The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

I'AKK 2 I'l, AINIlKAI.ER - PltHM^V^SEPTEMBERM, 1983 ft** lr> in to v> fil V» id it- News arid Views Equitable property tax assessments soon from State Rep. Dick Klemm Have p A feeling for the hometown rae There are many reasons to like McHenry. If you were born here, and call it your hometown, that's reason enough. You know every crack in the sidewalk in your part of town, and each stray tree limb you ducked under walking to school. ( Things may have changed as c the city grew and modernized, Vtout memories are enough if you are a native, M If you are a Johnny-come- j lately, there are different reasons, but all of them just as valid. ; You were attracted by the natural attribute of the Fox liver and the recreatioal opportunities it afforded your [family. And you liked the idea that this was part of the | suburban community - near • enough the action of the big city, ' yet far enough removed to have n. the feeling of open space. M usin' &, anderin BY KAF ' fc But does anyone realize that it fis something else that binds all gjof us together in a common bond '.ve who have lived our lives |here and you who are "newcomers? It's probably as ;ood a reason as one could have :or liking any place and it's called a Big Heart. For the last two years McHenry has shown its neighbors just how big that cooperative heart can be when it fed and outfitted hundreds of Zamilies through the Organization of FISH (Friends je). This was at loliday timev But the heai f „ year through a pantry where the truly needy receive food in emergencies. The effort is undertaken quietly but it is never ending. Now the heart is expanding with announcement that in January of 1984 a neighborhood kitchen will be set up for a two- hour period one night a week. Although its location will be St. Patrick Church, the program will be a community effort encompassing volunteers from all churches and organizations. It will also include individuals who want to be part of a program aimed at making life just a bit more endurable for those down on their luck. Are there people * in our relatively small community who go to bed hungry? Indeed there are! FISH volunteers have been making daily trips to the grocery store in recent weeks because donations during the warm months have been fewer. Will some people take advantage of the offer of a free meal who don't qualify? Probably, said one of the leaders of the Neighborhood Kitchen program. But she views the problem philosophically. Are 100 -or 200 - people to be denied the benefits of an act of charity because of one or two greedy individuals? With a resounding "no" as an answer, warmhearted McHenry residents are gearing up to provide one nourishing and appetizing meal a week through the Neighborhood Kitchen as a start to the new year. Volunteers are the key to success. Without them the program may have a start but cannot thrive. No city in the county has done so much caring for its needy in the last two years as McHenry. Now there is an opportunity to do more. Each person who adds to the community's collective Big Heart gives us one more reason for being grateful this is our hometown. Inflation and increased tax levies by local governments have put many people's . taxes out of reach, and :oo often in Illinois, these problems have been compounded by inaccurate assessments. Springfield REPORT This.year, state Republicans successfully sponsored a state income tax deduction for property taxes that have been paid, and lawmakers approved a group of bills that will increase the accuracy ?of individual property owners' assessments The theory behind these measures is that accurate /assessments will reduce the need for a state multiplier, wliich often increases homeowners' tax bills and results in more equitable taxes. The state uses a multiplier to achieve eqtoitable assessments between courtties. For example, if a county's average assessmtiAHs only 29 percent of the fair fhgfcft value, the state will apply a number to bring tjiat assessment up to the 33- and-a-third level. That multiplier is applied to all property within the district, including property that is correctly assessed or even over- assessed. Consequently, these property owners pay more than their fair share. * The governor recently made changes in two bills that will reduce the impact of this state multiplier and encourage assessors to correctly assess all property in their iuristictions. The bills now go oack to the legislature for final approval. ' The first bill encourages accurate assessments within counties. It sets up a $3,000 bonus for local assessors whose average assessments are two percentage points above or below the 33-and-a-third level. To qualify for a bonus, a supervisor's "coefficient of dispersion" must reflect accurate assessments between properties in his or Iter jurisdiction. This "coefficient" is a method of measuring the deviation of assessments within a jurisdiction from the average level. In 1984, the coefficient of dispersion must be less than 20 percent, meaning that the assessor's margin of error for assessing all properties it leu than 20 percent. Beginning 1985, the* requirement will become more stringent by one percentage point each year until 1989, when the standard will be 15 percent. Assessors who maintain accurate assessment* will receive the $3,000 bonus. The second bill designed to encourage accurate assessments allows supervisor* of assessments to receive the standard 50 percent salary reimbursement from the state only if property in the county is equalized within two percent of the statutory 33-and-a-third level. The bill also gives the supervisor of assessments the authority to equalize assessments within the county and allows the county Board of Review to equalize only if the supervisor falls to do so. Success skills at seminar A staff member from Pioneer Center helps a young client in the agency's "Birth to Three" program originally funded by the AAental Health Resource League. This year the league