McHenry County Blog

The McHenry County Defenders was formed forty years ago, the press release below reminds folks. I joined that first year.

This past year it has been re-named the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.

It was a spin-off of the Fox Valley Defenders, which formed to fight (successfully, obviously) the Fox Valley Freeway through Barrington Hills. (Rumor is that then Lt. Gov. Paul Simon’s sister lived near the proposed “freeway,” which anyone with a brain knew would end up a tollway.)

Earth Day was 1969 and the members in McHenry decided they wanted to create a broad-based environmental organization and, since the organizers were from McHenry County they did so and changed the name.

And the group survived, although after municipalities took over re-cycling, the flow of income to the organization dipped so much that a full-time executive director became impossible to finance.

25 Year Members, taken in 1994. In the photo in the back row are Bill Wingate, Bill Howenstine, Lon Huml, Larry Lane, Cal Skinner, Jr., Brian Koukol, Sherry Anderson; front row, Florence Seda, Ardith Wingate, Alice Howenstine, Margaret Marchi, Anne Carroll, Ward Duel, Lou Marchi and Bill Carroll

The Defenders has been involved in all the garbage dump fights with scientist Lou Marchi arguing persuasively,

“All landfills leak, it’s just a matter of time.”

Protect of the shallow aquifers from which much of McHenry County’s water flows has been a key goal.

When people thought inappropriate use of land was threatening their neighborhoods, who you gonna call?

It wasn’t Ghostbusters. It was the Defenders.

Maybe some folks will reminisce about some of the fights, the most recent of which I remember was opposition against building a minor league baseball stadium on the watershed of Crystal Lake.

Below is the press release:

Environmental Defenders Celebrate 40 Years
of Protecting Natural Resources in McHenry County!

Anniversary Celebration planned at Saturday, March 13 Dinner Meeting
& Awards Ceremony in McHenry

WOODSTOCK – The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their grassroots, not-for-profit organization at their Annual Defenders’ Dinner Meeting and Awards Ceremony – this Saturday, March 13, from 5:30 – 9 p.m at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 404 North Green Street in McHenry, IL.

Founded in 1970, this locally based volunteer organization has grown from a few dozen concerned citizens into the McHenry County Defenders, a well-respected not-for-profit organization with hundreds of members throughout the county, dedicated to preserving and protecting a healthy environment in their communities.  Recently, the group became known as the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, to better reflect its purpose and mission.

Re-cyclers in Woodstock

Each year, Defenders members gather together for an organizational meeting, an awards ceremony for local volunteers, and a fantastic potluck supper.  This year’s program also includes “A Walk Down Memory Lane,” a retrospective look at 40 years of Defenders’ accomplishments, and a presentation on the proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge in northern McHenry County.  A photo slide show will also feature Defenders’ members and  activities throughout the years.

The Defenders’ 40th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Dinner Meeting is open to members and their families.  Those who are interested in learning more about the organization are also invited to attend, and media representatives will be welcome.  There is no charge to attend the potluck dinner, just bring a dish to pass and your own non-disposable tableware.  The evening also includes several raffles, volunteer awards, and 40th Anniversary displays.  (A complete schedule is attached.)

For more information, visit www.mcdef.org or contact the office of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County at (815) 338-0393, e-mail:  mcdef@owc.net.

In one of the first county board fund raisers of the year, McHenry County College Board member Donna Kurtz gathered supporters at The Cottage at the corner of Crystal Lake Avenue and Brink Street Thursday night.

Kurtz is running to replace either incumbent County Board Chairman Ken Koehler or member Lyn Orphal in the early February Republican primary election.

Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen introduced the candidate.

“I am very, very, very enthusiastic supporter of Donna Kurtz,” he said. “We need someone with her honesty and integrity in county board government.”

Kurtz said she was inspired by her mother former State Rep. Rosemary Kurtz’ concern for environmental protection and former State Rep. Cal Skinner’s fiscal conservativeness. Rep. Kurtz defeated Rep. Skinner in the 2000 GOP primary election.

Former State Reps. Rosemary Kurtz and Cal Skinner, plus McHenry County College Board member and County Board candidate Donna Kurtz. (Jeff Thorsen commented that this should be sent to Ripley's Believe It or Not.)

“As many of you know, the world goes full circle.”

Kurtz said she running for the board of directors of a $260 million organization, McHenry County government.

Reflecting on her service on the McHenry County College Board, Kurtz said it had taught her this lesson:

“You gotta do your own research. Everyone’s got their own agenda.”

She didn’t say she was reflecting on her support of building a minor league baseball stadium on college property and, then, changing her mind with the announcement being at the Crystal Lake City Council meeting the night re-zoning was being discussed, but that might be a good guess.

