Please, have a safe and wonderful holiday as McHenry welcomes in the New Year.

The kids, the job, the holidays, and all the other activities that fill your life: it’s been a long year, hasn’t it. You deserve a break from it all and, with New Years Eve upon us here in McHenry, this is a great opportunity to unwind and celebrate.

By now, you’ve chosen your New Years party, or parties, that you’ll hit tonight. You’ve probably chosen what you’re going to wear. You’ve made arrangements with your spouse, loved one or that special date who will accompany you for the festivities.

When you arrive for the fun, you’ll mingle and chat with friends. Maybe you’re going to a New Years party where they have games planned. What’s all but certain is that you’re going to have a great time.

Then the hour will approach and you’ll all gather with your friends, and do the countdown. 10 – 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 – 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This is one of the best parts – hugging and kissing your spouse, loved one or that special date as champagne bottles pop, confetti flies in the air and balloons burst.

It’s been a great night. You’ve started 2025 with a bang. But, alas, the celebration will fade and, one by one, the partyers will head for home. With a sigh, you and your spouse, loved one or that special date will head out, too.

Is this the part where one of you will slide behind the wheel, the same wheel you slid behind on the way to the party? You’ll turn the key as you give your companion a peck on the cheek. And then, you’re off.

You’re rolling down the highway, the radio is playing as the headlights of oncoming cars flash by. 

It’s not a long drive home. But it’s long enough that accidents can happen. This is not the time to wonder if you’ve had too much to drink. You should have considered that before you got behind the wheel.

You could have an accident driving home and the odds increase based on how much you’ve had to drink. Or, you could get pulled over by someone with flashing lights; you could receive a DUI on the way home. And that is not the way you want to start 2025.

You can avoid the risks; you could make arrangements for transportation before you leave the house to go out and celebrate. A cab, Uber or Lyft, a designated driver who won’t drink or you could spend the night where you party.

If you don’t get behind the wheel after drinking this holiday, your chances of a DUI or an accident are greatly reduced. And, in the process, you can relax and have a great time without worrying about how you’ll get home, or if you’ll get home.

Here at Performance Unlimited, we would like to wish you all a safe and Happy New Year! And a great 2025!