This is for the birds -- and I don't mean politics
Hopefully, we're all a bit warmer this morning. But no matter how chilly you are, Helen Langer of Huntley hopes you'll take a minute to feed our feathered friends. "The little fellas depend on us more than ever when it is so cold," Helen told me as she recounted her recent encounter with a red-breasted nuthatch.
You might recall those are the birds that stormed the area last fall, then disappeared. Bird experts told me the birds -- featured in a www.dailyherald.com slideshow by my colleague, photographer George LeClaire -- may have died in an early freeze, migrated south in search of food or just gone into hiding. Well, at least one has been hanging out around the wood and glass bird feeder that hangs from Helen's river birch tree, tucking food into the bark for later.
It seems, however, the little guy got stuck one recent day as he searched for food. And when I say stuck, I mean literally. He got caught inside the feeder's glass cylinder and couldn't get out until Helen spotted his dilemma and lifted the lid. No harm done, and the friendly nuthatch lingered until Helen re-filled the feeder.
Earlier Coverage Photo Galleries Nuthatches
"When I hung the feeder back out, guess who was the first guest!" Helen said.
Smart bird. Do you suppose he was thinking "Oh, nuts!" when he got stuck?
Dated but not done
Have you ever received a gift card or gift certificate, forgotten to use it, then had the store or restaurant refuse to honor it by the time you got there? Frank and Barbara Gonsowski of Huntley might hold the all-time award. It's been 20 years since they received a gift certificate for Lou Malnati's. They were fully prepared for total rejection after rediscovering the gift certificate tucked away in a drawer. "We had moved several times," Barbara said, explaining the delay. And she didn't say she rolled her eyes when Frank said let's try, but she was hesitant. "I'm, like, oh, come on," she said.
To her amazement, the folks at the new Lou Malnati's on Redtail Drive in Lakewood didn't hesitate. They accepted the aged certificate and told the Gonsowskis they just might have to frame it. I already loved Lou Malnati's, but that made me love them even more -- even if their delivery zone stops an elusive three blocks from my house. Take Randall Road to Ackman Road and go west to Redtail. You'll see it.
Remember Randy
The sad news about news anchor Randy Salerno's death touched many in his hometown of Crystal Lake, where he was known for his generosity with his time and his willingness to help raise funds for schools, police and animals, among other things. In fact, he was slated to again be the emcee for the Assisi Animal Foundation's "Mardi Gras Madness" fundraiser Saturday. The no-kill animal shelter's founder, Lee Linklater, told me they loved having Randy as host. "We were all looking forward to it because he's such fun, such a great host and a great guest," Lee told me.
Without him, it just won't be the same, without question. But the long-scheduled event, a vital fundraiser for this great group, can't be changed at this late date.
The event, featuring a silent auction boasting Southwest Air tickets, a two-night presidential suite in a Chicago hotel, and lots of dining and entertainment gift certificates, begins at 6 p.m. at the Crystal Lake Country Club. It includes a full dinner, dancing and plenty of fun -- in addition to what I'll bet are lots of memories about a beloved host who won't be there this year. You can reserve the $40 tickets by calling (815) 455-9411.