West Dundee family grateful for generosity during fundraiser

Patti Kucek has two words for you: "Thank you."

The West Dundee resident is one of the dozens of you who spent many hours to help a family some of you don't even know.

That didn't stop you from being part of an "incredible" turnout from throughout the area to help the family of Jerry Erpito, a father of five who died of cancer last March.

"It was an incredible experience I will never forget," Patti said after Fox Valley residents swarmed last Saturday's community sale at Dundee Highlands Elementary School. "Words cannot describe the amount of work, time and donations that went into this event, but it is truly a testament to the power of women and community."

Parents and children, volunteers, staff and faculty from Dundee Highlands, the Beta Clubs at Dundee Middle School and Dundee-Crown High School, Dundee-Crown's National Honor Society and Erpito family members and neighbors joined total strangers to turn out in force.

Trivent Financial for Lutherans is matching a chunk of the raised funds, meaning this family gets a much-needed boost during sad times.

Bringing it all together were Pam Griffin, Nancy May, Alisha White, Elizabeth Mahnke, Elizabeth Ward, Suzie Boyle, MaryBeth Skillman and Patti.

And all you out there who contributed.

Thank you, indeed.

Hair's to them

What do you want to bet that certain Burlington-Central High School teachers are stuffing someone else's fundraising jars with as much cash as they can get their mitts on these days?

Your money, their money, anybody's money.

But my money is on them.

Who, after all, wouldn't want to see a bunch of their favorite teachers with nary a hair on their head on the last day of school?

I thought so.

The team of five Central teachers is competing with freshman, sophomore, junior and senior class teams to see who can raise the most cash for "One Step at A Time," a summer camp for children with cancer, an effort spearheaded by students Stephanie Catherine and Vittoria Finley.

The team to raise the most cash will get their heads shaved by the school's cosmetology students on May 20.

If you'd like to donate, send your check to Central High School, Box 68, Burlington, IL 60109. Please note which team you're supporting.

"My money is on the teachers," said English teacher Sue Zagorski, who is helping to organize the event.

That seems a very smart bet.

Live to give

We sure do have lots of caring folks in the northern Fox Valley. Mary Oreskovich, the PTO president at Liberty Elementary School in Carpentersville, tells me students there will run, jog and walk this week to raise money for the PTO and for Children's Memorial Hospital in memory of Patrick Smith, who died of cancer in 2004. His classmates are now fifth-graders.

Through the roof!

If you've opened your property tax bill, you might have already guessed that I'm hearing plenty from people wondering why their home appraisal went up -- meaning a higher tax bill -- even though home values have plummeted.

You'd be right.

Lots of you are e-mailing and calling, and I appreciate your response to my request to see how big the problem is.

It's pretty clear it's a very big issue for cash-strapped homeowners from Elgin to Huntley to Algonquin, all struggling to make ends meet as costs and our blood pressure go through the roof.

You still have time to weigh in. Just mark your e-mail "Through the Roof" or leave a detailed voice mail.

I'm talking to experts about our options, their decisions and possible solutions this week and will soon share their thoughts with you.