County residents shrug off uncertainty to snap up deals

From the Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

County residents shrug off uncertainty to snap up deals
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com
Grace James’ shopping spree Friday morning was practically a sporting event.

On Thursday she pre-gamed, scouring sales circulars and typing up a shopping list organized by store title, price and estimated cost savings.

By 3 a.m. Friday, James and her 7-year-old son, Brendan, joined a line outside the Best Buy store in Algonquin. Grace James kept the shopping list on hand. Brendan James draped a red blanket over his shoulders the way boxers wear a warm-up cape.

Then at 5 a.m., the doors opened, and they made a mad dash for the mp3 players.

“I’ve never done this before,” James said as she swiped her credit card to pay for three brightly colored iPod Nanos. But the sales were so good this year, she said, she couldn’t pass them up.

James was just one of many McHenry County shoppers who either woke up early or camped outside area retail stores overnight in hopes of snagging deals during Black Friday and “door buster” sales.

Retailers call the day after Thanksgiving “Black Friday” because it’s considered the first day they start making annual profits, or go into the black, accounting-wise. But the tumultuous economy has retailers trying especially hard to make sure that the nickname rings true this year.

According to recent Gallup polls, Americans plan to spend a lower amount this year on Christmas gifts than they have in any year since 1999. The latest figures show Americans anticipate spending an average of $616 this Christmas – down 29 percent from last year’s anticipated spending of $866.

It was clear Friday morning that local businesses were dead set on beating those projections.

Stores at Huntley’s Prime Outlets mall opened at midnight. The first 500 shoppers who showed up in pajamas received free Jockey pajamas as part of the “Midnight Madness Pajama Jam.”

Meanwhile, Kohl’s and J.C. Penney opened at 4 a.m. with special morning prices, and electronics stores such as Best Buy advertised steep savings on TVs, computers and mp3 players.

Best Buy was among the electronics stores that carried a limited number of sale items. This prompted shoppers to form lines around the store as early as 7 p.m. Thursday so that they could guarantee sale prices on items.

Tony and Pam Silvestri were focused on giving their daughter a laptop computer for Christmas, so the Huntley couple, dressed in layers and Carhartts, spent the night camped outside the Best Buy in Algonquin until the store opened at 5 a.m.

“My daughter is 17 and going to college next year,” Pam Silvestri said, while standing in line about 4:30 a.m. “This is the only way we could afford it.”

The Silvestris estimated that they saved about $500 on the computer and a digital camera by shopping so early.

Some shoppers thought the sales were so good that they couldn’t help but indulge themselves.

As Nicole Schlotfeldt waited for the McHenry Kohl’s store to open at 4 a.m., she recited the mental list of items she wanted to buy: toys, clothing and cookware.

Gifts for her or for others? “Both,” the McHenry mother said with a smile.

For others, that 4 a.m. spot in line was just the first of many lines that shoppers planned to stand in.

Emily Jensen of Lakemoor also stood outside the McHenry Kohl’s, which was the first of several stores she planned to visit.

“You gotta do your 4s, your 5s, your 6s,” she said.

Fox Lake gears up for Christmas parade

From the Saturday, NOv. 29, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Fox Lake gears up for Christmas parade
FOX LAKE – The village of Fox Lake's 52nd annual Christmas celebration begins today.

The parade starts at 11 a.m. from the Grant Community parking lot at 285 E. Grand Ave., Fox Lake. The parade route will follow Grand Avenue into the Towne Centre Shopping Plaza.

The parade theme this year is "Storybook Christmas," and participants will decorate their floats using characters from their favorite books. The Fox Lake Fire Department will serve as the parade's grand marshal, led by former chief Stu Hoehne and Chief Ronald Hoehne.

After the parade there will be a holiday party for children at the Fox Lake Lakefront Park building, at 71 Nippersink Blvd. Children ages 10 and younger are invited to have hot dogs and beverages, and to pick up a free holiday stocking. Santa also will be on hand for visits and conversation.

Black Friday" shoppers flock to local stores

From the Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 Web edition of the Northwest Herald:

Black Friday" shoppers flock to local stores
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

Tony and Pam Silvestri didn't bother going to sleep last night. On their drive home from Thanksgiving dinner, the Huntley couple saw a crowd forming outside the Algonquin Best Buy store. They figured if they wanted to give their daughter a laptop computer for Christmas, they had better get in line, too.

"My daughter is 17 and going to college next year," Pam Silvestri said, while standing in line around 4:30 a.m. "This is the only way we could afford it."

The Silvestris were just two of many shoppers across McHenry County who either woke up early or camped outside area retail stores in hopes of catching "doorbuster" sales.

Known as "Black Friday," the day after Thanksgiving is considered the first day retailers start making annual profits, or go into the black, accounting-wise. But due to the challenging economy, this season retailers are trying especially hard to entice shoppers.

According to the Associated Press, preliminary reports from several major retailers including Macy’s and Toys “R” Us said that crowds were at least as large as last year’s. The Thanksgiving shopping weekend of Friday through Sunday accounted for about 10 percent of overall holiday sales nationwide in 2007, according to ShopperTrak RCT Corp.

The group hasn’t released estimates for Black Friday sales this year, but experts believe it will remain one of the season’s biggest selling days, even as shoppers remain deliberate in their spending.

Stores at Huntley’s Prime Outlets mall opened at midnight. The first 500 shoppers who showed up in pajamas received free Jockey pajamas.

