Buy oranges for a good cause
The next time you watch "The Godfather," probably the greatest "man's man" movie of all time, pay attention to the oranges.
Every time an orange appears - like when Abe Vigoda tosses one playfully in the air during a wedding or when the don buys a bag of oranges from a street vendor - you know something bad is going to happen.
It may not be until several reels later, but eventually, the character you saw so flippantly regarding the king of all citrus fruits will get his comeuppance.
But for at least a few weeks, thanks to the Huntley Rotary Club, oranges will be a symbol of something good.
During October and November, the rotary club is selling premium navel oranges and pink grapefruits for $30 a carton. The proceeds benefit the club's literacy, continuing education and youth leadership programs. To place an order, call Chad Alexander at (847) 741-7220. Orders must be submitted by Nov. 18.
Pantry gets a boost: In September, Huntley area businesses came together to help local families put food on the table.
The businesses that form the HuntleyArea. Biz Networking Group, a part of the Huntley Chamber of Commerce, collected 350 pounds of food and household items for the Grafton Township Food Pantry.
The pantry, which had been swept up in the maelstrom of Grafton Township politics, recently moved out of the township's Vine Street offices and relocated to a warehouse off Kreutzer Road.
Crafts for children: I recently visited Niko's Pub and Grill for the first time. I savored a plate of simple yet elegant manicotti before buying a new pair of blue jeans at the Banana Republic outlet store nearby.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, Niko's is hosting a new event, the Keep Them Safe Holiday Craft Show. The free event, which will feature crafts and other homemade products, takes place from noon to 4 p.m.
Proceeds from the event will go to Safe Families for Children, an organization that promotes foster care for children outside the state welfare system. The Huntley Jaycees will collect supplies for soldiers and coats. Any questions? Call Teri Altpeter at (630) 205-6013 or Gary Minor at (847) 421-9191.
School rallies to help girl: During the two years I've covered Community Unit District 300, I've seen students and staff respond time and again to family emergencies.
Students at Jacobs High School are no exception. The Algonquin high school's student council has put together a fall festival that will benefit Rylie Hope Morgan, an 8-year-old recently diagnosed with cancer.
The Jacobs Fall Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25 at the Jacobs field house. The event, open to all, will include hay rides, pumpkin painting, scarecrow stuffing and games. Call the high school at (847) 658-2500 with any questions.
The long arm of the bus: The importance of school bus safety was highlighted this week when a student at Neubert Elementary School was briefly trapped under a bus.
Friday marks the last day of National School Bus Safety Week. This year's message is: "Avoid Harm, Obey the Stop Arm."
Remember to stop when you see a school bus with flashing red lights or an extended stop arm, watch for kids crossing the street near a stopped bus and slow down on residential streets, in school zones and near bus stops.