Important updates as we head into the Christmas this week.
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ResumeMcHenry County Update!
Through our collaboration with McHenry County, we will continue to share important information on stimulus programs, COVID-19 updates, and where the county is opening up through ResumeMcHenry County Updates.
Please take a moment to scroll down to see new advancements this week as more and more are opening up in McHenry County. If MCEDC can be of any help, please call. Forward this email to your friends and family to help get the word out!
Small businesses are there for you last-minute shoppers
Calling all Christmas shopping procrastinators! You know who you are.
If you haven’t finished your holiday shopping, no worries! McHenry County is home to many quaint down towns filled with unique shops stocked with items for everyone on your list – even that special someone who is almost impossible to shop for.
We’ll make it easy – our friends at Visit McHenry County have compiled a list of local businesses with a multitude of items to put under the tree. You can find it at www.visitmchenrycounty.com/Shop. Good luck – you have three shopping days left!
Thank you to Heather Rose Greco for the awesome picture on Woodstock Square!
Drone video highlights new Randal Road walking path
McHenry County widened and improved Randall Road through Lake in the Hills and Algonquin to improve traffic flow and safety. But its coolest hidden gem can be found underneath it.
The three-year project included a pedestrian walkway and tunnel connecting Stonegate and Sherman roads to safely link both sides of Algonquin for pedestrians and cyclists, while protecting a sensitive wetland area with a beautiful boardwalk.
Click on the video above from consulting engineers Baxter & Woodman that follows a cyclist down the picturesque path from start to finish – on the ground and with awesome birds-eye drone shots. You also can visit www.randallroad.info to learn more about the Randall Road project.
The need for charity is year-round
McHenry County residents have opened their hearts and their wallets to help the less fortunate, as they do every holiday season.
In fact, December, which is National Giving Month, accounts for almost one-third of Americans’ charitable donations. A record $2.7 billion was collected on Giving Tuesday.
But times are tough; the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with inflation and rising costs, are putting real hurt on the less fortunate. If you can, please consider charitable giving into the new year.
If you do, make sure you donate smartly to a trusted charity or nonprofit – you can find a list of important tips by clicking here. Also, McHenry County’s food pantries continue to face high demand as prices create not only increase food insecurity, but also decreased donations. If you’re able to donate food or money, please do so – you can click here for a list of county food pantries needing our help.
Protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19 this season
Don’t bring an unwanted guest to your holiday gatherings.
No, we’re not talking about The Grinch, even though it’s just as capable of stealing Christmas. We’re talking about COVID-19, which like the Grinch, is as cuddly as a cactus, and as charming as an eel.
Right now, community transmission of COVID-19 in McHenry County is high. You can protect those around you by getting vaccinated or getting the booster shot. Visit www.vaccines.gov to schedule an appointment at the time and location that is most convenient for you!
Also, you can click here to find a map of COVID-19 testing sites across the United States, if your holiday plans include travel.
Ring in 2022 with the best Beatles tribute band around
With the lifting of COVID-19 capacity restrictions earlier this year, ResumeMcHenry County is featuring the return of its iconic and traditional attractions, and the founding of new ones.
The Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake is saying goodbye to 2021 and ringing in 2022 with the greatest Beatles tribute band of our time.
American English will be taking the stage at the Raue from 8 to 10 p.m. New Year’s Eve with their tribute to the Hard Day’s Night and Let it Be albums!
To purchase tickets (the concert is recommended for ages 12 and up), visit www.rauecenter.org or call the box office at 815-356-9212. The Raue Center requires masks for all patrons ages 2 and older, and either proof of COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the show.
Secretary of State approves final license renewal extension
People who have procrastinated in getting their expired driver’s licenses renewed have gotten one last reprieve.
Secretary of State Jesse White has extended the grace period to renew your expired license or state ID from Jan. 1 to the end of March. However, this extension is the final one.
Woodstock’s DMV office is accepting renewals by online appointment only; the good news is that they run a very well-oiled machine there. Visit the Secretary of State’s website at www.ilsos.gov to learn more, and to make an appointment at the Woodstock facility or others throughout the Chicago area.
We hope we got your attention. We need your help reaching more McHenry County residents and businesses to share this important information about the COVID-19 response and connect them with vital resources.
Please take these four steps:
1. Share/forward to your email/newsletter contacts.
2. Post information to your website.
3. Follow us on social media (see below); share our posts with your followers.
4. If you are not on the McHenry County Constant Contact list, please subscribe here
Follow McHenry County Government On Social Media
Staying connected and informed is more important now than ever! Follow McHenry County on social media for regular updates on COVID-19 in our region, resources to help you navigate the pandemic, safety tips and more!
ResumeMcHenry County is a collaborative initiative being implemented by McHenry County and the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) in partnership with the McHenry County community, including cities and villages, businesses and residents. The goal is to ensure a successful reopening of our economy so that we can return to our lifestyles safely and responsibly.
