Rosh Hashana starts tonight

From the Monday, Sept. 29, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Rosh Hashana starts tonight
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

Eight-year-old B.J. Llaneta of Crystal Lake knows that he will never have perfect attendance at school.

Every year he misses classes to observe the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashana, which starts at sundown today.

“It’s always traumatic because he has to miss school,” said Amy Yoslov-Llaneta, his mother. “But living in a Christian world, you get used to it.”

While most people will go about their weekly routine, Jews will step aside from work and school over the next few days to usher in the Jewish New Year.

Rosh Hashana, a high holiday for Jews, is a time of self-reflection.

“We look over the last year at what our goals were, how we met them and how we didn’t meet them,” said Rabbi Maralee Gordon of the McHenry County Jewish Congregation, in Crystal Lake.

Most Jews honor the occasion with a special family meal.

“It’s time for family and friends to get together with a festive holiday meal,” said Judy Minsley, of Congregation Tikkun Olam.

The meal includes a round challah, or Jewish bread. The bread is round for this holiday to represent God’s crown, the circle of life or unity, Minsley said.

The special meal also will include a celebrated dish, such as brisket, turkey or chicken. The meal also includes sweets, such as cakes and apples to be dipped in honey.

“We’re supposed to eat sweet things because we’re praying for a sweet year ahead,” Minsley said.

Beyond the family meal, Jews will spend significant time at services starting Monday night.

“There are prayers inserted into the liturgy that make us think about our mortality and focus on being in charge,” Gordon said.

During Rosh Hashana services, the Torah will be draped in white, Minsley said. A member of the congregation also will blow a shofar, a ram’s horn.

“It’s quite striking,” Gordon said. “It’s meant to wake us up to our behavior and [the need] to make changes.”

Like Christmas and Easter for Christians, services for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, another High Holy Day which starts Oct. 8, often are the most well attended, Gordon said.

Local service locations
The McHenry County Jewish Congregation’s observance of the High Holidays will begin at 7:30 p.m. Monday, with Erev Rosh Hashana services, followed the next two days by services that begin at 9 a.m. The congregation meets at 8617 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake.

Congregation Tikkun Olam’s observance will begin at 7:30 p.m. Monday with Erev Rosh Hashana services, followed by services at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Congregation Tikkun Olam meets at Congregational Unitarian Church, 221 Dean St., Woodstock.

Soccer players flood Cary

From the Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Soccer players flood Cary
DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

CARY - Hundreds of youth soccer players from across northern Illinois came to Cary Saturday to play in the 24th annual Sheppard Schleisman Memorial Soccer Tournament.

The tournament was started 24 years ago to honor a youth soccer player and his coach, who were killed by a drunk driver in May, 1984.

Stuart Sheppard and his coach, Tim Schleisman, were killed when they were returning to Cary after a Crystal Lake birthday party for Tim's son, Ty. A drunk driver crossed the center line and crashed into their car.

The Cary Soccer Association has hosted the tournament every year since their deaths to commemorate their love for soccer and keep their memory alive.

"It's a great thing for the community to do, to remember a tragic situation," said Mark Kownick, vice president of the association.

The three day tournament kicked off Saturday morning at 8 a.m. More than 2000 players will participate in the tournament at Cary-Grove, Kaper and Lions parks in Cary.

The tournament continues today and concludes with championship games Sunday, Oct. 5.

Sheppard's mother, Jo, will be present at the champion games next week, Kownick said.

"She'll give a little background, and remind people what it's all about," he said.

The tournament is completely volunteer-run, and aims to raise scholarship money for soccer players. Last year, $13,000 was raised, and organizers hope to exceed that amount this year.

It's also one of northern Illinois’ longest-running recreational soccer tournaments.

"We're now starting to have coaches who have played in the tournament," Kownick said. "It's coming full circle now."

For participants, the tournament was as much an opportunity to memorialize Sheppard and Schleisman as it was to enjoy the game they loved.

