McHenry County Historical Society volunteer and retired engineer Bill Dysart built this replica of the 1895 West Harmony School as a “Little Free Library.” It sits right outside its bigger brother on the museum campus in Union. For more information contact Exhibits Curator Kira Halvey at (815) 923-2267 or visit http://littlefreelibrary.org.

McHenry County

McHenry County Historical Society seeks docents

The McHenry County Historical Society is in need of docents.

You can help that effort by volunteering as a docent – chaperoning students or visiting groups as they tour the 1843 Gannon log cabin, 1895 West Harmony School and the 1870 historical museum.

Volunteers need not be a professional educator to participate, just an interest in history and a willingness to share it with others. The historical society provides training, as well as a docent guide.

The one-room West Harmony school is available for a two-hour visit by McHenry County third- through fifth-graders. Students participate in a 1900 school day complete with lessons in arithmetic, reading, penmanship, grammar, history, and games at recess. Times are 9-11 a.m., 9:30.11:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the school year.

Established in 1963, our members, staff and volunteers have 52-year track record rich in preservation, education, and entertainment contributions to McHenry County.

A more expansive, two-hour tour is available Thursdays and Fridays that includes West Harmony School, the museum and the log cabin. Available times are from 9 to 11 a.m., 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. to noon.

For more information, call 815-923-2267 or visit www.mchenrycountyhistory.org

Cary

Rabid bat discovered

Two dogs played with and killed a rabid bat in Cary. It was the third bat with rabies discovered in McHenry County this year. The bat didn’t come into contact with people, according to Keri Zaleski, Health Department spokeswoman. Although the dogs were vaccinated, they will remain in quarantine at home for 45 days. For more information visit www.cdc.gov/rabies or call MCDH Communicable Disease Program at (815) 334-4500.

Crystal Lake

Rate of school bus accidents increase dramatically

Although no injuries occurred, the 2015-16 school year already experienced eight school bus accidents. Only one crash happened in the combined previous three school years. Bus drivers were responsible for two of the crashes, the other six resulted from rear-end collisions by other drivers.

Huntley

Dist. 158 green efforts save $100,000.

By the holiday break in December, Huntley Community School District 158’s light fixtures will be retrofitted with energy-efficient bulbs. The District goes beyond the State’s requirement of compliance to 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. Besides being better for health and the environment, the move saves the district money by reducing the utility bills.

McHenry

School District 156 teachers go on strike

Unable to reach an agreement with the Illinois Education Labor Board, the Teacher Union began a strike Oct. 1. The two sides disagree about compensation and insurance contributions. The Union is asking for increases that average 3.63 percent, while the School Board wants to hold the increases to 2.09 percent. The strike affects more than 2,500 students. District 156 cancelled all sports, extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. This marks the first time the teachers have been on strike since 1985, according to the teachers association, which represents the district’s 150 teachers.

Union

“Terror on the Railroad” canceled

The Illinois Railway Museum announced that its annual Halloween event that attracted more than 5,000 people is cancelled this year. The event was canceled because two rail cars critical to the event’s main attraction became unavailable. The museum hopes to reopen the event next year.

–McHenry County News Briefs–