Hi-Liter Illinois 2/15/2023

Creativity abounds in the Chain O’Lakes area

By Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT

Is it the serene beauty of the area that attracts creative people to make their homes here? Or do residents of the area become more creative because they live in this beautiful area? It sort of goes back to the old “Which came first the chicken or the egg?”

Whatever the reason, there are a variety of authors, photographers, and other artists who live in the area and are well known for their creative abilities and have been very successful in their arts.

Many of these creative people are your friends and neighbors who share the same everyday life as you, grocery shopping, visiting the library, attending local churches, and sharing cookouts with friends and neighbors. But when they are not being an ordinary citizen of the area, they are exercising their creative juices and producing wonderful books, or unique artwork.

Here are three creative individuals who live here in Lake County. Learn about their work and who these neighbors are.

Michelle Cox

For author Michelle Cox of Grayslake, life is good but very busy. Married and the mother of three boys, she has also just launched the 6th book in her popular Henrietta and Inspector Howard series.

Cox began writing at a young age although these early attempts were not published.

Today her days begin after she sends her family off to school and work, and she retreats to her office where she enjoys the quiet peacefulness of the day and can write in solitude.

“Some authors need activity and prefer to go places where others are around to write,” Cox said. “I prefer to be in a quiet spot where I can concentrate on my writing.”

Her books have been very successful, having won more than 50 awards including some international ones, and have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Not a bad way to begin with a first series.

Cox also appears at many conferences and is often on writer’s panels sharing information about writing and her books.

In addition to working on her books, Cox also keeps up her website and maintains a weekly blog through her website www. michellecoxauthor.com.

The blog is titled Novel Notes of Local Lore dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents.

The Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series can be thought of as historical novels, mystery novels, or romance novels. However, one would classify them, they would be correct.

The series is placed in Chicago and the north shore in the 1930s when life was different and very formal and class conscious. Not surprising the book is set in

this time period as this is Cox’s favorite period of time.

The wealthy lived on the north shore then as many do now and maintained large homes with servants and followed strict rules of etiquette with formal dress for dinner and meals served in dining rooms by servants.

For Cox, she has researched the period well. Even some of her characters come from real life people she has known. Henrietta’s job was based on that of a woman she once met.

When the first book of the series was published, she held its launch at a local bookstore,

This Old Book in Grayslake. She returned to launch the second and third of the series at this same location.

It is not surprising that for the launch of the sixth book of the series, she returned to her home town and held a launch party again at This Old Book Oct. 27. Attracting readers who have enjoyed the earlier books and new readers, the launch parties are always a happy time. Gift prizes also add to the fun of the event.

On Nov. 16, Cox will be publicizing her latest book at Book Cellar in Chicago. She will appear jointly with

another local author Mia Manansala. If you missed the launch at This Old Book, take a trip to the Book Cellar for this program.

Michael Brown Michael Brown is a well known photographer. His photography is not the traditional type one is used to seeing, rather he is a lenticular artist who produces unique photographs that change as you meander past them, known as kinetic photos. He also creates dimensional pieces that are 3D photographs that can be

viewed with the unaided eye. No special glasses are needed to see the depth.

“The process is called lenticular printmaking. It is based on optical concepts discovered about 100 years ago,” Brown said. “The process is rarely used today due to the cost and complexity of creating the imagery.”

To create the kinetic pictures that change as the viewer walks by, requires taking photos of the exact same scene in different seasons. Finding that exact See CREATIVITY, Page 5

COURTESY OF MICHAEL BROWN Hi-Liter/MCN

Michael Brown in his workshop putting the finishing touches on a print as he trims it down.

Proposed spending plan kicks off monthslong budgeting process each year

By Jerry Nowicki CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Gov. JB Pritzker’s second-term legislative agenda kicks off in earnest this week as he proposes his fifth annual state budget to lawmakers in the General Assembly.

But while a governor’s proposal usually provides the framework for the state’s annual spending plan, it rarely makes it through the General Assembly untouched by lawmakers who have their own spending priorities.

The monthslong negotiating process involves dozens of budget hearings and behind-closed-doors meetings, eventually culminating in the budget’s passage—in normal years—sometime before the end of the legislative session. This year, lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn on May 19.

Pritzker’s address to the State Legislature took place Wednesday. Here are some issues Pritzker likely addressed on Wednesday:

Budget basics

While there are hundreds of funds in the state treasury with statutory requirements for how the money is spent, the most scrutinized is the General Revenue Fund, or GRF. That pool of money— which last year topped $50 billion for the first time—is the state’s main discretionary spending account, meaning lawmakers have the greatest authority to move it around.

Generally, about 80 percent of GRF spending is

allocated between pension payments (roughly 21 percent in the current fiscal year), K-12 education (21 percent), human services (19 percent) and health care (17 percent). The fund’s main revenue sources are personal and corporate income tax and sales tax, along with some federal revenues and other state sources.

Since each budget allocates money collected over a future 12-month period, lawmakers generally base their spending proposals on economic estimates provided by the state’s two main forecasting agencies.

Those are the legislative Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, also known as COGFA, and the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, also known as GOMB. Each provides sophisticated economic projections laying out pessimistic, optimistic and middle-ofthe-road looks at how state revenues may perform.

Revenue projections

Illinois is coming off a record-high $50.3 billion in base revenue for the fiscal year that ended June 30— about $8 billion more than had been anticipated when the Fiscal Year 2022 budget was initially approved in the spring of 2021.

Following that strong performance, lawmakers budgeted for an 8 percent decrease in the current fiscal year that began July 1.

But in the seven months that have already passed in FY 2023, revenues are outpacing even last year’s strong performance by $2.3 billion, according to COGFA’s January report

The strong revenue performance led COGFA to up its projections by $4.9 billion in a November forecast revision. The agency now anticipates revenue receipts will top last year’s totals by $259 million.

