Spotlighting the USA

Check out this beautiful presentation of some of the most scenic spots in the USA. Wouldn't it be a great family trip to set out to see all of them? How long would it take? I mean, to see and enjoy them?

Be sure your speakers are on.

http://oldbluewebdesigns.com/mybeautifulamerica.htm

Braun found guilty of domestic battery

PRESS RELEASE

February 19, 2010

Man Found Guilty of Felony Domestic Battery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that a McHenry County jury found Michael S. Braun guilty of the felony offense of Domestic Battery on February 18, 2010 following a three day trial. The Defendant was charged with physically assaulting his girlfriend by grabbing her around the neck and throwing her over an office chair. Following the guilty verdict, Judge Joseph Condon revoked the Defendant’s bond until the future sentencing date of April 1, 2010. Due to a prior domestic battery conviction, Defendant faces a sentence of probation or one to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Defendant faces an additional charge of Harassment of a Witness stemming from an April 2008 arrest--that charge is currently pending. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Sharyl Eisenstein and Kirk Chrzanowski. This case further highlights Louis Bianchi’s aggressive stance against domestic violence.

It's spreading!

At the end of 1970 I moved from Forest Park (Ill.) to Denver, and shortly after that I met Vic. Our friendship has lasted throughout the years and my many moves.

He led an effort in his county a couple of years that resulted in the removal of the County Sheriff from office. Today he wrote:

"I have been reading some of your blogs and I realized that you and I are a lot alike. When we see a problem we try to do something about it. You are inspiring me to get even more involved in things. Just like where you live we have the same kind of problems here. I may have a new ally in my fights. A new family moved here last summer and we have become good friends. Jim is an active guy and I know you would like him. I want him to run for one of our town council seats. Keep the pressure on, Gus."

New title - Gus Philpott, Other

You know you have graduated to the top of the class, when you receive an invitation to your child's school meeting and your name is listed as "Gus Philpott - Other".

At least they got the last name right on this Notice.

Staff at Woodstock District 200 has called me many things over the past 13 years, not all of which can be printed here. Usually, it has been Gus Philpott - Parent. Sometimes, step-parent. For a while, ex-step-parent. (That was when they decided I wasn't a "parent" and kicked me out of the support group for parents of students in special education.)

But now I've reached a new level. I think I'll show up with my own name badge: "Gus Philpott - Other".

For more rantings about typos and misspelled words, see www.specialkids-specialparents.info

Mayor, are you out of order?

Has the mayor of Island Lake acted outside the scope of her authority in the firing of part-time police officer Fred Manetti?

Mayor Debbie Herrmann suspended (fired?) Ofc. Manetti on about January 1, 2010, and it does not appear that, until last night, Ofc. Manetti had any appearance before either Island Lake's Board of Fire and Police Commissioners or the Island Lake Trustees.

What does the Island Lake Village Code have to say about part-time police officers?

"6-2-2: QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
"A. Prior to appointment, all proposed part time police officers shall be fingerprinted and their fingerprints shall be checked with the federal bureau of identification, Washington, D.C., for any possible criminal record. No person shall be appointed as a part time police officer if he has been convicted of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude. The appointment of any or all part time police officers may be terminated by the mayor subject to the advice and consent of the board of trustees. (Ord. 332, 12-9-1976; amd. 1987 Code)" (emphasis added)

From all appearances Mayor Herrmann has disregarded the Village Code.

Throughout the Code reference about her decisions pertaining to hiring of police officers includes "subject to the advice and consent of the board of trustees". The Code refers mostly to hiring, rather than termination, but it is logical to extend that requirement to matters of suspension and/or termination.

Is the mayor on the hot seat by taking unilateral action, in the absence of a declared emergency, and further by her refusal to meet with the board of trustees to explain her action?

Under what circumstances could the board of trustees wrest control of their town from the clutches of the mayor and disempower her?

They could probably get an answer to that question from their law firm, Ancel Glink. The board should address that question to Attorney Scott Puma. If he feels any obligation not to answer it because of his advice to the mayor, then the board should go to a more senior partner at that law firm - or to outside counsel.

TACA meets Sat. at 4:30PM

There is a TACA meeting tomorrow, February 20, at 4:30PM in Crystal Lake. The meeting will be held by the local chapter of Talk About Curing Autism, and the group will meet from 4:30-6:30PM. The topic is biomedical intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

For more information, go to http://meetup.tacanow.org/illinois/index.html

Meeting location:
Home State Bank
Community Meeting Room on basement level
611 S. Main St.
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

The topic will be discussed by Sonja Hintz, RN and Barry Smeltzer, MPAS, PA-C
You are invited to bring your questions about biomedical treatments, including diet, chelation, hyperbarics, methylation, supplements, sleep problems, poop problems, yeast issues, anything!

