Yo, candidate. Don't call me. I'll call you
Hey, political guys and gals, listen to this:
Click.
Buzzzzzzzzz…
And don't call back. Please.
That's the message from a Huntley resident after she was inundated with recorded political calls in the final days of the 14th Congressional District special election.
The voter, who prefers anonymity vs. more calls, was so distressed with the robo-calls from failed congressional candidate Jim Oberweis that she wanted to reach out and touch someone.
Fortunately for said candidate, she, instead, just called me.
What's your take?
Her experience epitomizes the giant flaw of the Do Not Call list.
Lawmakers may have exempted political calls from the telemarketing ban, but they just might want to rethink the loophole. Those calls might be relatively cheap to buy, but they seem to come with a high cost overall. At least some political pundits wonder if the GOP lost the race for that valued seat last Saturday in part due to voter anger over the calls.
It seems we common folk like our little kingdoms to be politics-free zones.
Lest there be doubt, let me ask you -- has a recorded political phone call ever made you feel warm and fuzzy about any candidate?
Or did those calls just make you, like the unhappy Huntley lady, want to reach out and bop someone?
In the net
Proud dad, Mark Szczurek tells me that West Dundee's new hockey rink is already home to a state champion. Congratulations to the Leafs Pee Wee A team, which recently won the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois' Blackhawk Cup, akin to a state championship. The 11- and 12-year old skaters sure know how to kick off the inaugural season for the Leafs Ice Centre on Route 72, don't they? The PeeWee AA team took second place and the Leafs Squire AA took third at their respective levels. Way to go, all!
Racing away
Did you ever zoom around the Meadowdale Raceway track? Donna Redmer of Raceway Woods, former site of the Meadowdale Raceway, asked me to give y'all a heads up that they're looking for anyone who once participated in those racing days to help celebrate the 50th anniversary next September.
They know you car buffs attend lots of shows so they're hoping you'll mark your calendars for Sept. 13 and 14 for what sounds like a pretty special event. You'll be able to see the cars and hear the drivers who raced around the track from 1958 to 1969.
You'll have to use your imagination to hear the roar of the crowd, but I'll bet there will be a roaring engine or two to help set the scene.
They're also looking for food vendors and anyone who shared those fun days.
Hmm, I wonder if they also want those of you who snuck onto the track after hours? Contact Donna at donnazip@comcast.net or Ross Fosbender at rossf@cognifast.com.
You'll find lots more info at meadowdaleraceway.homestead.com
Green Dundee
Balmy temperatures may still just be a tease, but plenty of people are thinking green as we approach St. Paddy's Day and the East Dundee St. Patrick's Day parade at 11 a.m. Saturday. It sounds like it's going to be a terrific event. In addition to the Great Lakes Naval Reserve band, Midlothian pipe band, fire trucks, squad cars, cement trucks, etc. you'll see the 8th Illinois Calvary's Civil War re-enactors, the Kane County Mounted Rangers (yes, on horses!), the ever-popular Mayer School of Irish Dance dancers, the Kane County Car Club, Dundee-Crown High School poms and cheerleaders and more. Be sure to give a special salute to our veterans who are joining in this "everybody's Irish today" fun.
The parade, sponsored by East Dundee and Rosie O'Hare's Public House, will begin at Bandito Barney's on River Street and head north to Barrington Avenue, west to Water Street and then north to Rosie O'Hare's.
Cleaning house
A couple of Algonquin residents who have spring fever asked me to find out when the annual spring cleanup pickup is. It's April 12 if you live east of Route 31, village officials tell me. If you live west of Route 31, east of Randall Road and north of County Line Road, it's April 19. That includes the Gaslight subdivision. And it's April 26 for residents west of Randall Road and south of County Line, excluding Gaslight. You'll soon get specifics in your village newsletter.