Disability employer workshop on September 28…. as well as fun events in our county!

Deadline looming to take the 2050 Comprehensive Plan survey

Time is running out to make your voice heard about McHenry County’s future!

The deadline is Sept. 30 for people to take the survey on the 2050 Comprehensive Plan that will help McHenry County set policies to direct growth and development for the next 30 years. Click here to visit the plan website and take the survey, and watch the quick video above to see why this matters.

The plan addresses nine key areas of land use, housing, economic development, agricultural resources, transportation and mobility, community facilities and infrastructure, natural resources and active recreation, green infrastructure and water resources, and historic resources. Take the survey today and weigh in!

Disability employer workshop coming Sept. 28

The McHenry County Workforce Network is teaming up with McHenry County College and the State of Illinois to host an event to educate employers on the benefits of hiring workers with disabilities.

The one-hour virtual Zoom workshop will start at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, and will cover items such as state and local incentives, available resources, and how workers with different abilities can help address ongoing labor shortages.

Employers can click here to register.

On Oct. 5, the Workforce Network and other agencies will host a Disability Job Fair to connect people with disabilities to meet employers ready to hire. We’ll remind you about it in next week’s edition.

Huntley, Crystal Lake, Algonquin/LITH chambers holding a mixer

We love it when chambers of commerce come together!

From 5 to 7 p.m. tonight, the Huntley Area Chamber of Commerce, the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce, and the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce will be holding an Oktoberfest-themed mixer at Exemplar Financial Network, 413 E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake.

Come and meet other local businesses, be introduced to new ones, and bring your business cards to network.

Road projects continue at pace

A number of improvements to McHenry County thoroughfares funded through the Rebuild Illinois capital plan will wrap up this fall, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Projects that have been completed or will be completed soon include replacing the Route 47 bridge over the Kishwaukee River south of Woodstock, and resurfacing Route 14 through Crystal Lake, Route 14 from Hartland Road to Route 47, and Route 173 from Alden east to the Lake County line.

Ongoing work to improve the intersection of Route 176 and Nish Road in Island Lake, and the widening of Route 176 between Woodstock and Marengo, will continue into next year.

A bloggers’ guide to the McHenry County Craft Beverage Trail

If you’re wondering where to go and what to order on the McHenry County Craft Beverage Trail, an enterprising husband/wife cocktail blogger team can help you.

Jay and Leah of the Gastronom Blog completed the entire trail, hitting all 11 participating local craft breweries and distilleries. They give a nice rundown of each, complete with their recommended beverage – you can read their post here.

Visit mchcraftbev.com for a list of breweries and instructions on how to participate by downloading the Naturally McHenry County smart phone app (the link is included in the website, but you download it now by clicking here).

Farm Stroll set for Sunday

Who wouldn’t love a nice autumn day in the McHenry County countryside?

The McHenry County Farm Bureau will host the annual Farm Stroll, a free self-guided tour of its family farms, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Sunday, Sept. 25. A total of 11 farms are participating – you can find the list by clicking here!

Because this is a family-friendly, self-guided tour, there is no beginning or end of the route – just choose the farms that interest you and visit them. While the event is free, bring cash to take advantage of the farmers who will be selling produce and other goods.