patrickmurfin

Cal Skinner needs to get a more recent photo to adorn this wanted poster on his blog.  The process server will never recognize him.

Blogger/gadfly Cal Skinner and I are seldom on the same page politically.  The proprietor of the McHenry County Blog is a champion of the far right in local, state and national politics.  I am not only a Democrat, but a local Party officer, an unabashed liberal, and the promoter of several causes that give Cal an allergic reaction.

So some might think I would be cheering on the owner of the Northwest Herald who has hauled out the heavy artillery to sue Cal for bucketfuls of money.  Those folks would be wrong.

According to an article in Thursday’s paper Cal “reckless and completely fabricated” allegations that the “the newspaper received a multimillion dollar-loan from McHenry County government at submarket rates to prevent it from moving outside the county. It also challenges a comment that the loan was made “to put the paper in the back pocket of the Republican Party.”

Skinner said he believed that the paper had received a loan to build the paper’s current offices and production plant in Crystal Lake.  He said he had in the past filed unsuccessful Freedom of Information Act requests to find out more, but that the request had been denied. He recently filed another request but has not received a notion.  None-the-less he repeated the allegation in a June 3 blog post, almost as an aside to a longer piece on a new county lending program to be made possible with Federal economic stimulus funds.

Now Cal has been careless of the facts before.  I have called him on it.  He says if he was in error the newspaper should simply have called him and requested a retraction and apology, which he claims would have been forthcoming.  And that would be the way most disputes of this nature play out.

But B. F. Shaw Printing Corp.  attorney Don Craven, winner of the most-apt-lawyer-name-award, did not contact Cal.  Instead he filed a law suit seeking at least $50,000 damages on each of three charges.

From a public relations standpoint, the suit is a head scratcher.  By filing and then covering the law suit in their own paper that have repeated the “slander” and spread it far wider than an incidental comment on a local blog could ever do.  Moreover, these kinds of law suits are extremely difficult to win.  (Although a sister publication, The Kane County Chronicle, discovered to its dismay that it is possible to lose one.)

There is only one reason for hauling out the heavy artillery to pick off a flea.  That is sheer intimidation.  Just defending against this kind of law suit can bankrupt individuals of modest means and make their life a living hell for years to come.

Lord knows, nobody has thinner skin than the press.  They can dish it out, but can’t take it.  Folks at the Herald are more sensitive than most.  I know from experience that the slightest criticism of their coverage results in whining and yowling of epic proportions.  One former editor was notorious for taking revenge on his critics in the new columns.  A still active editor once e-mailed me that the coverage afforded the organizations and causes for which I do voluntary press work could suffer as a result of criticism on this blog.  The threat was never acted upon, but it was boldly made.

I hate bullies.  I hate thugs.  I hate the powerful who try to shut up their critics, even if those critics are sometimes full of crap themselves.  B.F. Shaw Printing is a bully.  Don Craven is a pin stripe thug for hire.  The NORTHWEST HERALD is a powerful virtual media monopoly in McHenry County.  They deserve the scorn and ridicule of everyone who expects a responsible press to act like mature adults and not like spoiled brats out to squelch what may be one of their few competitors in providing local coverage.

Cal, ol’ buddy, go ahead and apologize and print that retraction.  If they still come after you, I’ve got your back on this one.

I suppose I should hold my breath in anticipation of a Craven attack.

The Northwest Herald reported today that the tiny Riley United Methodist Church will hold its final services this Sunday. It is the second small Methodist church to close in the county due to a dwindling and aging congregation. The church in Ringwood befell a similar fate two years ago. The Alden church hangs on by its fingernails, sharing, as did Riley a modern day circuit rider. These rural outposts are vanishing and can no longer maintain congregations.

The Methodists are not disappearing from the County. The Crystal Lake church is one of the largest Protestant congregations in the City.  Active churches are still alive and well in all of the county’s bigger municipalities.

The Methodists held on longer to their rural outposts, but the same process that began the dispersal of tiny agricultural villages long ago caused the shuttering of once thriving Universalist congregations like those at Pingree Grove.