GOMB, meanwhile, was more conservative, projecting revenues to spike by about $3.6 billion over initial estimates. That was the basis for a supplemental spending plan that included $2.7 billion in debt repayment and savings measures approved in the January lame duck session.

As the economic forecasting agencies mull the likelihood of a recession, we’ll be watching to see if Pritzker plans for a downturn in revenue or if the current-year projections for a surplus are updated in either direction.

Spending growth

In his second inaugural address last month, Pritzker telegraphed a few areas where he’d like to see increased state investment: child care, preschool and higher education.

“I propose we go all in for our children and make preschool available to every family throughout the state,” he said in his speech. “And let’s not stop there. Let’s

provide more economic security for families by eliminating child care deserts and expanding child care options.”

On higher education, Pritzker said he’d like to make college tuition “free for every working-class family.”

Details on those plans are lacking, so one thing to watch will be whether the governor proposes spending amounts or any specifics as to how such plans would be implemented.

The governor’s K-12 education funding proposal is worth watching as well.

The state’s school funding formula, revamped in 2017, calls for an added $350 million each year until all districts reach a point of funding adequacy.

The budget met that mark in three of four years during Pritzker’s first term, keeping funding flat in only the fiscal year that coincided with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It bears watching to see if another $350 million will be added to that in accordance with statute.

Spending growth is important to watch because GOMB’s five-year budget analysis projected Illinois could be in for a deficit of about $384 million and growing beginning in Fiscal Year 2025. Generally, that means the state must increase base revenues, cut expenditures or pass some combination of both.

While Illinois’ base sales

and income tax rates have not changed in Pritzker’s time in office, the governor has taken credit for increasing revenues by eliminating some corporate tax exemptions and streamlining the way the state levies an online sales tax. It remains to be seen what, if any, new revenue sources or structural spending reforms the governor might offer.

Pensions

At about $9.9 billion, the state’s GRF pension payment was its single biggest expenditure for the current year, topping the $9.8 billion spent on K-12 education.

And yet unfunded pension liability grew to $139 billion last year, despite the state having upped its pension contribution by $500 million beyond required levels over two years, including $200 million in the current year.

Due to that added funding, COGFA predicted in a special November pension briefing that the required pension payment for the upcoming fiscal year will decrease by about $38 million from the current year.

While that number reflects the payment required by law, the COGFA report outlined another annually repeated criticism of the state pension funding formula: accountants say it comes up short. The report estimated the state would have to increase its contribution by $4.4 billion this year to stave off continued increases in

unfunded liabilities.

Lawmaker response

How easy a path the governor’s budget will have can often be gleaned from the initial response to it. And with Democrats dominating both chambers of the General Assembly, the response from the governor’s own party will likely be a stronger indicator.

Democratic comptroller Susana Mendoza, for example, said in a recent interview with Capitol News Illinois she’d be opposed to new ongoing spending initiatives. While she has no formal vote on the matter, her voice has proven an influential one at the Capitol.

But Republicans will also make their voices heard. The House GOP laid out its asks for the budget year last month, including greater GOP involvement, an earlier adoption of a revenue estimate and more time to review the budget. In recent years, state spending plans have frequently passed in the dead of night, leaving lawmakers mere hours to review their language.

The GOP’s specific policy asks include eliminating the corporate franchise tax—a plan Pritzker approved in 2019 before he and Democratic lawmakers backtracked on it in future budget years. They also called for property tax relief and “reducing the harmful impacts of the estate tax on family farms.”

Push for state child tax credit begins, could face uphill battle

By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

A group of Democratic lawmakers last week called for creating a state-level child tax credit that would give low- and middle-income families up to $700 per child each year in tax relief.

But whether Gov. JB Pritzker includes such a plan in his budget proposal, which was scheduled to be delivered Wednesday—and whether it receives the endorsement of top Democratic leaders in the General Assembly—remains an open question.

Erion Malasi, director of policy and advocacy at the advocacy group Economic

Low- and middle-income families would get $700 per child

Security for Illinois, pegged the plan’s cost at somewhere between $700 million and $800 million annually.

State Sen. Mike Simmons, D-Chicago, said passage of such a measure would benefit about half of all children in Illinois.

“It puts money in the pockets of struggling moms and dads all across the state,” he said during a Statehouse news conference.

“And when we put money in the pockets of those working parents, we know that they can’t afford to save so they’re going to go out and spend that money on shoes for their kids, on health care

that they’ve put off for too long, on food for their teenagers who love to eat.”

Illinois already offers an earned income tax credit, or EITC, which is available to people who meet certain income guidelines, even if they have no children. A child tax credit would be an additional payment to parents. Like the EITC, the child tax credit would be refundable, meaning if the amount of the credit exceeds the filer’s total tax liability, the excess amount would be repaid to the taxpayer.

The language of the proposal is contained in Senate Bill 1444, which Simmons

introduced last week. Under the legislation, individuals with income below $50,000 and married couples filing jointly with incomes below $75,000 would be eligible for a $700-per-child tax credit.

For tax filers with incomes above those limits, the amount of the credit would be reduced by $24 for each $1,000 of additional income.

Simmons was joined at the news conference by other supporters of the idea, including Sen. Robert Peters, also a Chicago Democrat, whose district, he said, includes some of the wealthiest, and some of the poorest,

ZIP codes in Illinois.

“No ZIP code should have that level of inequality,” he said. “This is a step for us to move away from income inequality and to something that says equity and equality itself is a necessary part of life.”

But the idea comes at a precarious time for Illinois, and it could face resistance due to its estimated annual price tag.

Although the state has been running multi-billion dollar surpluses in each of the last two years, the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget has projected that state finances could start running deficits as soon as

Fiscal Year 2025. Meanwhile, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza has cautioned lawmakers not to use the current surpluses to enact new, permanent programs that would obligate the state to fund long into the future.

