McHenry County Blog

The following press release has been received from 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo. The words “bureaucratic withholding power” in the headline come from my former Legislative Assistant, Pete Castillo.

Read the press release and you’ll see why I used the characterization.

U.S. House Committee Approves Manzullo Provisions to Modernize Export Controls, Create American Jobs

(WASHINGTON) U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL) hailed legislation passed in the House Foreign Affairs Committee last night that he co-authored to modernize the federal government’s export control policy by strengthening national security and helping American companies sell more defense-related goods overseas, creating jobs for Americans.

Approved as part of the two-year Foreign Relations Authorization Act, the legislation directs the State Department to take actions to reduce the massive backlog of license applications that impedes legitimate trade with our allies.

Manzullo originally introduced the provision as stand-alone legislation in 2007 with Reps. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Joe Crowley (D-NY) and Roy Blunt (R-MO). Specifically, it would:

1. Direct the Secretary of State to review the U.S. export control system within 18 months and offer recommendations to strengthen controls, improve efficiency, and reduce redundancies across federal agencies;
2. Require the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) to have at least 1 licensing officer for every 1,250 applications by Fiscal Year 2011 to prevent future backlogs;

• Require the DDTC to assign no less than 3 individuals by Fiscal Year 2010 to review applications for commodity jurisdiction determinations;

• Create a performance goal of no longer than 60 days to process a defense trade license;
• Create a performance goal of no longer than 30 days to process a defense trade license for close allies;
• Establish a 7-day processing time for defense trade licenses from our close allies in support of combat operations or peacekeeping or humanitarian operations with U.S. Armed Forces;
• Increase the transparency of commodity jurisdiction determinations with publication of those decisions on the Internet;
• Create a special licensing authorization for U.S.-manufactured spare and replacement parts or components in connection with defense items previously lawfully exported to our close allies;
• Increase the representation and augment the input of the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) into the State Department’s defense trade agenda;
• Add South Korea and Israel to the list of NATO+3 countries receiving expedited consideration for the export of U.S. defense items.

The legislation included another Manzullo priority to strengthen export promotion activities for our nation’s 26 million small businesses and small manufacturers to the world’s fastest growing markets.

By making it easier for small businesses and manufacturers to participate at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the Manzullo provision removes a significant barrier that prevented small businesses from being more competitive with their foreign competitors.

The Manzullo provision designates a Small Business Liaison at the State Department and adds a small business website to the Department’s homepage to facilitate direct communication for small businesses seeking to export overseas.

In 2007, the Rockford area exported $1.4 billion worth of goods to the world.

The bill now heads to the full House for consideration.

“This legislation streamlines the process, reduces the application backlog, and allows greater scrutiny on sensitive exports that could harm our country,” Manzullo said. “It would better protect our nation while helping U.S. companies sell more goods and services to our allies, creating more jobs for Americans.”

I missed this when it happened in mid-September.

It’s not in McHenry County, but it’s close to the McHenry-Lake County border, so I thought you might be interested.

144 illegal aliens were arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Chicago metropolitan area, defined broadly enough to include Northwestern Indiana. You can read the full release here.

The closest arrests were in Round Lake.

The only raid I remember in McHenry County was at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn.

We learned of it when a father walked into our legislative office on Manor Road behind the Shell Station on Route 14 with his infant and at least one other pre-school child. He had no idea how to cope. He had been told his wife was already on a bus to Mexico.

Separating a mother from her baby struck me as mighty poor public policy then and still does.

Fortunately my legislative assistant Pete Castillo was there to console and try to help him.

The raid apparently resulted from new management coming in who apparently called the federalies.

They threw a “Worker Appreciation Day” on a Saturday or Sunday, when most were not working.

As my legislative assistant Pete remembers the details,

“…quite a few who had arrived at that point when Holiday Inn was going to have to pay them severance and retirement benefits. (They) decided to give them the ‘cuffed behind your back, Greyhound Cruiser tour’ back to their homeland at the tax-payers expense. It was blatant corporate greed and nothing else.”

