McHenry County Blog

McHenry County Blog has published over 4,600 articles. Above the masthead is a search engine. Just enter a key word, such as, McHenry County College, Baseball Stadium, Crystal Lake Watershed, TIF, District 158, District 300, developer or a politician’s name and you’ll see articles with that word.

I find that people want to share information. One asked for an email address. It is McHenry County Blog.

I liked this license plate so much that I took this photo even though I couldn't get behind the driver.

It says,


I don't know about your spouse and children, but mine are definitely gifts from God.

Labels: Gift from God, License Plate, Message of the Day

Some variation of a sales tax for schools is being pitched in Champaign County.

Only the DuPage County Republican-imposed tripling of the RTA sales tax rate and Mayor Aaron Shepley's 75% Crystal Lake city sales tax hike has probably suppressed similar cries in McHenry County.

Illini Pundit reports that the Urbana School Board supports a sales tax hike:

“With its vote, 11 school districts in the county have now passed such a resolution. Those districts represent almost half of the county's school enrollment, said Jane Quinlan, superintendent of the regional office of education. State law provides that districts representing at least 51 percent of the county's school enrollment can place a tax question on the ballot by approving a resolution such as Urbana did,”

according to what used to be called the Champaign News-Gazette.

Mahomet has had a hearing.

Urbana is on board.

Add in the Unit 7 School Board.

Rantoul supports the referendum, too.

Same with Savoy.

Tolondo liked the idea.

"It's a win-win for everybody," (Michael) Shonk said. "I think it's a good thing," according to the News-Gazette.

Here's part of my January analysis of the proposal:

Who will be the winners and the losers?

My first take is that those areas that are built out will be the losers. They will tend to have paid for their schools.

The winners, if I am correct, will be the fast growth areas, the villages that lust for growth.

I see one intended consequence and one unintended consequence.

Once a flow of money starts and one school district sells bonds based on these sales tax receipts, the tax seems destined to stay forever.

The unintended consequence is that tax money will flow forever (so to speak) and the local school boards will find a way to spend, whether such expenditures are necessary or not.

Labels: Champaign County, Illini Pundit, School Sales Tax

Someone named Rhino, obviously a supporter of incumbent Republican Marlene Lantz, found my article on the McHenry County Coroner's employees' wanting to unionize sent in a comment. I can't help but wonder if "Rhino" is a RINO, that is, a "Republican In Name Only."

Anyway, here is his comment:

It is funny that Beckman [Bachmann is the correct spelling] said that employees don’t need to fear him, but than he goes on to talk about layoffs.

I believe he doesn’t understand the job as a coroner and would just like to win an election.

There is no way possible that this man could do the job alone. The increase in population alone has grown to the point that 6 people may not be enough.

Unless you would want to wait to pro long a burial or if you want mistakes made in investigations.

As far as anyone wanting to join a union they are protected in Illinois under the strongest labor laws in the country. I have a friend who works in this department and they work unbelievable hours and have allot of respect for their boss.

Maybe they formed a union for other reasons than this election. When other unions organized in the sheriffs office no one said they did it because their boss was a bad guy, or Even the highway department or so on.

Proud to be Union tradesman and I believe we all should be union.

One final note! Government is not there to save money but to make life more efficient and better, Which means if you have to open different offices and bring on ore staff to serve the public than that is what you are suppose to do.

Not keep everything in the 19th Century!

Tomorrow, you can read Dave Bachmann's reply.

Labels: Dave Bachmann, Marlene Lantz, McHenry County Coroner

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.

Labels: Chicago Greater Regional Rowing Championships, Crystal Lake, Fuhler Real Estate, Hike for Life, Joe Edwards, Lakewood, Rowing, Tri-County Parenting and Pregnancy Center, Wedgewood Garden Club

So, what business do you think this guy is in?

His license plate reads,

Labels: License Plate, Message of the Day

Sharp real estate wheeler and dealers it appears the majority of the McHenry County Board aren't.

I mentioned in an article a month ago how we taxpayers had managed to buy the new Route 14 and Woodstock Street animal control-health department facility when the real estate market was hot.

I guess I shouldn't complain that the county board has finally figured out that Crystal Lake is in McHenry County and that every facility doesn't have to be at the Hebron site in Woodstock. It really seems to make sense that there be some outposts that are more conveniently located for the majority of taxpayers than is the county government center.

And, I guess one couldn't expect that the county board would know that the real estate market was about to crash when the Crystal Lake purchase was made.

That cannot be said today.

The market has been predictably headed south since at least the 2006 Carpentersville District referendum campaign.

So, the Northwest Herald's Regan Foster report of the McHenry County Board's voting 18-4 to sell the old Banford Road facility surprises me. The property is on the growth tip of Woodstock with lots of nearby residential property.

