MCC Night - Wednesday

WHERE:       McHenry County College – Commons Area and Gym/Multi-purpose Room

WHEN:          5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13

Description:   MCC Night is an opportunity for high school juniors and seniors and their parents, along with prospective adult students, to meet instructors and learn more about the wide array of course offerings toward certificates, degrees or career training. The event will feature more than 40 informational booths in the Gym/Multi-purpose room.

Photo opportunities will include demonstrations by various MCC departments, including culinary, robotics, art and the Earth Science department will conduct tours of the planetarium.

In addition, high school juniors and seniors can hear information about the High School Plus program for earning college credit while still in high school. Between 800-1,000 students from area high schools are expected to attend the event.

For more information, contact: Kellie Carper at (815) 455-8670.

Government At Work

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 13-

8:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Public Health and Human Services Committee—

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

The Committee is to interview two people for the McHenry County Housing Authority including Timothy A. Mattson and Mary Donner. One of the two is to be recommended for County Board approval for a term to expire June 1, 2016.

A resolution authorizing an increase in the daily room rates at Valley Hi Nursing Home is to be considered effective January 1, 2014

A resolution authorizing the acceptance of a Drug Free Communities Grant award for $625,000 and an adjustment to the Regional Superintendent of School Fiscal Year 2014 Budget.

A resolution to accept the “We Choose Health” Grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health to maintain one full time and two part time positions in the Health Department roster and to authorize an adjustment to the Health Department fiscal year 2014 proposed budget

1:00 p.m. – Joint meeting- McHenry County Board Planning and Development Committee and McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals

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

A discussion is to continue regarding parts of the Unified Development Ordinance -- Article 15.3.G (Home Occupations) beginning with #9

Also a discussion of Article 8 (Zoning Districts and Map).

3:00 p.m. -- McHenry County Continuum of Care to End Homelessness-- HMIS Quarterly Committee Meeting

Meeting at Home of the Sparrow, 5342 W. Elm St., McHenry,

Following introductions, matters for discussion include agency and bed information and service point issues.

A conference call is to be held at 3:30 p.m. with Bob Duvall from Bowman Systems,

7:00 p.m. – Algonquin Township Board –

Meeting in the Township offices, 3702 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake.

Following approval of minutes, audit of bills and treasurer’s report regarding the four funds used by the Township, and audience participation, reports are provided by the Supervisor, Highway Commissioner, Trustees, Assessor, Clerk and Attorney.

Old Business includes discussion and board acceptance of the annual audit for FY ended 3-31-2013 as prepared by CPA firm Brown & Co LLP and presented at the October 9 meeting.

New business to be considered is the distribution of tentative levy for Town Fund and Road District to be adopted at the December 11 meeting. 

Words Of Wisdom

"It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, and virtue. If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel all their lives."

--John Adams, Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law, 1756

A Real Holiday Spirit

In the spirit of the holiday season, state Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) will be teaming up with state Reps. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago), La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) and Jack Franks (D-Marengo) to donate 1,000 holiday turkeys to The Mother House of Fraternite Notre Dame food pantry in Chicago.  Rep. Wheeler is asking for donations with hopes of raising $20,000 for impoverished families in Chicago so they can have a warm holiday turkey.

Any donations large or small will go a long way toward spreading love and cheer to those in need during the holiday season," said Lilly.

Wheeler will be teaming up with Reps. Camille Lilly and La Shawn Ford, who represent The Mother House in Chicago and Rep. Jack Franks, who represents the Shrine of the Ecce Homo in Marengo.  They are asking for a check donation to be made out to Fraternite Notre Dame, with a memo that says “1,000 Turkeys.”  No cash donations will be accepted.  They can be mailed to:

Fraternite Notre Dame

502 North Central Avenue

Chicago, IL 60644

Fraternite Notre Dame also accepts donations via Pay Pal on their donation page at: http://www.fraternitenotredame.com/2011_2_0/financial.php.

“As we take time to celebrate with our friends and family, and give thanks for the many blessings we have, let us not forget the need to share that joy with those less fortunate,” Franks added. “I cannot think of a greater demonstration of the tenets of Thanksgiving than partnering with Fraternite Notre Dame to support families in need.”

The members of Fraternite Notre Dame have dedicated their life to prayer while also performing charitable works.  They do not receive any salary for dedicating themselves to this work.  They host a weekly food pantry program for families in difficulty, an after school program to give children a safe play to play, and a soup kitchen serving meals to poor adults and children.

“The Austin Community continues to struggle with many social and economic conditions,” said Ford.  “The Mother House of Fraternite Notre Dame Food Pantry provides support for many families in the Austin Community.  I commend Rep. Wheeler for putting people first over politics and for bringing businesses, democrats, and republicans together during the holiday season, to support families in the Austin community that may be experiencing financial hardships.”

Representatives are asking donations to be sent in no later than Friday, November 15.  Once collected, Pete Kalantzis, owner of Marzano’s Wood Fired Italian Restaurant in McHenry, will coordinate the purchasing of the turkeys with the Fraternite Notre Dame.  Rep. Wheeler would like to extend her thank yous to Pete Kalantzis.

