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late John J. Vycital is shown kin thecommunity. The busta IHriignfiinrn mimd»ktroi courserfauttfaerevgere bo drags,1 Mi fto eftehtd heard «f juvenile delinquency". Was II Utopia? No, it was McHenry, in another time. And it was that time nd this place that Charles Vycital reflected upon this week as eople do when they are about to leave part of their life behind MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-IAKES REGION SINCE 1875 Stoarb Winning 45ttofipaptr 1979-- Illinois Press Association Newspaper Contest VOLUME 104 NUMBER 67 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1980 2 SECTIONS 26 PAGES 25* Open Traffic Program Beginning April 1,1980, the Accident Investigation unit of the City of McHenry Police department will be in operation. ----- The unit was formed as a part of the Concentrated Traffic Enforcement Program (CTEP) grant recently received from the Illinois Department of_ Transportation. The ex­ pressed purpose of the unit is to make travel safer and reduce the number of traffic accidents within the City. According to the unit commander, Sgt. Robert Zujewski, the distinctly marked CTEP cars will be One Of The Last . % ' ; ' Tm '• ' •. y • i ~ - . ••••;, . . • (A Family Cooperative) Before another bustling recreation season returns, Vycital's Hardware store on Green street will have closed its doors for the last time. Shelves that have held everything from nuts to bolts on one side to delicate glassware on the other, will be empty. The store's closing marks the final chapter in the kind of success story that was part of another era-a story of a family cooperative. When John and Frances Vycital, who had come to the United States only a few years before from Europe, and their three children came to McHenry from Racine, Wis., in 1906 it was to pursue their fortune. But this was a fortune spelled out not so generously in money as in industriousness, pride and respect. -Spirit, determination and hard work had to make up for the flfciall amount of capital they had to start a new business. They chose the spot on Green street that still bears the tfrcital name. 33ix more children joined the original three, and in turn, tgcame part of a business that thrived. There was coal to haul to the apartment above the store; aihes to cart to the street level. No relentless traffic flow in ttjpse days - only a pasture that stretched to the east in back qf the store. John Vycital played the violin, and it was his encouragement that led several of the children into a hobby that was to remain much of their lives. A wise father, he knew before its time that a family kept busy with common recreational interests had the best chance of avoiding youthful temptations. To encourage a pleasant family relationship, he built extra seats in the truck that served for both business and pleasure. On a Sunday afternoon, all 11 Vycitals would climb in and set out for a drive. Discipline was firm but kind - exacting but consistent. There was no "lip" allowed as the youngsters grew. Through family cooperation, several of them went to college in spite of a lingering depression following the stock market crash. And what a proud day for all of them the day the "baby" of the family had a M.D. attached to his name. As his days in the store on Green street become numbered, Charles remembers: ...His dad going out on sheet metal work as older sister, Frances, "kept the store"; **.The first gear shift truck acquired in 1927; IXThe days when Green street was the hub of the city and yonly way to West McHenry was via Main or Waukegan ' sts; JHis trapping days, after which the older boys would be to Chicago to sell their furs; ...Days when an ice cream cone or money for a movie was as tng a treat as anyone dared to dream of; "Of course I'll miss the store," Charles admitted as we concluded reminiscing on quieter days in McHenry. There was a catch in his voice, and maybe we felt a little of the patrolling four areas in the City: Elm street, from Riverside drive west to the City limits; Route 31, from Elm street north; Route 31, from Elm street south; and to a lesser extent, the rest of the City. The unit, which is made up of Officers Ken Prazak and John Langdon, will operate from 7 a.m. until midnight. Sgt. Zujewski said the officers will be issuing citations for six main violations: speeding, im­ proper lane usage, failure to yield the right-of-way, stop sign violations, ignoring traffic signals and driving while intoxicated. All enforcement will not be Citations, according to Zujewski. The officers will also be giving warning tickets and verbal warnings to violators. In addition, Zujewski said the unit would like to embark r on public education programs, dealing primarily with the schools and senior citizens. "We hope to reduce the number of traffic accidents by about 10 percent," Zujewski said. "The cars will not be hidden and we will be using movingradar." T' All of the officers In the unit have attended a school at the academy in Springfield for on-site ac­ cident investigations J||d selective traffic «i- •**>fuittment. these courses was one of grant requirements. Business-Residential Zoning Is Requested A petition has been filed for hearing before the McHenry county Zoning Board of Appeals by the American National Bank and Trust company of Chicago, under a trust, Adrian and Parvaneh Finkelstein for an amend­ ment to the McHenry county zoning ordinance from "B-l" Neighborhood Business district and "A-l" Agriculture district to "B-3 General Business district and "R-l" Single Family Residential district. The property is located in McHenry township on the south side of Route 120 at its intersection with Chapel Hill road and consists of ap­ proximately 125 acres. The hearing on this petition will be held March 26 at 2 p.m. in Room 112 of the McHenry county cour­ thouse, Woodstock. All those who may be interested may appear and be heard. Chosen For Girls State Girls State choices from East and West campuses and their alternates are shown shortly after receiving news of their selection. Sitting, in front, are Shari Blankenhorn, left, of West campus, and Judy Snyder of East campus, both of whom will attend Girls State next summer. In back are Kim Salman of West and Sue Malenius of East, named alternates. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Lions In Blood Drive When the thirty-ninth annual session of Illini Girl State convenes on the campus of MacMurray college, Jacksonville, 111., June 15-21, two McHenry girls will be a part of the activity. * Shari Blankenhorn, daughter of Janice Miller of 4206 Crystal Lake road and William Blankenhorn, and Judy Snyder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Snyder of 2914 W. Lincoln road, will represent West and East campuses, respectively. The girls will participate in citizenship training along withr. 570 others throughout the state, sponsored by the American Legion auxiliary of McHenry. They will live in a mythical stale patterned after the State of Illinois and will follow government procedures as closely as' possible. The girls will form two political parties (non­ partisan): hold conventions, campaigns and elections and perform other duties per­ taining to the various public offices. Girls State is a program of education in the American form of government. Girls elected are juniors in high school and are chosen for honesty, leadership, good character, scholarship and cooperativeness. Alternates are Kim Salman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Salman. 6907 Mason Hill road and Sue Malenius. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Malenius, 2713 Pueblo drive. The McHenry Lions club, along with the AUrora Area Blood bank, will sponsor a Community Blood drive. The hours are 3 to 7 p.m. Thur­ sday, March 27, and the location is Zion Lutheran church, Rt. 120. Lions members are hoping more will donate blood than the 105 who were present at the last drive. A spokesman said most hospital policies pay for blood transfusions but they can only buy blood if it is available. The Aurora Area Blood bank services 18 hospitals in an 8-county area, and provides blood for ap­ proximately 2,500,000 residents. Because of blood drives like this being held in (Continued on page 16) High-Rise In County Future? Are high-rise apartments and multi-level housing- shopping - entertainment complexes in the future for McHenry county residents? This possibility was suggested by William Brubaker, noted Chicago architect and urban planner. Old Business To Close Its isn't easy to turn the key in the door for the last time on a i that has been in the family almost 75 years. Although the Vycitals have two sons, they won't be returning to their home city to operate the firm. That doesn't in often any more. their parents wouldn't have it any other way. This is and many things have changed since Charles made his sion to keep the Vycital name and the hardware business lymous in McHenry. Et. Col. Mark and Major Gary are making a name for in Uncle Sam's Air Force and their records have it pride to their parents in another way. next few weeks will pass quickly for Charles Vycital, ftena memory will return, only to be packed away again it reminiscing another day. I when he closes the door about June I, it will leave only a nful of businesses that have served McHenry from the iaf the century under the same family owhership. nameplate may be removed, hut for some of us there be a very special spot on Green street that will say, it the written words - "Vycital". aAJ. in a slide presentation before the McHenry County Defenders. Addressing the problem of energy conservation, the Chicago resident presented his "windshield" view of McHenry county at the Defenders' tenth an­ niversary dinner meeting held recently at T.C. Spirits in Crystal Lake. Brubaker describes McHenry county cities as "green towns with a canopy of trees surrounded by farms". He warns that McHenry, Woodstock and Crystal Lake will serve as magnets to future development because they are situated so closely together. The form this