donated nearly $2,400 for equipment for the program. Pioneer Center is one of the 12 mental health agencies funded by the AAental Health Resource League for AAcHenry County. J Accept mental health project funding requests The first session of Success Skills For Women In Transition, an eight-week seminar McHenry County College is offering to help women complete a smoother passage through life's sometimes rocky transitions, will be held Thursday, Oct. 6, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. It is designed for women whose lifestyle is changing due to separation or divorce, death, an "empty nest", leaving one career for another, coming back or thinking of coming back to school. Whatever the reason, they are at a point where they need a new direction or goal. The seminar is for women who want to take charge of their own lives and become stronger, more self-confident, -human beings, even in the midst of difficult life transitions. Says the seminar's instructor Mary Kay Mess ling, a counselor it Sf] For women in transition Continuing its policy of ig . _ annually funding special projects of county mental health agencies, the Mental Health Resource League has announced that proposal applications are presently accepted by chairperson, Stallard. Applications^ ma; obtained by writing Mr Stallard at the league, P.O. Box, 204, McHenry. The deadline for filing an application is Nov. 1. This year the league awarded nearly $20,000 to 12 mental health agencies in the county GREG'S NEVER INN II 141 2404 W. JOHNSBURG RD. DOWNTOWN JOHNSBURG THIS FRIDAY 9 PM TODD to BAND 2 AM IE BLACKHAWKS ON SPORTSVISION PLUtf PLAY OUR NEW CHEXX ELECTRONIC HOCKEY! tM? SOX PLAYOFFS ON 41.V.S ™ STARTING NEXT WEDNESDAY PLUS WE'RE SERVING V *• THE ORIGINAL WHITE CASTLE SUPER' and a graduate scholarship in the mental health field. Among this year's recipients are Pioneer Center Family Service and Community Mental Health Center, Northern Illinois. Special Recreation Association, SEDOKTFiniSIy" Aliance. Youth " ' * Bureau, Psychiatric ent prografri at Memorial ospital, Turning Ppint, Hospice for McHenry the Jail Rehabilitation progrc Youth Opportunites Unlimited, and the McHenry County Alternative High School. at MCC, "The emphasis of the workshop is on identifying the skills you need to grow through a transition successfully; to identify what you are feeling, thinking and needing; to put together some short and knff- term goals; to increase self- awareness and confidence." A couple of the sessions will deal with self-awareness and confidence-building activities. There will be a session on assertive communications. A couple of meetings will be spent exploring careers and decision making. One week the subject will be goal setting. The seminar meets in Room 249 at MCC. Register for the seminar in person at the college, Route 14 and Lucas Road, Crystal Lake, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 .m, or on Friday from 8:30 a.m. 4 p.m. T f to Open hotline for students The Illinois Association of College Admissions Counselors will have a toll- free hot line available to all Rersons Saturday, ovember 5, and Sunday, Nov. 6, from. 10 a.m. to"*""" p.nr: <>n both ttey*.'Persons in Illinois with questions about college ana career planning may phone toll- free to 1-800-942-8792 with their questions about college selection, admissions, testing and financial aid. / This toll-free number will be answered by members of IACAC, A non-profit organization of Jiigh school rilesfi admissions selou , -i' aflMf entativeS fcam tla* board, the American testing program, the Illinois state scholarship commission, and college financial aid officers. i iiivnv Income survey begins PLANTING r V TREES • SHRUBS LAWNS • BULBS SAVE 20-50 % ON ALL DUG NURSERY STOCK FEA Tl//?/NG...Thousands of FRESH Evergreens, Shrubs, afid Blooming Hardy Mums. CLEARANCE SALE...Charmglow Gas Grills and Patio Furniture Floor Samples... SAVE UP TO 50% IMPORTED DUTCH BULBS The finest, healthiest bulbs in the world are here. They'll give you the loveliest spring garden you could want - if you plant them now. All your favorites, reasonably priced. YOUR SPRING GARDEN HAS JUST ARRIVED FROM HOLLAND...WE SELL ONLY TOP SIZE, QUARANTEED BULBS 9or'% Beginning Oct. 1, local representatives of the U.S. Bureau of the Census will visit selected households in the area to conduct the new Survey ot Income and . Program Participation (SIPP), Stanley D. Moore, acting director of the bureau's regional office in Chicago has announced. The SIPP program is being conducted in response to the need for better information on the economic well-being of the U.S. population. Information collected will be used to determine how selected government programs are working, and help policy makers to consider what changes are needed to make programs more effective. Area households are among 18^000 nationwide taking part in tMe survey. Interviewers will gather information on jobs, earnings, participation in various government and population character Summary data from the survey will be published periodically. WOMEN'S GROUP Representative Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) was re-elected last week as chairwoman of the Illinois' Commission on the Status of Women. The commission was established by the legislature in 1963 to stuay the status of women in various areas aid make recommendations for constructive change. •15-4594200 cwei'woc Route 14 A171, Crystal Lake Mon.-Thurs. 9-6: Fri. 9-8; Sat. 9-5; Sun. 10-5 J CLIP ANDm SAVE FREE 3 RED HYBRID DARWIN TULIPS (Apeldoorn Tulip Bulbs) Just bring this coupon with you when you come in to see our complete selection of flower bulbs (One Coupon Per Customer) Offer exp/res Oct 9 or i CLIP » SAVE SPECIAL BONUS If you would like more Apeldoorn Tulip bulbs, you can get 10 more for only . *1 19 • • • W with this coupon (No Limit) Reg. 10 foe S1.79 c$C> September 29 thru October 8 Style Plus Savings For the Entire Family! Hours: Monday-Saturday 9-5:30 Thursday 'till 9 DOWNTOWN CRYSTAL LAKE 459-0613