Crystal Lake and the Village of Lakewood have jointly approved an ordinance governing the use of watercraft on Crystal Lake. (City of Crystal Lake photo)

McHenry County

MCC student wins Best of Show at art exhibition

McHenry County College (MCC) announced that Kathleen Berendt, a student from Fox River Grove, won the Best of Show award in the 2018 Skyway Juried Art Exhibition, currently running (through April 27) in the Koehnline Museum of Art at Oakton Community College, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines. Berendt, one of five MCC students whose artwork was selected for inclusion in the exhibit, won Best of Show for her painting, “La Grange, Missouri,” a water soluble oil on canvas. Other MCC student exhibitors are Gary Gaspar, of Woodstock, for “Hide Project,” an agate, sterling silver, rubber and pearl jewelry piece; Amanda Glaser, of Spring Grove, for “Untitled,” an archival inkjet print; Conrad Lobinsky, of Capron, for “Hot Buttered,” an archival inkjet print; and Morgaine Polit, of Crystal Lake, for “Strike A Pose,” also an archival inkjet print. For more information, call 815-455-3700 or visit www.mchenry.edu. 

Woodstock

City seeks volunteers for community clean-up day

The city announced that Keep Woodstock Beautiful 2018, its third annual community clean-up day, will be held from 8 a.m. to noon April 28. In an effort to beautify and enhance the city, volunteers will venture out into community streets, neighborhoods and parks to clean up any trash left behind. All ages are welcome to participate. To volunteer, register by email at keepwoodstockbeautiful@gmail.com. Groups of 10 or more may reserve a particular location. Volunteers can also register the day of the event. Check-in/check-out is at Matrix 4, 610 E. Judd St. Participating volunteers should arrive between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Donuts and beverages will be available until 10 a.m.; lunch will be provided by Public House of Woodstock. For more information, call 815-338-2436 or visit www.woodstockil.gov. 

Crystal Lake

City sets new guidelines for watercraft usage

Crystal Lake and the Village of Lakewood have jointly approved an ordinance governing the use of watercraft on Crystal Lake. In addition to the rules and regulations of the State of Illinois, all watercraft on Crystal Lake must display a current Lake Usage Decal and be registered to a resident of the Crystal Lake Park District. Lake Usage Decals for the 2018 boating season are only available for purchase at Crystal Lake City Hall, 100 W. Woodstock St. The following documents are required to purchase a Lake Usage Decal: valid driver’s license; valid Illinois boat registration (for nonhuman-powered watercraft) or a Water Usage Stamp (for human-powered watercraft); and a completed Lake Usage Decal application (available at City Hall or online at www.crystallalke.org). The cost per decal is $20 for human-powered (canoes, kayaks and rowboats) and $30 for nonhuman-powered (motorboats, sailboats, sailboard and jet skis). In addition to the Lake Usage Decal, a boat launch gate card is required to launch boats from the Crystal Lake Park District launch areas. The cost per gate card is $75 for Park District residents and $37.50 for seniors (ages 60 and up). Boat launch gate cards are sold at the Crystal Lake Park District Office, 1 E. Crystal Lake Ave. For more information, call 815-459-2020 or visit www.crystallake.org. 

Cary

City offers free wood chips for Cary residents

The village announced that it is offering wood chips to residents free of charge in order to assist with home landscaping. Participants must be Village of Cary residents. Wood chips can be picked up outside the security gate at the Public Works Facility, 454 Cary Woods Circle. No appointment is needed. Residents must bring their own shovels and containers to load the wood chips. Wood chips will be available on a first-come, first-served basis until the supply is exhausted. For more information, call 847-639-0003 or visit www.caryillinois.com.

Huntley

Ladies Night Out in Downtown Huntley on tap

The village announced that it will host Ladies Night Out in Downtown Huntley from 5-8 p.m. May 3. The event features food, pampering, special deals, promotions and more at participating businesses in downtown Huntley. Participating moms, daughters, sisters and girlfriends will meet at the American Legion Hall, 11712 Coral St., beginning at 5 p.m., to receive a game card and map of the participating businesses. Game cards will be stamped at each location visited, and participants will then return to the American Legion Hall with the stamped game cards (and receipts from shopping) to receive raffle tickets for special drawings. Ladies who pre-register before May 1 will receive extra goodies at check-in. Pre-registration is not required to participate. To access a pre-registration form, visit www.huntley.il.us. For more information, contact Barb Read at Village Hall at 847-515-5262 or via email at bread@huntley.il.us.

McHenry

City offers one-time tree brush pick-up service

The city announced that its Spring Brush Pick-Up Program will begin on April 30 for the entire community. Crews will visit each street once and continue until they have gone through the entire city. No callbacks will be made. The program is intended for tree material only — mainly for large tree branches resulting from trimming or storm damage. No stumps or roots will be taken, and no yard waste will be allowed. Branches should be as long as possible and no more than 5 inches in diameter. Residents are advised to place their brush on the parkway parallel to the street no later than 7 a.m. April 30. The program is for residential properties only. For more information, call the Public Works Department at 815-363-2186 or visit www.ci.mchenry.il.us.   

–McHenry County News Briefs–