Jeff Farmer has been a Turning Point supporter since middle school. He’s sold candy bars to raise money for Turning Point, he’s collected donations on street corners and now he says he’ll go door to door signing up sponsors BeCause he believes that everyone should be safe in their home. You can read more about Jeff and all our Growers and make your donation here!
June 30 2010 | Fundraising and Volunteers | No Comments »
As TP Staffer Melissa McGraw put it when she passed this story along “This is disheartening.”
A Cook County judge denied the state’s request to inform a jury of the domestic battery charges brought against a 24-year-old Aurora man months before they say he killed his former girlfriend outside the Hanover Park beauty salon where she worked.
Cook County prosecutors say Sergio Hernandez, of the 500 block of High Street, shot 26-year-old Rocio Munez-Ramos as she entered her car parked near the corner of Barrington and Irving Park roads shortly after 8 p.m. on Nov. 25, 2008. They sought to introduce domestic battery charges filed against Hernandez following an earlier incident involving Munez-Ramos when Hernandez’s first-degree murder trial begins next month in Rolling Meadows.
On May 5, 2008, Hernandez argued with Munez-Ramos, threatened her with a knife and cut her neck, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Andre at Thursday’s hearing before Judge Thomas Fecarotta. Seven months later, a few days after the murder, Hernandez admitted in a videotaped statement to police that he shot Munez-Ramos to death, but claimed it was an accident, Andre said.
The whole story is in the Daily Herald
June 29 2010 | In the news | No Comments »
A story in today’s NW Herald reminds you of why Turning Point is neccessary:
A 41-year-old Crystal Lake man wrapped a rope around his wife’s neck Sunday morning after she told him he had no chance of avoiding a divorce, his wife wrote in court documents.
Robert J. Oswald Jr., of 1329 Fountain Green Drive, is free after posting 10 percent of his $50,000 bail. He was charged with felony aggravated domestic battery and misdemeanor interfering with reporting of domestic violence.
His case is next due in McHenry County Circuit Court on Wednesday.
Oswald has no criminal record, and there were no previous domestic situations at the residence, Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Gene Lowery said. Police were dispatched to Oswald’s home about 4:38 a.m. Sunday.
June 29 2010 | In the news | No Comments »
A sad story from the NW Herald:
A single mother of four children could face up to five years in prison after she allegedly beat her children with a 24-inch household cord.
Martha Herrera, 28, of McHenry, is being held on $30,000 bond. Police said she used the cord to hit her children, who are 2, 4, 8 and 9 years old.
Detective Sgt. Dan Kreassig said the four children were misbehaving on Sunday, and Herrera went too far when disciplining them. Herrera left “significant” bruises on the arms, backs and legs of the children, Kreassig said.
Herrera was dealing with the frustrations of being a parent, he added.
“We prefer parents handle discipline without physical contact,” Kreassig said.
The Department of Children and Family Services was called to Herrera’s house at 3805 Mill St. A DCFS worker then called police.
The four children have been placed in protective foster care, Kreassig said.
He added that the police department is investigating whether the alleged abuse had been taking place for a longer time.
Herrera was charged with four counts of aggravated battery to a child and four counts of domestic battery.
Kreassig recommended anyone having trouble with disciplining their children call the McHenry County Crisis Line at 1-800-892-8900.
June 25 2010 | In the news | No Comments »
When I first came to work at Turning Point, someone asked me, “What makes you want to do that? Isn’t domestic violence a women’s problem?” I immediately replied “No, it’s not a woman’s problem or a man’s problem, it’s a human problem.”
And I hope you feel the same. Turning Point serves about 1800 victims a year who come to us trying to end the violence in their homes. 1800- from our little McHenry County! All of our lives are diminished by this problem- whether it’s the coworker who misses work due to her injuries, or the peaceful neighborhood evenings interrupted by the police visits to that house down the block or even just the unease of knowing that domestic abuse is taking place, unseen, in our communities, our neighborhoods, even our extended families.
I’m glad to tell you’ve we’ve come up with a way for guys to help: A great new fundraiser called Beards Because. I’m enclosing complete information, but briefly it’s a fun way to help out and spread the word. We’re asking you and other men across our area to stop shaving for a month- to grow a Beard Because….
· Because too many women are trapped in violent relationships. Because domestic violence is everyone’s problem.
· Because your life (or someone you loved) was touched by abuse.
· Because everyone should feel safe in their own home.
We’ve hoping that you will grow that beard and collect donations from friends, family & coworkers in support of your hair-raising efforts to combat domestic violence. We’ll be kicking this event off on July 2 and wrapping it up as part of our huge annual fund raiser with Star 105.5 “Take a Stand for Turning Point” on August 7th.
