McHenry County Blog

Poster from one of the many supporters of the Raue Center grant.

I’m sitting in Crystal Lake City Council Chambers waiting for the passage of the resolution asking McHenry County government to recognize the importance of the city watershed protection ordinance and what should occupy the minds of most in the audience, but distribution of proceeds from the Hotel/Motel Tax.

Mayor Aaron Shepley had a staffer put up a spreadsheet on the overhead projector. It contained last year’s allocations and a row for this year.

$302,000 in the till, it appeared.

Final Crystal Lake Hotel/Motel Tax Distribution (click to enlarge)

Then he started filling in numbers.

• $15,000 for the Independence Day fireworks which the Crystal Lake Gala used to finance after the Crystal Lake Jaycees stopped sponsoring them when a youth found an unexploded one and severely injured his hand. (The Jaycees collected donations at Veterans Acres in bags.)
• $2,000 to the Crystal Lake Babe Ruth League
• $10,000 to the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce for the 4th of July Parade.
• $6,000 for the Chamber’s Shopping and Dining Guide.
• $35,000 for Historic Downtown Crystal Lake
• $3,600 for the Music Center
• $50,000 for Youth Sports (the baseball tournament)
• $150,000 for the Raue Center for the Performing Arts
• Volleyball – zero
• McHenry County Convention Bureau – zero at Shepley’s guidance, suggesting the money could be found elsewhere in the city budget
• $25,000 for Lakeside Center with Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller pointing out whatever was allocated was in addition to $8,000 in donated police services
• $2,500 for the Crystal Lake Rowing Club

The total awarded was $299,100.

Audience files out of the council chambers after the cutting up of the Hotel/Motel Tax pie. Most were supporters of the Raue Center's application.

Having received $150,000 the Raue Center supports left satisfied, even though they didn’t get the $44,000 they sought for repairs to the old movie theater.

The money collected from the Hotel/Motel Tax could be spent for any purpose.

No word about whether Crystal Lake will be able to put together a fireworks display for Independence Day, but Mayor Aaron Shepley announced at Tuesday’s city council meeting that he is in contact with some community groups to make sure there is a parade.

Both the parade and the fireworks were put on by the Crystal Lake Gala, which went belly up after spending too much on musical groups and/or had too few people able to attend because of the limited parking at Lippold Park.

The parade is scheduled for July 5th, a Sunday.

Let’s hope there are fireworks to go with the parade.

No word about whether Crystal Lake will be able to put together a fireworks display for Independence Day, but Mayor Aaron Shepley announced at Tuesday’s city council meeting that he is in contact with some community groups to make sure there is a parade.

Both the parade and the fireworks were put on by the Crystal Lake Gala, which went belly up after spending too much on musical groups and/or had too few people able to attend because of the limited parking at Lippold Park.

The parade is scheduled for July 5th, a Sunday.

Let’s hope there are fireworks to go with the parade.

In the past, most controversy about the Crystal Lake Gala has revolved around decisions of who should be allowed to do what in its 4th of July Parade.

The most well publicized was the rejection of the McHenry County Peace Group’s entry last year.

They wanted to have signs telling how many of our Armed Forces have been killed in Iraq.

Rejected, they got more publicity for their cause than they would have had they been in the parade by putting a Statue of Liberty in a big side lot on Dole Avenue.

McHenry County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Tom Cynor pulled his party’s entry out of the parade because of the censorship. (Notice that he recreated a similar parade controversy with resulting publicity all by himself when the Founders Day Parade Committee decided to reassert its tradition of only allowing incumbent elected officials in its parade. No candidates not in office need apply).

Former Democratic Party Chairman Patrick Ouimet explained why.

In a prior year, the Libertarian Party got in trouble for its “storm trooper” and German shepherd putting “unsuspecting” Libertarians spotted along the parade route in a little rolling jail. That was a protest against the Homeland Security Department.

I got a big chuckle out of same jail being used to confine a man identified as George Ryan in 2000, I think. That was before Ryan was convicted.

Besides parade entry censorship, the Gala started charging $5 to get inside the fence surrounding the food concessionaires and entertainment. That created a firestorm on the Northwest Herald comment board under a complaining letter to the editor from Dan McMullen.

Then, there were the neighbors complaints about generators running all night, the tear down of the carnival during sleeping hours etc. That led to the celebration being moved from the Dole Mansion to Lippold Park..

This year the problems seem to be monetary and, maybe, more.

The first night there was a problem with the price being charged for carnival rides. The Northwest Herald ad had cut rates not only for the afternoon of July 3rd, but for the night, as well.

There was some controversy about $6 being charged for a cup of Miller beer. $4 a cup apparently was supposed to be the price.

