Hey, Charlie Brown would be impressed
The stately village hall evergreen tree, decked out with Paul Bunyan-like ornaments, carried village manager Joe Cavallaro into work with a full dose of holiday spirit in Christmases past.
He and other West Dundee residents might need booster shots this year.
Not to mention, much smaller ornaments.
The August storms that ravaged many Fox Valley trees took out the 60-foot pine gem which long served double duty as the West Dundee village Christmas tree. The new tree is -- um -- a far slighter gem.
"It's more of a Charlie Brown tree," Cavallaro said of the 10-foot blue spruce. "It does look a little sparse."
A little?
"OK, a lot," Joe conceded. The problem stemmed, in part, from cost, but primarily from the difficulty in transplanting a large evergreen.
Despite the disappointment and definite hit to their collective holiday spirit, village hall staffers have kept a sense of humor. They note that at least they won't have to press the West Dundee fire department's aerial truck into decorating duty this season. It seems a small step ladder will do.
There is, of course, hope for the future. After all, as the village manager says, "The other one started out as a small tree somewhere."
Dickens in Dundee
Lest you think one dinky pine defines West Dundee's holiday spirit, never fear. The Dundee Township Lions Club is again sponsoring the Festival of Trees in Grafelman Park this year. Local schools, Scouts and other local groups will decorate the pines this Friday and they'll be judged Saturday during Dickens in Dundee. If you or your group want to join the fun, call John Baumgartner at (847) 428-6175 or Ron Rhoades at (847) 426-4593.
Parade call
The Dickens parade sounds like it's going to be great. They've lined up a bunch of entries, including a flatbed truck carrying an entire Dickens village, the Shriners Go Karts, the Dundee-Crown marching band and more -- and welcome still others. Call village hall at (847) 551-3800. "The more the merrier," village manager Joe Cavallaro said.
Old glasses?
Sandi and Rich Zordani of Algonquin were looking for a place to donate their old eyeglasses. Jerry Kautz of the Algonquin Lions Club tells me the Lions have collection boxes at both branches of the Algonquin Area Public Library; the Algonquin Village Hall; Northwest Eyecare, 245 Stonegate Road (across from Lifetime Fitness); and the Wal-Mart on Randall Road.
The Zordanis' question made me realize I have a few pair of glasses tucked in a drawer, too. How about you? Our donations will help the Lions aid children and adults who lack basic eye care.
Just a thought
Am I the only one who just absolutely hates the term "Black Friday," coined, apparently, because the Friday after Thanksgiving marks when retailers turn a profit? It seems jarring, especially given the term "Black Monday" came after the dramatic stock market drop on Monday, Oct. 19, 1987. You'd think retailers wouldn't be eager to embrace such a negative name.
Wouldn't it be a lot more fitting to call the beginning of the holiday shopping rush "Green Friday?" Just a thought …