McHenry County Blog

John O’Neill, a leader in the Saturday demonstration against State Rep. Jack Franks’ co-sponsorship of a bill that would statutorily codify the legalize abortion in Illinois during the last trimester of pregnancy, sends the following information about the rally against gay marriage in the same Woodstock location.

(See “Jack Franks Goes to the Dark Side” and “Anatomy of a Demonstration.”)

Basia O’Neill and daughter hold a poster saying, “Marriage equals 1 man + 1 woman.”

The anti-same sex marriage rally in front of Jack Franks’ office Monday.

The stop sign echoes the message picketers delivered to State Rep. Jack Franks about voting for the gay marriage bill.

John O’Neill holds a sign saying, “Google Massachuets transgender rules.”

A colorful “Defend Marriage Illinois” sign can be seen here.

The universal symbol for “No” is superimposed on the words “Gay Marriage” on one sign in this photo.

“Kids need their Mom and their Day,” says one sign.

The photo does not capture what God’s message to State Rep. Jack Franks is.

“No to re-defining marriage” is the message on the only readable sign. Meanwhile State Rep. Jack Franks is taking off on double-dipping public officials after having been in office over twelve years.

“Rep. Franks vote to defend marriage” was the message of the day.

“Vote No SB 10″ pretty much sums up the crowd’s message.

There’s a “Women for McSweeney” rally being held Saturday in Crystal Lake at D’Andreas Banquets at 10.

On the Host Committee are

• Mary Alger
• Geri Davis
• Jean Marie Kapp
• Rebecca Kress
• Cara Kretz
• Rebecca Lee
• Lu Ann LeFew
• Anne Majewski
• Lou Ann Majewski
• Anna May Miller
• Irene Napier
• Linda Post
• Lucy Prouty
• Bonnie Quirke
• Kathy Salvi
• Sue Sedar
• Joyce Story
• Nina Stephenson
• Phyllis Walters
• Barbara Wheeler
• Monica Young

The invitation to Saturday’s “Women for McSweeney” rally.

State Senator Pam Althoff, State Rep. JoAnne Osmund and Kane County Board Chairman and unopposed State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay will speak.
McSweeney is running against Dee Beaubien (Ind.-Madigan).

Joyce Synek

Edward “Ed” Donald Synek, whose wife is McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Lou Bianchi’s assistant Joyce, died July 31st.

He was born on September 1, 1941.

His obituary follows:

Edward Donald “Ed” Synek, 70 of Woodstock, passed away Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at Pepper Family Hospice in Barrington surrounded by his family.

Born September 1, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois, he was the son of Edward and Anne (Peklo) Synek.

Ed served in the US Navy from 1959-1962 on the USS Shasta.

He was the owner of Sign-X in Cary for 30 years and the senior transportation bus driver for Grafton Township.

Ed Synek

He enjoyed race cars, classic cars, history, a good pizza and cigar, and traveling with his wife to Italy.

He especially loved the time he spent with his family and friends.  Ed will be sorely missed by his constant companions Buddy and Frank.

Ed is survived by his wife of 28 years, Joyce (nee Belver), sons Ed (Jennifer), Matt (Lisa), and Andy Synek, and grandchildren, Eddie, Ella, Joey, and Owen.  Ed was also a loving father to his step-son Brad Stanley.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be 3-9pm Thursday, August 2 at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave (IL Rt. 176), Crystal Lake.

Funeral service will be 11am  Friday, August 3 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock with visitation at the church from 10am until the time of the mass. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter, 220 W Huron St, Ste 4003, Chicago IL 60654, 312-932-0000, www.alsachicago.org.

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Grafton Township is providing rides on the bus Synek used to drive to the visitation.

“We are all very saddened by the passing of our long time bus driver,” Supervisor Linda Moore said. “He has been driving for Grafton Township since 2007 and just recently retired due to health reason.

“Everyone in Grafton Township will miss Ed Synek, a wonderful friend and employee. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

Johnsburg School Board member Steve Rooney, Assistant State's Attorney Demetri Tsilimigras and John O'Neill converse his O'Neill's fund raiser.

Prairie Isle Golf Club was the site for a Tuesday fund raiser for District 3 McHenry County Board candidate John O’Neill.

