McHenry County Blog

Saturday night in Spring Grove, a banquet was held to raise money to buy an ultrasound machine for 1st Way Pregnancy Support Services.

Monday, the Chicago Tribune noticed that Pro-Lifers are deploying ultrasound machines in the fight against abortion.

In the fight against abortion, ultrasound images of unborn babies have been found to be the most persuasive tool.

A speaker pointed out that 80-85% of mothers decide to carry their babies to term after seeing its ultrasound image.

Even more astounding is the claim that 99% of men will encourage their mates to have their baby after seeing such an image.

And the machine’s importance was emphasized on the front page of the Chicago Tribune today.

In the Elgin area, an ultrasound machine has been installed in a bus by now-retired Dr. Ronald Winters.

The complete message on the sign is “Pregnant? Find out for sure.”

A component of Elgin’s Life Center, the bus is parked, with permission, near Larkin High School at the Evangelical Covenant Church and J.B.’s Pub 7 Pietro’s Pasta.

Now the city has enacted a zoning ordinance which prohibits the weekly efforts.

The Pro-life organization has sued in Federal Court, claiming violation of of First Amendment free speech and religious rights.

Councilwoman Anna Moeller seems to be most disturbed with the anti-abortion efforts.

But back to Spring Grove.

The “full cost” of the Samsung machine is $75,000 that First Way wants to put in its office in Johnsburg near and south of Angelo’s Grocery.

Connie Freund

This is an openly Christian outreach organization.

As originator and Executive Director Connie Freund said, “I couldn’t have done this without God, without Jesus in my life.”

There are 67 people who volunteer their time in the organization that was founded in 1973, the year Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton (the “health of the mother,” very loosely defined, case) was handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jill Stanek poses by the Samsung ultrasound machine.

Speaker for the evening was Jill Stanek.

Stanek is the nurse who blew the whistle on Christ Hospital’s practice of allowing unsuccessfully aborted babies to die without offering medical care.  The instance that set her on her over decade-long mission was one in which a baby was left to die in a janitor’s closet.  She held the tiny infant for the forty-five minutes it took to die.

Part of her presentation was an interview with Bill O’Reilly that twice left O’Reilly speechless.  (It was one of five interviews used that year in the end-of-year wrap-up of the show.)

At the end of the interview, O’Reilly tells the names of the people who voted against the Federal statute that required hospitals to provide medical care.

Included in the short, under ten in number list was Jesse Jackson, Jr.

“I haven’t watched that video since Jesse Jackson was indicted,” Stanek observed.

Some of the First Way volunteers who stood for recognition.

“All I can say is ‘What goes around comes around.’”

Stanek described abortion as “the most despicable moral atrocity of our generation.”

She lamented the one billion abortions, “one-seventh of the world’s population,” adding, “No one who waits for God will ever be put to shame.”

“We aim to continue to provide loving assistance, emotional and financial support for women and girls who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy,” readsthe goal of First Way Life Center.”

And although Stanek cautioned those present at The Shores of Turtle Creek banquet hall not to depend on politicians, she did observe, “While the other side continues to abort their babies, [ours]continue to be born.”

She suggested Pro-Lifers could “win the war by attrition.”

Making part of the pitch for donations at the event, whose entire cost had already been covered by sponsors, Stanek pointed out, “We are the hands and feet…and pocketbooks” of Jesus.

She urged people attending not to leave thinking, “I missed my chance.”

The dinner was underwritten by

• Pat Griffin
• Luster Leaf Products
• Right to Life McHenry County Education Fund
• Bert and Joan Schommer
• Sports Decals, Inc.
• TW Machine Service – Tom Wiznerowicz

Volunteer servers posed for this picture after the event. Teens were from Carmel, Woodstock North and Johnsburg High Schools.

Some volunteers at First Way Pregnancy Support Services sit after being recognized.

Table sponsors included

• David F. Bengston
• Berger Excavating
• Len and JoAnn Charlan
• Merle and Connie Freund
• ITW Foundation – Rich and Sue Podloski
• James and Kathleen Morrow
• Irene Napier
• Patriots United – Joe Edwards
• Patriots United – Brian Kelly
• Rabine Group Foundation – Gary and Cheryl Rabine
• Greg Steil
• Russell R. Steil
• In hone of Alice and Jerry Sullivan
• Joahn Vickery

$41,000 was raised.

A baby and a father at the Patriots United Pro-Life Unity Breakfast where the announcement of the post-Easter availability of ultrasounds was announced.

