Very Confusing Newspaper

I sometimes get behind in my newspaper reading.  A couple days ago I came across an old paper and started reading it.  One part I always like is a section called "Today's Birthdays."

This particular paper had some folks I was unfamiliar with.

Actor Antonio Sabato Jr. is 13  (52) (born 1972)

Rapper Ja Rule is 12  (48)  (born 1976)

Singer Mark Foster (Foster the People) is 10  (40)  (born 1984)

So what gives with these weird birthdays and ages?

I looked at the newspapers date. which was Thursday, February 29, 2024.

Ohhhh!  --RoadDuh

Our 49th Wedding Anniversary-- Part 13: Heading Home on Our Last Anniversary

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2022

There was a still a clown hanging around this morning outside our room, only now wearing a bathrobe and later tourist clothes (but still with clown face painted on)  Not something you'd expect to see outside your door in the morning.  And, actually, a little bit unsettling.

Went to the Grant Hills Motel office for coffee and today's Dubuque newspaper.  The manager asked if we were going to stay another day, but Liz had already told me she wasn't feeling well and wanted to go home.  I told her that we didn't want to stay and she said that was alright as they still didn't have any room cancellations.

Read the newspaper outside and we headed for home at 10:30.  I had considered driving the Stagecoach Road on the way home, but Liz said she wasn't feeling well, so took the usual US-20 route.

Instead of going on the US-20 bypass around Freeport, we took Business US-20, the original US-20 through town. It sure seemed like we went a long way on it.

When we got home after a 353 mile drive for our anniversary, I cut the grass and then we went to Sunnyside and the McHenry American Legion.

Little did I know at the time, but this was to be my last anniversary with Liz and that we only had less than a month before her death.  Today, December 23, is the third month since she died.

Sure Going to be a Strange Christmas This Year.  --RoadDog

Our 49th Wedding Anniversary-- Part 9: A 'Great" Morning at a Mom and Pop Motel

Continued from November 13th.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022

Got my coffee from the office as well as a free copy of today's Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph-Herald.  The price of it is now $1.50 Monday to Saturday.  A little bit higher but definitely better than the Chicago tribune which is now $4 daily.  I will be cancelling my subscription, sadly, soon.  I love having a print paper in my hand, but not at $140 every two months.

Sat outside the room, had my coffee and read the paper.  Now that's good living to me.

The neighbors in Room 14 left for breakfast and a boat ride  in Dubuque, but will not be coming back to the motel.  Too bad, we sure had a nice conversation with them last night.  Those old Mom and Pop motels are very conducive to sitting outside your room and talking with fellow travelers, something you can't do in newer motels.

I watched some of "South Park," a really funny adult cartoon show which unfortunately attracts a lot of kids to watch it.  It is hilarious, but things they talk about and cursing should not be for kids.

--RoadDog

Our 49th Wedding Anniversary-- Part 3: Bringing It All Back

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25

We were married on this date 49 years ago.  The ceremony took place at the Newman Center in DeKalb right by the campus of Northern Illinois University where we both graduated.  The reception also took place in DeKalb at what was the Holiday Inn on Lincoln Highway (that Lincoln Highway, America's first transcontinental paved highway).  It is now still there and is a Red Roof Inn.  It is right across the street from one of out favorite places, Pizza Pros.

We sat outside for awhile and I went to the office for coffee and a Dubuque newspaper.  Yep, they still give guests a newspaper.  How quaint.

Forty-nine years ago, I woke up in our apartment in Des Plaines and Liz woke up at her parents' house in Palatine.  Then, we drove to DeKalb.

I didn't know Dubuque had three colleges: the University of Dubuque, Clarke College and one other one.  Plus, one of their parks is named Comsikey Park.

--RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  How does a building burn up as it burns down?

