McHenry County Blog

This booth for the Christian Science Church was at the McHenry County Fair the first week of this month. There are Christian Science Churches in Crystal Lake, McHenry and Woodstock.

I think it was one of three or four that had a religious theme interspersed among the other attractions.

Both photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Labels: Carnival, Christian Science Church, McHenry County Fair.Skinner's Carnival, Message of the Day

Labor Day is the traditional beginning of political campaigns and Robert Abboud, the Democratic Party candidate for 16th congressional district United States Representative Don Manzullo's is taking the opportunity to blast his GOP opponent for things he said in a Thursday Rockford television debate.

Here it is:

Abboud: Let Me Educate You Mr. Manzullo

Abboud Demands Manzullo Answer for his Own Record on Trade, Off-Shoring Jobs, Tax Breaks for Companies Operating Overseas

ROCKFORD – Bob Abboud, Democratic challenger in Illinois 16^th Congressional district, called on his Republican opponent to own up to his clear record of supporting the off-shoring of American jobs, favored nation trading status with China and tax breaks for companies who move their operations overseas, after being accused of misrepresenting facts and needing ‘to be educated’ on facts related to Rep. Manzullo’s record on these critical issues.

During the live debate on WIFR-23 in Rockford, Manzullo repeatedly told Abboud he ‘needed to be educated’ on the incumbent’s record. Abboud wasted no time in calling into question Manzullo’s own grasp of the facts.

“Either my opponent has been in office so long he can’t remember, or he is afraid to own up to the damaging policies he has supported,” Abboud said. “I have the facts, and apparently I must educate Mr. Manzullo. Since he took office in 1992 he has had a clear record of supporting unfair trade with China and corporations who avoid taxation and ship jobs overseas.”

Manzullo, despite claiming the title of ‘Mr. Manufacturing’, has voted repeatedly for tax breaks and trade policies that favor overseas companies and the off shoring of American jobs. Over the past 16 years Don Manzullo has been one of the chief architects of policies that have resulted in the 11 percent unemployment rate in Rockford, the decline in family household incomes and the loss of thousands of jobs in the 16^th District. During his term Manzullo voted for the following:

• The Singapore Trade Agreement which directly led to the loss of 100 Rockford jobs at Hamilton Sundstrand

• Voted 7 times for most favored nation trading status and improved trading status for China

• Voted against restricting nuclear sales to China

• Voted to support international loans for China

• Voted for foreign companies to receive Homeland Security contracts

• Voted against preventing American companies from laying off more U.S. workers than foreign workers

• Voted to give overseas companies federal contracts

• Voted for $12.8 billion in corporate tax breaks, allowing multinational companies with extensive offshore operations to fully use foreign tax credits to offset their tax liability.

“For 16 years Mr. Manzullo has depended upon people looking the other way and his extraordinary talent for duplicity” said Michael Carroll, Communications Director for the Abboud campaign. “He says he wants to support manufacturing and he will give you a long list of tiny accomplishments that he believes proves his support of working families. But the second we turn our backs, Mr. Manzullo is voting to ship our jobs overseas and giving companies that do it a tax break. Enough is enough – the families struggling to make ends meet in our community deserve better, they deserve the truth.”

With documented unemployment in the Rockford drifting further and further into double digits, Abboud says the 16^th District communities can no longer afford to suffer Don Manzullo’s broken promises and failed leadership.

“Our community needs a Congressman who understands how critical manufacturing is, a congressman who has run a business and created jobs,” Abboud said. “My opponent has never run a business and it’s clear he doesn’t understand how important manufacturing is to this district. If we want new jobs then we can’t suffer any more of Don Manzullo’s empty rhetoric and do nothing policies.”

To read Abboud’s economic platform and plan to bring jobs back to the 16^th District, visit www.robertabboud.com.

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On top you see the three candidates for the 16th congressional seat. From left to right are Green Party candidate Scott Summers, Democratic Party candidate Robert Abboud and Republican Party incumbent and candidate for re-election Don Manzullo. I do not know the names of the WIRF-23 folks asking the questions.

Labels: 16th Congressional District, Don Manzullo, Robert Abboud, WIRF, WIRF-23

When I was sitting at the Huntley School Board meeting the Thursday before last, the board went into secret session twice.

Teachers were sitting in the audience with visible picket signs.

Both times board member Mike Skala left with his fellow board members.

Of course, I don't know what was discussed, but, odds are that the teacher negotiations were among the topics.

At McHenry County Board meetings, President George Lowe has been insistent that Centegra employee Frances Glosson leave the room for the entire period when payment of vouchers are considered.

He won't allow the agenda item to be considered until she is in the hall.

Mike Skala, whose wife is a teacher at Huntley High School, left with the rest of the board both times its members left the board room.

I know he has recused himself from voting on the contract.

That is certainly appropriate.

I don't know if the board discussed the teachers' contract negotiations when its members left the room that Thursday.

But, it sure seems likely.

That night I didn't know if Skala was in the same room with his fellow board members when and if the board discussed the contract.

But, Friday, I asked Superintendent John Burkey and was told that Skala did attend the first part of one of the meetings. Skala made a comment and then left the room where the board was meeting.

Although Skala was not in the room when contract discussions were being held, no one in Thursday's audience could have figured it out.

Burkey said that Skala could have participated in the teacher salary negotiations this year, as he did last time around, but decided not to.

While it may not be legally a conflict of interest to do so, it would be difficult to explain how a board member married to a Huntley teacher would not have a real conflict of interest.

If Skala wants people who don't read McHenry County Blog to think otherwise, it would seem to me he should stay in the board room when his colleagues leave to discuss contract negotiations.

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The top photo shows some of the audience at the August 21, 2008, Huntley School Board meeting. The bottom one shows School Board President Shawn Green and school board member Mike Skala returning from the secret meeting before the open meeting began that Thursday night.

Labels: Frances Glosson, Huntley School District 158, McHenry County College, Mike Skala

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.”

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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.

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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."

Labels: Crystal Lake American Legion, Gene Simes, Jere Berry, Pete Castillo, Tony Peraica, Veteran's Strike Force, Veterans Awareness Rally, Veterans for Unification

Democratic Party candidates for McHenry County State's Attorney, Tom and Auditor will be holding a fund raiser at Stage Left, 125 Van Buren Street in Woodstock from 7:30-9:30 on Tuesday, September 23rd.

No word as to the cost.

Draw your own conclusions about the location's name.

Personally, I had my fund raisers at Crystal Lake's 1776, whose first menu, lest you think its owner Andy Andresky does not have a sense of humor, charged Republicans more for steak than Democrats.

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Tom Cynor is on the left; Kerry Julian on the right.

Labels: 1776, Andy Andresky, Kerry Julian, McHenry County Auditor, McHenry County Democrats, McHenry County State's Attorney, Stage Left Cafe, Thomas Cynor

I thought about titling this “Truth in Licensing.”


is the what the plate says.

When I was bringing my son to Crystal Lake's South Elementary School last Monday to drop off supplies, greet the new teacher and meet classmates, I was fortunate enough to find a close parking spot behind this Ford Explorer.

Usually, I post only the license plates that catch my attention, but this plate's message works best when you see the vehicle it licenses.

Can't say the owner doesn't have a sense of humor.

Click to enlarge the picture.

No, I'll just show you a close-up here:

Labels: Ecology, License Plate, Message of the Day

Both Barack Obama and John McCain's choice for vice president, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin live in corrupt states.

Sarah did something about the corruption in her State of Alaska.

She fought it.

If Barack Obama did anything about corruption in Illinois, someone please remind me what it was.

Oh, I know that now-convicted felon Tony Rezko was one of his major fund raisers when he ran for the Illinois Senate.

And, I know the same Rezko helped the Obamas buy land next to his big house in the Kenwood neighborhood that is now being turned into an armed camp to protect the Democratic Party's presidential candidate.

But, what did Obama do to fight corruption in Illinois?

....

....

....

I'm waiting.

Fill me in.

I can't wait for the Sarah Palin press conference in Chicago pointing out that she has fought corruption in Alaska, while Barack Obama has tolerated it in Illinois.

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In the photo of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is her husband Todd and son Trigg. Here is the previous article I wrote about her:

Labels: Barack Obama, Corruption, Sarah Palin, Sin of Omission

Crystal Lake's John Coonen jotted down his thoughts about Democratic Party Barack Obama's acceptance speech and shared them with me. I asked if I could publish them and he gave permission:

"First impression of Barrack's speech -

"85,000 gushing fans and Hollywood celeb's, including Oprah (with her diamond-studded sunglasses which sickeningly spelled out the word O-B-A-M-A on the sides) gathered 'round the Romanesque Coliseum, set on an historic day and place to help us somehow associate M.L.K. and J.F.K. with B.O. ...his 85,000 adoring fans and millions of TV viewers were all lied to within the first line of his speech when Barrack Obama accepted the nomination uttering the words:

"'...with humility...I accept...'

"Really Barrack? Humility? First sentence, first line, you choose the word 'humility?'

"I brought out a couple buckets for people watching with me because we 'bout tossed our cookies, and the speech hadn't even started yet.

"I was honestly hoping for a speech like the one I remember he delivered in Springfield, in sub-zero temperature.

"That was a phenomenal speech - not that I'd ever vote for the guy (I'm pro-life, and he's extremely pro-abortion), but it was a great speech he delivered in Springfield.

"I suppose after months of campaigning, and chummin' up with the Clintons, Bidens and Durbins, it's not Washington that rubs off, it's a distorted perspective of reality that sinks in.

"But - those 85,000 fans ate it up.

"I suppose I should stop being amazed that millions of Americans are drinking the kool-aid the party's serving up en masse, but the death of amazement and outrage leads to loss of hope.

"Too bad complaining about the hubris and set architecture won't change the fact that conservatives have got an uphill battle ahead. The only solution is getting conservatives out to vote on November 4th, or this country's in deep.

"-John Coonen "

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The photo of John Coonen was taken at the Pro-Life Victory Committee's Pig Roast at Resurrection Center.

If a Barack Obama supporter would like to present a counterpoint, email it to McHenry County Blog.

Labels: Barack Obama, Democratic National Convention, John Coonen

It appears the Prairie Grove teachers haven't gotten the same memo from the Illinois Education Association that Huntley District 158 teachers received.

Northwest Herald reporter Kelly Mahoney writes that the Grade School District 46 teachers got “a total salary compensation increase of 3.25 percent in the first year, 3.42 percent in the second year and the third-year increases will align with the tax cap.”

The tax cap is the consumer price index.

The article says the last three year contract had 5.6%, 5.4% and 5.3% increases, which, of course, were way above the increase in the cost of living.

The Huntley School Board is offering $5.4% in the first year, then the CPI, plus 0.65% for the last tow years.

That offer has been rejected by the Huntley Education Association.

District 46's board is the one who called out the police when I took photographs through its library's Venetian blinds and laughed too loud, leading to Allan Showalter of Heck of a Guy blog in Crystal Lake to call the police to evict me from the school building.

All imagess may be enlarged by clicking on them.

Labels: Allan Showalter, Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, Prairie Grove, Prairie Grove District 46

We're lounging away last Wednesday on a beautiful day in Crystal Lake and these two woman come paddling their kayaks between us a the North Shore.

One seemed more advanced than the other, but when we asked if we could take their pictures, the one I thought was the learner skillfully turned her kayak around for this shot.

Labels: Crystal Lake, Kayak, Message of the Day

I'm confused.

I thought the McHenry County Democratic Party moved its annual Jefferson Day Dinner last spring from Crystal Lake's Holiday Inn to Sun City's Prairie Lodge to protest the Holiday Inn's not having workers who belonged to a labor union.

It just occurred to me that last night McHenry County Democrats gathered at the same Holiday Inn to watch U.S. Senator Barack Obama accept his party's nomination for president.

But, I'm confused.

Why was it unacceptable to hold the Thomas Jefferson Day Dinner at the Holiday Inn this past spring, but it is OK to hold the Barack Obama nomination blow-out there a couple of months later?

One holdout from the McHenry County Dem party is Dave Bachmann, candidate for McHenry County Coroner.

Bachmann provided this statement to McHenry County Blog:

“Strong 'Core Beliefs' are not beliefs that you stand on from time to time based on a 'Political Wind' or for photo or press opportunities.

“The facts that caused the McHenry County Democratic party to pull out of its plans for its annual Jefferson Dinner Party Fundraiser to be held at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn are still in play today.

“It is 'unconscionable' to me that Kathy Bergan Schmidt, the McHenry County Democratic Party Chair, has shifted her position, so soon and so easily, by supporting this Historic Event being held at a facility she just months ago chastised for its lack of supporting a Democratic cause.

"She allowed the official McHenry County Democratic web sight as access for publication of this incredible, historic national event. The same web sight, just four short months ago, she utilized to publicize her distaste for the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn venue.

"This election is about Integrity and standing firm on core beliefs that the American workers should be supported unconditionally." Bachmann stated.”Rather than sacrifice my core beliefs and values towards our hard working American men and women, I will not attend this event.”

I confirmed that the Holiday Inn is still a non-union employer.

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Any image can be enlarged by clicking on it.

Labels: Barack Obama, Crystal Lake Holiday Inn, Dave Bachmann, Jefferson Day Dinner, Kathy Bergan Schmidt, McHenry County Democrats

Huntley teachers didn't think 5.43% in the first year and the Cost of Living, plus 0.65% in the next three years was not good enough.

I wonder if they would have settled for what AFSCME, the state workers' union is presenting it its members:


That 15.2% is what reporter Doug Finke of Springfield's State Journal-Register is saying is in the AFSCME deal. “When compounded, (the) total (is) 16.3 percent over the four-year term of the contract,” but the raise does not kick in until January 1st.

The article continues,

“Workers will get two raises totaling 4 percent in calendar 2009, two raises totaling 4 percent in 2010, two raises totaling 6 percent in 2011 and a raise of 1.25 percent on Jan. 1, 2012.”

The memo the Springfield paper obtained brags that the net increase is greater than in the last four-year contract.

It was reported somewhere that Governor Rod Blagojevich's negotiators were pushing to get union members to pay for part of their pension or convert it to something like a 401(k). That did not happen.

The proposal also calls for $6 monthly insurance premium increases during the first two years and a $50 deductible for prescription drugs.

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The photo of the Illinois State Capitol was taken from the south. It shows the side on which the Illinois House of Representatives meets.

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158

Hillary Clinton delegate State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) has provided little reports from the convention floor each day for Pioneer Press.

You can find them here.

Some of what Franks wrote the first day follows:

“I got to speak to Dan Rather and did national television for C-SPAN and CBS. I've also been doing radio for WLS and others.,,

“Meetings with the Illinois delegation today and Hillary and Bill later tonight.”

The second day:

“What was real cool, remember seeing my dad on the stage in Chicago during the convention in 1968. My boys saw my wife and I on TV. I thought that was pretty cool -- that is something they'll remember that for the rest of their lives...

“Did interviews with BBC, ABC, CBS and C-Span as well as Radio One out of France yesterday. Did one in Portuguese, talking to a guy from Brazil.”

Here's a bit from the third day:

“I ran into David Wilhelm, who is one of Barack's campagin managers. We had a nice discussion and he asked me to go to Ohio on behalf of Obama, which I agreed to do, which I thought was exciting.

"As we were walking out, I noticed Frank Biden and I recognized him only because he was on stage when his brother gave his speech. We got to meet the whole family. My wife took a bunch of photos because there was a little boy, who was maybe two, on stage with the family. The family didn't have a camera so we're going to send all the pictures to them.

"The evening was topped off by the Illinois Delegation having a party at the hotel.”

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The top photo is of State Rep. Jack Franks speaking at a hearing on Governor Rod Blagojevich's budget. The one at the bottom is of the Biden family while the Democratic Party Vice Presidential candidate was accepting his party's nomination.

Labels: Denver, Jack Franks, Pioneer Press

Just in case you missed the big “hug-in” out in Denver, here are pictures of two Democrats who have not gotten along well, well, hugging:

Then, House Speaker Mike Madigan and Governor Rod Blagojevich shook hands.

They were smiling.

What do you make of that?

Labels: Hug, Message of the Day, Mike Madigan, Rod Blagojevich

I know.

I know.

If my son finds out I used that word, I owe a 25-cent fine.

I've just read in Springfield's State Journal-Register that Governor Rod Blagojevich has decided to close the Frank Lloyd Wright Dana Thomas House in Springfield.

I can't find the photos that I took. Must have been before the digital camera.

Governor Jim Thompson managed to find $1 million in the middle of the 1981 recession to buy the Dana Thomas House.

He helped raise $704,000 to buy a lamp designed for the house, but sold off before the state paid the $1 million for the house and furnishings, of which there were many.

Tell me how Thompson could find the money to buy the house and Blagojevich can't find the money to allow the public to see its investment from the inside?

Only 41,045 visitors in 2007, but Blagojevich's people say it will be open for “special events.”

Republican State Rep. Ted Meyer, with whom I served in the 1970's, had as his crusade the keeping of state parks open without charge to the public. I can still hear the Chicago Republican saying,


Meyer was the guiding force for restoration of Fort Massac in Southern Illinois. Meyer died in 2004.

I don't think it is appropriate to call public officials names, but a good number are coming to my mind as I contemplate this really stupid decision.

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The photos of the Dana Thomas House come from its web site.

The customized warning sign comes from the web site Image Chief.

Labels: Dana Thomas House, Image Chief, Rod Blagojevich, Ted Meyer, Warning Sign

It's a big night for politics.

Barack Obama will deliver his acceptance speech.

And, the three candidates seeking to represent Illinois' 16th congressional district will appear tonight at 6 on Rockford's Channel 23, CBS affiliate WIFR-TV.

Only those in the western portions of McHenry County can probably receive WIRF's signal over the air, but the 6-6:30 PM broadcast program will be streamed live over the internet starting at 6 PM. You can link to the TV station here.

There is a video player at the top middle of the screen where you can click and see the debate.

You can send your questions ahead of time here.

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Pictures of the three candidates are above. On top is Democrat Robert Abboud. To the left is Green Party candidate Scott Summers. Incumbent Republican Don Manzullo is to the right below Abboud.

Labels: 16th Congressional District, Don Manzullo, Robert Abboud, Rockford, Scott Summers, WIFR-TV

McHenry County Democrats have issued the following press release about the big party tonight at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake:


Crystal Lake—McHenry County Democrats will gather tonight at watch parties to celebrate with the 70,000 people at Denver’s INVESCO Field as Barack Obama accepts the nomination for President of the United States.

