McHenry County Blog

You can see Eleanor Eising getting a donation at Joseph’s Market in Crystal Lake yesterday.

Friday and Saturday are Kiwanis Peanut Days.

Today you will find people at Joseph’s and Jewel.

All donations got to help kids after subtracting the cost of the peanuts.

You can see Eleanor Eising getting a donation at Joseph’s Market in Crystal Lake yesterday.

Friday and Saturday are Kiwanis Peanut Days.

Today you will find people at Joseph’s and Jewel.

All donations got to help kids after subtracting the cost of the peanuts.

This cake was at Colonial Cafe when I walked in for last Wednesday’s Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club meeting.

It was the meeting at which new officers were being sworn in.

Today and Saturday Kiwanis members will be handing out peanuts at their annual fund raiser various places in Crystal Lake.

The money collected goes to programs for kids.

Baker and decorator of the cake was the Salvation Army’s Linda Hunter.

This cake was at Colonial Cafe when I walked in for last Wednesday’s Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club meeting.

It was the meeting at which new officers were being sworn in.

Today and Saturday Kiwanis members will be handing out peanuts at their annual fund raiser various places in Crystal Lake.

The money collected goes to programs for kids.

Baker and decorator of the cake was the Salvation Army’s Linda Hunter.

You know that I am a member of the Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club.

It meets twice a month at Colonial Cafe. We often have informative speakers.

Wednesday, a mother and aunt of Down Syndrome children came to explain GiGi’s Playhouse, which is opening soon in McHenry. The pamphlet passed out calls it “a Down Syndrome awareness center.”

They were not only informative, they were inspirational.

They came to talk about a new GiGi’s Playhouse, which will open in McHenry on Route 31 north of Route 120 the end of April. It just south of McCullom Lake Road.

Johnsburg’s Carol Ancel, who is the mother of a Down Syndrome child did most of the talking. She was accompanied by Susan DuBois of Spring Grove. DuBois is the aunt I mentioned.

Ancel explained that the Down’s kids “learn to read pretty early.”

The pamphlet tells of a “FREE Learn to Read” program. It points out that research shows that “children with Down Syndrome learn to read differently.”

She and DuBois would like to help develop more such opportunities.

Because they “mimic kids around them,” the two are planning to open a place where Down’s kids can play with normal kids their own age.

“You try to stop the segregation of disabilities,” Ancel said.

Their goal is ambitious. They are talking birth to adulthood.

As they learn, “they are so much happier to do it with a group,” Ancel said, so another reason for the intermingling with other children their age.

Ancel pointed out something I didn’t realize: some of the young people “have drivers’ licenses.”

Some “have kiosk businesses.”

“When you get a diagnosis, you get nothing but (negative input),” she said.

Ancel said the group was seeking legislation to require those making diagnoses “to give accurate information.”

“80 to 90% of prenatal diagnoses are aborted,” she continued.

I must admit that brought me up short.

“If you have a kid with Down Syndrome, (people should be saying) ‘You’re so lucky!’”

GiGi’s Playhouse is designed for more than “just the emotional support; it’s the practical support.”

The two women got know what a GiGi’s Playhouse is all about at the Hoffman Estates‘ location.

They concluded that it was “easier to start one yourself than to take (kids all the way) to Hoffman Estates.”

Besides the planned one in McHenry, another will soon open in Chicago and one is in the planning stages in Westmont, we were told. Another is already open in Plainfield.

As Ancel described it, this is a Moms’ Effort. It’s an all-volunteer effort.

“If the parents, don’t participate and volunteer, we won’t last long,” she added.

And McHenry County “Moms” and others like Aunt Susan are ready to open a GiGi’s Playhouse in McHenry on April 26th.

Hey, that’s the end of this month.

“It’s in a positive, uplifting, the sky’s the limit type of program,” Ancel explained.

An anonymous donor has donated use of the building, which is next to a liquor store at 1720 N. Richmond Road, behind Applebee’s.

Activities will be scheduled, rather than run continuously.

On the last Saturday of the month the Playhouse will be open from noon to 3. Here’s the invitation.

It says,

So, bring your kidlings, regardless of age and regardless of whether they have Down Syndrome.

The group’s slogan is

= = = = =
Carol Ancel is the woman in the pictures. The map shows where GiGi’s Playhouse is located in McHenry.

You know that I am a member of the Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club.

It meets twice a month at Colonial Cafe. We often have informative speakers.

Wednesday, a mother and aunt of Down Syndrome children came to explain GiGi’s Playhouse, which is opening soon in McHenry. The pamphlet passed out calls it “a Down Syndrome awareness center.”

They were not only informative, they were inspirational.

They came to talk about a new GiGi’s Playhouse, which will open in McHenry on Route 31 north of Route 120 the end of April. It just south of McCullom Lake Road.

Johnsburg’s Carol Ancel, who is the mother of a Down Syndrome child did most of the talking. She was accompanied by Susan DuBois of Spring Grove. DuBois is the aunt I mentioned.

Ancel explained that the Down’s kids “learn to read pretty early.”

The pamphlet tells of a “FREE Learn to Read” program. It points out that research shows that “children with Down Syndrome learn to read differently.”

She and DuBois would like to help develop more such opportunities.

Because they “mimic kids around them,” the two are planning to open a place where Down’s kids can play with normal kids their own age.

“You try to stop the segregation of disabilities,” Ancel said.

Their goal is ambitious. They are talking birth to adulthood.

As they learn, “they are so much happier to do it with a group,” Ancel said, so another reason for the intermingling with other children their age.