Celebrating the Chicago Tribune's 175th Year, A Fish Fry, Cheap Beer, 1972, McHenry and Johnsburg

FRIDAY, JUNE 10

Celebrating the Chicago Tribune's 175th Year and I read their anniversary edition out FP (Front Porch).  I have subscribed to this paper since 1973 (except about a year when I had a problem with its editorial process).  In my mind it is the best newspaper in the country.

But sadly, my days of subscribing are about over because the price is now up to $130 for two months of Wed., Thurs., Fri., and Sunday delivery.  I'm sure going to miss it.

Met Kevin and Kelly at Cuda's on Grasslake Road in Antioch.  The other name for the place is "Iceboc" because ot is so cold in there, but the food really good so we dress for the ooccasion.  They have a great Friday fish fry for $10.99, all you can eat.  

Afterwards, we went to Lake View Place on Grasslake and enjoyed their Friday $1.50 draft beer.  Came home and likewise enjoyed Margaritaville and the Ultimate Jukebox.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11

Went to Stucky's where we enjoyed the $1 draft pints and it was Angie's 50th birthday.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12

Bob Stroud played his Summerof 1972 special on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, the Drive.  These were the songs on the radio and in your record collection fifty years ago on June 12, 1972.  I have listed the songs elsewhere in this blog.

Drove over to Miller Park in McHenry (right on the Fox River) to hear the band, but it was too crowded.  We went to the McHenry American Legion and enjoyed the cocktails there.  On the way home, we found Stucky's was closed, but Sunnyside wasn't, so went there before heading home.

--RoadDog

Good Times Last Week-- Part 3: Newspapers, Cassette Tapes, Summer 1971, 80s A to Z, Band on a Deck, Beer and Wings and a Little Blue Nun

Continued from September 8, 2021.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Front Porch as usual for breakfast, coffee and read the Chicago Tribune.   Hard copy of course, there is just something I like about a newspaper in hand, but the price of paper copies is getting pretty dear so don't know how much longer I can continue to keep it coming. It is now $3 daily and $5.75 on Sunday.

I recorded Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Root Salute to Summer 1971, Part 4, on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  Really took me back those fifty years.  Back in 1971, I was recording on cassette tapes and I recorded this show on cassette tape as well.

Stuck with those old newspapers and cassette tapes, you know.

I also have been recording segments of the Drive's 80s A to Z which they have been running since Friday and will continue through Labor Day tomorrow.   They are also going to continue with it starting next Friday.  I figure these will be great Firebird Cruising songs since it is a 1985 and still has a cassette deck.

We went to Choppers where we met Glenn and Barb and enjoyed sitting out on the deck listening to John Piet and his pal entertain with lots of oldies.  The $2 draft beer and 45 cent wings didn't hurt either.  We were sitting out by a channel with plenty of Chain of Lakes boat traffic.

We came back home and sat out by the Flats on the east side of the house and finished off the last of our anniversary Blue Nun wine.

Still Stuck in the Old Days, I Reckon.  --RoadDog

Where Were You in 1967?

Okay, 53 years ago.

I was a just getting ready to begin my junior year at Palatine Township High School in Palatine, Illinois.  My athletic career had been cut short the year earlier when I broke my leg in wrestling, but I joined the school newspaper as a sportswriter and became sports editor my senior year.

I met Liz at a party in November, and the rest, as they say, is history.  We are still married, celebrating our 47th anniversary this August 25.

Bob Stroud played 1967 on his Ten at Ten on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1, 96.9 FM on Wednesday, July 29.   It brought back some memories.

AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH--  Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
GIMME SOME LOVIN'--  Spencer Davis Group
FIXIN'-A-HOLE--  Beatles

SWALBR--  Cream
CARRIE ANNE--  Hollies
CASTLES MADE OF SAND--  Jimi Hendrix
DANDELION--  Rolling Stones

LITTLE BIT OF SOUL--  Music Explosion
WHITER SHADE OF PALE--  Procul Harum
I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW--   Tommy James & the Shondells

That Real Fine Year--  Road'67

Chipmunks Running Amok 'Round Here (and in New England) and Other Yard Varmints Like Squirrels and Wascally Wabbits

I read in yesterday's Chicago Tribune that New England has so many of the lil' Alvins that they have become a nuisance.  We have a bumper crop here in northeast Illinois this year again.  I always have lots of them.  I have the Front Porch Chippers as I call them, and the Deck Chippers.

