Woodstock does it again! This time featured on PBS Midwest travel show

Through our collaboration with McHenry County, we will continue to share important information on services, programs to help our citizens, and events in our county through Resume McHenry County updates.

Please take a moment to scroll down to see new advancements this week as we move forward 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!

PBS Midwest travel show features Woodstock

Woodstock can’t stop getting the VIP treatment from Chicago media!

On Feb. 23, the city was featured in a new episode of “John McGivern’s Main Streets,” a PBS show which highlights towns and neighborhoods throughout the upper Midwest. You can watch the entire episode by clicking on the video.

Besides the historic Square and the tributes to Groundhog Day, the show featured local businesses such as BOSS Straw, the Cherry Tree Inn, Isabel’s Family Restaurant, Dented Gate Flower Farm, Read Between the Lynes, Wayne’s Lanes and Ethereal Confections.

Just a few weeks prior, Woodstock was featured in WGN Radio’s monthly “Your Hometown” segment; you can find links to all the vignettes by clicking here.

Illinois enacts paid leave law

On Monday, Governor Pritzker signed a bill into law that mandates that businesses provide paid leave for all Illinois workers.

The Paid Leave for All Workers Act, which takes effect next year, allows workers to accrue one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked, up to 40 hours total, although employers can offer more. Employees can start using the time once they have worked for 90 days. The time off can be used for any reason, not just sick leave.

The new law applies to every employee working for an employer in Illinois, including domestic workers, but excludes independent contractors. The law also exempts employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement in the construction and parcel delivery industries.

You can read the text of the law by clicking here.

Jessup Manufacturing reached Sweet 16 in Makers Madness

Congratulations to Jessup Manufacturing, in McHenry, for making it to the final 16 competitors in the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association annual Makers Madness competition!

Modeled off of the NCAA March Madness basketball finals, the annual vote-based award highlights, in the IMA’s words, the coolest thing manufactured in Illinois. Jessup was nominated for its anti-slip tapes, which are made of 100% post-industrial rubber recycled from footwear manufacturing.

Nearly 250 products made by Illinois manufacturers were nominated for this year’s competition, and Jessup made the second round to 16. Even though Jessup didn’t make it to the final eight, you can visit makersmadnessil.com to vote through Sunday night to see which manufactures advance to the final four.

Thank you to the IMA for this fun little contest to highlight Illinois manufacturing, which between $580 billion and $611 billion a year in economic impact makes up the largest share of any industry to the state’s GDP.

Talk and Tour series returns for second year

The Talk and Tour presentation series, co-hosted by the McHenry County Planning and Development Department and the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, is returning for a second year.

The first presentation of 2023, “Dim the Lights for Birds, Insects and Stars at Night,” will be held as a Zoom webinar from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Friday. Click here to sign up and receive the Zoom link.

Talk and Tour events give the public an up-close look at ways that communities, businesses and households can sustainably manage resources and save money doing so. Each event is held on a Friday afternoon to make attendance convenient for the general public and the staffs of local governments.

The schedule for this year’s Talk and Tour events is still being finalized – click here to watch for upcoming sessions, and to watch videos of past Talk and Tours.

Educator of the Year nominations being sought

The Regional Office of Education is seeking nominees for its Educator of the Year Awards!

You can nominate an outstanding McHenry County teacher or school employee who has made a difference in your life or your children’s lives by clicking here and filling out the form to submit before the April 1 deadline.

The annual awards, granted in partnership with the Community Foundation for McHenry County, recognize McHenry County’s top teachers, administrators and support staff.

Nominees and winners will be honored at the Educator of the Year Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6 at Hickory Hall, 406 W. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake. Tickets to the annual banquet can be purchased by clicking here.

VFW McHenry Auxiliary hosting annual Craft Faire

The McHenry Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 4600 is hosting its annual Spring Fling Craft and Country Faire from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at VFW Post 4600, 3002 W. Route 120.

The event will feature crafters, vendors and a purse raffle with surprise gifts inside.

All proceeds benefit veterans and veterans programs. The event is booked with vendors, so come and purchase local wares to help our men and women who served.

For more information, contact Alena Kim at 253-355-0613 or aux4600pres@gmail.com.