Flying cheaper than driving? Who knew?

It sure seemed a good idea at the time.

An enticingly cheap car rental special made flying to Jacksonville, Fla., and driving back to the lovely northern Fox Valley seem the cheapest way to attend a special Memorial Day weekend family function … or at least it did when I booked it in March.

All I can say after hearing groans from the pumps across six states is "Yowzers."

Who would think round-trip air fare to Florida would be cheaper than five tanks of gas?

Know that we have plenty of company in our misery. It's 4-bucks-plus in Georgia. A once astronomical $3.75 a gallon seemed absolutely thrifty in Tennessee. Welcome home to $4.15 a gallon … and rising.

No wonder some of our state lawmakers tried to make political hay with their go-nowhere push for a gas tax holiday in recent days. Normally I would be opposed to such a move for, after all, those state gas taxes help keep our roads in sort of passable condition.

But, right now, we consumers need every break we can get.

Ripple effect

So do local businesses. Dale Hentrich, sales manager for Nicolet Natural Artestian Water in East Dundee, was one of several business people to share the impact of those high pump prices with Sen. Dick Durbin at a news conference Thursday in Elgin.

Bottom line: Those high gas costs hurt.

"It appears there's no end in sight," Dale told me when I called him Friday. "And it appears there's nothing we can do."

Sounds like he captured the mood of motorists across the country right there.

Close to home

Getting gouged at the pump makes "shop local" seem mighty smart, doesn't it? Crystal Lake already is urging residents to buy at local stores. Bet it won't be long before you hear that plea from most of our hometowns.

Making a mark

Shop local was the goal for Algonquin's Assistant Village Manager Jeff Mihelich many years ago when the village had plenty of rooftops but not much retail.

If it weren't for Jeff, what became a thriving Randall Road retail corridor might have had quite a different look. He was quick to nix a fast-food burger joint that wanted one key spot … the one now occupied by the Algonquin Commons.

Jeff was key to setting the tone both on retail and conservation as he helped guide the village in recent years, quests he'll now handle in his new gig in Surprise, Ariz. Thanks, Jeff, for sharing your vision and touch to turn this Fox Valley town into something truly special.

Crash clown

It was a bit of a bumpy ride recently for a clown named by a town. Dubbed Lazy Bonz after a villagewide contest to name his clown persona, Algonquin Village Clerk Jerry Kautz took a nasty spill on his motorcycle. Three broken bones later but healing, word is some folks are now lobbying to change his name to -- what else? Broken Bonz.

O-w-i-e

Maybe he'd better try something more sedate for a while. I hear that Algonquin Township is looking for contestants for the annual Senior Spelling Bee at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Algonquin Township Hall. If you're at least 50 and a resident of Algonquin Township, sign up for the fun -- can you spell lighthearted? -- by calling (847) 639-2700, ext. 7. They tell me they'd love for you to come by to either spell or cheer them on.

Now, Jerry, you do know that it's "bones," not "bonz," right?

Signs of summer

Hey, I hear it's time for the Huntley Farmer's Market. It opens at 8 a.m. Saturday on Coral Street and around the town square. Stop by until noon to shop for farm produce, flowers, plants and homemade goodies. They'll have entertainment every week and a craft fair on the first Saturday each month.

Calling all artists

Sean Hargadon of the Elgin Cultural Arts commission invites all of you artists to sign up for the Alley of Art, a new open-air art show in downtown Elgin on Aug. 16, 23 and 30. All artwork will be considered. Just e-mail a link to your online portfolio or low-resolution photos to elginarts@gmail.com by July 1. If selected, you'll be able to display -- and sell -- your work commission free.

Cream of the crop

Gas prices got you down? Marge Edwards invites us to join the Friends of Centerville School and members of the Dundee Township Historical Society at a free old-fashioned ice cream social from 2 to 4 p.m. today at Randall Oaks.

That's on the west side of Randall Road, north of Route 72 and south of Huntley Road. You can turn the crank and make ice cream, visit the one-room school house and check out the Fox Valley Model T Club's vintage cars. And, talk about the good old days when you could fill your Model T for a lot less than $4 a gallon.

Good thing there's free ice cream!