They can be a pain.  Just try slipping any flower with bulbs or tubers by them.  There is also flower pot mining to see if there is anything edible.  Fortunately, I don't think they've discovered the tulips and jonquils.

And, when they're running or chasing, watch out.  I've several scars from Chipmunk encounters of the fast kind.  I've even had ones this year and in the past who approach me demanding food.

They are lucky I like them so much or we would have serious problems.

We also have  lots of squirrels, though I haven't seen much of them this last month for some reason.  My biggest problem with them has been attacks on the roof and the Battle of the Bird Seed.  Last year, three squirrels ganged up on me and wiped out my three bird seed feeders, especially the one with their favorite, sunflower seed.  Boy they love sunflower seed.

However, that day, I vowed payback and the next day went to Menard's and got one of those feeders where the squirrel's weight closes the portals.  So far that has worked, but I have seen some of the varmints staring up at the feeder, just thinking and thinking.

And, this year I all of a sudden have three wascally wabbits running around the yard a whole lot.

We're Being Over Run!! --RoadMonk

FOX HUNTING:  Fox Mulder was an FBI agent on which TV series?


"The X-Files"

My Idea of a Great Morning

This morning was what I consider to be a perfect morning.  After getting up, I went outside and sat on my front porch.  I first sat in the rocking chair and then moved over to the wicker chair.

I had a McDonald's sausage McMuffin (I bought it yesterday) in the rocking chair and then coffee and read the Chicago Tribune in the wicker chair.

But, that's not all.

When I'm sitting out there, I enjoy looking at the clouds (and this morning we had a magnificent sunrise) and, surprisingly I don't even bring music out with me.  Why bring music when you have all those birds a'chirping away.  And we have plenty of birdies in the neighborhood.

I get to watch them and yell at the robins for eating my worms.  Birds can be quite funny when an argument begins and chasing starts.  But, perhaps that is a mating ritual.  Who knows?

Then, I have the wascally wabbit, several chippers and several squirrels to bother.  I watch folks walking their dogs and the neighbors.  I guess for awhile many morning I am the neighborhood watch or perhaps just some old snoopy codger.

Then, coffee and a newspaper.  Man, I am going to miss holding a newspaper in my hands.  Digital just doesn't do it for me.

And, I sure enjoy looking at the yard.  I put a lot of work into it and it's right pretty even if I do say so.  Flowers every where you look.

Oh, yes.  This morning I had the added enjoyment of hearing thunder off to the west and then we had a steady falling rain.  Love the sound of the raindrops and especially that smell that a rainfall brings.  That and new-mown grass are two of my favorite summer smells.

Today was a mighty fine FP as I call it.  That means Front Porch.

***********************************

By the way, all you sixties music fans, WXRT's Saturday Morning Flashback is going back to 1968 for three hours tomorrow morning, Saturday, from 9 am to noon.  It streams at www.wxrt.com.

***********************************

A Good Morning.  A Mighty Good Morning.  --RoadDog

THOSE CRA-ZEE COUNTRY SONGS:  Get Your Tongue Out of My Mouth, I'm Kissing You Goodbye.

JSS: U.S. Flag Day-- Paul's Birthday on WXRT'S Breakfast With the Beatles-- Piano and Violin Dirges for the "C-- The Sunday Chicago Tribune These Days

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  U.S. FLAG DAY TODAY--  Today is the birthday of the United States Flag.  On June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress  passed on that date, the new nation's flag was put thusly:  "Resolved:  That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."

Hope you put your flags out.  I have my usual U.S. flag at the garage, the smaller one at the mailbox out by the street and a 76 Bennington flag hanging up on the porch.

