McHenry County Blog

Just what we need.

Another McHenry County tax.

Another McHenry County Republican Tax.

A McHenry County Republican Hotel Tax.

Trying to pass a McHenry County Republican Cat Tax wasn’t good enough.

Passing Republican Mayor Aaron Shepley’s 75% Crystal Lake sales tax increase wasn’t enough.

Just having a half percentage point RTA sales tax enacted, half of which ($9 million a year) will be spent by the McHenry County Board without political consequences, wasn’t enough.

Now the McHenry County Board is being asked those same folks who doubled the Regional Transportation Authority sales tax to pass a 3 percent tax on hotel and motel rentals.

I rush to point out that none of McHenry County’s legislators voted for the RTA sales tax hike.

But, the McHenry County Board’s Finance Committee is going to ask the McHenry County Board to ask our local legislators–State Representatives Jack Franks, Mike Tryon and Mark Beaubien, plus State Senators Pam Althoff and retiring Bill Peterson–to seek approval of the hotel tax.

That’s what I learned in Chuck Keeshan’s Daily Herald article on Wednesday.

Marc Munaretto, Finance Committee Chairman and up for election with a Democratic Party opponent this fall, said it could raise $250,000 a year.

And, where would it go?

The county’s tourism agency.

Bet you didn’t even know McHenry County had a primarily tax supported tourism agency, did you?

It’s called the McHenry County Convention and Visitors Bureau and it already gets a big chunk of Crystal Lake’s hotel tax.

Cort Carlson, the agency’s head, says the money will allow the hiring of more people to attract events like trade shows and sporting events.

I’m glad he didn’t include minor league baseball teams.

This tax would be “on top of taxes ranging from 2.5 to 5 percent already imposed by county municipalities,” the story says. Apparently every city and village with a room to rent has such taxes already.

Keeshan quoted Tryon thusly:

“Pyramiding a tax on top of a tax is not something we’re supposed to be looking at as elected officials. Taking money from consumers and putting it in the hands of government — that is something we don’t want to do, especially in this economy.”

Tryon, as newly elected chairman of the McHenry County Republican Central Committee, is trying to craft a new image for local Republicans.

Anyone think it will help Tryon if the McHenry County Board endorses this proposal?

Munaretto, as you can see from the “Quote of the Day” above, kindly supplied by a friend of McHenry County Blog, believes that little of the tax would be paid by McHenry County residents.

The featured quote says,

“I think it’s responsible to at least look at it. It’s an opportunity for us to procure funding for our convention and visitors bureau without imposing a tax on our citizenry.”

But, those having a wedding locally who don’t have enough bedrooms to put up the friends and family attending, might have a different viewpoint.

= = = = =
The toasting people are from this winter’s snow blizzard wedding of Mackenzie Walter to Carlos Garcia. The dancers are from the wedding of Mary Pat Mercer to Bill Bear. Both had lots of out of county guests.

Just what we need.

Another McHenry County tax.

Another McHenry County Republican Tax.

A McHenry County Republican Hotel Tax.

Trying to pass a McHenry County Republican Cat Tax wasn’t good enough.

Passing Republican Mayor Aaron Shepley’s 75% Crystal Lake sales tax increase wasn’t enough.

Just having a half percentage point RTA sales tax enacted, half of which ($9 million a year) will be spent by the McHenry County Board without political consequences, wasn’t enough.

Now the McHenry County Board is being asked those same folks who doubled the Regional Transportation Authority sales tax to pass a 3 percent tax on hotel and motel rentals.

I rush to point out that none of McHenry County’s legislators voted for the RTA sales tax hike.

But, the McHenry County Board’s Finance Committee is going to ask the McHenry County Board to ask our local legislators–State Representatives Jack Franks, Mike Tryon and Mark Beaubien, plus State Senators Pam Althoff and retiring Bill Peterson–to seek approval of the hotel tax.

That’s what I learned in Chuck Keeshan’s Daily Herald article on Wednesday.

Marc Munaretto, Finance Committee Chairman and up for election with a Democratic Party opponent this fall, said it could raise $250,000 a year.

And, where would it go?

The county’s tourism agency.

Bet you didn’t even know McHenry County had a primarily tax supported tourism agency, did you?

