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McHenry County News

WOODSTOCK CAR WASH

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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 38

• 3 Heated Bays • Brand New Vacuums • Automatic Wash Now Open • 7’ High and Large Enough for Dually Pickup Trucks

O P E N

218 Fair Street, Woodstock, IL (Behind McDonalds)

239731

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

it’s apple picking time!

By Anne Eickstadt CORRESPONDENT

“We have a wonderful crop this year,” says Sue Ellen Arndt. “The apples are really looking good.” Saturday, September 3, is opening day at Prairie Sky Orchard in Union, Illinois. Cars are pulling in early and everyone is eager to pick apples. “The Honey Crisp and the Gala are ready for picking. We have a bountiful crop. Our guys mulched all summer to help retain moisture. I think it will be a very good year, a fun year,” Arndt tells me. “The Zestar is a newer apple. It is a late August apple. A lot of people have never tried it. It has a kind of a

By Anne Eickstadt CORRESPONDENT

The city of Harvard, Illinois, tried something new on Labor Day weekend – they hosted a hot air balloon festival at Milky Way Park. 75% of the proceeds from this event will be distributed to non-profit organizations in the Harvard area. Volunteers are assisting with parking, helping inform visitors and

sweet/tart combination taste.” “We have a hot dog kiosk open on weekends this year. The hot dogs are Angus beef sirloin and we serve them Chicago-style, with all the toppings. We also serve apple pie (you can get it with ice cream if you like) and apple dumplings. People tell us we have the best apple cider donuts around.” The donuts are also only available on weekends. For your apple picking pleasure, Prairie Sky Orchard provides a list of when your favorite apples are ready. Keeping in mind that Nature may provide surprises in the timing, earlier or later, these apples will be ripe at about: Zestar – late August

making sure everything is running smoothly. “Since this is our first year and we do not have experience with hot air balloons,” says festival chairman, Alderman Mike Kelly, “We have hired a balloon maestro, John Trione, of the Lake Geneva Balloon Company to handle things and keep everyone safe.” The park gates opened for the

Honey Crisp – early September Gala – early September Cortland – mid September Macintosh – mid September Cameo – mid September Snow sweet – mid September Jonamac – mid September Jonathan – late September Golden Empire – late September Delicious – early October Red Delicious – early October Jonagold – early October Fuji – mid October Ida Red – mid October Even the employees enjoy being here. “This is a very pleasant place to work,” says employee Kathleen

“I want THIS apple!” Ruben Fierros’ fiancee tells him.

See APPLE PICKING, Page 2 ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO McHenry County News

ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTOS McHenry County News

Hot air balloons carry passengers during the 1st Harvard Balloon Fest on Labor Day weekend.

Harvard Balloon Festival at 4:00 pm on Friday. Nine hot air balloons took flight near 6:00 pm while cars were still lined up along the road

The balloons need to be unpacked and spread out on the ground before being inflated.

leading to the park. “The police said traffic was backed up all the way across town,” says festival volunteer Steve Cesarz. “Attendance was fantastic.” “Friday, we parked about 3000 cars containing 3-4 people each. A conservative estimate is that 8-9000 people attended,” Kelly told me Saturday morning. “We expect even more today.” The fair gates opened at 6:00 am on Saturday and Sunday and remained open until the 9:30 pm closing. Harvard’s first Balloon Fest offers far more than just hot air balloons. A carnival offers games and rides; live bands perform each day and local groups perform demonstrations such as aikido. A zip line, climbing wall, inflatables join a craft fair and other activities are provided. Food, a beer tent, and Rocky the Raptor! Of Jurassic Adventures Chicago appear throughout the event. A balloon night glow illuminates the evening in a breathtaking display each evening. While most of the hot air balloons fly both early morning and evening, one balloon stays at the fairgrounds to provide tethered balloon rides. Anchored at four corners, the balloon carries passengers about 30 feet into the air before returning to earth. “I do this every weekend,” teth-

ered balloon pilot, Glen O’Connell says. “I don’t have many openings in my schedule.” O’Connell is licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration as a hot air balloon pilot. It takes about a year of training to fly a hot air balloon, assuming you already have a FAA pilot’s license. The balloon training includes written, oral and flight tests as well as logging flight hours. To take passengers up, the pilot must undergo even more training and obtain a commercial pilot’s license. The balloons themselves must be built to FAA standards and undergo a 3-4 hour inspection for every 100 hours of flight time. Even then, weather conditions can put a stop to all flights before they get off the ground. The pilots will not take passengers up in stormy weather or high winds. “Safety is our primary concern,” Kelly says. “The pilots are very experienced. Most of them are local, from northern Illinois or southern Wisconsin. We also have pilots from Arizona and Iowa, just because they wanted to come and fly here.” The hot air balloon pilots that helped make this festival a huge success are listed at the event website www.harvardballoonfest.com. You can also visit their Facebook page at Harvard Balloon Fest.


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