Rural families have not become less religious, but they prefer to hop in the car to travel to a larger church with full services, often one with up-beat “contemporary” services. Just as they no longer identify with the cross roads communities in which they live, they have no particular loyalty to denomination. They are just as apt to choose a non-denominational mega church as the bigger Methodist church the next town over.

So we can pause for just a moment to reflect what is passing, and what is lost.

At the heart of most Midwestern agricultural communities stood a typically white clapboard church. It anchored the community. The church in Riley Township was newer than most, attesting to the vigor of the community at the turn of the 20^th century. Erected in 1897, the building was distinguished by a unique hexagonal bell tower. The community moved from the simple frame Riley Township Hall—now preserved as Perkins Hall by the McHenry County Historical Society—and before that worshiped in an 1858 log cabin. Reflecting the New England/Up State New York origins of the original settler stock, the church was originally Congregational, but switched to the Methodists early in 1900s. The Methodists, with churches in the centers of thousands of similar villages, were simply better prepared to furnish ministers than the Congregationalists, whose highly educated clergy preferred more sophisticated—and lucrative—calls.

The church and the Township hall, and a school clustered at a crossroads with a handful of farmsteads within a mile or so. The crossroads never rose to the dignity of a village.  The nearest store and post office were at South Riley two miles to the southwest. Both of those closed decades ago. There never has really been a village core to this most rural of McHenry County’s townships. 

Located south of Marengo and cut off from encroaching development by Interstate 90—the wholly inappropriately named Jane Adams Expressway—to the south, the County’s  southwestern most Township remains a rural bastion. In 1800 the census reported 915 residents. A century later the population had not even doubled-- 1,811.

Rich Garling, an Island Lake Trustee, has announced his candidacy for election to the Illinois General Assembly 52nd District. Garling, a longtime Democrat and resident of Island Lake, said that he feels that it is time for a change in representation for the people of the 52nd District. 

Garling, who is also a former member of the Dekalb County Board, feels that skyrocketing property taxes are the most important issue to the people of the 52nd District.  Garling believes that if the State of Illinois pays its fair share of education dollars, we can help relieve the burden to local taxpayers. "We have become overly reliant on property taxes for the way we fund our local public schools," stated Garling. "Fiscal discipline is an idea Springfield needs to relearn." He assured voters that "I will use my business and local government background to change this broken system."

In particular, seniors living on fixed incomes should not have to worry about rising property taxes driving them out of their homes, Garling believes. "I strongly support assessment freezes for qualified seniors, the disabled, military veterans and personnel currently serving on active duty" vowed Garling.

Our community also deserves the best schools, teachers and educational programs, Garling said. "Our society thrives when we have an educated populace. We all suffer when resources are mismanaged. As your state Representative, I will advocate for an increase in state school funding in the  52nd District," Garling said.

In addition, Garling realizes that efficient roads and safety are important concerns to everyone in the  52nd District. "Many of our communities struggle to fund road improvement projects to handle our ever-increasing population growth. I will work hard to bring more state and federal money to improve roads and relieve gridlock," said Garling.

Environmental protection is also a top priority for Garling and is essential to maintaining our parks, wetlands and other natural resources. "I understand the importance of expanding recycling and energy efficiency programs for homes and businesses, and helping ensure everyone in our area has access to a safe, clean water supply. By supporting initiatives like The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Greenest Region Compact or the Cool Cities Compacts we can work towards keeping our environment clean and healthy for generations to come," he said.

Rich Garling is 52 years old and has lived in Island Lake for 19 years, serving as trustee since his election in 2007. He served on the Dekalb County Board from 1980 - 82. His business career has included leadership positions in sales & marketing and in computer systems.

The 52nd District represents voters in McHenry, Lake and Cook Counties and covers all or parts of the municipalities of Island Lake, Port Barrington, Lakemoor, Wauconda, Barrington, Round Lake, Bull Valley, Cary, Prairie Grove, Lake Barrington, Johnsburg, Fox Lake and Fox River Grove.

Since no candidate ran for this office in the February Primary, Garling will seek the support of Party Chairs in the three counties to be caucused into the open Democratic nomination for the fall election.

