Woodscreek Playground Volunteers Recognition

Back in 1993, a dedicated group of volunteers came together to form ‘Operation Playground’ in order to construct Woodscreek Playground over the period of several days. The Crystal Lake Park District would like to invite the Operation Playground volunteers back for a Volunteer Recognition Picnic and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the newly renovated Crystal Castle Playground and Splash Pad at Woodscreek Park. Volunteers will get to view the legacy of the playground they established and also see the happy faces of the next generation enjoying the new Crystal Castle and Splash Pad. Operation Playground volunteers and their families are encouraged to attend, bring your photos/ scrapbooks to share and enjoy hot dogs, burgers, chips, dessert and beverage provided by the Crystal Lake Park Foundation. For more information contact Ann Viger, (815) 459-0680, ext. 1205, aviger@crystallakeparks.org

Dates: Monday, July 13

Time: 6:30-8 pm

Location: Woodscreek Park, 1416 Willow Tree Drive, Crystal Lake

Learn To Weld -- McHenry County College Classes

Learn how to weld with introductory Welding Boot Camp classes offered by McHenry County College’s Continuing Education Department. Two different camps are available. Classes take place from 6-9:20 p.m. Monday and Wednesday from July 20 through Aug. 26 or Tuesday and Thursday from July 21 through Aug. 27. Classes are held at the Woodstock Center, 912 Trakk Lane in Woodstock.

Welding is an ideal profession for those who love to work with their hands, have an eye for detail and the ability to concentrate. Welders work in a variety of environments, both indoors and out, using heat to melt and fuse metal for a common bond. Career opportunities in welding industry are endless because many of the products we use today involve welding.

When registering for the Monday/Wednesday class, use course code: NWL C01 012; for the Tuesday/Thursday class, use course code: NWL C01 013.

To register, call the MCC Registration Office at (815) 455-8588 or register online at www.mchenry.edu/myMCC.  Sign up early-spaces are limited.

For more information, call Tracy Berry at (815) 455-8758 or Dori Sullens at (815) 455-8559.

Party Planning For Upcoming Weekend

Party planning for the upcoming July 4^th weekend should include more than a menu and invited guests.  Forgetting about food safety can be a recipe for disaster. A metal-stemmed thermometer is as much a party essential as matching plates and napkins.  According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, one in six Americans will get sick from food poisoning this year. Following four simple steps – clean, separate, cook and chill – can help keep your family safe. Learn the risks of food poisoning in the fun new web series Recipes for Disaster at http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/basics/index.html.

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) wants you to practice safe food handling by keeping “hot things hot” (greater than 135 degrees Fahrenheit) and “cold things cold” (less than 41 degrees Fahrenheit) to reduce your risk of a food-borne illness. Other safety tips include --

• Thaw frozen meats in the refrigerator.
• Wash hands thoroughly with warm water and soap before and after handling foods.
• Clean all kitchen surfaces before you begin cooking.
• To avoid cross contamination, use separate plates for raw and cooked meats.
• Scrub cutting boards with hot soapy water after preparing food.
• Use a metal stemmed food thermometer to ensure food is cooked to the proper temperature.  Food is safely cooked when it reaches a high enough internal temperature to kill harmful bacteria (see below).
• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of serving time.

 Food-borne illness is preventable.  If you suspect a food-borne illness, contact MCDH at 815-334-4585, Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30 pm.  For after hour emergencies, call 815-344-7421.

Supreme Court Rules Against Limits On Toxic Mercury Pollution

The Supreme Court just handed a huge victory to some of America's biggest polluters—ruling against the first-ever limits on toxic mercury pollution from coal plants.¹
It's one of the biggest public health setbacks we've faced in years—but this fight is far from over.
The Environmental Protection Agency is already getting ready to push forward with revisions that address the Supreme Court's concerns. It's up to us to mobilize strong public support to make sure polluters can't create further weakening or delay these critical rules.
Unbelievably, the Supreme Court claimed that the EPA failed to show that the mercury limits were "necessary and appropriate"—even though they would prevent 11,000 annual deaths, 4,700 heart attacks, 130,000 asthma attacks, and up to $90 billion in health-care costs.²
What could be more "necessary and appropriate" than that?
But the coal industry will spend virtually any amount of money on lawyers and lobbyists to block limits on their mercury pollution—and President Obama doesn't have much time left to get these rules in place.
Make no mistake: People could die because of the Supreme Court decision. We can't back down now.