Political consultant Bryan Javor chats with State Rep. and McHenry County Chairman Mike Tryon.

O’Neill is one of five Republican candidates vying for four slots on the fall 2012 ballot.

Nunda Township Trustee JonI Smith and Nunda Townshlp GOP Chairman Brent Smith were sharing views.

With incumbent Barb Wheeler running for State Representative, only two Republican incumbents remain–Nick Provenzano and Mary Donner. Both are running for re-election.

Star of the evening was baby Teddy O'Neill, here being held by GOP Precinct Committeeman Joyce Story.

Two non-incumbents besides O’Neill have made their intentions know–Nunda Township Trustee Jim Schlader and former District 2 County Board member Lyn Orphal.

It is expected that Democratic Party incumbent Kathy Bergan Schmidt will be running for re-election.

The web site of the Bradenton, Idaho, newspaper featured a photo of proponents of health care reform at Melissa Bean's Schaumburg office.

While Associated Press distributed a photo of the mainly out-of-district proponents of President Barack Obama’s health care reform, opponents are gearing up for another demonstration.

Word just in from Schaumburg Tea Party Coordinator Carrie Miller that opponents propose another rally this Saturday at noon at Congresswoman Melissa Bean’s office at 1701 E. Woodfield Road, Suite 200, Schaumburg, IL 60173.

If you can’t go, why not phone 847-517-2927 or Fax 847-517-2931. The phone probably won’t be answered over the weekend, but the Fax machine might be operational.

Incidentally, word from within Bean’s Schaumburg office is that calls are running 3-4 to one against the bill.

No wonder she is listed as undecided, even with the Daily Herald’s string of stories about Republican opponent Joe Walsh’s financial problems.

Schaumburg map showing where Melissa Bean's office at 1701 E. Woodfield Road is located near Woodfield Mall.

Maybe her polling is showing she is in more trouble than she has been previously.

Here’s the email’s appeal:

Many people who were not able to attend Tuesday’s rally would like to rally tomorrow.

Melissa Bean’s Office
Saturday, March 20th
12 PM

Bring your flags, signs, bullhorns!…Let your voices be heard!!!

Did you know:

• 

  If awakened Joyce Story goes to the demonstation, she will be late, because she is one of the organizers of the Patriots United Pro-Life Breakfast at D'Andrea's (southeast corner of Routes 14 &31) at 9 AM.

  Back room deals continue to be cut with Obama & Pelosi

• IRS expansion by 16,000 agents to track your HC insurance coverage
• Insurance premium increases up to 78%
• Job killing tax of $2,000 per employee on many companies
• Unfunded mandates
• Bill includes student loans…only the government can provide student loans!!!
• Walgreens will no longer accept new Medicaid customers as of April 16th
• Mayo clinic ….some of their doctors have informed their patients …should Obama Care pass they will no longer accept medicare patients
• Chicago area doctors have already begun to decline medicare patient coverage.
• 1-3 doctors will leave their practice
• 30 million people added….. no doctors to cover them….you will wait for months to get an appointment
• Prescription Drugs….how would you like to wait for those as well?

Here’s a video of the last demonstration and counter-demonstration:

More information about the rally can be found here.

The whole text of the sign can't be read, but it's easy to get the "OUCH!" message.

Collin Corbett, a friend of McHenry County Blog, sent some photos of the Schaumburg demonstration today.

A woman is being interviewed by Fran Eaton of Illinois Review.

He said that over 300 participated, not counting those who honked in support as they drove by.

There certainly appears to be a large crowd. Since proponents were separated from opponents, those seen in this picture seem to be in opposition. Several signs read, "HANDS OFF MY HEALTH CARE!"

Health care was the issue of the day.

Americans for Prosperity had participants in the rally.

Channel 7 said the proponents outnumbered the opponents by 2-1.  That was before the conservatives showed up at noon.  After that, “We dwarfed their numbers,” Corbett said.

Is that McHenry's Joyce Story? It is. She was joined by a number of citizens from McHenry County.

If you were there, do you agree that Corbett accurately reads the relative size of the proponents and opponents to President Barack Obama’s health care reform proposal?

And, what would a TEA Party be without someone dressed up as a Minuteman?

