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EDITORIALS Public Bamboozlery For many years consumer interests have urged that service stations be required to post octane ratings of the gasolines they sell, on each tank. This, it has been argued, is the only way for motorists to know what they are getting for^their money, since fuel advertising by the various oil companies about wonder additives, is, to a large extent at least, hokum to sell fuel.j Now, it's announced, the Federal Trade commission is moving to require such octane postings. Thus U.S. motorists will soon be able to fill their tanks with a gasoline which meets manu­ facturer's specifications exactly and since octane requirements are going down as the addition of lead additives to gasoline de­ creases (the fight" on air pollution) many motorists will save money as a result. The federal government's prodding in this case is in the interest of the average citizen, as was recent federal action setting up tire safety standards. Tire ratings should be further standardized in terms understandable to the average buyer and these gradings required to be prominently displayed on the out­ side of every tire sold. Of all the shafts John Q. Public has received over the past thirty or forty years none has surpassed the deluge of bam­ boozlery and misleading nonsense about so-called revolutionary advances in tire and fuel manufacture. Inferior and unsafe (at high speed) tires have often been passed off on the public and all sorts of empty claims have been made by oil companies about their fuels, when most of the fuels were almost identical, so much so that major companies often swapped large volumes of gasoline back and forth for economy in distribution. This is why government regulation in the automotive field--which in­ cludes safety standards in the manufacture of cars--has come about. Production Scramble ' Major manufacturers are already engaged in a pre-pro­ duction scramble for a hunk of the next big money market in the television field -- cassette television. It is estimated that within five years television sets which play such assettes will be on the market; they may cost as much as today's color sets. Cassettes which can be played on them will be sold much as stereo cassettes are sold today. It's estimated short length cassettes may cost as little as three dollars. (Feature-length films will probably net be available in cassettes initially, because of their length and copyright and financial considerations.) Whether cassette television will become a vast operation depends (m costs and other factors, but the new phase, which will allow vieVrors to play programs at the time they want to see them, opens new possibilities for the average citizen. Changing Gift Habits Retailers who express disappointment in the 1970 Christ­ mas sales may be blamed for not recognizing the changes which have taken place in gift buying among American middle-in­ come groups. The changes that are taking place cannot be measured in terms of generations. They are taking place within the span of five years. For instance, gift-giving is no longer a seasonal activity in the United States. Birthdays were once a minor occasion; today, for the individual concerned, it has become equivalent to a second Christmas. Anniversaries have attained a similar status. Since heads of families, both men and women, have become more mobile, they return from business trips with gifts for those who remained at home. Gift items have become a major sales stock at airports. So when Christmas does come when family members say, "I just don't know what to get for Dad, or Mother, or Sister; they have everything they need," the statement is no exagger­ ation. Even such standard Christmas presents as bicycles and tricycles for children are no longer important at Christmas. These major toys are considered essential to a child's develop­ ment and are likely to be obtained at anytime during the year. The consumer, then, is looking for something different. And too often in the small city that something is not advertised in the local newspaper. The something different may be nearly anything. Animals, ranging from dogs to iguanas. A second or third car, ranging from a foreign import to a 1927 Ford. An airplane ticket. A set of books. Various arts and crafts. Or nearly anything that could be sold in a hometown store as it is now being sold in metropolis. How much c PAGE 5-PLAINDEALE^ED,, JANUARY 20, 1971 Statistics January 1, 1969 to December 31, 1969 November 1, 1969 to October 31, 1970 FAMILY SERVICE MENTAL HEALTH TOTAL OPEN. CASES ........ NEW CASES CASES CLOSED NET CASES OPEN TOTAL PATiefcs SERVED . , . TOTAL PATIENT INTERVIEWS. . GROUP SESSIONS CALLS RECEIVED FOR SERVICES . 349 . 810 . 645 . tl4 .1159 .6099 . 229 .1142 68 236 205 99 304 358 . . . 433 . . . 680 . J . 575 . . . 538 .1113 r$ . . 888 . . . 5 0 1 ... 916 ... 780 . , s £37 . . .1417 . . .7991 ... 