Best Buy advertised steep savings on TVs, computers and mp3 players. Shoppers who purchased Apple iPod Nanos received $20 gift certificates.

The Silvestris estimated they saved about $500 on the computer and a digital camera by shopping so early. Carri Overheidt, of East Dundee, walked out of the Algonquin store with a Sony home theater system and estimated her savings at $130.

Lines formed outside the outlet stores in Huntley before midnight. When doors opened, thousands flooded the stores like the Bath and Body Works store, hoping to get even better deals than can traditionally be found at the discount stores.

"Madhouse," said Lesie Marcordes, manager. "[There was] wall-to-wall people."

• The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Johnsburg Junior High gets donation

From the Thursday, November 27, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Johnsburg Junior High gets donation
JOHNSBURG – Johnsburg Junior High School has received a $1,000 anonymous donation to increase security at the school.

The donor requested that the money be spent to buy an additional camera system for the school, Principal Travis Lobbins said.

The school bought a security system with 16 cameras last year, Lobbins said; however, it doesn’t allow school officials to see every aspect of the building. Officials have been looking into buying an additional 11 cameras, which could cost about $6,500, he said.

“This anonymous donation was an effort to help us get to that point,” Lobbins said. “It’s a great sign of our community supporting us and helping out any way they can.”

Lobbins said the Johnsburg District 12 school board likely would address the request for more cameras at its Dec. 9 meeting. The donation will help defray the cost of the proposal.

“It’ll take a bit of the sting away,” Lobbins said.

– Diana Sroka

Village set for lights, contests, Santa

From the Thursday, November 27, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Village set for lights, contests, Santa
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

RICHMOND – Jon and Jane Bodi usually outline their Richmond home in colored lights for Christmas.

Then they make sure to string a different colored set of lights on each tree or bush near the house. They add a few plastic yard decorations here and there. And then they put a large, lifelike Santa Claus on the roof near the chimney.

And before they knew it, last Christmas their home won first place in the Clark Griswold House Decorating Contest during Richmond’s Christmas of Yesteryear.

“We’ve always done quite a bit,” Jane Bodi said. “We light up the whole neighborhood. ... It’s a tradition thing.”

The annual winter festival – and another round of the Clark Griswold House Decorating Contest – returns to Richmond this weekend.

Festivities start at 5 p.m. Friday, when Santa Claus will arrive in downtown Richmond aboard an antique firetruck. He will join residents at the gazebo on Route 12 and Broadway Street for the annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.

After the tree lighting, there will be caroling, crafts and holiday snacks at Memorial Hall, 10308 Main St. From 6 to 8 p.m., children can visit with Santa, and the first 100 children who meet with him will receive a pair of 3D glasses.

The festival, sponsored this year by Richmond Business Partners, will pick up again Saturday at 11 a.m. with free wagon rides. In Memorial Hall, there will be more time with Santa, children’s crafts, and refreshments until 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, downtown, festival organizers are sponsoring a shopping game dubbed the Candy Cane Caper, to encourage people to do their holiday shopping in Richmond. Players will get a list of items to search for inside downtown businesses while they’re shopping for gifts. Participating businesses will have a sign in the window letting shoppers know there’s a clue hidden inside.

“It’s something to get people to come into the stores,” organizer Jeanne Doyle said. “It’ll get them moving around town.”

There will be breakfast with Santa from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday at Memorial Hall for $5. Wagon rides, crafts and Candy Cane Caper will continue from noon to 3 p.m., and Santa visits will continue until 2 p.m.

“It feels like a small-town Christmas,” organizer Nannette Dorfler said. “It brings back warm childhood memories.”

Residents also are encouraged to enter their homes into the second annual Clark Griswold House Decorating Contest by Sunday. Winners will receive gift certificates up to $150 and will be selected Dec. 16.

To enter the contest or for information, call 815-678-4124.

What: Christmas of Yesteryear.
Where: Downtown Richmond.
When: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
For information: Call 815-678-4124.
To download children’s coloring contest pictures or for information, visit www.richmondil.com/christmas/.

Knights raise funds to help needy

From the Sunday, November 23, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Knights raise funds to help needy
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

McHENRY – The basement of St. Patrick Catholic Church in McHenry operated like a swift and efficient assembly line Saturday.

By early morning, two rows of volunteers had lined up, each with an empty cardboard box ready for filling.

In went four cans of corn. Four cans of green beans. One container of apple juice. Next box. Move up in line for the turkey gravy, cranberry sauce and yam, until the last stop: a frozen turkey.

More than 80 volunteers spent their morning packing 240 boxes of Thanksgiving dinners for needy families in the area.

The effort was headed by Knights of Columbus Council 1288, a Catholic, fraternal men’s organization. Last year, the group raised enough money to feed 60 families, so this year, organizers sought to feed 100, organizer Chuck Caner said.

“We don’t care if they’re Catholic or if they even have a religion,” Caner said. “If they’re in need, we want to help them out.”

They asked members of local parishes to donate to the cause to meet their goal and were pleasantly surprised.

By Friday, more than $27,000 had been raised – enough to feed 240 families for Thanksgiving and another 300 families at Christmas.

“It’s actually been quite emotional for us,” he said.

Volunteers from Church of the Holy Apostles and St. Mary and St. Patrick Catholic churches in McHenry, Family Services of McHenry and other local organizations spent Saturday morning packing up boxes with everything from potatoes and stuffing to pumpkin pie and brownie mix.