Board member and Woodstock resident Tina Hill is quoted as saying,

“I’m really glad for the city of Woodstock and for us. It’s the neighborly thing to do.”

The board did agree to an open sale, for which its members deserve praise.

But this is not the time to sell.

Unfortunately, the names of those who voted “No” were not in the article.

I figure they should be know, so here they are:

• Marc Munaretto (R-Algonquin)
• Virginia Peschke (R-Woodstock)
• Randy Donley( R-Union)
• John Hammerand (R-Wonder Lake)

All four are up for re-election and, presumably, won't get punched by their Democratic Party opponents on the issue.

Labels: Banford Road, John Hammerand, Marc Munaretto, McHenry County Board, Randy Donley, Virginia Peschke

Bids.

McHenry County residents never heard that word in connection with the minor league baseball stadium that McHenry County College's board of trustees tried to foist on us taxpayers.

But that word is in the first sentence of Bloomington Pantagraph reporter Randy Reinhardt's article about Tuesday's Heartland Community College board meeting.

Consultant Mike Thiessen says they came in “right at the sweet spot.”

How refreshing that a junior college minor league baseball stadium consultant might be looking out for the best interests of the college, rather than looking out for the best interests of his buddy, a baseball promoter.

There are three stadium bids to seat 3,500 to 4,500 (expansion possibilities to 6,000) costing $10 to 11.5 million.

College President Jon Astroth says the $1.7 million Heartland had intended to spend on its own sports facility could be used to subsidize the minor league effort. Or, even more, since the college stadium came in at $3.3 million—way, way over the expected price.

"Visible stunned," is the way Peoria Journal-Star reporter Steve Stein put it.

And if it costs more?

"They have no place to pass the cost to. It's a private entity. And there will be opportunity for the town to contribute," said Alan Sender, Baseball Committee Chairman, according to Peoria's WEEK-TV.

Unlike the MCC situation in which college board members would have had us taxpayers holding the bag.

The bids are connected to the Frontier and Northern Leagues.

Illinois State University is building a 1,000 seat stadium for $3 million, the article says.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Frontier Baseball League, Heartland Community College, Jon Astroth, Mike Thiessen, Northern League

Friday afternoon, the U.S. Attorney's Office has released the following press release:

SECRET SERVICE ARRESTS THREE DEFENDANTS IN ALLEGED

HOME EQUITY LOAN MORTGAGE FRAUD SCHEME

CHICAGO – Three defendants were arrested today on federal bank fraud charges as part of an ongoing investigation into fraudulently obtaining multiple home equity loans. The defendants and others allegedly had already obtained more than $1.7 million and were in the process of obtaining another $1.8 million from multiple banks in the Chicago area, federal law enforcement officials said.

U.S. Secret Service agents today arrested the defendants, who purport to be Lianyu Li, Jin Hua Dong and Myung Pak, but who allegedly use multiple aliases with different addresses and dates of birth. Li was arrested outside a bank in Wood Dale and Dong and Pak were arrested at a residence in Chicago. All three were scheduled to appear at 3:45 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan in U.S. District Court. The charges were announced by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and David W. Fisher, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the United States Secret Service.

“The complaint charges an extensive and ever more popular scheme that successfully targeted numerous financial institutions and proved to be, at least temporarily, extremely lucrative for these defendants. I commend the Secret Service for its quick action in this investigation,” Mr. Fitzgerald said.

According to the complaint affidavit, the defendants purchased properties between 5 months and 2 weeks ago and then proceeded to simultaneously apply for multiple home equity loans, often within days of the respective purchases. The loans allegedly exceeded any equity in the properties and, in some cases, the defendants submitted false loan applications, fraudulently inflating any existing equity in the homes.

Specifically, the complaint alleges that in January, Li applied for and obtained four loans totaling more than $850,000 from four different banks secured by 893 Asbury Lane in Schaumburg, and then in late April and early May, Li applied for three loans from three different banks totaling more than $1 million secured by 3421 Sandstone Ct., Lake in the Hills. During this same time period, Dong applied for two loans from two different banks within 24 hours of each other totaling $784,900, secured by 4066 South Lake Park Ave., Chicago. Finally, in March and April, Pak applied for and obtained four home equity loans totaling $889,500 from four different banks secured by 1713 South Ashland Ave., Park Ridge.

According to the affidavit, Secret Service agents surveilled Li and Dong going from bank to bank applying for, and signing closing documents on, numerous home equity loans.

Also, Li allegedly negotiated home equity loan checks from the scheme at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind., and then received checks totaling $262,00 from the casino made payable to himself.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Siskel.

Bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The Court, however, would determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed under the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Labels: Bank Fraud, Lake In the Hills, U.S. Attorney

Since we have a story about Democratic Party National Convention delegates from the 16th congressional district today, I thought this anti-Bush bumper sticker might be appropriate.

