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\ 15* Q THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1675 ivt- C33IS* 15 VOLUME 98 NUMBER 41 FR.'DAY, DECEMBER 21, 1973 20 PAGES FIFTEEN CENTS Reinstate Day As Football Coach Council Must Approve Roof Top Restaurant Planned « * **« V . V ' wOra Students Assume Feeding Project Mrs. porotliy Hollander, a teacher at Valley View school, is shown with a fifth grade student, Jon Schmitt, displaying several of the canisters which they will place in local stores soon. The school children are seeking donations to buy food for McHenry's wild duck population. Other canisters are designed in the shape of ducks. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD McHenry may have its first roof top restaurant if plans outlined by developer Ralph Edgar at Monday night's City Council meeting are carried out. Edgar appeared before the Council to seek approval pf a revised plan concerning property located in back of the McHenry Savings and Loan building on Green street. The original plan which was approved in October called for two seven-story twin towers to be erected containing ninety- six apartments and providing 161 parking spaces on the site. A restaurant would be located between the two towers. The alternate plan specified one building with 168 parking spaces and a restaurant. Edgar advised that he could make the building eight floors and have the restaurant on the roof. "There would be no more of a fire hazard because the building will have a sprinkler system," Edgar said. City Attorney Bernard Narusis noted that the Council could reconsider its original motion and allow the alternate plan because the rights of others would not be affected- He explained that the Council had approved re-zoning of the property on the recom­ mendation of the Zoning board and that board had not specified that twin towers must be constructed. Narusis mentioned that according to the city ordinance a restaurant on the roof is not allowed in the framework of B-l zoning which states that business must be on the ground floor. Edgar felt this stipulation could be worked out by operating a travel agency or some other shop on the ground floor and the restaurant on the roof. Edgar explained that he wished to get the Council's approval on the alternate plan so he could instruct his ar­ chitect to proceed with drawings and arrange for financing the project. He would like to begin construction in March. When Edgar asked aldermen their feelings on placing the restaurant on the roof, Ed Datz stated, "It would be the greatest thing for McHenry since the wheel." Alderman Pepping said, "He will make more money if he puts it up there." It was the consensus that the Council would approve the idea. Aldermen unanimously approved Edgar's alternate plan to construct one building instead of the original twin towers. He will have his ar­ chitect draw up a revised plan and present it to the Council at a future meeting. Alderman Jack Pepping presented a proposed or­ dinance regulating and licensing scavengers in the city. The decision to consider such a proposal came about after several citizens expressed concern at the recent fifty-cent rate increase asked by McHenry Disposal which is owned by Waste Management, Inc. Pepping asked City Attorney Bernard Narusis to submit an opinion regarding city control of private scavengers. He reported, "The city has the power to regulate the collec­ tion, removal and disposal of garbage, ashes anc wastes accunudating within its limits. The hauling of garbage over v city streets is not an ordinary and customary street use." "An ordinance could be enacted that specifies the minimum frequency of pickup, excludes pickups on certain days such as Sundays and holidays, could specify that pickups shall be made from curbside, could limit the number of private scavengers' licenses, could establish a license fee, could specify the type of vehicles to be used, etc." "Crystal Lake licenses private scavenger operations ^Continued on page 19) mum MP. T* 3* >fr, y* w West Campus Varsity Football Coach Bill Day is shown as he walked into the meeting of the High School District 156 board membersTuesday night. Following an executive session in which Day stated his grievances, he was reinstated to his coaching post in a 5-2 vote to rescind previotot action in which he was retfe**# of these duties. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD By a vote of 5 to 2, the board of High School District 156 acted Tuesday night to retain Bill Day as varsity football coach for 1974. Lloyd Freund and a new board member, Philip Bartmann, were the only dissenters. The vote came on a motion by Howard Weiss to rescind previous action in which Day was relieved of his duties. It was at a Dec. 3 meeting 'Tis the season to be jolly -- and we are! The Plaindealer bulletin board is almost filled with holiday greetings sent by good friends. We appreciate and read each of them, with a warm feeling for the sender. Our own desk is brightened each holiday season by two very special cards. An unusual greeting always arrives from "Biff" Meyer , a McHenry boy who left his home town many years ago for the big city. And with the same regularity, we receive anonymously one of those rare old specimens of cards sent in the early days -- just what era, we aren't sure. This year's postcard, con­ taining a pretty winter scene, carries with it the following greeting which we pass on, with sincerity, to our readers. This little card is meant for you And don't you ever doubt