Well, I missed the shindig at Govener’s Pub to watch returns and celebrate due to the sleet/snow storm that made travel a challenge.  Too bad, because it had the earmarks of a damn good party.  McHenry County Democrats have a lot to celebrate.  Of course the storm kept other Dems away and party Chair Tom Cynor was occupied with advanced baby arrival alert.

As of 2:30 a.m. Wednesday with 100% of precincts reporting, according to unofficial results posted by County Clerk Kathy Schultz on the McVote Web site, 33,421 county residents voted in the Democratic Presidential Primary.  31,211 took Republican ballots.  These figures may not yet include early voting and absentee ballots which were to be counted only after all precincts had reported.  If not, the outcome will not change dramatically because early voting showed the same tilt to the Democrats.

It is safe to say that this is absolutely unprecedented in a county that has been a bastion of Republican power since the Civil War.

As in the rest of the state Barack Obama was a landslide winner. *

Local races in entry below.

*All election results from McVote.org

In the 16th Congressional District,  Barrington Hills Village President Robert Abboud ran unopposed.  But the name recognition generated in the big Democratic turn-out will give him a strong leg up in his challenge to entrenched Republican Don Manzzulo.

In the 26th State Senate District comprising portions of Lake County and parts of eastern McHenry County Round Lake Mayor Richard Gentes took the McHenry County precincts in district.

In a hot three way race for a crack at two seats on the COUNTY BOARD from sprawling, largely rural District 6,  Robert Ludwig and Daryl Franks—running for the second time—won the nomination.

Other Democratic County Board candidates ran and won unopposed as did Coroner candidate David Bachmann, incumbent Jack Franks in the 63rd State Assembly District, and Robert Kaempfe in the 64th District.  While it is an unfair comparison because their districts are not exactly equal, newcomer Kaempfe actually won more votes (11,588) than the perennial powerhouse Franks (11,301.)

Finally, the really big race of the night, the one you have been holding your breath for—Precinct Committeeman in Nunda Township, Precinct 5.

In the immortal words of Elvis Presley, “Thank you.  Thank you very much.”

*All election results from McVote.org

Looking for interesting, even startling, trends in McHenry County politics?  Try this one on for size. 

With a hot and bloody race for State’s Attorney and a multiple candidate contest for the honor of loosing to Melissa Bean in the 8th Congressional District, you would think early and absentee voting turn-out for the Republicans would be big.

On the Democratic side there is a lot of interest in the Presidential race, but Illinois favorite son Barack Obama is considered a prohibitive favorite here making the contest less interesting in some eyes.  And in McHenry County there are only contested races in the 8th Congressional (which Bean is not sweating,) County Board District 6, and for two Precinct Representative slots (including this scribe’s Nunda 5 post.)

As of  Wednesday evening, after three days of early voting, Democratic Party Vice Chair Kathy Bergan Schmidt relayed the following numbers from the County Clerk’s office:

                        Democratic Ballots:  691

                        Repubican Ballots:    663

                                    Green Ballots: 4

                                    Non Partisan (Referenda only)  3

And these numbers are not a one day fluke.  Daily tracking reveals that Democrats were virtually even from the beginning before pulling ahead.

The winds of change are blowing through McHenry County.

In Mexico, David Bachmann holds a baby named for him. Bachmann attended to the mother of this child as she was killed in an auto accident. The Appreciative for his efforts in support of the family, they sought him out, and showed up at his home one evening with the newborn child of the women killed in the accident. They graciously thanked him and told him the family named the child "David" in his honor.

The office of coroner seems an odd place to look for political drama.  Particularly in McHenry County,  where it tends to be passed down from hand to hand as a minor fiefdom of the Republican machine.  But it may move to center stage as David John Bachmann, a career funeral director and embalmer with deep roots in the county announced his candidacy at the McHenry County Democratic Party meeting in Spring Grove Wednesday night

            Democrats have not contested the Coroner’s office since the early ‘90’s.  Back when former County Chair Frank Mclatchey promoted a “full slate” of county candidates for county-wide office Clark Landers was a more-or-less sacrificial lamb as place holder.  The quirky Landers had minimal qualifications for the office and less ability as a candidate.  He also would go off on tangents like anti-Masonry at the drop of his cowboy hat.  He was such an embarrassment on the ticket that he tainted strong candidates for Auditor and Sheriff in the eyes of the press.  The party was ever after reluctant to run candidates just to fill slots.