About the man I remember seeing with his children, Pete says,

“The man who came in had, if I am not mistaken, 5 children. When he came to the office he brought 3 youngsters. We helped him reunite his children with his wife who was taken in the raid. We set-up an escort (to Mexico) for him as well as for at least 3 other families. We had already helped this man relocate his wife’s stolen SS checks earlier in the year. We made a Mexican grocery store owner in C-Ville repay the stolen money.”

I then asked Pete about why she was receiving Social Security checks. His reply:

“I am not privy to that. All I know is that the checks were stolen from her mailbox by someone that was connected to the grocery store owner in C-ville. I checked with the SS guy you knew in Woodstock. I don’t remember his name. They were legitimate. She was entitled to receive them. It could have been that she was married before to an American. What do I know? I collected all the money that was stolen. I brought the statute which the store owner violated to C-ville and I promised him 10-years for each offense. He paid!”

From this description of what my legislative assistant did, all that comes to mind is he one amazing, not to mention effective, guy!

As someone has said, “The perception of power is power.”

I missed this when it happened in mid-September.

It’s not in McHenry County, but it’s close to the McHenry-Lake County border, so I thought you might be interested.

144 illegal aliens were arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Chicago metropolitan area, defined broadly enough to include Northwestern Indiana. You can read the full release here.

The closest arrests were in Round Lake.

The only raid I remember in McHenry County was at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn.

We learned of it when a father walked into our legislative office on Manor Road behind the Shell Station on Route 14 with his infant and at least one other pre-school child. He had no idea how to cope. He had been told his wife was already on a bus to Mexico.

Separating a mother from her baby struck me as mighty poor public policy then and still does.

Fortunately my legislative assistant Pete Castillo was there to console and try to help him.

The raid apparently resulted from new management coming in who apparently called the federalies.

They threw a “Worker Appreciation Day” on a Saturday or Sunday, when most were not working.

As my legislative assistant Pete remembers the details,

“…quite a few who had arrived at that point when Holiday Inn was going to have to pay them severance and retirement benefits. (They) decided to give them the ‘cuffed behind your back, Greyhound Cruiser tour’ back to their homeland at the tax-payers expense. It was blatant corporate greed and nothing else.”

About the man I remember seeing with his children, Pete says,

“The man who came in had, if I am not mistaken, 5 children. When he came to the office he brought 3 youngsters. We helped him reunite his children with his wife who was taken in the raid. We set-up an escort (to Mexico) for him as well as for at least 3 other families. We had already helped this man relocate his wife’s stolen SS checks earlier in the year. We made a Mexican grocery store owner in C-Ville repay the stolen money.”

I then asked Pete about why she was receiving Social Security checks. His reply:

“I am not privy to that. All I know is that the checks were stolen from her mailbox by someone that was connected to the grocery store owner in C-ville. I checked with the SS guy you knew in Woodstock. I don’t remember his name. They were legitimate. She was entitled to receive them. It could have been that she was married before to an American. What do I know? I collected all the money that was stolen. I brought the statute which the store owner violated to C-ville and I promised him 10-years for each offense. He paid!”

From this description of what my legislative assistant did, all that comes to mind is he one amazing, not to mention effective, guy!

As someone has said, “The perception of power is power.”

Democratic Party candidate for State’s Attorney Tom Cynor has called for the end of a program that helps the McHenry County business community.

His suggested alternative is to send businessmen back to civil court, which, of course, would require the hiring of an attorney.

I have some comments below from McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s office and my assistant’s experience of helping collect bad checks while I was state representative, but here is the press release:

CYNOR CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE END
TO COSTLY COUNTY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM

WOODSTOCK IL. – Thomas J. Cynor, McHenry County Democratic candidate for State’s Attorney, called for an immediate end to the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s costly bad check program and promised to refocus the priorities of the Office of State’s Attorney on essential legal functions under his administration today.

Under the current county government bad check program the State’s Attorney’s Office, through employed Assistant State’s Attorneys and other government staff, attempt to collect on NSF and other passed bad checks on behalf of McHenry County merchants exclusively.

State’s Attorney Bianchi created the in-house government program on February 19, 2007, which has since serviced only about 100 clients in a county of over 300,000 residents.