It’s called the McHenry County Convention and Visitors Bureau and it already gets a big chunk of Crystal Lake’s hotel tax.

Cort Carlson, the agency’s head, says the money will allow the hiring of more people to attract events like trade shows and sporting events.

I’m glad he didn’t include minor league baseball teams.

This tax would be “on top of taxes ranging from 2.5 to 5 percent already imposed by county municipalities,” the story says. Apparently every city and village with a room to rent has such taxes already.

Keeshan quoted Tryon thusly:

“Pyramiding a tax on top of a tax is not something we’re supposed to be looking at as elected officials. Taking money from consumers and putting it in the hands of government — that is something we don’t want to do, especially in this economy.”

Tryon, as newly elected chairman of the McHenry County Republican Central Committee, is trying to craft a new image for local Republicans.

Anyone think it will help Tryon if the McHenry County Board endorses this proposal?

Munaretto, as you can see from the “Quote of the Day” above, kindly supplied by a friend of McHenry County Blog, believes that little of the tax would be paid by McHenry County residents.

The featured quote says,

“I think it’s responsible to at least look at it. It’s an opportunity for us to procure funding for our convention and visitors bureau without imposing a tax on our citizenry.”

But, those having a wedding locally who don’t have enough bedrooms to put up the friends and family attending, might have a different viewpoint.

= = = = =
The toasting people are from this winter’s snow blizzard wedding of Mackenzie Walter to Carlos Garcia. The dancers are from the wedding of Mary Pat Mercer to Bill Bear. Both had lots of out of county guests.

So, what you do New Year’s Eve?

My family went to the wedding of Mackenzie Walter to Carlos Garcia.

It was held at D’Andrea’s on Route 14 in Crystal Lake at the intersection of Route 31.

It was supposed to start at 6 PM, but the snow was brutal.

The streets were slippery. Even getting into the parking lot was tough.

Judge Charles Weech married the couple. He had ample time to review what he planned to say, which were really excellent.

And Jim and Anthea Hanlin’s granddaughter Cheyenne walking down our row. Unfortunately, I cut off the top of her head, but with eyes like that I knew you’d want to see the picture.

The room had stands of young trees draped in beads. One young woman got her curls caught in them, but I was too close to get a picture. I had the long lens on.

We were among the first to take our seats, but I didn’t have enough foresight to sit where I could get good shots during most of the ceremony.

The exception was the lighting of the unity candle.

Sister of the bride Lindsay and Alfonso Herrera’s youngest, Liam, was sitting across the aisle from us, so I got a picture of the expectation in his face as Mom walked down the aisle. Alfonso had to retreat to the sidelines as Liam figured out Mom was not coming for him.

The bridal procession walked down the aisle pretty fast for my camera, which had a dying battery.

I did a bit better on the recessional, betting a picture of Mack’s grandfather Lowell Terry. You can see what one person called “Narnia” trees in the background.

Mother of the Bride Colleen told me that it was intended to evoke a “Sleeping Beauty” feeling where the princess wakes up in an “Enchanted Forest.”

I didn’t get Mack’s grandmother Joan Terry until after dinner in a shot with Jane Rule and Mary Collins, South Shore Drive neighbors of parents Colleen and Marty Walter.

There were two official photographers. They stayed well past midnight.

While they were taking the officials photographs, Marty and Colleen Walters had D’Andrea’s staff lavishing us with finger food and an open bar, which lasted all night.

Top shelf.

And, yes, I got enough, ending up drinking water.

About nine I figured out that I had to drive home in worse weather than when we arrived.

The bridal procession entered the lavishly decorated main banquet room. (You can click on any image to get a bigger picture.)

They walked past chairs covered with red, accented with lace.

Red roses in perfect bloom alternated from atop high glass vases to lower ones. We were told we could take home the roses, but not the vases.

We have two of the deep red roses in a small Kurt Strobach crystal vase on the windowsill above the sink. (Our wedding present came from Strobach’s Coventry showroom one street east of Canterbury Grade School. He’s in the phone book.)

After all the wedding party entered, there was the cutting of the cake next the dessert table, which our hungry ten-year old had already found to his mother’s dismay. That didn’t stop her from tasting the cannoli he didn’t finish.