The cost of the bands may have outstripped entrance fees. You see Sixteen Candles playing above. I was ready to dance to their music.

Maggie Speaks, seen to the right, preceded them.

Voluntary groups have traditionally provided manpower for various tasks. In the past, they have gotten paid for whatever function they agreed to staff.

This year, checks have yet to be written.

Other problems were the lack of parking for the fireworks. It was in such short supply that I’m told Route 176 had to be shut down for three hours.

Maybe that will lead to the fireworks being set off over Crystal Lake again next year.

There was some controversy when some young people wearing Gala tee shirts were caught drinking. Apparently, that was a “no-no.”

With potential financial problems, I’m wondering it there is enough money to pull off next year’s fireworks.

I remember when the Crystal Lake Jaycees used to put on the fireworks using the natural amphitheater at Veterans Acres. Jaycees would pass shopping bags to collect money to pay for them.

Then, one year, a teen found an unexploded rocket and blew his hand off.

The result was that the Jaycees couldn’t get insurance for future Independence Day celebrations and the fireworks ended for a while.

If the Gala Committee is in trouble, I hope those who have given of their time can regroup in time to be operational next year.

= = = = =
The people seen eating at last year’s Crystal Lake Gala are young political leaders from China whom I hosted for the day.

In the past, most controversy about the Crystal Lake Gala has revolved around decisions of who should be allowed to do what in its 4th of July Parade.

The most well publicized was the rejection of the McHenry County Peace Group’s entry last year.

They wanted to have signs telling how many of our Armed Forces have been killed in Iraq.

Rejected, they got more publicity for their cause than they would have had they been in the parade by putting a Statue of Liberty in a big side lot on Dole Avenue.

McHenry County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Tom Cynor pulled his party’s entry out of the parade because of the censorship. (Notice that he recreated a similar parade controversy with resulting publicity all by himself when the Founders Day Parade Committee decided to reassert its tradition of only allowing incumbent elected officials in its parade. No candidates not in office need apply).

Former Democratic Party Chairman Patrick Ouimet explained why.

In a prior year, the Libertarian Party got in trouble for its “storm trooper” and German shepherd putting “unsuspecting” Libertarians spotted along the parade route in a little rolling jail. That was a protest against the Homeland Security Department.

I got a big chuckle out of same jail being used to confine a man identified as George Ryan in 2000, I think. That was before Ryan was convicted.

Besides parade entry censorship, the Gala started charging $5 to get inside the fence surrounding the food concessionaires and entertainment. That created a firestorm on the Northwest Herald comment board under a complaining letter to the editor from Dan McMullen.

Then, there were the neighbors complaints about generators running all night, the tear down of the carnival during sleeping hours etc. That led to the celebration being moved from the Dole Mansion to Lippold Park..

This year the problems seem to be monetary and, maybe, more.

The first night there was a problem with the price being charged for carnival rides. The Northwest Herald ad had cut rates not only for the afternoon of July 3rd, but for the night, as well.

There was some controversy about $6 being charged for a cup of Miller beer. $4 a cup apparently was supposed to be the price.

The cost of the bands may have outstripped entrance fees. You see Sixteen Candles playing above. I was ready to dance to their music.

Maggie Speaks, seen to the right, preceded them.

Voluntary groups have traditionally provided manpower for various tasks. In the past, they have gotten paid for whatever function they agreed to staff.

This year, checks have yet to be written.

Other problems were the lack of parking for the fireworks. It was in such short supply that I’m told Route 176 had to be shut down for three hours.

Maybe that will lead to the fireworks being set off over Crystal Lake again next year.

There was some controversy when some young people wearing Gala tee shirts were caught drinking. Apparently, that was a “no-no.”

With potential financial problems, I’m wondering it there is enough money to pull off next year’s fireworks.

I remember when the Crystal Lake Jaycees used to put on the fireworks using the natural amphitheater at Veterans Acres. Jaycees would pass shopping bags to collect money to pay for them.

Then, one year, a teen found an unexploded rocket and blew his hand off.

The result was that the Jaycees couldn’t get insurance for future Independence Day celebrations and the fireworks ended for a while.

If the Gala Committee is in trouble, I hope those who have given of their time can regroup in time to be operational next year.

= = = = =
The people seen eating at last year’s Crystal Lake Gala are young political leaders from China whom I hosted for the day.

Another parade.

This time in McHenry.

Republican precinct committeeman John O’Neill is seeking folks to walk next to the GOP floats and candidates on Sunday, July 20.

