McHenry County News FRE
E
11512 N. 2nd ST. • MACHESNEY PARK, IL 61115 • (815) 654-4850 • www.McHenrycountynewspaper.com Display Advertising & Classifieds: 815-654-4850 • Circulation: 815-654-4854 • E-mail:McHenrynews@rvpublishing.com
Volume 6 Issue 51
DECEMBER 15, 2016
To Advertise In This Space Call 815-654-4850
A Very Merry Huntley 2016 By Anne Eickstadt CORRESPONDENT
(Above) Mrs. Santa Claus greets visitors to the Municipal Center Kris Kringle Market on Friday, December 2. (Below) The horse-drawn trolley carries entire families. Smiles are all over the children’s faces at the opportunity to enjoy this special ride.
The Village of Huntley began their Christmas season with a twoday event on Friday and Saturday, December 2 & 3. The Municipal Complex featured a Kris Kringle Market on Friday evening. On Saturday, the First Congregational Church hosted a combination farmers’ market, craft fair and cookie walk. Horse-drawn trolley rides, games and crafts, carolers, live reindeer and much more make sure that everyone is entertained and happy until Santa Claus arrives on a fire truck and the Town Square lights up on Saturday evening. The Kris Kringle Market holds a fair number of vendors. Just inside the door is one booth filled with items to raise money for the ‘Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church’. “We are building a new sanctuary,’ Marty Jacobson attending the booth, tells me. “The current sanctuary will become a fellowship hall. The new sanctuary will be bigger because we don’t fit anymore.” “We’re excited,” says her booth partner Alice Hallett. “We will break ground in Spring, 2017.
ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTOS McHenry County News
Marty Jacobsen and Alice Hallett, are selling hand crafted items to raise money for the Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church’s expansion fund.
We’re a very friendly church.” The church is located at 10805 Main Street, Huntley, Illinois, 60142. You can check them out online at www.shepherdoftheprairie.com. Further inside the building are Ed and Carol Majkrzak of ‘St. Vincent de Paul Society of the St. Margaret Mary Conference’. “We are a Catholic lay volunteer organization,” Ed says. “We help people in need in our community. There are fifteen St. Vincent de Paul organizations in McHenry County.” Ed is the former president of the St. Margaret Mary Conference and continues to increase the St. Vincent de Paul Society efforts in McHenry County. www. svdpalgonquin.org.
Across the aisle from the St. Vincent de Paul booth is Vicki Donley of ‘Alpaca Pines.’ “We have thirty-four alpacas and llamas, most of them rescues. We now have our fiber mill up and running. We work with any fiber from any animal: alpaca, angora, camel, wool, silk…. We spin any size from the thickness of sock yarn up to rug yarn. We are open to the public on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.” Alpaca Pines is located at 21756 Beaverton Road, Poplar Grove, IL. They can be found online at www.AlpacaPines.com. My next visit is at the booth for ‘A Heart for Animals’. “We are a completely volunteer based organization,” says Judee Rasmussen.
“None of us gets paid or reimbursed. We foster dogs and cats in our homes because we do not have a facility. If any animal - dogs, cats, guinea pigs, ducks, hamsters – needs help, we will help.” www. aheartforanimals.org. They can also be found on Facebook at AHFAInc. “I enjoy baking,” says Shirley Pondez, the ‘Cookie Queen of Huntley.’ “I have baked since I was sixteen. My dad gave me a cookbook and I have been baking fancy cookies ever since. I gave cookies to my grandson (one of ten grandchildren). He went around
See HUNTLEY, Page 8
Christmas at the Dole 2016 By Anne Eickstadt CORRESPONDENT
“This is a wonderful kickoff to the holiday season,” says Siobhan Cottone, director of the Dole. “Over six hundred people came last night for the art galleries, ballerinas, Crystal Lake Central High School Madrigal Singers, and the McHenry County Youth Orchestra.” “The McHenry County College Culinary Program served elegantly prepared foods? Erin Smith, President of the Village of Lakewood was here and Mayor Aaron Shepherd lit our outdoor tree. There were a lot of festivities. Today, Santa is visiting. The children are filled with excitement and the elves are passing out candy canes. Over twenty-one extremely talented vendors are here and there is lots of holiday shopping.” “I just love this place. I love the magic and the holiday spirit of this two-day event,” Cottone continues. “At the bottom of everything, I love the Dole. Outside you can enjoy our
ice sculpture garden. The s’mores stations have hot chocolate and there’s a petting zoo.” On Saturday, there is also a free photo booth and live music while you shop. The Dole is sponsoring ice sculptures and ice games such as a Bag Toss and a Ring Toss. They have an ice sculpture Holiday Window and an ice figure wearing a parka but without a face for photo opportunities. If you prefer, you can guess the number of guitar picks embedded in a question mark ice sculpture. The vendors indoors are offering scarves, mittens, gloves, hats, jewelry, recycled and repurposed items, candles, artwork, botanicals, purses, soaps, clothing, bows and accessories. If you would like a snack while you shop, other vendors are displaying cookies, fudge, and candies to satisfy your sweet tooth. One booth holds ‘wunkywerks guitars’ with Bill Turner. “I make them out of recycled and repurposed materials,’ he says. “They are rooted
ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTOS McHenry County News
An ice sculpture question mark guessing game offers a prize basket for anyone who can guess the number of guitar picks embedded in the sculpture.
in the same background as the cigar box guitar – Primitive or homemade instruments. I am trying to keep the same spirit.” These guitars might feature: recycled bamboo drawers, drawer pulls and hardware, bits from a belt, an ashtray, serving tray, or a cookie sheet. One guitar has a bicycle brake handle and cable. The neck of another consists of a repurposed gas pipe. You can find wunkywerks on Facebook or listen to Bill Turner play his creations on YouTube. The booth next to his holds ‘… And Now It’s An Apron’ with Debby Turner. “I think I was born in the wrong era,” she says. “I like the vintage look. I like to sew. By going to resale and antique shops, I can find old fabric. I just started making aprons. Baking is ‘in’ right now. I’m obsessed. I have friends who give me old tablecloths all the time. They can even be spotted and stained. I can cut around that.” “People keep asking, ‘Why don’t you make dresses?’ That’s too custom. These are like instant dresses. Aprons really are one-size-fits-all. Even if people don’t cook, they still
See DOLE, Page 3