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.

so pretty

A post just because I like these.
Chicago's McCormick Place.

Dean Street Elementary School at sunrise.

 

Rural road, Illinois Wisconsin border.

 

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.

uh ooga

Beep beep! Vroom vroom! Time for the annual Chicago Auto Show.

Also check out a video I made!

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.

mortal combat

snowmagoedden

Two weeks ago a blizzard swept through Chicago and the surrounding areas. Here is some of the aftermath. Wish I could have gotten more photos from the actual blizzard but I was bedbound with a fever.

Car? Snow monster? It took 3 plus hours of shoveling to figure it out.

People walk out on the ice caps of Lake Michigan.

This kid was having fun flipping over the fence into the snow.

samwell

A recent favorite of a favorite person.

ski jumping and a viking

I ran into this friendly Viking at the annual Norge Ski Jump Tournament yesterday. Ski jumping originated in Norway in the early 1800s when a Norwegian lieutenant launched himself 9.5 meters in the air in front of an audience of other soldiers. The longest jump set Sunday was recorded at 82 meters.

Norge Ski Club member Marty Knapp sports his Viking attire at the 106th Annual Norge Ski Jump Tournament in Fox River Grove on Sunday. Knapp, of Fox River Grove, has been the club Viking for the past 35 years.

A ski jumper takes flight in the 106th Annual Norge Ski Jump Tournament in Fox River Grove on Sunday. Spectators and skiiers from all over the world competed in the weekend event.

Kimmo Ylliriestro of Finland cheers after jumping 82 meters in the longest standing jump contest.

How it ran...

And some others I liked.

Read more about the Norge Ski Club here: http://www.norgeskiclub.com/index.cgi?page=1_1

january nears an end

I'll give you one guess on how old this woman is...

Lil Schmarje, 96, talks to daughter Vicki Schmarje's second-grade class at Westwood Elementary School in Woodstock Wednesday morning. The elder Schmarje spoke on her 96th birthday about what life and school was like when she was a child, on the students' 96th day of school.
And eerily enough, I took 96 photos...

Tim McCormic carves ice into a groundhog outside of Two Tails Market/Eatery in Woodstock on Wednesday. McCormic, a chef, has carved ice since 1982 and was sculpting the rodent for the Chili Cook-off in Woodstock on Saturday.

From left to right, sophomores Johnny Robson, Christian Hughes, Zach Hellman and Nick Marvich listen to teacher Diane Dorn talk about making nylon in their honors chemistry class Tuesday morning.

Senior companions David Johnson, 70, left, and Oliver "Gil" Snyder, 83, both of Crystal Lake, chat at Snyder's home. The pair met through Senior Services Associates and meet once a week.

David Johnson, 70, left, and Oliver "Gil" Snyder, 83, enjoy talking about politics and history and their weekly meet-ups.

Children watch Huntley play McHenry in a Friday night match-up at Huntley High School.

care bears

Bears coverage continued last week Monday, Jan 17, 2011.
Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and fellow Bears players team up to help raise funds for teenager 14-year-old Brandon Peters, who suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a terminal cancer.