It says,


It is a tad less dignified that this bumper sticker, run the third week of January.

Labels: Bumper Sticker, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, Message of the Day

My wife is incredibly lucking at things like Crystal Lake Expo drawings.

She won $250 this year, for example.

She wins a lot of other drawings, too.

Just now, she called and told me she had won two tickets to the Chicago premier of Disney's new C.S. Lewis movie, “The Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian.”

“How'd you do that?” I asked.

“I called WMBI and was the 10th called,” she replied.

But, poor baby, she can't go downtown next Tuesday night for the show.

So the ten year old and I shall make the sacrifice and drive downtown to the AMC Theatres at 322 East Illinois Street.

What do you want to bet that he doesn't learn a lot at school next Tuesday?

= = = = =
Disney's movie web site's count down clock, stopped right after my wife called. And below, one of the soldiers. Don't know which side, though. I'm guessing from the mask that he's a bad guy.

Labels: C.S. Lewis, Narnia, Prince Caspian

“Kill the pig! Kill the pig!” the boys in “Lord of the Flies” shout as they attack the wild pig on the island they have been stranded on.

In Island Lake, if the authorities could get away with it, they would probably going after prospective pig farmer Bob Wargaski with sharp sticks.

With a permit expected to be issued any day by the Illinois Agriculture Department to rural Island Lake resident Wargaski, Village President Tom Hyde has signed off on seeking an injunction against the pig farmer.

File by Village Attorney Scott Puma, a motion for a preliminary injunction was filed Tuesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

It points out that Island Lake has received a permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency “to construct a community water supply well” and that the “proposed pig farm will be located within 400 feet of said well.”

That would violate the EPA Act, the legal paper asserts.

“Wagarski has put his self-interest in front of that of all the residents of the Village of Island Lake,” the legal papers continue. And, the “only reason for locating a pig farm in his front yard is to prevent the Village from establishing a water well on property near his property.”

Attorney Puma claims that Wargaski will not be hurt because he doesn't have pigs on his land yet, but that the village will be “irreparably injured,” if he is allowed to proceed.

Wagarski has emailed me the 2005 emails you see below. (Click to enlarge.)

It seems to say that the reason the well was placed so close to Wagarski's farm was to allow a developer to build expensive houses on a hill that would have been more appropriate.

Wagarski's cover email said,

“...the developer did not want this in his front yard because it will devalue his homes. So mayor moved it. Water is for this developer Teegan.

“Also in the the annexation agreement for Covered Bridge Teegan paid off village because they decided to move it across the street on a different sub-division that is coming, Teegan didn't like that either so he paid the village the difference is construction costs they would have saved and put it back by me.“

This is going to be a great day to be in court, don't you think?

= = = = =
The scenes are from the original 1963 black and white movie of William Golding's book "Lord of the Flies." It was one of the few movies that I have thought was on a par with the book upon which it was based. The little pig farm is in a little town just over the Wisconsin border. The man in the black hat is Bob Wargaski.

Labels: Bob Wargaski, Island Lake, Kevin Sutherland, Neal De Young, Pig Farm, Teegan, Tom Hyde

The McHenry County Board joined 70-some other Illinois counties in passing a resolution opposed to more gun control legislation.

In doing so, it broke new ground in the Chicago metropolitan area. It's probably explained by McHenry County's being the most rural of the six Chicagoland counties.

Winnebago County Board member Randy Olson wants his Rockford-area county to do more.

He and former Democratic Party County Treasurer and now county board member Doug Aurand want their county board to pass a resolution that allow his county sheriff to issue permits to citizens which would allow them to protect themselves with guns.

“We're basing this on the power of the sheriff,” Randy Olson told me.

Both Democrat and Republican believe Sheriff Dick Meyers already has the power to issue such permits.

Rockford Register-Star reporter Chris Green describes the proposed rules like this: before the sheriff issues a permit such as:

being at least 21 years of age, a resident of the county for at least six months, passing a criminal-background check, completing a firearm safety training course and not having a history of mental illness or violent behavior.

You can read the details Olson sent me here.

Winnebago County first deputy state’s attorney Gary Kovanda told the reporter that such protection was limited to sworn law enforcement officers, “private security guards, state’s attorney investigators and things like that.”

Others, the article states, can be charged with unlawful use of weapons if they are found to be carrying or possessing” a weapon on or about his person on a public street, alley, or other public lands within the corporate limits of a city, village or incorporated town.”

Sheriff Dick Meyers doesn't seem to be too delighted with the possibility either.

Labels: Doug Aurand, Gun Control, Randy Olson, Winnebago County, Winnebago County Board

Here is State Rep. Mike Tryon's press release. I would suggest that Tryon's headline may be a bit too optimistic.

