A local Goddard School student poses with his postcard on Thursday in Lake in the Hills. Photo submitted.

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LAKE IN THE HILLS – Students at the Goddard School in Lake in the Hills on Thursday spent the late morning decorating post cards to be sent to U.S. troops overseas.

The dual art-service project was part of the school's week-long celebration to focus play-based learning and friendship, a news release from the school said.

"The ... learning activities will also focus on teaching children about playing well with others and accepting each other's differences," the news release said.

“Bullying happens every day—even right here in our own community. According to Stompoutbullying.org, one out of every four children is bullied," said Michele Clark, owner of The Goddard School located in Lake in the Hills. She spoke in the news release.

"Prevention must begin early, in both our teachings and practices. We look forward to our week-long events, so that we can play a part in Lake in the Hills’s efforts to combat bullying and to promote acceptance, understanding and friendship,” Clark said.
 
The program underway in Lake in the Hills is part of a larger effort amongst Goddard Schools across the United States.

"The Goddard Community Games event will give families across the nation an opportunity to join with their children in a day of discovery and enrichment. Programs such as Sign Language, Yoga and Nutrition and "Rock 'n' Tot" pre-dance and creative movement, selected from The Goddard School enrichment curriculum, will bring the playful learning concept to life for both parents and children," the news release said.

To learn more about bully prevention in preschool and beyond or The Goddard School, visit www.goddardschool.com/games

LAKE IN THE HILLS – Residents of the Lake in the Hills Sanitary District can now view and pay sewer bills online.

With the January bills, Sanitary District customers will find information on how to register to receive bills online rather than via the mail, a news release from Ross Nelson, district manager said.

Customers who participate in online billing will receive an email when their bills are ready for viewing.

For more information, call 847-658-5122.

The following is also available on the Village of Lake in the Hills website (http://lith.org/Agendas.html).

It is a copy of the Notice for a Planning & Zoning Commission meeting Monday, Dec. 12.

Notice of Public Hearing

Notice is hereby given that the Lake in the Hills Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on the petition of Lawrence Krueger Declaration of Trust, Dated March 20, 2006, owner, and Rich Guerard of Guerard, Kalina & Butkus, applicant, on Monday, December 12, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lake in the Hills Village Hall, 600 Harvest Gate, Lake in the Hills, Illinois 60156. The petitioner is requesting a Zoning Map Amendment, upon annexation, from the RE-5 Residential.Estate District to the M-l Limited Manufacturing District for the property described below. The petitioner is also requesting a conditional use for a Planned Development to include a recycling plant (asphalt shingles) and the outside storage of vehicles for the subject property. Exceptions to the following sections of the Lake in the Hills Zoning Ordinance are included as part of the Planned Development application: Section 18, "Off-Street Parking and Loading", regarding parking surface materials, loading requirements, and parking count requirements, and to Section 26, "Landscape Standards", to reduce the perimeter landscaping requirements, screening requirements, parking lot landscaping, and tree preservation requirements. The applicant is also requesting a special use for the proposed recycling facility and variances to allow the uncovered storage of recycled materials per Chapter 26 "Airport Hazard Zoning Regulations", Sub-sections 26.09 and 26.10, of the Lake in the Hills Municipal Code for the property described below. The proposed use is an asphalt shingle recycling plant. The 18.7 acre site is currently zoned A-I Agriculture in unincorporated McHenry County and is located along the west side of Rt. 31, approximately 2,000 feet north of Trinity Drive, and legally described as follows:

Parcel 1: That part of the East half of the Southwest Quarter of Section 15,
Township 43 North, Range 8 East of the Third Principal Meridian, described as
follows: Beginning at a point in the east line of said Southwest Quarter that is
1016.5 feet northerly of the Southeast comer of said Southwest Quarter; thence
northerly along the East line. of said Southwest Quarter, a distance of 670.0 feet;
thence Westerly along a line that forms an angle of 89 degrees to the left with the
prolongation of the last described course, a distance of 1300.49 feet; thence
Southerly parallel with the East line of said Southwest Quarter, a distance of
670.0 feet; thence Easterly a distance of 1300.49 feet to the place of beginning,
(excepting therefrom that part thereof described as follows: Commencing at the
Southwest comer of the East half of the Southwest Quarter of said Section 15;
and running thence easterly along the South line of said Southwest Quarter, for a
distance of 1320 feet, more or less, to the East line of said Southwest Quarter;
thence North along said East line of the Southwest Quarter, for a distance of 1069
feet to a point for a place of beginning) thence continuing northerly on the last
described course, for a distance of 60 feet to a point; thence westerly along a line
which forms an angle of 92 degrees, 30 minutes to the left, with a prolongation of
the last described line, for a distance of 180 feet to a point; thence southerly
parallel with the said East Line of said Southwest Quarter, for a distance of 60;
feet to a point; thence easterly, 180 feet to the place of beginning, 'also excepting
therefrom any part of the land thereof falling within Illinois Route 31), in
McHenry County, Illinois; also