Allen Vaughn, who coaches the Harvard Green Apples, used the tournament to motivate his team of 11 to 14-year-olds.

"I tell my kids before every game that I don't care if they win or not, as long as they play as hard as they can," he said.

Update: Two critical, one serious after crash in Harvard

From the Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Update: Two critical, one serious after crash in Harvard
HARVARD – Two youths are in critical condition and another is in serious condition after a single vehicle accident near Harvard on Thursday.

Sgt. Carolyn Hubbard with the McHenry County Sheriff's Department said Friday she didn't believe the injuries to the three were life-threatening. However, she did not have any updates on the youths' conditions.

Twenty-year-old Travis Repke was driving a 1999 Chevy van westbound Altenberg Road late Thursday afternoon, said Lt. Don Carlson. In the van were six family members, ranging from ages 6 to 17.

Around 5:22 p.m., the van struck a group of trees, according to a news release from the Harvard Fire Protection district.

Carlson said Repke told police he fell asleep at the wheel, which caused him to veer off the side of the road, cross over Shields Road and crash into the trees.

The impact of the crash was so much that at least two of the seven family members were ejected from the van, according to the release.

Harvard Fire was first at the scene, and requested three rescue helicopters for medical transport.

Flight for Life McHenry transported a nine-year-old male in critical condition to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Medflight, from Madison, Wis., transported a 17-year-old male in critical condition to Rockford Memorial Hospital in Rockford. An 11-year-old female in serious condition also was transported to the Rockford hospital, by Lifestar from Loyola Medical Center, according to the release.

Repke, a 16-year-old male, a 13-year-old male, and a 6-year-old male were treated and released at the scene.

Carlson said the sheriff's department is still investigating the incident, but it did not appear drugs, alcohol or speeding were factors. No charges had been filed as of 10:30 p.m. Thursday night.

Harvard Fire was assisted by Harvard Police and crews from Hebron and the McHenry County Sheriff's Department. Fire and rescue crews from Marengo and Walworth, Wis., assisted with change of quarters.

– Diana Sroka

State trooper slightly injured in motorcycle crash

From the Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

State trooper slightly injured in motorcycle crash
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

WOODSTOCK – A state trooper who lost control of his motorcycle while on patrol this afternoon has been released from the hospital.

Around 1 p.m., Trooper Joe Garcia lost control of his motorcycle as he traveled northbound on Route 47 near Route 176, in Woodstock, said Trooper Delila Huerta of the Illinois State Police.

"He lost control, then hit a mailbox, and then went into the ditch," Huerta said.

Before stopping, Garcia's motorcycle clipped the rear of a work van driven by a 66-year-old Richard R. Cianciarulo, of Island Lake.

Garcia, 26, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Centegra Hospital – Woodstock. He was released early this evening. Cianciarulo was uninjured, and didn't even realize his vehicle had been clipped, Huerta said.

Huerta said no citations have been issued, and Garcia was not intoxicated or impaired.

The scene was cleared by 2:15 p.m.

Load shifts, truck overturns in McHenry

From the Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Load shifts, truck overturns in McHenry
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

McHENRY – It took police and towing crews more than three hours to upright an overturned semi-truck this afternoon.

About 11:30 a.m. today, a semi-truck traveling westbound on Prime Parkway in McHenry overturned onto its left side when the driver attempted to make a right turn on Olle Larsson Way, said McHenry Deputy Police Chief Bill Brogan.

"His load shifted in the back of the truck and caused it to tip over," Brogan said.

The truck was carrying brake parts to be delivered to Affinia Group, a company in the industrial park, Brogan said.

The truck fell on the driver's side, and the front window broke. The driver, Tyrone Young, of Chicago, climbed out of the truck using an entry way behind the driver's seat.

Young, 50, refused medical treatment when rescue squads arrived. No bystanders were injured.

Young said he wasn't aware the load in the truck shifted while he was driving.

"We have no way of going inside and knowing how it's stacked," Young said. "I wasn't going that fast, and it just fell over."

Young was ticketed for failure to secure a load.