A Call to Action:
Web Portal Would End
Culture of Corruption

Since I began serving in the General Assembly, there have been several attempts by lawmakers to pass transparency legislation.

Illinois residents are so tired of corruption in state government with our former governor serving prison time and our current governor under federal investigation.

U.S. Attorney General Patrick Fitzgerald has called the Governor’s administration ‘pay to play on steroids.’

Due to increased infighting between the Governor and the state’s Democrat leaders, suspicion and distrust have replaced compromise and negotiation.

Everyone agrees on the need for transparency to break down the walls of secrecy and bring about real accountability to the process….. but somehow, these pieces of legislation always end up lost in the shuffle. A parliamentary move to keep them in committee or a claim that previous transparency bills are not comprehensive enough has left this issue in limbo.

Enough is enough.

This year, I have introduced the most comprehensive piece of transparency legislation that would shed sunshine on state finances and end this culture of corruption once and for all.

House Bill 4765 would create the Illinois Accountability Portal and would provide the public with direct access to:

• State Employees & Consultants: a database of all current state employees and individual consultants, sorted separately by name, agency, position title, current pay rate and year-to-date pay

• State Expenditures: a database of all current state expenditures, sorted separately by agency, category, customer and representative district

• Tax Credits: a database of all current state tax credits, sorted by tax credit category, customer and representative district

• Sales Tax Breaks: a database of all revocations and suspensions of state occupation and use tax certificates of registration and all revocations and suspensions of state professional licenses sorted by name, geographic location and certificate of registration number or license number, as applicable. Professional licenses revocations and suspensions shall be posted only if resulting from a failure to pay taxes, license fees, or child support.

• State Contracts: a database of all current state contracts, sorted separately by contractor name, awarding officer or agency, contract value, and goods or services provided.

With the help of taxpayer watchdog group Americans for Prosperity who partnered with me on House Bill 4765; this legislation was unanimously approved in the House of Representatives last month.

House Bill 4765 has garnered widespread support from several grassroots organizations, trade associations, press associations, and taxpayer protection groups. More than a dozen local and national organizations have signed a letter in support of the bill.

I firmly believe the Illinois Accountability Portal will reduce the culture of political handouts, pay-to-play politics and pork barrel spending that has tarnished the public’s trust in government.

Over the years, Illinois has invested in technology that can easily put state spending on the desktop. The Illinois Accountability Portal will also be a cost-saving measure as it will reduce the number of Freedom of Information requests that are processed.

Currently, House Bill 4765 is being held hostage in the Senate Rules Committee.

With more than two dozen House sponsors and several Senate sponsors signed on, it is imperative that this bill be given a fair trial and be debated in a Senate Committee.

This week, newspapers reported that Senator Debbie Halvorson was removed as the powerful chairperson of Rules and replaced by Senator Rickey Hendon. With a week to get bills out of Senate Committee, I urge you to call Senator Hendon and demand that he release this bill out of Rules.

Additionally, call your Senator and those serving on the Rules Committee and urge them to help take Illinois off pay to play steroids. Illinois taxpayers deserve to see how their hard-earned money is being spent.

Enough is Enough.

For a list of the Senators serving on the Rules Committee, visit here.

For more information, visit Americans for Prosperity Illinois website.

Sincerely,

Michael W. Tryon
Illinois State Representative
64th District

The photo of State Rep. Mike Tryon is the one I affectionately refer to as the one with angel hair. It was taken at Camp Algonquin at the first NASA Education Veterans' Stand Down.

Labels: Mike Tryon, Transparency

Primary election night was not a good one for State Representative Jack Franks.

Oh, it was OK as far as his nomination for state representative was concerned.

Hard not win a non-contested primary.

But he was also on the ballot for delegate to the Democratic National Convention pledged to United State Senator Hillary Clinton.

Look at the election returns:

(WON) Charles E. Jefferson (Obama) 41,173
(WON) Mary Tuit (Obama) 40,057
Eleanor (Bobbie) Colbert (Obama) 35,520
(WON) Sunil Puri (Obama) 35,520
Victory Bell (Clinton) 25,694
Jack Franks (Clinton) 25,229
(WON) Barbara A. Giolitto (Clinton) 24,044
Martha P. Logemann (Clinton) 23,695

According to Republican Party rules, the four Barack Obama delegates would have won. After all, they got the most votes.

But the Democrats play by proportional representation rules, which I freely admit to not completely understanding. Since Clinton got more that 15% of the vote, she was entitled to one delegate.

The winners were the first male for Obama, the first female for Obama, then the next male for Obama and, finally, the first female for Clinton.

Two men, two women.

And, even though Franks and the other Clinton-pledged male on the ballot ahead of him got more votes than the first Clinton woman, she gets to go to the convention representing the 16th congressional district.

As an aside, I'd observe that the Democratic Party does not seem too democratic.