it, remember when you read my wish I'd simply like to shout it. For those who still haven't decided on a special type of gift, there is'one source that might possibly have been overlooked. Anyone who wants a pet would do well to in­ vestigate the many nice dogs and cats available through Helping Paws. The organization is formed for humane purposes, however, and the idea of taking a dog or cat to "try" is frowned upon. Every Easter baby chicks and ducks are brought into homes, to be discarded or stepped upon. The few that survive soon become ungainly in ap- (Continued on page 19) Ask a busy person if you want something done. Wisdom of that old adage was evident again this past week when Mrs. Dorothy Hollander, a teacher at Valley View school, assumed the role of coordinator of a new project to feed McHenry's wild duck population. The program had its start as the result of a recent Plain- dealer column seeking an organization to assume the responsibility of feeding during the coldest part of the winter. Mrs. Hollander, long recognized for her work in behalf of humane programs in the area, responded. With permission from P r i n c i p a l E d m u n d Sobotkiewicz of Valley View, she approached the school's director Don Neubauer, and the librarian, Miss Alice Clark, a member of the Audubon society, for assistance. Students in the first five grades of Valley View responded with enthusiasm and started at once to make canisters which they will place in the various stores. Under the guidance of volunteer teachers, collections will be made from time to time and money used to purchase corn and other edibles for the ducks. At the request of Alderman Donald Howard, a local businessman, Ken Bruce, has volunteered to feed on a daily basis from food brought to his place of business, located on one of the few parts of the river which remains open throughout the winter. Mrs. Hollander believes the responsibility of the project will be good for the students, as well as teaching them respect for wildlife. They hope local residents will be generous with donations so that private feeders in the area may be relieved of the burden they have assumed, without credit, for so many years. Arrest Juvenile For Home, Hilltop School Burglaries While county officials were investigating the Dec. 3 burglary of the Albert Ebert home at 3213 River Park drive, McHenry, they developed in­ formation on Dec. 11 which indicated a McHenry area juvenile may have been the offender. In going to his hpme, detectives found a hi-fi unit in operation which was identified as part of the property taken in the Ebert burglary. A search warrant was ob­ tained. During a search of the home, more of the items taken from the Ebert home were found along with property taken in burglaries at Hilltop school Dec. 3 and Oct. 10. The juvenile was arrested for the burglaries and turned over to juvenile authorities for disposition of the cases. Wednesday morning, deputies investigated a burglary at the B and E Drive- In, 7402 Hancock drive, Wonder Lake. Sometime during the night, the building had been entered by breaking a window. The offender pried open four pinball machines and removed approximately $300 in quarters. Investigation is continuing. Rayfaond Sander of 5902 Fox Lake road, McHenry, informed county authorities that his summer home had been burglarized last week. Missing from the premises were a stereo set with speakers, a pair of black wooden bookends, a walnut cuckoo clock, a Vanco speaker and a German shaving mug. The summer home of Hollis Lewey at 209 Emerald drive, McHenry, was also entered recently. Taken were a console television set, a clock radio and a table radio. A complete in­ ventory will be made when the vacationing owner arrives home. Numerous items were stolen from the summer home of Alvin Hammer of 4502 W. Lake Shore drive, Wonder Lake. Sometime during the past two weeks, the door had been pried open and the following articles were taken: a radio, binoculars, razor, wading boots, two spinning reels, a tackle box with assorted fishing (Continued on page 19) that another vote failed to rescind this action. Before a crowd of fifty parents, students and teachers assembled in West campus cafeteria that night, a tie vote was cast. Lacking the necessary two- thirds, the proposal failed. Day indicated officially that night that in accord with his official contract, he would file a grievance. At first, Day selected to hold an open, formal hearing. Later, he chose to meet with the board behind closed doors as the alternative in the grievance policy. It was following this discussion that Tuesday night's vote favoring Day took place. Day's chief contention was that board action was contrary to the written policy which states if a teacher is judged to have turned in an un­ satisfactory performance, he is given adequate notice before his services are terminated. Board members who reversed their original vote indicated that they did so because they agreed they had not acted in accordance with the policy. Following the vote to retain Day, Weiss made another motion asking Supt. Richard Swantz to express to Day and the athletic director, "specific concerns of the board toward the football program ". A f t e r c o n s i d e r a b l e discussion, the board adopted a policy which would permit school-sponsored student travel and tours and limit such travel to co-curricular activity. Action resulted from a period of study and recommendation after the matter was tabled at the Oct. 16 meeting. There was some concern on the part of members