            Bachmann, on the other hand, promises to be a serious candidate

            The present Corner is Marlene Lantz, who was anointed the job by her mentor, long time office holder, the late Alvin Querhammer.  Ms. Lantz, who presides over the smallest of the elected county offices recently won a substantial pay raise in lock step with other officers in a controversial vote by the CountyBoard.  That is she will get that nice raise if she is re-elected next November

            Until Bachmann came along that re-election seemed a forgone conclusion.

            Bachmann was raised in Crystal Lake,  where his father was Chief Financial Officer of Black Dot Group owner of Graftek Press a printing company and major local employer.  The family also bought Whede Shoes on Williams Street from former mayor Carl Whede.  But the former Crystal Lake Central graduate decided to take a different track.

            I am sure much to the surprise of his friends and family, the tall and athletic young Bachmann elected to attend mortuary science school after Eastern Illinois University. After plying his trade in California and Florida he returned to McHenry County to work at a prominent Cary funeral home.   

            In a conversation at the Democratic Party meeting, Bachmann related to me how he decided to open his own business in Crystal Lake at the tender age of 27.  He was already involved in some pioneering AIDS education work in conjunction with Hospice and when Coroner Querhammer made local—and state wide—headlines by announcing his firm belief that AIDS was an unstoppable plague which could be spread on toilet seats and by the air circulators on airlines.  He advocated mandatory quarantine of AIDS patients under armed guard in conditions that could only be described as concentration camp like.  Appalled, Bachmann determined to open up his own funeral home to go into head to head competion  with  Querhammer’s.  

            The local establishment was less than thrilled with the upstart, and numerous hurdles were thrown up to prevent the competition.  But Bachmann persisted and opened his modern Bachmann Funeral Home north of town on Rt. 14—less than a quarter mile from Querhammer’s—in 1987.

            While running his business, Bachmann was active in the community.  He served as president of the Crystal Lake Kiwanis, on the boards of directors of both Crime Stoppers and Senior Citizens of Northern Illinois, chaired the special gifts committee of the American Heart Association, was and education volunteer for Hospice of Northern Illinois, and an instructor on death and dying at McHenry County College.

            In 1992 Bachmann sold his business and relocated his family to Florida where he continued his career both as a funeral home executive and embalmer and as the president of a company that manufactured state of the art cremation urns.

            The funeral director faced death himself in 2002 when he was diagnosed with usually fatal pancreatic cancer.  He sold his business and fought the disease, enduring an operation that would “either kill me or save me.”  Bachmann had also survived serious surgeries following an automobile accident and a plane crash.

            Looking for a new challenge after his recovery, Bachmann and his Mexican born wife journeyed to her country where he served as Chief Embalmer of State under the Chief Justice of the state of Tlaxcala in the impoverished interior.  He educated medical examiners on embalming techniques and protective measure in handling human remains.

            The family has now returned to McHenry County making a home in Hebron. Looking for new challenges, Bachmann decided on what some might consider his long shot run for coroner.  But he expects to win.  “I’ve overcome a lot of obstacles in my life.  I know I can do it again.”

            Bachman’s strong professional credentials and broad experience make him a viable candidate.  His community roots and public service are a plus.  So is his command of the Spanish language and ability to reach out to the county’s growing Latino communities.  He is also confident, bright and articulate.

            Look out, Marlene Lantz.

EL SALVADORAN WOMEN PREPARE TORTILLAS

A CONCERT FOR CHILAMA will take place on Sunday, September 30 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the STAGE LEFT CAFÉ on  WOODSTOCK SQUARE.  The concert is a benefit for the SALVADORAN community of Chilama, a sister city of the McHENRY COUNTY based  FRIENDS OF CHILAMA  This small village is very remote and lacks an access road, school, health clinic, potable water, and employment.