But, not to worry. The state Democratic Party came to the rescue of Jack Franks.

And to rescue of 16th District Clinton supporter Victory Bell.

The Obama and Clinton campaigns agreed the following seven party leaders and elected officials pledged to Clinton would be named delegates:

Victory Bell
George Cardenas
Kevin Conlon
Jack Franks
Sylvia Leonberger
Shirley McCombs
Alice Palmer

Click to enlarge the images.

Labels: 16th Congressional District, Barack Obama, Barb Giolitto, Bobbie Colbert, Charles Jefferson, Democratic Party National Convention, Hillary Clinton, Jack Franks, Mary Tuit, Sunil Puri, Victory Bell

You know my color blind eyes like yellow.

I see it with the intensity that normal folks probably see all colors.

Imagine my amazement when I say this yellow violet underneath the big red oak tree in our back yard.

Then, I found two more blossoms near some daffodils next to the helicopter pad (the brick patio where the yellow pansy appeared).

I remembered that I bought a yellow violet plant from a Meridian Street neighbor a couple of years ago, but I can't remember where I planted it.

Wherever that was, it must have spread much like the other violets in our yard have.

Every time I get a pitch to kill all the broad leaf plants in our year, I think of the violets that would disappear.

We have

Labels: Flowers, Meridian Street, Message of the Day, Violets, Yellow

The man pointing his figure as if a kid with a play gun is Bob Wargaski.

Wargaski is out in front of the recently arrested tee-shirt Marine Greg Kachka.

Wargaski wants to start a pig farm in Island Lake.

Why?

If he opens a pig farm, the Village of Island Lake won't be able to build a water tower next to his property.

It's not that he doesn't know anything about animals.

He already has a herd of buffalo in Wisconsin.

The Chicago Tribune ran a big story a while back and now the Northwest Herald has piled on.

Under the story by Julian Duchnowski are comments about a member of the Teegan family. I thought the name looked familiar, so I searched McHenry County Blog and found this article entitled,


There are various spellings of the name in the article, but it surely could be the same family that poured
$12,000 into the campaign coffers of Citizens for a Better Wonder Lake.

The best political button or sticker of the 1990's was one from opponents of factory hog farms. It said,



They may not vote, but they can play a role in local politics.

Photos may be enlarged by clicking on them.

Labels: Bob Wargaski, Greg Kachka, Island Lake

Marriages result in the merging of families, but sometimes all the members of the families, especially if they are pets, don't make the cut.

That's the case with the three cats below.

Would anyone like to give one or more another loving home?

If so, please email me at the address in the highest post above.

Labels: Cat

Through a hard fought court suit, the Crystal Lake Park District established that it owns most of the bottom of Crystal Lake.

It seems that one of my photos of just installed boat piers may have stimulated discussion concerning park district liability, not to mention other questions about piers, rafts and buoys that rest on that park district property.

Not that the Gate 9 pier you see above is new, but the park district doesn't have an inventory of what rests on its lake bottom.

When folks noticed that more boats were at the Gate 3 pier, they thought it was new this year. Some research revealed that the Country Club Property Owners Association expanded to the east of the old pier last year.

I talked to park district Executive Director Kirk Reimer. He was concerned about liability. That seems like a reasonable concern. I doubt owners of piers, rafts and buoys have park district taxpayers protected by their insurance policies.

The park board began discussion of the subject at its last meeting and it seems likely to be on the May 15th agenda as well.

“It seems that every year there are more boats moored on the lake,” Reimer observed. “The board is looking at who's doing what.

“Right now someone could pop a marina in there.”

I'm not sure that is the case, since a commercial establishment would require zoning from Lakewood or Crystal Lake. The chance is zero that Lakewood would allow a business on a lake lot and I think the last commercial establishment on the North Shore was a bar that is now a home site.

There was a bar on the North Shore when we moved here in 1958. I came back from some early morning West End fishing and found a dead guy washed up at the Main Beach boat ramp. He apparently fell out of a row boat owned by the guy with the park district concession on the way back from the bar where the two were drinking. The concessionaire didn't realized his buddy was missing. I believe the lot now has a home on it.

In any event, regulation of the use of the lake bottom is now in play.

Reimer mentioned one of the topics could be length and size of piers.

“There needs to be some kind of a permitting process,” he told me.

This spring the park board has been publicly chaffing at its lack of vote on the Lake Management Committee. Park Board President Mike Zellman made the pitch to the Crystal Lake Council.

For a decade of so, regulation of use of the lake has been governed by an intergovernmental agreement between the Village of Lakewood and the City of Crystal Lake.

Most on the Crystal Lake City Council saw no problem with adding the park board, but the Lakewood Village Board apparently thought there was no reason to give up the power it now has to protect its South Shore constituents' rights to use their five beaches and the lake surface, where police power is exerted by the two municipalities.