Many of the county’s leading Democrats including Illinois General Assembly, county wide, and County Board candidates will be at the Crystal Party Bar at the Holiday Inn Crystal Lake, 800 South Three Oaks Road. The party will open up at 7:30. The celebration is sponsored by Northwest Suburbs for Obama.

The same grass roots organization will team up with the Melissa Bean for Congress campaign to host another party at Dock’s Bar and Grill, 113 E. Liberty St. (Rt. 176) in Wauconda.

Becky Deignan will hold a house party at her Cary home, at 10 Boxwood Lane.

The three parties are among thousands nationwide organized on the Obama for President campaign’s unique inter-active social networking web site my.barack.obama.com. People can log on, enter a local zip code, find parties in their area and register to attend for free.

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And to explain the graphic, Heck of a Guy blogger Allan Showalter has suggested the McHenry County Board adopt Dick Tracy as the center of its county seal. The two photos above were found in his story,


I agree, because it is distinction and would provide instant differentiation from all other county seals.

And, can you think of anything that epitomizes McHenry County?

If I could, I'd put it on the masthead of McHenry County Blog.

The county could even turn county offices into tourist traps by selling copies of the county seal that were different (that is, authentic) from those merchandised by local stores.

In a fit of inspiration after Barack Obama showcased his personal campaign seal, Showalter thought maybe Obama might try out his suggestion as well.

Perhaps a well-connected McHenry County Democrat could get through to him.

Labels: Barack Obama, Becky Deignan, Crystal Lake Holiday Inn, Dock's Bar and Grill, Obama Watch

I have speculated that State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) might run for governor against Rod Blagojevich.

But, then, Barack Obama's people decided to give the spotlight to Obama's acceptable candidates to oppose Rod Blagojevich for governor—Lisa Madigan, Dan Hynes and Alex Giannoulias, Jack Franks got left out.

But so did Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn.

Maybe Franks was left out because he was a candidate pledged to Hillary Clinton, but, more likely, because Franks was only a state representative.

Franks' father, after all, hosted a rally for Obama when he ran for United States Senator.

So, where does that leave Franks?

With the Democratic Party incumbents for attorney general, comptroller and treasurer featured and Bill Daley making the rounds asking people to remain neutral until January, it looks as if Franks will be relegated to a lesser office.

Franks will probably step up to run for either attorney general or state comptroller, either of which would fit his resume.

Labels: Alex Giannoulias, Barack Obama, Dan Hynes, Jack Franks, lias, Lisa Madigan, Pat Quinn, Rod Blagojevich

My nose for news was OK last night on my way home from the American Community Bank NFIB meeting between Congressman Don Manzullo and small business folks, but I didn't stop to take a picture.

At the stop sign at the top of the hill on East Crystal Lake Avenue, a small van had its lights blinking.

There was a policeman who walked around to the drivers' side.

As I was driving around the vehicle, a woman got out of it.

There was street work being done. The City of Crystal Lake is spending oodles of Tax Increment Financing property tax money taken from our schools, park district, county, county college, etc., to bury the electric and other lines along East Crystal Lake Avenue.

(For those who do not understand the TIF process, local tax districts like schools just raise their tax rates enough to make up for the revenue lost in TIF districts. If you are in a tax district in which the TIF lies—like McHenry County--your real estate taxes go up to make up for the revenue lost to the TIF district, which the city officials spend to subsidize developers in the TIF or make marginal improvements like burying utility lines.)

The money was just burning a hole in the city council member's pockets.

For some reason the song, “Girls Just Gotta Have Fun,” comes to mind, but it's the theme of the song, not the gender in the title that brings it to my frontal lobes. Three of the four “Yes” votes came from men, Mayor Aaron Shepley, who lives in the neighborhood, included.

Ralph Dawson joined Jeff Thorsen in voting against the expenditures. Cathy Ferguson wasn't present at the meeting.

But, back to the story.

It was pretty obvious the woman drover had some serious problem.

Today I went Downtown for a haircut after dropping my son off for his first half day of school and decided to walk down and see what I could find.

As you can see from the picture, there was a hole, which, almost certainly, was covered with a steel plate.

I talked to the supervisor, who told me he had never seen anything like it.

He speculated that someone had come up to the stop sign and put on the brakes, skidding on the steel plate and pulling it away from the hole.

Now that I think about it, it could just have easily been my old Cadillac whose wheel plunged into the uncovered hole as dusk was turning into night.

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The top and bottom picture is of the hole being contemplated by city contractors yesterday morning.

You can see the old flower shop in the background from which we ran my 1996 primary campaign for state representative after McHenry County Republican County Chairman Al Jourdan put Cary county board member John Brehmer up to challenge me.

The middle photo shows East Crystal Lake Avenue between Williams Street and Walkup Avenue after utility wires have been buried. Beautiful isn't it? But the power lines in the foreground detract from the view. Maybe they will be next to be buried.

My last legislative office in 1980-81, in a room not being used by my father's Barley and Malt Institute, is the corner building at the intersection of South Williams and E. Crystal Lake Avenue...for you trivia buffs.

Labels: Downtown TIF, East Crystal Lake Avenue, Tax Increment Financing District, TIF

I've never been to a Lake in the Hills parade in the new part of town. I attended one on the east side of Randall Road on the old Crystal Lake Road, but that was quite a while ago.

Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee Chairman Karla Dobbeck sent out this email:

Hi,

Topic of the day - LAKE IN THE HILLS PARADE THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 30 - WALKERS NEEDED!!

Please come out and support John McCain for President and walk along side our elephant in the Lake in the Hills Parade.

The parade will kick-off at 10am, at the corner of Grafton Farm Road & Miller Road, travel East down Miller Road for 1-mile and conclude at the corner of Albrecht Road & Miller Road.

Lots of fun and GOP camaraderie so come and enjoy!

Karla

Click to enlarge the map.

Labels: Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee, Karla Dobbeck

Crain's Chicago Business reported on the “foul mood” of 8th Congressional District U.S. Representative Melissa Bean:

“Rep. Melissa Bean was in a foul mood as she arrived in Denver Sunday for the Democratic National Convention.

"The west suburban Democrat was grumbling about having to return home this week for a hearing on Canadian National Railway’s proposal to buy the Elgin Joliet & Eastern Railway, then return to Denver Thursday to hear Sen. Barack Obama’s acceptance speech.“

McHenry County Blog found a report on Bean's penchant for partying in February in an article in The Hill.

It was a story about a Democratic Party retreat at the Kingsmill Resort & Spa in Williamsburg, Vriginia.

Here, let me let The Hill reporter tell the rest of the story:

Democrats said they had no time to relax during their two-and-a-half day retreat.

Friday night wasn’t work time, though, the “Under the Dome” column reported.

Lawmakers threw back a few drinks and danced late into the night.

By the end of the evening, most members and staff went to bed, leaving the 30-something working group of Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.), Hilda Solis (Calif.), Tim Ryan (Ohio), Melissa Bean (Ill.) (OK, they look 30-something!) dancing the night away. Reps. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.) and James McGovern (Mass.) were out there, too.

Girls just want to have fun, don't you know.

And attending a hearing inconeniently scheduled by that Republican-controlled Surface Transportation Board where 3,000 constituents are expected is cutting into the Democratic National Convention with all of its great parties.

Beating challenger Steve Greenberg is apparently more important that partying in Denver.

Bean should consider herself fortunate. Consider that former Alderman Arenda Troutman probably doesn't feel like dancing the night away now that she has pleaded guilty to those Chicago zoning “no-no's.”

And Troutman never did have the huge congressional salary that Bean enjoys.

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Arenda Troutman, Barrington, EJ and E, Melissa Bean, Steve Greenberg

I found this bumper sticker in front of Border's Book Store.

It matched the red car on whose bumper it was stuck.

It says,

Labels: Bumper Sticker, Message of the Day, Ralph Nader

Chicago crooks have apparently gone international by way of the Illinois National Guard.

A Major Christopher P. West with hometown listed as Chicago has been arrested Monday in Chicago for bribery and conspiracy.

He and co-defendant Air Force Tech. Sgt. Patrick W. Boyd are charged with taking $90,000 to award contracts at Bagram Airfield.

While he was head of base operations, he is charged with “arranging the award of...three DOD contracts worth more than $1 million...(in exchange for)

• $30,000...for the award of a contract to supply BAF with bunkers and barriers, cement structures used for force protection and perimeter walls...and
• $30,000 in return for a second asphalt paving contract and
• $30,000 in return for the award of a contract to provide asphalt paving services."

“We will aggressively prosecute individuals and companies who line their own pockets by corrupting the bidding process for base procurement in Afghanistan,” said Thomas O. Barnett, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department’s Antitrust Division. “These contracts were meant to protect U.S. soldiers serving their country, and we will not tolerate corruption that deprives the troops of the benefits of competitively-sourced goods and services.”

Illinois Major Brad Leighton, newly arrived from New Hampshire, confirmed that West was in the National Guard, based in Crestwood with the 108^th Brigade Troops Battalion. It is a logistics unit, he said.

“We are aware he was detained but at this point I can't confirm or disclose any other details,” Leighton said.

To read the whole press release, click here.

Labels: Abdul Qudoos Bahkshi, Afghanistan, Bagram Airfield, Bribery, Chrisoher P. West, Illinois National Guard, John Ramin, Noor Alam, Pat Boyd, Tahir Ramin

WBBM-Radio has posted a mock-up of a new front page for the Chicago Tribune.

I don't know if you have noticed, but the Tribune has been running more feature stories, articles with human interest angles.

Less hard news.

It's looking more and more like the revised a couple of years ago Chicago Sun-Times.

Fold the picture in half to see what it would look like on the news stand or in a box. Think it would compete with Sun-Times' front pages?

Although I have only seen the Red Eye give away paper the Tribune publishes for people who aren't really interested in hard news, its editor has been named head woman at the Tribune.

Portents of things to come, it seems.

The Tribune told WBBM it is a “work in progress.”

You can also see today's front pages of the two Chicago newspapers. The one from the Sun-Times came from its web site. In the version delivered, the photo of Hillary Clinton on TV is no where near as good. I could not find a copy of the front page of the Tribune on its web site.

WBBM gives the photo credit for the mock-up to Joe Strupp, Editor and Publisher, so I shall, too. Click to enlarge.

Meanwhile, Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Joe Mariotti resigned, according to the Chicago Tribune, saying,

"...sports journalism had become 'entirely a Web site business. There were not many newspapers there.' He added that most of the journalists covering the Games were 'there writing for Web sites.'"

Labels: Chicago Tribune, Front Page, Radical Makeover

16th district United States Representative Don Manzullo came to Crystal Lake's American Community Bank to speak with members of the National Federation of Independent Business Tuesday night.

The main topics of conversation were taxes and paying for health care.

“We're set for a barrage of tax increases,” Manzullo explained. “If you have a tax cut, the cuts expire in ten years. If you have a tax hike, it never expires.

“If you allow the tax cuts to expire, then you end up with a large tax increase,” the congressman explained.

“If the tax cuts expire, it would means the average family would pay $2-4,000,” he continued. “The child tax credit would be rolled back from $1,000 to $500.”

He talked of the cuts the Republican Congress had passed and President Bill Clinton signed, including the college savings accounts, the Roth IRA and the accelerated depreciation for business and ending the marriage penalty.

After two members of Congress got married and discovered they owed $35,000 more in taxes, “they became great advocates of tax relief,” Manzullo related.

The Republican explained that Senator John McCain voted against the tax cut package that Bush signed because it was not offset by spending cuts.

McCain has said he does not favor allowing those tax cuts to expire because that would be a tax hike.

Several people spoke of the deficiencies of a single payer government run health care system.

Manzullo told of a friend of one his staffers who went to Montreal, discovered a bladder infection after business hours on Friday and could not get treatment until Monday because it was not an emergency. To this day, she has related medical problems.

Manzullo explained that the health insurance he has as a member of congress is Blue Cross/Blue Shield. No dental insurance and chiropractic care just added this year.

"We pay $400 a month."

When his wife Freda had cancer, it cost the family $10,000 in out of pocket expenses.

He favors allowing each American to write their own policies.

If they wanted coverage for just catastrophic illness, their premiums would be much lower than for those with first dollar coverage.

There was much more, of course, but it's the first day of school on Wednesday and I'm the one taking our son to school.

Manzullo is being challenged by Barrington Hills Village President Robert Abboud on the Democratic Party ticket and McHenry County College Board member Scott Summers, a member of the Green Party.

= = = = =
In the top photograph, U.S. Congressman Don Manzullo can be seen talking to Chris Dahm of Woodstoc's Dahm Trucking and Lou Gajdzik of Stoxen Farms in Harvard. Below, Manzullo is seen talking to the NFIB members and prospective members. Pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.

Labels: American Community Bank, Chirs Dahm, Dahm Trucking, Don Manzullo, Lou Gajdzik, National Federation of Independent Business, NFIB, Stoxen Farms

Springfield Sun-Times Bureau Chief Dave McKenney knows his Illinois crooks.

And their connections.

Know what jumped to his mind when he heard that our Illinois U.S. Senator Barack Obama selected fellow Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware)?

Joe Cari.

The guy who fingered Governor Rod Blagojevich as “Official A.”

Here's what McKenny writes:

“On the day Cari's name first surfaced in the federal probe of the state Teachers Retirement System, the former finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee and for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee was to have hosted a Biden fund-raiser in Chicago. Cari was a no-show to the July 25, 2005, event.”

It's not bad enough that Chicago Democratic Party crook Tony Rezko was one of Barack Obama's biggest fund raiser when he first ran for state senator.

Now there's a connection to the Democrats' vice presidential candidate.

What might the Republicans do with this connection?

Well, they could follow the example of Democratic Party gubernatorial primary candidate State Treasurer Phil Angelides. (This is one link you should read. The TV ad template already exits.)

And irony of ironies, under McKenney's article is a column by a good buddy of Cari, Carol Marin. She still hasn't apologized for having sung his praises two days before Cari was indicted for Rezko-related corruption.

One final observation.

Have you figured out that neither of the Democratic Party candidates have ANY managerial experience other than their office staffs? (Yes, I'll admit that GOP candidate John McCain has that same shortcoming.)

Labels: Carol Marin, Dave McKenney, Joe Biden, Joe Cari, Phil Angelides, Tony Rezko

An inquiring friend of and researcher for McHenry County Blog has been comparing dog taxes among area counties.
Here's what started this story:

“I noticed McHenry County's dog tag fee scale chart at our vets office but I didn't see Kane's,” he wrote.

“Curious, I asked why Kane's tag fee scale wasn't on the desk.

'Because it's a flat fee.'

"It appears the surrounding counties charge a flat fee and senior citizens don't have to pay tag fees in Kane and DuPage County. If dogs get their shots in McHenry County, the upfront tag fee is five times more if pet owners decide not to "fix and chip" them. You may know more about this but are stray dogs a problem in McHenry County? I thought you may find this to be an interesting local story.”

He found McHenry County's quite different from those of Kane, DuPage and Cook Counties.

Kane County charges $10 a year for a rabies tag, $25 for three years. The web site says, “Senior citizens (65 and older) do not pay for original tags given with shot. There's a $1 charge if you need a replacement tag.

DuPage County also charges $10 a year, but does not offer a break for a three-year tag. $4 for a replacement tag.

Cook County charges only $6 a year. (Don't anyone tell Cook County Board President Todd Stroeger that his county is lower than the suburban ones.) $18 for a three-year tag.

All three are pretty straight forward.

By comparison, McHenry County's fee structure looks like a PERT chart.

First, one must reveal whether one's dog is spayed or neutered.

If it is, the next question is whether it is micro chipped or not.

If it is, the cost is $8 a year, $19 for three years--less than Kane or DuPage, but more than Cook.

If the dog is not micro chipped, the cost rises to $13 a year, $24 for three.

If the canine is not spayed or neutered, the cost really increases.

$35 if chipped, $40, if not. And the three-year costs increase to $70 and $75.

As you can see, the charges for senior citizens, defined as bring 62 or older, are significantly lower. That can't be because a higher proportion of older folks vote, can it?

McHenry County is unique in having a higher fee for breeders. $20 a year, if chipped, $25, if not.

Maybe attempts to influence citizen behavior by differential taxation policy is common in local government, but this is the first time I have noticed it.

Doggy social engineering.

Who would have thought?

I might have noticed this before had I not been obsessed with the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax that was contained in the same ordinance.

Labels: Dog Tax, McHenry County Animal Control, Social Engineering

The following press release has been received from the U.S. Attorney's Office:

LAKE IN THE HILLS MAN INDICTED
FOR ALLEGEDLY ACQUIRING AND POSSESSING TETRODOTOXIN

ROCKFORD – PATRICK J. FITZGERALD, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and ROBERT D. GRANT, Special Agent-In-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today made the following announcement:

Today, a federal grand jury in Rockford returned a ten-count indictment charging EDWARD F. BACHNER IV, of Lake in the Hills, Illinois, with unlawfully acquiring and possessing a neurotoxin, Tetrodotoxin, on five separate occasions between November 7, 2006, and June 30, 2008.

Five of the counts (Counts One, Three, Five, Seven, and Nine) allege that on five separate occasions, Bachner acquired Tetrodotoxin in order to use it as a weapon.

The other five counts (Counts Two, Four, Six, Eight, and Ten) allege that on those same dates, Bachner possessed Tetrodotoxin in a quantity that was not reasonably justified by a prophylactic, protective, bona fide research, or other peaceful purpose.

Bachner was initially charged by a federal criminal complaint on June 30, 2008.

As set forth in that complaint, Tetrodotoxin is a neurotoxin that has no known antidote and can only be treated with supportive therapy in an attempt to lessen the severity of the symptoms. Tetrodotoxin is naturally found in certain animal species, including puffer fish, and consumption of these animals can result in natural poisoning.

Dependent largely upon the amount of poisoning, Tetrodotoxin has a historical fatality rate of 50-60%. If death occurs, it is usually due to respiratory paralysis and can occur within 6-24 hours.

If convicted of acquiring Tetrodotoxin in order to use it as a weapon, Bachner faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

If convicted of possession of Tetrodotoxin in a quantity not justified by a prophylactic, protective, bona fide research, or other peaceful purpose, he faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.

In addition, Bachner can be fined up to $250,000 for each of the ten counts contained in the indictment. If convicted, the defendant’s actual sentence will be determined by the United States District Court, guided by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

Bachner was originally arrested on June 30, 2008, and has remained in federal custody since that date. He will be arraigned by United States Magistrate Judge P. Michael Mahoney on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. The arraignment will occur at the federal courthouse in Rockford.

