Other Events

Eco-friendly Beer & Local Food Fest

On a nice Saturday in February , 2011. the Defenders spent an afternoon sampling eco-friendly beers paired with a large food buffet at Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen in Crystal Lake.

Proceeds from ticket sales and raffles support the Defenders' annual environmental scholarship and educational offerings.

Algonquin's Conservation Community Day, 2010

The Defenders took part in the Algonquin Community Conservation Day on June 18, 2010. The theme of the day was "From the Watershed to Your Tap". Two Defenders manned the educational display and helped area residents identify their watershed, educated them about what a watershed is, and discussed with them ways they could safeguard the quality of water in their watershed. Here a participant is signing a pledge to protect the Fox River watershed where she lives by doing such things as not using pesticides, protecting stream banks with buffer zones, and reducing use of salt in the winter.

Green Voice Community Meetings 2010

In 2010, the Defenders held a series of meetings across the county, talking with members and other interested people, about what their environmental concerns are and what the Defenders should be focusing on. Below are some of the issues brought up during the meetings:

Major environmental issues:

Water

Ground Water: Depletion, loss of recharge areas and contamination, pollution sources due to development.

Drinking Water/Tap Water Contamination from Village water main construction, equipment failures, replacement of pipes, infrastructure projects

Lack of Trust

Lack of trust and/or response from government

Desire for government to use sustainable practices and good planning

Wildlife Habitat Displacement and Destruction

Losing Biodiversity due to the development of remaining natural areas

Loss of remaining oaks

Invasive Species in natural and open areas

Future for Children and lack of Environmental Education

Need more communication with schools

Children losing a connection to nature

Lack of knowledge around service opportunities

Air Quality

Air pollution from roadways and congestion

Transportation

Lack of alternative transportation

Overdevelopment – widening lanes increases traffic

Lack of Preservation and loss of Farmland

Losing productive farmland to development

Waste Management and Disposal

No money/funding from recycling/disposal

Nowhere for the waste to go

Electronics disposal/recycling needed

Suggestions were made about how the Defenders could assist with these issues:

Water

Provide water testing for households

Provide information about county water policies on the Defenders’ website

Push for municipalities etc. to evaluate/adopt the county’s water task force plan

Email out announcements about water issues, policies, etc.

Government

Provide Education and Communication around sound planning practices, best

management practices, and transportation

Need to develop cooperation and consistency between all government agencies

Get municipalities and county working together on issues

Improve relationships so there is a willingness to address problems

Construction/Development

Make construction/development environmentally responsible, with a small footprint, green infrastructure

Use existing buildings and infrastructure first, fill empty buildings left by businesses

Increase green businesses

Create consequences for businesses that build large buildings and then leave, they need to be held responsible for remediation

Reduce the number of “McMansion” neighborhoods

- build houses so people/workforce can afford to live here

Transportation

More and improved mass transportation options

- need consistent representation at municipalities, planning and development, planning and zoning

- work on bike lanes, sidewalks, improved bus and train systems

Encourage businesses to allow “work from home” situations

Develop multimodal, context sensitive solutions

Children/Schools

Expand schools’ knowledge of service opportunities for site restoration

Also inform peer juries, boy scouts, girl scouts, church groups, others

Use school detentions to fulfill needs and keep kids from “just sitting there”

Create more collaborations with colleges and community groups

Other

Build better relationships with businesses to facilitate development/transportation goals

Find ways to fund what we want to do/are doing (i.e. recycling, green infrastructure)

The top issues for the Defenders to focus on are:

WATER

DEVELOPMENT

TRANSPORTATION

RELATIONS WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Wingate Prairie Restoration Day - an Inaugural Work Day Event!

On January 7, 2009, President-elect Obama called for all Americans to participate in a National Day of Service on the three days before the presidential inauguration. The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County answered President-elect Obama's call to service.

Initiated by Congress in 1994, King Day of Service transforms the federal holiday honoring Dr. King into a national day of community service, making the holiday a day ON, not a day OFF.

From the Presidential Inaugural Committee: "Renewing America’s promise begins with each one of us making a commitment to bring change to our local communities. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the day before Inauguration, President-elect Barack Obama is calling upon all Americans to participate in a national day of service, following in the legacy of one of America’s great social justice leaders."

On January 17th, 2009, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and Sierra Club-Illinois Water Sentinels helped out the regular crew who manages Wingate Prairie, an Illinois Nature Preserve. Volunteers cut and hauled out non-native buckthorn and honeysuckle which are invading the prairie and woodlands at this Crystal Lake Park District site.

Diversity Day, 2008

Once again, the Defenders hosted a table at the Diversity Day Festival on Sunday, October 5, 2008 on the Square in Woodstock. In this election year, the annual Diversity Day Festival selected “Democracy is Our Hope” for its theme.

“The festival highlighted the democratic process in several ways while remaining non-partisan,” according to Executive Director and program host Patrick Murfin. “We invited local candidates and office holders from all parties to attend and speak briefly.” Among those who spoke were State Senator Pam Althoff, Democratic State’s Attorney candidate Thomas Cynor, Green Party candidate for Congress from the 16^th District, Scott Sommers, and Democratic candidate for County Auditor Kerry Jullian.

Parties and candidates were also among the many information tables that were on display during the festival. Information from a wide array of local social service agencies, government agencies, community organization, religious groups, and issue advocacy organizations was available.

Voter registrars were also be on hand “Registration for the November election closes on October 7, so this could be a last chance for many people.”

As usual the festival featured a wide variety of entertainment including performances by the Congregational Unitarian Church Choir, salsa and contemporary Latin dance by members of Latinos Unidos from McHenry County College, rock band AM2, children’s music by Tim Irish, a folk performance by Keith Johnson and Judy Matzen, and folk dancing by Corazon Bolivano.

Tim Irish performed in a new children’s area which also featured face painting and Emma the Therapy Dog, who loves to be petted. A highlight of the festival was the awarding of the annual Peace and Justice Award. Last year’s winners Alice and Bill Hownstine presented the award to Sue Rose, Community Services Director of the McHenry County Housing Authority.

Now in its 12^th year, Diversity Day 2008 was organized by the Congregational Unitarian Church in Woodstock with sponsorship support by the Land Conservancy of McHenry County.

Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, 110 South Johnson Street, Suite 106, Woodstock, Illinois 60098

815-338-0393 mcdef@owc.net