McHenry County Blog

Here are the details from Melissa Denker:

The metal roof that used to cover the sidewalks in the “V” of the Crystal Lake Plaza is gone, replaced with a more inviting open look.

“This month for our January Business Meeting, we are creating a presentation about the plans & goals of the McHenry County Young Republicans for the year of 2013.

“It is an excellent way to kick off the year and crucial in keeping everyone up to date on how our organization is doing!

“I can personally say we have a lot in store this year and we are ready to take on the elections coming up.

“The meeting will be held at the Republican Headquarters at 7pm on the 18th of January.

“Don’t hesitate to contact us at 847-533-1390 for more information! We hope to see you there!”

Republican Headquarters is located in the Crystal Lake Plaza at the tip of the “V.”

Republican Campaign Headquarters in Crystal Lake will get the last 300 Romney signs scheduled for deliver Tuesday afternoon between 4 and 5.

If you don’t make it to Crystal Lake Republican Headquarters to get one of the 300 Romney signs being delivered late Tuesday afternoon, perhaps this homeowner on Dole Avenue near Crystal Lake’s Main Beach would be willing to let you have one of his/hers.

The national Romney campaign is not supplying them.

The McHenry County Republican Party is buying them and, needless to say, contributions to help pay for them are welcomed.

Five hundred yard signs were delivered last Thursday afternoon.

They were gone by the end of the day Saturday.

Before today, 4,500 Romney signs had been distributed. When the new 300 are gone, 4,800 will be on the street in McHenry County.

GOP Headquarters in Crystal Lake is a few stores to the left of Joseph’s Market in the Crystal Lake Plaza.

Here are the details:

Don’t forget the third debate party is tomorrow night. As in the past food will be served. There will also be a cash bar.

Third Debate Watching Party

Tuesday, October 16th
7:00 – 10:00 PM
Corkscrew Bistro
1402 N. Riverside Dr.
McHenry

Just down from Joseph’s Market, Republican Headquarters were filling up before the debate between Jack Ryan and Joe Biden began.

I left early, but there were about 150 people at the Vice Presidential Debate at the Crystal Lake Plaza McHenry County Republican Party Headquarters.

Bob Meale wore his his feelings on his shirt at the night of the Ryan-Biden Vice Presidential Debate.

There were enthusiasts in attendance as you can see above.

There was a food line at the back of the storefront that had a hard time keeping up with the hungry Republicans.

There was free food, although donations were invited.

A view of the audience at McHenry County Republican Headquarters as the Vice Presidential Debate was beginning.

People were still gathering to watch the Vice Presidential Debate.

People were still coming in when I left.

Right down from Joseph’s Market in the Crystal Lake Plaza, you’ll see a building without a sign on top, but with lots of politic signs in the windows. That’s the fall campaign headquarters for the McHenry County Republican Party.

The McHenry County Republican Party invites folks to view the Paul Ryan-Joe Biden television debate at the fall campaign headquarters in the Crystal Lake Plaza.

“You are invited to our second in a series of debate watching parties this Thursday, October 11th, from 7:00 – 10:00 PM at the Republican Campaign Headquarters,” an email advises.

“For those of you that joined us to watch the ‘smack down”‘at The Cottage, you know what a fun and enthusiastic crowd we had.

“The Campaign Headquarters is a much larger venue and should be able to accommodate a much larger crowd with seating and room to maneuver.”

“he party will be held Thursday, October 11 from  7:00 – 10:00 PM.

“The address is 22 Crystal Lake Plaza, but it can best be found by finding Joseph’s Market.  It is a couple of stores west.

“Food and beverages will be provided; donations accepted.

“We will have seating for 150+, so come on out and join other Romney-Ryan supporters for what promises to be an entertaining evening,” an announcement said.

The debate starts at 8:00 and will be shown on a large screen.

“Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the next debate party which will be held on Tuesday, October 16th at the Corkscrew Bistro in McHenry,” an email advised.