“It’s pretty good,” said Family Services volunteer Melissa Sanders of Crystal Lake, as she grabbed another empty box to fill.

Even volunteers were surprised by the amount of money that was raised.

“I don’t think anybody was expecting this,” said Milica Glaw of McHenry. “They managed to collect quite a bit of money and help a lot of people this year.”

Early holiday gift: $2 gas

From the Saturday, November 22, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Early holiday gift: $2 gas
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

Gas prices took such a toll on Mary Moravec’s home budget that she wasn’t counting on giving many gifts this holiday season. But as the mother of two pumped $1.99 a gallon Meijer gas in McHenry on Friday, things started looking up.

“I didn’t plan on having too much of a Christmas,” said Moravec of Richmond. “But now I think I might.”

Moravec was one of many McHenry County drivers who saw gas prices plummet below $2 a gallon late this week.

The statewide average price for a gallon of regular gas ranged from $1.96 to $2, according to AAA and state gas price monitors.

But across McHenry County and nearby, many drivers got even better deals at the pump.

A gallon of regular unleaded gas was $1.89 Friday morning at Woodman’s on Randall Road in Carpentersville.

“We just changed it this morning,” said Terry Donovan, manager. “It was $1.93 yesterday.”

At the Clark station on Washington Street in Woodstock, a gallon of regular gas was $1.99 Friday, and it was $1.97 at the Thornton’s gas station on Route 14 in Cary.

Prices haven’t been this low since March 2005, according to AAA, and last month, the statewide average was $3.18 a gallon, according to www.illinois.gov/gasprices.

But more important to consumers, experts predict that gas prices will keep dropping.

“We think prices are going to continue to fall through the end of the year and into 2009,” said Beth Mosher, AAA Chicago spokeswoman. “Right now, oil prices are so low and they’re falling.”

Lower retail gas prices are a reflection of declining crude oil prices and higher inventories, Mosher said.

Donovan said what that meant for his store was that if oil sources began producing less oil or if consumers began driving more in response to the low prices, the cost at the pump could climb again.

“If OPEC and oil-producing countries decide to diminish the amount of crude oil that’s on the market, then of course the price will go up,” Donovan said. “Availability will be less.”

Mosher said she couldn’t predict just how low prices would get but said drivers likely wouldn’t see a spike around the holidays.

It’s good news for Moravec, who said she would use the savings to buy gifts for her daughters.

“I didn’t think we’d see $1 anything again,” she said.

Fundraiser planned to benefit Nusser family

From the Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Fundraiser planned to benefit Nusser family

JOHNSBURG – Raffle tickets for a replica mini stock car are on sale, with all proceeds benefiting the Nusser family in Johnsburg.

Len Nusser died in August from organ failure after he suffered a double bacterial staph infection. He had been in and out of intensive care since June. He was 48.

Friends of the family are hosting this fundraiser to help his wife, Cindy, and their eight children.

The raffle prize is a NASCAR No. 15 replica mini stock car valued at $1,699.

The brand new car has a fiberglass body and is gas-powered. It’s maximum speed is about 20 to 25 mph, and the car gets about 50 to 60 miles a gallon.

The drawing will be Dec. 7.

Raffle tickets are $5 and are available at the Johnsburg High School Thanksgiving tournament games next week. People also can call Margie Cherwin for tickets at 815-388-3179.

To view mini stock cars, visit www.gokartsrus.com.
– Diana Sroka

Family gets a dose of reality

From the Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Family gets a dose of reality
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

LAKEMOOR – Ask Pete Berwick whether he will dress up as a nerd or Elvis for a singing telegram, and his response is when and where.

Ask him to surrender his guitar and spend time in the kitchen, and the answer is final: No way.

But that’s exactly what was expected of him when he and his wife agreed to be filmed for an episode of the reality-TV show “Wife Swap.”

“[The other wife] wanted to tame me, keep me in the kitchen,” Berwick said. “Everything was cooked, fried or shake-and-baked.”

Berwick and his wife, Denise, of Lakemoor, will be featured on tonight’s episode, which will be at 7 p.m. on ABC.

In the episode, Denise Berwick will trade places with Val, a mother of nine from an Atlanta suburb, for two weeks.

For one week, the wives must adapt to each others’ households and follow “house rules” established by the other wife while cameras document how successful they are.

During the second week of the swap, the wives get to write their own rules for the house in hopes of teaching their swap families different lifestyles.

The Berwicks have one daughter, Faith, who is 10. Pete Berwick is a professional entertainer who supports his family through music, comedy shows, and performing singing telegrams. Denise Berwick is supportive of her husband’s career. She works part time at a local health club and volunteers at church.

Val, the mother of the swap family, home-schools her children and runs a strict household. She wasn’t too keen on Pete’s lifestyle.

“She just couldn’t grasp how I came and went with the wind. In her eyes, it was selfish,” Pete Berwick said. “Really, it was paying the bills.”

Denise Berwick said that when she was at the swap family’s home, she tried to encourage them to explore their talents and dreams more.

“They’re very rigid with the way they’re disciplined and brought up,” she said. “When it came time to do something different, it was so foreign to them.”

The Berwicks were contacted by show representatives by e-mail in April. Camera crews began filming in late August for two weeks.