Most of Crystal Lake is actually located within the boundaries Village of Lakewood, as you can see from the above map. You can see that most of the lake that can be used for water skiing or tubing is within the boundaries of Lakewood.

Lakewood now polices the lake.

This makes logistical sense since the Lakewood Village Hall is on the lake front next to West Beach.

There have been complaints, however, that the patrol issued only warning tickets last year. Surely, some of the offenses were worthy of a citation, the argument goes.

Lakewood residents foresee a 2-1 vote situation where the control is by the two other governments, the vast majority of whose residents never use the lake. They remember the multi-decade effort by park board members to ban power boats from Crystal Lake.

When it became obvious during last August's flooding that boat wakes were harming lake front property, especially on the North Shore, it was the park district that took the initiative to ask the Crystal Lake City Council and the Lakewood Village Board to issue a “no wake” rule.

Reimer pointed out that the park district got the complaints, but had no power to remedy the problem.

= = = = =
CCAPOA's Gate 9 pier can be seen on top. Gate 3's pier is seen empty right after installation in 2008 and full during the flooding in August 2007. I'm told the
concrete structures in the foreground were part of the ice house operation. Below is Crystal Lake Park Board President Mike Zellman urging the Crystal Lake City Council to talk about adding the park district to the Joint Lake Management Committee. Below is a map of Crystal Lake, the lake, showing only the northernmost and eastern section right in front of the Main Beach actually being in the City of Crystal Lake. At the bottom are pictures of the Lakewood Village Hall and the patrol boat on one of the days last August when Crystal Lake was so high. All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them. The bottom picture was taken May 6, 2008, the day the temperature was over 80 degrees. The boat and skier are in front of the Main Beach Park nearer than not to the outlet.

Labels: CCAPOA, Crystal Lake, Crystal Lake Park District, Gate 3, Gate 9, Kirk Reimer, Lakewood, Lakewood Village Hall, Mike Zellman, Pier, Water Skier

My son saw some kids at Crystal Lake's Main Beach play ground going home from drum lessons at the First United Methodist Church and asked if I would take him back.

Unfortunately, by the time we returned, all the kids had gone home to dinner.

Nevertheless, he explored the park anew, as I took some photos.

Here is one of a father with his two young children wading in the still very cool water.

There's a sign nearby that says, “No Swimming.”

Well, it doesn't say, “No Wading,” does it?

Labels: Crystal Lake Park District, Father, Main Beach, Message of the Day, Silhouettes, Wading

An update has arrived about the Wonder Lake Community Technology Center, behind which Jeff Gerhardt is the driving force. I thought you might be interested. It follows:

Greetings,

The Wonder Lake Community Development Council (WLCDC) has some great news about the Wonder Lake Community Technology Center (WLCTC).
For those of you not aware of what a "CTC" does, well it is half community center and half tech center. It is NOT a cyber cafe, although we will have coffee available and plenty of computers to access the Internet. It is a community center that will offer daily programs for the people of Wonder Lake. Some of the programs will be technology (or science) focused and many will not.

After extensive demolition of the old electrical and plumbing systems in our new facility in Wonder Lake (the old Das Bierhause), we have a clear picture of improvements required to open the center. We have been working with an architect (sponsored by our friends at NRB developers by the way) over the last few weeks to develop the construction plan.

Our goal is to have part of the building open, including at least one computer lab, by the 4th of July weekend. The rest of the main building will be ready during August. The part of the building that will be used as a small library should be open some time in September.

We have also been working with a group called The Foundation Group (TFG) to secure our 501c3 documents. This is the leading specialty legal consultant in the entire US for creating 501c3's. This is a key step for us to do meticulously correct as the rules have been changing for "charitable" organizations. Many organizations are not getting approved as 501c3 and many that exist are losing their status as the laws evolve.

At present they (TFG) are telling us that getting our certification is a slam dunk and 100% assured. This is simply because we are following the letter of the law for the creation for an organization that is classified as a Community Development Council or CDC. We are having a meeting with TFG in mid May to try to refine the time line. As an FYI we are already approved by the State of Illinois as a non profit organization but we are yet to be certified by the IRS.

As we will be getting construction documents some time in the next week or two, we will probably be getting permits and begin construction of the facility even before the final 501c3 documents will be in hand. We really want to make that July 4th deadline so that people who come into Wonder Center for the parade can stop in and visit. The sooner we start, the sooner we can be open to offer senior and youth services to the community.

Some of the Senior Services include:

1- A daily "TABLE OF KNOWLEDGE" gathering spot to allow seniors a place to gather and swap the stories of their life.
2- Twice a week we will have "Silver Screenings", movies from the silent era through the Golden Age of the MGM Musicals. Each screening will be followed with a discussion about the movie as a part of art and history, as well as anecdotes about where people were in their lives when the movie was released.
3- Senior Income Tax support
4- Flu Shot programs
5- Political Candidate Forums- find out which of the local representatives supports seniors.