“It is great to see so many people work so hard for this cause,” said Wheeler.  “I cannot thank Pete Kalantzis enough for his time and effort and to House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, and Reps. Camille Lilly, Ron Sandack, Ed Sullivan, David McSweeney, Al Riley, and Jack Franks for already donating a combined $3,000.”

Government At Work

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 12—

8:00 a.m. – McHenry County Continuum of Care to End Homelessness

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

The Ranking Committee is meeting.

8:15 a.m. – McHenry County Board Human Resources Committee –

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

A presentation is planned regarding the Wellness Program.

Other business to be handled includes:

Resolution authorizing the reclassification in the Court Administration Department Roaster of a position from Court Administration Specialist to a Specialty Court Case Manager

A resolution to accept “We Choose Health” grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health.  This is to maintain one full time and two part-time positions in the Health Department Roster and to authorize an adjustment to the Health Department Fiscal Year 2014 Budget.

A resolution authorizing Workers’ Compensation Claim Settlement

9:00 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 has12 resolutions for consideration including:

• Resolution Authorizing Monthly Transactions for the Delinquent Tax Program
• Resolution Authorizing Monthly Transactions for the Delinquent Tax Program
• Resolution Authorizing the Reclassification of Position 42-0017-12 from a Court Administration Specialist (Grade 4N) to a Specialty Court Case Manager (Grade 6N) in the Court Administration Departmental Roster
• Resolution Authorizing a Three Year Microsoft Enterprise Agreement
• Resolution Authorizing  the Purchase of Single-Function Printers, a Sixty Month Multi-Function Peripheral Lease, and a Sixty Month Managed Print Services Contract with Stan's Office Technologies
• Resolution Authorizing Entering Into A Revenue Sharing Agreement for Commissary Services  With Aramark Correctional Services, LLC
• Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Remaining Funds from the Dissolved McHenry County Film Library and a Budget Adjustment to the Regional Office of Education Fiscal Year 2014 Preliminary Budget
• Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of a Vehicle for the McHenry County Regional Office of Education
• Resolution Authorizing The Acceptance of A Drug Free Communities Grant Award in the amount of $625,000 and an Adjustment to the Regional Superintendent of Schools  Fiscal Year 2014  Budget Prior  County Board Approval of the Fiscal Year 2014 Operating Budget
• Resolution to Accept the "We Choose Health" Grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health, to Maintain One Full-Time and Two Part-Time Positions in the Health Department Roster, and to Authorize an Adjustment to the Health Department Fiscal Year 2014 Proposed Budget
• Resolution Authorizing Approval of the County of McHenry's Property and Casualty Insurance Program for FY 2013-2014
• Resolution Authorizing Workers' Compensation Claim Settlement No. 12-3200-15

6:00 p.m. – McHenry County College Board Committee of The Whole-

Meeting in the Board Room, McHenry County College, 8900 U S Highway 14, Crystal Lake.

The Board will be taking a tour of the Fitness Center before engaging in other College business.

Matters for Board discussion include:

• IDOT right of way is to be discussed with College President Dr. Vicky Smith.
• Feasibility Study for Health and Sciences Education Building – Discuss Kind of Space (30 minutes)
• Discussion on Issuing Debt, Ms. Cynthia Kisser, Trustee, (10 minutes)
• Presentation on Purchasing and Bidding Process at MCC, Ms. Jennifer Jones, Director of Business Services,
• Explanation on Hiring Affected Annuitants, Dr. Tony Miksa, Vice President, Academic and Student Affairs
• Discussion on Whether to Re-Establish the Finance and Negotiations Committee  Information on Tuition and Fees, Dr. Tony Miksa, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs and Mr.Bob Tenuta, Chief Financial Officer
• Update on Custodial Outsourcing, Dr. Vicky Smith, President

Veterans Day - Monday

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War."

Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

History of Veterans Day

However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words:

 "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words

:

“Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

“Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

“Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day."

Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars

Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible.”

President Eisenhower signed HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. On that same day, President Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.

In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators.

Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.

The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans’ service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Non-essential federal government offices are closed. No mail is delivered. All federal workers are paid for the holiday; those who are required to work on the holiday sometimes receive wages for that day in addition to holiday pay. The holiday is often celebrated by having a ravioli meal. This tradition dates back to the ending days of World War I when President Woodrow Wilson, aware that the returning soldiers would be longing for home cooked meals, invited 2,000 soldiers to the White House and helped his staff chefs cook them ravioli, which had just become a mainstay in mainstream American kitchens due to commercial canning.[8] In his Armistice Day address to Congress, Wilson was sensitive to the psychological toll of the lean War years: "Hunger," he remarked, "breeds madness."

Words Of Wisdom

"If justice, good faith, honor, gratitude and all the other qualities which ennoble the character of a nation and fulfill the ends of government be the fruits of our establishments, the cause of liberty will acquire a dignity and lustre, which it has never yet enjoyed, and an example will be set, which cannot but have the most favourable influence on the rights on Mankind. If on the other side, our governments should be unfortunately blotted with the reverse of these cardinal and essential virtues, the great cause which we have engaged to vindicate, will be dishonored and betrayed; the last and fairest experiment in favor of the rights of human nature will be turned against them; and their patrons and friends exposed to be insulted and silenced by the votaries of tyranny and usurpation."

--James Madison, Address to the States, 1783