over the possibility of d i s c r i m i n a t i n g a g a i n s t students who could not afford to participate in any tour the school might organize. While admitting that the concern is a valid one, it was pointed out that this is something difficult to avoid. Several questions were raised by the superintendent. He asked if the board considered participating in approved activities such as band, prom, athletics, etc., might also be discriminatory. Purchase of an instrument, paying way to the prom, providing a way home after athletic practice are requirements for these ac­ tivities which have long been part of the school curriculum. The new recommendation contains a provision that travel will not become a part of any curriculum in the school and will be limited to a co- curricular activity which is voluntarily available to all students. One other concern, that of liability, was questioned and it was noted that a travel agency arranging any trip should be required to be responsible for the liability insurance. Approval was given for the business manager Michael R. Kelley, to prepare a tentative budget for the fiscal year beginning July U V971... President James Affhdfir -• " suggested naming a Budget committee, but two members thought such appointment unnecessary. Lloyd Freund commented that it would be "a waste of time" since the board reviews the budget anyway after it is drawn up. Ed Neumann noted that the Ad­ ministration does 98 per cent of the work. Supt. Swantz. however, said he would like some assistance from the board and Mrs Kathryn Alvary and Phillip Bartmann volunteered to help. On a recommendation of Swantz for more time than the Feb. 15 deadline for a second evaluation of non-tenure teachers, a thirty-day ex­ tension was granted. One of the reasons for the request was the large number of non-tenure teachers - forty-one at the present time. The superin­ tendent also noted that area chairmen no longer exist and department coordinators do not have this responsibility. In other action, the board agreed to increase school lunches for a child's type "A" lunch from 40 cents to 45 cents and adult lunch from 55 cents to 60 cents. It was pointed out that at a recent evaluation of the program by The Office of the Superintendent of Public In- (Continued on page 9) "Dear Santo...Bring Us A Home I 11 Santa Claus will receive many petitions this year, but none more urgent than the one presented to him by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Morris and their family of seven. They are more than happy to forget Christmas gifts if. only--somehow--they could obtain housing so that the family might remain together. The prospect of being evicted has been a grim reality since early last fall when the home they are renting at 301 S. Venice, Lakemoor, was con­ demned by the McHenry County Health department. Since that time matters have gone from bad to worse until last week almost all hope failed. A court order will send the Morrises into the street the day after Christmas. Mr. Morris is partially disabled and spends much of each day in bed, oxygen equipment resting only a few feet away. Because of his condition, and the fact that there are children only 4, 7 and 8 years old (girls) and a 6-year- old boy, Mrs. Morris is unable to leave home to find work. Older children are two boys, 15 and 16 and a girl of 12. A faulty septic system in the rented home was cause for the problem to come to the at­ tention of authorities last fall when neighbors complained. Now that the situation is being remedied by a new septic system, the owner took the matter to court and the Morris family has been asked to leave. They have exhausted listings of possible rentals. No houses are available, to their knowledge, for the $97 allotted for this purpose by the McHenry County Department of Public Aid. To avoid placement of the children in temporary foster homes, the department would seek to process an emergency family assistance request of $150 for rental if suitable ac­ commodations could be found1 As a last resort, Mrs. Morris had appealed to Mooseheart for assistance. She has filed the necessary papers for the children to be taken into the home, but is still hoping that a miracle of the Christmas season may happen so that the family may stay together. "It is our last out". Mrs. Morris commented this week, "but if they go to Mooseheart they will have to remain a minimum of one year". There are few alternatives, however. Mrs. Morris describes their four-room home as "so cold it is very nearly like a barn". She hastens to add that her husband has had such a bad cold she can't permit him to even enter three rooms of the house, which is heated by only a single space heater with no fan. While their predicament seems an impossible one, Mrs. Morris holds out hope. After all, she has come through other problems that would have defeated a less courageous person. Persons knowing of suitable (Continued on page 19) ¥ Patients at Downey Veterans hospital will be the recipients of warm knitted booties through the efforts of members of the Ladies auxiliary to VFW Post 4600 in McHenry. Gerry Kuck, Gifts For Downey left, and Lucille Garifi, Junior vice-president of the Ladies ' auxiliary, presented the booties to Kay Kastings, Downey Hospital chairman for the Ladies auxiliary to VFW for the state of Illinois, and to Arthur Muth, who is director of volunteers at Downey Veterans hospital. Ms. Garifi knitted forty-five pairs of the booties while some of the members donated yarn to keep her busy. / - Hospital Veterans