“In an environment of raising property taxes and increased burdens on McHenry County taxpayers, it is counter-productive that State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi would be supporting a government program which winds up costing the taxpayers of the county thousands and thousands of dollars and provides a legal remedy to a select few. . . ” Cynor said.

“While the taxpayers are paying for ASA’s salaries, staff and administrative costs of the program, it is only McHenry County merchants who are eligible to use the special government services.” Sadly, even these few exclusive clients aren’t even realizing a benefit. Big picture – this really is a lose, lose situation”

There is an alternative to the government bad check program. The Illinois Criminal Code provides a civil remedy for anyone who fails victim to a bounced or returned check. “This civil law alternative to the government bad check program is clearly the superior choice for both the merchants and residents of the county.” Cynor added.

Under Illinois civil law, any payee who receives a bad check can file suit and collect not only the face value of the check, treble damages and court costs but also attorney’s fees. Accordingly, it is the people who pass bad checks who pay for the collection costs when proceeding in the civil courts. Under the current government program run by SA Bianchi, fees and collection costs are severely capped by statute and ultimately the bulk of collection fees are paid by county tax payers.

“This really is a business or corporate welfare program where the government through the State’s Attorney’s office acts like a glorified collection agency,” said Cynor, “the problem is this is supposed to help McHenry County merchants, and in reality is leaving thousands and thousands of dollars uncollected from the people actually writing the bad checks.”

SA Bianchi has repeatedly distributed press releases expressing his satisfaction with his government program and boasting about the amount of money collected to date. All the information released to date, however, fails to make mention of the administrative costs of the program or the amount of attorney’s fees and treble damages left uncollected from offenders.

“In an era where more and more people are using debit and credit cards and more and more merchants are using check verification services, it simply doesn’t make fiscal and or legal sense to continue with a costly county government check cashing program.” Cynor said. “It’s time the State’s Attorney returned to basics and focused on prosecuting serious crimes and providing legal services to county officials.”

McHenry County State’s Attorney replied with the following press release:

The statutory duty of a State’s Attorney is “to commence and prosecute all actions, suits, indictments and prosecutions, civil and criminal…”

Passing a bad check is a crime.

The State’s Attorney’s Office is mandated to pursue criminal activity in the criminal courts and not leave crime victims to merely pursue civil remedies on their own.

The State’s Attorney’s Check Enforcement Program efficiently holds those who pass bad checks accountable for their conduct at a minimal cost, most of which is borne by the offender themselves.

It is absurd to assert that because there is a civil remedy available to crime victims that the State’s Attorney should not perform his statutory obligation to prosecute crime.

Virtually every case has a civil remedy available to crime victims.

For example, a victim’s family in a murder or reckless homicide case could pursue a wrongful death action; however, that does not relieve the State’s Attorney of his statutory mandate to prosecute the case in criminal court.

The Check Enforcement Program has operated in McHenry County with great success, collecting more than $100,000.00 for local businesses. Over 200 prosecutors offices across the country have have similar programs, including Cook and DuPage counties.

= = = = =
When I was state representative in the late 1990’s, my assistant Pete Castillo found people walking in the door with NSF check problems. Most of them were men who spoke Spanish.

Pete discovered that the office of State’s Attorney Gary Pack was useless as far as bad check collection went.

But, he knew that other people didn’t know that.

So, he would call up the person who passed the bad check and tell them, if the $2,500 (or whatever the amount) wasn’t in our office “by Friday,” we’re going to refer it to the state’s attorney’s office.

You would be amazed how often that worked.

Having that threat, whether real or imaged, was the key to collection.

That’s not to say that Pack’s office didn’t do some things right.

Reviewing my memory with Pete, he remembered, “The state’s attorney’s office faithfully prosecuted above and beyond the call of duty all of the evaders of child support we sent him.’

He particularly remembered one assistant state’s attorney who, for instance, collected from a guy driving a Mercedes. Unfortunately, Pete couldn’t remember his name or I’d be happy to put it here.

Democratic Party candidate for State’s Attorney Tom Cynor has called for the end of a program that helps the McHenry County business community.

His suggested alternative is to send businessmen back to civil court, which, of course, would require the hiring of an attorney.

