McHenry County News FRE
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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 7
February 11, 2016
To Advertise In This Space Call 815-654-4850
Finding the perfect kitchen gadgets By Anne Eickstadt, Correspondent
had been missed by many” “The store opened in October, 2013. It’s been great. We’ve been very well received,” Behrens continues. “Before Kitchen Outfitters, I raised five kids, did odds and ends and a lot of volunteer work. Here, it’s about my love of cooking and the gadgets involved. I’m a foodie. I like gadgets. This is like an adult toy store, of sorts. My favorite gadget is
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hether you are a French pastry chef or a total novice, locating the perfect gadget for your kitchen has become quite easy. Located in Crystal Lake’s Old Town is a shop named Kitchen Outfitters. Owner Mary Behrens is finding new kitchenware every day to make your life easier and more enjoyable.
}Here, it’s about my love of cooking and the gadgets involved. I’m a foodie. I like gadgets. This is like an adult toy store of sorts.” — Mary Behrens, Owner our Garlic Twist. It minces garlic without the messy clean up.” Kitchen Outfitters can equip a gourmet chef or a person who has trouble boiling water with the best kitchenware products to produce your next meal. The friendly staff will help you select items from top-rated vendors. Behrens has a vast experience and extensive knowledge of today’s best kitchen gadgets. She will help
“The evolution of this store is a surprise to me as much as it is to anyone else,” Behrens says. My husband thought it would be good to have extra income. I missed the kitchen store down the street. We found this space [at 64B N. Williams Street] and thought it was a really good space. It was by a couple of other new stores. Before you know it, we were buying and filling shelves. And there you are. It turned out that a kitchen store
photo by Anne Eickstadt
Mary Behrens, owner of Kitchen Outfitters, has a passion for cooking and kitchen gadgets.
you find exactly what you need, even if you didn’t know you needed it. They have a wide selection of useful utensils, accessories, tools, cookware and small electric appliances. They even offer delightful décor for your kitchen. If you don’t know how to use a kitchen tool, ask to find out if it will be explained at one of the Weekly Demonstration Day events.
“We’re hoping for future expansion. There’s room upstairs, so there is a possibility of cooking parties in our future.” “It’s been a blast. I can’t tell you how much fun it is. We’ve had the best customers!” Kitchen Outfitters offers a Wedding Registry and gift wrapping service as well. They can be found online at www. itchenoutfitterscrystallake.com.
District 155 bleacher plan approved by Crystal Lake City Council By Samantha Fetzner Reporter
CRYSTAL LAKE — Approximately two and a half years after the discrepancy
between property owners and Crystal Lake South officials began over the newly constructed bleacher apparatus, resolve appears to be on the horizon.
The Crystal Lake City Council met on Tues. Feb 2 and voted to approve the proposal District 155 put forth to rectify the mess that was created in 2013.
Marengo Expo moves for 2016 By Samantha Fetzner Reporter
MARENGO — After downsizing from a twoday to single-day event in 2015, the Marengo Expo is making another change this year. This year’s single-day Expo will take place in the Marengo Middle School. For several years, the event has taken place at the Marengo High School in their gymnasium and cafeteria. The event will be held on Sun Feb 20, one week later than 2015 and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The new location, at 816 E Grant Hwy, lies at the northeast corner of Route 20 and Prospect streets. Parking is in the middle school lot off Prospect across from Washington. Keeping with what has worked in the past, the Expo will feature another celebrity appearance this year. After the big turnout for Bob Love in 2015, the organizers have enlisted former Chicago Bear Steve McMichael. McMichael, nicknamed ‘Mongo’, was a staple of the 1985 championship team. He will be on site for photos and autographs between 1 and 3 p.m. McMichael also coached football and was involved in wrestling years ago.
In addition, local actor Rick Aspen will be portraying his well-known adaptation of Johnny Depp’s ‘Jack Sparrow’ from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies as well. Aspen will be on site from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition to the celebrity appearances, Shadow, Marengo Police Department’s K9 dog, will be at the Expo. There will also be a chance to adopt animals from Glory Bound Rescue Ranch between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. There will be face painting, an art exhibit by Paul Turnbaugh, and various demonstrations throughout the day. Patrons are encouraged to visit the booths of all the local businesses participating to familiarize themselves with what Marengo and Union have to offer. Beyond what you can look at, many will walk away with prizes from the event as well. There are prizes for all ages. Some are being handed out at individual booths while others can be entered via raffle. Stopping by could be all it takes to win! There will also be food for purchase from Rosati’s Pizza and Marengo Community Radio 94.3 is expected to be broadcasting live from the Expo all day.
The approval comes two weeks after the city’s planning and zoning committee approved the proposal in mid-January. The proposal was their second attempt, the first having been rejected in April 2015. The only opposition raised in their plans involved the parking, not the bleachers themselves. The approval by Crystal Lake City Council cited just one objection on all the pieces of the proposal puzzle. There was also one rejection which involved alleviating fees affiliated with the plans. The reduction in bleachers that back the neighboring properties has already been completed and will be left untouched. There are nine rows of bleachers on what used to be, and will again be, the visitors’ side of the field. The reduction came after the state’s Supreme Court upheld the ruling from McHenry County that the District was not above adhering to city guidelines. The question of restitution between the city and the neighbors is still at large, but the visible obstruction has been removed to alleviate much of the stress between the
two parties. Beyond the reduction in bleacher size on the neighbors’ side, or west end, the plan also includes the removal of portions of the school’s sound system. Additional bleachers on the East end will be adding, bringing the total allotted seating to over 3,250. That amount is less than the original renovation, but still about 1,000 more seats than the bleachers held before 2013. The expansion increases the height of the East end by two rows and 80 feet in length per row. The homeowners are still seeking compensation for attorney fees and other issues raised by the original construction. Meanwhile, the district can move forward with obtaining and approving bids to complete the construction. Since construction will take a large chunk of time, Crystal Lake South has already planned that 2015-2016 graduation ceremonies will be held in the confines of the schools walls. District officials are hopeful for the project to be completed before Football season begins for the 2016-2017 school year.