“What I would be opposed to is seeing new funding items—unless you can really sell that this is an extreme necessity for the state at this time—we want to stay away from funding new programs that are going to have to be funded year to year,” she told Capitol News Illinois during an interview in January.

Application available for Illinois Sheriffs’ Association scholarship

McHenry County Sheriff Robb Tadelman announced recently that the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association will be awarding over $58,000 in college scholarships throughout the State of Illinois to students pursuing higher education during 2023-2024 academic years.

One such scholarship, in the amount of $500, will be awarded to a deserving McHenry County scholar

The scholarship is to be applied to tuition, books, and fees only. Eligible students must be enrolled full-time at a certified institution of higher learning within the State of Illinois, full-time online learning is acceptable.

There will be no restriction on any applicant by reason of race, age, creed, color, sex, or national origin. The only limitations are as follows:

• Applicants must be permanent Illinois residents and residents of McHenry County.

• The scholarship must be utilized at an institution of higher learning within the State of Illinois.

• Applicants must be enrolled as full-time students during the 2023-2024 school year (excluding summer session).

Applications are now available at the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office or online at www.ilsheriff.org. Students must complete the application, answer the essay question, and return all documentation to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office by March 15, 2023 (must be postmarked by this date).

For more information, please contact the Sheriff’s Office, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, high school advising center or college financial aid office.

Annual Fox River Summit set for March 16

Every March residents of Illinois and Wisconsin gather at the Fox River Summit to update one another on what is happening along the Fox River which runs over 220 miles from its headwaters near Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin to the Illinois River in Ottawa, Illinois.

Jenni Kempf Schiavone, Friends of the Fox River’s Director of Education Programs, will kick off this year’s Summit describing her September 2022 paddling adventure along the full length of the river.

Registration is now open for the 11th annual Fox River Summit which will be held from 8:10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 16 at Veterans Terrace in Burlington, Wisconsin. A remote viewing livestream option is also available for those who cannot attend in person. Registration is open at www.southeastfoxriver. org.

The early registration deadline is March 10. Early registration is $45 and after that, the cost is $75. The registration price for inperson or virtual attendance is the same. The registration fee covers a breakfast bar and lunch buffet for inperson attendees. Reduced student rates are available by contacting Tom Slawski at tslawski@sewrpc.org.

The Fox River Summit is an annual gathering of organizations, municipalities, citizens, and stakeholders from across the Fox River

Antioch Police partner with local agencies to host community Opioid/Drug Awareness Resource Fair

Watershed in Wisconsin and Illinois. This full day event will examine watershed management issues and challenges in both the Illinois and Wisconsin portions of the river basin, and it is also an opportunity to celebrate the success stories along the Fox River. A key goal will be to continue the dialogue between stakeholders in Illinois and Wisconsin on many topics including recreation, economics, fisheries and other wildlife, soil health, water quality, stewardship, and other ongoing activities to improve this shared resource. The full list of presentations can be found at www.southeastfoxriver. org/2023foxriversummit.

The Summit reaches across the state line, just as the Fox River flows.

The collaborative effort to develop the bi-state Fabulous Fox River Water Trail was born out of the Fox River Summit. The sponsoring Fox River-based organizations strive to continue these collaborative efforts in the watershed, and the Fox River Summit is where everyone in the watershed comes together to share challenges and successes. Anyone with interest in watershed issues is invited to attend the summit. The planning team has seriously considered participant safety in designing the event. All attendees are encouraged to follow the current CDC COVID guidelines.

The Village of Antioch Police Department is partnering with nearly a dozen community organizations to host the first-ever Antioch community Opioid/Drug Awareness Resource Fair. The event is designed to focus on “a hometown response to a national crisis.” The resource fair will expand community education initiatives about this problem to inform residents about the impacts of addiction and what law enforcement and other local agencies are doing to combat its effects.

The event will be held at Antioch Community High School on February 25, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

According to studies by the American Psychiatric Association, nearly one in three people know someone

addicted to opioids. Locally, the number of opioid overdoses, both fatal and nonfatal, has trended upward. In 2022, the Village of Antioch had 22 drug overdose instances in the village, up from 10 the previous year.

“With the prevalence of addiction, we saw the need to expand our community education initiative about this problem,” said Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow. “Our goal is to inform people about the impacts of addiction and what we are doing to combat its effects.”

Drug use is always a complicated and complex subject for communities across the nation to face. The Antioch Police Department along with its partner agencies has decided that doing something would

always be better than doing nothing.

“As an organization, we have a sworn duty to serve and protect everyone in our community,” said Guttschow. “If we protect one life or serve one person who struggling with addiction through this initiative, we have done our job.”

This event will feature a few short presentations explaining the scope of the problem in Lake County and how different organizations are working together to make services more accessible. Anyone in the community, especially concerned parents are encouraged to attend to learn about what the signs of drug use might look like. Parents and others may not know what to look for because many of the

commonly abused drugs that are causing problems today resemble legitimate prescription and OTC medication.

Following the keynote presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the following organizations: Nicasa Behavioral Health Services (will provide training and free access to naloxone), Lake County Opioid Initiative, Live4Lali, Mobile Crisis Teams will provide information on crisis services, Metropolitan Enforcement Group (MEG) will have visual examples of what these drugs look like, Lake County Coroner’s Office, Lake County States Attorney, Open Arms Mission, NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness), and ARC – Antioch Recovery Club.

Village of Fox Lake hosting ‘Sweetheart Dance’ Saturday

The Village of Fox Lake will be holding a ‘Sweetheart Dance’ on Saturday, Feb. 18.

This dance was formerly called the mother-son or daddy-daughter dance.