1. Supreme Court Blocks Obama's Limits on Power Plants, The New York Times, June 29, 2015

2. Healthier Americans, United States Environmental Protection Agency, accessed June 29, 2015

McHenry County Recognized For Sustainable Practices

McHenry County has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACO).

The award honors the innovative, sustainable practices of McHenry County Government to expand energy efficiency, education and conservation programs.

The application was submitted by McHenry County’s Facilities Management Department. Since 2009, the Department has reduced annual utility costs from $1,684,975 to $1,174,302, an overall operating cost savings of 30%. Additionally, annual greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 12%, which has a positive environmental impact equivalent to removing over 270 cars off the road per year .

Energy efficiency improvements have both reduced the County’s carbon footprint and created value for taxpayers. Several years ago, Facilities Director John Hadley saw a need to evaluate and improve inefficient facilities and operations. At the time, the County did not comprehensively assess for efficiency, sustainability, life cycle, labor costs and effectiveness.

Through a series of grants and rebates from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO),Hadley offset much of the costs of implementing building energy efficiencies. He began using

software programs to track building utilities, including electricity, natural gas, water, and sewer.

The County can now efficiently identify problematic building systems, oversee performance, and quantify cos avoidance using various software programs that manage and monitor utility costs.

The largest funds to support McHenry County energy efficient projects were from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In 2008, cHenry County was awarded $2.4 million to produce “shovel ready” projects to improve aging, inefficient facilities. The funds were used for 16 energy savings projects , including:

• lighting retrofits,
• window replacements,
• new boilers,
• hot water heaters,
• solar panels.

With the help of contract partners including Alpha Controls, Siemens Building Technologies, Elkhorn Chemical Company, the County is using products and practices that are energy efficient, safe, environmentally friendly and effective.

To create awareness, a “Green Touch Screen” was installed in the administration

building lobby. Staff and visitors can view energy efficient operations of the solar panels on the roof of the building. The building serves as a learning environment to encourage sustainable use and resource practices, including a water bottle filling station, biodegradable garbage bags, technology trash recycling containers, and a cell phone and battery collection site in the purchasing department.

McHenry County is proud to be a part of NACO’s 2015 Achievement Award Program. The award will be presented at NACO’s 2015 Annual Conference and Exposition July 10-13 in Mecklenburg County, N.C.

Crystal Lake Main Beach Reopened

Crystal Lake Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake has reopened after a recent, brief closure due to elevated bacteria levels.

Staff from McHenry County Department of Health collects and analyzes beach water samples from all McHenry County public beaches for bacterial quality at least once every two weeks throughout the summer months. Elevated bacterial levels may result in closure of the beach until bacteria reach acceptable levels. Main Beach is now open for swimming, daily, 7 days/weeks, 9 am-dusk.

Visit the beach information page on the Crystal Lake Park District website, www.crystallakeparks.org/Parks-Facilities/beaches for admission fees, parking fees and other information for your visit to Main and West Beaches.

Cost Cutting Solutions

Is your business looking for a way to easily and quickly cut costs without impacting budgets or staffing? It’s time to talk about your trash! Solid waste alternatives, such as recycling, quickly cut monthly waste management costs which can add up to thousands of dollars saved each year!

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County have teamed up with Ecossential Solutions to provide complimentary solid waste audits to assist small- to medium-sized businesses in McHenry County save with recycling.

Ecossential Solutions is an environmental consulting company that creates sustainable solid waste programs. These programs have cut waste management costs for organizations on average 20-45%; diverted over 900,000 pounds of waste from landfills to date; and increased recycling rates for clients from 30% or less, up to 50 - 65% on average.

The complimentary waste audit includes...

 Introduction Consultation

 Waste Stream Audit

 Waste Audit Summary Report

 How To Start: Small Business Recycling Pamphlet

 Resources for Equipment and Supplies

Here’s a testimonial from Eisenmann Corporation of Crystal Lake, IL which will be saving 20% of yearly waste costs by adding additional recycling!

“When I contacted The Defenders, they directed me to Ecossential Solutions, … [Ecossential Solutions] then visited our facility to see what we had in place and what it would take to get the job done. It was clear that we could have recycling through our waste hauler and that it would be even less expensive than having only a trash container. [The new] arrangement saves pickup cost and truck fuel. The recycling container is for commingled recyclables, just like the curbside pick-up in residential areas. No special sorting is necessary!”

Contact the Environmental Defenders - Waste Reduction Committee at mcdef@owc.net or 815-338-0393

Stop by the office!

110 S. Johnson Street, Suite 106 Woodstock, Illinois 60098