Ancel pointed out something I didn’t realize: some of the young people “have drivers’ licenses.”

Some “have kiosk businesses.”

“When you get a diagnosis, you get nothing but (negative input),” she said.

Ancel said the group was seeking legislation to require those making diagnoses “to give accurate information.”

“80 to 90% of prenatal diagnoses are aborted,” she continued.

I must admit that brought me up short.

“If you have a kid with Down Syndrome, (people should be saying) ‘You’re so lucky!’”

GiGi’s Playhouse is designed for more than “just the emotional support; it’s the practical support.”

The two women got know what a GiGi’s Playhouse is all about at the Hoffman Estates‘ location.

They concluded that it was “easier to start one yourself than to take (kids all the way) to Hoffman Estates.”

Besides the planned one in McHenry, another will soon open in Chicago and one is in the planning stages in Westmont, we were told. Another is already open in Plainfield.

As Ancel described it, this is a Moms’ Effort. It’s an all-volunteer effort.

“If the parents, don’t participate and volunteer, we won’t last long,” she added.

And McHenry County “Moms” and others like Aunt Susan are ready to open a GiGi’s Playhouse in McHenry on April 26th.

Hey, that’s the end of this month.

“It’s in a positive, uplifting, the sky’s the limit type of program,” Ancel explained.

An anonymous donor has donated use of the building, which is next to a liquor store at 1720 N. Richmond Road, behind Applebee’s.

Activities will be scheduled, rather than run continuously.

On the last Saturday of the month the Playhouse will be open from noon to 3. Here’s the invitation.

It says,

So, bring your kidlings, regardless of age and regardless of whether they have Down Syndrome.

The group’s slogan is

= = = = =
Carol Ancel is the woman in the pictures. The map shows where GiGi’s Playhouse is located in McHenry.

On September 27, the Crystal Lake Kiwanis hosted their Third Annual Little Miss Peanut Contest.

Skyla Chestelson, age 6, was crowned Little Miss Peanut by Miss Crystal Lake 2007, Shannon McCarty. Skyla is the daughter of Solange Diaz and attends West Elementary in Crystal Lake.

Judges included Miss Illinois 2007 Ashley Hatfield; Blake Hobson, McHenry County Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors; Joan Hoffman, Director, Miss Crystal Lake; and John Jung, McHenry County Board Vice-Chairman.

Emcee of the event was State Representative Michael W. Tryon and the Host was Mike Splitt, In Sync Systems, Inc.

First Runner-Up is Amber Lynn Johnson daughter of Larry and Mercia Johnson and Second Runner Up is Sedeja Thompson daughter of Shanika Thompson.

Ten girls participated and all received gift bags donated by sponsors of the event.

Sponsors were Crystal Lake Pontiac, First Midwest Bank, State Representative Michael W. Tryon, The Freeze, Crystal lake Title & Trust, State Senator Pamela J. Althoff, AmCore Investment Group, Home State Bank, Image Industries, Inc., Cunat Inc. Countryside Nursery and Algonquin Bank and Trust.

Little Miss Peanut 2007 duties will include being the Ambassador our the Kiwanis club campaigns to help children in our community. She will represent the club in community events including the Crystal Lake Downtown Christmas parade, Crystal Lake Gala Fest parade, assisting in crowning Miss Crystal Lake and participating in Peanut Days.

On September 27, the Crystal Lake Kiwanis hosted their Third Annual Little Miss Peanut Contest.

Skyla Chestelson, age 6, was crowned Little Miss Peanut by Miss Crystal Lake 2007, Shannon McCarty. Skyla is the daughter of Solange Diaz and attends West Elementary in Crystal Lake.

Judges included Miss Illinois 2007 Ashley Hatfield; Blake Hobson, McHenry County Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors; Joan Hoffman, Director, Miss Crystal Lake; and John Jung, McHenry County Board Vice-Chairman.

Emcee of the event was State Representative Michael W. Tryon and the Host was Mike Splitt, In Sync Systems, Inc.

First Runner-Up is Amber Lynn Johnson daughter of Larry and Mercia Johnson and Second Runner Up is Sedeja Thompson daughter of Shanika Thompson.

Ten girls participated and all received gift bags donated by sponsors of the event.

Sponsors were Crystal Lake Pontiac, First Midwest Bank, State Representative Michael W. Tryon, The Freeze, Crystal lake Title & Trust, State Senator Pamela J. Althoff, AmCore Investment Group, Home State Bank, Image Industries, Inc., Cunat Inc. Countryside Nursery and Algonquin Bank and Trust.

Little Miss Peanut 2007 duties will include being the Ambassador our the Kiwanis club campaigns to help children in our community. She will represent the club in community events including the Crystal Lake Downtown Christmas parade, Crystal Lake Gala Fest parade, assisting in crowning Miss Crystal Lake and participating in Peanut Days.

Days, actually.

Crystal Lake Kiwanians and other Kiwanis clubs will be conducting their annual peanut day fund raiser this Friday and Saturday.

Here’s what happened last year at Jewel, complete with threatening clouds and rainbow.

The photos are of my son. The one giving peanuts to children younger than himself was taken in 2005. The other one was taken in 2006.

Days, actually.

Crystal Lake Kiwanians and other Kiwanis clubs will be conducting their annual peanut day fund raiser this Friday and Saturday.

Here’s what happened last year at Jewel, complete with threatening clouds and rainbow.

The photos are of my son. The one giving peanuts to children younger than himself was taken in 2005. The other one was taken in 2006.