The public is invited to attend the event which features outstanding local musicians including O, BROTHER, the RICKLEPICK TRIO, CARL VIARD, and the WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON JAM GROUP.  All performers have generously volunteered their talents in order to support the struggles of the rural poor in EL SALVADOR.

A donation of $10 for adults and $5 for students is suggested.  There will be a cash bar and complimentary snacks.  For more information, e-mail lib4paz@comcast.net or call 815-455-3683.

                                        
My, my, how the immage of the working class has changed from RALPH CHAPLIN'S defiant rebel to some fat old man gnoshing on a pastrami sandwhich at a Mannhatten deli.  What does this tell  us of UU views of working people?

            As far as I can tell, the LABOR DAY services that I have been leading at the CONGREGATIONAL UNITARIAN CHURCH for the last couple of years have been the only religious observances of this secular national holiday in McHENRY COUNTY.  Oh, maybe the occasion might get a passing remark from the pulpit, some BIBLE verse endorsing the dignity of labor might be stapled awkwardly on to the proceedings, or some progressive cleric might utter a prayer.  But no one else devotes an entire service to the occasion.

            Many churches are less than jammed this weekend.  Parishioners are off celebrating the last big weekend of the summer.  Many Protestant churches are more interested in gearing up for the “homecoming” service next week when the Church Year roars off into high gear after the summer doldrums and Sunday School resumes.  We used to skip services entirely because so few people showed up.

            Then I asked if I could “have” the day to do the summer service that was usually assigned to me.  I had wanted to do a labor service for years—on or around MAY DAY, the real INTERNATIOAL LABOR DAY.  That idea was shot down pretty firmly by the Worship Committee and the Church Council, who wanted “more spiritual” content and absolutely none of this “class nonsense.”  Even the usually supportive REV. DAN LARSEN, my friend and collaborator in numerous progressive causes, didn’t feel like stirring up complaints from members who might decide on next year’s pledge based on their level of offence at my red ravings.

            I pointed out that on the Labor Day weekend those who would be offended just by the topic would have plenty of excuse to stay away.  It didn’t hurt when I pointed out that those who did show up might throw a few extra bucks in the collection plate—summer being a financial dessert for the church.  And so I was allowed to hold my worship service.  Thirty or forty people showed up the last two years, enough to make unlocking the church worthwhile.

            Anyway, any readers of this blog are welcome to hear me “preach” this Sunday at 10:45 a.m. at the Congregational Unitarian Church, 221 Dean Street in Woodstock.  The topic is Where Are They?  Unitarian Universalism and the Working Class.  I will even sing JOE HILL’S  The Preacher and the Slave and Dark as a Dungeon by MERLE TRAVIS.

            You don’t have to be a Unitarian Universalist to attend.  Hell, you don’t even have to be a Christian.  If you are agnostic, you don’t have to worry that the roof will cave in on you.  If you are religious, you don’t have to be concerned that you will be struck by lighting for apostasy.

            Hope to see some of you there.

Some CRYSTAL LAKE DEMOCRATS  biked to the FIESTA DAYS PARADE in McHENRY, inspiring the Bicycle Brigade trip to ALGONQUIN for the FOUNDERS’ DAY PARADE this coming Saturday, July28.

The following was adapted from a letter to NORTHWEST HERALD editor KEVIN LYONS.

There is a BICYCLE BRIGADE planned for a mini-trip (3 miles) from CRYSTAL LAKE to the ALGONQUIN FOUNDERS DAY PARADE line-up area on Saturday, July 28.  We are joining together to make a symbolic, political statement and to have ourselves a grand pre-parade party.  At the same time, we will be promoting the PRAIRIE BIKE PATH that crosses the entire length of McHENRY COUNTY from WISCONSIN to the KANE COUNTY Border.

By using our bicycles instead of cars to get to the parade does the following things for us we reduce our carbon footprint for the day; increase our intake of fresh air and exercise with friends and neighbors; reduce our use of gasoline; promote community pride—the Prairie Trail through McHenry County is remarkable—and prevent the frustration of being stuck in traffic at the Fox River Bridge in Algonquin, which is also remarkable.