I have some comments below from McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s office and my assistant’s experience of helping collect bad checks while I was state representative, but here is the press release:

CYNOR CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE END
TO COSTLY COUNTY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM

WOODSTOCK IL. – Thomas J. Cynor, McHenry County Democratic candidate for State’s Attorney, called for an immediate end to the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s costly bad check program and promised to refocus the priorities of the Office of State’s Attorney on essential legal functions under his administration today.

Under the current county government bad check program the State’s Attorney’s Office, through employed Assistant State’s Attorneys and other government staff, attempt to collect on NSF and other passed bad checks on behalf of McHenry County merchants exclusively.

State’s Attorney Bianchi created the in-house government program on February 19, 2007, which has since serviced only about 100 clients in a county of over 300,000 residents.

“In an environment of raising property taxes and increased burdens on McHenry County taxpayers, it is counter-productive that State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi would be supporting a government program which winds up costing the taxpayers of the county thousands and thousands of dollars and provides a legal remedy to a select few. . . ” Cynor said.

“While the taxpayers are paying for ASA’s salaries, staff and administrative costs of the program, it is only McHenry County merchants who are eligible to use the special government services.” Sadly, even these few exclusive clients aren’t even realizing a benefit. Big picture – this really is a lose, lose situation”

There is an alternative to the government bad check program. The Illinois Criminal Code provides a civil remedy for anyone who fails victim to a bounced or returned check. “This civil law alternative to the government bad check program is clearly the superior choice for both the merchants and residents of the county.” Cynor added.

Under Illinois civil law, any payee who receives a bad check can file suit and collect not only the face value of the check, treble damages and court costs but also attorney’s fees. Accordingly, it is the people who pass bad checks who pay for the collection costs when proceeding in the civil courts. Under the current government program run by SA Bianchi, fees and collection costs are severely capped by statute and ultimately the bulk of collection fees are paid by county tax payers.

“This really is a business or corporate welfare program where the government through the State’s Attorney’s office acts like a glorified collection agency,” said Cynor, “the problem is this is supposed to help McHenry County merchants, and in reality is leaving thousands and thousands of dollars uncollected from the people actually writing the bad checks.”

SA Bianchi has repeatedly distributed press releases expressing his satisfaction with his government program and boasting about the amount of money collected to date. All the information released to date, however, fails to make mention of the administrative costs of the program or the amount of attorney’s fees and treble damages left uncollected from offenders.

“In an era where more and more people are using debit and credit cards and more and more merchants are using check verification services, it simply doesn’t make fiscal and or legal sense to continue with a costly county government check cashing program.” Cynor said. “It’s time the State’s Attorney returned to basics and focused on prosecuting serious crimes and providing legal services to county officials.”

McHenry County State’s Attorney replied with the following press release:

The statutory duty of a State’s Attorney is “to commence and prosecute all actions, suits, indictments and prosecutions, civil and criminal…”

Passing a bad check is a crime.

The State’s Attorney’s Office is mandated to pursue criminal activity in the criminal courts and not leave crime victims to merely pursue civil remedies on their own.

The State’s Attorney’s Check Enforcement Program efficiently holds those who pass bad checks accountable for their conduct at a minimal cost, most of which is borne by the offender themselves.

It is absurd to assert that because there is a civil remedy available to crime victims that the State’s Attorney should not perform his statutory obligation to prosecute crime.

Virtually every case has a civil remedy available to crime victims.

For example, a victim’s family in a murder or reckless homicide case could pursue a wrongful death action; however, that does not relieve the State’s Attorney of his statutory mandate to prosecute the case in criminal court.

The Check Enforcement Program has operated in McHenry County with great success, collecting more than $100,000.00 for local businesses. Over 200 prosecutors offices across the country have have similar programs, including Cook and DuPage counties.

= = = = =
When I was state representative in the late 1990’s, my assistant Pete Castillo found people walking in the door with NSF check problems. Most of them were men who spoke Spanish.

Pete discovered that the office of State’s Attorney Gary Pack was useless as far as bad check collection went.

But, he knew that other people didn’t know that.

So, he would call up the person who passed the bad check and tell them, if the $2,500 (or whatever the amount) wasn’t in our office “by Friday,” we’re going to refer it to the state’s attorney’s office.

