Why do you think they call it the Fox Valley?

You might think you live in the 'burbs, but it's really the Wild West. And, no, I'm not talking about the increasingly heated battlefield otherwise known as McHenry County's political world.

Rich Ryzner of West Dundee was out running errands the other day when balmy temperatures had us all thinking we lived somewhere else. As he headed home, he slowed because he thought there were three small dogs playing in the street. "From far away they were having a good time chasing each other onto the street, back on the sidewalk," Rich said.

Turns out those were no puppies. They were red foxes. "What a special thing to observe," Rich said. "I wish I would have had my camera."

That's for sure on both counts. Thanks for sharing, Rich. Guess now we know why this is called the Fox Valley.

Wild race

So, if West Dundee has foxes, does that mean McHenry County's political world has wolves? That's probably not being fair to wolves, is it? Seriously, I hear the already volatile, increasingly heated race for McHenry County state's attorney will get even more interesting in coming days. It seems another top county official will soon have plenty to say.

Drawing the line

If you missed Saturday's public hearing about the proposed District 300 boundary changes, you can still weigh in by e-mailing the district's communication supervisor, Allison Smith, at allison.smith@d300.org. If you'd like to read the e-mailed comments, go to www.d300.org, click on Attendance Boundary Committee, then scroll down to public comments and click. The board is slated to vote on the boundary changes this month, so don't wait! They've had more than 15,000 hits on that site the past two months.

Fresh take

Jim Bartunek read the recent item about the Village Fresh Market grocery store in Carpentersville that is yet to open. Another reader had been concerned the "For Lease" sign meant the store would not open. But village officials tell me it's still on track, hopefully for next month. Jim worries it will go the way of the Garden Fresh store on Route 14 in Crystal Lake (which was once Cub Foods). After hearing the Garden Fresh he loved would close, he kept asking if it was true. "I went to the manager and he denied, denied and denied and said the store was not closing," Jim said. A few weeks later, it closed.

As best I can tell, these are two very different groceries, Jim. Hopefully the only thing they'll share is the word "fresh" in the name. I know many people are looking forward to the opening of a grocery store on the east side of the river.

Think green

There may be snow on the porch and post-holiday bills in the mail, but there's reason for hope on the horizon. Planning is in full swing for Rosie O'Hare's Dundee St. Patrick's Day parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 15. If your business, club, scout group, school, neighborhood, sports team, bowling team -- or, as organizers put it, "whatever!" -- want to join the fun, call Beth at (847) 426-7300. I've heard lots of good things about last year's parade.

Keeping green

We're all invited to a presentation on a proposal to protect the integrity of the land, water resources and open space from the Land First Task Force of the McHenry County Board. They'll present their thoughts on the McHenry County Conservation Design ordinance at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at the McHenry County College auditorium. They ask that you RSVP to (815) 363-0444.

Found it!

It sounds like it was a free-wheeling ornament hunt at Raceway Woods last Sunday when Cub Scout Pack 154 and their families discovered and recovered all the red holiday ornaments and the missing gold ornament worth $20. Thanks to raceway stewards Jack and Donna Redmer, the pack is now $100 richer. Not to mention, everyone had a great time at the scenic spot. It seems lots of folk had fun looking for the ornaments the Redmers hung during the holidays for a Raceway treasure hunt.

Hmmmmmm … I wonder if there's a Raceway Easter Egg hunt in the future?

Tickets?

A reader wondered if I knew of anybody or any place giving out free tickets to the Chicago Auto Show that runs next month. I'm afraid I don't so I'm asking you. Anyone? Give me a call at (847) 931-5725 or e-mail amack@dailyherald.com and I'll pass it on. Thanks!