McHenry County Mental Health Board's Community Connections Summit is planned for Sept. 12 at McHenry County College, with a focus on how to rise and thrive together to transform challenges into opportunities.

Every time someone suggests consolidating or streamlining various public operations, there’s a counterargument regarding the importance of local versus state versus federal control and concerns about privacy, protection and simply letting subject-matter experts do their jobs.

What do you picture when you think of someone with Alzheimer's disease? A person who is frail and and weak? In reality, those with Alzheimer's disease in the early and middle stages can be stronger than you think. In some cases, even stronger than their caregivers.

Legislation billed as protective often amounts to enhancing penalties in hopes of protective or preventive effects. SB 1550 is different in that it does (subject to appropriations) create an actual pathway for physical protection of people and public property.

Despite the 78-40 Democratic control in the House and 40-19 Senate edge, it’s difficult to envision a scenario where the Bears cut in front of the Regional Transit Authority to access the same money pool. That’s true aside from other current and potential funding priorities.

"As a McHenry resident and D15/D156 graduate with longstanding ties to Landmark Elementary, I encourage other residents to join me in advocating for the bid and proposal from Tom and Ginelle Popovich," Christine Kittredge of McHenry writes in a letter to the editor.

“We want to protect our parks with action and investment,” said Jenny Vaughn, the Illinois Conservation Foundation executive director. “We believe parks are for the people, not for profit.”

While reserving the right to modify judgment once the program fully develops, at this early stage, it seems like another task piled on an already burdened infrastructure, especially if any of the onus goes beyond school nurses and psychologists or social workers.

Can making make healthy lifestyle changes affect our risk for developing dementia? A new study released by the Alzheimer's Association shows that it holds that possibility.