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Volume 5 Issue 33
August 13, 2015
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McHenry County News
Bonded Insured
Thomas the Tank Engine is back By Anne Eickstadt, Correspondent
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homas fans in the northern Illinois area will be delighted to learn that on the weekends of August 15-16 and August 22-23, Thomas the Tank Engine will be giving his fans rides at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union. Tickets for ‘A Day Out With Thomas’ will sell fast at only $21. They include admission to the Illinois Railway Museum, one train ride with Thomas [you will need to choose the time slot to ride with Thomas at the time of purchase], unlimited streetcar rides and all entertainment available that day. Sir Topham Hatt will be visiting to check up on the very useful engines at the museum. Clowns will be wandering the grounds. Island of Sodor and train station backdrops will provide plenty of photos opportunities and a garden model railroad display will be on hand. Magic shows and live music will be providing even more fun. Last year, music was provided by Steve Gryb – the Pied Piper of Percussion. He provided an interactive musical
See THOMAS, Page 2
photo by Anne Eickstadt
Kids enjoy playing with the train set, coloring pages, temporary tattoos and other fun activities at A Day Out With Thomas.
Homes for Dogs National Pet Adoption Weekend
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photos by Anne Eickstadt
Above: Shaggy is a 2 year old terrier mix who is waiting at Helping Paws for a new family. Right: April is an Aussie/Lab mix with an instinct for protecting and herding. At 4 months old, she is looking for someone to love her and take her home.
By Anne Eickstadt, Correspondent
he Helping Paws Animal Shelter in Woodstock volunteers found a wonderful place in the shade to escape the sun and enjoy the breeze on Saturday, August 1. Dogs and volunteers came out to very visible locations at Coldwell Banker in Crystal Lake and Nature’s Feed in Spring Grove for National Pet Adoption Weekend. I chat with Helping Paws Director Sharon Fabian and ask her about the fresh outbreak of dog flu in McHenry County. “We’re just being very cautious, taking better precautions and doing all ‘meet and greets’ outside.” The Helping Paws animals should be fine “as long as people don’t bring their dogs nose-to-nose” with the healthy dogs. “We’re not having ‘Paws in the Park’ due to dog flu but we will do it in June next year,” Fabian tells me. ‘Paws in the Park’ is a huge adoption event and fundraiser for the Helping Paws Animal Shelter. Adoption events are important to them because, “85% of our dogs come from kill shelters, 15% are relinquishments.” Fabian continues, “We do donate food out to the public. We don’t want people to have to relinquish their dog if we can help it.” The next event on the schedule for 2015 is the 2nd Annual Paw Crawl around the Woodstock Square. $40 will buy you five drink tickets for Saturday, August 22, and an official event T-shirt. Last year, the Paw Crawl raised
over $10,000 for Helping Paws. There were 267 participants in the event. Right now, Helping Paws is selling raffle tickets for $5 per ticket. The winner will receive a ‘Dining Through Woodstock’ prize worth over $650. Meanwhile, kids are playing with the three dogs who brought their Helping Paws volunteers to Crystal Lake today. Shaggy is a two year old terrier mix who is enjoying all the attention he is getting. April is a black four month old Aussie/Lab mix who will eventually reach 40-45 pounds. She is very loyal and will instinctively round up the kids for you and herd them home. Jack is a seven month old beagle who doesn’t want to sit still. He is very excited at all the new friends he is making today. As always, the animals adopted out from the Helping Paws Animal Shelter are healthy, well fed and have received medical treatment, including being spayed/neutered. Helping Paws is a no-kill, non-profit organization that is now in its 40th year of operation in McHenry County. To help them raise funds, to donate food or supplies or to adopt an animal, visit them online at www.helpingpaws.net or call 815.338.4400. You can also purchase’ Dining Through Woodstock’ Raffle tickets or reserve a space at the 2nd Annual paw Crawl online, by calling or by visiting them at 2500 Harding Road, Woodstock, IL, 60098.