Government At Work

THURSDAY MARCH 27-

7:30 a.m. – McHenry County Board Stormwater Commission—

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

Two appointments to the Commission are to be considered including

Abby Wilgreen as Alternate Member representing City of Crystal Lake

Michael Baker as Alternate member representing Gewalt Hamilton

An appeal of Stormwater Chief Engineer Decision regarding Permit J-4456 is to be discussed.

Other discussion items include:

Stormwater ordinance Amendment status report

Nippersink Creek Floodplain Buy-Out Program Status report

10:00 a.m. – McHenry County Coordinating Council

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

6:30 p.m. – McHenry County College Board of Trustees

Meeting in the Board Room, McHenry County College, 8900 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake.

Cardio Workout -- Zumba

Zumba has been sweeping the nation by storm! Register now for the next session of Zumba at the Crystal Lake Park District to see what it is all about.

Zumba – a Latin-inspired cardio workout – is similar to dance aerobics but without the complicated step routines. Classes combine simple-to-follow step movements with Latin rhythms and offer an exciting hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing fun. The cardio workout both tones and strengthens the core. The simple and repetitive Latin dance steps specifically target the abdominal muscles. “What’s great about ZUMBA is people of all fitness levels can do it,” says Jennifer Peterson, Recreation Supervisor. “You don’t have to be a dancer, athlete or regular gym participant. You just feel the music and let your body move. Both men or women can have fun and you get real results.”

Zumba Kids Jr. (ages 4-6)

Saturday, April 5-May 10, 9-9:45 AM

Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake

Program Fee: $53, Resident Discount Fee: $47

Zumba Kids (ages 7-11)

Saturday, April 5-May 10, 10-10:45 AM

Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake

Program Fee: $53, Resident Discount Fee: $47

Low Impact Zumba (ages 15 & up)

Tuesday, April 1-June 3, 9:30-10:30 AM

Thursday, April 3-June 5, 9:30-10:30 AM

West Beach, 2330 Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake

Program Fee: $70, Resident Discount Fee: $60

For information about Zumba or any other Crystal Lake Park District fitness classes, contact Jennifer Peterson at (815) 459-0680, ext. 219. Register in advance online at www.crystallakeparks.org or in person at the Administrative Office, One East Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake.

Run/Walk -- Raue Center For The Arts Benefit

Raue Center For The Arts is pleased to announce its Bob Blazier Run For The Arts 5K Run/Walk, 

Slated for May 4, a superhero theme is introduced to this year’s race! Now in its seventeenth year, runners and walkers alike can be superheroes just for one 5K. The race honors Bob Blazier’s unparalleled community accomplishments and benefits Raue Center – a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Participants can rally together with a team, co-workers or hit the pavement solo. Early registration is $35 and includes t-shirt, cape and mask. Not up for a full 5K? Don't forget about Bob's trusty sidekick Rosemary and her 1-Mile Walk ($20 and that fee includes a t-shirt and sidekick mask). Registration is now open at rauecenter.org or via the Box Office located at 26 N. Williams Street, Crystal Lake, IL.

This year’s event also includes the Bob Blaizer Run For The Arts Corporate Challenge, which is designed to help companies foster healthy lifestyle choices and a commitment to wellness, all while participating in a fun and exciting competition. All fitness levels and abilities are welcome to participate in the challenge! Categories include Greatest Overall, Most Money Raised, Most Superhero Spirit and Best Average Team Time. The winner of each category will win a trophy and each member of the winning team will receive a pair of limited edition Bob Blazier Run For The Arts socks.

In addition to being an excellent opportunity for exercise and camaraderie amongst your staff, the event is a great chance for networking and it gives your company an opportunity to expand its social awareness. Interested companies should visit rauecenter.org to learn more or contact Melissa Thomfohrda, director of marketing, at mthomfohrda@rauecenter.org.

This event is by presented by EISENMANN and sponsored by Centegra Health System, CL Graphics, Countryside Flower Shop and Garden Center, Crystal Lake Park District, Georgio’s Chicago Pizzeria and Pub, Home State Bank, INTREN, Northwest Herald, RFP Photography, Inc. and Sage Products, Inc. If you are interested in becoming a Corporate Sponsor of Bob Blazier Run For The Arts please contact Ryan McNerney at rmcnerney@rauecenter.org.

Bingo! Fun At Crystal Lake Park District Morning Bingo

Adults, ages 55+, are invited to come join the Crystal Lake Park District for Morning Bingo. We will play a variety of Bingo styles including Four Corners, Layer Cake, Small Picture Frame, Traditional Bingo and many others. The admission fee of $5 includes bingo, chances to win prizes, coffee and sweets.

