Breakfast With Easter Bunny

On Saturday, March 28 from 9-11 AM, the Easter Bunny will travel to Park Place (406 W. Woodstock St, Crystal Lake) for Breakfast with the Bunny. This is the perfect event to enjoy before your trip to the Crystal Lake Park District Easter Egg Hunt at Lippold Park. Relax and enjoy a traditional Easter Breakfast. Goody bags for children and a visit from the Easter Bunny are included. No assigned seating. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Advance registration is required. Ticket cost is $12 per person/children 2 and under are free. Register online for program code #5802-0.

After Breakfast with the Bunny, on Saturday, March 28, the Easter Bunny will travel to Lippold Park for the Annual Crystal Lake Park District Easter Egg Hunt.  The Egg Hunt starts at 11:30 am. Don’t be late, the hunt will start promptly at 11:30 am and is over very quickly. Thousands of eggs will be on site, so there will be plenty for everyone.  Children (ages 2-9) will be separated into 4 age groups to ensure a safe and happy event. Lippold Park is located on Route 176, just west of Route 14 in Crystal Lake. The hunt will be held at the Raiders Football field in Lippold Park.  Bring a basket to collect eggs. A fee of $3 per child is payable at the hunt.  In case of bad weather, please check the status of the event by checking the RecAlert Line-Special Events: (815) 410-4475 or online at www.rainoutline.com.  Event rain date is Saturday, April 4.

For more information on either event, please contact the Crystal Lake Park District at (815) 459-0680.

Take A Little Trip -- To Warmer Climate

Leave the cold weather behind and consider spending six days in warm, sunny Arizona. Join the McHenry County College Trips and Tours program for a trip to Arizona’s scenic rail excursion May 17-22.

The Arizona’s Historic Trains trip features the Grand Canyon and Sedona, including six days and eight meals. Highlights include two of Arizona’s scenic rail excursions, including Grand Canyon Railway to the edge of the awesome Grand Canyon and a journey through Verde Canyon in first class comfort aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad.

Trip participants will experience the breathtaking beauty of Grand Canyon National Park, visit the Montezuma Castle National Monument, an ancient Indian dwelling carved into a limestone cliff and ride a narrated trolley tour of Sedona. Also included is lively entertainment and a Chuck wagon supper at Blazin’ M Ranch and Western Stage Show. A leisurely day in Sedona includes shopping and exploring on your own or an optional jeep tour. The old mining town of Jerome is also among the highlights. Home pick-up and return, round trip air from Chicago, and round trip airport transfers are included. Trip participants will receive $30 in Mayflower money.

Cost is $3,037 for a single or $2,198 for double occupancy. Optional trip cancellation/interruption insurance is $150. To register or for more information, call Claudia Terrones at (815) 455-8782. 

Special Enrollment For Health Insurance In McHenry County

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) announces Open Enrollment for health insurance has now ended; however, it is not too late for residents who qualify for a Special Enrollment period. Individuals whose income meets the guidelines for Medicaid or experience a specific life event can qualify for health insurance through the Marketplace. Life events include loss of employer-based coverage, change in income or household size, move into McHenry County or Lake County, reached the age of 26 and no longer able to stay on parents’ plan, or a change in immigration status

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If you filed 2014 taxes, paid a penalty for being uninsured and want health care coverage, you may take advantage of this one-time enrollment period from March 15 through April 30, 2015. Licensed Navigators are available seven days a week and offer free assistance regarding both Marketplace and Medicaid plans. Contact MCDH at 815-334-4510 for more information 

 A majority of Illinois residents using the Marketplace have qualified for tax credits to help lower the cost of health insurance premiums. Examples include –

 A single adult with no dependents earning up to $3,800 a month and couples with a monthly income up to $5,200 a month may qualify for assistance through the Marketplace.

 Individuals whose income meets the guidelines for Medicaid can apply at any time during the year. A single adult earning less than $1,350 a month and couples earning up to $1,830 a month may qualify for free insurance

 .If you are uninsured, are concerned about a tax penalty, want to file for a tax exemption, or would like to apply for health insurance contact a licensed Navigator at 815-334-4510. Funding is made possible by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Enroll McHenry County is a partnership of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Centegra Health System, Family Health Partnership Clinic, McHenry County Department of Health, and Pioneer Center for Human Services.

Drones As A Hobby-MCC Continuing Education Class

For those who are curious about drones and how to operate one as a hobby, McHenry County College’s Continuing Education Department is offering a new class, Drones: Intro to UAS-Unmanned Aerial Systems, from 7-9 p.m. March 4 through April 8 in Room C104. 

