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!
Put McHenry County Made under the tree this year!
There are plenty of awesome, artisan products made right here in McHenry County to satisfy the pickiest person on your holiday shopping list!
Just in time for the holidays, our friends at Visit McHenry County have put together a list of items made by local businesses that have earned the title of “McHenry County Made.” It features great local establishments offering great food and great drink, as well as sweets, natural soaps, coffee and other holiday fare – click here to visit it!
To learn more about the McHenry County Made label and why it matters, not just during the holidays but year-round, click here. You also can watch a 30-second video that showcases McHenry County Made and the quality and craftmanship that our local businesses put into their products.
McHenry County social programs in the news!
Two McHenry County programs aimed at improving residents’ lives have made the evening news in recent weeks!
CBS2 Chicago did a great story on the new Police Social Work program, in which the Sheriff’s Office will partner with local governments to support police officers with full-time social workers to help with law enforcement responses to mental health-related calls for service. Click on the video above to watch it, and click here to learn more about the new initiative.
Not to be outdone, NBC 5 Chicago looked into why so many local units of government have been slow to distribute federal COVID-19 relief dollars allocated for rental and utility assistance. They highlighted the McHenry County Emergency Utility and Rental Assistance Program as an example of doing it right, and interviewed the county Community Development Director. Click here to watch it, and visit www.McHenryRent.com to learn about the program and register for aid if you qualify.
Enforcement of the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for larger private businesses is on hold.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has suspended enforcement in the wake of a federal appeals court upholding a stay placed on it. President Biden announced a new rule in September that would require all private employers with 100 or more employees to mandate vaccines or weekly testing for all personnel, a guideline that has the potential to impact nearly 80 million workers. The lawsuit was filed earlier this month after a deadline of Jan. 4 was announced.
In other vaccine news, the CDC last Friday officially expanded eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots to all adults, not just those at high risk or who work or live in high-risk settings.
You can schedule your COVID-19 vaccine, your booster, or vaccines for children 5 and older, by visiting www.vaccines.gov.
Starting Dec. 27, claimants who defaulted to a debit card option as their preferred method of payment will begin receiving paper checks. Claimants who receive their benefits by direct deposit will not be affected.
Debit cards will continue to work after Dec. 27 until the money on them is spent or the card expires.
Unemployment recipients who are not already signed up for direct deposit are urged to do so to ensure they receive quick access to their benefit payments. They can do so with IDES by creating an ILogin account, which can be done by clicking here.
Cut your own Christmas tree
There’s nothing in the world like the smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree.
There’s also nothing in the world like cutting down you own with the family, or taking a wagon ride through rows of fragrant pines and balsams to get there, or warming up with a hot chocolate afterwards … well, you get the idea.
McHenry County is blessed to be home to a number of cut-your-own, family-owned Christmas tree farms, where you can pick the perfect tree to make your holiday a memorable one.
You can find a list of farms through Visit McHenry County here, or search Facebook and Google to find other small ones promising great memories. Many were closed last year due to COVID-19, and are back up and running – with trees that had an extra year to grow!
Festival of Lights Parade returns Friday to Crystal Lake
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.
With the nights getting longer through Christmas – to say nothing of getting colder and windier – a Festival of Lights Parade sure sounds like a good idea.
Crystal Lake’s annual parade kicks off at 7 p.m. this Friday, when Santa throws his magic dust to light the majestic 40-foot-high city Christmas tree. As always, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be honored participants in the parade, which will weave its way through downtown. Click here for a map of the route.
One small change this year, though – for safety reasons, participants won’t be throwing candy. Not to worry, though – downtown will be full of open stores selling treats.
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.