They enjoyed their brush with reality-TV, but said the most important thing that they took from the show was how much they valued their own lifestyles.

“You really do wind up missing your family and appreciating them more,” Denise Berwick said. “You definitely really appreciate your family who understand and support you.”

Competition fun for parents, kids

From the Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Competition fun for parents, kids
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

CRYSTAL LAKE – Jill Christensen was on the edge of her seat.

Her 8-year-old daughter, Samantha, was running across an indoor soccer field at the Regional Sports Center in Crystal Lake, clad in a blue and white Chicago Magic uniform.

Victory was crucial.

“We’re 2 and 0, so this is our deciding game,” said Christensen, of Algonquin, admitting how nervous she gets when she watches her daughter play.

Parents around Christensen began to applaud and cheer. Make that 3 and 0.

More than 400 youth and adult soccer players from 36 teams participated in the first Copa Gary Lang Soccer Tournament on Saturday.

The event attracted youth travel players and adult players from across the northwest suburbs, and as far as Kenosha, Wis., and Chicago. For more than 12 hours, teams competed in 25-minute games on two indoor fields while fans, families and friends watched from behind a glass wall.

“[They like] everything,” said Angel Garcia, facility manager. “The atmosphere, the ability to play indoors now that it’s cold.”

Larry and Marian Ostness traveled from Streamwood for the tournament. Their 10-year-old grandson, Max McGregor of West Dundee, played with two different teams Saturday.

“I enjoyed the heck out of it,” said Larry Ostness as he and his wife packed up their folding chairs. “Overall, it was a very exciting day.”

Throughout the complex, many who weren’t on the field couldn’t resist kicking around their own soccer balls – especially younger siblings.

While some parents shouted cheers or directions from the stand, others tried to keep cool.

“I don’t get nervous,” said Jenny Rapaduski, whose 8-year-old daughter, Amanda, also plays on a Chicago Magic team. “I just watch and make sure she’s playing at her level.”

Rapaduski said she was impressed with its size and organization.

“For a first time, it’s great,” she said.

Officials probing teens' deaths

From the Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Officials probing teens' deaths
By DIANA SROKA and JENN WIANT

ALGONQUIN -- The Rev. Jim Swarthout and his wife, Claudia, usually describe the view of the Fox River from their home as "breathtaking."

But the day after three Chicago teens drowned during an early-morning paddle boat ride, looking out her window made Claudia Swarthout upset.

"I just felt incredibly, incredibly sad," she said. "If we were awake at 2 in the morning, we possibly could have helped."

The Algonquin couple awoke around 3 a.m. Friday to emergency crews combing the Fox River in search of three students from North Lawndale College Prep Charter High School who were on a school trip at nearby Camp Algonquin. Hours later, Jimmie Avant, 18, Melvin Choice Jr., 17, and Adrian Jones, 16, were pulled from the water, dead.

The teens, honor students and athletes at the West side Chicago school, were among 31 attending an eight-day leadership retreat at the YMCA camp. Preliminary reports showed that as many as 16 students left the Camp Algonquin dorm early Friday morning for an unsupervised paddle boat trip. It was unclear how many students actually went out on the six paddle boats found in the water and whether they were wearing life jackets, said Illinois Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Stacey Solano.

Investigators from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources planned to talk with the other students this week to determine how many people were on the river early Friday, Solano said, and for how long.

The students got into trouble about 25 yards from shore, Solano said Saturday, possibly because plugs to prevent the boats from taking on water and sinking had been removed for the winter. Investigators also planned to take a closer look at the paddle boats this week to determine if they had any other structural problems.

Autopsy results concluded the cause of death was consistent with drowning, according to the McHenry County Coroner's Office.

Solano said she had no information about whether the three victims knew how to swim. The initial investigation did not suggest that alcohol or drugs had played a role in the tragedy, she said, but toxicology reports would not be available for about two weeks.

Monday classes are canceled at North Lawndale College Prep, a charter school on the West Side of Chicago. Instead, grief counselors will be available during school hours, according to the school's Web site.

Saturday, the entrance to Camp Algonquin was roped off with police tape. The Fox River was quiet as Jim Swarthout reflected on the tragedy.

"We also see much life from the camp through our window," Swarthout said. "Amidst the tragedy ... life will move on, and we'll do the best we can with it."

Recognizing whooping cough symptoms early is key, officials say

From the Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Recognizing whooping cough symptoms early is key, officials say
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

That runny nose and cough you’ve been battling might be more than the common cold, health officials warn.

Four cases of whooping cough were reported in McHenry County in the past month, and officials are urging people to be especially attentive to their symptoms.

“You can be contagious and not even realize it,” said Debra Quackenbush of the McHenry County Department of Health.

Whooping cough, formally known as pertussis, usually starts with a runny nose, cough or fever. It is highly contagious and spread through contact with infected people. Symptoms can seem minor, so it usually goes undetected and isn’t treated right away. But doctors said that was one of its dangers.

“Somebody sneezing, somebody else coughing; ... you catch it from breathing in the germs,” said Emily Shen, a doctor at Mercy Crystal Lake Medical Center-West. “You can wash your hands, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get away without the infection.”

As the illness worsens, people experience “persistent and more severe” coughs, said Dana Hartwigsen, a pediatrician at Centegra Health in Huntley.

For infants, the first sign of whooping cough could be feeding difficulties, or a slight cough. Sometimes infants will gag, stop breathing for a few moments or their lips will turn blue.