June 23 2010 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
From our good friend Erica Lorenz over at Star: Congrats to all- you guys RULE!!!~
“Last night at the Illinois Broadcaster’s Association “Silver Dome Awards” ceremony, Star 105 took home the awards for: Best Community Service Activity, for Take a Stand, and Best Public Affairs Segment, for the piece that Stew did on your candlelight vigil!!”
June 23 2010 | In the news | No Comments »
Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Algonquin recently participated in a Turning Point fund raiser. The church has long been a supporter of the local non-profit, winning the Turning Point Partnership award in 2008 for it’s numerous charitable activities on behalf of the domestic violence agency.
In April, the Light of Christ Small Men’s Group offered themselves as an “Auction item” at the Turning Point annual auction, offering to do yard work, weeding, and lawn maintenance for the high bidder. Turning Point board of directors member Dan Broederdorf purchased the item and on a recent rainy Saturday, the Light of Christ Men’s group turned out to trim bushes and trees, edge garden beds, weed, fertilize and beautify the Broederdorf’s yard.
Pictured is the work crew, wet but happy, during the clean up.
June 23 2010 | Fundraising and Volunteers | No Comments »
Have you seen the Community Art Exhibit, featuring art by consumers of Mental Health Services in our area? It’s a great exhibit and it will be traveling through the end of the year:
Schedule of Locations & Artwork for Community Partners Art Exhibit
Month Location
July Dundee Township Park District Recreation & Fitness Center, 665 Barrington Avenue, Carpentersville
Artwork from: Adult & Child Rehab Center, Family Alliance, Options & Advocacy, Thresholds,
TLS Veterans, and Jail Brakers
Harvard Diggins Library, 900 E. McKinley, Harvard
Artwork from: Family Service, NISRA, Pioneer Center, YSB, and Turning Point
August Village of Lake in the Hills, 600 Harvest Gate, Lake in the Hills
Artwork from: Adult & Child Rehab Center, Family Alliance, Family Service, NISRA, Options & Advocacy,
Pioneer Center, YSB, TLS Veterans, Jail Brakers, and Turning Point
Marengo Park District, 825 Indian Oaks Trail, Marengo
Artwork from: Thresholds
September Woodstock Public Library, 414 W. Judd Street, Woodstock
Artwork from: NISRA, Options & Advocacy, Pioneer Center, TLS Veterans, and Turning Point
McHenry County Mental Health Board Office, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake
Artwork from: Adult & Child Rehab Center, Family Alliance, Family Service, Thresholds, YSB, and Jail Brakers
October McHenry Government Center, 2200 North Seminary Avenue, Woodstock
Artwork from: Family Service (5 piece mural only), YSB, and Turning Point
Huntley Park District R.E.C. Center, 12015 Mill Street, Huntley
Artwork from: Adult & Child Rehab Center, Family Alliance, Family Service, NISRA, Options & Advocacy, Pioneer Center, Thresholds, TLS Veterans, and Jail Brakers
November Marengo-Union Library District, 200 S. State Street, Marengo
Artwork from: Adult & Child Rehab Center and Turning Point
McHenry County Mental Health Board Office, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake*
Artwork from: Family Alliance, Family Service, NISRA, Options & Advocacy,
Pioneer Center, Thresholds, YSB, TLS Veterans, and Jail Brakers
*Due to space limitations at Marengo Library, all other work was assigned to the MHB Office, which may be too much. We may need to re-divide the work & put some at the NISRA Office.
December City of Woodstock/City Hall, 121 W. Calhoun Street, Woodstock
Artwork from: Adult & Child Rehab Center, Family Alliance, Pioneer Center, Thresholds, Jail Brakers, and Turning Point
NISRA (Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association), 285 Memorial Drive, Crystal Lake
Artwork from: Family Service, NISRA, Options & Advocacy, YSB, and TLS Veterans
Revised 6/2/10
June 23 2010 | Events and In the news | No Comments »
June 07 2010 | Events and Fundraising and Volunteers | No Comments »
Ten Year old Lake in the Hills resident Katie Ostrem collected children’s items for the Turning Point shelter playroom. Turning Point is McHenry County’s only comprehensive domestic violence agency and shelter. The Turning Point shelter is a secure shelter for victims of domestic violence and can hold up to 21 women & children a night.
Katie collected items for the playroom, including coloring books, paints, aprons and supplies to make home made modeling clay to be used in the playroom. The shelter is also in need of all sizes of new children’s pajamas. Anyone interesting in doing a collection for pajamas, robes and slippers should contact Turning Point Volunteer coordinator Jennifer Kenning at (815) 338-8081.
Pictured is Katie with items collected prior to being delivered to Turning Point.
June 07 2010 | Volunteers | No Comments »