“My courage was driven by my thought I couldn’t stand not to do the right thing,” she stated.

Besides Thorsen, City Council members Carolyn Schofield and Brett Hopkins were in attendance, as were park board members Mike Walkup and Richard Sexton.

McHenry County Recorder of Deeds Phyllis Walters, who actually lives in District 2 in the tiny bit of Algonquin in the district was also in attendance, as was Nunda Township Supervisor John Heisler.

Members of A-LAW, the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water were in attendance. The group recently proposed strict potential conflict disclosure rules for county elected and appointed officials.  The Alden Road Alliance was also represented. District 3 county board candidate Craig Steagall, who actively opposes the location of the proposed Ridgefield Metra station on Country Club Road, also was present.

Touchdown Sponsor

• Tamara Kurtz

Field Goal Sponsors

• Erv & Louise Lecoque
• Dr. Robert & Carol Minkus

Safety Sponsors

• Jeannine Thoms
• Connie Zukowski
• Scott Summers
• Jewel Hahn
• Jill Hartman

Extra Point Sponsors

• Keith & Marge Nygren
• Phyllis Walters
• Bill & Alice Howenstine
• James & Diane Gesler
• Lou Ann & Jerome Majewski
• Jean Plews
• Patricia Floeter
• Brett & Tina Hopkins

A press release from Patrick Murfin, Executive Director of Sunday’s Diversity Day in Woodstock’s Square:

HOUSING AUTHORITY’S SUE ROSE WINS PEACE & JUSTICE AWARD

WOODSTOCK—The 2008 Peace and Justice Award will be presented to Sue Rose, Community Service Director of the McHenry County Housing Authority at Diversity Day 2008: Democracy is Our Hope, Sunday, October 5 from 1 to 4 PM, on the Square in Woodstock.

The award will be presented around 2:30 by Alice and Bill Howenstine, the Quaker environmental and peace activists who won last year’s award.

“For years the advice ‘go see Sue Rose at the Housing Authority’ has meant hope for the homeless and those in danger of homelessness,” according to Diversity Day Executive Director Patrick Murfin. “We have never given the Peace & Justice award to a government employee, no mater how dedicated. But Sue Rose has always worked harder, gone the extra mile, to help McHenry County’s often forgotten and faceless poor.”

Rose was born in Chicago and raised in Oak Park, Illinois. She graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago with a BA in Sociology.

A McHenry County resident since 1981, Rose began her social work in McHenry County working with senior citizens at Royal Terrace Health Care Center (now Alden Terrace) as the Psychosocial Program Director. She also worked at Senior Services of McHenry County, where she was an elder abuse investigator and developed and administered a shared housing program that linked seniors who owned their homes with people who needed housing. This innovative program helped low-income people to share their housing expenses. While at Senior Services, Rose became a certified Advanced Case Manager, Elder Abuse Investigator, and Certified Ombudsman.

Rose joined the McHenry County Housing Authority in 1996. As Community Services Director she has been responsible for working with the homeless population, people at risk of homelessness and very low-income individuals and families that may be experiencing a temporary hardship. She has often been one of the first responders upon notification that a residential fire or other disaster has left people homeless. She received a certification as a Family and Community Development Specialist from the Illinois Community Action Agency and the University of Iowa, and she completed course work in working with the homeless population and substance abusers. For the past 12 years Rose has worked at the McHenry County Housing Authority with families in crisis situations and she has worked to ameliorate the causes of these crises. Many of the social service agencies in McHenry County look to her and the McHenry County Housing Authority for financial assistance, guidance to other resources and coordination of assistance for clients experiencing some very difficult situations.

In the words of Housing Authority Executive Director Julie Biel Claussen, “Sue is the voice for many people who have no voice.”

In addition to her work at McHenry County Housing Authority, Sue is on the Board of Directors for Consumer Credit Counseling Services of McHenry County. Her other interests include antiques, rock hunting, cats, nature and gardening.

“We are proud to induct Sue Rose into the distinguished company of Peace & Justice Award recipients,” Murfin said. “We believe this annual award has become one of the most prestigious honors in McHenry County.”

The Peace & Justice Award is presented by Diversity Day 2008, which is organized by the Congregational Unitarian Church in Woodstock with the sponsorship support of the Land Conservancy of McHenry County.