357 . . .1246 Hospital Program NEW CASES. . . CASES CLOSED~ CALLS RECEIVED 33 22 35 August 1, 1970 to October 31, 1970 This chart shows the progress of the Fam­ ily Service and Mental Health center in Mc- Henry by stating the number of calls to county residents. A steadily increasing service will be noted, funded about 60 per cent by county money. PUBLIC PULSE (The Plaindealer invites the public to use this col­ umn as an expression of their views on subjects of general interest in our community. Our only re­ quest is that writer^ lim­ it themselves to 300 words or less - signature, full address and phone num­ ber. We ask/ijoo, that one individual not write on the same subject more than once each month. We re­ serve the right to delete any material which we consider libelous or in ob- jectional taste.) NOTE OF PRIDE "Dear Editor: "It was with considerable dismay that many residents of Whispering Oaks read Betsy Althoffs letter in a recent ed­ ition of the Plaindealer. Due to vacation and the Yuletide hustle and bustle, I have not been able to reply sooner. "Betsy, please, please don't judge all of Whispering Oaks residents because of the actions of one apparently very unhappy or sick person. (We do hope that he has regretted them since then.) Most of us have been blessed with children and grandchildren and couldn't love your generation more. We've seen the Candy Strippers at the hospital who care, the teen­ agers who helped clear Boone Creek, the children and older ones who come at Halloween for trick-or-treat and always remember to say "thank you" and we're cognizant of many other heartwarming experieh-, ces with teen-agers in Mc- Henry. "We were heartsick, too, when a couple of our lovely trees at the entrance were de­ liberately and needlessly cut McHenry Learning January inventory of the re­ sources available to library users in McHenry has revealed some astronomical figures When one considers the ser­ vices on which they may call through Illinois public library systems. Of further interest is the depth of materials which may be obtained by merely walking up to the desk of the public library here. A first edition of the big­ gest best-seller of all time and the latest and most eru­ dite piece of scholarly research anywhere in the nation are a- vailable through the McHenry Public library, according to Mrs. Stuart, librarian. Mrs. Stuart is quick to point out that the nearly uncountable volumes produced over the cen­ turies are obviously not to be found on the shelves of the lo­ cal library. However, like the proverbial iceberg, there is much more there than meets the eye. Recently compiled statistics released by the Illinois Stat4 Library indicate that a total of 15,530,058 books are now available through the resources of the eighteen public library systems, which the McHenry Public library participates in through membership In the Northern Illinois Library sys­ tem. In addition, 1969 inven­ tories showed 3,166,078 "non- books" suchasmagazines-^»r- iodicals, records, films, ®tc., on tap throughout the state. This is not to mention the un­ counted resources of private and semi-public libraries which may often be tapped through the proper channels. These books may be obtained through the lo­ cal library if they are among those which are included in the interlibrary exchange system (most are). "Non-books," too, when not available locally can nonetheless .be located and of- ten made available. Right here in McHenry Pub­ lic Library, Mrs. Stuart re- Library Source Of And Recreation vealed, there are 16,000 books and 9,000 non-books readily a- vailable. Persons who think of the local library merely as a place to obtain books will be interested to know that there are also many volumes of reference materials, films, and record here. For the earnest "bibliophile" -definition readily available at throughout the state. Library services do not end, however, wich the business of obtaining individual books or other items. Library patrons may also call on four research and reference centers: Chicago Public Library, the University of Illinois libraries, the Illin­ ois State Library, and the li­ braries at Southern Illinois uni- the local library for those whp_/v^:sity. Connected by teletype, are not familiar with this lar£e these centers are attempting word which describes a lover /--to supply specialized resources of books--the first book ever / and reference service for the printed with moveable type, the V public library systems in Ill- Gutenberg Bible, can be lo- inois. cated in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Photocop­ ies of the original pages, how­ ever, can be requested through the local library using the re­ sources of the public library systems. In Illinois alone, the systems include some 470 pub­ lic libraries. % „ Discussing the system, Mrs. Stuart explained that enrich­ ment of library service at the local level is the prime reason for the recent development of public library systems in Ill­ inois. Evidence of typical sys­ tem services -- inter-ljtbrary loan, specialized and enlarged book collections, fflms, record­ ings either on disc or tape, telephone reference and advi­ sory service, library-to- library delivery--canpresently be found in most libraries Through his local library and its membership in a system, any public library card holder in the state has access to these four of the state's major li­ b r a r i e s . F o r s p e c i a l a n d I n ­ timate