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 36
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 (Behind McDonalds)
SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
239731
Bark-A-Paw-Looza 2016
By Anne Eickstadt, CORRESPONDENT
Dog lovers came out in hordes to party in the historic Woodstock Square on Sunday, August 21. Many brought their canine companions with them. In the park, they can find everything from dog rescue and adoption services to training and accessories. Crystal’s Canine Designs is ready to kick off their one year anniversary with specials on their Etsy site. They offer hand-crafted collars, leashes and more for your furry friends. “We are striving to make the dogs as fashionable as we are,” says owner and founder, Crystal Schlossberg. They can be found on Facebook at Crystal’s Canine Designs. “Everything we do comes from the heart. I started because of my third rescue dog, Seymour. No collar I could find fit his personality. He is now wearing a “Rescued With Love’ collar. Pearl [accompanying Crystal today] normally wears an “I Rescued My Human” collar.” “10% of today’s sales will go to Louisiana to help injured, ill or displaced animals. I can be found on Etsy, which is new from last year. I will be at the Autumn Drive again this year. Check for specials on Etsy to celebrate our one year anniversary.” A nice sized portion of the Woodstock Square Park has been set up with obstacles for WAG WI-IL Agility Group. “This is an agility, timed obstacle course.” The Wisconsin- Illinois [WI-IL] facility is located in Spring Grove. It is an allvolunteer organization. “We train you at the same time we train your dog. Any size dog can do this. WAG is currently licensed for UKC, AKC, CPE and TDAA agility trials.” Jen Dorois has brought her dog, Rose, out today to help demonstrate the agility course.
“We are actually new to the club. We started training 23 months ago,” she tells me. “The WAG training program is broken up over 36 weeks. This is more than most other programs do. There is a lot of footwork you have to learn as well as your dog. Rose was a little afraid of the teeter-totter at first, but now it is her favorite thing.” Rose and Jen are already winning ribbons in competition. WAG seems to be a fun place to spend time but if you don’t already have a fur pal to take with you, you can visit one of the animal rescue shelters represented out here today. Helping Paws has brought sisters Sammie and Samantha with them today. They are hound mixes and almost 3 months old. “They haven’t had a chance to play with each other lately, so they are excited,” I am told. Helping Paws has also brought out Boo Boo, a 3 year old beagle mix who has recently been recused from a kill shelter in Kentucky. Check them out on Facebook or at www.wagagility.com Rescue dogs make great pets. Adopting a dog from a shelter instead of from a pet store helps to discourage puppy mills. Becky Monroe wrote a book based on the rescue of her Chinese crested powderpuff. “The book, ‘Bark Until Heard’, is, hopefully, a tool to educate people about puppy mills,” Monroe says. www.beckymonroe.com. Or you can find the book on Amazon.com. Represented here at Bark-A-Paw-Looza are animal shelters & support services; grooming and veterinary services; pet sitters and a pet resort. You can find hand-crafted dog beds, collars and leashes as well as pet clothing and glitz to give your fur babies some glam. You can check out this event online at www.rescueddogresourcecenter.com for a complete list of products, services and event sponsors.
ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO McHenry County News
Becky Monroe, author of ‘Bark Until Heard’ with the star of her book, Thorp, a Chinese Crested Powderpuff. See more photos on page 8.
Thomas and Percy return By Anne Eickstadt, CORRESPONDENT
ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO McHenry County News
ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO McHenry County News
Union fire fighters John Garcia and Carlos Burns helping 3 year old Joshua Levy play with a miniature fire hose. See more photos on page 2.
It’s the second and final weekend of ‘A Day Out With Thomas 2016’ at the Illinois Railway Museum. The parking lots are filled as are auxiliary parking lots and vehicles are parked up to a mile away along the roadsides. There are people everywhere. They are crowded around Thomas, getting photos with the popular tank engine. They are waiting for Percy to return with his coaches filled with fans and are thoroughly enjoying the entertainment provided by the IRM. “We are here doing public relations for the Union Fire Department and the community, “says John Garcia. Garcia and Carlos Burns have a mini ‘fire hose’ set up next to a fire truck for the kids to play with. Nearby, the Kenosha Garden Railroad Society has a tent filled with a G gauge model railway. “We were invited to come down and display our trains to entertain folks while they are waiting to ride Thomas and Percy,” says Matt Werve of KGRS. Mr. D’s Magic House on Wheels is on site. “A 1945 Chevrolet, it was built to be an Army show truck,” says Mr. D. “I got it 40 years ago and have been doing shows out of it for 35 years. I have been performing here at Thomas events for 10 years. I am a long time performer at the Boone County Fair. I will be performing at Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm every weekend in October.” www.mrdsmagic-
show.com Steve Gryb, the Pied Piper of Percussion is also a long time entertainer at ‘A Day Out With Thomas’. www.grybmusic.com . Inflatable Bounce Houses and slides, a sand pile for the little ones and more entertainment is provided by five clowns provided by the Tebala Shriners. Tents are set up for storytelling, Thomas videos, games and crafts for everyone to enjoy. With over 7000 visitors a day for ‘A Day Out With Thomas’, volunteers from local organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and high schools in the area act as crossing guards, ticket takers, clerks, parking lot attendants and maintenance personnel. Some of the volunteers have been assisting with this event for years and still love doing it. They are doing, as always, an excellent job of helping people, keeping them safe and making sure the area is kept clean of all the litter that large crowds generate. “My wife, Pat, and I both volunteer,” Ron Seavers of W. Dundee tells me. “I’ve been doing ‘A Day Out With Thomas’ since it started. Pat is working on Thomas today. I am keeping people safe.” Seavers is directing the embarking and disembarking of passengers and keeping the tracks clear as Percy approaches. The gates at the Illinois Railway Museum open at 9:00 am and close at about 6:00 pm. The IRM is located at 7000 Olson Road, Union, IL, 60180. You can call 815.923.4391 or visit their website at www.IRM.org for more information.