So, does the Huntley Dairy Mart really have the best ice cream in town? Come and find out for yourself, courtesy of Huntley Patch. Huntley Patch will give out tokens for a free, medium, plain ice cream cone between 12:30 and 1:30pm at the Dairy Mart on Route 47. There’s no catch. Just spot the “Patch mobile,” uh, that would my minivan, and come tell me “I like Huntley Patch on Facebook” then get your token for a cone. We have 30 tokens so it’s first come, first serve. Today is expected to be another hot day so come out and enjoy your ice cream cone from Huntley Patch.
A comment my sister made the other day about what she considers signals the beginning of summer got me thinking. Watching the first Country Time Lemonade commercial on TV means it’s summer to my sister. Remember those commercials? You can see some of the classics on YouTube dating back to 1978. My favorites were the ones that showed serene summer scenes like a hammocks and fields of flowers. What makes me feel like summer is here is not necessarily today’s date – the first official day of summer – it’s the little things that summer represent. It’s being able to sit outside at 8 p.m. with the …
Lately, I’ve been fascinated by the American flag. I’m not sure why. I’ve never been what one would describe as a patriotic. I love my country. I love my flag. I put my hand over my heart when I recite the Pledge of Allegiance. But I also get emotional when I say the words and look at the flag. Today, by the way, is Flag Day. It’s a day you may never have paid attention to, but I always remember the day, because it’s my cousin’s birthday. His name is Sam. Happy Birthday, Sam! Yes, he’s Uncle Sam to his nieces and nephews. There are low-key ceremonies held on this day. American Legion Post 673…
On Friday June 3, the afternoon of graduation practice for the seniors of Huntley High School, some had the advantage of staying in the gym to open the packages they had sealed nearly three years ago. Students in the English I Honors classes taught by Rochelle Hewlett and Steve Raethz made time capsules their freshmen year: a lengthy project that consisted of decorating a box meant to represent ourselves and filling it with memories through pictures, letters, and miniature passages written reflecting our beliefs about ourselves and our world. For many, opening the time capsules was a reality…
It’s just the beginning of construction season and already there are traffic alert days for Route 47 construction that has the Illinois Department of Transportation advising motorists to find other routes. This week will be one of those really bad construction weeks with delays seemingly in every direction along Route 47. I spent the end of last summer driving around Huntley almost everyday so I was able to find three or four shortcuts really good shortcuts that got me around the construction. One of my favorites was Haligus Road to Kreutzer Road to the shopping center where Walmart is …
I once wrote an essay about why no one ever talked about the day after in fairy tales. The reason no one ever mentioned the day after is because the frog that turned into a prince then morphed into an ogre, I wrote. I think I ended it with something like women and girls shouldn’t believe in fairy tales. The story of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding and marriage shows no one is guaranteed a happily ever after. I still think moms need to teach girls they can create their own fairy tale with or without a prince. But, I also think women need to escape into a fairy tale once in a while…
I have to admit, there were a couple of times I was left scratching my head during the Grafton Township special meeting this week. It was quite a scene with people at times talking at once; others having individual conversations about perceived violations of Robert’s Rules of Order; the catcalls and one guy complaining about the federal government. What I’ve found is there’s nothing more entertaining than township government. It doesn’t matter how big or small the township, there is always some sort of drama unfolding. Grafton Township has the best storyline nowadays, a storyline worthy of a …
Spring break conjures up images of college students heading south, but it also marks the start of an American tradition: the family vacation. “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” a 1983 movie with Chevy Chase about a man planning a cross-country road trip with his family, has a lot of laughs on the subject and isn’t too far off about the trials and joys of a family vacation. Our first official family vacation last week to visit family in south Texas had its highs and lows. A high point was watching our little ones discover the beach and try to make a sand castle. A low point was running out of gas…
Cathy Patenaude wants everyone to know of the Huntley Fire Protection District’s good deed. Patenaude is development coordinator for the Family Health Partnership Clinic in Woodstock. The clinic helps uninsured and under-insured women by providing breast cancer services like mammograms, screenings and prevention education. Recently, Lt. Ken Caudle and firefighter Scott Ravagnie presented the clinic with a $3,748 donation, Patenaude said. Huntley Fire Protection District firefighters held a fundraiser last fall, selling T-shirts to raise money for breast cancer awareness. The fundraiser has …
Lyla Weir stood out in her formal, white gown as she and her sisters strolled around this weekend’s Huntley Chamber expo. The Huntley High School senior was all dressed up with nowhere to go. “We’re protesting,” Weir said. She decided to wear the dress she purchased for Huntley High School’s winter formal dance in protest of the school’s decision to cancel the dance at the last minute, she said. Lyla Weir purchased tickets, bought her outfit and got her nails done for the Saturday, Feb. 26 dance only to learn during sixth period on Friday, Feb. 25 that the dance was cancelled. Lyla Weir …