You would be amazed how often that worked.

Having that threat, whether real or imaged, was the key to collection.

That’s not to say that Pack’s office didn’t do some things right.

Reviewing my memory with Pete, he remembered, “The state’s attorney’s office faithfully prosecuted above and beyond the call of duty all of the evaders of child support we sent him.’

He particularly remembered one assistant state’s attorney who, for instance, collected from a guy driving a Mercedes. Unfortunately, Pete couldn’t remember his name or I’d be happy to put it here.

My friend and former legislative assistant Pete Castillo attended the Veterans Awareness Rally at the Daley Center on Friday.

Having waited in vain for a 79-year old veteran, Castillo caught a later train than he planned.

By the time he walked to the Daley Center, the rally was just starting.

“The Obama people dominated the event. Obama…sent a personal messenger.

“The man is Vietnam Veteran. He had all of the right words for the predominantly Democrat crowd.

“My DC marching buddies were glad to see me. That is what I like the most about veterans.

“We had a minuscule turn-out.

“We listened to several very exciting speakers.

“Lt. Governor Pat Quinn was one of them. He spoke of the Defenders of the Faith and Righteousness from the Book of Isaiah. I am sure that Gene Simes gave then a copy of the Defenders of the Faith Prayer which I sent to Congress in 2006.

“Cook County Commissioner, Tony Peraica was another very powerful speaker.

“I mentioned Peraica because he is one of the men who extended me his assistance to rally the veterans of McHenry County back in June 2005.

“Some of the people who marched with us were from the Rainbow Coalition and Jesse Jackson. This a very interesting group of veterans. Some are Repos and some are Demos. I am sure that we have Independents in the crowd.

“The speakers made it very clear that we are targeting both McCain and Obama Camps to deliver the goods on Full Mandatory Funding For Veterans Health Care should either one of them get elected president.

“One of the highlights of the Veterans Awareness Rally:

the the Willie Nelson Public Service Announcements (PSA)’s.

“Pastor King from the Methodist Church in Chicago blessed the event.

“He was awesome!

“His prayer accurately captured the importance and the significance of the event as God would have him to. Some pastors haven’t got the intestinal fortitude, the moxy, and the godly spiritual revelation to deliver on God’s Promises. Pastor King was a genuine man of God!

“I was blessed with the message, but deeply saddened by the lackadaisical way that Americans treat the military veterans of the Armed Forces of the United states of America.

“As I sat in my chair representing McHenry County Veterans and listened to Pastor King speak as well as the rest of the walking wounded, I vividly recalled those days back in 1968 when I came home to an America who hated me and my fellow soldiers. It is still troubling to remember that as we were flying into O’Hare Field that we were ordered to take-off our military Dress Greens.

“I was so proud to be coming home to my family. That chilling message from the commander on board the plane forever changed my perception of America. Some of the folks who kept looking at me as I walked to Daley Plaza reflected that ‘unwelcome attitude’ to me.
 
“God in His infinite mercy had me saluted by 3-different young men as I traveled in my American Legion uniform to Chicago.

“The first one was as I was boarding the train at the Crystal Lake Depot. I was about three steps away from the stairs on the train when a tall young man disembarked and snapped me a crisp salute. I barely had time to whip up my hand and return his salute. Boy! what a grand way to begin an adventure.

“When I arrived at Daley Plaza I was a bit hot and I decided to sit in the benches at the edge of the plaza to sip some cold water. I wasn’t there for more than  a couple of minutes, when a young soldier came up and saluted me and smiled at me. Then he extended me his hand and shook my hand as he told me that he was proud me; and thankful for my service to America. I just about burst-out in tears.

“When I was getting-off of the train in CL another young man came up to me and saluted me. He had a big bright smile on his face and his eyes gleamed with pride. He was a son of God.”

= = = = =
As you might imagine, that’s Crystal Lake’s Pete Castillo in the head shot on top. If you click to enlarge the photo beneath, you can find him with other leaders of the Million Veteran March on Washington a couple of years ago.

= = = = =
After I posted this Castillo sent me the following:

“We need to highlight at least a couple of very important men without which none of these events could possibly have occurred. One of them is Gene Simes and the other one is Jere Beery.