The Bicycle Brigade is sponsored by the McHENRY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.  We will join the party contingent for the at the MY KIND OF COUNTY float in position #93.).  This is a part of the NATIONAL CLEAN UP AMERICA promoted by party Chair, GOV. HOWARD DEAN for the DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL REUNION DAY 2007.

So far, we are being joined by members of the McHENRY COUNTY DEFENDERS, the OUTDOOR ADVENTURE/RECREATION CLUB (OAR) of McHENRY COUNTY COLLEGE, and the McHENRY COUNTY PEACE GROUP. Anyone is invited to bring their bike, grab a helmet and join us for the event.

In the 18 years that I have lived here, traffic problems have been one of the primary concerns of McHenry County.  The hottest spot in the county is still the corner of 62 & 31, and on parade day both highways are closed at 9:30 AM.  I don't mean to complain, as I, myself, love having the roads closed for a parade or a block party.  But there will be plenty of people who are complaining that day (cursing in their cars) because they are frustrated, wasting time and gas in a traffic jam.  We are going to sail right through all of that and arrive at the Parade in fine spirits.

We are gathering at the DIVERSE CITY PRAIRIE on the Prairie Path Bike Trail.  There is a special parking for bikers there on EASTGATE ROAD, public water fountains and restrooms.

CAROLYN QUINN
Secretary, 
Democratic Party of McHenry County
info@mchenrydems.com  
815-788-9540

GARY CHRIST'S home made landmine clearer

            GARY CHRIST is an oddball.  A kook. The marcher for whom that different drummer plays alone.  He is also something of a saint, if such a creature can be expected to roam the wilds of McHENRY COUNTY or CAMBODIA.

            I have followed his colorful career for years.  We got a nodding acquaintance over mutual admiration for our letters to the editor in the local papers.  Occasionally, between trips to Asia, he gasses up at the service station where I work and we chat about his latest project.

The aptly named Christ is the former operator of a CRYSTAL LAKE septic service who gave it all up almost twenty years ago in the quixotic quest to serve humanity.  Among his notable achievements/adventures have been:

• Invented shelters for the homeless made out of re-cycled tires.  Noting that many local homeless folks camped out or slept in cars rather than enter the PADS shelter system, Christ devised a cheap and simple hut using cast off tires and plywood that would be warm in the winter and easy to erect anywhere.  Unfortunately no municipality in the county would allow them citing building codes.
• Crusaded to legalize marijuana as a potential cash crop for farmers.  Christ deluged the newspapers with letters advocating hemp as an agricultural product for use as fiber, in medicine and as an ingredient in plastics and other materials.  Not that he might not have indulged in the product in a more familiar manner.  The McHenry County State’s Attorney once charged him with possession of cannabis.  Naturally, he defended himself.
• Applied his septic experience to sanitation problems in Cambodia.  He has installed 12 septic systems for Cambodian orphanages since 2001.
• Shipped a historic local barn to Cambodia.  When preservationists failed to find a way to save a historic dairy barn from encroaching development, Christ volunteered to raze it.  He carefully disassembled the barn, which was still in excellent condition, numbered the pieces, and raised the money to have it shipped to Cambodia where it was re-erected at one of the orphanages.  What a surprise it must be to find this artifact of the Mid-Western past re-cycled and nestled amid the palms of some remote village!
• Invented and built a machine to clear landmines.  The DAILY HERALD ran a front page story in its Fox Valley edition on Tuesday explaining this latest adventure.  Christ noticed that in War torn Cambodia many farmers and villagers are killed and maimed each year by some of the thousands of landmines sowed through the country side in over thirty years of conflict.  Attempts to clear the mines are dangerous and expensive.  So Christ set about building his own contraption using an old 1947 FARMALL tractor from his family’s farm.  MARCO SANTANA’S article describes it thusly:

“A huge hoist system in front of the tractor lifts a steel-plated box into place with an electromagnet.

“The box holds more than 40 solid steel pegs, each about 2 feet long and 2 inches square, and each hanging from its own chain in the box.

“The total weight of the box and the pegs exceeds 1,000 pounds.

“A switch in the operator's protected seating area controls the magnet. When the switch is thrown, the magnet deactivates and drops the half-ton box.