I was always a sucker for Valentine’s Day. The frilly boxes of chocolate, the cute cards, the flowers and the idea of having a forever Valentine lulled me into this Hallmark generated “holiday.” Then I got married. The romantic Valentine’s Day took on a whole new meaning. The first few years, I went out and bought a little something. I looked forward to getting roses and a card. I didn't expect a lot, although I liked getting a little extra something. Then we had kids. Last year, my husband gave me a card and flowers. I don't think we did anything special. The last 18 months have been fuzzy. …
Four little arms reached up at the same time as I stood at the stove with three burners going trying to cook a homemade dinner for the first time in ages. The little eyes pleaded for me to pick each of them up, but I knew it wouldn’t be safe to carry one baby while cooking, let alone carrying two babies. But do they understand I can’t hold them because it’s not safe or do they think I’m just rejecting them? Will they grow up feeling rejected because of this one moment? Will they end up in therapy by age 3 because I rejected them? I go through this at least two or three times a week, worrying …
It’s one of those things you wouldn’t necessarily notice until someone mentions it. You’ve probably driven past the sign on Interstate 90 at the ramp to Route 47 a million times and never really noticed what it says. Everyone who uses the ramp knows it takes you directly into Huntley. Only the sign says “Woodstock.” The sign has been that way since the early 1980s, Trustee Paul Mercer said, who first served on the board from 1979 to 1984. “It was definitely a big deal when they (the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority) put up the sign. Everyone was angry,” he said. The Route 47 ramp was …
O66. All I need to win my first game of bingo was O66. “C’mon, O66,” I thought keeping my eyes fixated on the yellow paper card. The anticipation kept building. All I heard were my thoughts and the swirling of the little balls in the bin. I26 would be good too, I thought, marking off another square box with my blue Dab pen. “I26,” the caller, Herb Glisendorf, said. “Bingo!” I said the words, not to loudly at first. I repeated it louder so everyone would know I’d won. I wasn’t sure what I won, but I won. My excitement was short lived, however, when Ruth Kahl pointed out the game was “4 Corners…
David Genty’s enthusiasm for Huntley is contagious. He’s the new recreation supervisor for marketing and special events for Huntley Park District. Like Huntley Patch, he’s new to the community. Genty started his job in late November. He’s been busy getting to know Huntley. “I’m really excited,” he said sitting behind his desk at the park district offices on Mill street. “This community has a lot of potential. The community is close. It’s what I like about the community and it’s what has impressed me.” The Elmhurst native worked downstate in Champaign for the park district where he did his …
No one talked about bullying in the late 1980s. It was present, but no one reached out to victims or the bullies. There was no real definition for it. A decade later, the tragedy at Columbine High School brought the issue of bullying and school violence to the forefront. There were efforts to stamp out bullying and help those being victimized. A decade later, bullying has become more insidious. The bullying has moved to the Internet where it is even more deadly for some victims. The categories of bullying have expanded from being teased for being "nerdy" to attacks based on a person's …
Two-year-old Sam Johnson of Huntley was busy playing with the snow when the sirens and red lights of the fire engine caught his attention. "Santa Claus," the little boy said to his mom, Miel. Santa appeared at this weekend's Christmas on the Square and helped light the holiday tree. Then he met with children and took photos with them. What did kids tell Santa when they got to sit on his lap? Julian Molina, 5, asked Santa for a Wii. "He's nice," the little boy said about Santa. His brother, Jiovanni, 1, can't talk but seemed to warm up to the guy in the red suit. The boys' cousin, E.J. Aldape…
The list of suggestions seemed like common sense, I thought as I wrote a story last week on an expert's advice on Black Friday shopping. Develop a strategy seemed like the most important tip and I had my Black Friday adventure planned out. I was starting at midnight at the Huntley Outlets Center for a 50 percent sale at a children's' store. Then off to Spring Hill Mall in East Dundee for the other sales I spotted in the Thanksgiving Day ads, including going to a big box store for one of those door buster deals. The store opened at 4 a.m. so I had plenty of time to get there. I even had my …
The McHenry County Sheriff's Office send out a release this week wishing residents a Happy Thanksgiving. The release had an attachment to the Prevent Child Abuse Illinois Web site that gave ways to give thanks this year. The agency came up with the list in recognition of its 20th anniversary. There are some really touching ideas that the Prevent Child Abuse Illinois came up, some that can become traditions for your family. Huntley Patch picked out a handful you can share with your family today and this holiday season. For more information on the agency, go to www.preventchildabuseillinois.…
Matthew Mueller worked the entrance of the 28th annual Turkey Testicle Festival at the Parkside Pub Wednesday, but he won't be taste testing the deep fried delicacy. "I refuse to eat it," he said. "I grew up on a farm but there's something about eating testicles. I won't do it." Lots of other people, including a few Patch editors, gave the gamey, balls of meat a try. While turkey testicles don't quite taste like chicken, it's not as bad as you'd think. The key is not to think about what you're eating. I should've listened to Tom Stroga, a volunteer from the Sun City Bowlers. He had some good…