Your questions will be answered and become the catalyst for discussion. TACA invites you for some GFCFSF food and a great biomedical discussion with Sonja and Barry.

Sonja and Barry will come Crystal Lake from Dr. Anju Usman's practice at True Health Medical Center in Naperville. Sonja is a nurse and has a son who has recovered from autism. Barry is a physician's assistant and is also the father of a child with autism.

For chapter information after the meeting, contact Linda.Betzold@tacanow.org

Island Lake Gov't. minus Mayor & 1 Trustee

The Trustees of Island Lake met tonight and, as expected, Mayor Debbie Herrmann and Trustee Donna O'Malley were MIA. Many residents showed up to protest the stonewalling of the community by the Mayor and to criticize her for refusing to meet with the Trustees to explain her suspension of police chief Anthony Sciarrone and Ofc. Fred Manetti.

The meeting started on time at 8:00PM, with Trustee John Ponio calling the meeting to order and asking for the first order of business to be the appointment of a person to run the meeting in the absence of the mayor. Upon motion and second, Ponio was voted to run the meeting.

Public comments were invited, and many of the residents spoke about the damage to the reputation of their community by the mayor's arbitrary and unexplained actions. Concern pertaining to loss of credibility for their police department was expressed. Trustee Ponio expressed his own concerns for the public safety of residents and the town.

Scott Puma, attorney for the Village who has been in the news recently, did not attend tonight's meeting. Representing Ancel Glink tonight was Don Anderson, who is listed on Ancil Glink's website as "of Counsel", not as a Partner or Associate Attorney of the firm. I did not hear him introduced or even his presence seated with the Trustees explained. For such an important meeting as this, why would Ancel Glink send an "of Counsel" attorney and not a Partner?

One member of the audience questioned the Trustees as to whether there had been any dialogue between the "legal person present" about the Mayor's or the missing Trustee's not attending tonight's meeting. Attorney Anderson said there had not been.

There was no reason to think that his answer was incorrect; he answered the question that was asked, which was whether he had had any dialogue with Herrmann or O'Malley. However, it didn't answer the question as to whether there had been any dialogue between any lawyer at Ancel Glink and Herrmann and/or O'Malley. Media reported this week that O'Malley had been advised by the Village's attorney not to attend tonight.

A woman resident in the audience stated, with great feeling, that the mayor had taken away the checks and balances that the Board provides and stated that she was very disappointed that the mayor did not show up tonight.

When Ponio was asked who started the investigation of the chief, he said that the Mayor started it and said she would inform the Board when she thinks the Board needs to know. In response to a question about whom the law firm of the Village represents (the mayor or the Village), Ponio said that the law firm represents the Village.

Another woman resident referred to the mayor's actions as "pathetic, regarding the lack of caring by the mayor."

At 8:20PM the Trustees voted to enter executive session, and the members of the public were asked to leave the Board room.

Ofc. Fred Manetti arrived as the members of the public were leaving the Board room, and he waited outside the Board room until he was called in. When I approached Ofc. Manetti about a possible comment, he politely refused any comment. After a period of time he left the Board room and the building. A comment on the Daily Herald website remarked that Manetti may be a part-time investigator for the State's Attorney's Office.

I heard only positive remarks tonight from the residents tonight about both Chief Sciarrone and Ofc. Manetti.

I also heard from a resident that sometimes it was difficult to get answers from the Village's law firm, because one attorney would be asked a question and say he would get back with an answer, but then a different attorney would show up at the next meeting and know nothing about that question or the answer that was to be provided. Perhaps the Trustees should inquire why Attorney Scott Puma did not attend this meeting himself.

At about 10:30PM the Board returned to open session and stated that no action would be taken tonight. In spite of that statement a letter from three of the Trustees will ask for the reinstatement of both Chief Sciarrone and Officer Manetti.

Obviously, there is much more to come from this. The next regularly scheduled Board meeting is Thursday, February 25. Anyone interested in following this saga should check the Village's website daily; visit www.VillageofIslandLake.com

Be sure to click the link on the left side for "Agendas/Notices" and then click on the link at the top of the Agendas/Notices webpage for the "upcoming meeting agenda." That's where you will find out about any special meeting before or after a regular Board meeting.