Lojan LaRowe, a McHenry resident, is among those sad to see the demolition of the Dobyns House, most recently home to Joey T's Resturant. She said she's lived nearby the building, which sits at 1202 N. Riverside Drive, and was inspried to write the below poem about the event:

Warm evening
Candles flicker and blaze:
Sinatra sings through the evening haze
Points of light, laughter
Glasses raised,
Musical clink of ice and silver;
It so strikes the heart with memories
How good it all was.
And now all gone.
Lights are out
Laughter stilled
And Sinatra dead. (Again).
I kept a brick.

— Lojan La Rowe

This weekend's Relay for Life event is packed with activities from Saturday afternoon until early Sunday morning. Here's the lineup:

1 - 3 p.m. Campsite set up
3 - 5 p.m. Mini Relayers fair 3 - 5 p.m. Carnival games
3:15 p.m. Slip slap slop contest
3:30 p.m. Pie-eating contest for kids
3:45 p.m. Big Wheels contest
4 - 4:30 p.m. Children's Jazzercise
4 and 4:30 p.m. Story teller Gwen from McHenry Public Library (off-stage)
3 - 10 p.m. On-site fundraising at team campsites
3 to 5 p.m. Survivor reception, Caregiver Garden, Hand of Hope in survivor tent, Celebrate-Remember-Fight Back
3 - 5 p.m. Registration for games and contest by Main Stage
3:30 - 4 p.m. Storyteller Gwen from McHenry Public Library
4 - 5 p.m. Kimberly Wolff – "Chicago's Country Girl – performance on stage
4 - 8 p.m. Silent Auction in the township hall
5 - 6 p.m. Opening ceremonies and survivor lap
6 - 6:30 p.m. Mr. Relay contest
6 - 8 p.m. Lakemoor Winners Clown performance
6:30 - 7 p.m. Irish dancers
7 - 7:30 p.m. Jazzercise
7:30 - 8 p.m. Dance party with soundtracks of 1985
8 - 9 p.m. Dean Palya performance
8 - 9 p.m. Papa Johns pizza party
8:20 - 9 p.m. Silent auction pick up
8:15 p.m. - midnight Campsite judging
9 - 9:30 p.m. Luminaria ceremony
9:30 - 10 p.m. Pie-eating contest and poker lap/best poker hand wins
10 - 11 p.m. Dr. Rhythm and the Rockers
10:30 p.m. Culvers pickup
11 p.m. - midnight Don't Forget the Lyrics sponsored by Fast Eddie's Car Wash
Midnight - 12:45 a.m. Newspaper contest "Back to 1985"
12:45 - 1 a.m. Frozen t-shirt contest
1 - 1:20 a.m. Wheel of Fortune
2 - 3 a.m. $25,000 Pyramid
3 - 4 a.m. Jeopardy and Back to the Future Theater
4 - 4:30 a.m. Sweating to the oldies with Richard Simmons
4:30 - 5 a.m. Closing ceremonies

This is a concept drawing of proposed Trinksi's Island renovations. The Island, which is just south of the Route 12 bridge, is slated to be transformed into a tourist attraction, complete with boat docks, a boardwalk and wildlife habitats.

Read a story detailing the project here: http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2009/06/17/r_y3gjgfsnqbur41m_nt41vg/index.xml.

McHENRY – Ron Tonyan Jr. will finally get to shave his beard off Saturday.

The McHenry resident has been growing it, along with his regular hair, for more than a year and will cut it all off for Locks of Love at a fundraising event this weekend.

The flyer here is a picture of Ron, 29, with his fully grown beard and long hair. He said he plans to cut off 10 inches of his hair and shave off his beard, sending all the hair to the charity.

“Just come out have some fun and if you feel up to it give a couple dollars,” he said.

The event starts at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at The Gambler Of McHenry Inc., 1232 N Green St.

There also will be a free-will donation and raffle prizes.  

– Crystal Lindell
 

Don Gattone has been selected to be the 2009 Fiesta Days parade marshal.
 
Known as the "Frank Capra" friendly pharmacist for 38 years, Gattone was available any time of the day and night, always on call to fill prescriptions.

Those in need flocked to him not only for his caring "good medicine" attitude, but also for his generous nature, as he allowed those in difficult circumstances to pay when able. 

A husband of 53 years to Pat Gattone, with three children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, Gattone served in the Korean War, was a founding member of Church of the Holy Apostles, active in Knights of Columbus, member of the board of Family Services and a Kiwanis Club past president.  

The Fiesta Days committee announced today that Gattone will be the parade marshal during the Fiesta Days parade this summer. A special presentation will be made to him at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at Veterans Memorial Park. The parade is set for July 19.

– Northwest Herald