A communication concerning a new service being offered by the Tri-County Pregnancy & Parenting Center (with offices in Crystal Lake behind the main McDonald’s on Route 14):

Announcing FREE ULTRASOUND

Tri-County Pregnancy & Parenting Services is announcing that their new state of the art Ultrasound Machines are on the way – and they are currently looking for ultrasound models.

If you are pregnant and in your 1st or early 2nd trimester please contact them for an appointment at one of the following locations:

• 610-1 Crystal Point Dr., Crystal Lake, IL. 60014 – 815 455-0965
• 888 E. Belvidere, Unit 124, Grayslake, IL. 60030 – 847-231-4651

Visit them at: www.informedchoices.org and www.tricountypps.org

Get a free picture of your baby.

Tri-County’s nurses have just completed their classroom Ultrasound training and will continue in mid-April with hands on scan training.

This will require volunteers to be scan models. The models will receive a free ultrasound and a picture of their baby.

They are currently taking names and phone numbers of interested women at 847-231-4651 in the Grayslake location.

If you are in your 1st trimester or early 2nd trimester, give them a call for your free ultrasound.

Though ultrasounds before abortion are routine in some abortion clinics – “The women are never allowed to look at the ultrasound image because we knew that if they so much as heard the heartbeat, they wouldn’t want to have an abortion,” states Catherine Anthony Adair, former Planned Parenthood worker.,

Ms. Adair further reported, “We never discussed fetal development. The baby was referred to as the ‘contents of the uterus’, ‘a clump of cells’, etc. ”

The Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting Center located on the street next to McDonald’s.

Jewels Green, another former clinic worker verified the use of this terminology, and emphasized that “the word baby was never used.”

Ultrasounds cut through all this evasive rhetoric – and simply show the reality of the unborn baby.

A picture’s worth a thousand words it is said – and in the case of ultrasound technology, these words certainly come to life.

Up to 78% of women who see an ultrasound image of their baby, choose not to have an abortion!

The room where the ultra sound machine is scheduled to be put the end of this week.

The intention in allowing women to view an image of their unborn baby through an ultrasound image, is not meant to ‘force’ the woman to change her mind – but rather to present her with all her options so she can make a truly well-informed choice. After all – if the pro-choice crowd is truly interested in a woman’s “right to choose” – you can’t make a choice without options.

The fact that pro-choice advocates are so vehemently against revealing other options to the woman belies their words and the hypocrisy of their concern over supposedly allowing women to “choose for themselves.”

Pro-choice advocates have another reason to fear ultrasounds, as the image of the baby on an ultrasound can disturb clinic staff as well.

This was especially true in the case of former Planned Parenthood Director Abbey Johnson; who, while assisting the doctor in an ultrasound guided abortion one particular day, witnessed a perfectly formed little 13 week old infant desperately dodging the abortion probe, and in the next instant being horrifically crumpled up and sucked through the suction tube.

Today, Abbey is an avid pro-life activist. Abbey’s is an amazing story of the power of the Ultrasound.

Contact Tri-County Pregnancy & Parenting Services to have your free ultrasound and receive a photo of your baby!

Bishop Dr. Michael J. Love of Trinity Baptist Church International in Crystal Lake was one who spoke to the fund raising dinner.

Two sections of the Concord Banquet Hall in Lake Zurich were filled by Pro-Life supporters of the Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting Center Thursday night.

Dennis DeMoss

The night was held for the purpose of replenishing the treasury of the ministry, which operates offices on the street where the McDonald’s Playland is located in Crystal Lake and in Grayslake.

Board Chairman Dennis DeMoss remembered giving the pitch twenty years ago when the group did not have the money to pay for the dinners.  This year, donors picked up the tab prior to the event.

Besides pledges and donations made at the dinner, churches set out large plastic baby bottles that bring in about $40,000 a year.

And a thrift store earns $600 a week.

But expenses are high for the two locations, both of which Tri-County is purchasing, rather than renting.  That saves money because under not-for-profit ownership they are property-tax exempt.  There is also no hassle with landlords.

The price to operate the two offices four an half days a week is $4,300 a month.

One day is dedicated to the Spanish speaking population.

By attending classes, clients gain points to purchase items needed by babies, diapers.

One featured speaker, 38-year old Gloria Farber, couldn’t attend because she gave birth today.  Her doctor concluded that the child was not getting enough nourishment in the womb and decided an early delivery would be best.

Staffers don’t usually assist with births, but one of the worker bees for the dinner had agreed to do so and when she got a call just as she was about to leave to help prepare the banquet hall’s decorations and silent auction, Farber called and said it was her time.

Since she was supposed to speak, a written statement was induced.

Farber told of having lost her job, the father being an hour away and showing little interest in her being pregnant had led her to consider “terminating the pregnancy,” as she put it.

