Rotary Ribfest makes its mouthwatering return

Get ready for Rockin’ Rotary Ribfest!

Play ball! MCYSA Summer Championship is almost here!

Once again, the McHenry County Youth Sports Association is bringing two weeks of free baseball games to town!

More than 60 teams from across the USA and around the world will descend upon McHenry County’s baseball fields for two tournaments. The first tournament takes place July 11-14, and the second July 17-20.

For more than three decades, the annual tournament has provides youth teams an opportunity to play world-class baseball on fields across McHenry County, and for spectators to experience it, for free – there’s no cost to watch the games or attend the events.

Be sure to visit the MCYSA website and like them on Facebook for the latest news, including game locations and schedules, which will be posted soon.

Operation Dropbox donations shatter record

The sixth annual Operation Dropbox for Veterans donation drive was our most successful yet, thanks to the generosity of the people of McHenry and Lake counties!

In McHenry County, 92 organizations participated and collected 6,920 pounds of donated goods. In Lake County, 40 organizations took part and collected 4,507 pounds. That’s a total of 132 organizations gathering 11,427 pounds – that’s 5.7 tons – of goods to benefit local veterans.

All donations directly support McHenry County-based Veterans Path to Hope and its Lake County satellite site, Lake County Veterans and Family Services Foundation. Together, these organizations provide housing assistance, job support, counseling, peer groups, and other essential services for veterans and their loved ones.

This was the first Operation Dropbox in which McHenry and Lake counties joined forces, and as the old movie quote goes, this looks like the start of a beautiful friendship.

Besides the generous donors, many thanks to the McHenry County Department of Health, the McHenry County Medical Reserve Corps, the Lake County Medical Reserve Corps, the McHenry County Division of Transportation, the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center, and the Veterans Assistance Commission of McHenry County for all their hard work.

ComEd opens up $10M fund to help struggling customers

ComEd has opened a $10 million Customer Relief Fund to provide financial support to help eligible customers manage the burden of rising summer energy costs.

The fund will provide one-time grants of $500 for qualifying low- to moderate-income customers, and $1,000 for nonprofit organizations in northern Illinois.

Customers can apply for assistance beginning July 7 at ComEd.com/Relief. For more tips and resources to help control your energy use and manage your monthly bill, visit comed.com/BillSupport.

Don’t mess with spongy moth traps

If you see a green cardboard box hanging from a tree in McHenry County, please leave it be.

Like last year, the county is partnering with citizen scientists who have volunteered to hang up spongy moth traps. These traps, donated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, help us track the spread of this invasive, tree-damaging pest.

Spongy moth caterpillars feed on more than 250 species of trees and other plants, but are well-known for devouring oak tree leaves. To learn more about spongy moths and what is being done to stop them, and how you can help, click here.

DamYak Challenge offers fun on the Fox River

Join kayaking enthusiasts on the Fox River in McHenry for a morning of fun!

The 4.8-mile kayak event takes place from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 19, starting at Miller Point Park and offering a wonderful view of the McHenry Riverwalk, the downtown business district, and the river.

Click here to visit the DamYak Challenge website to register and to download course and parking information. A limited number of kayaks are available for rental.

Proceeds this year will go to The Break – Crystal Lake Teen Center, a facility that provides young adults with a safe space to connect, have fun, and find acceptance among their peers and adults in the community.

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McH Thrive 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.