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The Senior Citizens center, which operates the "Meet-and- Eat"program, and has recently received a $2,000 contribution from the City of McHenry, is an important and vital service, especially for the county's senior citizens. The people who go to the center, which is open five days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., do so primarily for the com­ panionship and the chance to make new friends. Ethel Hartmann said she enjoys watching the people who live alone, get out of the house and help each other. "It beats watching television," she said, "you can see it in their faces." John Panek said that sometimes the family just doesn't listen. For him, in the course of "swapping lies," perfect strangers become perfect friends. The center is a family above a family that these people have outgrown, he said. Panek also said that without the support of the mayor, the center would not be here. "He sees that money is needed," Panek said. Marie Powlison echoed Panek's thoughts, saying that it is fortunate to have a City that thinks of its senior citizens. "It's a chance for the people who move here and have no friends to make new ones," she said. Fred Turek is in charge of the arts and crafts programs that are offered. He said he meets a lot of "nice, good people who are interested in doing the things they like to do and some who are interested in learning something new." "People get tired of housework," he said, "They can come here and leatfn painting, macrame, knitting, and so on for no charge-it's all in fun." a Joe Krenek, a volunteer at the center, said that it is a place for people with no other place to go, to come and have a good meal, learn something new, meet new people and enjoy old friends. Perhaps Mrs. Kay Peabody summed it all up best, when she wrote on the back of an en­ velope, "Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds or polishes, each of us must decide. At the Senior Citizen's center, we get a polishing: emotionally (it shows on our faces), physically (with the nutritious, well- balanced meals) and socially (the warm companionship and friendliness we extend to each other). It's the therapy we need-ita blessing." That's what the center means to these people. Dixieland Group Is Band Feature Selections by a Dixieland group and the presentation of "MacArthur Park" by the entire aggregation will be highlights of the Thursday night, June 28, concert of the city stage band. The time is 8 p.m. in the Pearl street park. Other selections will be "Apple Honey", theme from "Mr. Lucky". "Fender Ben­ der", "Tonight", "Hot Enough", "Cecilia", Pop-Rock super hits, "Strike Up The Band" medley "Ala Miller" and "I Remember Basie". MARIE POWLISON JOE KRENEK ETHEL HARTMANN JOHN PANEK K A Y P E A B O D Y FRED TI RKK THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER "SERVING TH| CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875 3toarb Winning ilrtospaprr 1978-- ^ Illinois Press Association Newspaper Contest VOLUME 103 NUMBER 95 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1979 1 SECTION 24 PAGES 20f Rail Commuter Service Will Be Cut In Planning For Year 2000 Rail transportation for commuters will terminate at McHenry and Fox Lake and the FAP 420 expressway proposal may be downgraded to a corridor access control with two lanes of traffic under two additional Year 2000 plan alternatives shown to the McHenry County Regional Planning commission. Eugene Ryan, director of planning for the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS), said the two additional plans were developed after receiving input from local citizens and officials in 30 hearings on the original four test networks earlier this year. Of interest to the McHenry area in the revised plans is the proposal by RTA to terminate the commuter runs on the Chicago and Northwestern at McHenry and on the Milwaukee Road at Fox Lake. But ad­ ditional service is being proposed on the Milwaukee Road from Rondout to Gurnee and for the Soo Line tracks from a junction at DesPlaines on the C and NW north to Buffalo Grove, or even to Mundelein. Ryan said that under discussion also is a light rail service from Crystal Lake to Aurora, either on existing right-of-way or on a new right- of-way. However, when plan commissioners and audience members questioned what "light rail service" would be, Ryan defined it as a self- propelled rail car and that it probably would not be cost effective because of a predicted low ridership. He conceded that bus service on existing high­ ways would be more flexible William Howenstine, as representative of McHenry County Defenders, protested the curtailing of rail service and objected to the FAP (Federal Aid Primary) 420 project in light of the energy shortage that appears to be coming. Howenstine. referring to all the travel to Wisconson, said that is seemed illogical to close out rail service to Wisconsin, especially with the rail proposal south from Crystal Lake. James Rakow, superin­ tendent of highways for McHenry county, said the traffic to which Howenstine referred is for recreation trips Rakow added that everyone admits it is difficult to get people out of c-ars into trains for recreation travel Visitation Team Report School Looks At Non-Compliance Recalling The Good Years There were many moments to cherish at the Sunday afternoon retirement party for Father E.C. Baumhofer, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church, but none was more heartwarming than this one shared by the guest of honor and Sister Andreella, who has spent the past 40 years at St. Mary's, serving both as music instructor in the parochial school system and as organist and choir director. Sister Andreella is also retiring this year. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Reaction to four items of non­ compliance cited by the visitation team of the Illinois Office of Education was ex­ plained to the board of Elementary School District 15 at its last regular meeting by assistant superintendent Dan DeRoche. He said the corrections were being made and a letter certifying to this was being prepaffi DeRoche noteH the IOE visitations are made periodically to verify the ac­ creditation of each school district and the criteria used are contained in the "bible", a pamphlet titled "Evaluation, Supervision and Recognition of Schools," obtainable from the regional superintendent of education. Mandatory courses guidelines are contained in the manuals, and DeRoche ob­ served that there are more references therein to physical education than to reading, which was not a mandated course when the manual was prepared. Consumer education is also specified. The four citations which the McHenry schools allegedly were not in compliance with, according to DeRoche: 1 - "There is no provision for social work services;" 2 - "The board of education has not developed a policy with regard to the use of corporal punish­ ment;" 3- "Teacher aides must always be under the direct and immediate supervision of a certified teacher," and 4 - "Evidence must be maintained Some weekends are