McHenry County Blog

Sunday the Expo will run from 11-3.

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 South High School this afternoon after the rush.

The only candidate I found was a GOP candidate for McHenry County Sheriff named Bill Prim.

He is running against Sheriff Keith Nygren favorite Andy Zinke and Jim Harrison.

Bill Prim greeted voters at the Crystal Lake Business Expo.

He was right near the entrance across from the governmental booth of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi (more about his booth later).

I kept walking and finally found another booth with political implications.  It was the Pro-Life booth.

A father and his two daughters stopped at the Pro-Life booth.  Beth Christian and Nancy Cole manned the booth.

Right at the end of the long hall to the exit, I found State Rep. Barbara Wheeler and State Senator Karen McConnaughay’s Legislative Assistant Jennifer Baustian.

State Rep. Barb Wheeler and State Senator Karen McConnaughay’s Legislative Assistant Jennifer Baustian were near the door.

They were standing at under a sign with State Rep. Mike Tryon’s and State Senator Pam Althoff’s name.

The hall narrows in front of the legislative booth. Two men engaged Barb Wheeler in issues of the day.

That was it, unless you want to include McHenry County College Board member Dennis Adams, who was promoting his collusion repair business.

Dennis Adams explains his business to a couple attending the Crystal Lake Expo.

But, if you think anything paid for with tax dollars is political, there were booths that fit that criterion.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi had a booth staffed by Lori Slavin.

I mentioned the State’s Attorney’s booth, presumably financed by county tax dollar.

The Crystal Lake Public Library, celebrating its centennial, had a booth staffed with ladies in period dresses.

Bragging rights to having been serving Crystal Lake readers for 100 years goes to the Crystal Lake Library.

Next in that category was McHenry County College.

The McHenry County College display.

I have heard those who staffed the MCC booth in years past discussing costs and opportunities with parents and high schoolers.

A big comfy chair that reminded me of a Public Television show my son used to watch sometimes was part of the Crystal Lake Park District’s presence at the Chamber of Commerce Business Expo.

The Crystal Lake Park District has an inflatable chair, a big red one.

I ask who got up in the chair and was offered the opportunity…which I declined.

The next governmental entry was the City of Crystal Lake.

Separate parts of the City of Crystal Lake’s presence were dedicated to police, fire and administrative functions.

I thought I might find some elected officials there, but I didn’t.  I was told that the Council held a budget hearing Saturday morning.

Distracted by the legislative booth, I didn’t notice the one next door for the McHenry County Recorder of Deeds until it was time to prepare for leaving at 4.

Right next to the legislative entry was one from the McHenry County Recorder of Deeds Office.

Along the way, I noted a couple of other things.

Who says Dads can’t have fun at the face painting booth?

Along the way, I saw a guy having fun.

And, I ran into Phyllis Mueller, founder of Home of the Sparrow, now retired from being Presbyterian minister in Marengo.

Phyllis Mueller is now turning her considerable talents to helping the diaper bank. It provides them to families with babies and to those older who need them.

She’s now working with the diaper group.

I also ran into Robin Pendergast, who has joined with other talented photographers to create Shuttergice,com.  A portion of the price of any photo, starting at $12 will go to the charity of the photographer’s choice.  Pendergast’s is Turning Point.

You can see the front page of the web site below:

Shuttergive.com is a new web site from which photographs may be purchased with a share going to charities selected by the photographers.

Bill Prim

The Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual Expo today and tomorrow.

I try to drop over to scope out political activity.

Today, one of the folks I would be taking a picture of reached out via email.

One of the three candidates running for the Republican nomination for McHenry County Sheriff, Bill Prim, will apparently be there meeting and greeting people.

Here is his email:

Bill will be at his booth at the Crystal Lake Expo today from 10 – 4 PM and tomorrow from 11 – 3 PM.

The expo is held at Crystal Lake South High School. If you attend please stop by and say hello to Bill.

Thanks -

Bill Prim for Sheriff

After the ribbon cutting, Chick-fil-A’s Grand Opening script has the “First Bite” ceremony. You see franchisee Ben Moore in the white shirt in the center.  From left to right, Gary Reece is hidden by Pam Moore, Ben’s mother.  His mother-in-law Shirley Sherman is next. Standing next to Ben is his wife Laura and the three redheaded girls are theirs.  Behind Mrs. Moore is James Richter, whom Councilman Ralph Dawson, to his left, told me is Crystal Lake’s man on the street working with new businesses. I didn’t catch the Cow’s name.

No demonstrators.

The traditional ribbon cutting ceremony occurred after the speeches.  From left to right, the adults are Pam Moore, Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gary Reece, Shirley Sherman, Chick-fil-A’s Ryan Holmes, owner Ben Moore, Laura Moore, Crystal Lake business assister James Richter, Crystal Lake City Councilman Ralph Dawson.  The three little redheads are the Moore children.

No lines.

Ben Moore and his wife Laura mix with the Opening Day customers.

A typical opening day, according to the Atlanta corporate folks.

