Tuesday from 3-4:30, JB Pritzker Will Be at CL Main Beach House

Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate JB Pritzker is coming to Crystal Lake Tuesday. The appearance will be at the Crystal Lake Park District’s Main Beach House. It is sponsored by the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce and you are welcome to … Continue reading

Tax Dollars at CL Expo

It’s less than three weeks after the Primary Election. I went to the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo searching things political and governmental. In its usual space right to the right after the entrance at South High School … Continue reading

CL Library Board President’s Remarks to Chamber Town Hall

The introductory comments of Crystal Lake Library Board President Terri Reece to the Town Hall Meeting of local government officials last Thursday morning were some comprehensive, I asked if she would send me a copy that could be posted. Below … Continue reading

CL Chamber Hosts Tax District Officials – Part 3

We finish our coverage of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce’s meeting with local governmental officials by looking at the answers to a question about the public’s biggest misconceptions and things governmental officials wish people knew. First up was Crystal … Continue reading

CL Chamber Hosts Tax District Officials – Part 2

At Thursday morning’s Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce governmental forum, there was a question and answer session. There was a well-researched question asking about what tax districts were doing about duplication of services: “From 2009 through 2012, Countywide Equalized Assessed … Continue reading

CL Chamber Hosts Tax District Officials – Part 1

The Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce held its first Town Hall meeting Thursday morning. It was the usual time for such meetings, set so business people can attend before business hours. This time the public was allowed to come.  There … Continue reading

Chance to Ask Big Taxers Why

At last night’s meeting of the Lakewood Village Board, residents were masses in support and opposition of the creation of a Special Service Area tax district that would collect a maximum of 15 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for … Continue reading

Republican Party’s Fourth Quarter Finances

In the run up to the fall election, the McHenry County Republican Party spent $33,708.29 to elect its candidates. On October 1st, he GOP started with $37,876.24. $7,550 was donated during the last three months of the year. $33,708.29 was spent … Continue reading

Political Sightings at the Crystal Lake Expo

With someone who takes as many notes as I, it is essential to attend a Business Expo once in a while. The quality of the giveaway pens is usually pretty good. I went looking for politicians again at Crystal Lake’s … Continue reading

CL Chamber Backs $200 Million CL Mercy Hospital

A press release from Mercy Health System: Local Business Leaders Support Crystal Lake Hospital Plan Two groups unanimously back $200 million proposal, job creation Mercy Health System recently received the backing of two influential business groups that support the building … Continue reading

Message of the Day – Body Language

The Democratic Party’s candidate for McHenry County Sheriff, Mike Mahon, had the last booth at the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. That’s the route Sheriff Keith Nygren, again at the Expo Sunday, as he was Saturday, took to … Continue reading

Churches at Business Expo

With its being Palm Sunday weekend, the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Business Expo was perfectly timed for churches. Lots of people go to church, at least on Christmas and Easter. Lots of Protestant churches had booths. Now, that I … Continue reading

Eric Woods’ Shooting Injury “Road Rash,” Nygren Says

The Northwest Herald published a story about Eric Woods’ being hit by bullet fragments in Sunday’s paper, which I got for free at the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. The most interesting part was McHenry County Sheriff Keith … Continue reading

Weekend Political Action at Crystal Lake Expo

Saturday there was no doubt that the political action hot spot in McHenry County was the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Expo. The Algonquin and Nunda Townships’ Republican activists staffed a booth where the head of the Algonquin Township Central … Continue reading

Muni Pork

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, … Continue reading