McHenry County. The Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek watersheds are home to significant resources, including five dedicated Illinois Nature Preserves, rich farmland, several parks and preserves, and lakes enjoyed by community members as a source of recreation. Both the Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek watersheds drain to the Fox River. Working to protect these watersheds will support local communities and help restore Fox River water quality and wildlife habitat.

Planning meetings are being held in the watersheds through December of 2011 and are coordinated by The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. All meetings are open to the public.

For more information, visit http://foxriverecosystem.org/planning.htm, send an e-mail to watershedinfo@mcdefenders.net, or call the Defenders office at 815-338-0393.

These planning projects are funded by Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act by way of a grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Water, to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Watershed planning oversight is the responsibility of CMAP. Planning Partners include the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, and the Fox River Study Group.

To be added to our email list, send a note to: GreenDrinks@mcdefenders.net or friend us on FaceBook

Call For Interested Performers

The Black Box Theatre at McHenry County College is holding auditions for the fall production of Eric Bogosian’s “SubUrbia,” directed by Annie Rezac.

Roles are available for five men and four women.  Two roles call for actors with Middle Eastern descent.   Auditions will be held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 30 and 31 in the Black Box Theatre, Room D-167.

Auditions are open to all students, staff and community members. Actors will be reading from the script for the general auditions. No experience is necessary.

Callbacks are from 6-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2. Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19. Scripts are on reserve in the MCC Library. The college is located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake

Words From Another Party

Libertarians want more jobs, less government

As unemployment in the United States remains stuck above 9 percent, Libertarian Party Executive Director Wes Benedict released the following statement:

"Every time politicians say they're going to create jobs, they end up destroying more jobs than they create.

"Here's the Libertarian approach to unemployment: cut taxes and spending, and let the free market work.

"Government intervention in the free market is what causes unemployment. There are many examples of this, well known to many economists. Minimum wage laws cause unemployment. Government-mandated unemployment insurance causes unemployment. Welfare and food stamps cause unemployment. Occupational licensing laws cause unemployment.

"One especially destructive factor is government prohibition of at-will employment. Because the government won't let employers hire, maintain, and fire employees on a truly at-will basis, it makes employment much riskier. Employers are scared to hire people because it can be so difficult to fire them if they don't work out, and employers are sometimes even scared to interview people because they might be forced to hire them. The result? More unemployment.

"What about all the 'stimulus spending' we've seen during the last two administrations?

"Stimulus spending doesn't create jobs, it destroys them. The government spends money by extracting it out of the productive private sector, which causes a net loss of jobs.

"Stimulus spending makes our future less secure, without doing any good in the present. It destroys jobs today, as well as down the road.

"Back in 2009, the Obama administration was worried that unemployment might reach 8 percent. So they pushed through a massive stimulus program, and employment went up even higher, to 10 percent. The stimulus program made our problems worse.

"And in 2008, George W. Bush championed a counterproductive plan to send $300-$600 stimulus checks to millions of people.

"Republicans and Democrats in the federal and state governments need to stop trying to help, because they're only making things worse. Instead, they need to get out of the way and let us free Americans solve the problem ourselves," say Libertarians.

The third-largest political party in the United States, was founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.

Valley Hi Cemetery Board Meets

3:00 p.m. – Valley Hi Cemetery Board—

Meeting Monday afternoon in the McHenry County Administration Building, Room 210, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. This semi-annual meeting handles reports on the burials since the prior meeting and any problems that arise.

Words of Wisdom

"But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years."

--Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, 1789