Almost forty folks from corporate Chick-fil-A assisted in the Grand Opening.

6 AM was much too early for me to see the providing of the food coupons to the tent city folks that gathered the day before the Grand Opening for the First 100 Promotion.

The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony beat the steady rain that started about an hour later.

I learned that the 52 coupons given to each of the first one hundred people in line and on the property for twenty-four house before the restaurant opens are worth about $350.

Crystal Lake Police were on hand just in case they might be needed.

A lot were local according to Tiffany Greenway, one of the corporate public relations people in Crystal Lake.

The noon crowd on a rainy opening day at Crystal Lake Chick-fil-A.

Ben Moore explains how his family got to Crystal Lake.

It occurs to me that this is something like the Biblical gleaning concept.

In his speech to the Grand Opening gathering, entrepreneur Ben Moore, a Sycamore resident when he was awarded the Crystal Lake franchise, originally thought the 50 minute drive would be acceptable.

But, “My goal is to be part of the community.

Ben Moore’s family listens to her father’s welcoming talk.

“We prayed a lot about it,” he said.

Ben Moore talks to young customer.

“The Saturday before I went for training, a guy walked up to our house and said, ‘Can I buy your house?’

“Yes, you can,” was the reply.

The family has bought a farm north of Crystal Lake.

Moore said the process of opening the restaurant took three and a half years.

Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gary Reece praise the City management.

“They have now turned the tide and are very welcoming to business,” he said before echoing the “Eat more chicken” slogan of the firm.

Later, Moore affirmed, “Crystal Lake has been great.”

No politicians running for office attended the Grand Opening, but later in the day County Board member Diane Evertsen, who lives northwest of Woodstock, and perhaps others enjoyed a chicken sandwich.

The restaurant is open 6-10, except Sunday, when it is closed.

Just got a call from a friend:

“I’m at Chick-fil-A and I can’t get in the parking lot.

“Cops everywhere.

“Can’t get into drive-though because it’s too long.

“People are parking at Menard’s walking over to get their food and coming back.”

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 of a new state-of-the-art hospital in Crystal Lake that will create jobs and spur economic growth.

The Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce voted to approve a resolution backing the new $200 million, 128-bed acute-care facility at Route 31 and Three Oaks Road. The Crystal Lake Economic Development Committee also approved a similar resolution supporting Mercy’s efforts.

“We’ve listened to the needs of the entire community – including those of local and small business leaders – and put forth a proposal that not only delivers quality healthcare, but will create jobs and encourage economic development starting this year,” said Richard Gruber, Vice President at Mercy Health System.

“With the state’s unemployment rate over 9 percent – including 8.4 percent here in McHenry County – the sobering fact is that Illinois needs more jobs, and we need them now.”

Chairman of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Brian Coli and the Board of Directors sent a letter of support this week to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board supporting the Crystal Lake proposal.

Rendering of the proposed Mercy's Crystal Lake hospital.

Gruber added the plan would create approximately 800 construction-related jobs beginning this year. Once the facility opens, it would employ up to 850 full-time hospital jobs and approximately 200 part-time positions.

Given that these difficult economic times caused by the recession have led to many local businesses closing their doors, Gruber believes the new Crystal Lake hospital would provide a boost to the local economy. Mercy officials project that a Crystal Lake hospital would generate industry sales of $103 million in its first year and up to more than $257 million annually after five years.

“Every new job created has a ripple effect in the Crystal Lake and McHenry County and on the region’s overall financial health,” Gruber said. “Job creation leads to new workers earning wages, spending money, purchasing homes, and raising families – all of which strengthen communities.”

Gruber noted that Mercy shares the chamber’s mission and belief “that a positive business climate is an integral part of a healthy community.” For more than 70 years, the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce has been dedicated to promoting local businesses and helping make the community one of McHenry County’s premier places to work, live and play. Its Board has 21 members: 15 regular Directors and six at-large Directors.

Crystal Lake’s Economic Development Committee, comprised of nine volunteer members who are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council, recommends ways to expand and retain local businesses and to promote development opportunities.

“Mercy is honored to have the support of these two respected organizations and we’re committed to working with them to encourage job creation, business growth and economic opportunities for the entire community,” Gruber said.

In the last few weeks, the Crystal Lake hospital proposal received the endorsement of the Crystal Lake City Council, the Village of Cary and the McHenry County Board.

Anyone wanting to learn more about the proposal is invited to attend public hearing that will take place at 10 a.m., March 18, at Crystal Lake City Hall, 100 W Woodstock St., Crystal Lake.

The public is also invited to submit written comments in support of the proposal to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board by 9 a.m. on April 20. The Board is expected to make a determination on the proposal in May.

For more information about the Mercy plan, visit www.MercyCrystalLake.org

McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren leaves the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Expo after its closing at three o'clock Sunday. He walks past his Democratic Party opponent Mike Mahon's booth without acknowledgeing its presence.

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 leave the event.

He had some business with the booth next to Mahon’s, then strode out of South High School without looking at his major party challenger.