destined to fulfill every expectation. Last weekend was one of them. It started Friday afternoon with a homespun story to warm the heart. Central characters were two young Huckleberry Fins with the imagination and innovative talents to turn a nice summer day into something very special. It wasn't done with magic, but with broom­ sticks, bent bobbie pins, string and pieces of bread, all designed to set a record, of kinds, for fishing. As stories go these days, this was a simple one, but it was a pleasant one and set the mood. It continued Friday night with a visit to Town & Country's Remember When and to a room where some very talented people were performing. When one is treated to a bouquet of garden flowers merely for being part of an audience -that, indeed, is not only out of the ordinary but an indication that friends can be very special. It ended Sunday with one of the most heartwarming salutes to service that we have ever witnessed. For the beloved pastor of St. Mary's church, Father Eugene Baumhofer. it was nearing the end of one of the city's longest pastorates in history. For his flock it was time for remem­ bering and a time for regret. They were bidding goodbye with reluctance. But they were remembering the countless ways he had eased their problems - the innumerable times he had helped to make their joyful days even more pleasurable. It was 1944 when the robust priest with the hearty laugh made his way to McHenry. In the intervening years his booming voice has sounded regularly through the church. Sometimes he was the stern (Continued on page 14) Emergency Calling Plan In b Representatives of various emergency services in the McHenry telephone exchange area (385-344) agreed towork up a tentative plan for 911 emer­ gency calling at a recent meet­ ing. McHenry's police chief George Pasenelli said that such a plan was mandated by the state for submission no later iscussion than Jan. 1, 1980. Because of light attendance another meeting is set for Wednes­ day, June 27 at the city hall to permit ' input from groups, including the Lake County Sheriff's office, which is covered by the telephone exchanges serving McHenry. (Continued on page 14)^ Advance Deadlines For Holiday Issues Because of the July 4 holiday occurring on Wednesday, Plaindealer deadlines for both issues that week must be moved ahead. For the first issue, which will be published July 3, news and display advertising deadlines are noon and classified advertising at 4 p.m., on Friday, June 29. Deadlines for the Friday issue that week will be Tuesday, July 3, at the same hours. Community columnists must have their copy in the office by noon Thursday, June 28, for the holiday.issue. which shows that each student has received adequate in­ struction in consumer education." DeRoche said they were in­ terviewing candidates for the social worker position and hoped to hire one by this week. When a board member asked if the citation was merely for not providing the service, DeRoche said that it really meant that they did not have a social worker and should have. The corporal punishment reference was to board policy which had not been updated on this subject, DeRoche said Since changing policy is set by policy, the necessary advance notice has been taken and the board can act on the policy at the next meeting. State policy on corporal punishment is that none be administered by school authorities without parental consent. DeRoche said this requirement can be satisfied by advising parents that the school intends to use such punishment where required and parents objecting can notify the school office. Dr. Richard Farmer, superintendent of District 15, said the change in board policy merely codifies existing practices, that there has been no corporal punishment used in the school system in a long time. About aides being used in an education situation in the case cited, aides were supervising students in a suspension area which was a technical violation. A letter warning against the practice has gone out to all the staff concerned. Aides as supervisors can be used'in many non .education situations such as on the playground, in lunchrooms, etc., DeRoche explained to the board. Board member Gary Lockwood wondered that since aides are there to help the teachers, is it possible that because of the aides some teachers are not doing their job. A rubber stamp would satisfy the last non-compliance item, DeRoche said, and it has been ordered. The information that the consumer edcuation requirements have been met would be rubber stamped on each eighth grade permanent record card. The board reviewed the proposals to accept cash in lieu of land from two developers and indicated agreement. Seeking approval were Reiche Construction, Inc., Roselle, for 80 acres with 58 lots east of Chapel Hill road, (the balance of the 121 acres lies in the Johnsburg school district) and Dr. Jol Investment and Development, Inc., Park Ridge, for Highwood Lake with 62 lots on 52 acres east of Holiday Hills on Dowell road Board member Willis Martin said it was estimated that the donations would probably be in excess of $15,000 for each development and would probably be higher than those required by McHenry city. After board approval, the necessary letters & docu- (Continued on page 14) Howentstine reported that old timers claimed the Lake Geneva line was heavily used when the number of people in the area was nowhere near as great as now. He predicted that it could be that way again if the " roadbed and service were improved. Ryan also explained that under the two new test plans, designated as "E" and "F" (the first four were known as "A.B.C and D") the proposed R i c h m o n d W a u k e g a n e x ­ pressway (known locally as FAP 420) would be a fully controlled access right-of-way with a limited number of in­ t e r s e c t i o n s a t g r a d e , a n d signalized from Almond road at Route 120 to US 12 at the Wisconsin state line. He said that it would be only two lanes initially. Also proposed is upgrading Route 31 to the Algonquin area where a connection would be made with Randall road, which (Continued on page 14) Cookie's Story Has Happy Ending Rita Ponzo of Fox Ridge carefully holds one of Cookie's day old puppies as the proud mother dog shows her approval. Cookie was welcomed into the Ponzo household straight from Animal Control, where the stray dog's days would have been numbered if a home had not been found soon. The three "boys" and three "girls" are doing nicely, thank you, resting on an old issue of the Plaindealer, which is providing one of the last of many uses of newspapers. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD She was just a mixed breed, some Cocker Spaniel, some Beagle, but there was a certain appeal in her eyes that begged to be taken home. R i t a P o n z o o f 2 1 1 C a n ­ terbury, Fox Ridge, looked over the dogs at Animal Control -dogs that would either find a home soon or be put to sleep Although she cont inued to look, she found a roving eye retur­ ning to the same dog Later , enroute hack to (Continued on page 14) "It's A Blessing" Senior Citizens Center In Action