The case is being investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force of the FBI. The Chicago FBI’s Joint Terrorism Tax Force is comprised of FBI Special Agents, Officers from the Chicago Police Department, and representatives from approximately 20 other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The case will be prosecuted in federal court by Assistant United States Attorney MARK T. KARNER.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment contains only allegations and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Here are earlier stories:

Toxin Neighbor in Lake in the Hills

Puffer Fish Toxin Guy Had Empty Poison Vials, Needles and Book Telling How Much Needed to Kill People

Puffer Fish Toxin Man Seeking Murder of Woman in 2006

Bachner Connection to the Murder Request: "I was bored."

Dog Days and Zombies Have Arrived

Speculation for Motive of Puffer Fish Poison Guy

Labels: Edward F. Bachner, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Mark T. Karner, Puffer Fish, U.S. Attorney

Remember how the big sailing ships used to have mermaids at the front of their keels?

This is what we saw while spending the afternoon on Crystal Lake the middle of last week.

Certainly it is a merdog.

Labels: Crystal Lake, Merdog, Mermaid, Message of the Day, Speedboat

Sunday, what could have been a big bargaining day to get a deal done for Huntley teachers, turned into a big fizzle.

The Huntley teachers only had time to meet with the school board for three hours yesterday the day before school starts today.

Or did they?

Or was it less than two hours because the HEA wouldn't meet with the board because one of their negotiating team members was an hour late and then had to "confer" with the rest of the team chewing up time for a while longer?

Want to bet the board and Superintendent Burkey were stunned when they were told by the teachers on Sunday,

"We're starting really late but we're out of here at noon!"

Did the Huntley teachers decide to call it quits early because the federal mediator couldn't make it until the afternoon?

Maybe he/she wanted to attend church, a not unreasonable desire.

What the media and the Board has done little to publicize is the underlying reason for why the Board doesn't have the money to give to the Huntley teachers:

A permanent annual loss of $1.3 million in state aid due to a screw up by the Kane County clerk's office. Fixing it fell on deaf ears with the State Board of Education.

It is described in the Board's initial proposal to the union.

The media doesn't want to point this out, well, because it's embarrassing to a lot of individuals that it happened, wasn't caught in time and the teacher unions lobbied against getting this fixed for Huntley because it would potentially take money away from Chicago.

Who in Springfield cares about getting Huntley the money that is rightfully theirs to begin with?

With teacher strikes in Illinois, so uncommon across the United States, having a ridiculous strike in Obama's home state because the State Board of Education refused to fix Huntley's tax rate could become national campaign news.

The original tax rate screw up happened while Obama was in the Illinois Senate.

Huntley might become quite the exclamation point for how education issues are handled in Obama's home state.

A future picture of the state of education for the country if Obama gets elected.

I can see it now:

Huntley teachers strike turning down an average 5.4% raise because the State Board of Education wouldn't overturn a tax rate screw up that permanently penalized the Huntley District 158 district.

Who cares about Huntley in Springfield when Huntley's over 8,000 students have the lowest percent of students qualifying for a free lunch program of any large unit school
district in Illinois?

If the Huntley teachers strike, will the GOP seize upon this opportunity to point to this example of how middle class taxpayers are taken to the cleaners in Illinois and left prey to a teachers' unions that doesn't think a 5.4% raise is high enough?

Time will tell, but somehow I doubt it.

In Wisconsin teacher unions can also strike.

But there's one big difference.

Both the teachers' union and the Board of Education have to vote for a strike. There hasn't been a teachers strike in Wisconsin since 1997.

Even in Massachusetts, teacher unions don't have the right to strike. Maybe because education is more highly valued there than here. Something probably to do with good public policy and protecting parents and taxpayers.

Guess which home state Reg Weaver, the president of the NEA (National Education Association) is from?

Here's a hint. He was president of the Illinois Education Association in 1982 when I ran for state comptroller.

You're right, He's from Illinois. He started out in Elgin when I was state representative in the 1970's, I think.

And, I think he's still earning credits in the Downstate Teachers Retirement System. I see from his photo that he's gained a lot of weight, but so have I.

= = = = =
What you see is informational picketing by the Huntley Education Association, which has voted to authorize a strike. The photos were taken last Thursday night.

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, National Education Association, NEA, Strike, Teacher Contract, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries, Teacher Strike

An extension of Good Shepherd Hospital has opened in Crystal Lake across from the Pingree Road Metra commuter station. You can drive straight across the street from the Metra parking lot into the new Immediate Care Center.

It's at 525 Congress Parkway and had a “soft opening” on Monday.

“It's state of the art ambulatory services,” Ambulatory Services Manager Deb Spiewok told me.

“The name of the building is Good Shepherd Hospital Outpatient Center,” Ro Ostergaard, Adovcate Good Shepherd Hospital Communications Manager, explained when I called her.

Spiewok, a bit camera shy, explained the vision for the facility:

To bring Good Shepherd quality services to Crystal Lake and surrounding communities.

“This facility is an extension of the hospital,” she added.

Its Medical Director is Dr. Liz Horvath. She is a Board Certified Emergency Care physician, seen here with Dr. Joe Giangrasso, who heads Good Shepherd Hospital's Emergency Department.

8 AM to 8 PM is when she or another Board Certified Emergency Care physician will be available to treat patients.

Once you find the building, you just walk in the door and take the first door on the left. That's where I found Dr. Horvath and Dr. Giangrasso.

“The physicians staffing the facility will be the same physicians that treat the patients at Good Shepherd's Emergency Department,” Dr. Giangrasso explained.

“It's very important for the quality of care for our patients,” Ambulatory Services Manager Spiewok added. “We have a physician, nurses and emergency room clinical techs.”

Good Shepherd's investment in this new medical office complex strikes me as pretty large.

Spiewok showed me 8 treatment rooms. These rooms have walls and doors. It seems to be a step up from the Good Shepherd emergency room I remember when we took our son at least one remodeling ago, when curtains provided the privacy.

Adjoining and connected to the Immediate Care examining room complex, including one to treat eye problems, there is an imaging center, Spiewok showed me.

“We have a full imaging center with digital mammography and state of the art CT and MRI,” she continued. “We have X-ray and ultrasound in addition. It was designed with patients' privacy in mind.”

I was showed individual waiting rooms with doors to protect one's privacy. This one goes right into the X-ray room. They told me there already is such an exam scheduled for Wednesday.

As the tour continued, I saw the digital mammography room. Again, it is accessible from individual private rooms. That's Spiewok playing patient.

Radiologic Techologist Mike Heft proudly showed me the Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine.

He explained that it supplies 1.5 tesla Magnetic Resonance images, pointing out that the strength of the magnet is state of the art.

When I had an MRI back in the late 1990's, I felt claustrophobic. This machine seems to have a hole big enough to remove such fears.

“It's a large opening, so people don't feel so confined,” Heft explained.

Then, he showed me the GE Light Speed 64 slice CT scan machine, pointing out that it is “state of the art.”

He said it would be used for angiography and cardiac studies.

Spiewok also showed me a community outreach room available for meetings. It's right past the elevator leading to the future office of Board Certified physician Dr. Robert Malecki, who will start accepting new patients the middle of next month.

Yesterday they held a “soft opening.” There was one patient. Maybe it was because of the widespread mailing made by Good Shepherd.

“If an ambulance is needed, the EMS staff follow their normal protocol,” Ostergaard told me when I asked to what emergency room would patients needing more help be taken.

A community open house will be Saturday, September 13th from 9-1. The phone number is 815-479-8020. The address 525 Congress Parkway.

And, if you ride Metra, don't think about parking in this building's parking lot. The sign is already up.

The opening of this Immediate Care service follows the failure of Wisconsin-based Mercy Health Systems to gain approval for a hospital in Crystal Lake, which, of course, would have put an emergency room in Crystal Lake.

Earlier this year, Centegra opened a medical office building right behind Dominick's. (You can see it in the bottom photo to the right of Advocate Good Shepherd Outpatient Center.)

Having visited two physicians there, I am not aware that it has a walk-in capacity. I had to make appointments.

= = = = =
Sept. 4th I was informed by Centegra's Leanne Whiting that its building where two of my physicians are housed does have a walk-in capacity. Here's what she emailed me:

"I just wanted to clarify some information about the Centegra Immediate Care center available at 360 Station Dr.

"In your blog you questioned whether or not the facility had walk-in capacity and I am writing to let you know that we do, and encourage people to walk in.

"Centegra Primary Care offices are also available at this location; to see one of these doctors you must make an appointment. If you have any further questions regarding the Crystal Lake Medical Arts building or the Centegra Immediate Care center please contact me."

= = = = =
In the interest of full disclosure, I learned about the opening of the facility today at my brother-in-law Joe Giangrasso's son's birthday party at my in-laws Wonder Lake home. Never can tell where a story will pop up.

Labels: Good Shepherd Hospital, Joe Giangrasso, Liz Horvath

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan), who represents southern and western McHenry County is coming to Crystal Lake tomorrow evening to speak at an NFIB-sponsored 6-8 PM meeting at American Community Bank.

Manzullo served as chairman of the House Small Business Committee under Republican United State House control. Now, he is Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment and he's a member of the House Financial Services Committee. He also continues to co-chair the 80-member House Manufacturing Caucus, which he co-founded in 2001 with Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio).

The press release follows:

What’s at Stake?

McHenry County small business owners to discuss 2009 federal legislation agenda with Congressman Don Manzullo and how actions in Washington will impact Illinois job providers?

What: NFIB McHenry County Area Action Council

What will actions in Washington mean for your small business in 2009?

When: Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Who: Congressman Don Manzullo (R-16, Egan)

Where: American Community Bank

281 S Main St.

Crystal Lake, IL

Congressman Don Manzullo will discuss legislation likely to be debated in 2009 that will impact Illinois small business owners. Topics expected to be discussed include healthcare, taxes and family leave mandates.

In addition, NFIB/Illinois Asst. State Director Mark Grant will update area employers on current legislative action in Springfield.

Labels: 16th Congressional District, American Community Bank, Don Manzullo, House Manufacturing Caucus, Mark Grant, NFIB

Compare the prices of gasoline in Crystal Lake on Route 14 on Sunday.

Shell was at $4.09.9.

Everyone else seemed to be twenty cents lower for regular gas.

$3.89.9 at Phillips 66, Mobil and Clark.

Labels: Clark, Gas Prices, Gasoline Price, Mobile, Phillips 66, Shell

I don't look at the McHenry County College web site every month, but, since tonight is a Committee of the Whole meeting and lots of sneaky things have happened at what the board members call “COW” meetings, I looked.

This is the third time the information given to the board members has not been available to the public.

The meeting starts are 6 PM, less than five hours away.

The last time was in April. The time before was in March.

I first found it posted in February.

It was quite a change for the better to obtain online access to the reports to be considered by the board. For months, folks like me sat clueless as to what was being discussed because of the board's lack of transparency.

It doesn't look as if much interesting will be happening tonight.

Those who would like to learn more about the property tax assessment process will apparently get a short course from McHenry County Supervisor of Assessments Donna Mayberry.

I left a message in President Walt Packard's voice mail a little after one this afternoon. Maybe I'll get a call back saying the board packet has been posted.

If you plan to attend the board meeting tonight, it is at University Center, 100 South Main Street, Crystal Lake, not on the main campus. For old timers, that's the old Oak Manufacturing building.

The images can be enlarged by clicking on them.

= = = = =
I received a phone call from President Packard's office, but didn't realize it until Wednesday. It seems there was no board packet for the Committee of the Whole meeting. Perhaps in such cases, a note could be added to the MCC web site to that effect.

Labels: Board Packet, Donna Mayberry, McHenry County College, Walt Packard

The geese on the green between the club house and Country Club Drive got noisily nervous.

All of a sudden a big hawk swooped toward the patio eating area of the Crystal Lake Country Club last night.

“A hawk,” I said too loudly.

The young people at the table next to us looked up.

One saw something and spread the word to the others.


Standing up, I saw over the hedge this teenage fox.

Not a newborn, but not full grown either.

I changed lenses on my camera.



Our waitress said he would have come up on the patio, if the kids had not been making so much noise.

She said that there was a mother, who limped, and three of her little ones.

This probably was not the fox who did a balancing act on our home's fence earlier this summer.

Labels: Crystal Lake Country Club, Fox

After watching one the Crystal Lake County Club foxes from twenty feet away, the night grew a bit too cool, so we moved into the bar. It felt much too much like fall.

There the closing ceremony of the Olympics was in full swing.

Although the Olympic flag waving by guys who probably were in charge was less than impressive, the London bus that acted like a Transformer did catch our attention. Unfortunately, I didn't think to take some pictures until it had left the screen.

We saw contestants getting a last look at the flame.

The human column was impressive.

I want to see the Democratic precinct captains do that.

We wondered what Mayor Richard Daley was saying.

“Oh, ........!” probably.

And, that was before the guys swinging on wires above the stadium.

After I got home, I read a wonderful column Elgin's Daily Courier Managing Editor Mike Bailey. He wrote about what having the Olympics in Chicago would be like. It sounded like Mike Royko. No wonder he just won a column writing contest put on by the Association Press.

Here's a couple of paragraphs, but I assure you the whole column is worth reading, including the part about dwarf tossing and other new events:

“All sprints will take place at midnight on the West Side. Runners will have to listen carefully to distinguish the starter's pistol from ambient gunshots. The winner gets to live.”

And,

“Women's soccer will be replaced by roller derby. Joanie "The Blond Amazon" Weston will come out of retirement to lead the U.S. Team.

“And finally, the games will be moved back to October so that Wrigley Field, which is always idle that time of the year, can be used for field hockey and team handball, whatever that is.“

Field hockey was my mother's favorite game. She (Eleanor Stevens, then; she married Cal Skinner later) taught English and physical education. Her first year basketball team at Glen Burnie High School placed second in the Maryland high school state tournament.

Maybe field hockey is an east coast sport.

= = = = =
And a sad note for those of us who like newspapers. I noticed that the Elgin paper has lost whatever it called its Sunday lifestyle section. The paper is getting smaller and smaller. I shall miss Dave Gathman's columns.

Labels: Courier News, Eleanor Skinner, Eleanor Stevens, Glen Burnie High School, Joanie "The Blond Amazon" Weston, Mike Bailey, Roller Derby

If you need evidence that the Carpentersville School District 300 tax hikers Advance 300) >were excessively optimistic, you just need to some math on Chicago Tribune reporter Mark Shuman's article on the opening of Hampshire High School.

Designed for 2,500 students, it will open with only “about 895.”

That's 36% of capacity.

It cost $77 million, the article says.

The referendum was for $185 million.

38% of the referendum cost.

And, it's not as if opponents were not predicting that developers and municipal sources were overly optimistic.

It looks as if, instead of subsidizing current developers, District 300 taxpayers will be subsidizing future developers.

In other news, Elgin's Courier News has as its top story Saturday that Hampshire builder Pasquinelli Homes going belly up on its Tuscany Woods I. Reporter Dave Gathman. Its bank, Park National Bank of Oak Park “has started 'a foreclosure proceeding'” in Kane County Circuit Court, the story says.

Labels: District 300, Hampshipre, Hampshire High School, Pasquinelli Homes

I saw this sign in Crystal Lake next to Randall Road advertising Algonquin's St. Margaret Mary Parish's Polish American Fest.

It's today from 11-4 at the church and school grounds on Route 62 east of the Fox River.

I think I saw another version with a Miller Beer logo.

Labels: Algonquin, Polish, St. Margaret Mary Parish

Motorists won't flock to a new Bolz Road toll bridge being pushed by area municipal, Kane and McHenry County officials.

That's what a newly released study by Wilbur Smith Associates indicates, according to an Elgin Courier News article by Pete Gonigam (picked up from sister paper Algonquin Countryside) I read Friday.

Elgin's Courier-News reports that a 50-cent toll would lure only 16,000 of the 110,000 crossing the Fox River. That's less than 15% of the traffic.

At the highest toll examined--$2.50 a crossing—only 4,000 of our more affluent neighbors would be willing to pay to avoid the Route 62, Route 72 and Carpentersville crossings.

Traffic consultant Eugene Ryan advised that a $2 toll would yield the most money. That looks like it would between 4,000 and 9,500 vehicles a day. Funny that the consultant did not provide a number.

Of course, the Carpentersville to Algonquin toll bridge supporters don't yet know how much it would cost to build the bridge.

The question citizens might want to ask is why the Democrats in control of Springfield refuse to build a toll bridge across the Mississippi, but are willing to allow one across the Fox River.

And, if a capital construction bill is every passed, why none of our northern Kane, southern McHenry County legislators have even put this bridge on the negotiating table.

Using an estimated cost of $80 million, Daily Herald reporter James Fuller wrote,

“...an $80 million toll bridge that moves 16,000 vehicles off other roads translates to a traffic congestion relief project that costs $5,000 for each car diverted daily from the existing bumper-to-bumper routes over the river.”

For you potential commuter users, by the way, the consultant recommended a $1.50 a trip toll in order to maximize revenue for the project.

Just as the folks who put together the Illinois Tollway, Longmeadow Parkway Toll Bridge Task Force Chairman Bill Wyatt promised that the tolls would go away after the bonds were paid off.

You believe that, don't you?

I think I'll take Route 62 or, if going to Chicago, take the tollway that costs me 40 cents from the Elgin toll plaza to O'Hare Airport.

= = = = =
The graphic is from Pete Gonigam's original article in the Algonquin Countryside.

Labels: Algonquin, Bill Wyatt, Eugene Ryan, Illinois Tollway, Longmeadow Parkway Toll Bridge, Pete Gonigam, toll bridge, Wilbur Smith Associate

It was between 5 and 6 last Wednesday afternoon.

My wife and two of her girl friends were discussing chick books, ones about the stories quilts tell, which one's cousin had just gotten published, murder solving clubs, stuff like that.

I joked that they should write a book about women getting together on a pontoon boat to solve murders.

Now that I think about it, maybe it would be my murder they would solve.

Maybe they would commit it (after all, I was misbehaving).

Anyway, I'm looking at the late afternoon sun reflecting off Crystal Lake, taking photos of and past the women.

That's when I looked down beneath the neighboring dock at CCAPOA's Gate 7 Beach dock.

Above, you see what I saw.

I think it's the bungee cord that was found wrapped around my neck...in the forthcoming book, of course.

Think I will get a photo credit if they use this picture on the cover?

Labels: CCAPOA, Crystal Lake, Gate 7, Message of the Day, Reflection, Reflections

So, what's the Huntley school teachers' counteroffer going to cost?