“Because each peg hangs independently, every inch of the area covered by the 4-by-2-foot box is hit with enough force to activate a mine. This is important because the mines are barely bigger than a standard can of tuna, and most are buried in uneven jungle terrain. “

Christ has successfully tested the devise in Cambodia on the small, anti-personnel mines that predominate in that country.  But a test on a larger anti-armor mine destroyed the drop box.  Undeterred, Christ is planning to build another.  He also hopes that constructing the machines can become a local industry in Cambodia.  There is certainly a ready-made world wide market of a safe and inexpensive mine clearing system.

            Gary Christ is a born again Christian.  When at home, he attends a very conservative church.  But he is totally unaffected by the political vitriol such churches usually put out.  For Christ it is about living like CHRIST.  The world could use a few more such weirdoes.

Poll #1010888
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 0

How do you like your blog?

          When I started HERETIC, REBEL, A THING TO FLOUT a year and a half ago, I imagined that I would regularly review and comment of the news of the day, then rise to the ranks of the big boys (and girls) who become blog-o-sphere super stars—ass kissed by politicos caught up in the promise of the activist base and fawned over by the established pundocrocacy that once scorned them.

            No such luck. This blog remains pretty much as I described it in a very early post—“the little lemonade stand at the far end of the cul-de-sac in February.”  We count our readership in the dutiful dozens, spiking upwards into the scores when our reporting here hits a local (McHENRY COUNTY) nerve—the GAY GAMES controversy or the current dust up among the CRYSTAL LAKE GALA, McHENRY COUNTY PEACE GROUP, and the McHENRY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

            It’s easy to see why.

            First, I set this thing up on LIVEJOURNAL, a distant third to MYSPACE and FACEBOOK as of a social networking site and only tangentially a blog host.  It flies under the radar of many blog aggregators specialized search engines.  That makes it really hard for folks who are not introduced first hand to find it.  But, hey, I am a technological idiot and have at least figured out how to use this platform.  Plus I am too lazy to haul it over to somewhere else and too cheap to pay for anything.

            Second, with two jobs and multiple volunteer responsibilities, I could never maintain the sheer pace necessary to keep up with all of the news.

            Third, by the time I was ready to write about something about a jillion other folks had already said the same thing I would, very often much better than I could..  Following the practice of some bloggers, I could just link to all the good stuff I find (and thus encouraging mutual links back here), but I wanted this site to be an original voice.  Besides, I figured that most of my readers were already looking at many of the alternative sources I do—ALTERNET, TRUTHOUT, TOM PAINE, DEMOCRATS.COM, HUFFINGTON POST, DAILY KOZ, etc.

            And fourth, as advertised, this blog is truly eclectic—and often obscure.  Any reader whose eyes have glazed over upon encountering one of my seemingly interminable posts on, say, military history or UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST minutia will know what I am talking about. One has to have both infinite patience and a specialized interest to wade through them.  Then there’s that damn poetry.  Sometimes I can almost hear the groans coming back at me through the computer.  There are a lot of announcements for McHenry County organizations for whom I am the designated flack—at least I know one place where the press releases will get published. 

            All in all, not the kind of stuff that will build a general readership.  I understand.  I really do

            But in the interest of building that wider readership without abandoning all of the quirks that make this blog adorable in the same way as the WORLD’S UGLIEST DOG, I will try an experiment today.  I am going to post three short pieces in the more traditional blog format.  Read them below.  Then, vote in the poll at the begining of this entry.  Do you like a more conventional blog format with short, newsy posts loaded with links or do you prefer the current mix aimless ramblings, over-the-top bloviation, bulletin board announcements, and god-only-knows-what-else-swept out from under the bed?