McHenry Police cleared the scene just after 3 p.m.

D-12 approves budget

From the Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

D-12 approves budget
DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

JOHNSBURG – The District 12 school board approved a $27.8 million budget for the 2008-09 school year Tuesday.

The budget, which was approved unanimously by the six board members present at the meeting, includes an anticipated almost $300,000 in deficit spending.

"Our goal is to reduce this and come under that number," said Michael Wolf, board vice president.

At the meeting, Wolf noted that last year the district anticipated more than $560,000 in deficit spending, but spent just less than $300,000 in deficit spending.

While discussing the budget, board members emphasized the need for the district to invest in technology improvements throughout the district. Some computers in the district are still using Windows 98, Wolf said.

"Computer equipment needs to be updated and replaced," Wolf said. "We need to get away from some of these obsolete equipment."

The board also unanimously approved a motion to submit the district policy manual for review by Illinois Association of School Boards, or IASB.

The district will pay a one-time fee of $5,800 to have the district policy manual reviewed by ISAB consultants on a regular basis.

Board Secretary Thomas Low said using IASB would make the policy review process more efficient.

"We spend a lot of time manually updating it," Low said.

Superintendent Dan Johnson said in previous years, it was easier to keep policies up to date because "state law wasn't changing quite as rapidly."

He said it also had been the case that policies don't receive close review until the district reviews policies to address a specific incident, which sometimes is too late.

"By that time the ship has sailed," Johnson said.

Board members Scott Rowe, Jayne Thompson, Thomas Lowe, Melissa Tinsley, Michael Wolf, Gary Barla were present at the meeting. Tom Liston was absent.

D-12 board to vote on budget tonight

From the Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

D-12 board to vote on budget tonight
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

JOHNSBURG – The District 12 school board will vote tonight on a proposed $27.8 million budget for the 2008-09 school year, a document which anticipates almost $300,000 in deficit spending.

The proposed budget includes more than $829,000 in administrative salaries, for which 4 percent increases were approved this summer. The increase boosted overall administrative costs about $31,000, excluding salaries for new business manager Dave Lawson and for Nancy Hurckes, who was promoted from a dean to an assistant principal.

Lawson, whose salary is $105,000, is earning $45,000 more than his predecessor. He works full-time versus Pat Bingman's part-time status prior to her departure. Hurckes will earn $85,704 in her new role.

Salaries include the teacher retirement system contribution of more than 9 percent. However, unlike many school districts, District 12 does not pay anything toward administrative TRS contributions, Lawson said.

The district budget also allots $2,243,414 for supplies and equipment, about $323,000 more than was budgeted for supplies and equipment for the 2007-08 school year, according to reports provided by the district.

"For supplies and equipment, the budget went up," Lawson said. "A pretty good chunk of that has to do with utility and fuel costs that continue to rise."

The cost for food services also has risen significantly, Lawson said.

He noted that last year the district spent about $290,000 more than initially budgeted for supplies and equipment, after experiencing significant energy cost increases.

"Diesel fuel, heating gas and electric went up last year," Lawson said. "The biggest increase was the diesel fuel. That went up probably $50,000 or $60,000 higher than was budgeted."

Although the district anticipates spending $300,000 more this year than its projected $27.4 million in revenues, money from positive fund balances will cover the gap. Lawson estimates that the district will end the year with $6.6 million in its coffers.

However, after outspending revenues each year for the past four years, the district will investigate cost-cutting measures, including keeping maintenance projects in-house, Lawson said.

Before the board votes on the proposed budget, the public can voice comments during the public hearing portion of tonight's meeting, which is at 7 p.m. at 2222 W. Church St., Johnsburg.

Top 2008-09 salaries are:
Superintendent: $136,774
Business Manager: $105,000
High School Principal: $108,680
Junior High Principal: $99,986
Bush School Principal: $101,901
Ringwood School Principal: $96,131
Student Services Director: $103,924
Note: Salaries include teacher retirement system contributions, which are not district-paid.
Source: District 12