McHenry man travels by tractor for fundraiser
I'm absolutely tickled that the weird antics "Today Show" co-hosts take in the name of raising money for charity, have convinced Bob Brownell of McHenry to do something similar.
On Saturday, Brownell, 75, embarked on a trip to Laramie, Wyo. in a 39-year-old tractor that reaches a top speed of 15 mph to raise money for Cary AMVETS Post 245. Commander Gary Foster reports that Brownell's efforts have raised at least $200.
Brownell estimates the solo trip will take between two and three weeks, due to the vehicle's speed and because he's taking the back roads.
"I feel the hardest part of the trip … is to get out of the urban area of our area with the traffic and everything, and once I get across the rock river in Byron, Ill., then I'm into farm country and then I'll just kind of fit in with the farmers," he said.
Once he reaches his destination, he'll drop the tractor off to his son Bob Jr., who will use it on his farmland.
The younger Brownell is also taking a page out of the Today Show play book.
Bob Jr., teaches two classes at Wyoming Tech and says he'll play, "Where's Bob's dad at now?" a take on "Where in the world is Matt Lauer?"
The class that's closest to guessing his actual destination gets a pizza party.
And who knows, maybe his father will start a trend, Bob Jr. said.
"I'm kind of hoping it turns into a Forrest Gump type of thing with 1,000 tractors following him along," he said.
Pamper your dog like a celebrity :ŒI got a call last week from Kendra Velazquez, alerting me to the new Algonquin business she owns called Dog Days Out.
Think of this place, which opened April 2, as a spa/beauty salon for Fido.
In addition to the usual treatments, such as teeth brushing and flea and tick treatments, your pooch can also get pampered by soaking in an oatmeal bath, indulging blueberry facials, haircuts and pedicures.
What are the benefits of a blueberry facial?
It's billed as a way to brighten and make your dog's face smell better and to soothe his or her soul with aromatherapy, Velazquez said.
And depending on the sex of your dog, they'll accessorize him or her with bows or bandannas. The business also offers dog training.
If Dog Days Out sounds familiar, that's because it had been in Schaumburg since 1998.
Velazquez, a Huntley resident, decided she'd move the business, which she runs with her dog-training mother Patricia Johnson, to Algonquin so she'd be closer to home.
"I love it," she said of Algonquin. "I just wish people knew we were here. I mean it's a cute little stop and we offer so much."
She's offering $5 off to new customers. Coupons are also available on the company's Web site.
For more information, call (847) 658œ6640 or visit www.huntleyworkingdogs.com.
Algonquin art show this weekend: Don't forget that Algonquin and the village's public arts commission are holding the first-ever "Fine Art Show on the Fox" from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in Riverfront Park.
The show is free and about a dozen artists will be showing and selling their eclectic wares that include photography, drawings, stained glass, paintings and sculpture.
For more information, call Village Planner Ben Mason at (847) 658œ4184.