If the illness is caught early, most will be treated with antibiotics. But the effectiveness of antibiotics decreases the later the disease is caught.

"Usually the antibiotics are helpful if you give it during the very first stage, and not very helpful if you give it in the stage after that," Hartwigsen said.

After the first week or two of the illness, children and adults might experience serious coughing episodes, and most of their symptoms will worsen.

"The patient might develop gagging or might be struggling to breathe ... while they're having coughing attacks," Hartwigsen said. "Some people might even turn blue in the lips."

The best way to prevent the illness from getting to the second or even third stage that follows is by making sure children are getting all the recommended and required immunizations, Shen said.

"[Parents say,] 'Do they really need that? Yes they do," Shen said. "Right now there's not a lot of studies [that] prove how long it lasts."

Even though immunizations aren't required for adults, people ages 19 to 64 can protect themselves from the illness by getting tetanus shots – which commonly include diphtheria and pertussis vaccine – every 10 years or so, Quackenbush said.

Schools are doing their part to prevent a possible outbreak in the county by carefully examining the symptoms students exhibit.

"I think it puts you on a higher alert when you know there's known cases there in the county," said Denise Linde, nurse at Johnsburg High School.

Stacking up: Richmond students participate in Guinness attempt

From the Friday, Nov. 14, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Stacking up: Richmond students participate in Guinness attempt
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

RICHMOND – Kindergarten student Zofia O’Bara squats near a mat in the Richmond Grade School gym.

She looks down at a set of 12 plastic, bright-red stacking cups in front of her. Then she looks to the head of the class, where her physical education teacher, Kathie Sembach, has arranged her set of cups into three-by-three pyramids.

Ready, set, go: O’Bara starts shuffling her cups, trying to imitate Sembach’s pattern. The hardest part?

“All of it, pretty much,” O’Bara says with a sigh, just before she successfully completes the pattern in a matter of minutes.

Students at Richmond Grade School were among an estimated 175,000 worldwide who joined together Thursday to break the Guinness World Record for sport stacking. The goal was to get as many people as possible across the world stacking all on a single day.

Last year, about 143,530 people across the globe participated in the event. This year, it’s estimated that more than 175,000 participated. By Thursday afternoon, almost 200 Richmond Grade School students had taken their turn.

Sembach said the school wouldn’t know until today or next week whether the record was broken. Sembach had integrated stacking into her physical education classes for the past nine years, but it’s not all fun and games. She said it taught her students integral physical and mental development skills.

For younger children, the activity increases ambidexterity and uses both the right and left sides of the brains, helping children become more bilateral, she said. It improves hand-eye coordination, and older children are drawn to its competitive nature.

“It helps with everything,” Sembach said. “There’s a lot of concentration in what they’re doing.”

The stacking cups come in bright colors and have holes on the bottom so they don’t stick. Sembach said it’s been so popular at the school that some parents even have ordered sets of the cups for their homes.

O’Bara’s favorite part of the activity were the formations.

“I like to stack the three-by-threes,” she said. “That’s my favorite part of stacking.”

What’s the scoop?

Richmond Grade School students were among tens of thousands participating worldwide Thursday in a stacking event in hopes of breaking a Guinness World Record.

It’s estimated that more than 175,000 participated, which would beat the 143,530 who participated last year.

Official results, however, won’t be known until today or next week.

Camp Duncan makes room for neurologically disabled

From the Friday, November 14, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Camp Duncan makes room for neurologically disabled
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

INGLESIDE – Next fall, there will be a new resource nearby for children living with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and other neurological disorders.

A 4,500-square-foot facility will be built on the YMCA Camp Duncan campus in Ingleside to accommodate Camp Independence. The camp will aim to teach children how to live more independently with their disorders, while experiencing the fun of camping.

“I think we’ve hit a home run with the design of this facility,” said Chris Bielat of YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.

The outside of the building will resemble a lodge, and there will be a pine interior to give the inside a rustic feel. The building will house eight fully handicapped-accessible bathrooms, a living area with enough beds for 16 campers, and a large common area for activities.

There also will be a partially accessible kitchen, so children can learn the skills necessary to cook in a non-accessible kitchen.

“We need to really be able to teach independence,” Bielat said. “Campers need to learn how to ... live in an environment that isn’t 100 percent accessible.”

The multimillion-dollar project is a collaboration between YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and an organization called the Village Foundation, which is headed by David McLone, a doctor who has worked with spina bifida patients. It will be funded by these two organizations and a third, Camp Friends.

At a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, an adult who began participating in similar camps 20 years ago discussed the importance of the new facility.

“Camp gave me a place to recharge,” said Kelly Schultz of Lake Zurich. “I was able to put aside all the struggles of daily life and just have fun.”

Starting next fall, there will be 10 camp sessions hosted at the new campgrounds, free of charge to participants. Sixteen campers can participate in each session.

For information, call Camp Duncan at 847-546-8086.

Dropping out costly to students, community

From the Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Dropping out costly to students, community
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

When Kayla Borchart started her fourth year at Huntley High School, she had the academic standing of a freshman.

"I spent more time in the principal's office than I did anywhere else," said Borchart, 20. "It got to a point where I just gave up."

So at 17, she dropped out of school. She got her own apartment, worked multiple jobs and quickly realized how tough it would be to make ends meet without completing high school.