Advance registration is not required-just drop in!

Dates: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month

Time: 10 AM-Noon

Location: Park Place, 406 W. Woodstock St, Crystal Lake

For information about Morning Bingo or any other Crystal Lake Park District Active Adult programs, contact Jennifer Peterson at (815) 459-0680, ext. 219.

Next opportunity for fun – April 8!

Fine -- Not Jail Time For Small Amount of Marijuana

The Illinois House Restorative Justice Committee passed two bills recently which would impose a simple fine – not possible jail time –for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Both bills represent an important step forward in reducing the harm caused by the failed war on marijuana.

Voters are requested to encourage their representatives to support sensible legislation that would remove all criminal penalties and a harmful criminal record simply for the possession of a substance that is safer than alcohol.

One of the bills that passed, HB 5708, is sponsored by Rep. Kelly Cassidy and would remove all criminal penalties and any possible criminal record for possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana. This bill establishes a new class of offense called a “regulatory offense,” which would prohibit arrest or jail time, limit fines to no more than $100, and require that the ticket would be removed from a person’s record after the fine is paid – protecting employment and housing opportunities.

The other bill, HB 4299, is sponsored by Rep. Christian L. Mitchell and would also significantly lower penalties for a possession charge of up to 30 grams. While it would prevent arrests and jail time, a criminal offense would remain on a person’s record.

Please support removing criminal penalties for marijuana possession, and please pass this message to friends, relatives, and supporters in Illinois.

Government At Work

WEDNESDAY MARCH 26

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

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

A presentation regarding an overview of WIC and Dental Clinic programs is slated for the Committee.

The Committee is to interview Shelby Key for appointment to the Lake in the Hills Sanitary District.

Several matters regarding grants are to be considered including:

• Ticket for the Cure Grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health;
• Modification to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grant
• Acceptance of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grant
• Resolution authorizing modification to an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Incentive Grant

Also authorizing modification and an emergency appropriation to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant in the amount of $32,347.

A resolution authorizing acceptance of a modification to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grant for McHenry County Workforce Network

7:00 p.m. – Valley Hi Operating Board—

Meeting at the nursing home, 2406 Hartland Road, Woodstock.

The agenda new business items include regulatory update, IDPH annual survey results, all staff meeting in March and a recap of 3-12 alternative services presentation.

Under old business, the board is to receive an update on the nurse union contract and a report on Passage’s Hospice update.

Child Pornography Charges Against Barrington Man

A Barrington man is in custody on $3 million bond after being charged with multiple counts of child pornography as part of Operation Glass House, a statewide initiative of Attorney General Lisa Madigan launched to apprehend the most active offenders who download and trade child pornography online.

Corey Olney, 34, is charged with five counts of reproduction of child pornography, which a Super X felony due to his current status as a registered sexual predator on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry. The charge is punishable by nine to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). He also faces five counts of possession of child pornography, a Class 1 felony punishable by four to 15 years in IDOC. Also, for allegedly failing to register his online screen names, Olney was charged with violating the sex offender registration law, a Class 3 felony punishable by two to five years in prison. He is being held in the Lake County Jail.

“The epidemic of the child pornography trade impacts every community,” Madigan said. “It is a horrific crime lurking behind closed doors in towns all across Illinois. My office will continue to be relentless in targeting the most heinous offenders who seek to destroy the lives of these young, innocent victims.”

“Crimes against children, who cannot defend themselves physically or emotionally, are the most disturbing crimes that we investigate,” said Lake County Undersheriff Raymond Rose. “Child pornography is a precursor to other violent crimes against children and we must be diligent in our efforts to detect, stop and arrest child pornography.”

Madigan’s investigators, with the assistance of the Lake County Sheriff, Barrington Police Department and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, conducted a search Thursday of Olney’s residence on Old Farm Road in the Deer Park section of Barrington, where he was arrested after evidence of alleged child pornography was located. Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim’s office will prosecute the case.

“Child pornography has many victims. We will continue our work with Attorney General Madigan’s office in a joint effort to aggressively seek out and prosecute these cases,” said Nerheim. Nerheim added this arrest represents the first time Super X charges have been filed against a suspect in Lake County. The public is reminded the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

This is the 58th arrest since Madigan launched Operation Glass House in August 2010 to investigate the most active child pornography traders in Illinois. With a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Madigan’s office runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, which investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. Since 2006, Madigan’s ICAC task force has been involved in 710 arrests of sexual predators. The task force has also provided Internet safety training and education to nearly 333,500 parents, teachers and students and 17,193 law enforcement professionals. Currently, 182 agencies are affiliated with the Illinois ICAC.