2.  PAUL'S BIRTHDAY ON WXRT'S BREAKFAST WITH THE BEATLES--  It has now started, so tune in at www.wxrt.com for Terri Hemmert's annual salute to Paul McCartney on his 78th birthday, which is June 18, 1942.  Nothing but Paul songs, with and without the Beatles for two hours.  It runs from 8 am to 10 am, CDST.  Listening to it right now.

3.  PIANO AND VIOLIN DIRGES FOR THE "C"--  Sure getting tired of all those coronavirus commercials on TV with the "dirge" piano and violin soundtracks.  I may never be able to listen to this sort of music again.

4.  THE SUNDAY CHICAGO TRIBUNE THESE DAYS--  Just went out and picked up my Sunday Chicago tribune out in the driveway.  That's right, I still get the old hardcopy newspaper.  I sure am going to miss this treat when it's gone.

Sadly, today's Sunday Tribune is about the same size as the old daily Tribunes.  The old Sunday Tribune had a whole lot of heft to it.

CRAZY COUNTRY SONGS:  "If I Had Shot You When I Wanted To, I'd be Out By Now."

I'd Celebrate That!! September 3-9: Friday Is Beer Lovers Day

**  I'd celebrate that.

SEPTEMBER 3,  MONDAY--  Labor Day**

SEPTEMBER 4, TUESDAY--  Wildlife Day**  Newspaper Carrier Day**

SEPTEMBER 5, WEDNESDAY--  Cheese Pizza Day**  But I like mine loaded, garbage style.

SEPTEMBER  6,  THURSDAY--  Read A Book Day**  Coffee Ice Cream Day

SEPTEMBER 7,  FRIDAY--  Beer Lovers Day**********   Lazy Moms Day

SEPTEMBER 8, SATURDAY--  Ampersand Day    Not sure what this is all about.

SEPTEMBER 9,  SUNDAY--  Teddy Bear Day   Weiner Schnitzel Day**   Grandparents Day**  Sure miss mine.

--RoadDog

YOUR ENGLISH LESSON:  (From Wassup magazine)    Did you know that "listen" and "silent" use the same letters?

Living in Today's World: Dustin-- The Comic Strip Pages Don't Crash

From the August 21, 2016, Dustin comic strip.

Dustin and the young neighbor friend are lying on the floor in the living room reading the comics in the newspaper.

Frame 1:  Dustin:  "It used to be the way we all read the comics."  Friend:  "Wow!"

Frame 2:  Dustin:  "Pretty cool, right?"  Friend:  "The weirdest thing is ..."

Frame 3:  Friend:  "... no pop up ads."  Dustin:  "Plus, it never crashes."

I remember anxiously waiting to get the Sunday comics from my dad as I was growing up and then reading them on the floor.  And, I still get most of my regular, non-blog, news from newspapers.  Few things finer than sitting out on the front porch, gazebo or back deck with a cup of coffee and today's newspaper.

I am sure going to miss it when the time comes and there are no longer any print newspapers.

--RoadDog

MORE SUTHEN-ISMS:  All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is.  They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.

N.C. Summer Trip 2015-- Part 5: The Wilmington (NC) Star-News

July 24, Friday

Picked up a copy of the Wilmington (NC) Star News yesterday at Wal-Mart, but when I'm at Topsail Beach to get the paper, I go over each morning to either the Jolly Roger Fishing Pier or Godwin's Store.  Both date back to the earliest days of Topsail Beach and Topsail Island after it was opened to civilians.  The military did testing on rockets on the is;land after World War II.

I went to the Jolly Roger today.  A copy of the newspaper now costs 75 cents.  It was 50 cents last year.  This is one of my favorite newspapers.

Spent the day out on the beach, on the condo deck and out at the gazebos in the back yard.  That grass is like a carpet.  You step on it and sink down.

The air conditioner broke down so it was quite the hot night with just fans.

