Performance Unlimited Stockcar marks the spot for Shop With A Cop party

MC3, the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce business networking group, is holding its annual Shop With A Cop fundraiser Thursday, Nov. 15, to benefit the McHenry County Police Charities effort for children of families struggling economically. Denny Norton, the president of MC3 and the owner of Ringwood based Performance Unlimited, described the MC3 event as a party that benefits a good cause.

To be sure, the event, held at McHenry VFW on Route 120 east of the Fox River, will include live and silent auctions. However, it will also include games, food and drinks and live entertainment. So, if you boil it all down, it really is a party.

“And a darn good party, too,” said Norton. “We figure it’s the perfect mix when you can have a great time while benefiting a great cause.”

Last year, MC3 raised more than $18,000 for Shop With A Cop. As with this year, the fundraising also included donations from area businesses, such as Burger King and Wendy’s. The two restaurants have held Dine and Donate nights at their establishments on Route 120 and Route 31, respectively. On given nights, 15 percent of proceeds from sales between certain hours is contributed to the event.

Wendy’s is holding another Dine and Donate night from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 7.

The way Shop With A Cop works is that Police Charities partners one police officer with a child or, possibly, siblings. Then they go to Walmart, on Rout3 31, Johnsburg, to do some Christmas Shopping. Each child is given $150 to spend. Each child also receives a coat, hat, gloves and boots so they can stay warm through the winter.

“It’s really incredible to see the smiles on these children as they interact with the police officers,” Norton said. “The officers bring the kids to Walmart one morning before it officially opens and then the officers take the kids up and down the aisles shopping. Mostly, they buy things for people in their families. In fact, the police officers often have to remind the kids to buy something for themselves.”

Norton said that another great thing about the program is the way it pulls individuals and businesses together for a great cause. That’s very evident on the night of the fundraising party when tables are filled with donations for the auctions.

This year’s contributors include:

· Charter Fitness

· Performance Unlimited

· Great Lakes Fire Safety

· Al n Anns McHenry

· Kiddy Korner

· Mary Laatz with Tastefully Simple

· Jayne Bockman

· Gary Clinton

· Shelia Thomas

· B.M.C. Toys

· Toy Soldier HQ

· Costco

· Alan Ford

· Hobby Bunker

· OnTarget Resumes

· Jim Clouse

· Roger Ross

· Craig Remington. Wendy’s in McHenry

· Burger King in McHenry

· Mary’ Flowers and Gifts

· Forester Enterprises

· Gary Beadel

· Carrie Kutnick

· Rich Egan

· Ron Barzso/Playests

· Phil Rosner/ Nostalgia Playsets

· Clint Eastwood

· Ron Lizorty

· Mike Mullins

· King’s X

· Rick Eber

· Rick Keller

· Rick Lipp

· Ed Borris

· Rusty + Kathy Kern/Playset Magazine

· Francis Turner/ The Marx Museum

· Gary Linden

· Green Mountain Coffee

· Mike Handly

· Dave Pittman

· Steve and Nancy Connell

· Dick’s Sporting Goods

· Calvin Plowman

· Toy Soldiers of San Diego

· Steve and Linda Weston/Weston Toys

· Hampton Inn

· Verlo Mattress

· B&B Automotive

· Marzano’s Italian Restaurant

· Jack Franks

· Pam Althoff

· Jill May

In terms of the party, Norton said it includes the live musical notes of the two-man jazz band, “2 Rich.” Musically, the evening also includes a choral competition between the McHenry High School Chorus and Johnsburg High School Chorus.

“Not only do they perform, but they sometimes do so attired in the finest Victorian outfits,” Norton said.

The event at the VFW is open to the public and easy to find. Norton said attendees should just look for the Performance Unlimited stockcar out front. For more information about the event, visit: http://www.mc3online.com.

Is your antifreeze safe from freezing this Richmond winter

You still have time to have it checked Well, there’s no denying it – winter tends to get chilly here in Richmond. We have to deal with snow and ice on the roads, scraping the same off our windows and windshield, and staying warm while we drive. Of course, you had your antifreeze checked before winter rolled into town. What?! You didn’t have your antifreeze checked before winter clamped down on Richmond? So, how’s your antifreeze doing? If you haven’t had it checked, there’s really no way of knowing, is there? This car has overheated in the middle of a Richmond winter. But, on the other end of the spectrum, the antifreeze can also freeze if it's not up to its job. Hopefully, you haven’t had a serious problem with your antifreeze already. If you did, you’d probably know. When antifreeze fails, it’s a potentially catastrophic condition for your vehicle’s engine. You could have hoses that have burst because of freezing antifreeze. Worse than that, your engine block may have crac...

Blocks of ice falling from cars in McHenry could cause accidents or damage

We’ve all seen those blocks of snow falling from behind the rear tires of a car when the snow rolls into McHenry . Fortunately, they’re just packed snow that will disintegrate under your vehicle’s tires as you simply drive right through them, right? Don’t count on it. Those blocks of snow are often packed so tight, condensed by the thaw-and-freeze cycle, that they’re anything but oversized snowballs . They’re often more like boulders. Hit one of those blocks and the collision between the block and one of your tires could send you careening off the road or into oncoming traffic. In some cases, they’re so solid you could pound them with a sledgehammer with little effect. They truly can represent a serious road hazard. The problem is that it’s difficult to tell how solidly they’re packed when you see them on the road, left their unwittingly by another driver. Either way, your best bet is to try to avoid them. But you want to be careful dodging blocks of ice in the road, too. You need...

Timely maintenance is even more important with your Johnsburg Electric Vehicle

Even if you have an electric vehicle in your Johnsburg driveway, maintenance is still critical. You pull out of your Johnsburg driveway and you watch the gas stations go by as you smile from behind the wheel of your EV – Electric Vehicle. Of course, at some point, you will have to stop and charge the battery but you still take some comfort that you’re not standing next to your car as the fuel pumps into your tank. One of the true comforts you take with your EV is that the mechanics of your vehicle are simplified. You don’t have to worry about the engine breaking down anymore, and we all know how costly that can be. But there’s more to your EV vehicle than you may have considered when you first parked it in your Johnsburg driveway. Many of the parts found on gasoline-driven vehicles are also present on your EV. These require the same maintenance as your gasoline-powered vehicle. For instance, you EV still has: Tires and Wheels Brakes Steering and Suspension Windshield Wipers and So...

Performance Unlimited Blog

Search This Blog