Some of the Youth Services will include:

1- After School Homework Club
2- UGLI Club: learning computer skills through Video Game play and game programming 3- Eco-Extreme Club: Extreme Sports meets Science
4- TEAM CHALLENGER: Robotics Team

Attached is a single page flyer that we have just started to pass out, asking for donations from the community.

We understand that with gas quickly pushing towards $4.00 a gallon, this summer is going to one of belt tightening in Wonder Lake. We recognize that asking for donations during this year will not be an easy thing to do. As the father of a teenage girl with a gang of girlfriends I am not looking forward to the gas bill this summer. As a person who has worked for Non-profits the last several years, this is doubly painful.

For those of you who have never attempted such an undertaking as building a Community Center, it takes hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a community center, much less a Community Technology Center. It also takes a couple hundred thousand dollars each year to keep the doors open every morning for our seniors and every afternoon/evening for our youth. But, we all know haw badly we need these services in our community, especially for our teens. There simply is not enough constructive activities available for our youth. It is a daunting task, more so because of the need.

We are accomplishing a sizable percentage of the task of keeping the doors of the center open by creating partnerships with organizations in the county to do training and partner on job creation projects. These partnerships have been in development for well over a year. Not only do they help achieve a needed goal in the county, but those people that live in Wonder Lake that need this kind of career training may be able to qualify to get this training free of cost.

There will be plenty of computers available for use by people in the community, connected to high speed internet of course, spaces for classes and place for just hanging out and reading a book.

To get it all done, we have created a solid financial plan. But a part of that plan is some contributions from the community. This fall, we hope to have our first annual Septemberfest Celebration as one step in the fundraising plan, but for the short term we really do need community contributions.

In addition to the attached flyer, which has many "in-kind" donations listed, the following are a few of the task specific funds we are setting up toward which you can help via cash donations:

The Youth VISTA Fund: We are looking to raise $12,000 to hire a Americorp VISTA to work with youth for the 2008/2009 school year.

The Adult VISTA Fund: we are looking to raise $12,000 to hire a Americorp VISTA to coordinate Adults and Senior Services for the 2009 calendar year.

The Building Fund: We are looking to raise $90,000 to cover the cost of building rehab and improvement projects we have planned through the 2009 calendar year

The TOONER Fund: We are looking to raise $8,000 to purchase and outfit a used pontoon boat to act as a dual purpose craft. The "USS TOONER" will be used as a traveling concession stand or floating ice crème truck if you prefer. It will also be used in the future as a ferry, once the planning and zoning commission plan is approved to run ferry service between the West Bay beach and Wonder Center. The funds raised will be used to help provide some (small income) for area non-profits. The project will also provide jobs for seniors or teens.

We are still waiting for the 501c3 document and so we know many of you will not be comfortable making a donation until we have that document. We do understand that. But we are asking those not comfortable to at least make pledges toward our cause. Please consider our cause and the effort that has already been undertaken.

There is a donation form attached.

There is also a information meeting that will be held at the Marquise Banquet Facility 4117 E Wonder Lake Rd, Wonder Lake, IL on Thursday May 29th 2008 from 7:00pm until 8:30pm. This meeting will not only discuss the programs of the Tech Center, but will also discuss some of the projects that the CDC as a development council is going to address during the next year, including creating a library district for Wonder Lake.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON!!!!!

Yours,
Jeff Gerhardt

Also attached was this flyer.

Labels: Jeff Gergardt, Wonder Lake, Wonder Lake Community Technology Center

I went back and looked at Huntley School District 158's proposal to the teachers union.

It was right there in black and white on the top of page 2.

"...the proposed highlighted increases represent approximately a 5.25% cost increase to the Board in overall compensation to the members in the first year of the proposed contract."

The 5.25% is not a typo for the “4.25%” salary increase both local newspapers write about in their articles.

Both newspapers imply 4.25% is the total salary increase that was proposed for next year by the board.

Wrong. It is only one part of the salary increase proposal.

When you have a lot of younger teachers, which the union admits in its proposal, you start out with a large percentage of teachers with only a Bachelors degree. These teachers then take courses to get automatic salary increases and Moola.

Lots of Moola.

In the lingo of teachers and union negotiators the salary increase is euphemistically called a "lane change.”

In much the same way Eight Belles was euthanized on the Kentucky Derby track on Saturday. The horse wasn't “killed.”

In the same “soft speak,” the teachers don't talk about the salary increases teachers automatically get when they take a few more courses during the summer. That would jar people's sensibilities.

In District 158, over 4 years of the board's contract, there will be a large number of salary increases due strictly to teachers' cashing in on taking more courses.