That what a rational person would be asking right about now as Huntley teachers are previewing their picket walking skills.

Here's my first try, about two hours after the Huntley Education Association's reaction to the Huntley School District 158's “Last, Best and Final” offer was posted on the school district's web site.

If you read that article, you'll see that I took the lowest pay category, the highest and the lowest and highest for those with a master's degree.

But, I didn't venture a guess as to the cost.

It appears that the salary increase requested is a wee bit under 7% for the first year. Part is straight salary, part is lane changes being made more lucrative.

The school board offered 5.43%.

My guess is the union request will cost about an extra half million dollars in the first year.

The second year, it looks as if the teachers want an additional almost 8% compensation hike.

That would cost another approximately $800,000 on top of the half million more in the first year.

The third year?

About 9%.

Add another approximately $1.1 million on top of the $500,000 on top of the $800,000. If I'm guessing right, that's a total of $2.4 million.

So, now over $2 million would be added to the budget's base.

And that's not counting the “little” stuff. Would that add up to another million?

Perhaps you begin to get the picture.

No one's talking about whether granting the union “demands” (is that too strong a word?) would put the district is such dire financial straits that another tax rate hike referendum would be needed.

Perhaps the school administration will cost out the Huntley Education Association's counterproposal and share the finding with the public.

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, Teacher Contract, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries, Teacher Strike

Well, not that you can notice in the legislative arena.

But, the platform is being modified a bit.

And, although I don't follow national politics closely, I heard that the pro-life son of former Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey, a pro-lifer who was not allowed to address the 1992 national Democratic Party convention, is going to be permitted to speak this year.

Locally, we have McHenry County Democratic Party coroner candidate Dave Bachmann, who has made no secret of his pro-life views, even showing up at the pro-life political action committee's pig roast.

It must have been intimidating to see the McHenry County Republican Party's elephant float and all the GOP signs out front of Resurrection Center.

And former Republican Dundee Township Republican Central Committee Chairman and GOP Kane County Board member is running as a pro-life Democrat for circuit court judge.

So far, there seems to be a semblance of tolerance for both among local abortion supporting Democrats.

Labels: Abortion, Dave Bachmann, John Noverini, McHenry County Coroner, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life

My nephew went for a ride on Thomas, the Tank Engine, at Union's Illinois Railroad Museum last weekend.

It was crowded.

The attraction is so popular that it is being offered two weekends this year and this weekend is the second weekend.

So, if you have a youngster entranced with Thomas and his friends, Union is the place to be this weekend.

A twenty minute ride and your little one gets to meet Sit Topham Hatt.

You can tell it's for little kids because of their opportunity to build with Duplo Bricks, Lego's little cousin starter toys. Ticket information may be obtained at 866-468-7630 or at www.thomasandfriends.com.

Labels: Illinois Railroad Museum, Thomas, Union

I love weddings.

Maybe because it took three for me to get it right and I realize how tough it is to make a marriage work.

I remember at my 25th Crystal Lake Community High School reunion in 1985. I was sitting at the “divorce table,“ having qualified twice.

Next to Sharon Held, I think. She introduced herself with the needlessly self-deprecating, “Hi. I'm Sharon Held. I used to be an airhead cheerleader. Now I'm a Lt. Commander in the Navy.”

We had a marvelous conversation about how she had followed in her father's Navy footsteps after getting divorced and how she was then the oldest Lt. Commander in the Navy.

A couple who were inseparable in high school came around the tables asking for autographs for their the 1960 yearbook which, to this day, Jeff Jones' colorful cover makes stand out in any line of yearbooks. I think they had been married longer than anyone else in our class. I wrote something about their being one of the first in our class to figure out what life was really all about. They were the important ones in our class, even through they didn't think so.

But, back to last Saturday. The bride was my brother-in-law's twin sister's daughter. I hadn't seen her since her father's primary election day funeral. That day Elizabeth Robinson was not radiant.

Last Saturday as she posed and danced with Rui Campos, the man she had married in the Dominican Republic, Elizabeth was radiant. You can see how radiant in this posed photo which I used Saturday in a piece about advice to the groom how to stay married and this first wedding reception dance that appeared Monday.

There were the toasts, of course.

On the right you see the groom's brother Jo.

The bride's “Best Buddy” Ian Dougherty made the next one, but, since I have a marvelous photo of him from later in the wedding, I'll let you see him then.

Then, Elizabeth's Illinois friend Crystal Lake's Julia Sobieski, a friendship that has lasted through thick and thin times, led in the lifting of glasses.

I didn't get any good pictures of the wedding couple toasting as I did of her Aunt Mary Pat Mercer's to high school admirer Bill Bear at the same location last year.

Then, there were the introductions of family.

Our house guests and proprietor of Joplin's Six-Star Hotel Desmond did the honors for Elizabeth's side of the family.

Rui's “favorite niece” Brianna Campos introduced the gathering to Rue's East Coast relatives.

I wonder if the “favorite niece” line is a running joke similar to Tommy Smothers' line, “Mom always like you best!”

I know my sisters and I always use a variation when the three of us are together.

Beth's Uncle Tom Desmond, from Bloomington, gave the invocation. Tom is Elizabeth's Godfather.

Not off the cuff, he pointed out to the crowd as he unfolded it, but devised over a half an hour he told us later at our shared table.

The next photos are of the couple cutting the cake and that delicious custom of feeding each other a piece.

At least that is what happened at this wedding.

No smash mouth requiring a complete makeover of the bride and revealing hidden hostility.

Just playful mugging by Rui.

Regular readers and targets of my camera know that I'm not big on posed shots. But, when my wife spotted groom Rui talking to his father Lourenco Campos, a posed photo was no option.

Well, if you're going to do a wedding story, you ought to have pictures of the bride and groom's parents, right?

Then, there was the traditional father-daughter dance.

As I wrote on Monday in my crown of roses story, because of Elizabeth's father Phil's untimely death, Uncle Terry Desmond stepped in for Phil. That was appropriate because Terry is the same age as Phil and they "just have that connection," a trusted source advises.

Then, it was time for the mother-son dance.

It's pretty obvious from this photograph that this son is loved.


First was the Electric Slide with my bride the leader of the pack of women and one man who perceptively asked afterward,

“Where else can you be alone with a bunch of women on a dance floor?”

“Best Buddy” toaster Ian Dougherty got this big smile out of Elizabeth's mother Diane on the dance floor. Diane was the party planner, too.

Groom Rui partied it up on the dance floor.

A song that encouraged pointing.

And dancing in a ring.

Lots of gesturing.

It looks as if Rui will fit right in with the Dancing Desmonds.

Someone will tell me the name of the song and group.

I'll add it later.The last Desmond bride, Mary Pat, got hugged by her daughter Meagan.

Never can what your kids will do.

And, the bride and groom got out on the dance floor.

Rui was really getting down.

Elizabeth was not about to be outdone.

You can't tell, but her picture was taken after his.

If you want the tail feathers photo, you'll have to ask to see my private collection.

Did I mention that the Desmond family likes to dance?

Then, the “We Are Family” dancing began.

Sister Sledge's song really motivates this family.

Pretty much all of them got out on the dance floor.

Labels: Elizabeth Campos, Elizabeth Robinson, Rui Campos, Wedding, Wedding Reception

In a story below, I relate how Huntley teachers were holding picket signs for people who were attending last night Huntley School District 158 Board meeting.

The most interesting tid bit came after the board meeting.

Teachers, who had been outside carrying their signs had come in for the meeting.

On the way out, I heard one ask another if he/she would see them “tomorrow on Route 47.”

At first I thought maybe an informational picket was planned on this busy road either before or after school.

That's it, right?

It wouldn't make sense to strike before the first day of school.

Not enough pain for the parents.

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, Message of the Day, Picket Sign, Route 47, Teacher Contract, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries, Teacher Strike

It's Latin.

“This for that.”

And that was the message of Huntley School Board President Shawn Green on behalf of the Huntley School Board after it came out of a half hour secret session at the beginning of the 6 PM meeting.

Green seemed to be saying if the Huntley teachers' union wanted to give up some benefit in the offer made by the board, the board would be willing to exchange that with another benefit.

Former school superintendent and chief negotiator of teacher contracts in the Joliet area and now local taxpayer Don Bonds said he was satisfied with that message.

Bond reviewed the original union request, saying he had counted fifty items that would cost more money.

“Mr. Green, you put (my heart at ease) when you said 'quid pro quo,' this for that.

“I want the board to hold the line,” he concluded, adding, “I think you were overly generous.”

Before Bond spoke, teachers John and Laura Brummer took the podium during the public comment period.

I was taking their photo, so didn't get their words, but it was to the effect that they liked teaching in the district and looked forward to continuing to do so.

Both wore tee shirts that said,


Last up was local retired United Airlines pilot Tom Conley.

Seemingly trying to intimidate the board, he used the union scare word “scab” several times and said, “You're treading on thin ice...I hope you have a professional negotiator. If not, you're (in deep water).”

As the teachers who had left the road leading to the District 158 administrative building to attend the meeting were leaving the room, I heard several saying they would be on Route 47 tomorrow.

Today, Friday, was supposed to be the first day of school.

= = = = =
When the strike comes, the two signs printed by the state union, the Illinois Education Association, can be seen on top of this article. Having no mention of the "H.E.A.," they obviously were not printed up especially for the Huntley Education Association.

The three young women were among others standing along the road to the district's administration building Thursday night before the board meeting.

Here is what the Huntley teachers now say they want.

You can see my quick skim of what it contains here. Both stories were posted yesterday afternoon.

Labels: Don Bonds, Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, quid pro quo, Teacher Contract, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries, Teacher Strike

Maybe readers of the Northwest Herald's hard copy edition may pick up on editorials faster than I do on the computer.

I do notice that fewer people seem to comment on editorials than on news stories or letters to the editor, which may mean fewer online readers see them.

Don't know why, but today I glanced at the editorial.

It seems to be a reprise or at least a continuation of one written right after editorial writers realized that Huntley teachers were making simply outrageous requests.

That was pretty much the pitch yesterday.


In my first story, I pegged the requests at more than 20% increase in benefits; later the school board said they were over 30%.

I got over 20% by figuring out that the teachers' union press release was not forthright. It did not point out the increase in take home pay that would result from not having to pay—with after tax dollars—their share of their pension.

Pointing out that state taxpayers already pay a huge amount toward the Teachers Retirement System, the editorial says,

“The notion that local taxpayers should then pay the teachers’ portion of TRS funding is ridiculous.”

With newspapers having the financial problems they are, one can imagine reporters and other news types are not getting that kind of a raise.

“Given all that is known about the contract, it is beyond disappointing that, in this economic climate, District 158 teachers would even consider striking,”

the editorialist writes.

“Overly generous,” is how the Huntley School Board's offer is described.

And,

“The teacher’s union remains out of touch with reality.”

The Herald says it opposes teachers having the right to strike,

The main message, however, prepare to hire replacement teachers.

I haven't seen that before.

With such support, do you think the Huntley School Board will be emboldened?

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, Northwest Herald

The following mailing has gone out to Jim Tobin's National Taxpayers United of Illinois mailing list. It contains information I have not seen elsewhere that it seems Illinois residents might find of interest.

ILLINOIS TAXPAYERS…

MEET YOUR ENEMIES!

The beat of the drum grows louder and louder calling for a massive state income tax increase. In both the Illinois House and Senate, Democrats representing Chicago and its suburbs are the primary sponsors of legislation that will increase the state income tax by 67% and the corporate tax by 44% resulting in a loss of 100,000 private sector jobs. One downstate Republican is also a sponsor of the tax hike legislation. Those bills are Senate Bill 2288 (SB2288), House Bill 750 (HB750) and Senate Bill 750 (SB750).

Almost every day a new politician or group is demanding more money from taxpayers.

A+ Illinois - A government employee union-funded front group is pushing hard for a 67% state income tax increase. In December 2006, A+ Illinois announced the hiring of a new Campaign Manager to "direct a growing statewide staff, manage a multi-million dollar budget, and tap the energy and resources of the more than 150 member organizations of A+ Illinois". They also hired four more full-time Regional Organizers in December. Leading up to the November election, A+ Illinois "dropped somewhere around $200K worth of mail and robocalls to targeted voters in over 4,000 precincts across roughly ten days," to use their own words.

Ralph Martire - Martire has been the drum major for the 67% income tax increase in Illinois for years now. His Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (accountable to government employees, not taxpayers) is also funded by the government employee unions that would love to see higher taxes so their pay and pensions and union memberships would continue to grow.

Illinois Farm Bureau - The Illinois Farm Bureau has joined the beating of the drum for more income and sales taxes as they look after their corporate farming interests who will be getting a lot of the property tax relief if there is any. The Illinois Farm Bureau has made an income tax increase one of their 2008 Legislative Priorities and they will work with A+ Illinois to accomplish that.

Commercial Club of Chicago, Civic Committee - These big business executives released a flawed report in 2007 calling for a 33% state income tax increase and more sales taxes without ANY tax relief elsewhere. Many of the Commercial Club of Chicago’s members receive large sums of corporate subsidies from Illinois taxpayers, such as the Chicago Bears, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Quaker, Hospira Inc., Boeing, and Motorola to name a few. Even more of their members enjoy large government contracts.

Metropolitan Mayors Caucus - Of course the 200 plus Chicago area Mayors want higher income and sales taxes, because they will be big beneficiaries of higher taxes. On January 4, 2007, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley held a press conference demanding higher income and sales taxes for his schools.

Republican Politicians - A December 26, 2006 article that ran in several Illinois newspapers quoted Ex-Governor Jim Edgar and said he "believes a tax hike is necessary because of the state's financial problems." Current Hutsonville CUSD # 1 School Superintendent AND State Representative Roger Eddy (R-Hutsonville) let it slip when he told the Belleville News-Democrat, "If it takes an income tax increase, it takes an income tax increase.” State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) was interviewed on Public Affairs TV Show by host Jeff Berkowitz and Syverson said, “I think we have to raise the income tax.” State Representative William Black (R-Danville) has signed on as a co-sponsor of HB750, and is the worst of the bunch.

The tax raisers mentioned above are dangerous, but not as dangerous as a group that was formed by State Representative Robert Pritchard (R-DeKalb) who told the Chicago Tribune, "I want to make sure we've got a coordinated package here before I sign on to a tax increase."

Bipartisan Legislative Education Reform Caucus - Rep. Robert Pritchard is spearheading this caucus that is seriously considering raising the income and sales tax. This group held a two-day retreat where they featured Ralph Martire and A+ Illinois, but no one opposed to tax increases. Joining Pritchard in this dangerous group are Rep. Roger Eddy (R-Hutsonville), who is double-dipping as a School Superintendent, Rep. Paul Froehlich (D-Schaumburg), and Rep. Jerry Mitchell (R-Sterling) a former government school superintendent.

Adding to the names mentioned above, these tax-and-spend members of the Illinois State Senate and State House have sponsored or supported a 67 percent increase in your state personal income tax! These enemies will continue to use every opportunity to try to raise your income tax, unless you put a stop to it!

Sen. M. Maggie Crotty (D-19, Oak Forest)* Sen. David Koehler (D-46, Pekin)* Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford (D-4, Westchester)* Sen. Debbie Halvorson (D-40, Crete)^ Sen. John M. Sullivan (D-47, Quincy)^ Sen. Michael Frerichs (D-52, Champaign)* Sen. Michael Noland (D-22, Elgin)* Sen. Louis Viverito (D-11, Burbank)* Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-12, Cicero)* Sen. Deanna Demuzio (D-49, Carlinville)* Sen. James Clayborne Jr. (D-57, East St. Louis)* Sen. James T. Meeks (D-15, Chicago)* Sen. Rickey R. Hendon (D-5, Chicago)* Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-13, Chicago)* Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-16, Chicago)* Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-3, Chicago)* Sen. Donne Trotter (D-17, Chicago)* Sen. Carol Ronen (D-7, Chicago) ^ Sen. Iris Martinez (D-20, Chicago)* Sen. Edward D. Maloney (D-18, Chicago)^ Sen. John Cullerton (D-6, Chicago)* Sen. Emil Jones Jr. (D-14, Chicago)* Sen. William Delgado (D-2, Chicago)* Sen. Heather Steans (D-7, Chicago)*		Rep. Wyvetter Younge (D-114, E. St. Louis)* Rep. William B. Black (R-104, Danville)* Rep. Deborah L. Graham (D-78, Oak Park)* Rep. Karen A. Yarbrough (D-7, River Forest)* Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez (D-24, Cicero)* Rep. Eddie Washington (D-60, Waukegan)* Rep. George Scully, Jr. (D-80, Crete)* Rep. Robert Rita (D-28, Crestwood)* Rep. Al Riley, (D-38, Matteson)* Rep. William Davis (D-30, Riverdale)* Rep. David E. Miller (D-29, Dolton)* Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-1, Chicago)^ Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-3, Chicago)^ Rep. Esther Golar (D-6, Chicago)* Rep. Annazette Collins (D-10, Chicago)* Rep. Marlow H. Colvin (D-33, Chicago)* Rep. Cynthia Soto (D-4, Chicago)* Rep. John A. Fritchey (D-11, Chicago)* Rep. Constance Howard (D-34, Chicago)* Rep. Elga Jefferies (D-26, Chicago)* (defeated 2/5/08) Rep. Harry Osterman (D-14, Chicago)* Rep. Milton Patterson (D-32, Chicago)* Rep. Arthur Turner (D-9, Chicago)* Rep. Maria Antonia Berrios (D-39, Chicago)^
* = Current Sponsor of HB 750, SB 750 or SB2288. ^ = Have supported HB 750 or SB 750 in public or previous session.

The Service Employees Union, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Chicago Teachers Union, and AFSCME are also among the groups demanding higher income taxes.

Even some big businesses benefit from higher taxes. In 2005, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity received $167 million from the state coffers to spread to business interests through programs like Opportunity Returns. The Build Illinois Act allowed Springfield to give handouts to large corporations like Abbott Laboratories’ Hospira Inc., Target, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Menard Inc., and Quaker Manufacturing. In 2006, the state of Illinois appropriated $37.6 million to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority that has already spent $200 million on US Cellular Field where the White Sox barely have to pay rent.

Big business likes its profitable government contracts and subsidies and government employee unions like their lucrative jobs. These special interests have more money and clout, but the voters would still rather see tax cuts than tax hikes. Get ready though, because the battle over our income is going to be won or lost this year.

