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N r MB VOLUME 106 NUMBER 28 " S E R V I N G T H E C H A I N - O - L A K E S R E G I O N S I N C E 1 8 7 5 " WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 4, 1981 1 SECTION 22 PAGES 25' rc. y > r' * .'i£ ; J~TS~\ m r% JT/1 r Workmen on the new township building are shown spreading pea gravel inside Il(/lf|fO 1 C/f the foundation. The structure, located on Rt. 31 north, near the highway Town Offices building, will be the first township-owned housing for all township offices. It is expected to be ready for occupancy in time for the April annual town meeting. •" Getting ahead of winter weather, workmen have started setting forms and pouring the foundation for McHenry township's new office building, located on Rt. 31 north, near the highway building. This will be the first township-owned housing for these offices, which have always operated out of rental units. With completion set for 150 working days, the offices are expected to be occupied by April 1, in time for the annual town meeting. General contractor is Jos. Frett & Son, in the amount of $135,948. Other, smaller contracts were as follows: Plumbing, Buch Brothers, McHenry, $8,000; heating, ventilation and air conditioning, Anco, Marengo, $11,800; electric, Carey Electric, STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD McHenry, $12,488; septic, Vern Thelen, Antioch, $2,080; and flooring, Building Carpets of Woodstock, $4,018.19, bringing the total figure to $174,425.19. A total of $200,000 was apprwriated for the building. When initial bicis came in exceeding this figure, the design and certain specifications were changed and new bids sought. Scrap Group Home Plan More people are answering the Help Wanted ads every day. And the ones who aren't may very well at least have had their hours cut. It's one of the signs of the times. Uncle Sam stretched his hand a little farther last Sunday to take two more pennies for a stamp. And we didn't even hear a 'thank you' when we produced them. Folks checking around for holiday parties say prices are going up - and up. Makes you think it might be necessary to go back to cafeteria style dinners to celebrate, and even these don't come cheap. But amidst all of this discouraging news there is one who is undaunted. Santa Claus continues to stay at his work bench far into the night, aided by the know-how of the electronic toymakers. If you have any doubts, visit some of the stores that cater to Christmas items. Every day there are more on the shelves, attracting naive little people who have no idea of the relationship between money and toys. It's a fact, we are all spoiled! We remember 20 years ago when a school cafeteria banquet would have amounted to a big celebration. Today, the same people want a country club or g spacious restaurant with background music, decorations and waiters. For the kids, it's a matter of never knowing any other kind of living. Money has been plentiful for all of their short lives, and if Santa didn't bring a bike down the chimney it didn't matter much. However it arrived, the two- wheeled necessity of life was under the tree Christmas morning. This year may be different. There comes a time in everyone's life when (Continued on page 20) By Anthony Oliver In a letter to the McHenry City Council, Robert Lambourn, executive director of the Pioneer Center, said that plans to develop two group homes for developmentally disabled residents had been scrapped by the McHenry County Association for the Retarded (MCAR) board of directors. The association had been seeking clarification of the City of McHenry Zoning ordinance in order to determine under which classification a group home might fit. Both of the lots con­ sidered in the preliminary plans presently have "R-4" residential zoning. The question posed by MCAR was whether a group home, as planned, was a permitted use under the existing zoning classification. The preliminary plans called for the construction of a new facility on Lillian street, near Front, and the remodelling of an existing structure, the Alternative high school, on Front street, for the group homes. Each home would have housed a maximum of six develop- mentally disabled people. In the letter, Lambourn cited problems in obtaining the appropriate financing as the reason for not pursuing the matter further. In an earlier in­ terview, Lambourn commented that MCAft had been in negotiations with the Farmers Home Administration (FHA) in an attempt to secure 100 percent financing for the project. Alderman Michael Wieser pointed out Monday night that a substantial rise in the interest rates charged by the FHA had put the project out of reach. Lambourn said the association was still interested in the zoning clarification for future use and asked the city to continue along those lines. If the city determines that a group home is a permitted use in the "R-4" classification, the association would not be required to appear before the McHenry Zoning Board of Appeals. Denies Syndicate Ties SHAW MBMA NSW! SEKVICI A vending jmachine license decision by McHenry County License and Liquor commissioners which was delayed last month will wait yet another week as the members rook into possible connections between the applicant and alleged crime syndicate figures. McHenry County Board Chairman Ronald Morris said Monday the county's license and liquor com­ missioners will make a decision Nov. 9 on the vending machine licensing for a Lake Zurich man-who is related to a reputed crime £$mlicate figure. Richard Kimmel, brother-in-law of reported crime syndicate-connected Joseph Ferriola, has applied to the county for licenses for AAA Amusement Inc., a company he owns. At prior hearings, commissioners voiced their concern over rumors of Kimmel being connected with crime syndicate operators. Kimmel, 40, told the commission, "I have never fronted for anyone in all my life." Morris commented, "There is no question your application has a shadow on it." At a hearing last month, Kimmel said he bought Sagittarius Inc., from his sister, Julia Ferriola, and Flo Posner, wife of suspected syndicate member Michael Posner. He said he bought McHenry County Tobacco and Candy Co. from Ferriola and has incorporated both firms under AAA Amusements. (Continued on page 20) City Allows Family Video Game Center By Anthony Oliver With objections raised by two aldermen, the McHenry City Council voted Monday night to approve a proposal to start a family video game center in McHenry. The proposal, made by Charles Gillum and his wife, Connie, of Spring Grove, is to have a center with 24 video game machines which would be open to adults and children alike. A business and marketing consultant, Gillum said he believed the two could make this kind of an establishment work in McHenry. He pointed out that he had studied the market and similar operations in other locales, before choosing McHenry. He characterized the operation as a "wholesome" place for the creative outlet of