He did devour the cookie that looked like a groom’s tux, while ignoring the one the one like a wedding dress.

There was none of the smash mouth cake assault that you see on “Funniest Home Videos.” I thought Carlos was especially gentle.

And, in looking at the pictures I took, Mack’s hair was more lovely than I have seen on any Greek statue. (Come on. Click on the hair and look at its intricate design.)

There were toasts by the Best Man and the Maid of Honor. Hers had me laughing too loudly.

Prayers were given in English and Spanish. Not a lot of my Latin roots came back, but it was moving.

Someone announced that there would be none of that clinking of glasses to elicit a kiss from the newly weds.

People would have to sing a song with the word “love” in it.

Our table, having been through this tradition at the Mary Pat Mercer-Bill Bear and my niece’s weddings were ready.

It was the Monkey’s hit,

“I’m a Believer.”

Mateo sang a great rendition of

“Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”

and Mila sang

“Jesus Loves Me.”

More kisses.

The food was good and too much.

I had no room for the beef after I finished the chicken.

After dinner, the dancing began.

Carlos and Mack.

Looking lovingly at each other.

Another Kiss.

I can’t get over Mack’s hair.

Then, it was time for Mack to dance with her father Marty.

And, Carlos to dance with his mother Rosedith.

Then, dancing by married couples.

The disc jockey had the newer married couples leave the floor until just the longest married were left dancing.

Colleen’s parents, Lowell and Joan Terry, didn’t participate or I’m confident they would have been the longest on the floor.

A night of slow music, rock and roll, YMCA, music I had never heard, but no chicken dance, no hokey pokey followed.

I heard a swing song with more of a beat that was clearly from South of the Border.

It was good, as were those dancing to it.

Mateo got to strut his cross steps in a fast dance with a girl a little older.

He more than held his own.

Girls dancing with girls.

Guys of all ages dancing with their girls.

Some married.

Some not.

Kids dancing.

With 12 PM almost there, the disk jockey called all the kids to the back of the room where they participated in the countdown to midnight.

Then,

ten,

nine,

eight,

seven,

six,

five,

four,

three,

two,

one.

Happy New Year!

Shouting.

Kissing.

Champagne toasts.

And, cleaning off a couple inches of snow from the car.

You can see a bit of what happened after Midnight here.

A careful drive across town back to Lakewood.

We figure Marty and Colleen will certainly toss a first anniversary party for the kids new New Year’s Eve.

Don’t you think?

= = = = =
Remember. You can enlarge all of the pictures by clicking on them.

So, what you do New Year’s Eve?

My family went to the wedding of Mackenzie Walter to Carlos Garcia.

It was held at D’Andrea’s on Route 14 in Crystal Lake at the intersection of Route 31.

It was supposed to start at 6 PM, but the snow was brutal.

The streets were slippery. Even getting into the parking lot was tough.

Judge Charles Weech married the couple. He had ample time to review what he planned to say, which were really excellent.

And Jim and Anthea Hanlin’s granddaughter Cheyenne walking down our row. Unfortunately, I cut off the top of her head, but with eyes like that I knew you’d want to see the picture.

The room had stands of young trees draped in beads. One young woman got her curls caught in them, but I was too close to get a picture. I had the long lens on.

We were among the first to take our seats, but I didn’t have enough foresight to sit where I could get good shots during most of the ceremony.

The exception was the lighting of the unity candle.

Sister of the bride Lindsay and Alfonso Herrera’s youngest, Liam, was sitting across the aisle from us, so I got a picture of the expectation in his face as Mom walked down the aisle. Alfonso had to retreat to the sidelines as Liam figured out Mom was not coming for him.

The bridal procession walked down the aisle pretty fast for my camera, which had a dying battery.

I did a bit better on the recessional, betting a picture of Mack’s grandfather Lowell Terry. You can see what one person called “Narnia” trees in the background.

Mother of the Bride Colleen told me that it was intended to evoke a “Sleeping Beauty” feeling where the princess wakes up in an “Enchanted Forest.”

I didn’t get Mack’s grandmother Joan Terry until after dinner in a shot with Jane Rule and Mary Collins, South Shore Drive neighbors of parents Colleen and Marty Walter.