A press release from the McHenry County Republican Central Committee:

Republican Party Headquarters Opened

CRYSTAL LAKE…..The Republican Party of McHenry County is pleased to announce the opening of a new GOP Campaign Headquarters in Crystal Lake.

Through the November 6th General Election, volunteers will staff an office located at 22 Crystal Lake Plaza, on Route 14, just a few doors down from Joseph’s grocery store. The office will be open from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

“This Crystal Lake Plaza location provides us with great visibility and a lot of room for our volunteers to work on many key projects,” said Party Chairman Mike Tryon. “People are welcome to stop in and pick up Romney yard signs, Romney/Ryan bumper stickers, GOP T-shirts, and yard signs for most of the Republican candidates in McHenry County. We can also assist people with finding their polling places and with learning about how the new maps affect who their candidates will be.”

According to Tryon, the GOP will host a debate-watching party at the campaign headquarters on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7:00 PM, when Vice Presidential candidates Paul Ryan and Joe Biden square off in what should be a fascinating debate. Food and drinks will be provided.

The office is always looking for enthusiastic Republican volunteers. Those interested volunteering should contact the campaign office at (815) 444-1910.

Here’s how to find the fall campaign headquarters:

How to find the fall 2012 McHenry County Republican Party Headquarters.

McHenry County Republicans ended up with about $2,000 more at the end of March than they had at the beginning of the year, ending March with $7,188.71.

The annual Lincoln Day Dinner was the major fund raiser and also amount to most of the expenses.

Contributions came from the following individuals:

• $175 – Mary Alger, Crystal Lake
• $275 – Scott Breeden. Crystal Lake
• $175 – Michael Chmiel, Crystal Lake
• $175 – Michael Feeterer, Crystal Lake
• $175 – Shawn Green, Union
• $175 – James Heisler, Crystal Lake
• $175 – HR Green Company, Cedar Rapids, IA
• $750 – Innovative Component Sales, Huntley
• $175 – John Jung, Woodstock
• $175 – Kathy Keefe, Woodstock
• $200 – Diane Klemm, Crystal Lake
• $175 – Rosemary Kurtz, Crystal Lake
• $175 – Dale Lewis, Woodstock
• $175 – Liberty Outdoor, Crystal Lake
• $200 – Pam Palmer, Union
• $175 – Metropolitan Health Care, Chicago
• $250 – Peter Baker & Son, Lake Bluff
• $175 – Pint Size Productions, Crystal Lake
• $175 – Tom Schermerhorn, Woodstock
• $175 – Robert Stephenson, Barrington Hills
• $750 – Trotter & Associates, St Charles
• $175 – Marty Waitzman, Algonquin
• $175 – Webb Marketing, McHenry
• $175 – Tom Wilbeck, Lakewood

There were also contributions from individuals of less than $150 that amounted to $3,375.

Campaign funds made contributions of $6,160. All but $985 were disclosed, as you can see below:

• $700 – Citizens for Karen McConnaughay, St Charles
• $900 – Citizens for Kent Gaffney, Fox River Grove
• $175 – Citizens for LeFew, Harvard
• $750 – Citizens for Mark Beaubien, Barrington
• $750 – Citizens to Elect Andy Zinke, Crystal Lake
• $175 – Citizens to Elect Dan Duffy, Barrington
• $1,000 – Citizens to Re Elect Bob Miller, Cary
• $175 – Cliff Surges for State Senate, Gilberts
• $200 – Joe Walsh For Congress, Lake Zurich
• $175 – Jourdan Committee to Preserve and Project Good Government, McHenry
• $175 – Skinner Campaign Fund, Crystal Lake

Here are the expenditures:

• $6,731.62 – Lincoln Day Dinner. D’Andrea’s Banquets, Crystal Lake
• $1,005 – Election Night Party, D’Andrea’s Banquets, Crystal Lake
• $1,800 – Salary, Geri Davis, McHenry
• $1,476 – Rent, Madison Corporate Group
• $742.74 – Printing, CL Graphics 124 S Virginia
• $452.76 – Lincoln Day Flowers, Lockers Flowers, McHenry
• $428.33 – Withholdings, United States Department of Treasury
• $390 – Storage Unit Rental, Liberty Outdoor, Crystal Lake
• $350 – Accounting fees, Giloa Yapelli, Crystal Lake
• $192.50 – AT&T, Louisville, KY

$239.78 was not specifically listed.