It starts at 1:30 pm and Republicans are offering to bus people from the township office in Johnsburg, if they so desire. Folks wishing to park there are asked to arrive at the McHenry Township Center between noon and 1 PM.

Here is his plea:

Hello All Republicans and Supporters,

I am writing to ask your support for the Republicans participating in the McHenry Fiesta Days Parade.

We have an opportunity to show ourselves in force once again. After the FANTASTIC showing or 200 or so Republicans in the Crystal Lake Gala Parade, we are hoping for a good showing of Republicans to attend the McHenry Fiesta Days parade.

In order to accommodate this we have been able to provide the following;

• Free Parking at the McHenry Township Center.
• Free Transportation to and from the parade and the parking area.
• Free lunch at the Veteran’s Memorial Park after the parade.

We are asking all on this email to attend with your families and if you are a Precinct Committeeman please invite some of the best Republicans in your precinct to participate.

In order to gauge how many Republicans will be at the parade (and to estimate the cost for the lunch) please reply to this email (mchenry20@gmail.com) and let us know whether you will attend and how many Republicans will be in your party.

We ask that you wear either the new “Energized Republican” shirts or a shirt representing the current Republican candidate of your choice, that way we get some additional Republican marketing at the park during lunch

We will meet around Noon at the McHenry Township Center which is located just west of Route 31 at Johnsburg Road, behind the Moose Lodge. Please park in the lot near the athletic fields. We will take care of your transportation to the parade start and after lunch at the park, we will provide transportation back to the McHenry Township Center.

We appreciate all that you do to help promote our Republican values and elect more Republicans to office, and we look forward to seeing you at the parade and the park afterward..

Thank you,
John O’Neill
(815) 276-2507

= = = = =

The photos are from the Crystal Lake Gala’s 4th of July parade, compliments of John O’Neill. On top, you see him and his family.

Next comes part of the Lou Bianchi for State’s Attorney contingent.

Congressman Don Manzullo waves to the crowd at the start of the parade. In the background, you can see some of the 200-plus folks who walked for the Republican Party and its candidates.

State Senator Pam Althoff can be seen passing out candy.

State Rep. and GOP County Chairman Mike Tryon poses with District 3 County Board member Nick Provenzano in the photo below.

At the bottom is a tractor pulling a load of candidate balloons. Can you pick out Brent Smith, one of the parade walker recruiters?

Another parade.

This time in McHenry.

Republican precinct committeeman John O’Neill is seeking folks to walk next to the GOP floats and candidates on Sunday, July 20.

It starts at 1:30 pm and Republicans are offering to bus people from the township office in Johnsburg, if they so desire. Folks wishing to park there are asked to arrive at the McHenry Township Center between noon and 1 PM.

Here is his plea:

Hello All Republicans and Supporters,

I am writing to ask your support for the Republicans participating in the McHenry Fiesta Days Parade.

We have an opportunity to show ourselves in force once again. After the FANTASTIC showing or 200 or so Republicans in the Crystal Lake Gala Parade, we are hoping for a good showing of Republicans to attend the McHenry Fiesta Days parade.

In order to accommodate this we have been able to provide the following;

• Free Parking at the McHenry Township Center.
• Free Transportation to and from the parade and the parking area.
• Free lunch at the Veteran’s Memorial Park after the parade.

We are asking all on this email to attend with your families and if you are a Precinct Committeeman please invite some of the best Republicans in your precinct to participate.

In order to gauge how many Republicans will be at the parade (and to estimate the cost for the lunch) please reply to this email (mchenry20@gmail.com) and let us know whether you will attend and how many Republicans will be in your party.

We ask that you wear either the new “Energized Republican” shirts or a shirt representing the current Republican candidate of your choice, that way we get some additional Republican marketing at the park during lunch

We will meet around Noon at the McHenry Township Center which is located just west of Route 31 at Johnsburg Road, behind the Moose Lodge. Please park in the lot near the athletic fields. We will take care of your transportation to the parade start and after lunch at the park, we will provide transportation back to the McHenry Township Center.

We appreciate all that you do to help promote our Republican values and elect more Republicans to office, and we look forward to seeing you at the parade and the park afterward..

Thank you,
John O’Neill
(815) 276-2507

= = = = =

The photos are from the Crystal Lake Gala’s 4th of July parade, compliments of John O’Neill. On top, you see him and his family.

Next comes part of the Lou Bianchi for State’s Attorney contingent.

Congressman Don Manzullo waves to the crowd at the start of the parade. In the background, you can see some of the 200-plus folks who walked for the Republican Party and its candidates.

State Senator Pam Althoff can be seen passing out candy.

State Rep. and GOP County Chairman Mike Tryon poses with District 3 County Board member Nick Provenzano in the photo below.