She looked up Planned Parenthood locations, but turned to Tri-County for a free pregnancy test.

Tri-County helped her to clarify her feelings and she decided to keep the “fetus,” as she described her child.

As one who has been on both sides of the abortion issue (Pro-Choice during my 8 years in the Illinois House in the 1970′s, Pro-Life during the 8 years I served in the 1990′s), I was struck by the Pro-Choice language I heard in the written testimony.

Nevertheless, the Pro-Life servants of the Lord at Tri-County helped bring Farber’s child’s soul into the light of day.

Rebecca and Jonathan Brown admire their baby.

One couple who spoke this year, Rebecca and Jonathan Brown even managed to locate a woman who would help them with a home birth, thus avoiding hospital costs.

“We didn’t go broke.  We have money in the bank,”  he revealed after explaining that the family’s health insurance would have still left them with a big bill had they went the tradition hospital birth route.

Tryler Schneiderman, Angela Rabeler and baby.

Another new father, Tyler Schneiderman told of his and mother Angela’s having taken every class possible to earn points.

When the birthing process began, he was pressed into service to hold his wife’s leg.  He indicated that was more than he had signed on for, but there was a shortage of personnel at the hospital.

The father whose child was born at home could identify because he ended up holding the mother’s leg during birth, too.

Neither seemed to have relished the task.

Imagine my delight with Grayslake’s Lord of Glory Lutheran Church Pastor Brian Davies’ benediction was the blessing that I give my son every night:

Pastor Brian Davies announced his family's newest pregnacy for the first time at the dinner.

“May the Lord bless and keep you.

“May the Lord make his face shine upon you.

“May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

He added some additional thoughts as well.

To set the stage, Davies recalled how the children of God won battles when Moses hands were held high, even when his closest followers were holding up the tired arms for him.

He told those in attendance that they were holding up the arms of staff and volunteers who served in Tri-County’s mission.

You know I look for politician types at events.  This time the only one I saw was District 3 McHenry County Board candidate Mary Alger.  One of Dave McSweeney’s advisors, Charlie Johnston was in attendance as well.

Over a week after Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting volunteer Sonia Hume died in a head-on car crash on Tryon Grove Road near Hebron, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department charged the driver of the second car, Luis E. Raminez, with murder and reckless homicide.

The Sheriff’s Department belatedly posed an August 5th press release, but I didn’t run it because I couldn’t copy and paste it.  It was copy protected unless I captured it in an unsearchable format, such as the image you see below:

The Sheriff's August 5, 2011, press release.

Nothing newsworthy happened at the McHenry County Sheriff's Department over a ten-day period in August.

Apparently nothing worth talking about happened between August 5th and August 15th, because no press releases were posted between the two dates.

Today, I found an August 15th press release on the arrest of Luis E. Ramirez for murder and reckless homicide.

You see an image of it below, which can be enlarged by clicking on it.

Sheriff Keith Nygren's belatedly posted August 15, 2011, press release.

The release says that “additional interviews” led to the charges.

“During the course of the investigation it was determined it was not an accident, it was an intentional act committed by Luis E. Ramirez,” the press release says.  The release also says Ramirez did not know Sonia Hume.

Here’s what the law says about the crime of murder:

720 ILCS 5/ Criminal Code of 1961.  (720 ILCS 5/Art. 9 heading)

ARTICLE 9. HOMICIDE

(720 ILCS 5/9‑1) (from Ch. 38, par. 9‑1)
Sec. 9‑1. First degree Murder ‑ Death penalties ‑ Exceptions ‑ Separate Hearings ‑ Proof ‑ Findings ‑ Appellate procedures ‑ Reversals.

(a) A person who kills an individual without lawful justification commits first degree murder if, in performing the acts which cause the death:

1. he either intends to kill or do great bodily harm to that individual or another, or knows that such acts will cause death to that individual or another; or
2. he knows that such acts create a strong probability of death or great bodily harm to that individual or another; or
3. he is attempting or committing a forcible felony other than second degree murder.

This is going to be an interesting case to watch.

An email from Joe Edwards,

Dear Fred and friends,

It is with great sadness that I write and report the tragic loss of Sonia Hume, a visionary Hispanic Christian who saw the need for an Hispanic voice

In her time at Tri County, Sonia facilitated the translation of pro life materials into Spanish and created a Tuesday evening ministry to the Hispanic community proclaiming the love of Christ, Bible study and worship, all with an unapologetic pro life posture.

Sonia was the women recently reported in the news as having been tragically killed when a passing vehicle hit her head on in Woodstock just the other day, just after dropping off her child at daycare.

