McHenry County News FRE
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Volume 6 Issue 35
WOODSTOCK CAR WASH N O W O P E N
• 3 Heated Bays • Brand New Vacuums • Automatic Wash Now Open • 7’ High and Large Enough for Dually Pickup Trucks
218 Fair Street, Woodstock, IL
AUGUST 25, 2016
(Behind McDonalds)
239731
Take a Stand for Turning Point By Anne Eickstadt, CORRESPONDENT
STAR 105.5 FM radio kicked off the 11th Annual Radiothon for Turning Point early Friday morning, August 12. The live broadcast begins with Joe Cicero and Tina Bree at the Sage YMCA in Crystal Lake, IL. Turning Point is McHenry County’s only domestic violence agency. “We are trying to promote the services that Turning Point provides to victims of domestic violence and their families,” says Jane Farmer, executive director for Turning Point. “We served 1759 clients last year alone. It’s a very under-reported crime, yet we have these huge numbers.” “This radiothon is an open event. It will last 36 hours. It is up to the community to come by, call STAR 105.5 or to stop by and bring a check. No check is too small. It all helps victims of domestic violence.” “It’s crucial that we host this radiothon this year because the state has put together a stopgap budget and that is only for six months. I just want everyone to come out and make a difference with Turning Point and STAR 105.5. There are lots of activities out here: food, henna painting, blood donations. Savers has a big truck for anything that people want to get rid of,” Farmer continues. “Volo Auto Museum has brought
See TURNING POINT, Page 2
ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO McHenry County News
Jane Farmer, executive director for Turning Point with Frank Monroe of STAR 105.5 FM radio. The event was broadcast live to raise funds to help the victims of domestic violence.
The Candy Men
ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO McHenry County News
Lions Club President, the Reverend Frank Szewczyk, takes s turn collecting donations during the Union Lions Club annual Candy Days.
By Anne Eickstadt, Correspondent It’s become a familiar sight – men standing in intersections, collecting donations and handing out candy. They are no panhandlers, they are clearly identifiable as members of the Lions Club. They go out every year, carefully treading that center line at intersections in order to raise money to benefit the local community. In Union, Candy Days coincide with ‘A Day Out With Thomas’ the Tank Engine weekends at the Illinois Railway Museum. People from miles around converge on this area. “People are generous,” says Reverend Frank Szewczyk, president of the Union Lions Club. “They give and they smile and they are happy to help. They are not just people from Union, but from all over. They stop. They help. It’s great.” The Lions Club is the world’s largest service organization. “Our members do whatever is needed to help their local communities. Everywhere we work, we make friends. With children who need eyeglasses, with seniors who don’t have enough to eat, and with people we may never meet.” Says the Lions Club. “We work on projects to improve our communities and protect the environment.” One of the things the Lions Club is best known for is the efforts they make on behalf of the blind and those with sight issues. This mission began in 1925 with an appeal from Helen Keller where she challenged them to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” To this day, they continue to assist young to old with sight correction of all types.
They perform free eye screenings on small children. The Lions’ Kidsight program focuses on children aged six months to six years because their vision develops rapidly and any vision problems can become permanent by age seven. Many of these screenings can be done at events such as the Union Lions’ pancake breakfasts which are held as fundraisers to assist someone in the community. The Lions collect unused eyeglasses to be refurbished and made available to someone who may not be able to afford them. They do the same thing with hearing aids, refurbishing them and making them available to those in need. The district of which the Union Lions Club is a part, District 1-J, has received three grants in the last few months. These grants are to be used for eye testing equipment, spot-screening machines and for Diabetes Testing Awareness. The Union Lions Club members are friendly, caring people who are making a difference, helping members of the community, and protecting the environment. “The money we raise will be used for general projects in this area,” says Rev. Frank. We try to help those who need it with a focus towards sight, hearing and diabetes.” A free brat/sweet corn lunch for members of the community on August 27, behind Checkers II in Union, located at 6524 Main St. It is intended as a gesture of thanks for everyone in the community which supports the Lions’ efforts. The Union Lions Club meets once a month for a business dinner. Further information about this organization can be found online at www.lionsclubs.org.