McHenry County Blog

There were 4 1/2 inches of rain in Crystal Lake on Thursday and Friday.

That’s what a rain gauge on Woodland Drive read.

The drainage area behind the baseball field at the Crystal Lake Park District's Main Beach was flooded almost to capacity after the two-day deluge.

The former marsh behind the baseball field at the Park District’s Main Beach was flooded pretty much to capacity.

Water pretty much covered the triangle near Crystal Lake's Main Beach, as well as covered more of Dole Avenue than the new bike paths.

The triangle park next to Dole Avenue was also flooded.

Joseph's Market was closed for repairs mid-day Saturday.

And the rain was so heavy that Joseph’s Market in the Crystal Lake Plaza was forced to close.

The normally full parking lot at Crystal Lake's most popular grocery store--Joseph's Market--had fire department and service vehicles behind yellow tape Saturday.

One Plaza merchant said that the roof had collapsed, although there was no sign of damage from the parking lot.

There’s still some 30th Anniversary cake at Andy’s Family Restaurant as I write this story at about 10 AM.

Angie Angelos holds up the cake decorated to celebrate her restaurant's 30th Anniversary.

My Emmaus Reunion Group meets there Saturday morning’s at 7:30 and Angie Angelos, the founder’s daughter who runs the place, had been reminding us for weeks that there would be free cake today.

It was good, firm white cake from Sam’s.

Turns out there was free coffee, too.

Andy's was decorated with balloons and other "30" things.

I never acquired a taste for that beverage, but I did get to consume many glasses of water…which was also free.

Andy's Family Restaurant

The Crystal Lake restaurant on Route 14 next to the intersection of Dole Avenue was crowded this morning.

There was a line to pay for breakfast.

There was a traffic jam at the check-out counter.

Angie was reminded customers that Thursday she would be serving “Andy’s famous corn beef and cabbage.”

The meat is especially good at Andy’s.  The side order of ham is about $2.50 and wonderful.  I sometimes order instead of oatmeal.

Parking is behind the establishment and in a newly-landscaped and lit lot across Dole Avenue.

The following information has been received from the Crystal Lake Police Department.

Crystal Lake Traffic Crash January 30th, 2010

On Sunday, January 30th, 2011 at 4:45 PM, Crystal Lake Police and Crystal Lake Fire Departments responded to the intersection of Virginia Street at Dole Avenue for a report of a traffic crash.

Dole and Virginia (otherwise known as Route 14) in Crystal Lake.

Responding units located the crash, which involved three vehicles. Fire Rescue personnel tended to the occupants of the vehicles, subsequently transporting three subjects for injuries sustained, although none were believed to have been life-threatening.

Police personnel investigated the crash, and determined that a 2002 Toyota Camry, driven by Janis Easty, (65) of 208 470 Oxford Lane, Crystal Lake, IL had been traveling southbound on Dole Avenue at Virginia Street.

Traveling east bound Virginia Street at Dole Avenue was a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country, driven by Daniel Tulley (36) of 1082 Birchwood Drive, Pingree Grove IL with an adult passenger and three juveniles.

Stopped northbound on Dole Avenue at Virginia Street was a 2001 Buick LeSabre, driven by Loring Nilsson (62) of 5715 Wild Olive Lane, Crystal Lake, IL with an adult passenger.

As the Toyota Camry and Chrysler Town and Country approached the intersection, the southbound Toyota Camry disregarded the red traffic signal, and collided with the eastbound Town and Country.

The initial impact of the collision caused the Toyota Camry to roll over and subsequently make contact with the Buick LeSabre.

Janis Easty was transported to Good Shepard Hospital in Barrington IL for evaluation and treatment.

Two occupants of Chrysler Town and County; Kimberly Tulley (37) and a juvenile were transported to Sherman Hospital in Elgin IL for evaluation and treatment. Daniel Tulley reported a non incapacitating injury; the remaining two juveniles in his vehicle were not injured. Loring Nilsson and his passenger reportedly were not injured.

The roadway was returned to an unrestricted status by 5:39 P.M.

At this time, no traffic citations have been issued and the incident remains a pending investigation.

Just noticed that there is no “Message of the Day” up today.

When I’m looking for an easy message, I go to my Disney World photos. Always a good tee shirt there.

But, no, I thought.

Who wants to see sunny Florida on a day like this?

How about some snow?

There’s already a picture up of Zane Seipler campaigning in the snow on February 5th’s election day, but how about more white stuff?

So, I started looking at photo files labeled “snow” and look what I came up with.

Not exactly a "Hidden Mickey," as one might find at Disney World, but more appropriate considering the heat index today.

A not-so-hidden Mickey, plus snowman on Dole Avenue from late last February.

Obama Federal Stimulus Public Works Sign on Route 14 next to The Freeze.

Remember the stories about the traffic lights that froze over?

They had LED bulbs. The Light Emitting Diodes did not generate enough heat to melt freezing rain.