Her eternal rest is assured with her sound faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, yet her 5 year old son is now motherless.

Motherless…

Needless to say, the needs here are many.

Please keep this dear child in your prayers and should the Lord move you to other forms of giving, to reach out to Tracy Johanson, Center Director of Tri County. You may easily reach her by calling Tri County at 815-455-0965 or email her at tracyj@informedchoices.org.

Below please find details surrounding Sonia’s life celebration in Capron, IL this Wednesday. It would be such a joy to see the pro life community rally behind this faithful servant who so selflessly gave, that others might live.

Please forward this to all fellow pro life friends and ministries and let’s love on this family in their time of need, “…for when you do this to the least of these, you do it unto Me” says the Lord.

For Christ and His Kingdom,

Joe Edwards

Information about the arrangements for burial follow:

On Friday morning 8/5/11 Sonia Hume, our Tuesday night Hispanic Advocate, went home to be with the Lord as a result of a head on car collision.

These are the service plans which will be held:

Church of the Apostolic Road
105 West North Street Capron, IL 60012

Wednesday 8/10 3:00 to 6:00 visitation

6:00 to 9:00 Worship

Thursday 8/11 10:00 Funeral Service and grave site

If you’d like to make any donations for her children or her burial expenses please stop by the center.

I will be attending both and anyone who wants to ride together on Thursday please give me a call.

Tracy Johanson
Center Director Crystal Lake
Tri-County Pregenancy and Parenting Services

I asked Tracy to jot down a few words about Sonia’s service and here’s what she wrote:

I took the job as the Director of the Crystal Lake center at Tri County Pregnancy and Parenting Services just a year ago and Sonia at that time was a volunteer.

Sonia Hume

We talked about her desire to see more of the Hispanic population coming to our center to help them with their pregnancies.We decided to make our Tuesday evenings Hispanic night. Sonia invited Celia, Carmen and Hosa from her church “Church of the Apostolic Road” located in Capron IL to help her.

Each Tuesday from 4 until 9 o’clock they teach woman about child birth and parenting along with having a bible study.

It has now grown to all day Tuesday we have someone who speaks Spanish.

Sonia was instrumental in getting her church and St Mary’s Church in Huntley to donate money to purchase our pregnancy material in Spanish. We received them about a month ago.

Our hearts are torn in letting her go to a far better place with the Lord, but to miss her gentle nature and her zeal for helping people.

We at Tri County Pregnancy have decided to continue our Tuesday programs in Spanish and dedicate it to Sonia.

Having just finished my favorite lunch at Colonial Cafe (citrus tango salad), I was on my way to the Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting Center to drop off a check.

The steering felt sluggish as I went across Route 14 past McDonald’s and Chase Bank.

As I pulled up the steep incline to the parking lot, my bumper dragged on the pavement.

Then, I knew something was wrong.

It hadn’t started snowing yet as I got out of the car and went to the Tri-County office to call for help.

I got AAA and was told Anchor Towing would come within 45 minutes. I was told there would be no cost, that tire changing was fully covered by the AAA membership.

It was 1:30.

I cleaned out the trunk (only one campaign sign, but lots of other junk) so the little spare tire could be found.

But I had to pick up my son at Bernotas Middle School at 2:15.  At two, I got three offers of a car to get him from the kind ladies in the office.  The Mustang won.

So, I left my 1996 Cadillac, my keys and AAA card and went to pick up my son.

The tire was off when my son and I got back to the parking lot. I image a lot of people will be calling Anchor Towing at 815-459-0044 this blistery weekend.

When we returned the tire was off.  The snow had started.

The tire changing was almost complete.

It didn’t take long to finish the job and there wasn’t even any paperwork to sign.

We got our flat tire fixed at Goodyear at the intersection of Route 14 and Virginia Street Road.  The technician said that rust on the tire rim had allowed the seal to be compromised causing a slow leak.  Something to look forward to on the other three rims, I guess.

While we were waiting, my son an watched the motorcycle building show on the Discover Channel.

“There’s more violence there than there is in my video games,” he observed as Paul, Jr., punched his fist through his father’s door after Paul, Sr. said so many expletives that the sound track sounded like a filled answering machine.

Sponsored by the pre-TEA Party movement Patriots United, the Saturday morning event is to honor

• 1st Way Pregnancy Support Services
• Right to Life McHenry County
• Right to Life Lake County
• Tri-County Pregnancy & Parenting Services
• Illinois Family Institute.

D’Andrea Banquets at the southeast corner of Routes 31 and 14 is the place and 9 AM is the time.

