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Expansion of Pioneer amdealer 2 Sections 32 Pag«s 25' Friday December 2, 1983 Number 34 Volume 108 Center is under way ~ Sheila Grandt, left, checks off items purchased by FISH for Christmas baskets as Joan Bauer looks through the assemblage of gifts. They will be included with food baskets to be delivered to more than 150 families Dec. 11. FISH deliveries moved ahead to December 11 With an anticipated Christmas spirit and generosity matching last year, the organization of FISH will brighten the holiday seeason with food and clothing for 160 local families in need. Mrs. Joan Bluer, who spearheads the Thanksgiving and Christmas drives each year, said the deadline dates have been moved ahead one week to Dec. 10-11 so that all needy families can be assisted. During the holiday just ob­ served, 120 families were given baskets of food delivered the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Although Mrs. Bauer said the exact number at Christmas probably won't be determined until Christmas Eve, she ex­ pects that at least 350 children will be included among the families to be assisted. "We like to tneMe a gift as well as the necessities", Mrs. Bauer pointed out, adding that teenagers and the elderly are sometimes forgotten. There are also numerous infants and toddlers. Because of the lack of time and help in sorting, used clothing cannot be accepted. On Monday of this week, members of FISH (Friends In Service Here) were beginning the long series of calls in which they interview families to determine their particular needs. They are advised on sizes, ages of the children, in some cases, whether thete are special (ttetary needs. Items that always fit into the Christmas boxes are toothpaste, brushes, and paper items as well as food staples and gift items. "Some of these families wouldn't receive a gift if we didn't include it", Mrs. Bauer explained. At this time, money donated to FISH has made it possible to buy socks, gloves, flannel shirts, coloring books, and many other items to fill the baskets. Boxes will be delivered on Dec. 11 between noon and 3 o'clock frfcn St. Patrick's hall, located on Washington Street. Pe®flps wjlh food or other items to donate may leave bags or* boxes inside the left side door of the church the week preceding delivery date. Checks may be sent to FISH, P.O. Box 282, McHenry. "Our concern is the urgency to give early", said Mrs. Bauer as she hung up the phone to start calling some of the families who will benefit from the generous hearts of McHenry people this Christmas of 1983. Construction on a 12,000- square foot addition to the Pioneer Center vocational rehabilitation building at McHenry is under way following ceremonies at the Dayton Street site Tuesday morning. County and city officials joined McHenry County Association for the Retarded personnel to signal the start of addition. Dixie Hogan, president of the board of Pioneer Center, said with the completion of the facilities in mid-1984, space to provide 77 more jobs for disabled people will become a reality. A $360,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Com­ merce and Community Affairs, strong support by City of McHenry officials, and assistance from Sen. Jack Schaffer and the McHenry County government combined to make the construction possible, said Mrs. Hogan. Mrs. Hogan said the 1979 construction at the site provided a vocational rehabilitation center for over 200 develop- mentally disabled people, and the success of that project made the new facility urgently needed^ Two awards were presented to Mrs. Hogan during the ceremony, which was held in­ side the facility before officials moved outside for a hurried ceremonial photographic session with shovels despite the chilling wind and snow flurries. Trey Covalt, president of the McHeory Chamber of Com­ merce, presented a com­ mendation certificate "for excellence of service to the special needs of the com­ munity." Bill Bolger, director of development for the McHenry Economic Development Commission, saluted Pioneer Center for the expansion which is "providing additional job opportunites for those whose needs are very special." "You are breaking ground today to enlare a facility to help others in the pursuit of hap­ piness and to give many a chance to be useful contributing citizens." said Bolger. "Everyone should be equal in their chance to develop their skills, their ability and their motivation. Each of us can work to change and improve a small portion of events and in the total of these acts will be written the history of this generation. It is in numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that history is shaped." Roberta Wiltse, director of development for Pioneer Center, served as mistress of ceremonies. She said the ground breaking holds special significance for three reasons: 1 - A partnership between the public and private sector to make the grant become a reality is unique. 2 - Pioneer Center will soon observe its twenty-fifth an­ niversary as an organization to serve disabled people. 3 - The need for the new facility emphasizes that training the handicapped to be in­ dependent, productive people in our community is successful. "Persons who are placed in community jobs after training here have a high rate of success with their jobs," she said. "We know the process works." Mayor Joe Stanek of McHenry ' praised the cooperation among city, county and Pioneer Center officials for their efforts in developing the joint grant ap­ plications. He singled out the efforts of Robert Lambourn, executive director, and John Bobbe, associate director for their tenacious efforts to make the project become a reality. City taxes slated to dip Agree on mental health planning limits The McHenry County Mental Health Board (708 board) determined to set limits on planning last week during a review of the updated three-year plan proposal submitted recently by the Planning and Management (P & M) board for the system. The approximately 200 goals listed in the proposal provoked the 708 board's response. Dennis Smith, excutive director of the system, reminded the board members, "That's your job to direct us when and how to use our skills and resources." Smith added, speaking for the P & M board, and their attention to a broad scope of problems, "We feel that we can do some good, but also feel that we don't have the resources to solve all problems." Dirk Voetberg, board finance committee chairman, noted, "Also, we don't have the charter to do it." - Voetberg had initiated the discussion by questioning the pertinency of medical and dental care and filling of other physical needs to the clients' mental welfare. "We can't furnish everything," he protested. Lou Anne Majewski, county board representative on the 708 board, agreed, "This isn't the