But high school dropouts aren't the only ones who suffer financially when students forgo their diplomas. According to two studies released earlier this year, the Illinois economy could have gained between $9 and $11 billion if every student graduated from high school, and graduated on time.

"[Dropouts] make less money and pay less taxes," said Jack Wuest, head of the Alternative Schools Network, a Chicago-based education advocacy group. "They contribute less, and they just draw more of the public money in terms of health, crime and welfare types of programs."

The organization released a study in September that showed that each high school dropout cost Illinois taxpayers about $221,000 over a lifetime. Another study by the Alliance for Excellent Education estimated that dropouts were even more expensive, and in total cost state taxpayers $11 billion in wages, taxes and lost productivity.

School officials are trying to tackle these figures by taking a close look at the local dropout rates and the reasons that students give for leaving school.

Last school year, Harvard High School had a dropout rate of 6 percent, according to the State Board of Education. Counselors at the school are working to get that number down and recently performed a special study to examine the perceptions of why students leave school.

"Students get behind and they feel hopeless, that they can't catch up," said Jim Bosworth, director of guidance at Harvard High School.

Bosworth said socioeconomic status is closely tied to dropout rates, and some students must work to support their families. Other teens are parents themselves and leave school to support their own children. Yet other dropouts say they left school because they just didn't have the right attitude to succeed.

Natalie Coglianese of Carpentersville attended three different high schools before finally dropping out during her junior year.

"When I was a freshman, I dropped out. When I was a sophomore, I dropped out. They passed me on to junior year with just enough credits," said Coglianese, 17. "If I were to go back to high school I'd be a super, super senior."

Among the high schools that Coglianese attended was Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville, which the highest area dropout rate of 7 percent.

Coglianese, who, like Borchart, is attending classes to earn her GED, said one of the problems she had at Dundee-Crown was the block scheduling system in which classes normally last about 90 minutes.

"If I sit in class for an hour and a half, I'm going crazy," said Coglianese, who is pursuing her GED at Elgin Community College. Borchart attends McHenry County College.

Officials at Dundee-Crown said they recognized that traditional school hours wouldn't work for everyone, so in spring District 300 launched the After Hours program.

The program offers students a chance to earn graduation credits during evening classes. Any D-300 student up to age 21 can apply for the program, aimed at students who might drop out because they can't make it to class during the day.

"They're offered for students who maybe haven't been able to fit the traditional mold of the school," said Judy Gard, a counselor at Dundee-Crown. "We're getting quite a number of students back into our doors and getting them to earn credits toward graduating."

This semester, 39 students are enrolled in the After Hours program.

At Harvard High School, officials hope a preventative program implemented this year, LINK Crew, will build solidarity among students and help incoming freshmen feel more comfortable at school.

In LINK Crew, freshmen are split into groups and mentored by upperclassmen. The program gives older students the chance to be role models and younger students another friendly face to look for in the hallways. When the program was in formation this past spring, it sparked quite a bit of interest among students.

"There were plenty that wanted to do it," Bosworth said. "It's going great."


Three highest area high school dropout rates:
Dundee-Crown High School: 7 percent
Harvard High School: 6 percent
Woodstock High School: 2.8 percent

Three lowest McHenry County high school dropout rates:
Johnsburg High School: 0.3 percent
Huntley, Crystal Lake South and Prairie Ridge high schools: 0.4 percent
Hampshire and Richmond-Burton high schools: 0.5 percent
Source: 2007-08 School Report Cards

Man crashes into tree, dies

From the Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Man crashes into tree, dies
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

WONDER LAKE – A Wisconsin man was killed late Friday when the car he was driving traveled through a ditch, struck a tree and flipped upside down, officials said.

Around 10:10 p.m., emergency officials were called to the 7500 block of Barnard Mill Road in unincorporated Wonder Lake, just east of Howe Road. Upon arrival, they discovered Richard A. Simon, of Genoa City, Wis., was trapped inside his upside down 2007 Buick Lucerne.

It took about 30 minutes for emergency crews to get Simon out of the car, according to the Wonder Lake Fire Protection District. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators spent several hours investigating the accident, said Wonder Lake Fire Lt. Chris Weber.

As of Saturday morning, the cause of the crash was not determined but it appeared Simon wasn't wearing a seat belt, according to the McHenry County Sheriff's Department.

Emergency officials from Wonder Lake, Woodstock, Richmond, McHenry Township Fire and the McHenry County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene.

More parents moving in with adult children

From the Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

More parents moving in with adult children

By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com
For eight years, Dorothy Pahr split housing costs with a friend in Florida. But as she approached retirement, she realized it wasn't a living situation she could maintain.

"I couldn't work anymore," said Pahr, 78. "I was ... paying half of everything. I couldn't afford to do that."

So in 2004, Pahr moved to Wonder Lake to live with two of her adult daughters, joining the ranks of thousands of McHenry County parents who are living in their adult children's households.

As families struggle to make ends meet, this living arrangement has become increasingly more frequent in the county and nationwide. However, it's a living situation that can provoke squabbles among parents and adult children over everything from furniture placement to who performs which household chores.

According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of parents living with their grown children in McHenry County increased by almost 200 percent between 2000 and 2007. Census Bureau figures show that there were 1,389 parents living in their adult children's households in McHenry County in 2000. In 2007, that number had climbed to 4,128.

