McHenry County Blog

A press release from the ECOmmunity Network:

Visit the “Museum of the Groundhog”

2nd Floor – 110 S. Johnson Street, #205 – Woodstock, IL 60098

Ph. (815) 337-2040 – econet.mchenry@gmail.com

WHAT: ECOmmunity’s MUSEUM OF THE GROUNDHOG!

WHEN: 1 PM-5 PM on THURS. 2/02 and FRIDAY 2/03 AND 10 AM – 5 PM on SATURDAY 2/04

WHERE: Woodstock Square Mall, 2nd Floor, 110 S. Johnson Street, downtown Woodstock, IL

WHO: Family fun for all ages

COST: Donation requested – $3 per child or 2 for $5 – Grownups are FREE!

If you’re in downtown Woodstock this week for ‘Groundhog Days’ – and WHO wouldn’t want to be? – drop by the ECOmmunity Network office where volunteers will be hosting the “Museum of the Groundhog” with

• displays,
• stories,
• children’s crafts &
• lots of fun facts about that famous furry prognosticator. Seriously!

“OK,” you say,

“So . . how much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?”

We’ll have the answer to that age-old mystery and more.

You’ll

• amaze your friends and family,
• astound your teachers, and/or
• impress your co-workers

with the wealth of obscure rodent knowledge you’ll acquire. And there’s free popcorn, too.

The “Museum of the Groundhog” will be open from 1-5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2 and Friday, Feb. 3, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Story times are scheduled at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday afternoons, and at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. on Saturday.

A voluntary donation of $3 per child or 2 for $5 will be appreciated. Grown-ups are free!

For more information, phone (815) 337-2040 or e-mail to ECOnet.mchenry@gmail.com.

A press release from

Celebrate Earth Day at “Green Bag Lunch” Thursday, April 21 in Woodstock

Eco-friendly living, “green” technologies, networking at free public program hosted by ECOmmunity group

WOODSTOCK, IL – Want to learn about “green” living and alternative energy, meet interesting people, pick up useful information . . . and still have time for lunch? You can do it all in one place on Thursday, April 21 at the “Earth Day Is Every Day” Green Bag Lunch Meet-up hosted by ECOmmunity Network of MCHenry County.

This free, lunch-hour meet-up session will run from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the second-floor atrium of the Woodstock Square Mall, 110 S. Johnson St. across from the downtown Woodstock Square.

Held on the day before Earth Day, 2011, this month’s Green Bag Lunch takes a look at

• green-living alternatives,
• renewable energy,
• preservation, and
• other issues affecting the environmental future of our communities.

Displays and networking start at 11 a.m., with short presentations beginning at 11:30 by local participants in eco-friendly businesses and organizations.

Starting at noon, the keynote presentation will be “Our ECO-Future” with guest Nick Poplawski, program analyst with the Chicago-based Illinois Clean Energy Foundation (ICEF).

Established in December, 1999, the ICEF is an independent foundation which awards grants through a $225 million endowment provided by Commonwealth Edison. Its stated mission is “to improve energy efficiency, advance the development of renewable energy resources, and protect natural areas in communities throughout Illinois.”

Since its first round of grants in 2001, the Foundation has awarded over 3100 grants, totaling $168 million, to Illinois nonprofit organizations, schools, municipalities and other local and state government agencies. The grants support activities in each of Illinois’ 102 counties. (Source: www.illinoiscleanenergy.org)

Hosted by members of the new ECOmmunity Network of McHenry County, the Green Bag Lunch Series is a free, monthly meet-up event where attendees gather to hear interesting speakers, meet others with similar interests, and share information about environmental topics. Coffee, tea, and ice water are offered for a small donation, and recycling bins are provided. Those who choose to eat may bring their own lunch or pre-order a bag lunch at Tarts & Truffles (815-338-8278) or Expressly Leslie (815-338-8278) and pick it up when they arrive.

Formed in February, 2011, the ECOmmunity Network of McHenry County is volunteer-based organization of individuals and families who share an interest in sustainable “green” living and environmental stewardship. Members share their knowledge and ideas, build friendships, and work together to improve their communities through education, advocacy, and public service activities. The ECOmmunity Network also supports environmental innovation through clean-energy technologies and “green” entrepreneurship, offering networking opportunities, shared expertise, and resources for small business owners.

For more information about the ECOmmunity Network, its Green Bag Lunch Series and other activities, phone (815) 337-2040, email to ECOnet.mchenry@gmail.com, or visit us on Facebook at “ECOmmunity Network”.