requests these four"R & R" centers will go fartjjer afield, wherever necessary to get the information or material. When one considers that there are 3,127,797 registered, ca^ff- carrying bibliophiles in Illin- down by some sick persons and we saw boys throwing back debris into Boone Creek after a job so well done. We've seen other acts of disrespect but all the good deeds done will be paramount in our minds, Bet­ sy. "We're proud of you and oth­ ers like you nt McHenry. We say 'God bless you all'. Mrs. William R. Lahs, Sr. TOO MANY CHIEFS "Editor: "As chairman of the Indian Ridge Clean-Up-Day com­ mittee, now is the propitious time for stating its been a farce from the onset. Too many chiefs and no Indians! It was my suggestion that was acted upon and how I became chair­ man. V "To date I have had not one single tangible offer of help. Neither action in procuring promised supplies, either from the board, nor Mr. Flotz, in charge of maintenance at play­ ground and beaches, until to ex­ pedite mattecsL I took it upon myself in micWsctober and req­ uisitioned the order and billed it to Chuck Terrell. "Pve toted flptsom and jet­ sam refuse and then some, back to my own premises for dis­ posal, cleaned up six lots on my own, and pruned three trees at the playground-one a mur­ derous 2-inch spiked thorn tree, draped to the ground, because I was concerned for somebody's eyesight. Now I have no one to utilize the playground anymore (sigh) but I still enjoy kids vicariously, then was asked contemptuously, why then do I bother? "Well-maybe I get involved in things because I care, re­ gardless of who benefits, or who gets the credit, as long as the job gets done. "Various people have decried the condition of their adjoining lots, but it's beneath their dig­ nity, but supposedly not mine, to grapple with, and it's been the assumption that the elbow grease is to be mine, but not theirs. They've then got a prob­ lem, or a condition, or-aghast, emphatically veto involvement. Ironically, I couldn't scare up any 'takers' even at the board meeting, with twelve of us pre­ sent. "There's a technique I've ob­ served, many have mastered the art of delegating respon­ sibility. "Mrs. Van Kanegan's offer of all the teen-aged volunteers I'd need sounded great, back in June. But where were they when I needed 'em? Unavailable, un­ derstandably so, in October, with schools in session, extra­ curricular activities etc. But if tfrey^had been available earlier, I haven't been aware of it, or else we'd have gotten start­ ed then. "She also informed me the grade-school children were in­ volved in Little League, so that didn't sound too promising eith- ois -- 9,362 of them right here in McHenry Public Library, the availability of the millions of books in the state and nation becomes a matter of prime im­ portance. For Your Information ORNAMENTAL IRON Railings-Columns- , Custom Fabricating Welding & Structural STEEL SALES ADAMS BROS. (Next to Gem Cleaners) 3006 W. Rte. 120 Phone: McHenry 385-0783 Dear friends, As you know, our funeral home is dedicated for the use of both those who have church connections and those wfyo do not. However, without its spiritual import, neither death nor the funeral service has much meaning. It is only natural that religion and the clergy have a primary role in our funeral service, this is keeping with the wishes of the family. Respectfully, PETER /VV.JUSTEN - & SON FUNERAL HOME McHenry. Illinois 385-0063 SOCIAL SECURITY by Elwin Kris FIELD REPRESENTATIVE Today's questions are ones frequently being ask­ ed of our representatives by the people of McHenry county. The Social Secur­ ity office at 2500 Grand avenue, Waukegan, re­ minds McHenry county residents that it has repre­ sentatives meeting people at two locations in McHen­ ry county on a regular ba­ sis. The representatives are at the Woodstock Pub­ lic Library, 414 W. Judd, Woodstock every Wednes­ day from 9 a.m. to noon and at the Harvard city hall from 9:30 a.m. to noon on the first andthird Tues­ day every month. If you have a question you would like answered on Social Se­ curity in this column, then please forward it to Social Security Administration Question and Answer Col­ umn, 2500 Grand avenue, Waukegan, Illinois, 60085. Give your full name, ad­ dress, and Social Security number. If you do not want your name to appear, please indicate this and we will use only intitials. Q. I heard that a Social Se­ curity law was passed that ev­ eryone would receive at least $100 a month and those of us who are getting $65 or $70 a month will get $100. Is this true? A. No. There has been no Social Security legislation this year. Watch the paper; there will be news releases on any changes in Social Security when they are passed by Congress and become law. Q. My father is a diabetic and his medicine is expensive. Are his prescriptions covered by Medicare? A. No, prescription drugs, in­ cluding self-administered in­ sulin injections, are not cov­ ered by Medicare. Q. I have worked hard for years and made money but half of my earnings are in tips. I soon will be retiring. How can I get Social Security credit my tips? . Cash tips have been cov- /er&dJpfr~Social Security since ' January, 