We may struggle, but we sure dig deep to help
A lot of us are struggling a bit these days. It seems it's either fill the gas tank or fill your tummy. Everyone I talk to says they're stretching to cover costs, cutting back, stretching some more.
It doesn't take much to tip us over when times are tough.
And when times are especially tough, it seems folks here in the northern Fox Valley dig deep and reach out.
Need a trim?
I told you Friday about a fundraiser today to help the family of Troy Oates of Genoa. Troy was severely injured in a snowmobile accident six weeks ago and will not be able to get back to work as an electrician for quite a while. Doctors have told him he faces a long year of rehab and may never get full range of motion back in his reconstructed shoulder. In addition to not being able to work and provide for his family, it's been especially difficult not to be able to play ball or roughhouse with his twins, 4-year-olds, Jake and Josh.
His sister, Tiffany Soderlund, who co-owns Salon 37 in Algonquin, where Troy's wife, Ann, also works, hopes we'll all turn out for today's cut-a-thon to help the family get through these rough days. You can get a $15 haircut (no blowdrys), a $10 eyebrow wax and $7 polish change from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the shop, which is behind the BP gas station across from the Algonquin Commons, just north of County Line Road.
Helping hands
Patti Kucek asked me if you kind folks can help another family facing particularly hard times. The community is rallying around the family of Jerry Erpito, a father of five who died of pancreatic cancer March 17. Patti asks if you have any gently-used or like-new furniture, household items, children's toys, clothes, books, etc., that you're willing to donate to their community sale to benefit the family. If so, you can drop the items at Dundee Highlands Elementary School, 407 S. 5th St., West Dundee, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. If it's a large item, please drop it off between 6 and 9 p.m. Friday, May 9. You can also drop items between 6 and 8 p.m. from May 5 to 9.
The sale, also featuring baked goods, lemonade and coffee, will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10. I'll tell you more as we get closer. I know you'll want to help.
Lively bands
Hey, it's time to dig out those dancing shoes, ladies and gentlemen on the northern side of 50. Mary Stallings of the Dundee Township Park District Senior Center tells me Vito Buffalo and Mario Pizzoferrato will set your toes to tapping from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday at the senior center. Think big band and be ready to swing.
Sonic boom!
With tough times, it's good to know the Village of Algonquin will soon consider a most affordable -- and absolutely delightful -- spot: Sonic, America's Drive-in, known for so many things. If it wins approval from the village board on May 6 -- and how could they say no? -- I'll be ordering a Sonic burger all the way, with onion rings, please. Call that a sonic boom!
Way to go!
How about Ed Szydlowski? An engineer for the village of Carpentersville, Ed raced into a home to save an 87-year-old woman who was screaming from an upstairs window as a kitchen fire filled the house with smoke. He downplayed his heroics, but Fire Chief John Schuldt credits him with preventing far more serious injury to the woman. What's that I said about people helping each other in tough times?
Hang in there
And speaking of tough times, my thoughts are with Algonquin Police Chief Russ Laine, who has been in intensive care at Sherman Hospital in recent days. Sure hope you're feeling better, chief. Lots of us are pulling for you.