This country themed dance will take place at the Lakefront Park Building, 71 Nippersink Blvd. The first dance is from 4:30-6:00 p.m. and the second dance is from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Tickets include pizza, dessert and dancing. Tickets are $15 per couple for residents and $20 per couple for non-residents. Each additional child is $5. Payments and registration

forms need to be turned in by Friday, Feb. 18 at the Village Hall located at 66 Thillen Dr., Fox Lake. For questions or more information call 224-2251404.

Morgan Bubash, of Cub Scout Pack 87 (Lindenhurst, Ill.) shows off the bullseye he got at Boo Camp, October 2022 at Camp Okarro.

Nancy

• Creativity

(Continued from front page)

spot and view is not easy. He marks the spot and always sets his tripod in the exact same place, following careful notes he has taken and noted references such as rocks, stumps, or even a crack in the sidewalk.

While Brown began his career as a traditional photographer but he soon became fascinated with the 3D photography and the kinetic photos and taught himself these skills.

“For many, the 3D photos take one back to childhood when early 3D photos were sometimes the prize in Cracker Jack,” Brown said. “Today the photos I create are more complex.”

Throughout the year, Brown, and his wife, Nancy, travel to various art shows throughout the nation. At the art shows his booth is always filled with spectators who enjoy seeing his unique art.

“You will see a lot of commotion in my booth as people sway from side to side to make the pictures transform from one season to another,” Brown said. “It is a very happy booth, filled with

laughter.”

During the pandemic, Brown was basically only selling art through his website while he continued to work on perfecting his techniques. But now he is back to attending art shows about 25 per year from local shows such as The Lake Geneva Art Fair and the Naperville Art Fair to others as far away as Boca Raton, Florida.

“We pack up all the art in the van and make our way to the art fair of choice,” Brown said.

Brown worked for Kodak, which downsized in 2005. He like many others lost his job. He did not see this as a problem but as an opportunity.

“I had been doing some art fairs part time while working for Kodak, so when they downsized and I lost my job with them, I realized that I now had the chance to try doing art shows full time,” Brown recalled.

So armed with a severance package, he was ready to jump start his personal art as a full time job.

“Since our children were home schooled, we were able

to pack up the family, leave our home base and travel to art shows. I was able to turn this into a full time job and support the family.”

Brown succeeded in doing so. His children are grown and now just he and Nancy travel to the art shows.

His work is on display in many places. In 2008, the State of Illinois created the States Art in Architecture. He contributed 12 unique large format kinetic art pieces which are on permanent display at the University Center of Lake County. Public collections are owned by the villages of Oswego and Schaumburg. Brown continues to work out of his studio in his home in Antioch.

Nancy Carpentier Brown

Nancy Carpentier Brown is the wife of lenticular photographer Michael Brown, and often helps him with his art shows. But Nancy is also a creative person, an author, in her own right.

While raising her children, Carpentier Brown became interested in G.K. Chesterton, the prolific writer of the 20th century. According to the G.K. Chesterton website, Chesterton wrote 100 books, contributed to 200 more, wrote hundreds of poems, and some two hundred short stories including the popular series featuring the priest detective Father Brown, seen on PBS television.

“While there was plenty

of information about G.K. Chesterton, there was little information easily attainable about his wife, Frances, who loved and lived with this extremely intelligent absent minded man,” Carpentier Brown said.

She researched Frances Chesterton for eight to 10 years with much of that research conducted at the Wheaton College library. She subsequently wrote the book “The Woman Who was Chesterton,” the story of Frances Chesterton.

Adapting the Father Brown mysteries for children has been another job that Carpentier Brown has undertaken. She has adapted four of his books for them.

The “Father Brown Reader” is another of Nancy Carpentier Brown’s creations. This book has been adopted as part of the home school curriculum, bringing the Father Brown stories to children.

“The Chestertons and the Golden Key” is a stand-alone book, a work of juvenile fiction that brings Gilbert Chesterton into the lives of a local family with three young girls all with dreams of their future. The effect of the Chestertons on their dreams and plans makes for an interesting story.

When Carpentier Brown is not writing or traveling around the country helping her husband set up and manage his art displays, she is at home in Antioch.

Advocacy groups push for expansive paid family, medical leave in Illinois 26-week leave policy would make Illinois the 12th state with paid leave laws

By Hannah Meisel CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

A coalition of advocacy and labor groups is pushing for a state law to give Illinois workers 26 weeks of paid leave if they need to recover from an illness, domestic or sexual violence, or take care of a sick family member or new child.

The same groups just celebrated a legislative victory last month with the passage of five days of paid leave—negotiations that took four years but were ultimately agreed to by the state’s most influential business groups and even garnered some Republican votes.

After a quick rebrand to the Illinois Time To Care Coalition, advocates are pushing for a more ambitious leave policy, which would make Illinois the 12th state with mandatory paid family and medical leave. The United States is the only industrialized nation without a national paid parental leave law, while dozens of developing countries also have such policies.

“No one should have to choose a paycheck over their health and the health of their family,” said Wendy Pollack, Women’s Law and Policy Initiative director at the Chicago-based Shriver Center on Poverty Law.

The coalition’s initial proposal—encapsulated in Senate Bill 1234 and House Bill 1530—would cover all employers in Illinois and all employees who earn at least $1,600 annually. Paid leave would also apply to contract workers.

The benefits to workers would be paid out of a newly created special state fund. The law would require employers to pay 0.73 percent of the wages for their employees and contractors into the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund, similar to the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. An additional fee of up to 0.05 percent could be imposed through administrative rules for administering the program.

Those who need paid leave

would need to provide documentation of pregnancy, adoption or guardianship of a new child, their own injury or illness, or that of a sick family member. The leave policy would also cover military-related time off and time needed to recover from sexual assault or domestic violence.