Parcel 2: That part of the East half of the southwest Quarter of Section 15.
Township 43 North, Range 8 East of the Third Principal Meridian, described as
follows: Commencing at the Southwest comer of the East half of the Southwest
Quarter of said Section 15; and running thence easterly along the South line of
said Southwest Quarter, for a distance of 1320 feet, more or less, to the East line
of said Southwest Quarter) thence North along said East line of the Southwest
Quarter, for a distance of 1069 feet to a point for a place of beginning; thenc.e
continuing northerly on the last described course, for a distance of 60 feet to a
point; thence westerly along a line which forms an angle of 92 degrees, 30
minutes to the left, with a prolongation of the last described line, for a distance of
180 feet to a point; thence Southerly parallel with the said East line of said
Southwest Quarter, for a distance of 60 feet to a point; thence easterly, 180 feet to
the place of beginning, (excepting that part thereof described as follows;
Commencing at the Southeast comer of the Southwest Quarter of said Section
15; thence northerly along the East line of the Southwest Quarter of said Section
15, for a distance of 1069.0 feet to the place of beginning of this description;
thence continuing northerly along said East line, for a distance 60.0 feet to a
point; thence westerly along a line which forms an angle of 92 degrees, 30
,minutes to the left, with a prolongation of the last described line, at the last
described point, said line being the Grantor's North property line, to a point
which lies 80.0 feet, as measured at right angles from the center line of Federal
Aid Route 54 (Illinois Routs 31); thence southerly along a line that is parallel
with and 80.0 feet from the said center line, for a distance of 60.0 feet, more or
less, to a point in the Grantor's South property line; thence easterly along the
Grantor's South property line to the place of beginning), in McHenry County,
Illinois.


At said public hearing, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall accept all testimony and evidence pertaining to said application. The public is invited to attend and be heard. The public may also submit written testimony to the Planning and Zoning Commission in advance of the hearing. A copy of the petition is on file for review during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) with the Lake in the Hills Community Development Department, 600 Harvest Gate, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156.

Tom Stock, Chairman
Planning and Zoning Commission

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Public Hearing Requirements & Procedures

The purpose ofa public hearing is to give everyone the opportunity to express their views and to provide
evidence in support of those views regarding a petition before the Planning and Zoning Commission. These
opinions and evidence create the record, which the Planning and Zoning Commission relies on for its findings,
conclusions and recommendation. The Commission's recommendation and record are then considered by the
Board of Trustees before they make the fmal determination.

An agenda will be established and available for viewing prior to the public hearing at Village Hall, 600 Harvest
Gate, and on the Village's website at wvvw.lith.org. Furthermore, the public is welcome to view file
information on a proposed petition in advance at the Community Development Department located at Village
Hall.

+ Notification Requirements of a Public Hearing

The Village's Zoning Ordinance requires notification for public hearings before the Planning and Zoning
Commission. This includes mailing all property owners (as determined by the appropriate Township
Assessor's Office) within 250 feet of the property, which is subject of the petition written notice of the public
hearing, posting a public hearing sign on the property, and publication the public hearing notice in one of the
local newspapers no sooner than 30 days and no less than 15 days prior to the hearing date.

Before the meeting, anyone wishing to speak at the hearing must complete a Public Hearing Comment Form.
The Planning and Zoning Chairman will call the meeting to order and introduce each new item of business.
The Chairman has the authority to take any necessary measures to control the hearing including closing the
meeting, clearing the hearing room and calling the public in one at a time to testify. The Chairman will read
the petitioner's request and open the hearing. The petitionet and participants will be sworn in and the proof of
notification to surrounding property owners and newspaper will be presented to the Recording Secretary. Next
the petitioner will provide testimony.