I wouldn’t be running this article so far in advance of the event, except that when the tickets for the seats reserved, they are gone. I turned my check in yesterday.

If you would like to know how to pay, call 815-363-8508.

Republican precinct committeemen from throughout McHenry County converged on Crystal Lake Friday night and Saturday morning to pick up literature to distribute for federal and county candidates.

When I got there shortly before 11 Saturday morning, it was hard to find a parking space. People were filling car trunks with candidate signs.

Nick Provenzano and Mary Donner, both running for re-election for the McHenry County Board from District 2 were there.

In the back room where the literature was Lou Bianchi’s campaign manager Ron Salgado talking with McHenry County College Board member Donna Kurtz, Donner and Nunda Township precinct committeeman Bob Borchert. In the background, you can see McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer talking to McHenry County Board member John Jung.

On top you see a sign saying that McCain-Palin signs are available. Don’t think that the McCain campaign is spending big bucks in Illinois. The McHenry County Republican Central Committee is buying them so local partisans can have them. You don’t have to make a contribution to get one, but they signs have to be paid for.

I also saw this tee shirt for sale.

The one you see, priced at $20, may be the last one left.

Again, the local party purchased them for resale. If you want one ordered for you, call headquarters at 815-444-1910 and ask to be put on the list.

And, of course, volunteers are still needed. The goal is to keep the headquarters open from 9 to 9, County Chairman Mike Tryon told me last night at the Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting dinner.

Republican precinct committeemen from throughout McHenry County converged on Crystal Lake Friday night and Saturday morning to pick up literature to distribute for federal and county candidates.

When I got there shortly before 11 Saturday morning, it was hard to find a parking space. People were filling car trunks with candidate signs.

Nick Provenzano and Mary Donner, both running for re-election for the McHenry County Board from District 2 were there.

In the back room where the literature was Lou Bianchi’s campaign manager Ron Salgado talking with McHenry County College Board member Donna Kurtz, Donner and Nunda Township precinct committeeman Bob Borchert. In the background, you can see McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer talking to McHenry County Board member John Jung.

On top you see a sign saying that McCain-Palin signs are available. Don’t think that the McCain campaign is spending big bucks in Illinois. The McHenry County Republican Central Committee is buying them so local partisans can have them. You don’t have to make a contribution to get one, but they signs have to be paid for.

I also saw this tee shirt for sale.

The one you see, priced at $20, may be the last one left.

Again, the local party purchased them for resale. If you want one ordered for you, call headquarters at 815-444-1910 and ask to be put on the list.

And, of course, volunteers are still needed. The goal is to keep the headquarters open from 9 to 9, County Chairman Mike Tryon told me last night at the Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting dinner.

It’s a wonderful day to be alive.

And, what a difference a week makes.

Last Saturday was truly a miserable day!

But the rowers still held their regatta on a choppy and often wet Crystal Lake.

It was so bad, spectators needed umbrellas.

This Saturday was so different.

It was a beautiful, sunny, warm enough day.

The Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting Center, whose Crystal Lake office is on the same street as McDonald’s, held its annual Hike for Life.

It started at the Crystal Lake Park District’s Main Beach.

A sign pointed the way down Dole Avenue from Mister A’s at Route 14.

I noticed that a sponsor was Fuhler Real Estate.

People were registering at a big tent at the Main Beach.

And buying tee shirts.

I got several that will be featured on “Message of the Day.”

There were a lot of young people.

And families.

Kids were having their faces painted.

And, did I mention there were families?

I decided to follow the route to get some pictures of hikers.

Following the signs past the Wedgewood Garden Club plant sale at the Dole Mansion, I found a man signing up people to pray for the center.

Next there was a water guy.

He had a L-O-T of water bottles.

He was on Sunset about midway on the route.

The hikers went west on Broadway, up Sunset and came back along South Shore Drive.

There were bright vested guys to ease folks’ way across our neighborhood’s busy Lake Avenue.

There were 6,500 vehicles a day the last time I asked.

When I got to Gate 13, there was a table where Board Chairman Joe Edwards was trying to sign up people for the new web site.

I decided to park.

And chat.

And take some photos.

There was a family of bikers.

A big family.

I count nine in the picture.

I thought this was a hike.

But obviously other modes of locomotion are allowed.

And, you know what?

Rowers were out practicing their sport on a day I bet they wished they had been lucky enough to pick.

There was an eight-person boat with accompanying instructors in an outboard.

I also saw a two-woman skiff.

One man had a little boy whom he was walking beside, teaching him how to ride. You can see them in the distance in the photo below. And the shadows tell you that the sun way out.

Edwards told me there were about 80 signed up when he checked for me about 10.

All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.