But they save a lot of electricity. About 90%.

And, the ones being installed on Route 14 from Devonshire to Dole Avenue will have battery back-up, so stop sign like movement won’t be necessary during times when power is lost.

Locators on McHenry Avenue at Route 14 searching for underground pipes and wires.

And, there’re almost “free.”

Well, not exactly free. Our children and grandchildren will be paying for them because some of the money is coming from American Recovery and Reinvestment money—the Federal stimulus money that has made this the most deficit-ridden year in American history.

But the City did receive $262,000 in ARRA funds to upgrade the three traffic signals. The total cost is estimated to be $432,000, according to City Engineer Victor Ramirez. The non-Federal money will come from Motor Fuel Taxes.

He further explains that there will be “new pedestrian crossing heads, and audible ped heads at Keith/Devonshire.”

Flags and paint appear within 150 feet of the intersections of Route 14 and Dole Avenue, McHenry Avenue and Devonshire Lane.

Want more details?

Here’s how the City of Crystal Lake explains it:

The City is starting construction on traffic signal improvements at three intersections:

• US 14 (Virginia Street) at Dole Avenue
• US 14 (Virginia Street) at McHenry Avenue
• US 14 (Virginia Street) at Devonshire Lane/Keith Avenue

The improvement includes upgrading the intersections to LED signals, the installation of a battery backup system, new signal poles and mast arms, countdown pedestrian signals, and the installation of an audible pedestrian signal at US 14 (Virginia Street) and Devonshire Lane/Keith Avenue.

The installation of the temporary traffic signals will begin in March, and last approximately one month. The permanent traffic signals are scheduled to installed beginning mid-May of this year with completion expected by the end of the summer.

This is the first project of the larger Virginia Street Corridor TIF improvements. The City received American Recovery and Reinvestment funds to help fund this traffic signal improvement.

The drop in the price of oil has allowed Crystal Lake, McHenry County and other road repairers to lay lots of macadam this summer.

Old asphalt on Dole Avenue between Route 14 and West Crystal Lake Avenue has been removed, for instance.

But we know whose residents rate highest.

While McHenry Avenue and Dole saw their asphalt removed pretty much the same day, McHenry between Route 14 and West Crystal Lake Avenue is already repaved.

Dole Avenue travelers have seen repaving north of Crystal Lake Avenue and south of Route 14.

Between Route 14 and Crystal Lake Avenue, the old railroad right-of-way is still in shambles. Holes in parts of it have already been patched, awaiting the replacement layers of asphalt.

A heavily traveled Crystal Lake street that was beginning to look like a Bull Valley road was being stripped of its top two inches or so of asphalt Thursday morning.

Curran Contracting has the job.

The street is where a railroad track used to run to the Dole Mansion. It was used both for the owner’s daughter’s wedding, but also to bring ice from the lake to the main railroad line for transport to Chicago.

Some have speculated that the old railroad roadbed may be the most pollution ground in the Crystal Lake area.

As I was driving down Dole Avenue toward McHenry West High School for my son’s swimming practice, I saw a new sign had been erected across from the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

That’s was after having a hard time seeing if any traffic was coming east on Crystal Lake Avenue. I had to pull slowly into the intersection to make sure it was safe to go across the street.

When we went to church Sunday, I saw it was a new stop sign.

As I drove back from Toys R Us, I got the two shots below.

First, there’s a new warning sign, complete with flags.

Next, a flashing, lighted stop sign.

The intersection has to be safer now, but those used to coming west on Crystal Lake Avenue and swinging left on Dole are going to be irritated about having to stop.

I’ve been taking that route from Downtown Crystal Lake since high school when I picked up my father from the train station. Dole Avenue had not yet been built from the Methodist Church to Woodstock Street in 1958 along the old railroad tracks.

As I was driving down Dole Avenue toward McHenry West High School for my son’s swimming practice, I saw a new sign had been erected across from the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

That’s was after having a hard time seeing if any traffic was coming east on Crystal Lake Avenue. I had to pull slowly into the intersection to make sure it was safe to go across the street.

When we went to church Sunday, I saw it was a new stop sign.

As I drove back from Toys R Us, I got the two shots below.

First, there’s a new warning sign, complete with flags.

Next, a flashing, lighted stop sign.

The intersection has to be safer now, but those used to coming west on Crystal Lake Avenue and swinging left on Dole are going to be irritated about having to stop.

I’ve been taking that route from Downtown Crystal Lake since high school when I picked up my father from the train station. Dole Avenue had not yet been built from the Methodist Church to Woodstock Street in 1958 along the old railroad tracks.

Look what happened to the roof over the gas pumps at the Clark Oil Gas Station on Route 14 at Dole Avenue.

The photos above were shot on Christmas Day.

Here’s what it looked like five days later.

Getting the work done before January 1st means that it will be at least partially taxable for real estate taxes the year after next.