other daily grind work

Its been nice to be outside shooting these last few weeks. Here are a smattering of photos on what I've been up to.
For a story on summer outdoor activities; families take part in a Night Hike through Hickory Grove Highlands in Cary.

Phlox are spotted along the hike. The flowers, best grown in well-drained soil, and exposed to partial shade to partial sun, are valued for their ability to attract butterflies.

Education Program Assistant Lyn Drathering explains a goldenrod gall to children during the hike.

Woodstock High School's Kayla Beattie works out before her sectional race on the track at Woodstock High School. Woodstock’s Kayla Beattie is the fastest girl in Illinois history – in two events. Beattie became the first girls runner to break 10 minutes in the 3,200-meter run as she finished in 9:56.96 in the Class 2A race at the IHSA Girls Track and Field State Meet at Eastern Illinois University. Shortly after, Beattie broke another state record to win the 1,600 in 4:43.65.

Olga Garcia smiles after losing a game of Connect Four to Little Sister Brenda at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County pizza party marking the success of the program at Prairie Hill School in Cary.

Though not the greatest photo, I think this is priceless! I don't think these boys would be caught doing this in another five years.
Second-grade students perform during the musical production of “Anything Can Happen in a Fairytale” at Mackeben Elementary School in Algonquin. The musical tied in with the second-grade fairytale curriculum unit and included fairytales including Cinderella, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel.

Phil Bucaro tills soil at a plot in property in McHenry. Bucaro has been gardening for years and grows everything from tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, green beans, red peppers and more.

Here is a short video of Phil, with some tips for the novice gardener.

This was too cute not to post...
Karly Duber, 4, participates in the Harvard Youth Parade on Thursday evening downtown Harvard. The Annual Milk Days festival kicks off today and runs through Sunday.

Air Force Tech Sgt. Kevin Keyfauver mingles with friends and family at his homecoming celebration Friday evening at the McHenry VFW. Keyfauver returned home from a 180 day deployment to Afghanistan.

Covering this made for a rather bizarre Sunday afternoon shift...
The Smith home in the 4300 Block of Doty Road near Woodstock is taped off Sunday morning. Kurt Milliman, 48, of Prairie Grove, died Sunday after was discovered inside the residence with a gunshot wound. Timothy Smith, 26, and Kimberly Smith, 28, were arrested. Timothy S. Smith, 26, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, pandering, obstructing justice and pimping. His wife, Kimberly A. (Holian) Smith, 28, was charged with two counts of obstructing justice, disorderly conduct and prostitution.

seasonal spring subjects

Spring has finally decided to arrive in Chicago and with it comes the usual seasonal subjects to photograph. I like that about working for a newspaper- I get to take part in a little bit of everything that is going on.

Looking for a different way to relax?
Mark Placzkowski of Sound Current Meditation prepares to lead the Gong Bath, which consists of specially sounded gong rhythms to assist meditation and relaxation Friday evening at Family Alliance in Woodstock.

The Easter bunny waits for visitors at a Saturday morning egg hunt.

The season of 5Ks!

Loll Jean Philippe, from the mountain village of Despinasse, Haiti, speaks about life in Haiti a year after the earthquake at a fundraiser for the Catholic Assistance Mission, a local nonprofit.

A tour of the DeLong Grain company facility, where I learned that approximately 2.5 million bushels of grain is stored at the Garden Prairie facility, most of which is shipped overseas to Taiwan or Vietnam.

And of course it's prom season.
Prairie Ridge High School senior Steven Willis waits with flowers for girlfriend Celeste Owens to arrive at school Tuesday morning so he can ask her to prom. Willis and friends worked together about six hours to decorate a 40 foot long sign they hung up in front of the school, along with balloons.

"She's not like every other girl, she's not a typical drama girl. She's laid-back, and that's what I like," Willis said about Owens. Owens said yes to attending prom with Willis.

 And a short video feature on Willis getting ready to pop the prom question:

what I have been up to whilst workin'

Some recent stuff...
Andie, a student at Marengo Community High School, rests in between sit-ups in gym class. This school year was the first for a program called “Career and Transition," at the school, taught by Roger Engwall, which gets special needs students ready to hold jobs and live more independent lives.

Some martial arts...
Instructor Rick Bjorkquist of the Kyukido Martial Arts of Huntley helps student Kayla Valdez stretch Wednesday in a beginning class at Kyukido Martial Arts of Huntley.

A storage unit auction...
Prairie Enterprises, LLC owner Jerry Lindley laughs as he discovers a bag of popcorn in a Highway 20 Self Storage unit off E. Grant Highway in Marengo on Feb. 23. The unit had just been sold off after the previous renter did not pay the rent.

The season of Lent! Of which I am trying to cut back on coffee...
Ashes are marked in the sign of a cross on parishioners' foreheads at St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock on Wednesday afternoon. The use of ashes as a sign of penitence comes from Jewish tradition and was carried over into Christianity, with early customs dating back to the fourth century.

