The Huntley Farmside

              354;
Volume 40 No. 10
Your hometown newspaper
Thursday, March 9,2000
© 2000 Press-Republican Newspapers
Photo by Steve Bittinger
Two-wheelin'
Casey Clemmons, 7, of Woodstock nnasters his two wheeler with help from Dad, Keith, Saturday at Diecke Park in Huntley.
New foundation helps special-needs youths
Light Center Foundation teams aids 4H Club in adapting to youths with special needs
by Donna Kupris Kelley
City editor
While working as a special educa- 'tion teacher at Summit School, Jan Cederlund realized children with spe¬ cial needs needed more hands-on out¬ door activities. She wanted to find a way to combine youths, animals and the outdoors, conveniently.
Jan shared her thoughts with her husband, John, who builds parks and playgrounds with his" buisness. Real Construction, along with some other knowledgable friends.
Two years and eight board members later, Light Center Foundation was born with one goal — to improve the lives of youths with special needs.
"We're looking to experienced peo¬ ple to meet our goal," Jan said.
This new foundation is teaming up with the Special Education District of McHenry County, Northern  Illinois
Special Recreation Association and 4H to help local children with special needs learn skills for living.
"This is not only great for the spe¬ cial-needs kids, but it will give 4H-ers the chance to learn compassion and leadership skills," said Helen Ruth, project leader for 4H and Light Center Foundation board member.
The alliance is simple - NISRA and SEDM tell Light Center Foundation which children would benefit from the program and what their needs are. The foundation, in turn, works with 4H to adapt their program to accommodate the person's need.
Jan, the foundation's executive director, taught special education for many years, specializing in learning disabilities, behavioral disorders and developmentally challenged educa¬ tion. Her many degrees and certifica¬ tions come from University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, and Northern Illinois University.
The foundation has longterm goals with this program, according to Jan. The foundation members hope to build a handicap-accessible, nature-oriented camp for special-needs children. They're also working to incorporate horse therapy in the program.
"By teaming up with 4H, we can get
See Foundation Page 2
Huntley Middle School sends wrestlers to state finals
by Donna Kupris Kelley
City editor
With much support from the coaches, teammembers and their parents, Matt Joslyn and Brandon Bocian have grappled their way to the top, and are headed for state finals.
Although it's the school's first year with a wrestling team, the two athletes will compete at the state finals begin¬ ning 4 p.m. Friday, March 10, at the Northern Illinois University field house.
Matt has gone 17 - 5 in the 167 weight
class. The eighth-grader placed second in regionals and first in sectionals.
Brandon, who has gone 12 - 8, wres¬ tles in the 185 weight class — 10 pounds above his actual weight. He placed sec¬ ond at regionals and at sectionals.
At sectionals, the team placed ninth out of 13, with only three team mem¬ bers competing.
"It has been so exciting," said Gloria Bertossi-Bocian, mother of the seventh- grade wrestler. "They've done so well — especially for this having been their "first year with a team."
See State Page 3