All I could get was a photo of his back.

You can see Mahon to his left, taking to someone.

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 think about it, I wonder why the Catholic Church didn’t. They have this elaborate public relations campaign to get lapsed Catholics to “Come Home.” This would have been a natural place for a “high touch” approach.

The Crystal Lake Evangelical Free Church

Crystal Lake’s Evangelical Free Church was the first I saw.  Hannah Beardsley Middle School was built next to it.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church's booth.

I didn’t shoot these pictures in order, but Prince of Peace Lutheran Church was in the main hall.

I must have shot photos on Saturday, as well as Sunday, because the one below has different people manning the booth.

I remember that my legislative assistant Pete Castillo helped the church, located on McHenry Avenue just north of South High School, received the license for its day care center.  I wondered then and this weekend again what kind of a government requires a state legislator to help a church get a day care license.  One that doesn’t work very well, I’d suggest.

The Prince of Peace Lutheran Church booth on Saturday.

Down the row from the Republican booth where I was gathering petition signatures for to put the reapportionment constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall was the Christian Fellowship booth.  The church is located on the blacktop between Crystal Lake and McHenry.

Christian Fellowship Church booth.

It had bean bag toss to attract children.

Hope Covenant Church was in the smaller gym.

Hope Covenant Church was next.  It was in the second room of the exhibit.  The church is at the corner of Ackmann and Randall Roads across from CVS Pharmacy.

Lord and Savior Lutheran Church was the last one I saw.

The last was Lord and Savior Lutheran Church. It was near the food and in the hallway toward the exit.  I got a homemade book mark from the young lady.  The church is located on Route 14 beyond McHenry County College.

Northwest Herald's Sunday article on Eric Wood's being hit by bullet fragments on the shooting range of the McHenry County Sheriff's Department

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 Nygren’s characterizing the injuries as “road rash.”

When I read the words, I thought of the type injury that a motorcyclist would receive if he fell off his cycle.

I looked it up and here’s how I found it defined:

“skin and bone injury caused by abrasion with road surfaces”

At the link you can see photos of such an injury and the resulting scars.

Links to McHenry County Blog’s stories on the incident can be found below:

• Sheriff’s Deputy Hit by Shooting Range Bullet Fragments Ricocheting from Steel Dog Target, Hospitalized
• Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Woods Makes Return Trip to the Hospital (with links to articles elsewhere)

Saturday there was no doubt that the political action hot spot in McHenry County was the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Expo.

Rebecca Lee and Len Sasse discuss his being appointed Republican precinct committeeman in Algonquin Township Precinct 38

The Algonquin and Nunda Townships’ Republican activists staffed a booth where the head of the Algonquin Township Central Committee Rebecca Lee and the Nunda Township Chairman Brent Smith recruited people to fill precincts where citizens did not run for the office of precinct committeeman in the February primary election.

Other volunteers handed out fiber tote bags emblazoned with McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren’s name. Still others handed out little American flags, candy and to kids.

Yours truly collected 137 petition signatures for the almost correctly named “Fair Map” reapportionment constitution amendment petition. (The map, if this constitutional amendment gets on the ballot and is passed will be fairer, not “Fair.” Instead of just having House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton draw the lines, it would be done by a bi-partisan commission.)

A woman signs the "Fair Map" constitutional amendment petition at State Rep. Mike Tryon's booth as Tina Hill looks on. In the background is former State Rep. Rosemary Kurtz. In the foreground left is her daughter Donna Kurtz.

Folks got two chances to sign. I got first crack at about the middle of the Expo exhibitors and Tina Hill and Rosemary Kurtz and the League of Women Voters got a second shot right before people left the event.

McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren converses with citizens at the McHenry County Sheriff's Department booth.

Between the two, during the afternoon, Sheriff Nygren was greeting voters and discussing issues at the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department booth.

The Democratic Party candidate for sheriff, Mike Mahon, had a booth near the exit, but the candidate was not there Saturday. He is expected Sunday.

Democratic candidate for sheriff Mike Mahon had a booth right next to the door, but, although fully staffed, the candidate was not present Saturday. He is expected today.

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.

The current McHenry County Ethics Commission has three members whose terms are expiring:

• Walter J. Packard, former McHenry County College President, who is now retired with a golden parachute
• Robert Blaizer, recently retired Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Exec and former District 47 Grad School Superintendend
• Rev. Karen Stunkel, former Home of the Sparrow administrator

Replacements being recommended at Tuesday’s 8:30 AM meeting of the Management Services Committee are

• Deborah Nier – Administrator, City of Marengo
• Major John Price – Salvation Army, Crystal Lake
• Robert Martens – Director, Family Service & Community Mental Health Center

It appears that the original members, appointed Feb. 1, 2005, were

• Walter J. Packard, President McHenry County College
• Art Osten, Jr., Village Administrator Fox River Grove
• Robert Blaizer, President Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce
• Timothy J. Clifton, City Manager City of Woodstock
• Karen Stunkel, Executive Director Home of the Sparrow