The instructor, Bill Stockwell, will provide participants with a basic understanding of what a drone is and how it operates, along with the rules and guidelines for safe operation of a drone. Participants will get information on components and their functions, how a drone is constructed, and basic maintenance to keep the machine running. Information on how to perform pre- during, and post-flight inspections will also be provided.

Each student must purchase a flight simulator before the first class. The recommended model is the Great Planes Realflight 7 w/Interlink Elite, Mode 2, which can be purchased for approximately $170 from

www.towerhobbies.com/products/realflight/ gpmz4500.html.

Students who own a laptop should bring it to class. Cost is $249.  Use course ID: NRE S45 004 when registering.

To register, call the MCC Registration Office at (815) 455-8588 or register online at www.mchenry.edu/myMCC and select “Register for Workforce and Community Development Classes.”  For more information, call Tracy Berry at (815) 455-8758 or Claudia Terrones at (815) 455-8782.

Learn Line Dance Steps And Routines

Learn the basic line dance steps and easy routines from 7:15-8 pm in this fun night on the town! After the instruction you will have the chance to boot, scoot and boogies the rest of the night away. Song selection will include traditional country music, and some not so traditional country tunes. Refreshments will be served. Registration in advance required. For more information contact Jennifer Peterson at (815) 459-0680, ext. 1219.
Adult Line Dance Party for Adults (code #4735-7)


Saturday, March 14, 7-9 pm
Main Beach Pavilion, 300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake
Resident Fee: $12 single*, $17 couple*, Non-Resident Fee: $15 single*, $20 couple*
Fees increase $5 after March 9.

New Bus Route Connecting Richmond And Fox Lake Metra Station

A new bus route connecting the Village of Richmond with the Fox Lake Metra Station begins Monday, March 9. Route 809 Richmond – Fox Lake will operate two round trips on weekdays timed to meet trains on Metra’s Milwaukee District North Line. Connections can also be made in Fox Lake to Pace Route 806 Crystal Lake – Fox Lake, which provides weekday service between the Fox Lake town center and the Crystal Lake Metra Station, and to Route 570 Fox Lake – CLC, which operates on weekdays between the Fox Lake Metra Station and the College of Lake County via Round Lake and Grayslake.

“This is our first new fixed bus route in McHenry County in many years, and it provides an important link for commuters identified in the County’s 2040 Transportation Plan because of all of the growth and development taking place in Richmond,” said Pace Chairman of the Board Richard Kwasneski. “We are grateful to McHenry County for its partnership on planning and implementing this new route and to the RTA for its funding support to begin operations.”

The base adult fare is $1.75, payable with cash (exact fare required), a Ventra Card, or with a contactless credit or debit card. Pace also sells monthly passes, and Metra Monthly Ticket holders can purchase a PlusBus pass for $30 that is valid for one month of unlimited rides on Pace.

In Richmond, the route circulates through the town center via South, Covell, and Broadway streets (serving the public parking lot on Broadway) before heading to Fox Lake via U.S. Route 12. Customers can board anywhere along the route where it is safe for buses to stop

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Half of the route’s operating costs will be paid through a grant from the RTA’s Innovation, Coordination and Enhancement (ICE) program, with the balance coming from fares and Pace funds.  More information about Route 809- including the map and schedule- is posted at PaceBus.com.

‘Whose Shoes’ Program Kicks Off April 1

Drop off your used shoes of any kind at the Crystal Lake Park District Administrative Office, One East Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake. This used shoe recycling drive is in recognition of environmental efforts by the Crystal Lake Park District and the ‘Whose Shoes’ game program that will kick off on April 1. For every used pair of shoes dropped off at the Park District Administrative Office between now and August 7, donors will receive a raffle ticket for one of two prizes: $100 New Balance Gift Certificate or a $250 Lou Malnati’s gift card. All shoes donated will be accepted by New Balance, Crystal Lake for donation to their shoe recycling program. Raffle ticket drawing winners will be awarded in a drawing at the Crystal Lake Park District/Black Diamond Blast on the Beach on Saturday, August 8, 2015.

Complete details about the ‘Whose Shoes’ game will be available at the Crystal Lake Park District booth at the Crystal Lake Business Expo on March 28-29 at Crystal Lake South High School and in the Crystal Lake Park District Summer Brochure (delivery date May 15, 2015).  For more information about shoe donations, other collection sites and the Whose Shoes game contact Jenny Leech at (815) 459-0680, ext. 1212, jleech@crystallakeparks.org.