This is not your one or two or three dozen teachers cashing in. No siree, Bob.

On average, over 4 years you probably have at least every teacher getting one salary increase due strictly to taking a few courses.

This is why the 4.25% salary increase reported in the papers for only one more year of experience in effect low balls the true salary increase that was in the District 158 board's proposal.

A large fraction, probably most of the difference, between 4.25% and the 5.25% that is in the first part of the proposal, comes from the automatic salary increase resulting from taking more education courses.

Expect the teachers' union to focus on only the 4.25%.

They will be selling this to the students and community.

Will the newspapers be willing accomplices? Will experienced newspaper editors and young reporters be so gullible?

The teachers and teachers' union know how to sell their angst.

Meanwhile they are probably laughing at all of the "educated" media types who don't or won't report the TOTAL SALARY increase that was actually proposed by the District 158 board.

Does the Huntley school board tell us what the salary increases really are?

Why yes, they do.

On the last page of the proposal.

Not the best place to put it, but no one has ever accused District 158 of having outstanding public relations' skills.

Students writing for the Huntley high school newspaper, The Voice, shouldn't be faulted for missing the obvious and writing about the wrong facts in their editorial and article.

They are guided by a teacher. It's only a high school journalism class. What better place to start the reporters of tomorrow off on the Left Stream track of reporting than showing them how to ignore obvious facts and analysis.

Newspaper reporters and editors ignored the last page in the board's proposal as well.

What are the salary increase shown on the last page of the board's contract?

4.53% with no additional courses.

5.32% with a few courses every 2 years.

6.13% with a few courses every 2 years, done twice over the 4 year contract.

These salary percentages are not being highlighted and or even used in newspaper articles.

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries, The Voice

In an Associated Press article, 8th congressional district Congresswoman Melissa Bean relates a conversation with her Financial Services Committee chairman, Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank.

"What don't you understand about yes?" Frank demanded of Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Ill., who as a rookie congresswoman had gone to her panel chairman to ask to take the lead on a bill.

"Speaking with Barney is almost like writing in shorthand, because he just nets to the end — let's just cut to the chase," said Bean, a centrist who says she appreciates Frank's pragmatism and work ethic.

A frequently dispensed piece of advice, Bean said, is, "If he barks at you, don't be offended. If he's biased against anything, it's stupidity."

As another congressman commented, “...doesn't suffer fools gladly...”

Hey, I didn't write the AP article.

Julie Hirschfeld Davis did.

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Barney Frank, Melissa Bean

Here's one for a cat loving family.

It says,

Labels: Cat, License Plate, Message of the Day

Here's the press release the 16^th district Congressman Don Manzullo released yesterday, short version first:

Manzullo Unveils 12-Point Plan to
Reduce Surging Gas Prices
in America

[ROCKFORD] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) today unveiled his comprehensive gas price relief plan that aims to eliminate America’s dependence on costly foreign oil while promoting alternative energies and conservation at home.

The 12-point plan, a compilation of years of legislative and administrative proposals, uses short and long-term strategies to give the United States more control over its own fuel needs.

“There is not one easy way to reduce our gas prices. We must make many changes in policy and practice to take control of our fuel needs,” Manzullo said. “My 12-point plan brings together short and long-term strategies that promote alternative energies and conservation while eliminating our dependence on costly foreign oil. It is a comprehensive plan that would make our nation stronger, increase our energy supplies, and lower gas prices in America.”

Congressman Manzullo’s 12-point plan includes legislative and regulatory proposals to:

· Eliminate federal mandate for expensive “boutique fuels” in Illinois during summer months.
· Stop filling America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
· Reduce exorbitant taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel in Illinois.
· Encourage motorists to conserve fuel and save money by increasing their driving efficiencies.
· Provide tax incentives to encourage motorists to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles.
· Avoid tax increases on oil and gas that will be passed on to motorists.
· Scrutinize earnings and profits of oil companies and prosecute price gouging when it exists.
· Withhold assistance to OPEC countries that fail to support reasonable oil production.
· Allow more domestic exploration and development of oil and gas.
· Encourage the continued development and production of alternative and renewable fuels.
· Encourage the continued development and production of alternative vehicles.
· Provide incentives to encourage the development of new refineries in the United States.

A more complete description of the entire 12-point plan is attached.

Long version:

CONGRESSMAN DON MANZULLO’S 12-POINT PLAN

TO REDUCE SURGING GASOLINE PRICES IN AMERICA

“Gasoline prices are at record high levels primarily because of a huge increase in the worldwide demand for oil, and the foreign oil producers’ unwillingness to increase production combined with an insufficient utilization of domestic resources. We need a comprehensive energy policy that balances conservation with new incentives for research and production of renewable and alternative fuels, as well as increased domestic extraction and refinement of oil and gasol