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Advance McHenry County townhall meetings scheduled

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Resume McHenry 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 Resume McHenry 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!

 

Lights, Camera, Sheriff!

The second episode of county government’s new McHenry County All Access web series highlights the dedicated men and women of the Sheriff’s Office. Click on the video above to watch!
McHenry County All Access showcases the ways that county government’s various departments and divisions benefit the community. The first episode, a behind-the-scenes look at the Division of Transportation and the year-round work that goes into maintaining and improving county highways, can be found here.
More installments are coming, so stay tuned! In fact, county government’s YouTube channel is steadily growing with new video content highlighting achievements like the new Advance McHenry County program, the county‘s groundbreaking MCRide paratransit service, updates from the County Board, and more.
You can learn more about the Sheriff’s Office by visiting their website at www.mchenrysheriff.org. Also, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up on the latest sheriff’s news, and for helpful tips to stay safe.

CDC OKs vaccine for kids, court stays employer mandate

Two major developments unfolded last week regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC granted emergency-use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine to be given to children ages 5 to 11, and vaccine locations nationwide are now offering it.
Also, a federal court on Saturday temporarily blocked President Biden’s mandate requiring employers with 100 or more workers to ensure they be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4 or submit to weekly testing. The guidelines include fines of $13,653 per violation, and increasing steeply for repeat offenders.
The court’s block came days after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration released their guidelines and the Jan. 4 deadline. We will keep you updated of developments.
You can find a list of places that offer the COVID-19 vaccine at www.vaccines.gov. Also, the McHenry County Department of Health is offering the Pfizer vaccine to children at its Crystal Lake and Woodstock locations; appointments can be made by visiting https://bit.ly/MCDHCOVIDVaxLoc.
People designated as high-risk for getting COVID (seniors 65 and older, adults living in long-term care facilities, adults working or living in high-risk settings, and adults who have underlying medical conditions), are encouraged to get the booster shot. The CDC has authorized the booster for the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Advance McHenry County townhall meetings schedule

McHenry County government is holding townhall meetings today and next Monday to explain the Advance McHenry County program to qualified agencies and explain the application process.
Advance McHenry County, created by the McHenry County Board, is designed to put $59.7 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to work in the community. Of the nearly $30 million set to be distributed in the first phase, $14 million will be allocated to environment and infrastructure projects, $8 million will be allocated to workforce development and jobs programs, and $3 million each will be set aside for nonprofits and local governments that did not receive ARPA funding.
·    Meetings for local governments and nonprofits are set for 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. this afternoon at the McHenry County Mental Health Board, 620 Dakota St., Crystal Lake. If you can’t make it, no worries – the county will be videotaping the presentation and posting it online.
·    Meetings for infrastructure and workforce applicants will take place at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, at the McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. This presentation, too, will be videotaped and posted.
You can register for the town halls by clicking here. Attendance at one of the meetings is not a mandatory prerequisite to apply for funding.
Groups can apply for funding on the Advance McHenry County webpage at www.mchenrycountyil.gov/advance. You can visit the website for more information, or click here to watch a brief video by County Board Chairman Mike Buehler explaining the program.

 

Woodstock, Crystal Lake Farmers markets among nation’s best!

The American Farmland Trust recently ranked two Illinois farmers’ markets as among the top five in the Midwest.
Both of them can be found right here in McHenry County!
Congratulations to the Woodstock Farmers Market, and the Farmers Market+ at The Dole in Crystal Lake, for the very well-deserved honor! If you live or work in McHenry County, and you’ve never spent a morning on historic Woodstock Square or the historic Dole Mansion perusing the fresh produce and homemade crafts and wares, you’re missing out.
Don’t think that the markets have settled down into hibernation with the return of cold weather. Both farmers’ markets are open through the winter; the Dole moves inside the mansion, and Woodstock’s moves to the McHenry County Fairgrounds. Visit their websites (which we linked to above) for dates and times.
You can read more about their recognition by clicking here – and make sure to get the latest on their dates and offerings by liking the Woodstock and Dole markets on Facebook!

 

The Merry McHenry County getaway

There’s always plenty to do in McHenry County, but there’s something special about the holidays.
For people who want to get away from it all but are too busy to come up with an itinerary – or are so overwhelmed by all we have to offer that they don’t know where to start – have no fear! Our friends at Visit McHenry County took care of the planning for you!
Click here to go to the Merry McHenry County Holiday getaway, a fun-filled weekend itinerary full of great food, shopping and entertainment. And no, Visit McHenry County‘s awesome to-do list isn’t just for people coming in from out of town – it works just as well if you’re a resident looking for a weekend staycation as well!
If you’re looking for other things to do throughout the holiday season, Visit McHenry County has it all, so visit their website at www.visitmchenrycounty.com. Better yet, download their app to get the best ideas straight from your smartphone; you can download it for Google here, and for Apple here.

 

Lighting of the Square, Christmas parade return to Woodstock

With the lifting of COVID-19 capacity restrictions earlier this year, Resume McHenry County is featuring the return of its iconic and traditional attractions, and the founding of new ones.
There’s nothing black about Black Friday on the historic Woodstock Square!
With the flip of a switch, the beautiful and historic Square will blaze with tens of thousands of lights – strung throughout the Park on the Square and the neighboring buildings – to usher in the official start of the holiday season.
While the official lighting ceremony starts at 7 p.m., the Square comes alive from 4 to 8 p.m. with carolers, children’s activities, open stores and eateries, and the opening of the annual Christmas Tree Walk inside the beautiful and historic Woodstock Opera House.
More importantly for the kids, Santa himself will make a grand entrance before the lighting ceremony to greet children, and pose for pictures at his specially built Christmas hut. Don’t worry if you miss him – Santa and Mrs. Claus will be back in Woodstock the following Sunday, Nov. 28 to escort the Christmas Parade around the Square. When the 2 p.m. parade is done, kids can have cookies and milk with Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas.
Last year’s Lighting was virtual because of the pandemic – it’ll be very nice to see the lights in person this year!

 
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!

 

What is Resume McHenry County?

Resume McHenry 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.Advance McHenry County townhall meetings scheduled