Those workers, if approved for leave, would receive 90 percent of their average weekly wages for their leave period, up to a maximum of $1,200 per week. Eventually that maximum would be adjusted to 90 percent of the average weekly wage in Illinois

Those potential payouts are in line with the policies of the 11 other states with paid leave laws, although no other state’s law is quite as permissive as the proposal being pushed in Illinois. For example, although Massachusetts allows for up to 26 weeks of total paid leave in one year, it provides for only 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents and those caring for a sick family member, and 20

weeks for those who can’t work due to a long-term illness.

But advocates pushing for paid leave in Illinois are aiming for loftier goals than the programs in other states.

Christina Green, who now works for Chicago-based advocacy organization Women Employed, was only eligible for two weeks of leave when she gave birth to her son in 2020. She would only have had access to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave at the private school she worked at if she had been employed for seven or more years.

Instead of returning to work after those two weeks, Green said she drained her savings in order to take the 12 weeks she anticipated needing. And even then, Green said it wasn’t enough.

“It actually took me around 20 weeks to fully heal,” Green said. “Unfortunately, I had no other options but to return to work… I literally budgeted down to the last dollar.”

Angelica Arreguin, a single

mom and temp agency worker who organizes with the Chicago Workers Collaborative, shared through an interpreter that she was fired by her former employer when she couldn’t return to her job because her “injury did not heal on their schedule.”

“And if there comes a day that my children become ill and I need to leave work for a month, I expect to be fired instead of being allowed to return,” Arreguin said.

Advocates say paid parental leave would help ease the racial inequities suffered by women like Arreguin and Green, who is Black. The advocacy groups behind the proposal point to a permanent decrease in earnings for women who take time off to care for children or aging parents – an issue set to become more prominent as Baby Boomers age into needing more medical care over the next decade or so.

The coalition is also selling paid leave as a boon for businesses, especially in a labor

market where many employers have found it difficult to find or re-hire workers in the wake of COVID-19.

House sponsor state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, said lack of a safety net is preventing many women from re-entering the workforce.

“If women in Illinois participated in the labor force at the same rate as women in countries with paid leave, there would be an estimated 124,000 additional workers in the state and 4.4 billion more wages,” she said.

But business groups aren’t engaging with the proposal yet.

Rob Karr, President and CEO of the influential Illinois Retail Merchants Association, turned the focus back to last month’s legislative agreement on five days of paid leave.

“Our focus is on the proper implementation of the historic paid leave bill that just passed the General Assembly and has yet to even be signed into law by the governor,” Karr said in a statement.

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Hi-Liter/MCN

Carpentier Brown displays some of the books she has written. These include a biography of G.K. Chesterton’s wife, and Chesterton’s Father Brown books that she has adapted for children.

COURTESY OF MICHELLE COX Hi-Liter/MCN

Left: Michelle Cox, author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series takes readers back to the 1930s when life was more formal, especially for the wealthy residents of the north shore. Right: Cox signs a copy of her book for one of her readers at a book signing.

COURTESY OF MICHAEL BROWN Hi-Liter/MCN

To provide the unique lenticular art that Michael Brown creates requires several processes and the taking of pictures at the same exact spot in different seasons.

Paddock named to Dean’s List

Amanda Paddock of Antioch, was named to the dean’s list at Olivet Nazarene University during the recently completed fall 2022 semester. To qualify for inclusion on the dean’s list, a student must have been enrolled as a fulltime undergraduate student and must have attained a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher on a 4.00 grading scale.

Albion College names fall Dean’s List honorees

Annika Lindstrom was recently named to the Albion College Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester.

Lindstrom is a sophomore at Albion College, and a graduate of Antioch Community High School.

Dean’s List honors are given to students who achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Rohmann earns

Dean’s List honors

Nicholas Rohmann of Antioch is among the more than 1,300 students honored on the Lewis University Dean’s List for the 2022 fall semester. Rohmann is studying Physics at the Romeoville, IL university.

Hedger named to

Dean’s List

Sarah Hedger, of Antioch, earned dean’s list honors at The University of Tampa for the fall 2022 semester. Hedger is majoring in Nursing BSN. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.75 or higher to be eligible for the dean’s list.

Augustana College announces Dean’s List

Augustana College

announced more than 1,000 students were named to the Dean’s List for the 2022-23 fall semester. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade point average of 3.5

Community briefs

or higher on a four-point scale for courses taken during the term.

Local students that were included on the list are:

• Emma Berg of Antioch

• Katharine Kanwischer of Antioch

• Katie Vilardi of Antioch

Carthage College honors fall Dean’s List honorees

Carthage College recently announced its fall 2022 Dean’s List honorees. Dean’s list honors are accorded to Carthage students who achieve a minimum 3.5 grade-point average while carrying at least 14 credit hours during a semester.

Local students included on the list are:

• Haley Aitken of Antioch

• Jennifer Ambre of Antioch

• Jerianne Bonaguidi of Antioch

• Christiana Buchino of Antioch

• Riley Conway of Antioch

• Colin Conway of Antioch

• Daniel Dadivas of Antioch

• Roberto Dominguez of Antioch

• Jackson Gutke of Antioch

• Jacob Jackson of Antioch

• Rodolfo Martinez of Antioch

• Carly McLaughlin of Antioch

• Jane Marie McQueen of Antioch

• Emily Parchment of Antioch

• Clair Patrick of Antioch

• Jana Paulsen of Antioch

• Thomas Van Sickle of Antioch

• Kayleigh Wieska of Antioch

• Kylie Wilson of Antioch

UW-Whitewater announces 2022 winter graduates

The following students earned degrees from the University of WisconsinWhitewater at winter commencement, held December 17, 2022.

Samantha Knab of Antioch graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Elementary Education –BSE.

Kayla Spera of Antioch graduated with a degree in Elementary Education –BSE.

