McHenry County Blog

McHenry County College Board candidate Chris Jenner and his wife Laurie ventured out early this morning to attend the Groundhog festivities in Woodstock.

They sent me some photos for those of us who don’t think being out at sunrise on one of the coldest days of the year is appropriate behavior.

Chris and Laurie Jenner

The Groundhog Day banner can be seen attached to the railing of the Woodstock Square gazebo.

One man was wearing a Groundhog hat.

A woman had a groundhog puppet.

Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager stands next to the man playing the accordion.

Woodstock Willie was brought out as it got lighter.

A spot all visitors to the Woodstock Square should find is where Bill Murray stepped in the puddle.

On Groundhog Day, 2013, there was a warning sign where the puddle is.

A press release from the ECOmmunity Network:

Visit the “Museum of the Groundhog”

Click to enlarge.

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?”

And, you can walk down the stairs after you finish enjoying the museum.

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.

Click to enlarge.

Groundhog Day canceled?

That’s the word from the Woodstock, Illinois, web site.

Oh, the irony of it all.

Wasn’t the whole movie based on the premise that a huge storm made it impossible for Phil and his camera crew to get back to Pittsburgh?

The premise for the movie "Groundhog Day" was that people couldn't get out of town.

Remember the set-up when the policeman told Phil that he could go back to
Punxsutawney or freeze to death?

There's supposed to be lots of snow in Groundhog Day.

So what if the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department was urging people to stay home because of blocked roads.

On with the show, the Punxsutawney top hats said.

So what if we have a storm at least as bad as the one in the movie?

I don’t know what the weather was in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, but its groundhog made its appearance.

But not in the movie town Woodstock.

Too much snow.

Bill Murray tried to kill himself by jumping out of the Opera House tower to no avail in "Groundhog Day."

The Woodstock Theatre is showing the movie “Groundhog Day” twice free on the big screen as part of the city’s annual celebration. The details are below.

History Repeats Itself: Woodstock Theatre to Offer
Two FREE Screenings of “Groundhog Day”

Woodstock, IL – Groundhog Day is right around the corner! And, as part of Woodstock’s annual Groundhog Days Festival, the Woodstock Theatre will be presenting two FREE showings of the 1993 film “Groundhog Day,” rated PG, on Saturday, January 29, 2011, and Sunday, January 30, 2011, at 10 a.m.

Starring Bill Murray, this classic comedy tells the tale of a newsman who wakes up everyday realizing it’s the same day – Groundhog Day. Murray falls in love with his beautiful producer, played by Andie MacDowell, and wonders if the day will ever end.

The house at the end of Woodstock's Madison Street which was featured as the Bed and Breakfast where Bill Murray woke up every morning.

Much of the movie was filmed in the town of Woodstock, IL, and the Woodstock Theatre is showcased as the Alpine in this memorable film.

360 S. Madison, where my family lived when I was married to Robin Geist and we had baby Alexandra, is right down the street at Madison and Vine. I think the house was briefly shown in the movie.

“History is repeating itself for us as well,” explains Shirley Johnson, co-founder of Classic Cinemas, as the Woodstock Theatre prepares for the 15th consecutive year that they’re showing Groundhog Day.

“Hopefully no one will wake up every morning stuck on the same day forever as Bill Murray’s character does!“

Groundhog Days is a citywide festival celebrating the hit movie “Groundhog Day,” featuring many locations in the Woodstock community. For more information on all the Groundhog Day events, please call the Groundhog Days Hotline at 815-338-4483 or visit www.woodstockgroundhog.com

Th closest thing I could find to a debate in a forum at which constiutents did not have to pay was at a Grayslake supermarket after the primary election. No wonder she is spooked about defending her record of supporting Obamacare and Stimulus Packages.

Congresswoman Melissa Bean has agreed to come out of her Bean Bunker on October 20th.

She will actually appear on the same stage as her opponents Republican Joe Walsh and Green Party candidate Bill Scheurer.

It won’t be in McHenry County though.

We are not important enough to merit a public appearance with

her opponents.

The last time that happened was before Labor Day in 2006 when she ran against Republican Dave McSweeney and Bill Scheurer.

Over four years ago.

That was a debate she lost.

It's about a half an hour from McHenry to Grayslake High School.

This year’s only debate will be at the inconveniently located (at least for McHenry County) Grayslake Central High School, 400 N. Lake St., Grayslake.

The high school is located where you see the star.

Half an hour from McHenry, assuming you don’t get lost and the traffic is light, which it won’t be.

It starts at 6:30.

The Lake County League of Women Voters will screen questions, a most frustrating format the League is known for.

Besides 8th Congressional District candidates, those from the 62nd State Rep. contest will be featured. They are Republican incumbent Sandy Cole and Democrat challenger Rich Voltair.

So, mark your calendars and plan to arrive early so you can get a seat.

Melissa Bean's last public appearance with opponents, David McSweeney and Bill Scheurer then, was in 2006 at a Northwest Herald-sponsored debate at McHenry County College.

And, if you plan to attend and have a camera, please take some photos for me. I’ll be at a McHenry Marlins swim practice when I would otherwise be driving east along crowded Route 120. If some folks will send me some notes of what the candidates say, that would be helpful, too.

It occurs to me that all the Chicago TV stations will cover this event, so undoubtedly partisans of each candidate will have people holding signs outside that will be seen on television later that night.

= = = = =
State Rep. Sandy Cole emails that “the debate also includes the 31st Senate district candidates… Senator Michael Bond & County Board Chairwoman Suzi Schmidt.”

Gus Philpot, who writes The Woodstock Advocate, came up with something to make you chuckle.

He gets a small stipend issued by McHenry County government from an agency associated with the Mental Health Board.

It came with his last name first and first name last.

He complained to his county board member.

The problem was fixed…for him.

But, apparently, not for anyone else.

Philpoy entitled his article,
Best (Worst?) Business Practices

He ends the article,

I am frequently reminded of the saying, “If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, you certainly don’t have time to do it over.”

In McHenry County, that saying should probably be amended to “… to do it over and over and over.”

Well, “Groundhog Day” was shot in Woodstock.

Gus Philpot, who writes The Woodstock Advocate, came up with something to make you chuckle.

He gets a small stipend issued by McHenry County government from an agency associated with the Mental Health Board.

It came with his last name first and first name last.

He complained to his county board member.

The problem was fixed…for him.

But, apparently, not for anyone else.

Philpoy entitled his article,
Best (Worst?) Business Practices

He ends the article,

I am frequently reminded of the saying, “If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, you certainly don’t have time to do it over.”

In McHenry County, that saying should probably be amended to “… to do it over and over and over.”

Well, “Groundhog Day” was shot in Woodstock.