Labels: A+ Illinois, Bill Black, Dave Syverson, Illinois Farm Bureau, Income Tax Hike, Jerry Mitchell, Jim Tobin, Metropolitan Mayors Conference, NTU, Ralph Martire, Robert Pritchard, Roger Eddy

Yesterday, I explained how a local government dependent on property taxes could reasonably argue that it needed to keep a bank balance high enough to allow it to get from the end of its fiscal year to when real estate taxes are distributed in May and June.

But the City of Crystal Lake collected under $1.8 million in property taxes in 2007. You can enlarge the image by clicking on it.

That's out of over $18.5 million in total revenue for its general fund accounts.

So, less than 10% of Crystal Lake's city revenues come from real estate taxes.

$150,000 a month.

Virtually a rounding error. Certainly no justification for keeping a $15-$17 million end of year balance in the bank or to raise city sales taxes by 75%.

Then, there's the $11.2 that came from sales taxes. Checks come every month.

Again, no reason to keep a $15-17 million bank balance or to raise city sales taxes by 75%.

Over $3 million came from month checks resulting from the city share of the state income tax.

Regular payments, so no justification for an end of year balance.

And, another big item, telecommunications' taxes brought in $1.9 million, again, deposited monthly. No need to accumulate money to wait until one or more lump sums showed up.

Look closely at how much revenue was collect in comparison to the amount expected.

Add the bottom two lines of this page from the 2007 audit together

$900,000 more was collected than predicted to be raised.

So, what is the justification for keeping almost 75% of a year's budget in the bank?

And, what is the justification for Mayor Aaron Shepley's and his city council majority having raised the city sales tax by 75%.

When a government has more money than it needs, taxpayers ought to ask


Certainly, conservatives think individuals can better decide how to spend the money they earn than governments.

I am under no illusion that many, if any, Crystal Lake taxpayers are willing to spend any time taking on an overtaxing city hall.

But, I did think readers ought to be able to see what's not in the city's financial records to justify Mayor Aaron Shepley's 75% city sales tax increase.

Labels: 75% Sales Tax Hike, Aaron Shepley, Audit, Crystal Lake, Crystal Lake Audit, End of Year Balance

There are some really amusing parts of the Huntley teachers' union counterproposal made public by School District 158's school board yesterday.

I'm no expert in union contract language, but one completely ridiculous proposal involves a minor suggestion for merit pay, a real no-no for the Illinois Education Association, the guiding force in Huntley Education Association negotiations.

The school board proposed allowing the school superintendent to provide a $500 bonus each year for performance.

The counterproposal:

Cut it down to $50 and let the union decide who gets it.

Come on, don't you find that amusing?

I've compared the top and the bottom of the two salary scales.

For the bottom of the scale, the union seeks about 0.8% more. For the top of the scale, the increase would be 1.8%.

Sort of figures, doesn't it?

The most senior teachers tend to have the most influence in the union.

Someone with just a master's degree, would get the same addition income as would a beginning teacher.

But, master's degree folks with 17 years' experience would get 6.4% more than those just having gotten that degree.

Presumably to prevent the school district from being penalized under state law by the Teachers Retirement System for excessive final years' raises, the board proposed restricting raises in the last four years (on which a teacher's pension is based) to 6% a year.

The counterproposal:

Forget that. The union does not want to let the taxpayers off the hook for excessive final raise costs imposed by the TRS.

The board proposed that all medical and dental insurance enrollees (including family members, I assume) pay $10 per month for each.

The union's counterproposal:

Zero employee contributions.

The board proposed increasing extracurricular payments by 7% the first year and by the increase in the Cost of Living each other year of the contract.

The union's counterproposal:

Give us 7% each year of the contract.

With regard to supervisory assignments, the board offered $29.00 per hour with an annual increase of $1 per hour thereafter

For the following, $25.00 an hour was proposed for the length of the contract:

• Concerts (Mandatory assignment)
• Scorebook Keeping (night/day-home games)
• General supervision of athletic contests
• General supervision of concerts
• Saturday suspension
• Bus Duty (outside of standard regular scheduled hours)
• In School Suspension

The union counterproposal?

Nothing at the $25 level.

The board proposed cutting sick days for those employed under 4 years from 14 to 10.

The union counterproposal:

Nope.

The union wants to remove the following language from the board's proposal:

The standard school day shall be used for classroom instruction, duty-free lunch, designated planning, before and after school professional responsibilities and other professional responsibilities as established by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

It is understood that the obligation of certified staff members as professionals may on occasion extend beyond the standard school day, which may include Curriculum Night and Open House.

Certified staff members must be available to assist with the safety of the students before and after school. This includes providing supervision from the bus to the classroom and from the classroom to the bus at the end of the student day.

Special Ed teachers would be allowed to have up to five more students than state guidelines allow under the board's proposal.

The union counterproposal:

No.

Throughout the contract, the board wants to limit language to teachers, but the union wants it to refer to “certified staff members.”

The board wants a four-year contract, but the teachers' union seeks a three-year agreement.

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, Teacher Contract, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries, Teacher Strike, Teachers Retirement System

And, you can find it here or here.

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, Teacher Contract, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries, Teacher Strike

We were anchored off Crystal Lake's North Shore about where the City of Crystal Lake employees were pumping water while Crystal Lake was at flood stage last year.

My son and his friend were diving for treasures at the shallow, rocky bottom.

And what did my son find?

Baby zebra mussels on rocks.

I found a larger one which was attached to a piece of seaweed.

My guess is that people who go wading where I did yesterday will have to wear rubber shoes in a couple of years or their feet will end up with lots of cuts from full grown zebra mussels.

My son's friend found some native mussels.

They'll probably be crowded out by the alien zebra mussels.

Click to enlarge any picture.

Labels: Bottoms Up, Crystal Lake, Message of the Day, North Shore, Zebra Mussels

You can find it here.

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, Teacher Contract, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries, Teacher Strike

The Federal government released statistics about how hospitals treat Medicare patients today. Or at least in Fiscal Year 2007.

I looked that the two Centegra hospitals, in Woodstock and McHenry, plus Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.

Under whether a hospital did an apparently needed heart test, here's what I found (all images can be enlarged by clicking on them):

What patients say about nursing care can be seen below:

I also found a 30-day heart problem death rate chart, which you can see here:

The least favorable index I found was whether one's hospital was quiet enough at night. NOT.

Note that the three local hospitals were pretty close to the norm on each of the measures I looked at, except keeping the rooms quiet at night. Looks like there is room for improvement there.

All charts can be enlarged.

Labels: Centegra, Good Shepherd Hospital, Medicare

Governments financed primarily by property taxes need to be able to make it to the county treasurer's distribution date for the first installment

When I was McHenry County Treasurer in the late 1960's, I distributed money every week from the time the bill were sent out. I even advanced some money to a couple of districts who needed it.

My predecessor had let the money accumulate in a checking account until sometime in mid- to late June. (Bills were due on June 1st.) The last year I invested the float in the Collector's Account on an overnight basis.

The property tax provides two big shots of money, even if a county treasurer doesn't distribute the real estate taxes as they are paid.

So,

1. if a district's fiscal year ended on April 30th, as does Crystal Lake's, and


2. if property taxes were a significant revenue source,

the tax district would want to have enough money in the bank to tide it over until the distribution checks started flowing.

If McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew is still following the distribution pattern I initiated over forty years ago, that would mean our April 30th fiscal year end district would not need much money in the bank to tide it over until property tax checks started arriving.

Certainly no more that one-eight of a year's spending—enough to last a month and a half or until mid-June.

In Crystal Lake's case, with its $22 million 2007-08 budget, that would mean keeping less that $3 million in the bank.

Crystal Lake, as was discussed in yesterday's article, has had a $15 to over $17 million in the bank for the last four years.

Tomorrow: Implications of Crystal Lake's Huge Bank Balance

Labels: 75% Sales Tax Hike, Aaron Shepley, Audit, Bill LeFew, Crystal Lake Audit, End of Year Balance, McHenry County Treasurer

I know that Jill Stanek used the word “incompetent” on the Sean Hannity show last night in describing Senator Barack Obama's Illinois State Senate voting record on the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act.

Apparently, State Senator Obama voted against the same language that passed the U.S. Senate.

Obama denied that accusation (see Washington Post story) by the National Right to Life Committee, to which Stanek indicated Obama was either not telling the truth “or incompetent.”

Stanek has related in many forums how she held for forty-five minutes an aborted, but still alive Down Syndrome boy abandoned in a laundry room at south suburban Christ Hospital where she was a delivery room nurse.

I think I heard some mention that the hospital denied the even happened earlier in the day. That surprised Stanek. She said something like, “They've never done that before.”

Obama, in turn, has said the NRTL Committee is “lying.”

Labels: Abortion, Barack Obama, Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, Christ Hospital, Jill Stanek

These two ducks at Lakewood's Gate 3 Beach were driving for food on a delightful 80-degree day this week.

Labels: Bottoms Up, Crystal Lake, Duck, Gate 3, Message of the Day

Maybe in response to the Huntley teachers' union's rejection of its “last, best and final offer,” the Huntley School Board has canceled its special meeting tonight:

CANCELLATION NOTICE

The Board of Education of Consolidated School District 158, of McHenry and Kane Counties, Illinois, has cancelled the Special Meeting scheduled for this evening Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. to continue discussion with the HEA on negotiating matters.

Today's meeting had been announced two days ago, perhaps by a board optimistic that they might approve the 5.43% salary hike which had been offered:

NOTICE – Special Meeting

The Board of Education of Consolidated School District 158, of McHenry and Kane Counties, Illinois, has called a Special Meeting for Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. to be held at the Square Barn Road Campus, Administrative Building, 650 Academic Drive, Algonquin, Illinois in the boardroom. The purpose of the meeting is to hold a closed session for collective negotiating matters.

Agenda

1) Call to Order – Shawn Green / Roll Call

2) Closed session as outlined per 105ILCS 120/2c of the Open Meetings Act for collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. Roll Call.

4) Adjournment

The board will still hold its regular meeting at 6 PM Thursday night.

Want to bet against a lot of teachers attending?

Maybe there will be some taxpayers, too.

Labels: Huntley School District 158, Teacher Contract, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries, Teacher Strike

Huntley middle school teacher Mark Stahl, the lead negotiator for the teachers' union, made a presentation to the union membership on Tuesday afternoon.

The “presentation,” dripping with sarcasm and bashing the Huntley School Board, which apparently the union no longer controls, gave the meeting the aura of a pep rally a Homecoming.

I can still remember Crystal Lake Community High School's pep rally in preparation of a football game with the Woodstock Blue Streaks. Nothing good was said about the Blue Streaks. (Ironic that Woodstock's teachers' salaries were never used by union negotiators. See


The rally's “bashees,” the elected guys and gals who, on behalf of the taxpayers, made a “last, best and final offer” of a 5.43% raise, plus dropping the work year from 183 to 182 days to the mainly non-resident teachers (other details at the link).

As someone getting a public pension with a 3% annual cost of living increase, I'm envious (but still grateful).

And, yes, I know, most readers are envious of my and other retired public employees' (including retired teachers') annual 3% cost of living raise on July 1st of every year.

(Hint, if you want to change that for future public employees, the state constitution needs to be changed. If you vote to call a constitutional convention this fall, that issue could be on the table.)

With as good an offer as was made, it is no wonder Huntley Education Association (that is, union) leaders wouldn't allow teachers to meet directly with the board.

No wonder the union got a “No” vote from its members.

“Overwhelming,” they told newspaper reporters.

Now, the union leadership can officially say they did not recommend against the Huntley School District 158's final offer.

They just ridiculed it.

They raised great expectations for a sizable salary increase beyond what the board offered.

Yeah, right.

Looks like we're in for a long strike.

We'll see how what is apparently a new school board majority reacts to such a threat.

Of course, the walk out will occur several weeks after the teachers go back to work.

The Illinois Education Association union needs time to prepared for the confrontation, to get the parents used to sending their children to school.

Without a contract, I wonder if the school board will pay them at last year's pay scale.

Or will it do what California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger did when his state legislature would not pass a budget—pay them minimum wage?

You don''t have to be a union leader genius to know that the Huntley School Board will not cave in the next three weeks.

Nobody likes to be blackmailed.

If you are a parent, I wouldn't cut your ties to whomever is tending to your kids this summer.

And, remember.

The best weather of the year is often while schools are starting...way too soon, in my opinion.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, IEA, Illinois Education Association, Mark Stahl

Certified Master Arborist Wayne White came to Crystal Lake to save the ash that my father's neighbor Walt Southern convinced him not to chop down lo those many years ago.

Lots of folks are arborists, but only about 300 are Board Certified.

White is one of those.

He has perfected the methodology to save ash trees from the Emerald ash borer with a five year course of treatment.

He arrived in my driveway in a brand new panel truck.

He's going to wrap it with his advertising cartoons and messages like the one you see above.

Maybe by the time he makes his next trip from the Detroit area, it won't be plain white, but wrapped to advertise his business like the truck with the visible tanks whose picture he sent me.

With local towns figuring how much it will cost to cut down every ash tree on public property, wouldn't you think at least one of them might do a cost benefit analysis to find out if poisoning the little green critters over a five year period might cost about the same as cutting them down and planting a replacement?

Even if it cost a bit more, keeping a mature tree might be worth something.

After he finished treating our ash, White showed me his successes.

The most dramatic was from the Oakland County International Airport. (See Chapter 8 of www.TreeResearch.org's Emerald Ash Borer, The History and Control of EAB.)

He held up his book of photographs. On top were healthy trees at the airport. They have been treated five years now.

On the bottom is what the neighborhood looks like on the other side of road. He said it is what Naperville will look like five years from now (except with bigger homes) if its ash trees are not treated.

Because of the lack of leaves, you might think it is winter in the bottom pictures. But it is summer. You can tell by the green grass. (Click to enlarge photograph.)

Apparently there is treatment and there is treatment.

The chemical has been around a long time. It's called imidicloprid. It's biggest use is probably killing Japanese Beetles.

It's how the Arbor Systems-supplied pesticide is applied which is the key.

Competitors drill holes in the ash trees and inject the liquid.

White punches through the bark, but does not disturb the cambium as drilling does. You can see White using his punch above.

The cambium is the layer through which water is transferrred primarily up the tree and sugars travel primarily down the tree. Drilling disrupts this natural flow system and cause the tree to comparmentalize (wall off) this wounded area.

Next, the Master Arborist uses the instrument especially designed by Arbor Systems called the Wedge Tree Injection System to inject the chemical behind the bark. A close-up of White taking the syringe-like injecting device can be seen above.

Below you can see him working his way around the tree.

After finishing injecting the tree, White goes for the combination pesticide and fertilizer which is contained in tanks in his truck.

When he reaches the tree, he uses his foot to push the tube for injecting the liquid into the ground. You can see how some of it spreads out of the relatively little hole punched in the ground below.

So, one application of pesticide and fertilizer a year.

Guaranteed to keep the ash tree alive and uninfected by the Emerald Ash Borer for a year.

Five years of treatment should save the tree, White told me. He points to the thriving Detroit-area ash trees as evidence.

White is beginning to advertise in the Chicago area. Below is one of his ads. The web site address is www.AshBorer.com. The email address is Save the Ash.

My thanks to the discoverer of the first Emerald Ash Borer in McHenry County, Stan Gladbach of Algonquin. His research got me in touch with Wayne White.

Here is White's pricing:

Up to 20 inches is $16 per inch, then its $14 per inch up to 50 inches, then $12 per inch, EXCEPT my measurements are in diameter inches.

So 75 inches circumference is 24 inches in diameter. 24 times $14 = $336.

He told me that those contracting for large numbers of ash trees can get a discount.

= = = = =
Remember, all images can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Labels: Certified Master Aborist, Crystal Lake, Wayne White

So, I went looking for Crystal Lake's audit at the Crystal Lake Library.

As I wrote earlier, it wasn't there, even though the very same audit included the audit of the library itself.

So, over to city hall I went.

I've looked at a lot of audits in my life. I served on the Legislative Audit Commission in the 1970's. I even looked at some in the 1970's for the City of Crystal Lake at the old city hall before it was sold off without public bidding.

Selling off public property without public bidding seems to be popular in McHenry County, by the way. That's how the county board sold the old highway department building and the western part of the county fairgrounds. That's where the Jewel shopping center is.

But, back to the most recent audit.

I was wondering how dire the city's financial circumstances were.

The city must have been in real trouble for the majority of the city council to follow Mayor Aaron Shepley's lead and hike the city sales tax 75%, wouldn't you think?

So, click on the page that I have posted here. It's a summary page entitled


Look at the bottom line.

No really.

It's not a figure of speech. It's where you see how much money the city had at the end of April, 2007. Click on the image and enlarge it.

The estimate listed is almost $16.6 million.

The year before it was $17.6 million.

The year before that $15.7 million.

Looks pretty healthy, doesn't it? Especially, when one looks at the annual budget of $21-22 million.

At the end of April this past year, the city was projecting it would have almost $15 million in the bank.

A bit of a drop, but, hey, that's what you hire a professional city manager and staff for.

Economize.

Make the expenditures match the revenue.

But Mayor Shepley declared, “...there is no waste.”

Mayor Shepley and all but one councilman, Jeff Thorsen, took the easy way out.

They raised taxes.

And that easy way out is exactly what Mayor Shepley and his followers on the city council did.

They voted for a sales tax hike that is estimated to bring in an extra $4.7 million.

Even if there were a $1 million short fall, why hike taxes by almost $5 million?

Oh, I forgot.

Lots of the money is going to be used for the very same purpose for which the Route 14 Vulcan Lakes Tax Increment Financing District was passed—developing recreational opportunities at Vulcan Lakes.

More will go to a senior citizen center.

Now that I'm a senior citizen, I'm trying to figure out why I need a center.

What else?

It must be so unimportant I can't remember.

Looking it up, I see there was $100,000 for economic development. Anyone want to bet that pittance won't offset the negatived economic incentives of the 75% city sales tax hike?

Oh, I forgot.

The “I Shop Crystal Lake” stickers will make the difference.

Tomorrow: How large should the end of year balance be for Crystal Lake?

Labels: 75% Sales Tax Hike, Aaron Shepley, Audit, Crystal Lake, Crystal Lake Audit, End of Year Balance

I speculated yesterday that retiring Illinois Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) would retire from his legislative post, take a job with best buddy and Governor Rod Blagojevich's administration, then resign with a higher pension base than his current $95,313 and get the pension he thinks he deserves.

Then, he can take the job that everyone thinks he will get with newly-elected President Barack Obama.