1966. If you receive cash tips of $20 a month or more you should start immediately reporting the tips to your em­ ployer. Your employer will re­ port these tips and regular wages to Internal Revenue and your Social Security record will be credited. Call the Social Security office for pamphlet, SSI-17, "For People Who Re­ ceive Cash Tips." Q. I didn't sign up for the part of Medicare that pays on doctor bills. Could I sign up now? A. There will be an open en­ rollment period from Jan. 1, 1971 to March 31, 1971. You may be able to sign up during the open enrollment period de­ pending on the time lapse since your original enrollment per­ iod. Q. My husband will not re­ tire any earlier than age 65. We are both 62 now. I worked several years and am wonder­ ing if I could draw Social Se­ curity now? A. Yes, if you were age 62 in 1970 and worked at least 4 3/4 years under Social Se­ curity you can draw your own Social Security benefit although your husband continues to work. Q. I worked for two years in a township trustee's office and just realized that no Social Se­ curity tax was deducted from my check. What can I do about this now? A. You should check with your employer. Local government employment is covered by So­ cial Security only if they re­ quest coverage and also they may exclude some positions. You will not have Social Se­ curity credits for the two years you worked if your job was not covered. er. but that possible a troop of Girl Scouts could come in and earn their merit badges for an hour a week this way. Great, I said, this was worth thinking about. However, dele­ gating the job of Clean-Up-Day to our children, however com­ mendable their work may be, is not my idea of how Clean­ up-Day should be run. Where are the parents? The true prop­ erty owners? Those who should care?! "Fll let facts speak for them­ selves. Pd suggested , why couldn't a few of us women get together and do what we could, and meet at the playground, and let Thursday, Oct. 15, be a 'Lets-Get-Going Day' since I was told that the coming Sun­ day, the eighteenth, wasn't a good day, but that the twenty- fifth would be better. Mrs. Har­ riett Van Kanegan phoned to say regretfully that there weren't any volunteers for Thursday, and that the twenty- fifth was out, and so was Nov. 1. because the kids had band concert that day. September had been out, everyone on vacation. She said she'd join me if I liked, about 1 o'clock, at the playground. It's nice knowing she cared and took the effort to show up, as I feel a mother's first job is to be with her children. "So it wound up being a one- man proposition. But I reiter­ ate, since I haven't been able to scare up any able-bodied women who are available, maybe I can scare up some men who are! So if you're ready, willing and able, and interested in this proposition, call me. "And last but not least - in fact the first and most! Be­ fore my July Newsletter arrived at my door, my neighbor Bob Biggers was on the phone, of­ fering us the use of his pick­ up truck any time we had need for it. (Now that's what I call action!) "Evelyn Gustafson (Mrs. Earl) "7111 N. Oak Si. "Wonder Lake" £iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiitiiiiiiiiiii£ | Are You New| | In Town? j | Do You Know Someone I | New In Town I 1 We would l ike to extend a welcome to 5 e v e r y n e w c o m e r t o o u r c o m m u n i t y . . . = 1 " MLL I | In Wonder Lake Gen | Weisenburger I 653-3792 I ROYAL WELCOME oNA1- fOB* ig£c OPTOMETRIST Dr. John F. Kelly At 1224 N. Green Street McHenry (Closed Wednesday) Eyes examined .. Glasses fitted Contact Lenses Hrs: Daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday Evenings - 8:30 p.m. Evenings by appointment PHONE 385-0452 Dr. Leonard Bottari Eyes Examined - Contact Lens Glasses Fitted 1303 N. Richmond Road Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs.and Fri. 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tues., Thurs., & Fri Eve. f 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Skt.: 9:30 to 3:00 p.m. No JHours on Wednesday PHONE 385-4151 If No Answer...Phone 385-2262 OFFICE EQUIPMENT INSURANCE Earl i?. Walsh Fire, Auto, Farm & Life Representing RELIABLE COMPANIES When You Need Insurance ot Any Kind PHONE 385-3300 or 385-0953 3429 W. Elm St., McHenry, 111. t McHenry County Office Machines Sales-Service & Rentals Typewriters - Adders Calculators Mon.-Sat. 9:00-5:30 Friday 'til 9 p.m. PHONE 459-1226 93 Grant St., Cyrstal Lake, 111. George L. Thompson General Insurance *LIFE *AUTO *HEALTH *FIRE •CASUALTY *BOAT Phone 815-385-1066 3812 W. Elm St., McHenry In McHenry Plaindealer Bldg. Dennis Contbay AUTO, LIFE, FIRE STATE FAftAA INSURANCE COMPANY1 3315 W. Elm St. McHenry, Illinois Phone 385-5285 or 385-7111 LETTER SERVICE Fran Olsen i 385-5740 | roan Stull | 385-5418 | Ann Zeller f 385-0559 1 fiiiiiiimimiimiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir? Mimeographing - Typing Addressing - Mailing Lists McHenry Letter Service % 3509 W. Pearl St. McHenry PHONE 385-5064 Monday through a Saturday. METAL WORK Craft - Weld Ornamental Iron Worit • RAILINGS • COLUMNS • GATES HI-POINT RD. & S.RT. 31 McHENRY,ILL. PHONE 385-8340 If No Answer, 385-7048 GET r (