MCCD hosting annual Festival of the Sugar Maples

The flowing of the maple sap is a sure sign that spring is just around the corner. Celebrate the change of seasons at McHenry County Conservation District’s Festival of the Sugar Maples, March 4, 5 & 6 and March 11, 12 & 13, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at Coral Woods Conservation Area, 7400 Somerset Drive in Marengo.

Since 1979, the Conservation District has educated thousands of visitors and school groups about the process of turning the sap from maple trees into delicious maple syrup. This unique opportunity teaches the fascinating history of maple sugaring and the evolution of the sap collection process. Tours begin every 15 minutes, last approximately one hour and involve a half-mile hike through the woods. All ages are welcome. Dress for the weather. No pets please.

This is a free event, but pre-registration is required. Visitors can pick up a spile and tap their own tree.

Pure maple syrup, maple leaf shaped cookie cutters and maple flavored candies, syrup straws, cream spread and cookies will be available for purchase.

This year ’s event is made possible in part by a generous donation from Amerigas propane and Lakes Realty Group.

For more information and to register for the event visit MCCD.me/FSM.

Spaghetti dinner set for February 23

The Nippersink Middle School Music Department will be holding their annual spaghetti dinner on Febrary 23 from 5-7 p.m.

Adult meal cost is $10 in advance or $12 at the door, children 5th grade to 5 years are $5 and under 5 years is free. Carry out is available for $1.00 extra.

Raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each or 6 for $5. Entertainment will be provided by the NMS choir and band.

The Nippersink Middle School is located at 10006 Main Street in Richmond.

Native shrub and tree sale date announced

The Friends of Volo Bog are taking order for their Native Shrub and Tree Sale until Friday, May 5 at 3 p.m.

Pick-up will be May 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volo Bog SNA parking lot behind the visitor center. Plants will be tagged for your convenience to pick up.

Volo Bog State Natural Area is located at 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside.

Order forms can be found online at www.FriendsofVoloBog.org.

Program in need of volunteers

The ‘Birds in my Neighborhood®’ program is in need of volunteers. There is no special bird knowledge needed and training will be provided.

Birds in my Neighborhood is a volunteer-driven science-based program for grades 2 through 5 that helps students see nature in their community through the observation of birds. Volunteers help run the program by working with teachers to schedule two classroom visits

Lake County Sheriff’s arrest bulletin

The Lake County Sheriff’s Dept. reported the following arrests in Lake County. Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Jan. 10

Ruben Cruz-Mercado, 49, Beach Park, was cited for no driver’s license;

Jan. 11

Arturo Perez-Martinez, 30, Round Lake Beach, was cited for a warrant arrest: violating an order of protection;

Michael T. Casserly, 40, Northbrook, was cited for driving while license suspended, improper transportation of cannabis, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia;

Cameron J. Dreyer, 35, McHenry, was cited for battery;

Joseph L. Keeling, 32, Fox Lake, was cited for a warrant arrest: violating an order of protection and DUI – drugs;

Zachary M. Quist, 45, Beach Park, was cited for DUI – alcohol, driving while license suspended and no insurance;

You ought to be in pictures!

We are interested!

t Show the community what your group has been doing!

t NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED!

t Just shoot and e-mail!

t We need you to ID everyone in the photo first and last names required

t Tell us what’s happening in the photo

t Please do NOT crop your photos.

t Tell us who took the photo and we will give them a photo credit

Jan. 12

Ashly M. Michaels, 37, McHenry, was cited for a warrant arrest: intimidation (McHenry County);

Walter Perez, 43, Park City, was cited for driving while license revoked, and no insurance;

Joshua K. Garcia, 29, Antioch, was cited for aggravated speeding (81 mph in 45 mph zone);

Raechelle C. Hamm, 47, Spring Grove, was cited for aggravated DUI, driving while license suspended, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia;

Jan. 13

Corrie Vandervere, 36, Lake Villa, was cited for a warrant arrest: aggravated domestic battery;

Victor J. Gebauer, 37, Lake Villa, was cited for disorderly conduct;

Salvador A. Valazquez-Rosales, 47, Waukegan, was cited for a warrant arrest: DUI – alcohol;

Nesly Murillo, 23, Park City, was cited for DUI – alcohol;

Jan. 14

Sergei A. Pochikai, 30, Des Moines, WA, was cited for operating a commercial vehicle without a CDL, and overweight on registration;

Victor J. Gebauer, 37, Lake Villa, was cited for violation of pre-trial conditions;

Osbaldo F. Patlan, 20, Zion, was cited for improper transportation of cannabis, and no insurance;

Nilo T. Ignaco, 21, Beach Park, was cited for aggravated speeding (88 mph in 45 mph zone);

Ethan J. Bottino-Nicholas, 24, Lake Geneva, WI, was cited for DUI – drugs, improper transportation of cannabis, driving while license revoked and no insurance;

Jan. 15

Juan Hernandez, Jr., 35, Kalamazoo, MI, was cited for unlawful possession of another’s debit card, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and improper transportation of cannabis;

Miles J. Larson, 19, Hawthorn Woods, was cited for aggravated speeding (91 mph

Pet of the week

Serina, is about 5 years old, spayed, up-to-date on routine shots (incl. rabies), tested negative for heartworm and on preventative and microchipped. While walk-ins are welcome, adoptions are by appointments only to ensure we have the staff available to help adopters. For information and/ or to complete an online application, please visit www.saveapetil.org/adopt.

Adoptions fees are 50% off until Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023.

and a field trip to a local natural area. New volunteers must attend trainings to participate in the program.

Becoming a volunteer instructor requires a 15-20 hour commitment per season. Responsibilities include: attend two training sessions, work with teachers to set the schedule for visits and field trip, and lead three visits with students: in classroom lesson, bird walk in the schoolyard, and a field trip to a local nature area.