At the bottom is a tractor pulling a load of candidate balloons. Can you pick out Brent Smith, one of the parade walker recruiters?

People in my neighborhood will be able to get to and from home without a detour during this year’s Gala 4th of July Parade. It starts at one and you can fill your tummy by buying hot dogs and other stuff at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake. Proceeds go to the teens, who just returned from a mission trip to Louisiana.

Instead of following the old railroad track to the Main Beach, the parade will make an acute right turn around my high school classmate Joanna Ladd’s home. Bet they have a lot of visitors Saturday.

No controversy this year about excluding the McHenry County Peace Group’s anti-war float.

It occurs to me that the First Amendment had not been passed on the day our Declaration of Independence was signed. No guarantee of Freedom of Speech on that first 4th of July.

Here’s some of what I saw last year:

As befits an Independence Day Parade, representations of the Statute of Liberty were in the parade.

They weren’t from the McHenry County Peace Group, however.

But the Peace Group were out at 11 o’clock when I was going to church after posting this article on their parked float.

It was banned by the Gala Committee.

There were four little girls with picket signs in front of the float on Dole Avenue at Pierson Street. I got this shot out of the car window, but they weren’t close enough to get them all and the light at Route 14 had just turned green, so I only got one chance.

The girl in the camera’s lens carried a sign that said,

We the People

A friend had a sign saying, “Draft,” with a big “X” through it.

I’m not sure the relevance, since there is no draft.

The committee apparently didn’t want spectators reminded of the number of American service men and woman who have been killed in Iraq.

Before the parade, I saw two women with McHenry County Peace Group tee shirts passing out leaflets informing spectators that they had been banned from the parade. Included was a quiz on Lady Liberty.

There was a Statue of Liberty woman on stilts.

She kindly posed for me so that I could get her crown outlined against the blue sky, rather than the trees under which I was hiding from the sun (having forgotten to bring sun tan lotion).

Another Statue of Liberty was marching in front of the “We Support Our Troops” sign, right beside Uncle Sam.

A man who appeared to be a reporter got in the shot, too.

Most surprising was the District 47 and 155 school bus decked out in a “Support the Troops” mode.

There was an MIA/POW flag attached to the back of the school bus.

One of the men insisted it wasn’t a political statement.

I asked if it were not, what was the point?

In any event, it surprised me to see the school districts seemingly in the middle of the controversy.

Now, I am sure that whoever put the entry together will point out that they were not taking a political stand, and that is certainly one interpretation.

They could point to the hall entryway to South Elementary School, which has a “support the troops” display as evidence that this is not outside the norm for at least Grade School District 47. I believe one or more of the teachers have sons in Iraq.

But, considering the banning of the Peace Group’s float, let me say that I found it, well, interesting.

The Sinful Saints Dixieland Band invoked God’s blessings for Sgt. Ashley Martinez, serving in Iraq. The band was playing atop Tom McDermott’s restored fire engine.

And, guess what I found behind another of the entries.

A guy with a peace tee shirt on, complete with Biblical citation. He was behind the FedEx Truck, accompanied by little girls wrapped in tape which indicated they would be delivered on Saturday.

I thought the parade was on Sunday, but with the 4th of July on Wednesday, I’m pretty mixed up myself as to what day is which.

After the parade finished passing the First United Methodist Church and I had another hot dog with mustard and a Diet Coke, I drove to Pierson Street to get a close-up of the McHenry County Peace Group’s parked Lady Liberty float.

I asked which was the sign that the Gala Parade Committee found so distasteful.

A man pointed toward the one that told the number of casualties.

You can see it at the bottom right of the float, below the Statue of Liberty, as well as in the close-up.

Members of the group had been holding up signs like “Bring Them Home” to the people in the parade.

Since so many participate in the parade, they must have reached a lot of people.

Nelson Borelli managed to keep a kite flying with a dove on it. I was never very good at flying kites, so was a bit envious.

The Peace Group’s Statue of Liberty float didn’t bring tears to my eyes the way some of the military units playing patriotic songs did earlier in the day, but if dissent is not a part of American culture, I don’t have any idea what the Revolutionary War was all about.

I got all sorts of good tee shirts at the relatively small gathering around the Peace Group’s float. These will show up periodically at McHenry County Blog’s ‘Message of the Day.”

As usual, all photographs can be enlarged by clicking on them.

People in my neighborhood will be able to get to and from home without a detour during this year’s Gala 4th of July Parade. It starts at one and you can fill your tummy by buying hot dogs and other stuff at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake. Proceeds go to the teens, who just returned from a mission trip to Louisiana.