“I also believe John Monahan and his daughter…name? I will search for it.

“OFFE would like to recognize and thank the following people and organizations for their help and support on this project; Veteran’s Strike Force, Marvin Gardner, Kim Driscol, Creola Alfalileh – Veterans for Unification, John Borg – Coalition of Veterans Organizations, Bruce Parry – American Airlines Veteran’s Representative Fred Gajewski.”

My friend and former legislative assistant Pete Castillo attended the Veterans Awareness Rally at the Daley Center on Friday.

Having waited in vain for a 79-year old veteran, Castillo caught a later train than he planned.

By the time he walked to the Daley Center, the rally was just starting.

“The Obama people dominated the event. Obama…sent a personal messenger.

“The man is Vietnam Veteran. He had all of the right words for the predominantly Democrat crowd.

“My DC marching buddies were glad to see me. That is what I like the most about veterans.

“We had a minuscule turn-out.

“We listened to several very exciting speakers.

“Lt. Governor Pat Quinn was one of them. He spoke of the Defenders of the Faith and Righteousness from the Book of Isaiah. I am sure that Gene Simes gave then a copy of the Defenders of the Faith Prayer which I sent to Congress in 2006.

“Cook County Commissioner, Tony Peraica was another very powerful speaker.

“I mentioned Peraica because he is one of the men who extended me his assistance to rally the veterans of McHenry County back in June 2005.

“Some of the people who marched with us were from the Rainbow Coalition and Jesse Jackson. This a very interesting group of veterans. Some are Repos and some are Demos. I am sure that we have Independents in the crowd.

“The speakers made it very clear that we are targeting both McCain and Obama Camps to deliver the goods on Full Mandatory Funding For Veterans Health Care should either one of them get elected president.

“One of the highlights of the Veterans Awareness Rally:

the the Willie Nelson Public Service Announcements (PSA)’s.

“Pastor King from the Methodist Church in Chicago blessed the event.

“He was awesome!

“His prayer accurately captured the importance and the significance of the event as God would have him to. Some pastors haven’t got the intestinal fortitude, the moxy, and the godly spiritual revelation to deliver on God’s Promises. Pastor King was a genuine man of God!

“I was blessed with the message, but deeply saddened by the lackadaisical way that Americans treat the military veterans of the Armed Forces of the United states of America.

“As I sat in my chair representing McHenry County Veterans and listened to Pastor King speak as well as the rest of the walking wounded, I vividly recalled those days back in 1968 when I came home to an America who hated me and my fellow soldiers. It is still troubling to remember that as we were flying into O’Hare Field that we were ordered to take-off our military Dress Greens.

“I was so proud to be coming home to my family. That chilling message from the commander on board the plane forever changed my perception of America. Some of the folks who kept looking at me as I walked to Daley Plaza reflected that ‘unwelcome attitude’ to me.
 
“God in His infinite mercy had me saluted by 3-different young men as I traveled in my American Legion uniform to Chicago.

“The first one was as I was boarding the train at the Crystal Lake Depot. I was about three steps away from the stairs on the train when a tall young man disembarked and snapped me a crisp salute. I barely had time to whip up my hand and return his salute. Boy! what a grand way to begin an adventure.

“When I arrived at Daley Plaza I was a bit hot and I decided to sit in the benches at the edge of the plaza to sip some cold water. I wasn’t there for more than  a couple of minutes, when a young soldier came up and saluted me and smiled at me. Then he extended me his hand and shook my hand as he told me that he was proud me; and thankful for my service to America. I just about burst-out in tears.

“When I was getting-off of the train in CL another young man came up to me and saluted me. He had a big bright smile on his face and his eyes gleamed with pride. He was a son of God.”

= = = = =
As you might imagine, that’s Crystal Lake’s Pete Castillo in the head shot on top. If you click to enlarge the photo beneath, you can find him with other leaders of the Million Veteran March on Washington a couple of years ago.

= = = = =
After I posted this Castillo sent me the following:

“We need to highlight at least a couple of very important men without which none of these events could possibly have occurred. One of them is Gene Simes and the other one is Jere Beery.

“I also believe John Monahan and his daughter…name? I will search for it.