Providing field trip support requires a 5-10 hour commitment per season. Responsibilities include: attend the field trip tutorial, and attend at least one field trip to support volunteer instructors by chaperoning students and helping them find and identify birds.

The 2023 training schedule for Lake and McHenry County volunteers is Wednesday, March 8, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for classroom and schoolyard tutorials at Volo Bog SNA. Wednesday, March 22, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. field trip tutorial at Rollins Savanna.

For more information and to volunteer, contact Stacy Iwanicki at dnr.volobog@illinois.gov or 815-344-1294.

in 55 mph zone); Hector M. Jimenez-Trochez, 45, Park City, was cited for aggravated DUI, driving while license suspended, no insurance and open transportation of alcohol.

Jan. 16

Jordan A. Kazik, 25, Gurnee, was cited for DUI – alcohol; Ybis G. Diego, 27, Waukegan, was cited for no driver’s license and no valid registration; Jason L. Linkous, 44, Beach Park, was cited for domestic battery;

Jan. 17

Deonte R. Gregory, 21, Waukegan, was cited for battery; Kendrick Alverson, 20, Chicago, was cited for battery;

Oscar Rodriguez-Luna, 27, Round Lake Beach, was cited for a warrant arrest: violation of an order of protection;

Abrae Sawyers, 39, Round Lake Beach, was cited for a warrant arrest: domestic battery;

Daniel A. Colon, 29, Waukegan, was cited for a warrant arrest: battery;

Dawna M. Sawyers, 54, Beach Park, was cited for a warrant arrest: unlawful possession of a controlled substance;

Anthony W. Bridges, 64, Gurnee, was cited for aggravated speeding (90 mph in 45 mph zone);

Jan. 18

Demarcus K. Griffin, 23, Zion, was cited for battery;

Tyshawn J. Pickett, 24, Antioch, was cited for battery;

Aurimas Stongvaltas, 34, Isles Beach, FL, was cited for operating a commercial vehicle without a CDL, and operating a commercial vehicle while using a cellular phone;

Ana Y. Martinez-Leon, 24, Grayslake, was cited for a warrant arrest: driving while license suspended and leaving the scene of an accident;

Jan. 19

Aubrey Butler, 56, Zion, was cited for no driver’s license and suspended registration;

Dominic X. Barnes, 21, no permanent address, was cited for a warrant arrest: domestic battery (Kendall County).

Man dies in ATV crash, acquaintances hide evidence

On February 7, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of North Lake Shore Drive and Greenwood Avenue, Unincorporated Spring Grove, for a report of a person down. Sheriff’s deputies arrived and located a 56-year-old man of Unincorporated Spring Grove unconscious and unresponsive. The man, Glenn Luthardt, 56, was transported to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital in critical condition, where he was subsequently pronounced deceased.

The initial 911 caller informed sheriff’s 911 telecommunicators that they

found Luthardt lying on the ground. Sheriff’s deputies arrived and located Luthardt with multiple injuries. There was no vehicle in the vicinity and no initial obvious signs he was struck by a vehicle.

Sheriff’s detectives and sheriff’s crash investigators responded to the scene to further investigate. After extensive investigation, including viewing nearby video surveillance and interviewing a number of people, sheriff’s detectives determined Luthardt was drinking at a nearby bar. Before leaving the bar, he tripped and fell, which caused some injuries to his face. A

short time later Luthardt left the bar on his ATV. According to a witness, he crossed Grass Lake Road onto Lake Shore Drive and accelerated at a high rate of speed. He lost control and was thrown from the ATV. The ATV landed on top of him.

An acquaintance who was following Luthardt home was able to remove the ATV from his body and called for help from additional acquaintances. Knowing Luthardt was likely under the influence of alcohol and driving with a revoked driver’s license, the acquaintances removed Luthardt’s ATV from the scene, so there was no evidence

he was driving. Detectives searched the area following the crash and located Luthardt’s ATV several hours later, in the backyard of a residence approximately one-half-mile from the crash scene. The incident remains under investigation and criminal charges are possible.

Michigan man tries to meet ‘child’ for sexual relationship

On February 9, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division in collaboration with the Naval Criminal Investigative Ser-

McHenry County Sheriff’s arrest bulletin

The following arrests in McHenry County were reported by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department. Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Jan. 11

Ryan A. Poltzer, 42, Cary, was cited for A-2 domestic battery/physical contact;

Jordan L. Dierkes, 21, Marengo, was cited for possession of controlled substance, possess/transport/ receive firearm with no serial number, resisting or obstructing a peace officer, firefighter or correctional institution employee, DUI – drugs or combination of drugs, and mfg/del 100<400 gr cocaine/ anlg;

Matthew K. Hoff, 29, McHenry, was cited for resisting or obstructing peace officer, firefighter or correctional institution employee;

Matthew C. Porter, 39, Wonder Lake, was cited for DUI – alcohol;

Jeremy J. Freund, 40, Wonder Lake, was cited for A-1 domestic battery/bodily harm;

Jan. 12

Kevin B. Norton, 52, McHenry, was cited for contempt of court;

Shane W. Rankins, 52, Caledonia, was cited for theft – obtain/exert unauthorized

Special Events

57TH ANNUAL GREATER MILWAUKEE INDOOR WINTER SWAP MEET Car parts all makes, collectibles, car related items. Sunday February 26, 2023 8AM - 2PM $7 Gen-

eral Admission Heated Indoor Event Free parking, food available Event held at Washington County Fairgrounds, 3000 Cty Hwy PV West Bend, WI 53095 sponsored by WI. Chapter Model A Ford Club of America. WWW. wichaptermafca.com

control over property of the owner 10K<100K;

Oscar A. Zepeda, 21, Harvard, was cited for criminal damage to property <$500;

Jan. 13

Drashawn J. Griffin, 31, Round Lake Park, was cited for manufacture, deliver or possess with the intent to deliver cannabis – more than 500g but less than 2,000g, 2 counts of unlawful use or possession of weapon by felon or person in custody DOC facility, possession of cannabis –more than 500g but less than 2,000g, and possession of a controlled substance;

Rachel D. Frank, 29 Woodstock, was cited for manufacture/deliver/possess with intent to deliver cannabis –more than 500g but less than 2,000g, unlawful use or possession of a weapon or ammo

Announcements

CLASSIFIED IN-COLUMN ADS cannot be credited or refunded after the ad has been placed. Ads canceled before deadline will be removed from the paper as a service to our customers, but no credit or refund will be issued to your account.