I went over to the McHenry County Republican Headquarters and found my and my father’s old office in the tip of the V at the Crystal Lake Plaza had been opened up.

The metal roof that used to cover the sidewalks in the "V" of the Crystal Lake Plaza is gone, replaced with a more inviting open look.

I went in to get some Peter Roskam bags into which I’ll stuff the literature from the District 2 McHenry County Board candidates.  (See “Northwest Herald Turns Up the Heat on Three Crystal Lake County Board Members Who Voted to Maximize Tax Bill.”)

If you are a Republican candidate for office and can't see your sign in this photo, you might want to take your sign over to Crystal Lake's Republican Headquarters. (Not that there is much sidewalk traffic.) Five of the eleven signs are for candidates not on the McHenry County ballot this year. Can you name them?

I found people getting ready to go door-to-door with a door knob hanger featuring State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay and County Board Chairman Ken Koehler.

The mini-rally was over and door-to-door assignments were being made when I walked in the door.

There were mainly members of the McHenry County Young Republicans.

They had been recruited to blitz precincts for State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay and Ken Koehler, who is running for re-election to the McHenry County Board.

The goal is to cover the 25 overlapping precincts, mainly in Crystal Lake and Lake in the Hills with the campaign piece  you see below:

Paid for by the Karen McConnaughay campaign for State Senate, this side of the joint door knob hanger mainly promotes McConnauhay--a winning team...that have improved the quality of life.

Same theme on the Ken Koehler side of the door-to-door piece...promoting "fiscal accountability, cooperation and respnosible governance."

McConnaughay, having given a pep talk, off to a similar gathering in Huntley.

McHenry County Republican Headquarters is at the tip of the "V" in the Crystal Lake Plaza.

With the lure of free Pinemoor Pizza hot out of the oven almost next door, Congressman Randy Hultgren held a Meet and Greet at McHenry County Republican Party headquarters in a very much under re-construction Crystal Lake Plaza.

Pinemoor Pizza, "Open at 4," the sign says.

At least thirty potential constituents found their way to the small office in the tip of the “V” that my father and I used to occupy when I served as State Rep. in the mid-1970′s.  (He had his trade association, the Barley and Malt Institute there.)

Randy Hultgren spoke to the crowd. He explained that he and Joe Walsh had different styles. "Styles only go so far," he said.

The liquor store next door that became a barber shop is now a shoe repair place. The beauty parlor my mother used to frequent is empty and the Plaza is getting its second make over since it opened in the early 1960′s.

Lake in the Hills Precinct Committeeman Sam Paglini was sporting a Hultgren sticker.

The Hultgren people ordered five pizzas, but ended up having to get five more as hungry folks ate their way through the boxes.

Randy Hultgren talks with Irene Napier before entering GOP Headquarters. Don Drzal and Mary Alger are close by. Bernie Narusis is seen walking toward the office.

The event started at six and the Congressman came a bit later, just as a contingent of Pro-Life leaders were coming down the sidewalk.

Randy Hultgren made contact with a number of Precinct Committeemen, mainly from Grafton and Nunda Townships. He expressed the opinion that this would be an election of Precinct Committeemen and explained that was how he got his start.

“I want to be a Congressman you can be proud of,” Hultgren told the crowd.

Randy Hultgren confers with Joe Alger, a moving force in Patriots United.

“I want to make sure we are building our party with young conservatives,” he added.

Best quote of the night came from Dave Hellyer:

“Before Obama got in, I had business.”