agency for that." But Anne Patka, assistant director, pointed out, "The work (ex­ ploration of unmet needs) has already had an informational benefit. The County Health Department is presently con­ sidering another adult clinic." Bob Schneider, president of the 708 Board, conceded, "We gave the P & M Board sort of a broad charge. But when they come back with their recom­ mendations, at least we can always say 'no'." Voetberg continuned, "You can take almost anything and turn it into a mental problem." Schneider recollected, "The P & M Board (formerly required for public input to qualify for federal NIMH grant money) became unnecessary with the conversion of federal funding to block grants distributed through the states. We then gave the P & M license to pursue other con- A look inside... Christmas in New Salem State Madrigal Dinners Regular features Twice Told Tales Mostly Social New classified number Section 2, Page 7 Section 2, Page 4 Section 2, Page 3 Page 8 344-4800 cerns which could interest the 708 Board." Smith summarized the 708 board's position, "Everyone here thinks boundaries (of the mental health mission) ought to be defined, where to draw the lines. 708 should define that line." , Voetberg asked, "How do you define it?" Smith suggested seeking a board consensus for a few of the 200 problem areas presented in the plan to which they would direct their attention. He noted that the planners did not prioritize the areas, but were only seeking to identify needs" of the various "population groups" in the county. Smith agreed "If we try to do the plan with our present resources, it would do away with our existing programs." Voetberg urged, "We need to define what our areas of con­ cerns are and what we don't want to get involved in. We can't sit here and do 200 things at once." He suggeted holding a special meeting to thresh something out. Smith asked if the P & M Board should be included. Miriam Bassett, member of both the 708 and the P & M Boards, noted that two people from plannning are already on •the 708 Board. Voetberg advised not including the entire P & M Board. "It is the responsibility of this board to make the decisions, and the P & M Board is represen­ ted." Voetberg also suggested that the definition should be relevant to tht funding, then they could discuss the funding of future programs and determine what is mental health and what is not. ^ Board member Paul Fidler of McHenry, also representing the county board, noted that nowhere in the three-year plan did he see anything about the problem of funds not being available and wondered why the P & M Board would put down some of these (many) goals. Schneider pointed out, "The P & M board needs some room to go out and be creative. The only cost is the time of the staff people." Voetberg also noted, "If we fund something now, that is no sign we have to continue in the future. We can transfer funds to other projects." S c h n e i d e r i n s i s t e d , "Highlighting of problems in other areas is not harmful." Voetberg reminded the board, "In the future available funds will probably be shrinking. We need to sit down and make rational decisions." Smith added in defense of the planners, "One of the benefits of the P & M Board is that it provides the agencies (receiving funds through 708) represen­ tation and a chance to get feedback to their agencies on 708 positions. It is not their job to prioritize their recom­ mendations, and by and large P & M did a good job on their goals and objectives." Smith then uged setting an all- day meeting at the first of the year to discuss the three-year plan, and his staff could prepare the graphs and re-edit the plan summary for the 708 Board's consideration. Fidler asked for whom the plan was prepared, "us or the public?" Schneider said it was actually for public perusal. Fidler charged, "If laymen were to read this I defy them to Continued on pag* 3 by Anthony Oliver While county taxes are slated for an increase, city taxes will take a slight dip, according to Mayor Joseph Stanek. At the last council meeting, Stanek said that, for the second year, the city would be able to abate a portion of the taxes collected for general obligation bonds. The bonds were issued to finance the construction of water and sewer "lines down Green Street to the Northern Illinois Medical Center (NIMC) site. City Cleric Barbara Gilpin said that with the size of the actual payout and the interest earned, the city did not need as much money as had been anticipated. The abatement will amount to 3.6 cents per $100 assessed valuation. Originally, it was believed that the project would cost $822,000 to complete. The total included attorneys fees, engineering costs, etc., as well as the actual construction costs. However, when the bids were returned, the construction cost was nearly $208,000 under the estimated $600,000, Mrs. Gilpin explained. Coupled with the bond abatement was a similar tax cut for the hospital special service area. The council voted unanimously to approve * the abatement. After lengthy discussion, the council voted to put two picnic tables in Whispering Oaks park. Aid. Ray Smith (3rd) argued in favor of the picnic benches, saying that he could not see "reserving" the park for one ward. Stanek noted that many people of , the ward wanted to keep the park "passive." He was supported by Aid. Elizabeth Nolan (1st) who said not every park has to have a ballfield. Aid. William Bolger (1st) made a motion for two park benches to be installed. The motion carried 5 to 2. Aldermen Bolger, McClatchey, Smith, Snell and Serritella voted in favor. Aldermen Nolan and Busse opposed. Aid. Edward Datz (2nd) was absent. In other business: -The council approved sign variations for Hillcrest Development and Long John Silver's restaurant, -The south Route 31 road improvements were approved in concept by an unanimous vote of the council. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will widen the highway to three lanes from Elm Street south to High Street. Signals will be installed at Elm Street and the Grove-Route 31-Lillian intersection. Stanek pointed out that because of the funneling of traffic at Elm Street, the state cannot go any wider than three lanes. . -Stanek reported that the branch court in McHenry will not be closed. City officials had been concerned about the possible closing and made their views known to the 19th Judicial Circuit justices. -The council unanimously approved the appointment of TTiomas Uttich to the Plan Commission. Uttich replaces Larry Weber, who resigned. -The use of portable signs will now be allowed only by permit and only for a definitive period of time as a result of council action. The council also approved fees of $15 for non- i l l u m i n a t e d s i g n s , $ 2 5 f o r illuminated signs and $20 with a $20 deposit for portable signs.