Petitioner's Testimony
The petitioner will be given a suitable amount of time to provide an overview of the request and to provide
factual information (by the applicant or by witnesses called by the applicant) in support ofthe petition. The
Planning and Zoning Commission may ask questions to clarify the applicant's request.

Public Testimony-
Following the completion of the petitioner's testimony, the public shall be entitled to present evidence:
The Chairman will call on the public from the Public Hearing Comment Form. All testimony before the
Planning and Zoning Commission must be given from the podium so that a transcribable record may be
made. Spontaneous comments from the floor are not permitted and will not be considered for the record.
Persons testifying are required to state their name and address for the record. Testimony will be limited to
the relevant facts of the case and standards for approval. All testimony will be included as part of the
public record. As such, it is not necessary to repeat previously stated testimony. If members ofthe public
have questions regarding any testimony provided during the hearing they should be directed to the
Chairman who will request a response from the appropriate person.

Discussion and Deliberation
With the hearing still open, and after the public has had an opportunity to testify, Village staff will provide
the Commission with their views and recommendation on the petition. The Planning and Zoning
Commission will then deliberate and close the public hearing after making a recommendation. The
recommendation and findings of fact from the Planning and Zoning Commission along with comments
offered by the public will be presented to the Village President and Board of Trustees for review and
action.

Contact Information
These rules and procedures are designed to ensure a fair and orderly decision-making process and to
promote public participation in the land use decisions rendered by the Village of Lake in the Hills. If you
have questions, you can contact the Community Development Department at (847) 960-7440.

This press release came in Wednesday afternoon to the newsroom from the Lake in the Hills Police Department:

There will be many reasons to be merry this holiday season. And making sure that your loved ones enjoy themselves responsibly is one of the most reliable ways to guarantee their safety. That is why the Lake in the Hills Police would like everyone to embrace the spirit of driving sober this season.

“The message is simple, drinking alcohol and driving does not mix. If you plan to consume alcohol, you should plan not to get behind the wheel of a vehicle or ride a motorcycle,” said Sgt. Eric Decker, supervisor of the Lake in the Hills Traffic Unit.

Unfortunately, millions of drivers on America’s highways continue to make deadly decisions by driving a vehicle or riding a motorcycle while intoxicated, which jeopardizes their safety and the safety of others on our roads.

“We know that the holiday season can be one of the deadliest and most dangerous times on America’s roadways due to drunk driving,” said James Wales, director of Police and Public Safety. “Taking a risk on having your Thanksgiving end in an arrest or death is just not worth it.”

During December 2009, there were 753 people killed in crashes that involved drivers or motorcycle riders with blood alcohol concentrations of .08 grams per deciliter or higher.

Lake in the Hills Police recommends these simple tips for a safe holiday season:

Partial funding for enforcement of intoxicated motorists is done in part with funding from a grant awarded to the Lake in the Hills Police Department by the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Mini Alcohol Grant.

Lake in the Hills native and Jacobs High School grad Josh Scholl will compete in the finals of the ABC show "Karaoke Battle USA" 8 p.m. Friday. Scholl and others will be having a viewing party that night at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Algonquin. (Courtesy photo)

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Josh Scholl, a Lake in the Hills native and 2001 graduate of Jacobs High School, is a finalist on the ABC television show, "Karaoke Battle USA."

The nationally televised singing contest has narrowed its field of eight contestants down to the final four – two males and two females. A king and queen will be crowned on the show 8 p.m. Friday.

"My immediate goals are to win this competition, take advantage of the Hollywood Records recording contract award and represent the United States in the Karaoke World Championships in Ireland," Scholl said in a press release sent to the Northwest Herald.

The Northern Illinois Unviersity theater grad also has performed throughout the area in the ’80s tribute band The Breakfast Club.

Scholl and his family are having a viewing party for Friday's finale at Buffalo Wild Wings, 461 S. Randall Road, in Algonquin. The event is open to the public. Scholl will be available for photos and to meet fans.

"Karaoke Battle USA" is hosted by Joey Fatone, best known for his time in the band NSYNC. Judges for the competition are Carnie Wilson, music writer Joe Levy and 2009 Karaoke National Championship USA winner Brian Scott. The show selected two contestants from each of its auditons in Houston, Las Vegas, New York and Chicago.

• Rob Carroll can be reached at rcarroll@shawmedia.com.