Anyone who attended like to venture an opinion whether the opponents to Obamacare outnumber those in favor?

The following press release from congressional candidate Joe Walsh is presented for your information:

Lake Zurich, IL, January 12, 2010. Joe Walsh Candidate for Congress in the IL  8th District is announcing support and endorsements.

Walsh continues to receive endorsements and support in his race for Congress.  The following is an initial list of endorsements, further endorsements will be forthcoming:

The following organizations have endorsed Joe Walsh:

• Illinois Federation For Right to Life
• Tea Party Palatine
• Lake County Tea Party
• Illinois Conservatives on Facebook
• National Taxpayers United of Illinois
• Republican Assembly of Illinois

The following individuals and elected officials have endorsed Joe Walsh:

• Bryan Javor, Chairman McHenry CountyYoung Republicans
• Don Castella, Chairman, Vernon Township Republicans
• Nick Provenzano, Candidate for McHenry County board, District 3
• Tom Roeser, Conservative Catholic Activist
• Louis Rofrano, Mc Henry County Right to Carry Association
• John E. Vincent, Former Wauconda Township Committeeman
• John O’Neill, Candidate for State Representative, 63rd District
• Glenn Garamoni, Precinct Committeeman, Fremont Township 121
• Bill Parrot, Chairman, Patriots United
• Peter S. Karlovics, Precinct Committeeman, Warren Township 308
• Joyce Story, Precinct Committeeman McHenry 14

Walsh has garnered lots of support from numerous committeemen throughout the district as well.

“Once again I am honored to have received the support of these organizations and these individuals.  Their support is providing crucial momentum to my campaign and has raised the energy level going into the final weeks of this election,” said Walsh.
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I would observe that not all of these endorsements are exclusive. The Illinois Federation Right to Life, I know, endorsed more than one candidate.  Maria Rodriguez was also endorsed.

Open on the weekends, when thousands of people stream to vacation homes or just to see the fall colors in Wisconsin, the McHenry County Republican Headquarters opened in Richmond is seeing some ten folks an hour drop in.

Most want signs, which must not be in too high supply back toward Chicago. Or maybe it’s just so much more convenient for local folks than coming to the old Pauly Toyota showroom on Route 14 across from Target in Crystal Lake.

Republican precinct committeeman Joyce Story is one of the honchos keeping the place going.

McHenry County Blog’s roving camera woman went up and took some pictures.

Spring Grove Young Republican Jonathan Kamen was helping man the headquarters.

Andy and Ryan Hommowun from Spring Grove stopped in to pick up signs.

You can, too, if you are in the neighborhood.

Open on the weekends, when thousands of people stream to vacation homes or just to see the fall colors in Wisconsin, the McHenry County Republican Headquarters opened in Richmond is seeing some ten folks an hour drop in.

Most want signs, which must not be in too high supply back toward Chicago. Or maybe it’s just so much more convenient for local folks than coming to the old Pauly Toyota showroom on Route 14 across from Target in Crystal Lake.

Republican precinct committeeman Joyce Story is one of the honchos keeping the place going.

McHenry County Blog’s roving camera woman went up and took some pictures.

Spring Grove Young Republican Jonathan Kamen was helping man the headquarters.

Andy and Ryan Hommowun from Spring Grove stopped in to pick up signs.

You can, too, if you are in the neighborhood.

Yesterday, I wrote about the double-wide Democratic Party booth at the McHenry County Fair. Because I found more candidates there than at the Republican booth, I did a story on the Dems first.

Today, it’s the Republicans turn.

The only candidates I saw were McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz and McHenry County Board member Mary Donner.

They were behind the table of literature with McHenry Township Precinct Committeeman and Elementary School District 15 School Board member John O’Neill.

Standing in front of the table helping interest some grade school students was McHenry County Board member Dan Shea. The former Fox River Grove Village President is retiring this year.

After visiting with the Libertarians and the Democrats, I circled back to see if any other candidates were at the GOP booth, but there weren’t.

O’Neill was still there with McHenry Township Precinct Committee Joyce Story and Steve Greenberg staffer Dwight Roberts. Crystal Lake Precinct Committeeman Tom McDermott was just leaving, but he agreed to be in the picture.