“OFFE would like to recognize and thank the following people and organizations for their help and support on this project; Veteran’s Strike Force, Marvin Gardner, Kim Driscol, Creola Alfalileh – Veterans for Unification, John Borg – Coalition of Veterans Organizations, Bruce Parry – American Airlines Veteran’s Representative Fred Gajewski.”

This may be the last time the Veterans Stand Down sponsored by Crystal Lake’s NASA Education may occur at Camp Algonquin.

It’s not because yesterday’s event, the fourth at Camp Algonquin, was a failure.

Just the opposite.

The over 200 veterans, many homeless, filled the camp on the Fox River.

John Blanchard, head of the sponsoring organization, which specializes in finding good paying jobs for veterans, told me that the number of men and women attending the event is doubling each time.

This is the fourth Stand Down.

McHenry County Blog has written stories about each of them:

10-4-6 Veterans Stand Down Attracts 26 Homeless Veterans

3-7-7 Veterans’ Stand Down Notes

10-7-7 Camp Algonquin Stand Down for Veterans to take place October 8 and 9

10-13-7 Manzullo at Camp Algonquin Stand Down

Headlining the event Monday was State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, a Democrat from Aurora and veteran herself.

In her sixth term, she can be seen above talking to my former legislative assistant Pete Castillo before she addressed the veterans. Pete is the area unemployed veterans’ counselor of choice.

The attendees were in various stages of eating a scrumptious lunch provided for free by Pontarelli’s Pizza at the corner of Route 176 and Oak Street (815-477-4040) in Crystal Lake and by Kyoto Japanese Restaurant on Route 14 in Crystal Lake, next to the Old Country Buffet.

Blanchard said that Kyoto chef Shawn Lee, a Chicago resident, got up at 5 A.M. to make his bounteous luncheon fair, which I can attest from three helpings was excellent. Mrs. Chris Lee said it was a several day effort. (Less than half of the Lee’s contribution can be seen to the left.)

The Lee’s so generous contribution embodied the attitude of the volunteers that helped put on the event.

And coffee came from the Downtown Crystal Lake Starbucks.

But, back to State Rep. Chapa LaVia.

She surely knows how to talk to veterans.

After telling of her support for veterans benefits, she concluded with this strong line:

“…until I have no breath left to scream, I’ll be saying that.”

I was taking pictures, as usual, and didn’t get a chance to write down other parts of her talk.

Chapa LaVia received a rousing reception.

Earlier she had told Castillo and me that she was pushing federal congressmen to separate benefits veterans have earned from the Defense Department budget. This former Executive Office of the President budget guy agreed.

Castillo, Rep. Chapa LaVia and her husband met at the Million Veteran March, at which Castillo and she spoke and which he was one of the veterans leading the others up the mall to the United States Capitol.

When Blanchard was introducing Rep. LaVia, he said,

After lunch, I finally got a picture of the hair stylists.

Previously, I had just found empty chairs.

From left to right, you can see

• Marie Borre of Sports Clips Salon in McHenry,
• Kristina Weingartner of Blades Salon on Randall Road in Algonquin,
• Krissy Dougherty, also of Blades, and
• Nicole Borress, a third stylist from Blades.

I also found Lockport Healing Touch practitioner Karen Johnson.

I pointed out to Johnson that you can’t get from here to Lockport. She admitted that it was a two hour drive. In two hours I can be more than half way to Springfield.

Guess whose head her hands were on?

McHenry County Board member Mary Donner.

She keeps telling me that I can never take a good picture of her. This one with John Blanchard received her approval.

Shortly before three Castillo and I were standing in front of the Camp Algonquin Lodge and what should occur but a traffic jam.

A veteran was coming down the hill in a powerful motorized wheel chair with a Jesse Brown bus behind him.

There were vehicles everywhere.

And, was it foggy.

But, I guess fog is better than the earlier downpour.

This may be the last time the Veterans Stand Down sponsored by Crystal Lake’s NASA Education may occur at Camp Algonquin.

It’s not because yesterday’s event, the fourth at Camp Algonquin, was a failure.

Just the opposite.

The over 200 veterans, many homeless, filled the camp on the Fox River.

