Readers respond to advice about feeding wildlife, toenail fungus

Heading back to school is a time to begin again, as Michael Finnegan might say.

I always loved school and rarely missed a day. Between kindergarten and sixth grade, this baby boomer moved twice and changed schools five times.

The opportunity to start fresh every day -- eager to learn sometimes against the odds -- is still the choice I make every morning.

As I ponder how the Jaycees' Last Fling marks the end of summer vacation, I'll wrap up some loose ends of reader feedback before leaping ahead.

First off, I enjoy being on Chuck George's e-mail list. The architect who designed the original phases of the Riverwalk sends intriguing Web site addresses and amazing photographs of natural wonders. Some of his jokes are natural wonders, too.

Sometimes he directs me to online destinations that take more time than I have. For instance, George recently sent an e-mail with a question in the subject line, "Do you know where you're from?"

A few clicks later, I was in the middle of a fascinating geography, genealogy and history lesson titled "Journey of Mankind -- The Peopling of the World."

Visit www.bradshaw foundation.com/journey. When you have time, click on the small circles, too.

Delayed reaction

It's funny. Some readers take months -- even years -- before they respond to this column.

A couple years ago I tried to launch an awareness campaign about the hazards of feeding migratory waterfowl, especially ducks and geese in the DuPage River that leave their foul droppings on the Riverwalk.

Even though concerted efforts have been made by Naperville Park District signs and patrols to educate about the deleterious effects, many people don't pay attention.

Recently, a reader wrote that she, too, politely tried to educate a woman.

She said the bird feeder squawked, "I'm so tired of all this political correctness! My children beg to feed the ducks on the Riverwalk. Our few bread crumbs won't make a difference!"

Another reader simply wrote, "I enjoy reading between the lines of your columns."

"Which ones?" I asked.

Hummm on humor

I prefer not to be known as the Naperville columnist who championed the goose poop mess on the Riverwalk or, as I learned months after the column about toe fungus, the solution to unsightly toenail conditions.

I'll never tell who left the following voice mail:

"I work for (a high-ranking Illinois politician) and during a recent ride to Springfield the topic of toenail fungus infections came up. I remember reading one of your columns where you offered a solution. Does my memory serve me correctly? Was it Vick's Vapor Rub?"

Another reader wondered, "A relative of mine has toenail and fingernail fungus and has had it for about 15 years. I seem to recall that you, gasp! actually wrote about this subject in one of your DH columns. Is this true? Is there a remedy?"

A testimonial

"I wanted to thank you for your column a few months ago on home remedies for the common foot problem that shall not be named!" she wrote.

"I had been using vinegar soaks and then virgin coconut oil as a treatment. Switching to the Vick's Vapor Rub made things much easier and, best of all, it worked! So thanks for not being embarrassed to bring up the topic in the paper."

Final note

Phil Ferguson offered advice regarding Ronald McDonald House Charities.

"I applaud your effort to bring attention to this fine organization," Ferguson wrote. "I suggest that your readers go the RMHC Web site and donate at www.rmhc.org.

"A monetary donation will provide more benefit to needy children then collecting aluminum tabs. One pound of aluminum is worth less than $1 and it may cost more than $2 to deliver. I'm sure that The Ronald McDonald Houses are happy to take the aluminum you shipped and collect the $1 per pound, but they would be much better off if each of your readers would send a check for $3."

I concur, but remember to recycle. Also, feeding breadcrumbs and tortilla chips to wildlife can be harmful to their health.