With his current final salary, upon which pensions of those in the General Assembly Retirement System are based, Jones can expect to get $81,016 the first year, if he requests it right after his senate service ends, presumably next January. (85% times $95,313.)

Twelve months after his first check, a calculation called “accrual” by the pension administrators kicks in.

An additional amount equal to 3 percentage point times the number of years since Jones was eligible for retirement will be added to his annual pension.

His colleague and close ally State Senator Rickey Hendon revealed on TV that Jones had 36 years of pension credits.

That seems to count each of his legislative years.

I heard that he was a city sewer inspector. If those years were before he served in the legislature, the number to be multiplied by 3 percentage points would be larger.

Anyway, at minimum, Emil Jones' pension would increase by 16 times 3 percentage points.

That's 48%.

So, the January after next, Jones could expect an extra $38,877 a year resulting from not having retired after twenty years employment in government.

Totaling $119,904 per year.

But it would really be a bit larger than that because next July 1st, Jones, along with all other public pensioners, will get their annual 3% “cost of living” increase.

Of course, if Jones delayed his retirement a month, he could receive a much, much larger pension increase a year into retirement...if Blagojevich gives him a job paying, say, $150,000, and he retires using that as his pension salary base in February.

85% times $150,000 equals $127,500.

$127,500 times 148% equals $188,700.

And, as I mentioned above, if Jones were on a public payroll before he took office as state representative in 1973, the 48% would be an addition 3 percentage points times that number of years.

Labels: Emil Jones, Legislative Pension, Rod Blagojevich

Long-time columnist for the Northwest Herald and predecessor papers Don Peasley revealed a bit over a week ago that

“The fair board is a participant in developing a multi-purpose events facility in cooperation with a proposed minor league baseball stadium under leadership of the McHenry County Community Foundation.

“Foundation staff members are evaluating 200-acre sites in the general area of McHenry County College or perhaps south of Woodstock.”

Just thought you might be interested.

Perhaps that is what McHenry County College Board members Scott Summers and George Lowe were pointing to on this map, the night the board decided to hide behind plastic curtains. And illegally kick members of the public out. You know, the one MCC won't tell how much money was paid to lawyers when McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi filed suit charging the college with violating the Open Meetings Act.

A better view of the map can be seen below. Ironically, in both photos board member George Lowe's head can be seen.

Labels: Baseball Stadium, Crystal Lake Watershed, Don Peasley, George Lowe, MCC, McHenry County College, McHenry County Community Foundation, Scott Summers

Oh, well.

Huntley teachers don't like School District 158's offer.

Meeting this afternoon at Huntley High School, the teachers “overwhelmingly” rejected the board's offer, according to the two Heralds.

One of the articles posted recently says the teachers are not ready to go on strike, despite having filed a notice that they might.

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

Our newly-21 year nephew Joey wore this tee shirt to his family birthday part at Wonder Lake last Sunday.

It says,

Labels: 21 Years Old, Beer, Birthday Party, Message of the Day, T-Shirt, Tee Shirt, Wonder Lake

Ordinarily, a congressional candidate would love to get his name in the first paragraph of a story.

Not Robert Abboud, the Democratic candidate for the 16th congressional district seat of incumbent Don Manzullo.

A Barrington Hills family was robbed by three black men late last week.

The residents were bound and gagged, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Most homes sit on 5-acre or larger lots.

Barrington Hills village president Abboud made the first sentence of a long Chicago Sun-Times article, which added:

"We will find these people,'' Abboud said Saturday. "We will hunt them down.''

And, in a message to potential buglers, this is how WBBM-News quoted Abboud:

“Abboud says Barrington Hills has no handgun restrictions.”

Even some of the rich liberals there might be packing if you come calling.

Labels: 16th Congressional District, Barrington Hills, Don Manzullo, Gun Control, Robert Abboud

Chief McHenry County Circuit Court Judge Sullivan J. Sullivan has so many mortgage foreclosure cases on the docket that he is setting up special calls each week.

Starting September 2nd, the 22nd Judicial Circuit will hear mortgage foreclosures three days a week.

The cases will be heard Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, starting at 10:30.

Sullivan himself will hear the cases.

Fifty cases will be on each day's docket.

The dockets for September 2nd, 4th, 9th and 11th are already filed.

As the Chicago Sun-Time pointed out this week, lots of folks who bought homes in the last five years have properties with mortgages larger than their homes' current values.

And the number of foreclosures has about doubled from last year.

While not all of the chancery court call cases are foreclosures, most are.

In 2007, there were 892 cases.

Through July of this year, 1,362 have been filed.

Tuesday, the Chicago Sun-Times ran a front page headline about the problem.

Inside was a map showing a map with percentages of homes bought in the last five years where current values of homes is less than the mortgage.

Most of southeastern McHenry County seems to have over 20% of recent home purchasers in that predicament. Large swatches of Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Huntley and McHenry seem to have over 31% of new homeowners without enough equity to pay off their mortgages.

= = = = =
Click to enlarge especially the Sun-Times map on top and the March Chicago Tribune map on the bottom. An April, 2008, story about the Tribune map can be found here in which it is noted that Huntley and western Lake in the Hills appear to have the worst problems in McHenry County.

Labels: Forclosure Court, Michael J. Sullivan, Mortgage Foreclosure

Call me cynical, but I expect Senate President Emil Jones to end up getting paid a lot more than he does now after leaving office in January.

I expect his good buddy Governor Rod Blagojevich,to put Jones on the payroll so that Jones can get a much bigger public pension than he would otherwise.

Jones, of course, has not made it a secret that he wanted a higher salary.

Oh, Jones won't work long. Just long enough to increase his pension base to the new salary.

It's a typical strategy.

Ask former State Rep. Roger Stanley, whom Secretary of State George Ryan put briefly on the payroll to increase his pension.

Media types are talking about his going to work for Barack Obama when he gets elected president.

Maybe, but I think there will be interim employment.

Labels: Barack Obama, Emil Jones, Legislative Pension, Rod Blagojevich

Take it or leave it.

That seems to be what Huntley School District 158 is saying with its “Last, Best, and Final Offer.”

You can read the school board's summary of its offer below:

Last, Best, and Final Offer
For Informational Purposes Only
August 18, 2008

Certified Member Work Day

• One of the major goals of the Board of Education (BOE) was to increase the "formal” work day to 8.5 hours (with 30 minutes of those being a duty free lunch). It was always recognized that most of our teachers work in excess of that on a daily basis. After much negotiating and listening to the Huntley Education Association (HEA) leadership, the Board has dropped its proposal for increased time in the work day.

• In the previous contract, the work year was 183 days; the work year now has been reduced to 182 days in the Board’s offer. Both the Board and HEA negotiating team have agreed that this day reflects an economic value of a .55% salary increase.

Compensation

• Since the time of its original proposal, the BOE desired to have an alternative salary schedule with fewer lanes and no formal guaranteed percentage step increases. After listening and negotiating with the HEA leadership, the Board reluctantly is offering to return to the traditional schedule with 9 lanes and 3.5% steps.

• In the Board’s offer, the average increase in compensation in year one is 5.43%. With the value of one less work day, the economic value becomes 5.98%.

• 50% of teachers will see an increase on the salary schedule in year one of at least 5.25%. More than 70% of the teachers will see an increase on the salary schedule of at least 5%.

• The salary schedule in year one is fixed, and in subsequent years it is based on CPI (Consumer Price Index). The schedule will increase by CPI + .65%. All lane changes are in addition to these percentages.

A teacher who has both a step and lane change will see an annual increase ranging from 6.35% to 7.35%. Additionally, a teacher attaining a Masters Degree from B24 to M0 would receive a 9.5% increase. See Exhibit A for the 2009 and 2010 salary schedules (2010 is an example and assumes a 9.5% CPI increase).

• At the middle and high ends of our salary schedule, our salaries are higher than both of our neighboring unit school districts (Districts 200 and 300) even with those districts’ partial TRS payments being accounted for.

For example, a teacher at MA45 + 21 years makes $81,466 in District #158, $75,811 in District #200, and $77,531 in District #300.

• Extra curricular stipends increase by 7% in year one and by CPI in the subsequent years.

• Insurance benefits from the district have increased in each of the four years of the proposal. The Board listened and was responsive to the HEA bargaining team and made the increase most considerable in the family plans.

Over the term of the contract, the Board’s contribution for single coverage increases by over 12% and over 24% for family coverage (10% of which is in the first year). In the event that there is a premium increase over 10%, the Board will assume 50% of that increase, thus sharing the risk with the employees.

• At the recommendation of the administration, the Board has the option of paying up to a $500 honorarium per year, per teacher, for outstanding performance.

Professional Education

• Attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers continues to be a priority of the District.

• The schedule continues to offer nine salary lanes that provide salary increases for teachers who attain further graduate hours and a Masters Degree.

• “National Teacher Certification” was a new item added to this contract proposal. With regards to teachers who attain this certification they will receive a $4,000 stipend per year ($2,000 first year, $3,000 second year, and $4,000 fourth and subsequent years). This is on top of the increases in the salary schedule. For a teacher making $50,000, this is an 8% raise in addition to other salary and benefit increases.

Final Offer

• Much has been said about perceived issues that both sides faced throughout this long negotiating process. In its original proposal, the Board presented a reasonable economic proposal rather than offering a lowball number to the HEA.

Because of this, the Board never had much room to move economically.

In the end, serious negotiating took place but both sides were unable to reach a mutually agreeable settlement.

The Board has modified many of its original proposal items.

One of the primary goals of the Board is to ensure the District can afford this contract without having to cut services to students or go to the taxpayers for an Education Fund Referendum.

In order to meet this goal, the Board could not go any further in adding to this contract.

Consequently, on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 1:30 a.m. the Board offered its Last, Best, and Final Offer.

The HEA informed the Board that it is taking this offer to the full HEA membership for a vote.

The Huntley Education Association will meet at 1 PM at the Huntley High School to vote on the offer.

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, Teacher Contract, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries, Teacher Strike

This crown of roses ringed the head of Elizabeth Robinson in her first wedding reception dance to Rui Campos at the Eagles Hall in Gilberts on Saturday night.


Here's my message to the groom.

Yesterday, I published Elizabeth dancing with her Uncle Terry Desmond Sunday. Terry was filing in for Elizabeth's father Phil Robinson, a gentle man, who died unexpectedly in early February.

Labels: Crown, Crown of Roses, Elizabeth Campos, Elizabeth Robinson, First Dance, Rui Campos, Wedding

On the west side of Wonder Lake in Greenwood Township is Highland Shores, where my in-laws live.

My mother-in-law is quite good at saving politic messages for me.

I hadn't been up in a while, so my reporting on this hand out by McHenry County Democrats is a bit late.

It arrived on my in-laws' door knob a couple of week ago.

It features 8 ½ by 6 inches pieces for McHenry County State's Attorney candidate Tom Cynor and McHenry County Auditor candidate Kerry Julian, plus the same size piece from the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee. The latter has web sites for all the candidates who have them.

There is also a smaller card for McHenry County board candidate Robert Ludwig. I believe he is the one who didn't have a sense of humor about my pointing out that the Emerald Ash Borer leaves a “D”-shaped hole in trees it is attacking.

This is the second time that Democrats have been out working in County Board District 6. In late June, they worked the Sun City portion in Huntley.

I guess they don't believe that their county board candidates' having gotten fewer primary election votes that the victorious Democratic Party candidates means they're not going to win in November.

I wonder if any Republicans in District 6 are going door-to-door.

If you receive a little baggy from McHenry County Democrats, please drop me an email.

Labels: District 6, Highland Shores, Kerry Julian, McHenry County Board, Robert Ludwig, Tom Cynor, Wonder Lake

That was the question that I and two Crystal Lake Library employees pondered last Wednesday.

I went to the library to look at the most recent audit.

The one that should have been finished sometime last fall.

The information lady was sure that it would be posted on the internet on the city's web site.

Nope?

Wasn't there.

She sent me back to the reference desk.

That librarian found the city budget.

But, the audit was no place to be found.

The helpful information desk librarian called city hall and told me she was transferred to three people before she discovered I could look at a copy, if I went to city hall.

So, I drove north and parked.

When I asked for the latest audit, the woman at the counter asked for my driver's license.

I asked, “Why?”

She told me it would be returned when I returned the audit.

Bet I would not have had to surrender my driver's license or even reveal my name had the city hall folks put their audit at the library.

I'm pretty certain that one of the librarians requested the audit, which, I discovered, also contains the library's own audit. That's because the library is a city library and serves no one outside of Crystal Lake...unless someone like me walks in and asks a reasonable question.

= = = = =
You can tell from the coats in the photo of the newly-remodeled library that it was not taken in mid-August. It was taken in May.

Labels: Crystal Lake, Crystal Lake Audit, Crystal Lake City Hall, Crystal Lake Library

Its McHenry County members are the ones holding a Memory Walk September 14th at Lake in the Hills’ Sunset Park, which I promoted earlier.

“Last year with the help of corporate sponsors and more than 300 walkers we raised $80,000!!”

To download the coupon, click on “comments” at the bottom of this article and print the article you see. Then, it’s just a matter of clipping out the coupon.

If other group’s would like me to do the same for them, just send a copy of the coupon to the email in the article that stays at the top of McHenry County Blog.

Labels: Alzheimer’s Association, Culver's, McHenry County Memory Walk, Sunset Park

The uncle and aunt of of bride Elizabeth Robinson Campos were in a mobile home fire at Myrtle Beach earlier in early April.

Mary and Terry Desmond got out just in time, as you can see by photos a neighbor was taking as the conflagration occurred. The fire started in the shelter to the left of the mobile home.

The wind was blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean where they parted their retirement mobile home. The black part at the bottom front of the mobile home is for storage. It had not gotten hot enough to burn yet.

A father and his son who had just arrived at the park noticed the fire and warned the two just in time for them to get out safely, albeit in bed clothes.

The three wooden crosses survived.

Labels: Cross, Fire, Mary Desmond, Mobil Home, Myrtle Beach, Terry Desmond

I wrote earlier what I thought Cook County Sheriff should do about the scathing Federal investigator's findings about the Cook County Jail.

To put it briefly,

Tom Dart should throw up his hands, blame the Cook County Board for not providing enough money to bring the Cook County Jail up to standards and ask the Federal Court to take over the jail and make the needed improvements.

Then, he should take credit.

When I wrote my original story, little did I know that Federal Receiver Clark Kelso in California was going to recommend $8 billion over five years be seized from the California treasury to finance prison reforms there, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The argument for seizing the money is buttressed, the Receiver writes, by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's “recent public assertions of extraordinary power to control staste spending regarding state employee salaries and their acknowledgment that the state retains very substantial financial resources to fund necessary programs.” (You may have read that Schwarzenegger is paying state workers the minimum wage because a budget has not been passed.)

The California Receiver goes on to cite concerns similar to the ones brought up by Cook County Jail's Federal investigator:

• Medical care (“It is undisputed, however, that the state was incapable of remedying years of neglect by in the prison medical care system...The state chose for decades to permit the medical system to rot and decay. ”)


• Medical facilities


• Overcrowding

You get the picture.

Where would the money go?

$2 billion to renovate 33 prison clinics.

$6 billion for seven new prisons “for the long-term medical, mental health and dental care of 10,000 inmates.”

The Receiver is also asking $2 million a day in punitive fines, “ increasing by $1 million a day every 10 day, that would set aside for his use,” the article says.

Schwarzenegger included a then-$7 billion request in his budget this year, but Republicans would not support it with an expansion of the state prison system for regular prisoners.

Labels: Arnold Schwartzenegger, California, Cook County Jail, Cook County Sheriff, Tom Dart

Round tabling.

• The practice of people sitting around a table signing names on petitions from a phone book or other source.


• Technique for lazy or disparate politicians to get enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Around McHenry County, people became aware of the practice when Republican Kane County State's Attorney Gene Armontrout was indicted for round tabling signatures to help get a meaningless advisory petition on the ballot at Governor Jim Thompson's behest in 1978.

Daily Herald reporter Tony Gordon reports that two of State Senator, Senate Majority Caucus Chairman and Lake County Democratic Party Chairman Terry Link's paid workers have been indicted for perjury and forgery.

Link told the Daily Herald thqa he was busy in Springfield to be personally involved.

Obviously, the buck stops somewhere way over there.

Link's primary opponent, former North Chicago mayor Jerry Johnson, brought the fraud to the attention of the State Board of Elections, but the board ruled Link had enough signatures even without the potentially future felons and convicted druggies help.

Republican Keith Gray is Link's GOP fall challenger.

The two indicted were not the brightest bricks on the block.

One forged signature was former Springfield correspondent of the Waukegan News-Sun Ed Nash. Another was former Link GOP opponent Charles "Chuck" Fitzgerald, according to Team America's Tenth District Blog.

McHenry County Democrats were not tempted to emulate their successful brothers in Lake County. Only one countywide Democrat, McHenry County Coroner candidate Dave Bachmann, even bothered to pass petitions. Democrats caucused the rest onto the ballot after the primary election was held. State Rep. Jack Franks also passed petitions.

Here's more information from Team America's 10th District Blog.

Labels: Charles "Chuck" Fitzgerald, Ed Nash, Lake County Democrats, TeAm American Tenth District Blog, Terry Link

In another post tomorrow about former Crystal Lake reporter Sandra Brewer, I note that I missed out on about six weeks of email sent to McHenry County Blog. So, if you sent a message and didn't get a reply or have a story idea I didn't follow up on, please send another email.

There is a backlog of information that will now appear that may seem a bit out of date, but I figure it should be capable of being found on the internet, so I am publishing it.

Here is a press release from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi:

Conviction Obtained for Mother
Driving Under the Influence with Daughter in Car

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney is pleased to announce that Sharon M. Wlezien, after being found guilty by a jury of her peers, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, 60 of which are stayed pending compliance with the additional terms of the sentence, for the offense of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.

The defendant’s 9 year old daughter was in the car with the defendant at the time of her arrest. In addition to jail, the defendant was sentenced to pay a fine of $1,750, complete a remedial alcohol or substance abuse program, perform 140 hours of community service and attend a victim impact panel.

The defendant was also sentenced to a one year period of conditional discharge, to run concurrently with the probation, for the offenses of Endangering the Life or Health of a Minor and Reckless Conduct.

Lastly, as a further consequence of the defendant’s arrest and prosecution, the defendant’s driving privileges have been revoked by the Secretary of State.

The State’s Attorney’s Office hopes that this sentence and others like it will send a message to those who would drink and drive that there are substantial penalties for this type of criminal behavior. It was fortunate that no one was hurt as a result of the defendant’s conduct in view of the fact that driving under the influence so often leads to tragic results.