There were two official photographers. They stayed well past midnight.

While they were taking the officials photographs, Marty and Colleen Walters had D’Andrea’s staff lavishing us with finger food and an open bar, which lasted all night.

Top shelf.

And, yes, I got enough, ending up drinking water.

About nine I figured out that I had to drive home in worse weather than when we arrived.

The bridal procession entered the lavishly decorated main banquet room. (You can click on any image to get a bigger picture.)

They walked past chairs covered with red, accented with lace.

Red roses in perfect bloom alternated from atop high glass vases to lower ones. We were told we could take home the roses, but not the vases.

We have two of the deep red roses in a small Kurt Strobach crystal vase on the windowsill above the sink. (Our wedding present came from Strobach’s Coventry showroom one street east of Canterbury Grade School. He’s in the phone book.)

After all the wedding party entered, there was the cutting of the cake next the dessert table, which our hungry ten-year old had already found to his mother’s dismay. That didn’t stop her from tasting the cannoli he didn’t finish.

He did devour the cookie that looked like a groom’s tux, while ignoring the one the one like a wedding dress.

There was none of the smash mouth cake assault that you see on “Funniest Home Videos.” I thought Carlos was especially gentle.

And, in looking at the pictures I took, Mack’s hair was more lovely than I have seen on any Greek statue. (Come on. Click on the hair and look at its intricate design.)

There were toasts by the Best Man and the Maid of Honor. Hers had me laughing too loudly.

Prayers were given in English and Spanish. Not a lot of my Latin roots came back, but it was moving.

Someone announced that there would be none of that clinking of glasses to elicit a kiss from the newly weds.

People would have to sing a song with the word “love” in it.

Our table, having been through this tradition at the Mary Pat Mercer-Bill Bear and my niece’s weddings were ready.

It was the Monkey’s hit,

“I’m a Believer.”

Mateo sang a great rendition of

“Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”

and Mila sang

“Jesus Loves Me.”

More kisses.

The food was good and too much.

I had no room for the beef after I finished the chicken.

After dinner, the dancing began.

Carlos and Mack.

Looking lovingly at each other.

Another Kiss.

I can’t get over Mack’s hair.

Then, it was time for Mack to dance with her father Marty.

And, Carlos to dance with his mother Rosedith.

Then, dancing by married couples.

The disc jockey had the newer married couples leave the floor until just the longest married were left dancing.

Colleen’s parents, Lowell and Joan Terry, didn’t participate or I’m confident they would have been the longest on the floor.

A night of slow music, rock and roll, YMCA, music I had never heard, but no chicken dance, no hokey pokey followed.

I heard a swing song with more of a beat that was clearly from South of the Border.

It was good, as were those dancing to it.

Mateo got to strut his cross steps in a fast dance with a girl a little older.

He more than held his own.

Girls dancing with girls.

Guys of all ages dancing with their girls.

Some married.

Some not.

Kids dancing.

With 12 PM almost there, the disk jockey called all the kids to the back of the room where they participated in the countdown to midnight.

Then,

ten,

nine,

eight,

seven,

six,

five,

four,

three,

two,

one.

Happy New Year!

Shouting.

Kissing.

Champagne toasts.

And, cleaning off a couple inches of snow from the car.

You can see a bit of what happened after Midnight here.

A careful drive across town back to Lakewood.

We figure Marty and Colleen will certainly toss a first anniversary party for the kids new New Year’s Eve.

Don’t you think?

= = = = =
Remember. You can enlarge all of the pictures by clicking on them.

This is where we were New Year’s Eve.

D’Andrea Crystal Lake Banquet Facility and Conference Center at the intersection of Routes 14 and 31.

For the wedding of Mackenzie Walter and Carlos Garcia.

After midnight, this little girl was having the time of her life playing with a balloon.

My 10-year old was break dancing on the floor.

This is where we were New Year’s Eve.

D’Andrea Crystal Lake Banquet Facility and Conference Center at the intersection of Routes 14 and 31.

For the wedding of Mackenzie Walter and Carlos Garcia.

After midnight, this little girl was having the time of her life playing with a balloon.

My 10-year old was break dancing on the floor.