John Blanchard, head of the sponsoring organization, which specializes in finding good paying jobs for veterans, told me that the number of men and women attending the event is doubling each time.

This is the fourth Stand Down.

McHenry County Blog has written stories about each of them:

10-4-6 Veterans Stand Down Attracts 26 Homeless Veterans

3-7-7 Veterans’ Stand Down Notes

10-7-7 Camp Algonquin Stand Down for Veterans to take place October 8 and 9

10-13-7 Manzullo at Camp Algonquin Stand Down

Headlining the event Monday was State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, a Democrat from Aurora and veteran herself.

In her sixth term, she can be seen above talking to my former legislative assistant Pete Castillo before she addressed the veterans. Pete is the area unemployed veterans’ counselor of choice.

The attendees were in various stages of eating a scrumptious lunch provided for free by Pontarelli’s Pizza at the corner of Route 176 and Oak Street (815-477-4040) in Crystal Lake and by Kyoto Japanese Restaurant on Route 14 in Crystal Lake, next to the Old Country Buffet.

Blanchard said that Kyoto chef Shawn Lee, a Chicago resident, got up at 5 A.M. to make his bounteous luncheon fair, which I can attest from three helpings was excellent. Mrs. Chris Lee said it was a several day effort. (Less than half of the Lee’s contribution can be seen to the left.)

The Lee’s so generous contribution embodied the attitude of the volunteers that helped put on the event.

And coffee came from the Downtown Crystal Lake Starbucks.

But, back to State Rep. Chapa LaVia.

She surely knows how to talk to veterans.

After telling of her support for veterans benefits, she concluded with this strong line:

“…until I have no breath left to scream, I’ll be saying that.”

I was taking pictures, as usual, and didn’t get a chance to write down other parts of her talk.

Chapa LaVia received a rousing reception.

Earlier she had told Castillo and me that she was pushing federal congressmen to separate benefits veterans have earned from the Defense Department budget. This former Executive Office of the President budget guy agreed.

Castillo, Rep. Chapa LaVia and her husband met at the Million Veteran March, at which Castillo and she spoke and which he was one of the veterans leading the others up the mall to the United States Capitol.

When Blanchard was introducing Rep. LaVia, he said,

After lunch, I finally got a picture of the hair stylists.

Previously, I had just found empty chairs.

From left to right, you can see

• Marie Borre of Sports Clips Salon in McHenry,
• Kristina Weingartner of Blades Salon on Randall Road in Algonquin,
• Krissy Dougherty, also of Blades, and
• Nicole Borress, a third stylist from Blades.

I also found Lockport Healing Touch practitioner Karen Johnson.

I pointed out to Johnson that you can’t get from here to Lockport. She admitted that it was a two hour drive. In two hours I can be more than half way to Springfield.

Guess whose head her hands were on?

McHenry County Board member Mary Donner.

She keeps telling me that I can never take a good picture of her. This one with John Blanchard received her approval.

Shortly before three Castillo and I were standing in front of the Camp Algonquin Lodge and what should occur but a traffic jam.

A veteran was coming down the hill in a powerful motorized wheel chair with a Jesse Brown bus behind him.

There were vehicles everywhere.

And, was it foggy.

But, I guess fog is better than the earlier downpour.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi has sent a press release reporting college of back child support from a California guy who owed more than $25,000.

Bianchi reports that his office is after 225 deadbeat parents.

From the work that Pete Castillo did in my legislative office, I can tell you that prying money out of someone living in another state is a real accomplishment.

Here’s the press release:

DEAD BEAT DAD HOOKED BY BIANCHI

The McHenry County State’s Attorney, Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce that his office’s Child Support Enforcement Unit was recently able to collect child support arrearages in excess of $25,000 from an individual who had failed to pay any child support for three children in over three years.

This father had moved to California and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office pursued the Defendant on behalf of the victim and was subsequently able to successfully collect these arrearages on the mother and her children’s behalf. Continued compliance will be monitored by the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Failure to provide support for a minor child can be charged as a Class A misdemeanor or Class 4 felony depending upon the facts meeting certain statutory requirements.

The State’s Attorney’s Office is currently pursuing approximately 255 parents to require them to fulfill their child support obligations.