PAST WINNERS OF THE PEACE AND JUSTICE AWARD

1997 – Werner Elmann, Holocaust camp liberator and human rights activist

1998 – Cindy Bloom, Native American activist

1999 – Susanne Hoban, Executive Director, Family Health Partnership Clinic

2000 – Gloria Urch, Community leader, journalist, business woman, educator

2001 – Mary Fox, Peace educator

2002 – Libby Pappalardo, McHenry County Peace Group founder

2003 – Carlos Acosta, Latino Coalition leader

2004 – Lou Ness, Former Executive Director, Turning Point

2005 – Janie Galarza, Harvard Human Relations Commission, community activist

2006 – Arielle Payne, MCC Black Student Union President, student trustee

2007 – Alice and Bill Hownstine, Quaker environmental and peace advocates

A press release from Patrick Murfin, Executive Director of Sunday’s Diversity Day in Woodstock’s Square:

HOUSING AUTHORITY’S SUE ROSE WINS PEACE & JUSTICE AWARD

WOODSTOCK—The 2008 Peace and Justice Award will be presented to Sue Rose, Community Service Director of the McHenry County Housing Authority at Diversity Day 2008: Democracy is Our Hope, Sunday, October 5 from 1 to 4 PM, on the Square in Woodstock.

The award will be presented around 2:30 by Alice and Bill Howenstine, the Quaker environmental and peace activists who won last year’s award.

“For years the advice ‘go see Sue Rose at the Housing Authority’ has meant hope for the homeless and those in danger of homelessness,” according to Diversity Day Executive Director Patrick Murfin. “We have never given the Peace & Justice award to a government employee, no mater how dedicated. But Sue Rose has always worked harder, gone the extra mile, to help McHenry County’s often forgotten and faceless poor.”

Rose was born in Chicago and raised in Oak Park, Illinois. She graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago with a BA in Sociology.

A McHenry County resident since 1981, Rose began her social work in McHenry County working with senior citizens at Royal Terrace Health Care Center (now Alden Terrace) as the Psychosocial Program Director. She also worked at Senior Services of McHenry County, where she was an elder abuse investigator and developed and administered a shared housing program that linked seniors who owned their homes with people who needed housing. This innovative program helped low-income people to share their housing expenses. While at Senior Services, Rose became a certified Advanced Case Manager, Elder Abuse Investigator, and Certified Ombudsman.

Rose joined the McHenry County Housing Authority in 1996. As Community Services Director she has been responsible for working with the homeless population, people at risk of homelessness and very low-income individuals and families that may be experiencing a temporary hardship. She has often been one of the first responders upon notification that a residential fire or other disaster has left people homeless. She received a certification as a Family and Community Development Specialist from the Illinois Community Action Agency and the University of Iowa, and she completed course work in working with the homeless population and substance abusers. For the past 12 years Rose has worked at the McHenry County Housing Authority with families in crisis situations and she has worked to ameliorate the causes of these crises. Many of the social service agencies in McHenry County look to her and the McHenry County Housing Authority for financial assistance, guidance to other resources and coordination of assistance for clients experiencing some very difficult situations.

In the words of Housing Authority Executive Director Julie Biel Claussen, “Sue is the voice for many people who have no voice.”

In addition to her work at McHenry County Housing Authority, Sue is on the Board of Directors for Consumer Credit Counseling Services of McHenry County. Her other interests include antiques, rock hunting, cats, nature and gardening.

“We are proud to induct Sue Rose into the distinguished company of Peace & Justice Award recipients,” Murfin said. “We believe this annual award has become one of the most prestigious honors in McHenry County.”

The Peace & Justice Award is presented by Diversity Day 2008, which is organized by the Congregational Unitarian Church in Woodstock with the sponsorship support of the Land Conservancy of McHenry County.

PAST WINNERS OF THE PEACE AND JUSTICE AWARD

1997 – Werner Elmann, Holocaust camp liberator and human rights activist

1998 – Cindy Bloom, Native American activist

1999 – Susanne Hoban, Executive Director, Family Health Partnership Clinic

2000 – Gloria Urch, Community leader, journalist, business woman, educator

2001 – Mary Fox, Peace educator

2002 – Libby Pappalardo, McHenry County Peace Group founder

2003 – Carlos Acosta, Latino Coalition leader

2004 – Lou Ness, Former Executive Director, Turning Point

2005 – Janie Galarza, Harvard Human Relations Commission, community activist

2006 – Arielle Payne, MCC Black Student Union President, student trustee

2007 – Alice and Bill Hownstine, Quaker environmental and peace advocates

The press release on Sunday’s Diversity Day is below:

DIVERSITY DAY 2007 PROGRAM A MIX OF MUSIC, DANCE AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

WOODSTOCK—Diversity Day 2007: “…Skies Everywhere as Blue as Mine” will be held in Woodstock Square on Sunday, October 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. It is the twelfth annual edition of the festival which highlights and supports cultural, ethnic, language, religious, ability, gender, and sexual orientation diversity in McHenry County.