Instead of following the old railroad track to the Main Beach, the parade will make an acute right turn around my high school classmate Joanna Ladd’s home. Bet they have a lot of visitors Saturday.

No controversy this year about excluding the McHenry County Peace Group’s anti-war float.

It occurs to me that the First Amendment had not been passed on the day our Declaration of Independence was signed. No guarantee of Freedom of Speech on that first 4th of July.

Here’s some of what I saw last year:

As befits an Independence Day Parade, representations of the Statute of Liberty were in the parade.

They weren’t from the McHenry County Peace Group, however.

But the Peace Group were out at 11 o’clock when I was going to church after posting this article on their parked float.

It was banned by the Gala Committee.

There were four little girls with picket signs in front of the float on Dole Avenue at Pierson Street. I got this shot out of the car window, but they weren’t close enough to get them all and the light at Route 14 had just turned green, so I only got one chance.

The girl in the camera’s lens carried a sign that said,

We the People

A friend had a sign saying, “Draft,” with a big “X” through it.

I’m not sure the relevance, since there is no draft.

The committee apparently didn’t want spectators reminded of the number of American service men and woman who have been killed in Iraq.

Before the parade, I saw two women with McHenry County Peace Group tee shirts passing out leaflets informing spectators that they had been banned from the parade. Included was a quiz on Lady Liberty.

There was a Statue of Liberty woman on stilts.

She kindly posed for me so that I could get her crown outlined against the blue sky, rather than the trees under which I was hiding from the sun (having forgotten to bring sun tan lotion).

Another Statue of Liberty was marching in front of the “We Support Our Troops” sign, right beside Uncle Sam.

A man who appeared to be a reporter got in the shot, too.

Most surprising was the District 47 and 155 school bus decked out in a “Support the Troops” mode.

There was an MIA/POW flag attached to the back of the school bus.

One of the men insisted it wasn’t a political statement.

I asked if it were not, what was the point?

In any event, it surprised me to see the school districts seemingly in the middle of the controversy.

Now, I am sure that whoever put the entry together will point out that they were not taking a political stand, and that is certainly one interpretation.

They could point to the hall entryway to South Elementary School, which has a “support the troops” display as evidence that this is not outside the norm for at least Grade School District 47. I believe one or more of the teachers have sons in Iraq.

But, considering the banning of the Peace Group’s float, let me say that I found it, well, interesting.

The Sinful Saints Dixieland Band invoked God’s blessings for Sgt. Ashley Martinez, serving in Iraq. The band was playing atop Tom McDermott’s restored fire engine.

And, guess what I found behind another of the entries.

A guy with a peace tee shirt on, complete with Biblical citation. He was behind the FedEx Truck, accompanied by little girls wrapped in tape which indicated they would be delivered on Saturday.

I thought the parade was on Sunday, but with the 4th of July on Wednesday, I’m pretty mixed up myself as to what day is which.

After the parade finished passing the First United Methodist Church and I had another hot dog with mustard and a Diet Coke, I drove to Pierson Street to get a close-up of the McHenry County Peace Group’s parked Lady Liberty float.

I asked which was the sign that the Gala Parade Committee found so distasteful.

A man pointed toward the one that told the number of casualties.

You can see it at the bottom right of the float, below the Statue of Liberty, as well as in the close-up.

Members of the group had been holding up signs like “Bring Them Home” to the people in the parade.

Since so many participate in the parade, they must have reached a lot of people.

Nelson Borelli managed to keep a kite flying with a dove on it. I was never very good at flying kites, so was a bit envious.

The Peace Group’s Statue of Liberty float didn’t bring tears to my eyes the way some of the military units playing patriotic songs did earlier in the day, but if dissent is not a part of American culture, I don’t have any idea what the Revolutionary War was all about.

I got all sorts of good tee shirts at the relatively small gathering around the Peace Group’s float. These will show up periodically at McHenry County Blog’s ‘Message of the Day.”

As usual, all photographs can be enlarged by clicking on them.

If you are interested in helping the GOP mount a presence in area parades or just getting together with other similarly minded folks, June 18th is the night for you.

Wednesday night at 6:30, McHenry County Republican Party Chairman, State Rep. Mike Tryon, will be at the Nunda Township building to meeting with you.

Brent Smith, who is heading up the parade effort and trying to re-organize the Young Republicans, asks that you give him a call at 815-356-9437.

Or just show up.

If you are home from college and trying to connect with other young people, plan on attending.

There might be some discussion of manning the McHenry County Fair Booth as well.

= = = = =
The photo was taken at the Crystal Lake 4th of July Parade in 2007. You see a Jesse White Tumbler hanging in the air.