Labels: Child Endangerment, DUI, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

We're going to a wedding reception tonight and my wife bought a card with no writing in it and hands it to me.

I haven't figured out what to write inside, but I did finish a note to groom Rui Campos on the back.

“So, I'm visiting a legislative friend (former State Rep., then, State Senator Ginny Macdonald) in her Springfield office about 1990.

“Her husband was in the office.

“To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?” I asked Alan, a traveling salesman.

“Well, Cal, it's our 50th Wedding Anniversary and I thought I ought to be with my wife.”

“You know, Alan, marriage hasn't been the most successful part of my life. How do you stay married to the same woman for 50 years?”

“It was tough for the first six months, Cal. Then, I learned how to say,

"Yes, Dear”

It's the advice I give every groom. It's worked for me for almost 18 years this time around.

Some how, I think bride Elizabeth Robinson Campos might remind him of my advice.

Macdonald died this year. Alan preceded her in death.

Labels: Alan Macdonald, Elizabeth Robinson, Virginia Macdonald. Roy Campos, Wedding

Watching Nastia Liukin win the Olympic gymnastic floor exercise with my visiting Joplin little sister Ellen and her husband Denny Desmond must have triggered some subconscious thoughts while I was asleep.

I woke up thinking,


That's what my daughter Alexandra exclaimed in 1984 after watching older cousins Lissa and Heather play on the trapeze. She was so impressed when they hung upside down.

Funny how memories are triggered.

When I woke up, I remembered that Alexandra, who was not yet two at the time, was entranced by a jack-in-the-box which played, “This old man, he played one.”

She wanted me to turn the handle again and again and again and again.

I'm not sure, but I think that's what she said.

“Again.”

“Again.”

“Again.”

“Again.”

More times than that, as only any toddler can do.

= = = = =
The photo is of Alexandra sitting in what her paternal grandparents Millicent and Herb Geist called the "keeping room." It looks as if she is conducting music. I know that when I gave her one of the first "singing" birthday cards in 1985 her mother Robin told me she took it to the grocery store, playing it again and again, while moving her arm as if she were a conductor. The Annie rag doll you Alexandra holding was one of three different sizes made by Robin. There was the original one, of which Robin made two so she could wash one without Alexandra's missing it, a bigger one, which I think this is, and a wild-haired small one that Robin called "Punk Rock Annie."

Labels: Alexandra Gabrielle, Alexandra Skinner, Lake Forest, Nastia Liukin, Olympics, Robin Geist

The first of June I wrote an article about former Crystal Lake reporter Sandra Brewer and her new mission in life, which was stimulated by a question asked by a woman at the McHenry County Jail.

She has written a book entitled, "Released Into God's Hands,” based on her experience of working with a transitional living program sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Belleview, Florida.

In my article, I forgot that there was more than one newspaper in Crystal Lake at the time Brewer was writing. I incorrectly assumed Brewer worked for the Northwest Herald. Instead, she worked for the Crystal Lake and Cary Times.

Brewer set me straight in an email sent July 20thsent. It has some additional information that I thought you might find of interest:

“I just read your blog concerning Saundra Brewer who worked as a reporter for the Northwest Herald.   I am Saundra and I never worked for the NW Herald.  I don't believe the Herald was given to the reporter Matt Dixon of the Daily Sun in The Villages, Fl. as the name of the newspaper I worked for.  In fact, the Daily Sun gives no name to the newspaper I worked for. 

“The newspapers I did work for from 1991-1993 were the Crystal Lake Times and the Cary Grove Times.  William Brennan was the editor/owner.  I think he eventually worked for the Herald when the Times was sold in 1993.

“I wrote a story in the Wednesday February 19, 1992 edition of the Crystal Lake Times (Volume 3 Issue 63)  titled "People Helping People In Need Is Drive Behind County Program."  This was about an organization called C.U.P. (Community Upholding Persons)   They allowed me to go into McHenry Co. Jail with them when I did a story on their behalf.  This is where I met a young woman (not told about in the article) who discovered I was a Christian and asked me if I would teach her about the Bible when she got out.   This encounter motivated me years later to become a volunteer chaplain and teacher for women inmates at Lake Co. Jail in Tavares, Fl.

“If you want more information...I'll be happy to send you an autographed copy of Released Into God's Hands.  All profits from the book go to rehab programs in Fl.

“Best wishes,

“Saundra Brewer”

So, why did it take so long to write this correction?

I've had a loaner computer while ieonovo, the Chinese company that bought IBM's personal computer business, tried to get a motherboard that would work. They couldn't, deciding to replace my bottom-of-the-line one with one slightly better.

The loaner was not set up to receive emails to McHenryCountyBlog@comcast.net, so it was not until I got the replacement that I had access to some six weeks of email sent there.

If you had a story tip for me that is still newsworthy, you might want to send it to me again. There are a lot of emails still unread.

Labels: Cary Times, Crystal Lake Times, Released Into God's Hands, Sandra Brewer

Noon.

First showing in Crystal Lake on Friday.

My son talked me into taking him and a friend to see


There is a real feel to a Star Wars movie. The most exciting parts of them are the animation, after all.

There is as much fighting as in a video game (more than in the movies with people) and not having humans probably made it easier to make.

I did think Jabba The Hutt looked better as a puppet than a cartoon character though, and the cartoon characters were pretty stylized.

Then, there was Jabba's Uncle Ziro (or maybe it was the kidnapped baby Rotta The Huttlet, Jabba's son's uncle; hard to tell).

Power hungry Ziro runs a night club in the capital of the Republic.

And, he's a transvestite.

No clothes, just like Jabba, but painted purple (my son says, “Green!”) with large false eye lashes. (With my partial colorblindness, he maybe he's right.)

For adolescent boys there is a female senator of the Republic, Padme Amidala, who, once she lost her berka after being seized by Ziro, was wearing a form fitting outfit.

As was Luke Skywalker's bare midriff young female padawan (understudy) Ansoka Tano.

How can I spell those names?

Target supplied a handout, complete with holographic cover.

And a new Cartoon Network series on the same theme stars this fall. XBox game can be pre-ordered.

Labels: Ansoka Tano, Jabba The Hutt, Luke Skywalker, Padme Amidala, Rotta The Huttlet, Star Wars, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Tranvestite, Ziro The Hutt

One of the things that legislators spend lots of time on is trying to make bureaucracies act rationally.

16th district United States Congressman Don Manzullo reports on a victory for the aircraft manufacturing industry over the State Department below:

Manzullo Hails Administration’s Action to End Confusion for U.S. Aerospace Suppliers, Create Jobs

(WASHINGTON) Congressmen Don Manzullo (R-Egan) today thanked the Administration for its decision to resolve confusion within the government’s export control process that impedes U.S. manufacturers of civil aircraft, parts and components from selling their goods overseas.

The State Department issued a final rule today that confirms the Commerce Department’s authority over Section 17(c) of the Export Administration Act (EAA) of 1979. Manzullo had been working for the past year to convince the Administration to clarify the 17(c) rules.

Since the EAA expired in 2001, the U.S. Department of State, which has jurisdiction over exports of military items, has refused to recognize 17(c).

As a result, manufacturers of American aircraft, parts and components have incurred significant costs trying to interpret State Department regulations that could classify their products, by definition rather than by any performance standard, as military items.

Airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and their first-tier suppliers on down are making their own suppliers contractually liable if their products are classified as military items.

Classification of a product as a military item results in significant licensing and compliance requirements that can affect its use and the operation of any aircraft in which it is installed.

“Thousands of American jobs depend on the ability of the U.S. aerospace industry to assure its customers they are selling essentially commercial, non-sensitive products, and the uncertainty surrounding this interagency dispute threatened those jobs,” said Manzullo, who co-chairs the Export Controls Working Group with Reps. Joe Crowley (D-NY) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR).

“Today’s final rule ends the confusion, reduces the liability and makes it easier four American manufacturers to sell their goods overseas and create jobs.”

Labels: 16th Congressional District, Commerce Department, Don Manzullo, Export Administration Act, Export Controls Working Group, Exports, State Department

That was Thursday's Chicago Tribune's headline for an article on the Motorola complex in Harvard.

Then, later yesterday, the Northwest Herald announced that the campus had been sold.

No buyer was named at first.

But, later, Miami-based Optma International was identified by reporter Kelly Mahoney as the purchaser.

The story quotes the Cleveland Plain Dealer about Optima:

“Optima International is the U.S. branch of a private, global company heavily invested in oil, gas, telecommunications and manufacturing in Eastern Europe.”

John Blanchard's NASA Education tried to line up financing to buy the building. He envisioned making it a place homeless veterans could live, maybe enough to justify a Veterans Department medical clinic. But apparently he could not line up sufficient financing.

That use could have brought big income bucks from state government to the city's coffers.

Now, I guess they will have to be satisfied with real estate taxes. Hard to imagine its being turned into a big shopping mall that would generate sales taxes.

Current owners American Assets paid Motorola $14 million for the property in 2005, the NW Herald reports.

State government kicked in $35 million, if memory serves me correctly. Daily Herald reporter Lenore Adkins writes the building originally cost $100 million to build in 1997.

The Northwest Herald reported on its web site Friday that the building sold for $16.7 million.

Labels: American Assets, Harvard, John Blanchard, Motorola, NASA Education, Optima International, White Elephant

McHenry County State's Attorney and the Chief of his Criminal Division Nicole Owens got what they and relatives of two of serial murderer Mark Smith wanted.

The infamous Woodstock criminal will not see the light of day for at least another three years.

Smith is eligible to apply for parole every three years. Smith entered a guilty plea in order to avoid the death penalty.

"The inmate agreed to his sentence, but he has yet to serve even 10 per cent of it.

"Allowing the release of this inmate would deprecate the seriousness of his offenses, endanger the community, and serve as an outrageous injustice to the families of the victims who continue to suffer 38 years after the deaths of their loved ones."

If you are too new to know what this case is all about, here's where you can find some details:

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi Opposes Murderer's Release

Nichole Owens' Statement Opposing Serial Killer Mark Smith's Parole – Part 1

Nichole Owens' Opposition to McHenry County Serial Killer Mark Smith's Parole – Part 2

Part 1 – Tom Lingenfelter Tells Why Mark Smith, His Sister’s Murderer, Should Remain in Jail

Part 2– Tom Lingenfelter Tells Why Mark Smith, His Sister’s Murderer, Should Remain in Jail

Part 3 – Tom Lingenfelter Tells Why Mark Smith, His Sister’s Murderer, Should Remain in Jail

Part 4 – Tom Lingenfelter Tells Why Mark Smith, His Sister’s Murderer, Should Remain in Jail

Part 1 - Shannon Lingenfelter’s Reasons for Keeping Serial Killer Mark Smith Behind Bars

Part 2 - Shannon Lingenfelter’s Reasons for Keeping Serial Killer Mark Smith Behind Bars

Part 3 - Shannon Lingenfelter’s Reasons for Keeping Serial Killer Mark Smith Behind Bars

Labels: Lou Bianchi, Mark Smith, Nichole Owens, Shannon Lingenfelter, Tom Lingenfelter

Morris Daily Herald reports the Will County Board will discuss whether it should put a referendum on the ballot this fall asking voters whether the office of coroner should be abolished.

If passed, a medical examiner would replace the elected county official.

A draft budget indicates the cost for either system would be about the same.

The story quotes county board Majority Leader Wayne McMillan (R-Bolingbrook):

“I have lived in Bolingbrook for 38 years and never have I seen my constituents so disturbed, frustrated and angry with some of failures of the current coroner system.

“There is definitely...the perception the office of the coroner is a barrier to law enforcement bringing criminals to justice.“

I wonder what that is all about.

Republicans apparently control the county board. Coroner Pat O'Neil is a Democrat.

The medical examiner would be appointed by Chief Executive Larry Walsh. He is a Democrat. The appointment would have to be approved by the county board, which seems to be controlled by Republicans.

Kathleen Savio's death investigation or lack thereof seems to be the driving force behind the possible referendum. She was found in a dry tub with water in her sinuses. She was the third wife of former Bolingbrook Policeman Drew Peterson. A Will County Coroner's Jury ruled the death was accidental.

Examination after exhumation concluded that her death was a homicide.

Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, disappeared Octobler 28, 2007.

Labels: Kathleen Savio, Larry Walsh, Pat O'Neil, Stacy Peterson, Wayne McMillan, Will County Coroner

Wednesday night my wife was watching ABC's Channel 7 10 O'clock News and called to me,

“Don Manzullo is on the news!”

It is so rare for Chicago media to recognize that Chicagoland has a congressman who lives south of Rockford that this story seems newsworthy in and of itself.

But the content, promoted at six o'clock by reporter Chuck Goudie as a story about stolen manhole covers in Beijing and people getting killed falling into them, was more interesting.

While I got photos of the story, I didn't get the details.

Congressman Manzullo's Press Secretary Rich Carter supplied these details:

Her name is Ann DeWaters, and she was an intern in the Congressman's Washington office in the summer of 2006.

Ann graduated from Boylan High School in Rockford in 2001 and earned her Bachelor and Master's degrees from Marquette University (Congressman Manzullo earned his law degree from Marquette).

She spent the last year and a half working for the AmeriCorps program. She spent 6 months tutoring troubled youngsters in reading through the Literacy Volunteers of Illinois and the past year working for Habitat for Humanity. She was obviously deeply involved in public service.

She signed up with an organization called Community Collaborations International www.communitycollaborations.org to volunteer her time to help people attending the Olympic Games in Beijing.

She was walking back to her hotel on Aug. 4 when she accidentally fell to her death through an open manhole cover. Her parents were notified that evening of her death, and called us the next day to assist in expediting her return to the states, which we did. The services begin tomorrow in Chicago.

You can see the ABC 7 report from last night here.

Labels: AmeriCorps, Ann DeWaters, Beijing, Boylan High School, Community Collaborations International, Don Manzullo, Manhole, Manhole Cover, Marquette University, Rockford

This sign stands in front of Crystal Lake City Hall's front door.

It is an invitation to any mother with a newborn that she can leave her child at city hall without any criminal penalties.

The program was advanced by pro-abortion women in the Illinois General Assembly.

It is a good example of the “shield” approach to contentious subjects.

If you support gun rights, you advocate strong penalties for violation of gun laws.

If you support abortion, you emphasize your support of adoption. Maybe you introduce a bill to provide a state subsidy.

Or, maybe you introduce a bill that will require the posting of “Safe Haven” signs.

You can say that you don't want unwanted babies tossed in dumpsters, that you are providing a way for them to be put up for adoption.

Of course, you don't mention that you support abortion.

Labels: Crystal Lake City Hall, Message of the Day, Safe Haven

A press release from the McHenry County Democratic Party:

McHENRY COUNTY DEMOCRATS
EXPRESS SHOCK AT ARKANSAS KILLING

CRYSTAL LAKE—Kathy Bergan Schmidt, Chair of the Democratic Party of McHenry County expressed her shock and dismay at the assassination of Arkansas Democratic Party Chair Bill Gwatney in Little Rock on Wednesday.

Bergan Schmidt was attending the Illinois Democratic Party State Convention and Democrats Day at the Illinois State Fair with several other members of the McHenry County Party when the shooting occurred. “We didn’t get word until later,” she said after returning to Crystal Lake on Thursday.

Gwatney was shot multiple times in his office by Timothy Johnson, who was reportedly distraught over loosing his job. Gwatney had no known connection to Johnson. The assassin was killed by police after a 30 chase.

A former Arkansas state senator, Gwatney had been a strong supporter of Senator Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign but had subsequently endorsed Senator Barack Obama. He planned to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver as a super delegate.

“Our sympathies go out to Chairman Gwatney’s family and to the dedicated members of the Arkansas Democratic Party,” Bergan Schmidt said. “The actions of a troubled man can not and will not stop Democrats from working for hope and change in America.”

Labels: Arkansas, Arkansas Democratic Party, Bill Gwatney, Cathy Bergan Schmidt, McHenry County Democratic Central Committee

The following press release has been received from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi:

State's Attorney Hires Jameika Mangum and Re-Hires Jessica Carrier

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce that he has hired Jameika W. Mangum and rehired Jessica Carrier as Assistant State’s Attorneys.

Jessica Carrier previously served for 4 1/2 years in the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office in the Juvenile Division as an Assistant State’s Attorney and left several years ago when her family moved out of state. They recently returned to the area and she has been hired once again and will now serve in the Misdemeanor Division as an Assistant State’s Attorney. Jessica is a 2001 Juris Doctorate graduate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Jameika W. Mangum is a 2003 Juris Doctorate graduate from Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, California. She previously served as an Assistant District Attorney for the State of New Mexico. Jameika will be working in the Misdemeanor Division. Jameika lives with her husband in McHenry County.

Labels: Jameika W. Mangum, Jessica Carrier, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

In the past, most controversy about the Crystal Lake Gala has revolved around decisions of who should be allowed to do what in its 4th of July Parade.

The most well publicized was the rejection of the McHenry County Peace Group's entry last year.

They wanted to have signs telling how many of our Armed Forces have been killed in Iraq.

Rejected, they got more publicity for their cause than they would have had they been in the parade by putting a Statue of Liberty in a big side lot on Dole Avenue.

McHenry County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Tom Cynor pulled his party's entry out of the parade because of the censorship. (Notice that he recreated a similar parade controversy with resulting publicity all by himself when the Founders Day Parade Committee decided to reassert its tradition of only allowing incumbent elected officials in its parade. No candidates not in office need apply).

Former Democratic Party Chairman Patrick Ouimet explained why.

In a prior year, the Libertarian Party got in trouble for its “storm trooper” and German shepherd putting “unsuspecting” Libertarians spotted along the parade route in a little rolling jail. That was a protest against the Homeland Security Department.

I got a big chuckle out of same jail being used to confine a man identified as George Ryan in 2000, I think. That was before Ryan was convicted.

Besides parade entry censorship, the Gala started charging $5 to get inside the fence surrounding the food concessionaires and entertainment. That created a firestorm on the Northwest Herald comment board under a complaining letter to the editor from Dan McMullen.

Then, there were the neighbors complaints about generators running all night, the tear down of the carnival during sleeping hours etc. That led to the celebration being moved from the Dole Mansion to Lippold Park..

This year the problems seem to be monetary and, maybe, more.

The first night there was a problem with the price being charged for carnival rides. The Northwest Herald ad had cut rates not only for the afternoon of July 3rd, but for the night, as well.