development takes may be dictated by energy concerns and the need to decrease dependence on the automobile. Our cities will take on a new appearance. "Sprawl" is the term Brubaker uses to describe present development in McHenry county. And he says it has "a whale of an impact on the amount of energy used." Low density development uses twice the energy as high density development. Brubaker feels it is necessary to encourage attractively designed high- density development at train stations and town centers and ban it elsewhere. He suggests planning sub­ divisions so that people can walk or bus to smaller localized shopping areas. "Who wants to drive a few miles for a pair of socks"" he asked. Describing McHenry as unique, the architect said the city must capitalize on the picturesque beauty of the Fox river and Boone creek channel. The river is an/ asset and must be a high (Continued on page 16) Seek New Miss McHenry Karen Szumlas, Miss McHenry 1979, this week issued an invitation to all girls between the ages of 17 and 21 to enter the Miss McHenry pageant for 1980. Contestants must live in the McHenry-Johnsburg school district and must have a McHenry address. Each participant will be given a charm course in­ cluding make-up advice, hair care and fashion. Applications are available in this issue of the Plain- dealer and should be brought in person, with a photo. preferably black and white, to the news room of the newspaper. 3812 W. Elm street. Further details will follow. Each candidate will be contacted by a member of the committee in charge of the contest. The late John J. Vycital is shown in the 1927 Dodge truck used to take him to his sheet metal work in the community. The business he founded In 1906, Vycital's Hardware, will soon close its doors after almost 75 years under the same family ownership. C h a r l e s V y c i t a l . p r o m i n e n t M c H e n r y business man. has an­ nounced he will be retiring soon after almost six decades in the family hard­ ware business. Vycital's• Hardware. 1228 N. Green street. The store was founded in 1906 by John J. Vycital, uuo died in 1952. Charles joined the business in 1924 and soon a f t e r w a r d b e c a m e bookkeeper. The present staff, along with Charles, includes Mrs. Janet Diedrich. with the firm 8»j years: Alice Peel. 32 years: and Mrs Gloria PilliCi . J Huj o. I lit' OWIIt'l a wife. Mary, is a part time buyer in the giftware. The Vycitals plan to do some travelling after his retirement. He and his wife, 'who is a teacher in the McHenry school system, have two sons, Lt. Col Mark Vvcital nnd Major Garv V ,t^nui McHenry Residents Meet To Fight Gypsy Moths McHenry residents are urged to attend a public meeting Thursday. March 27, to become acquainted with gypsy moth eradication activities that will begin in tut? area this dpimg The meeting will be conducted at the city hall. 1111 North Green Street, by representatives from the US Department of Agriculture (l'SDA).and the Illinois State Department o^ Agriculture, beginning at 7:30 p.m According to Richard Love joy of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection service office in Princeton (Continued on page 16) Scenes Hke this will be reenacted this weekend when the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce holds its seventh annual Trade fair at Parkland school. At least, 5,000 people are expected to be attracted to the school during the three-day event to learn about hundreds of products and services displayed in 66 booths. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Hundreds of products and services for home, farm and business will be on display when the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce holds its seventh annual Trade fair at Parkland Junior high school, Rt. 120 at Ringwood road. The dates are March 28 through 30. The show opens to the public at 6 p.m. Friday and continues until 10 p.m. Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday the school will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. As in past years, there is no admission charge, and there is free narking. Many of the exhibitors will be offering free prizes throughout the fair. The purpose of the annual event is to make known to the local public and outside business and industry what the city has to offer. This showcase of the community is meant to demonstrate that the city of McHenry is a good place to live and work. At least 5,000 people are expected to attend, an estimate based on previous crowds. There will be 66 booths containing items as large as boats and autos, and as varied as retail clothing, heavy manufacturing and real estate. Several non-profit groups also will be on location to show the public what they have to offer. These include the Girl Scouts, Lions, schools, McHenry police department and the RTA. Another is CETA, the Comprehensive Education Training Act program operating in the county. A tabloid section, in color, listing Trade fair con­ tributors and telling of the products on display, appears as part of this issue of the Plaindealer.