energy, saying that the video games were more challenging mentally and physically than the pinball games traditionally associated with the penny arcade. Gillum said that strict rules would be enforced and added that the couple was not interested in having a restaurant on the facility, or in making it a place for youngsters to loiter. In order to avoid this situation, Gillum said a membership card system would be instituted. He also pointed out that incentives, like three free games for an "A" on a report card, could also be instituted. Gillum commented that the establish­ ment could be used as a fund-raising facility for a variety of civic groups. McHenry hospital is sponsoring a free "Quit Smoking" clinic in November, and interested persons are urged to call the public relations department to enroll. A limited number of openings are available. Harold Wimmer of the McHenry- DuPage Lung association will conduct the clinic, which offers smokers assistance in quitting or reducing their smoking consumption. The program's goals include techniques that will help smokers maintain a non-smoking behavior over a prolonged period of time. Cigarette smoking is related to over 300,000 preventable deaths each year, and the incidence of smoking-related disease is increasing each year. The clinic presents help in the form of self- reinforcement techniques, relaxation and breathing exercises, a buddy system, group discussions, (and problem-solving exercises as part of its approach. The fall session meets on the following Mondays and Wednesdays, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 9,11,16,18, 23 and 30. To sign up, call McHenry hospital's public relations department at 385-2200, extension 622 or 623. A maximum of 25 persons will be enrolled. Schools Cooperate To Ease • -gNeMit.* . Transition From Junior High East and West campus principals, William Dodds and Greg Johnson, presented to the Elementary School District 15 board last week some of the methods used to prepare junior high age students for the tran­ sition into high school. It was pointed out that for many years the administrators, counselors and faculties of McHenry high and junior high schools have planned and carried out practices designed to make easier the move of eighth graders into their new status as high school fresh- ment. Important in the planning is course selection. Starting last Monday, "home cooked" lunches are being served at Junior high. For some time mass feeding of frozen prepared food, has been carried out at Parkland, Junior high and Landmark. With the start of this year, the change was made at Landmark. Beginning this week, the food cooked in the Edgebrook cafeteria is being taken to Junior high, and in the future the change will also include Parkland. Carrying on a practice of recent months, members of the Junior high Parent Teachers Organization attended as special guests The purpose of this procedure, which takes place at the month's instructional meeting, is to maintain communications with parents of the district. In one of the discussions, the assembled group was asked to suggest better ways in which the school could assure information getting from the student to the parents. It was recognized that younger students are often careful in bringing home letters from the classroom, but older children tend to be negligent. In one instance, letters accumulated for an entire term were found in a locker. One suggestion was to prepare a monthly calendar of activities rather than the weekly letter sent home. Problems relating to extended field trips were also studied. Dr. Richard F a r m e r , s u p e r i n t e n d e n t , acknowledged the worth of many of these trips, but pointed out that with travel time, and the necessity to return home to meet the bus schedule, some of these trips were impossible to plan. In response to a question from the council, Gillum said he had talked with one landlord about a location on Pearl street, but any further action was dependent upon the outcome of the council meeting. Alderman Jack Pepping inquired concerning the days and hours of operation. Gillum said he was thinking about 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week and perhaps a little later on weekends. This, he added, was subject to the rules and regulations of the city. "I'd rather you kept it in Spring Grove," said Alderman Edward Datz, voicing objection to the proposal. Alderman Cecilia Serritella asked who would be in charge of the operation. Gillum said that he and his wife would be the full-time managers of the establishment. "We're not going to trust our life savings to a kid," he commented. He said that if another manager was needed it would definitely be an adult. When asked for a response, McHenry Police Chief George Pasenelli said he was used to the penny arcade and noted that his experiences had not been favorable. Gillum said that in any given com­ munity an ice cream shop or a tavern could be a detriment or a benefit, depending on how it is run. "We're talking state of the art electronics, not penny arcade pinball," he said. He also noted that those people who favor pinball might be "over challenged" by the computer games. Alderman Ronald Meurer com­ mented that while he was impressed by the presentation, he did not care for video games or pinball. "It's a waste of time," b® said. Gillum also said that 1 all of tht machines would be, ownea by himself and that there would be no sales or service associated with the business. He told the council that he and his wife were investing their life savings in this enterprise. The council approved a motion to license one video game center and authorized the city attorney to draw an ordinance which would allow the establishment as presented, with a restriction that minors must leave 15 minutes prior to the established curfew and with no limitation as to the number of machines. Voting in favor were Aldermen Wieser, Smith, Serritella, Pepping and Nolan. Voting against were Aldermen Datz and Meurer. In other business, the council voted to reject an offer to purchase the Chapel Hill golf course from owner James Stavros. Alderman Michael Wieser noted that the offer was also made unofficially to; the county and he said that the city was not in the position to consider spending $1.5 million or $2 million to purchase a golf course. The council approved the purchase of (Continued on page 20) Clown Antics In Hospital Big smiles are possible even in a hospital If the clown comes to visit This was the scene in the pediatrics ward of McHenry hospital on Halloween when Lluii, the clown, paid a visit. The happy patient Is Doreen Bauer, 10-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Bauer of Fox Lake, viewing one of Liszie's halloas sculptures. She also entertained with funny magic. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Finding Money For College Crash Kills County Man Home Maintenance Program Avai lable Programs Two-Car Col l is ion Extension Offer ing Page 16 Page 20 Page 8 \