                The CONGREGATIONAL UNITARIAN CHURCH'S GREEN SANCTUARY COMMITTEE will take up the issue of the proposed Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority at its next FOURTH FRIDAY FORUM at the church, 221 Dean Street in WOODSTOCK at 7 PM, Friday, March 23.
            The proposed Water Authority would create an independent authority to monitor groundwater in BOONE, KANE, and western McHENRY COUNTY.
           Representatives of the ALLIANCE FOR LAND, AGRICULTURE & WATER (A-LAW), which proposed and has been the principal backer of the proposal, will advance the arguments for passage of the proposal.
           Maintaining the opposite position will be representatives of the TAX PAYERS ALLIANCE (TPA). 
           The program is free and open to the public.  The Green Sanctuary Committee is the environmental advocacy program of the Congregational Unitarian Church.  
          For more information call the church at 815 338-0731 e-mail office@cucw.org  or visit www.cucw.org .

Volunteering as usual, Tom Cynor (holding child) helped staff the McHenry County Dem' s table at DIVERSITY DAY.

TOM CYNOR is a Woodstock attorney and one of the McHENRY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S most energetic and dedicated volunteers.  After doing service as a volunteer lawyer for primary campaigns in Tuedsay’s  CHICAGO primary election, he shared his thoughts on the experience in an e-mail to local Democrats.  I found his reflections so insightful and even moving, that I asked Tom for permission to publish them here.

Years ago I started my political activity working as a precinct volunteer for HELEN SCHILLER, back when she was a rip-roaring radical challenger to the Regular Democratic organization and then worked for HAROLD WASHINGTON  in DICK MELL’S ward.  So I know a bit about the gritty side of City politics.  But even I never ventured into the wards that Tom visited.  Good work Tom!

On Tuesday, February 27, 2007, I was asked to be field counsel for a number of different primary campaigns in the CITY OF CHICAGO.  Without much thought, I agreed. My interest is polling and elections.  I am a veteran of poll watching in the suburbs.  I am an attorney - easy choice.

I was ultimately assigned to two contentious aldermanic races in the 7th and 37th WARD of the City.  The undertones of the 37th the living wage ordinance ("big box mart"), union muscle pitted against big business, money, jobs and influence.  The 7th lined up two Chicago family dynasties in a stand off, the BEAVERS and the JACKSONS (coincidently - JESSE JR. and SANDI being classmates of mine in law school).

            Starting my day at 3:30 a.m. and upon returning home about 11:00 p.m., I received a call from my niece interested to hear about the day's events.  I could not at that time, and still cannot fully, put into words my experience.  I felt obligated to share many of my thoughts and feelings with her, but I somehow realize that I could in no way adequately explain them fully - so many stark differences, so many surprising similarities. For me, a familiar "process" in an unfamiliar land, contrast and familiarity bleeding together and blurring my reality. 

I live in WOODSTOCK, McHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS.  My family lives in McHenry County.  I care about McHenry County.  Today I feel very differently about the politics and the issues facing McHenry County - enough said there.       

I was in too many polling places to remember each, maybe 40, 45 - churches, high schools, elementary schools, old dance halls, community centers, libraries, funeral homes, some otherwise broken down unidentifiable buildings - all easily summed up in a word, impoverished.   I performed my duty.  I spoke with hundreds of people - sometimes they would argue, sometimes they would scream, sometimes they would threaten, mostly however - nice, conversant, laboring to make the "process" work.      They fight very hard at obtaining (or retaining) such a tiny, tiny piece of the pie - crumbs really.  

On Tuesday, I was the attorney, the authority, the "man", the muscle - ultimately I think, the interloper, the outsider. It was not lost on these folks that I had been sent from upon high (Downtown) to watch them (something oddly paternal and extremely uncomfortable). They won't see me (or guys like me) until the next election. I say it's likely nobody from Woodstock ever did before, or will ever again visit the HERITAGE CHRISTIAN CHURCH on West North Avenue, in the 16th Precinct of the 37th Ward of Chicago, Illinois.

On Tuesday, for some I was the object of contempt, for some I was the object of jealousy - at times my presence feared, and at times detested.  But of the vast majority of the people of the 7th and 37th Wards of Chicago, I was welcomed. They all knew why I was there, they all know what's at stake - and yet I am welcomed.  And that, frankly, makes me feel like shit.   

To the interloper, the outsider, the stranger could we be as welcoming here in my home county?  After all, I have seen our polling places - I've seen them all - spacious and accommodating.  Well, maybe not? 

--TJC