Long time festival co-hosts Gloria Urch and Patrick Murfin will present an afternoon of varied entertainment. The festival will open with a special performance by the Congregational Unitarian Church Choir under the direction of Tom Steffens. Other musical performers include the O Brother Group, and Keith Johnson and Judy Martzen.

Dance performances will include salsa and contemporary Latin social dancing by students at McHenry County College, and Corazon Boliviano Grupo de Danza Folklorica Boliviana (Heart of Bolivia, the Bolivian Folklore Dance Group.) In addition Betty Appleton and friends will get the audience up on their feet by teaching some international folk dancers.

Religious diversity will be celebrated by participation of the Rev. Dan Larsen of the Congregational Unitarian Church, Rabbi Maralee Gordon of the McHenry County Jewish Congregation, an Islamic muezzin who will sing the call to prayer, and representatives of Congregation Tikkun Olam, the Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple, and the Ten Directions Zen Group.

Community leaders will highlight projects that encourage diversity, serve human need, and create peace in the community. Speakers will include State Senator Pam Althoff, Joy Turner of Home of the Sparrow, Janie Galarza of Turning Point, Harold Rail of Principled Minds, Carlos Acosta of the Latino Coalition, Libby Pappalardo of the McHenry County Peace Group, Gary Christ of De-mining Cambodia, and others.

As usual, a highlight of Diversity Day is the presentation of the annual Peace and Justice award. For the first time there will be co-winners, Alice and Bill Hownstine. The Hownstines are long time leaders of the environmental movement in McHenry County and Quaker peace activists.

On the grounds of the festival dozens of community organizations, social service agencies, issue advocacy groups, political and religious organization will have information tables. Dr. Nelson Borelli will demonstrate his peace kites and the Peace Group’s Statue of Liberty float.

The SubZero Sandwich and Ice Cream and Lucia’s Custom Catering will provide food service on the square featuring burgers, hot dogs, Italian sausage, and veggie wraps.

Diversity Day 2007 is presented by the Congregational Unitarian Church and enjoys the sponsorship of Home State Bank.

For information about the festival call Patrick Murfin at 815 814-5645 or e-mail DivDay@sbcglobal.net.

The press release on Sunday’s Diversity Day is below:

DIVERSITY DAY 2007 PROGRAM A MIX OF MUSIC, DANCE AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

WOODSTOCK—Diversity Day 2007: “…Skies Everywhere as Blue as Mine” will be held in Woodstock Square on Sunday, October 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. It is the twelfth annual edition of the festival which highlights and supports cultural, ethnic, language, religious, ability, gender, and sexual orientation diversity in McHenry County.

Long time festival co-hosts Gloria Urch and Patrick Murfin will present an afternoon of varied entertainment. The festival will open with a special performance by the Congregational Unitarian Church Choir under the direction of Tom Steffens. Other musical performers include the O Brother Group, and Keith Johnson and Judy Martzen.

Dance performances will include salsa and contemporary Latin social dancing by students at McHenry County College, and Corazon Boliviano Grupo de Danza Folklorica Boliviana (Heart of Bolivia, the Bolivian Folklore Dance Group.) In addition Betty Appleton and friends will get the audience up on their feet by teaching some international folk dancers.

Religious diversity will be celebrated by participation of the Rev. Dan Larsen of the Congregational Unitarian Church, Rabbi Maralee Gordon of the McHenry County Jewish Congregation, an Islamic muezzin who will sing the call to prayer, and representatives of Congregation Tikkun Olam, the Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple, and the Ten Directions Zen Group.

Community leaders will highlight projects that encourage diversity, serve human need, and create peace in the community. Speakers will include State Senator Pam Althoff, Joy Turner of Home of the Sparrow, Janie Galarza of Turning Point, Harold Rail of Principled Minds, Carlos Acosta of the Latino Coalition, Libby Pappalardo of the McHenry County Peace Group, Gary Christ of De-mining Cambodia, and others.

As usual, a highlight of Diversity Day is the presentation of the annual Peace and Justice award. For the first time there will be co-winners, Alice and Bill Hownstine. The Hownstines are long time leaders of the environmental movement in McHenry County and Quaker peace activists.

On the grounds of the festival dozens of community organizations, social service agencies, issue advocacy groups, political and religious organization will have information tables. Dr. Nelson Borelli will demonstrate his peace kites and the Peace Group’s Statue of Liberty float.

The SubZero Sandwich and Ice Cream and Lucia’s Custom Catering will provide food service on the square featuring burgers, hot dogs, Italian sausage, and veggie wraps.

Diversity Day 2007 is presented by the Congregational Unitarian Church and enjoys the sponsorship of Home State Bank.

For information about the festival call Patrick Murfin at 815 814-5645 or e-mail DivDay@sbcglobal.net.