DISCLAIMER NOTICE This publication does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.

Bicycles

JEEP COMANCHE MOUNTAIN BIKE Paperwork for authenticity.

Text to (262) 989-4112

Automobiles

1969 & 1977 CADILLAC ELDORADOS For Parts/Restoration. Call 262-581-5371.

by convicted felon, possession of cannabis, and 2 counts of possession of a controlled substance;

Kristie A. Ghera, 42, Johnsburg, was cited for contempt of court;

Daniel E. Stacy, 46, Cary, was cited for contempt of court;

Jan. 14

Michele M. Dentzer, 47, McHenry, was cited for A-1 domestic battery/bodily harm;

Matthew D. Looper, 32, Crystal Lake, was cited for aggravated assault – offense based on use of firearm, device or motor vehicle;

Jan. 15

Ricky L. McGuire, 67, Wonder Lake, was cited for 2 counts of DUI – alcohol and improper lane usage;

Brian J. Barry, 35, Marengo, was cited for contempt of

Pets

TEDDYBEAR PUPS 6 Maltese/ Shihtzu. Trained, Non-shed & will deliver. 8 weeks old. $950. 262234-7296 or 262-886-4299.

Produce/Feed

HAY & STRAW FOR SALE

Good quality, big bales, round & small squares. 262-949-4495.

court and criminal damage to government supported property.

Jan. 17

Juan E. Gonzalez, 46, Aurora, was cited for aggravated DUI, aggravated DUI – during time when driving privileges revoked or suspended as a result of DUI/ reckless homicide, driving while license suspended or revoked, improper lane usage, operation of uninsured motor vehicle, and illegal transportation or possession of alcoholic liquor by driver in vehicle;

Kimbery J. Thery, 44, Woodstock, was cited for possession of controlled substance, DUI – alcohol, improper lane usage, and illegal transportation or possession of alcoholic liquor by driver in vehicle.

Wanted to Buy

ALL BEER-SODA-GAS-OIL

SIGNS All related items-TAB

HANDLES-BEER CANS. 262825-0932 Will Travel CASH PAID. FIREARMS 1 piece or collection. Federally licensed dealer. Lake Geneva Antique Mall. 829 Williams St. Lake Geneva, Wi 262248-6345

vice (NCIS) concluded an investigation which resulted in the arrest of a man for the offense of indecent solicitation of a child.

Kyle J. Conner

For the past several weeks, Kyle J. Conner, 36, of the 700 block of East Hazelhurst Street, Ferndale, Michigan, was communicating with an undercover detective online. The detective was posing as a girl under the age of 15. During the conversations, Conner asked the ‘child’ for nude images of herself and also sent her sexually explicit images of himself. Conner then made arrangements to meet the ‘girl’ for a sexual encounter.

On February 9, Conner was in the Chicagoland area, as he was working at a con-

vention. He finalized his plan to meet the ‘girl’ for a sexual encounter and drove to meet her. Instead of meeting the girl, Conner met detectives and was arrested without incident.

After reviewing the facts and circumstances of the incident, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following charges: Indecent Solicitation of a Child (Class 3 Felony), Traveling to Meet a Minor (Class 3 Felony), and Distributing Harmful Material (Class 4 Felony).

Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “Over the last several months, our detectives and Special Investigations Group in collaboration with our federal partners have arrested a number of adults who try and meet children for sex. We are going to continue being aggressive in seeking those who prey on our children.”

HELP WANTED

Part Time Help Wanted

2008 YUKON DENALI XL With a 6.2 liter motor, 168,000 miles, 2nd owner, runs great, interior in exc. cond. w/new tires, some rust. Family vehicle, have work provided vehicle, looking to sell to good home. $10,000 or OBO. Please call or text 262-758-4769.

Other

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All

Sports/Classic Cars

1990 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE, triple black, 49,000 miles, automatic, no winters. $11,500. (630) 886-6667.

Sign-on Bonus. Courage

Care is looking for passionate caregivers for our Adult Family Homes located in Lyons, WI. This career is a guaranteed to put a smile on your face by providing care to adults with disabilities in a home-like setting. If you are interested in the position or want to learn more please contact Courage Care at 262-716-6961 or via email at larrymeeks.couragecare@gmail.com

Help Wanted

BUSY MAIL ROOM NEEDS WORKERS Part Time or Seasonal! Hours can be flexible 2-3 days per week. Delavan Location. Call to inquire 262-725-7704.

PART TIME DRIVER/MAIL ROOM HELPER 1-2 Days per week. Delavan, WI location. Call to inquire 262-725-7704.

GET PAID TO TIME TRAVEL!

Create memories, inspire curiosity and foster learning about about our rural past as a seasonal team member at OLD WORLD WISCONSIN in Eagle, WI.- Costumed positions in our historic village & farms- Food Service and Retail staff- Tram Drivers- Maintenance and Custodians-Training and Costume/ Uniform provided- 2-5 days per week, April through September plus holiday events. https://oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory. org/employment-volunteering/ for application information or contact us at (262)594-6301.

in

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on

make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-900-669-9777. The toll-free tele phone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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