There was some controversy about $6 being charged for a cup of Miller beer. $4 a cup apparently was supposed to be the price.

The cost of the bands may have outstripped entrance fees. You see Sixteen Candles playing above. I was ready to dance to their music.

Maggie Speaks, seen to the right, preceded them.

Voluntary groups have traditionally provided manpower for various tasks. In the past, they have gotten paid for whatever function they agreed to staff.

This year, checks have yet to be written.

Other problems were the lack of parking for the fireworks. It was in such short supply that I'm told Route 176 had to be shut down for three hours.

Maybe that will lead to the fireworks being set off over Crystal Lake again next year.

There was some controversy when some young people wearing Gala tee shirts were caught drinking. Apparently, that was a “no-no.”

With potential financial problems, I'm wondering it there is enough money to pull off next year's fireworks.

I remember when the Crystal Lake Jaycees used to put on the fireworks using the natural amphitheater at Veterans Acres. Jaycees would pass shopping bags to collect money to pay for them.

Then, one year, a teen found an unexploded rocket and blew his hand off.

The result was that the Jaycees couldn't get insurance for future Independence Day celebrations and the fireworks ended for a while.

If the Gala Committee is in trouble, I hope those who have given of their time can regroup in time to be operational next year.

= = = = =
The people seen eating at last year's Crystal Lake Gala are young political leaders from China whom I hosted for the day.

Labels: 4th of July Parade, Crystal Lake Gala, Fireworks, Libertarian Party, Maggie Speaks, McHenry County Peace Group, Sixteen Candles

It just occurred to me that there is a local angle to the call of the Rev. and St. Sen. James Meeks

(Ind.-, then D-Chicago, then running for governor, then not)

for Chicago children to apply for admittance to suburban schools on the first day of class.

I suggested a similar tactic to Rockford Catholic Bishop Thomas Doran.

Joe Bast, head of the Heartland Institute, and I met with Doran in the mid-1990's to solicit his support for portable scholarships for Illinois students. You might refer to such scholarships as “vouchers.”

He was favorably inclined, as you might imagine. The grasp of the political process he demonstrated led me to think it was similar to what a ward committeeman might have.

I suggested immense pressure could be brought to bear on the legislators who would have to approve such legislation by merely sending the parochial school students to the public school they would otherwise attend.

Imagine how school boards and administrators might react if all Catholic grade school sent all of its students to the public school they would otherwise legally attend.

Think of what the reaction might be if all students from Crystal Lake's St. Thomas, the Apostle, School showed up at West, South, North, Coventry, Canterbury, Glacier Ridge, and Indian Prairie Elementary Schools.

Multiply that statewide.

Maybe the transfer students could be pried in, but the action would definitely cause serious problems.

And any problems would be more than the one day of publicity that Meeks is promoting.

Bisphop Doran's reaction was one of concern for his students.

It was something like, “We can't do that. It would hurt the students.”

How different is that approach to what Meeks is promoting.

To their credit not all of Chicago's inner city ministers are not lining up behind Meeks.

Meeks has floated an open enrollment process

What's that?

“...allowing students to attend any public school in the state regardless of whether it is part of the school district where they live.”

If only Meeks had the courage to introduce and advocate a portable scholarship plan!

Then, private schools would start near the public schools. You can buy a lot of private school education for the $10,000 a year Chicago Public Schools spend.

Chicago schools would have the ability to compete for the favor of the students' parents.

And we know what competition does.

Chicago schools could hardly get worse.

= = = = =
The Chicago Sun-Times headline from two years ago shows, State Senator James Meeks is adroit at getting headlines.

Labels: Heartland Institute, James Meeks, Joe Bast, Rockford Bishop, St. Thomas School, Thomas Doran

In a press release no where near as incendiary as that of the Huntley Education Association two days ago, the Huntley School District 158 says the following:

Date: August 13, 2008

From: Board of Education

Re: Union Negotiations Update

The Board of Education continues to negotiate in good faith. At Tuesday’s negotiation meeting, the Board presented the HEA a complete counter proposal which represented substantive movement from prior proposals.

In response to questions from teachers at a public Board meeting, the Board offered a forum that all HEA members could attend and ask questions and address issues.

The HEA declined to accept the offer.

The Board regrets the HEA leadership will not permit its members to engage in discussion with the Board.

The Board will not engage in inflammatory comments but will, instead, continue to negotiate in a positive and respectful manner.

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, Strike, Teacher Contract, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries, Teacher Strike

How often does a “Message of the Day” show up at my front door?

It wasn't the message, actually. It was to mother of my son's friend who rang the door bell.

As I talked with her, I noticed her bright yellow Crocs.

And, then, there was the Jibbitz.

The photo can be enlarged by clicking on it.

It was a snowman.

Not exactly my wish.

Reflect a moment on how hard it is to figure out how to spell “Jibbitz” when one has only heard the word and didn't catch the “b's.”

Labels: Crocs, JIbbitz, Message of the Day, Shoe, Snowman

I found out about the Huntley School District's teachers' union decision to threaten to strike yesterday morning.

McHenry County Blog even broke the story.

These are the articles I posted, one about how the union leaders reneged on allowing its members to meet with the school and, instead, issued the intent to strike notice and the other letting you see what the Huntley Education Association put in its press release.

Huntley Union Leaders Refuse to Allow Teachers to Meet with Board, Declare Intent to Strike

Huntley Teachers Union Issues Strike Press Release

On the 6 PM ABC local news on Channel 7, this map of the Chicago area popped up with an arrow pointing toward Huntley.

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, Strike, Teacher Contract, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries, Teacher Strike

The Northwest Herald is reporting that the Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Crystal Lake, according to a story by Jim Butts.

We have a mature ask right outside our bedroom window.

I remember my asking my father why he had not chopped it down as it was growing beyond sapling size.

He told me that his neighbor, Postman Walt Southern, 225 Meridian Street, had identified it as an ash and asked him to let it grow.

Time to figure out how to protect it.

The bugs are supposed to be dead now.

Photos were supplied by Algonquin's Stan Gladbach, the first person in McHenry County to identify the bug.

Gladbach's contacting me led to McHenry County Blog's having scooped other publications with these stories:

Emerald Ash Borer Sighted on McHenry-Kane County Line

Algonquin Emerald Ash Borer Appearance Saga Continued

Democrats Invade McHenry County (A satire - for those literally minded.)

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Algonquin, McHenry County Movement of Ash Tree Debris Quarantined

Emerald Ash Borer Spotted in Woodstock

Labels: Crystal Lake, Emerald Ash Borer, Stan Gladbach

Last week was so busy I didn't get to read the three daily newspapers that land on my driveway every morning.

When I picked up the Wednesday Sun-Times, I saw Mark Brown's column entitled,


Apparently Brown sat in on a weekly meeting that new Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has with the heads of various parts of the jail.

Apparently it wasn't a pretty picture, but not as bad as it could have been.

I am sure one of the eternal problems of a Cook County Sheriff is lack of adequate funds to do what the sheriff things should be done.

Certainly the devastating Federal report, about which I wrote below, convincingly show major improvements are needed. Those changes will require lots of money.

The best chance for Sheriff Tom Dart to pry that money out of the Cook County Board is to allow the Feds to put the jail under court supervision.

Indeed, to maximize his image as a reformer, Dart could urge the Federal Court to take over the jail.

Part 1 - Pervasive Problems at Cook County Jail - Sheriff Tom Dart's Goals

Part 2 - Pervasive Problems at Cook County Jail - 2007 Complaints of Physical Abuse to Inmates

Part 3 - Pervasive Problems at Cook County Jail - Causes of and Cures for Physical Abuse

Part 4 - Pervasive Problems at Cook County Jail - Medical Care

Part 5 - Pervasive Problems at Cook County Jail - Access to Medical and Dental Care

See Part 2.

Labels: Civil Rights Division, Cook County Jail, Cook County Sheriff, Department of Justice, Joan Laser, Mark Brown, Shanetta Y. Cutler, Tom Dart, U.S. Attorney

The following press release was received from the office of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi:

$100,000 in Bad Checks Collected

State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi is very pleased to announce that the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Check Enforcement Program has now collected over $100,000 for business owners in McHenry County.

State’s Attorney Bianchi created the in-house Check Enforcement Program on February 19, 2007 for a two-fold purpose.

• He wanted to assist McHenry County businesses in the collection of bad checks they have received that have such a damaging effect on the abilities of small business owners in particular, to operate successfully.


• Additionally, State’s Attorney Bianchi wanted to assist law enforcement in the detection and effective prosecution of this criminal activity.

The Check Enforcement Program offers offenders a one-time chance to make good on bad checks they have passed to merchants and requires that they complete an at-home course designed to both teach better fiscal responsibility and to discourage further criminal violations.

In the event restitution and compliance is not received promptly, the matter is turned over to the police. Law enforcement’s job is easier because the crime is still relatively fresh and evidence is more easily obtained. As a result, the Check Enforcement Program also acts as a deterrent to those who would commit a criminal act by passing a bad check which again helps businesses in the long run remain viable.

“While we wish that there were no bad checks to collect at all in this County, the fact that we have been successfully able to collect over a $100,000 for local businesses is a significant benefit to local business owners who have monies they might not have otherwise recovered., Bianchi said.

To date, about 100 McHenry County businesses have benefited from this program.

Labels: Bad Checks, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

Let's assume everything is on the square at the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.

OK. Forget about the fixing of the new hospital that Wisconsin's Mercy Health Care System wanted to build in Crystal Lake to compete with local biggie Centegra Health Care System's dominant hospitals in McHenry County.

Governor Rod Blagojevich appointed a new board, didn't he?

Problem solved, right?

No reason to be suspicious when Naperville's Edward Hospital gets turned down for the third time, right?

“Edward contends that the hospital is necessary because of the area's rapid growth and because one-third of the patients at its crowded Naperville campus come from the Plainfield area,”

Chicago Tribune reporter James Kimberly reports.

Edward Hospital admitted projecting that Will County would grow.

Naughty. Naughty.

“...acting health facilities board Chairman Susana Lopatka said population projections are not certain to materialize and even if they did, there would be insufficient demand to support a new hospital by 2015.”

Naturally, nearby hospitals objected.

Just as they did in McHenry County.

Irrelevant, of course, is that Edward Hospital CEO Pam Meyer Davis blew the whistle on Stuart Levine's little shakedown game.

Oh, yes.

“...the board and its staff became contentious at times.”

I'll bet.

The only cure for this regulatory agency is abolition, something I tried, but failed to accomplish in 1993.

No chance of that now.

We are in the age of “government knows best” again.

Maybe we'll end up with another warehouse full of basketballs that won't get given to Chicago kids, just like I was told two days ago that we had in Chicago during Lyndon Johnson's Great Society.

Labels: Centegra, Edward Hospital, Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, Mercy Health System, Pam Meyer Davis, Plainfield, Rod Blagojevich, Stuart Levine, Susana Lopatka, Whistleblower, Will County

This trailer was near where we parked at the Decatur Convention Center when we attended the Illinois Republican Convention.

It was there even though John McCain had sewed up the nomination.

Some Ron Paul supporters—the Republicans who showed the most enthusiasm during the primary campaigns—actually ran for precinct committeeman as well as working for their candidate.

These small government folks could provide interesting leavening for the GOP in the future.

Meanwhile, other Libertarian-minded folks have formed a McHenry County Libertarian Party. It will hold its regular monthly meeting August 14th at 7 PM at Vaughn's Family Restaurant in Woodstock.  790 S Eastwood Drive in Woodstock, according to Dave Brady.

“The purpose of this meetup is to bring together Libertarians or people interested in libertarian ideas in McHenry County. This first meeting is more geared towards getting to know each other and find out what people are interested in. Come bring your enthusiasm for politics and your community!”

, according to Brady's email.

Labels: Decatur Convention Center, Illinois Republican Convention, Libertarian, Ron Paul

In the strike announcement from the Huntley Teachers Association, aka, teachers' union, music teacher Britt Crowe joins one of the local co-presidents, Julie Hunter, to do their best to gain the publicity advantage.

The full statement is below, but read these carefully chosen words about the people who have absolutely no financial stake in how the contract ends up. I'm talking about the unpaid school board members, of course, whose time the teachers' union has been wasting this summer. Here are the well chosen words:

"The Board of Education has focued on breaking promises with the public, grandstanding in the media, campaigning for re-election and fueling an unhealthy situation that has led to teachers leaving CSD 158 to work for districts who offer competitive salaries and benefits."

And, here's the statement:

The Huntley Education Association and the CSD 158 Board of Education began negotiating a new contract in February of 2008. Through 25 negotiating sessions, your childrens’ teachers have tried with marginal success to agree with the members of the BOE on a fair and equitable settlement.

The Board of Education has focued on breaking promises with the public, grandstanding in the media, campaigning for re-election and fueling an unhealthy situation that has led to teachers leaving CSD 158 to work for districts who offer competitive salaries and benefits. The HEA has focused their attention on creating a contract that will attract and retain quality teachers. They have provided rationale for their proposals, researched surrounding districts and brought to light the discrepancies between other districts and the current CSD 158 contract. The HEA negotiating team has bargained in good faith.

The teachers of CSD 158 wish to continue to offer the highest standards of professionalism and education for both students and staff. The teachers are unwilling to accept being treated as anything other than professionals themselves.

On August 11th, 2008 the Huntley Education Association filed a 10-day intent to strike notice. This action does not mean that a strike is imminent. This notice is legally required for the HEA to have in place should measures by the BOE require further action. As teachers would be working without pay and would be unable to receive unemployment benefits during a strike, they are reluctant to vote for one. Although the 10-day intent to strike notice has been filed, the teachers view the decision to strike as a last resort. However, the teachers of CSD 158 are steadfast in their resolve to be treated fairly and compensated equitably.

For further information, please contact
Britt Crowe, HEA spokesperson
847-293-2254
Julie Hunter, HEA Co-President
847-401-4306

Incidentally, the spell checking function of Blogger points out two typos in the statement. Can you find them?

Labels: Huntley Education Association, Huntley School District 158, Strike, Teacher Contract, Teacher Negotiations, Teacher Salaries

I read in Illinois Review that my friend, former State Representative Maureen Murphy has died.

Although I didn’t remember when and where I met her until she reminded me after we were elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1992, it was in southeastern Chicago. Somewhere near the Indiana line.

I was running for State Comptroller in 1982 and her organization allowed me to speak. I think I remember a bar. I know I remember it seemed like the end of the world as I was driving home to Woodstock (360 S. Madison), where I lived then. I had arrived from somewhere Downstate and it may have been the night I was so tired that I missed the Route 47 exit and didn’t figure it out until the Marengo exit was coming up.

Maureen was funny, bold, caring, provocative, cunning, and proud.

She had me in stitches telling me how the family had gone blueberry picking in Michigan and how this mother pig and her ‘little piggies” had run across the road. As she was telling me next to her car, she bounced her hands up and down on the car trunk while drumming her fingers to demonstrate how they moved.

I laugh (not just chuckle) whenever I envision her demonstration of the little piggies that day.

I also just found this gem attributed to her:

The reason there are so few female politicians is that it is too much trouble to put makeup on two faces.

After Maureen got elected to the first Cook County Board of Review, she told me of going to a fund raiser where she talked to the Daley brothers’ mother, Eleanor. In her conversation, Maureen referred to John, who served as a socially conservative state senator while Maureen and I were state representatives, as “the good son.”

In 1995, after Republicans had achieved a majority in the Illinois House, Maureen took on a humanitarian cause involving AIDS/HIV. She introduced a bill to require HIV testing of mothers so newborns could be given a drug that would decrease the transmission rate from 26% to under 10%, assuming the mothers did not breast feed their infants.

We worked the Democrats and would have gotten the bill out of whatever the public health committee was called, but failed to figure out until it was too late that the socially liberal Republicans on the committee would sell us out. We incorrectly took it for granted that the evidence was sufficient to get their “Yes” votes.

How many babies got infected with HIV because of the failure of that bill?

Maureen got so much publicity that she was invited to be the main speaker at a seminar on the subject at the Milwaukee convention of the National Conference of State Legislators. (I went up to help out.)

Maureen lived in the same apartment building as Mike Madigan. Sometimes they caught the same elevator in Lincoln Towers.

Once she offered an elevator challenge to Madigan that, in retrospect, I suspect she wishes she hadn’t. I don’t remember the words she told me she used, but it probably led to Madigan’s crusade to get her out of office.

That or, maybe, a combination of that and the sponsorship of the bill to hurt Madigan’s property tax assessment appeal legal business.

Back in 1969, Governor Richard Ogilvie signed a bill to put all counties but Cook under the jurisdiction of a newly created State Property Tax Appeal Board. My guess is that Cook was left out in order to pass the bill. Got to allow the fixing of assessments in Cook County, don’t you know?

In any event, Maureen successfully sponsored the bill that gave Cook County property taxpayers the same rights as those of us outside of Cook County had had for almost three decades. (Indeed helping people in Coventry and Whispering Oaks and Cary win real assessment appeals and the resulting publicity as I, as McHenry County Treasurer, handed out checks of $500 helped me get elected state representative in 1972.)

“The Madigoons,” as she referred to the campaign workers Madigan assigned to campaign against her, took her out.

But, then, two years later, she ran for the suburban district on the Cook County Board of Review, created by the law she sponsored.

And, she ended up its first chairman.

How did that happen?

I told you she was cunning.

She put in the bill that the suburban member of the Board of Review would be the first chairman.

The last characteristic I listed above was that Maureen was “proud.”

It wasn’t pride in anything she did. It was in her kids. And of her husband, Jack, who took out the Democrats, when he was elected Worth Township Supervisor.

We met the twins when she brought the preteens on a family vacation to San Diego for the American Legislative Exchange Council convention. My wife and she had gotten on famously and the vacation merely improved the relationship.

But, as I said, Maureen’s part of the Chicago area is as hard to get to as Dwight on Route 55.

So, we’d fallen out of touch. I heard her name announced at Decatur’s Republican State Convention, but never caught sight of her.

Our loss.

Illinois had already lost her services when the Democrats managed to re-take complete control of the assessment process, something that is legally impossible in every Illinois county.

But whoever said Cook County taxpayers deserved checks and balances?

Family PAC’s Paul Caprio tells of these funeral arrangements:

There will be a 9:30am visitation on Saturday August 16th which will be followed by a memorial mass at 10:30am at:

Queen of Martyers R.C. Church
10233 S. Central Park Ave.
Evergreen Park 60805

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The photo was taken last year on the Family PAC Lake Michigan cruise.

I think it was 2007, but it may have been