Nationally, the number of parents living with adult heads of households increased by 67 percent between 2000 and 2007.

"The recent rise has been with grandparents," said Roberta Coles, a sociology professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. "I think that's largely … because of the economy."

She said it's also possible the trend was being spurred by the aging baby boomer generation, longer life expectancies and the rising cost of nursing care.

"People are living longer, and they don't want to be living more of those years in a nursing home," Coles said. "If people go at all, they'd like it to be toward the end of their lives when they can't function."

In spite of the good intentions behind adult children inviting their parents to move in with them, it can be a challenging experience.

Among the most common underlying causes of tension in this type of living arrangement is an uncertain distribution of power.

Anytime someone moves into another person's home, the homeowner will have the most authority in the household, Coles said. For parents moving into their adult children's homes, that can be tough to get used to, since it's generally a direct reversal of the relationship that parents and children have had.

"The ones who are moving in have less leverage," Coles said. "They may feel they're imposing."

To prevent conflict, Coles recommends the family have candid conversations about each member's household responsibilities and expectations. During these conversations, it's crucial for adult children to reassure their parents that they are welcome and wanted in the home, but to firmly outline each family member's role, she said.

Since it's not uncommon for the parents of adult children also to feel as if they are putting a burden on their grown children, she said it helps if the parents make a contribution that has economic value, such as household chores or childcare.

"Either those things just wouldn't get done sometimes, or maybe some families would have to hire out," Coles said.

When parents perform those tasks, their need in the household will be reaffirmed.

Pahr's contribution is a home-cooked meal many nights of the week.

She didn't get to eat dinner with her children when they were growing up because she was a single mom working long hours as a waitress. So now she tries to have a warm meal waiting by the time two of her daughters, Mary Bender, 52, and Helen Kerwin, 55, get home from work.

"I make the meals, I do the shopping," Pahr said. "I love it."

On the other hand, adult children might feel guilty because they aren't able to spend as much time with their parents as they would like to, often because they have full-time jobs, their own children and other commitments.

Sheila Proctor, owner of Senior Helpers in Crystal Lake, calls this feeling "caregiver guilt."

"Most [adult children] typically work, and there's no one there with mom or dad during the day," Proctor said.

Senior Helpers tries to fill that gap by offering paid driving, food management or caregiving services to families with this type of living arrangement.

For anywhere from $17 to $21 an hour, a trained Senior Helpers caregiver can drive older parents to the beauty shop, senior center or run errands, Proctor said.

Receiving outside help isn't right for everybody, though. Pahr said her living arrangement has worked out well so far, and she's enjoying spending more time with her daughters.

"They don't take my bossing around at all," she said, jokingly. "We always worked together, and I always say 'By the grace of God, we did it.'"

Number of parents living with adult children in McHenry County in 2000: 1,389
Number of parents living with adult children in McHenry County in 2007: 4,128
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Soldier returns to Fox River Grove home

From the Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Soldier returns to Fox River Grove home
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

FOX RIVER GROVE – Temperatures were in the 30s, and it was windy. Even people who bundled up were shivering.

But that didn't even faze Army Spc. Eric Kottman, who received a warm welcome home Saturday when he returned to Fox River Grove after serving for a year in Iraq.

He was offered a jacket to keep warm as he greeted a crowd gathered at Lions Park. But he refused – citing a rule that only military attire can be worn – and focused his attention on long-awaited hugs with family.

"It feels amazing," said Kottman, 21. "I'm glad to be home."

Kottman and family members, who picked him up at O'Hare airport in the morning, were escorted into town in full fanfare. Fox River Grove police and firefighters blared the sirens on their vehicles as they drove toward the park, where they gathered. A crowd of motorcyclists from Warriors' Watch Riders and Patriot Guard Riders rumbled nearby, with large American flags that were hung on their bikes waving in the wind.

"I was very surprised; I had no idea this was going to happen," Kottman said.

The crowd broke out in applause and cheers as Kottman began doling out hugs and greeting family and friends.

Kottman graduated from Cary Grove High School in 2005 and attended Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville for a year and a half before enlisting.

His time at home will be short. He leaves today to report back to duty Monday morning, but he will get to spend four days at home starting Thursday.

His sister, Rebecca, was thrilled to see him Saturday.

"I was worried, but I [am] glad to have him home," she said. "I'm proud of him."

Turkey shoot in Johnsburg this weekend

From the Friday, Nov. 7, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Turkey shoot in Johnsburg this weekend

JOHNSBURG – Forget about buying this year's Thanksgiving turkey from the grocery store.

This weekend, all are invited to shoot their way to dinner by participating in the McHenry Sportsmen's Club's 61st annual Turkey Shoot.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, groups of shooters will compete to win 10- to 12-pound turkeys by shooting the most clay targets. The targets will be set up at the corner of Rolling Lane and Weingart Roads in Johnsburg, where the Sportsmen's Club typically meets. Rounds are expected to last about 15 minutes each and the cost to participate is $6, said Chuck Sandlin, trap chairman.

Participants must bring their Firearm Owner’s Identification card and their own shotguns. No rifles or pistols will be permitted, Sandlin said. Parents are invited to bring their children.

The event typically attracts between 100 and 150 people, and most stay for several hours, Sandlin said.

For information, call 815-385-9896 or visit www.mchenry-sc.org.

