Looks more like Deer Valley!
Next time I ask if you can top that, I'll know to duck!
Not only can you top that, but you do so in amazing fashion.
On Friday, I shared our photographer George LeClaire's photo of nine deer crossing the road just down the street from the Lake in the Hills police station, noting that's far more deer than I'd seen in one spot and asking if you could top it.
Apparently I've been hanging out in the wrong spots.
Dianne Hengler of Algonquin shared a photo of 11 of the 14 deer she found in her backyard one morning. "What a sight to see!" she said.
That's for sure.
Daily Herald news carrier Guy Roos of Algonquin tells me he spotted 18 deer in a Carpentersville yard just before 3 a.m. Wednesday. Sounds like the deer union was having a meeting.
They're cute -- but dangerous, Guy says. Then he found an antler in the middle of the road near Carpentersville Middle School early Friday.
And here we thought it was only certain village trustees who blow their tops.
That seemed proof of plenty of deer around here, but then Lee Brotcke of Sleepy Hollow topped it with almost more deer than you can count in his backyard Thursday evening. If you look carefully, there are 21 deer in the photo, some showing only "their south end" as Lee says. Another three deer are just outside of range.
Just asking
In the wake of shootings at Northern Illinois University and other schools, I've heard lots of talk about emergency alert systems utilizing cell phone text messaging to get the word out. It makes a lot of sense, especially on any school campus. But many schools -- high school and college -- prohibit students from having their cell phones on during class. Wouldn't it be a good time to change that policy?
Got blood?
Millie Banwart of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church and school invites us to roll up our sleeves and share at their annual blood drive from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday at the church, 300 Jefferson St., Algonquin. That's one block west of Route 31. Turn west on Washington Street in the middle of downtown and you'll see it on your left. You can sign up ahead of time by calling (847) 658-6857.
His two cents
To the nameless Carpentersville "we don't even have a grocery store" resident who asked me to get off my gas tax soapbox and, instead, get on the bandwagon to push for his town to finally get a grocery store, I'm guessing you live on the east side, sir. Your town has two fine grocery stores on Randall Road, Woodman's and Dominick's. And I know several people who journey to Carpentersville from other towns to do their grocery shopping at those nice spots. They're probably hoping the village doesn't next go for a higher food tax.
If you never venture west, yes, we're still waiting on that Village Fresh Market to open on the east side on Route 25 and Lake Marian Road. They say good things take time.
A different tune
To keep your spirits up, Phyllis Connelly invites us to the increasingly popular celebration of music and prayer at the 13th annual Palm Sunday Interfaith Concert at 3:45 p.m. March 16 to be held at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in West Dundee. You'll definitely want to get there early as dozens of musicians from churches throughout the area join voice and instrument to celebrate and honor the joy and sorrow of the Lenten season. They'll invite you to join in for a few numbers and welcome us all to the free celebration. If you'd like to make an offering, they'd appreciate it.
Race time
Don't forget to stop by the Dundee Township Historical Museum at 2 p.m. today to help kick start the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Meadowdale Raceway, which is now a fine walk in the park. Bill Pohnan, who grew up in Carpentersville, was at that 1958 grand opening with this father and has, since, done extensive research on the region's raceway nugget turned forest preserve. He will share those gems with us today at the museum, 426 Highland Ave., West Dundee.
Be sure to keep an eye out for deer on your way there.