Pending prom season...
Olivia Nystrom, left, and Natalie Whalen, both 13, try on dresses at the annual My Sister's Dress event held at McHenry County College on Sunday. The fundraising event for Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County offered an opportunity for young ladies to buy prom dresses for just $20.

jonah

Sigh... gorgeous light and color. Can't every assignment be like this?
Jonah Slavin, 3, plays on a slide as his mother Karen watches at their home in Woodstock. In December 2010, Jonah was thought to have been on the autism spectrum, but after seeking a second opinion and a change in diet, his behavior has improved dramatically.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 110 children are on the autism spectrum, but estimates range from one in 80 to one in 240.

 

Jonah Slavin, 3, plays quietly at his home in Woodstock. Before a change in diet and elimination of wheat and gluten, Jonah would scream most of the day and a doctor thought he was to be on the autistic spectrum, his mother Karen Slavin said.

heart awareness month

Get your heart checked.

 According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

• In 2006, 631,636 people died of heart disease. Heart disease caused 26 percent of deaths – more than one in every four – in the United States.

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2006 were women.

• Every year, about 785,000 Americans have a first heart attack. An additional 470,000 who already have had one or more heart attacks have another attack.

From left to right, siblings Deb Mills, Bob Long show heart-shaped pillows they received after recently undergoing open heart surgery, as sister Doreen Klotka listens Sunday at Long's home in Lake in the Hills. Klotka is in the process of diagnosing her own heart health.

far from home

We got a chance to speak with Michael Kunzler last week and hear his story about evacuating Cairo, Egypt, last month once the riots began. Kunzler and his family live in Cairo and are staying with family in Illinois for the time being. Travel route
Michael Kunzler holds son Ezra, 4, after a nap, at his sister's home in Woodstock on Thursday afternoon. Father and son evacuated Cairo, Egypt, when the riots began, and Kunzler's wife, Aimee Cutrona, still resides in Egypt with work obligations.

And it looks like the story and photos also ran in Istanbul, Turkey, and who knows where else!:
http://www.topix.com/tr/istanbul/2011/02/father-son-escape-upheaval-in-egypt-to-woodstock

hear hear

I got a call to head over to a jam-packed village hall in Huntley last week as a public hearing was in process regarding the building of a new hospital. Luckily, being press I got escorted in, and furthermore got situated right next to the CEO of the hospital. It's good to know what all the public officials look like!
Hundreds pack Huntley Village Hall on Wednesday morning for a public hearing on Centegra Health System's proposal to build a new hospital near Reed and Haligus Roads. The public hearing is part of the process in obtaining a certificate of need from the state for permission to build a new hospital.

 Centegra Health System CEO Michael S. Eesley jots down a note during the public hearing.

 Crystal Lake Mayor and Senior Vice President of Administrative Services and General Counsel for Centegra Health System Aaron Shepley confers with colleagues Wednesday.

locks dam bam

A recent story regarding the increase in temperatures and possible flooding led me to the William G. Stratton-Thomas A. Bolger Lock and Dam in McHenry on Monday. I've been enjoying the environmental and science-related assignments I have had recently and am now more well-versed in lock and dam lingo than ever expected.
Lock and Dam Tender Joe Farej leads the way to the dam.

These controls help in lowering and raising the gates by inflating and deflating the 'bladders.'

Outflows from the dam are 500 cubic feet per second, and the water equivalent of the snow throughout the watershed ranges from 2 1/2 feet to 3 feet of rainfall.

back to school it is

I have spent a lot of time in schools and around kids lately. See what the children have been up to!
Kindergartner Sofia Corona, 5, covers her mouth in surprise during the "Jump With Jill" performance at Meadowdale Elementary School in Carpentersville on Tuesday. School district 300 was recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its nutrition and fitness programs.

'Rockstar Nutritionist' Jill Jayne teaches and entertains students at Meadowdale Elementary School in Carpentersville on Tuesday afternoon. Jayne, a registered dietician and musician, teaches and entertains students with songs about nutrition and making healthy choices.

Jill Jayne high fives third-grader De'Rae Williams, 8, during her performance.

It was back to school after two days off due to the blizzard for students at Dean Street Elementary School in Woodstock.

Children prepare for the start of the school day.

And after school...

Grace Koeppen, 11, left, and Nicole Nischke, 9, hike up McHenry Township sledding hill in Johnsburg on Tuesday afternoon. A novice should try to avoid jumps, Nicole said.

I remember doing this...
From left to right, Shaina Castelino, Daniel Kaye, and Raegan Hilbrant, all 10 years old, participate in the annual Jump Rope for Heart event at Hannah Martin Elementary School in Lake in the Hills on Wednesday. The event promotes teamwork, builds school spirit, and gives students the opportunity to contribute to their community.

Sydney Gray, 9, center, smiles at classmate Karissa Witczak, 10, during the event.