– Diana Sroka

Turnout predictions not met

From the Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Turnout predictions not met
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

Despite high expectations, Tuesday’s voter turnout rate in McHenry County just about matched the turnout rate in the 2004 presidential election.

About 70 percent of the 199,378 registered voters in the county cast a ballot, compared with 69 percent of registered voters who participated in the last presidential selection.

“I really thought it would be higher,” McHenry County Clerk Katherine Schultz said. “People weren’t lining up tonight like I thought they would be.”

As late as election morning, Schultz said she expected the voter rate to reach 75 percent. Across the county, election officials saw long lines when polls were opened but not throughout the day.

Walt Hempenius, an election judge at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Cary, said 240 votes were cast between 6 and 7 a.m., but throughout the rest of the day about 100 votes were cast each hour.

Meanwhile, at the Algonquin Public Library, 77.8 percent of about 1,178 registered voters already had cast their votes with an hour to spare, causing officials to believe that the turnout rate in the county would climb.

“We’ve seen lots of new voters,” said Tamara Miner-Corso, an election judge at the library. “It’s both brand new voters who just turned 18 and people who just haven’t voted before.”

Other officials thought the option of early voting would increase the numbers. A total 23,404 early ballots were cast.

“Early voting does not increase the number of people that vote,” she said. “You’ll just see the votes redistributed [over time],” Schultz said.

Record voter turnout predicted for county

From the Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 Web edition of the Northwest Herald:

Record voter turnout predicted for county
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

Election officials said even before polls closed, they could tell that record numbers of McHenry County voters were flocking to cast their votes.

"This is the highest turnout I've ever seen," said Charles Eggensammer, an election judge at the Nunda Township office. "This is unusual."

About 70 percent of 334 registered voters in Nunda Precinct 20 had already cast their votes by 5 p.m., Eggensammer said.

By 10 p.m., preliminary reports showed that about 56 percent of voters registered in McHenry County had voted today, and McHenry County Clerk Katherine Schultz said more votes cast early were still waiting to be counted.

"We've got another 23,000 to 29,000 to dump into this," Schultz said.

However, the high turnout didn't necessarily mean long lines today around the county. Election officials said thanks to the option of early voting, most who cast their vote in person Tuesday didn't have a long wait.

"When we opened at 6 [a.m.] there was a line ... then it tapered down," said Walt Hempenius, an election judge at St. Peter and Paul Church in Cary.

He said 240 votes were cast between 6 and 7 a.m., but throughout the rest of the day about 100 votes were cast each hour.

The short lines were a relief to residents.

"It was good because there were not a lot of people," said Cary resident Mayra Langlois, 21. "I was worried."

Four killed in morning crash near Hampshire

From the Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Four killed in morning crash near Hampshire
By Diana Sroka

HAMPSHIRE – Four people were killed in a two-vehicle crash Saturday morning.

Just before 1 a.m., Eric Silva, 18, was driving south on Burlington Road near the intersection of Plato Road near Hampshire, according to the Kane County Sheriff’s Department.

There were two passengers in his 2003 Pontiac Grand Am: Christian Miguel Gody-Olvea, 19, and Andres Solis, 19. All three were from Streamwood.

Silva’s vehicle crossed the center line and struck a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix traveling in the opposite direction on Burlington Road, driven by 19-year-old Marco Leon of Elgin.

According to reports, Leon Solis and Gody-Olvea were pronounced dead at the scene.

Silva was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downer’s Grove by Flight for Life, where he was pronounced dead.

Officials said drugs and alcohol appeared to be a factor in the crash, but the accident still was under investigation by the Sheriff’s Department and the Kane County Accident Reconstruction team Saturday night.

Man trying to rescue bird saved from pond

From the Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Man trying to rescue bird saved from pond
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

WAUCONDA – Bruce Brown was used to fetching his pet cockatiel, Happy, out of the retention pond near his Wauconda home.

But Thursday afternoon, Brown had a harder time than usual getting back to shore when Happy flew into the pond just east of Routes 12 and 176.

“I started going down; I couldn’t stay afloat,” said Brown, 60. “The weight of my clothes is what almost killed me.”

Island Lake resident Shawn Prate was fishing with his 7-year-old son at the pond when they saw Brown struggling, so he called 911.

Prate thought it was too dangerous to follow him into the pond, which is about 200 feet in diameter, so he used his fishing rod to hook Brown and reel him in.

“He was going underwater, and he wasn’t coming up as often as he should have,” said Prate, 39. “The pole was there, and so I just did what I could.”

Prate, whose father owns the property that Brown lives on, managed to snag Brown’s sweat shirt and reel him in close to the shore. Then he climbed into the pond and held Brown’s head above the water until paramedics arrived.

“We have rescues that happen, but this is a pretty incredible story,” said Tomm Smithe, Wauconda Fire Department public education coordinator.

When authorities arrived, Brown was taken to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington. Outside his Harmony Village home Friday, Brown said he was treated for hypothermia and was on antibiotics for pneumonia. He was released from the hospital late Thursday.

His beloved pet, Happy, did not survive the ordeal.

“I’m not sure if the bird drowned or died when I was squeezing him,” Brown said.

Happy was Brown’s pet for at least three years, he said. He was an Australian bird with gray feathers and a yellow head. The bird’s wings were clipped, but he still was able to fly about 50 yards.

Brown said he wasn’t sure whether he would replace Happy.

“I’m definitely sad about the bird,” he said. “I’m feeling very lousy right now.”