Therapist needed: Must have flak jacket

Do you know a good therapist with thick skin who's willing to jump into the increasingly nasty frays at the Huntley school board and Carpentersville village board?It seems the fine folks we elected to run District 158 and Carpentersville have simply lost their minds.The recent behavior would be humorous if those school board members and trustees weren't charged with so much taxpayer trust #8230; and money. As it is, the two boards now rival one another for the latest "Wow, they really did that?" headline.How often do you hear a school board president call board members "terrorists?" Or have one of those "terrorists" claim she felt so threatened at a board meeting that she asked police to investigate her fellow board members? Without calling it what it was -- pure politics -- police wisely declined.Not that there aren't any grenade-throwers on that board. And at least one snow-blower who seems quite adept at throwing enough gunk in the air to blur everyone's view of what's really important.Here to serve?Amid all the bickering and baiting, it seems all have forgotten they're there to serve the public. And so far, their sole accomplishment seems to be proof that one bad apple truly can spoil the lot. I know it's difficult to ignore ongoing nastiness, tirades and cheap shots. But true leaders rise above the fray, ignore the bunk and focus on what's essential. If no one takes the bait of a spotlight-seeker, eventually those who take sport in throwing grenades are seen for the glory hounds they are.Stooping to a snow-blower's level inevitably leads to lost vision, fingers and minds.Not that I'm supporting the snow thrower. All that bluster is blinding and enough to prompt anyone to want to throw a punch.Packing heatNot that violence is ever the answer. Which brings me to the latest in Carpentersville. Said therapist better don a flak jacket to take either assignment. In the latest proof of politics run amok, trustees were so determined to best a rival, they voted to OK selling surplus guns under the guise of bringing in extra revenue.As if that extra cash makes putting more guns back on the street OK -- didn't the village originally buy some of those guns from people to get them off the street? There clearly seems to be some delusional thinking going on.Nuts to thatWe now pause this detour about nutty politics to talk about birds who like nuts. (I know where they'll find a feast).For those who were wondering why so many red-breasted nuthatches were swirling around your feeders, but abruptly disappeared just before the ice storm, I contacted a couple of experts who have some theories for us. And, no, none of them bought my birds of a feather flee lousy weather scenario. Tim Joyce, manager of Wild Birds Unlimited in Glenview, says the nuthatches, which normally nest well north of us, came this way since their drought-affected homes were sparse on food. Some were likely migrating south but found a food supply, such as conifer seeds, here. They may have since fled from predators, like the Cooper's hawk often found near here.The ice storm may have also forced them to seek shelter, speculates naturalist Gail Goldberger, who also told Morton Arboretum spokesman Gina Tedesco that those who haven't returned may have continued on their way south or not survived the storm.Name that piece!Have you seen some of the art pieces that are part of Algonquin's expanding public art program? Watch as you whiz by on Randall Road or traverse village streets.My personal favorite is the rather unique piece by village hall on Harnish Drive. I call it the "beheaded Q-Tips." My hubby thinks it's PVC pipes run amok. I'm pretty sure the artist has a different vision.What do you think?Now announcing a "name that piece" contest. Send in your theory on what this artist was really portraying or just what you think it looks like.The most creative -- or the one that makes me laugh the loudest -- will win something fun from the Daily Herald prize closet. Send your entries to amack@dailyherald.com or call (847) 931-5725. Name that piece -- win a prize!Pay a visit to CharlieFor a look back at the attack on Pearl Harbor, listen as Charlie May, an 84-year-old resident of Huntley, talks about his day. The then-18-year-old sailor was on a gangplank waiting to be taken to the fated USS Arizona for a Sunday church service when Japanese Zeroes heavy with torpedoes came swarming overhead. He spent much of his day feeding shells into a machine gun to try to shoot them down.We shot a video story with Charlie a year ago, and it's worth another look. You'll find it today on www.dailyherald.com.