--RoadDog


REDNECK  COMPUTER TERNS:  CHIP--  Yer cusin's uncle's mother's boyfriend's name.

JSS: Great Football Game-- Romo and Peyton-- USA Today $2

JSS-- Just Some Stuff.

1. GREAT FOOTBALL GAME-- Usually, I just watch Da Bears or Da Pack on NFL gameday. But, yesterday, the Cowboy vs. Bronco game was on at both Antonio's and Tommy's and was that ever some game. Back and forth most of the game with Denver winning in the last second with a field goal to break a tie 51-48. And, then there was that great sneak run by Peyton on that one play. It sure fooled me, not to mention the guy filming the game.

2. ROMO AND PEYTON-- And, the game featured two of my favorite quarterbacks. Peyton Manning is the greatest. Can't believe Indy treated him so badly at the end of his great career there. I've liked him since he played at Tennessee. And, I really hate the Cowboys, but do like Tony Romo. He played high school ball about thirty miles from here in Burlington, Wisconsin, and played college ball at one of the little guy schools, Eastern Illinois

USA TODAY $2-- I was a bit shocked today when I went to Walgreens and bought the USA Today to find that the they had jacked its price 100%, from $1 to $2. The Chicago Tribune recently jumped its price 50 cents to $1.50 and that was bad enough, but, now this. OUCH!!!

I Won't Be Buying It Anymore, I Can Tell You That. --RoadDog

Where Were You November 25, 1968?

Bob Stroud did his Rock and Roll Roots Time Warp back on Nov. 25, 2007, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Since Liz and I are doing "A Trip Down Memory Lane" these days to mark our 40th anniversary of "going together", I will list all the songs Stroud played.

These were all being played on Chicago's two major young people's station at the time. Both were AM radio as FM was just starting to get going. Those stations were WLS and WCFL. These are the charts Stroud used to compile his playlist.

I was a senior at Palatine High School, in Palatine, Illinois, slinging Whoppers at the Burger King on Northwest Highway for a buck an hour and having a great time with the other employees and boss, Bob Galloy, who was just about a kid himself. Didn't much like the other boss, Jerry, but did like their father, Mr. G.

I was sports editor of the Cutlass, the school paper (we were called the Pirates, get it, Cutlass) and sports editor of the yearbook as well.

Liz and I had been going together almost a year by then. She worked part time at General Finance Corporation in Evanston, Illinois, during breaks and holidays. Her dad, Amby, also worked there and they carpooled it from Palatine.

Both of us were living in different sections of the huge Winston Park subdivision. I was at 1102 Anderson Dr., across from St. Thomas School and church. Liz was living at 44 Patricia Lane.

Stroud's comments accompany as well. If in parentheses ( ), it is my comment. I didn't get any of Bob's comment the first thirty minutes as I was asleep. The songs:

Elenore-- Turtles-- (how do you beat that great harmony?)
Nobody-- Three Dog Night (a favorite blue-eyed soul group of mine.)
I Heard it Through the Grapevine-- Marvin Gaye-- (the definitive version of the Gladys Knight & the Pips version. I still can't hear this without envisioning those raisins doing their best soul moves.)

Shake-- Shadows of Knight-- (a local northwest suburb group more famous for "Gloria." This one, for some reason, is regarded as a Bubblegum song, even though it is a great rocker.)

Son of a Preacher Man-- Dusty Springfield--(Nashville song from British songstress)
White Room-- Cream--(second hit after "Sunshine of Your Love." One of my favorite groups and one where I immediately bought every album they released after Ronnie Creel let me listen to his "Fresh Cream" album on a trip to Goldsboro, NC.)

Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)-- Kastenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus--Bubblegum music becoming the rage. (I always liked Bubblegum even though most of my friends didn't. How's that for a group name? I still have these original albums as brother Bob evidently did not like them and didn't wreck the albums.)

For Once in My Life-- Stevie Wonder-- has achieved standard status
Shame, Shame-- Magic Lanterns-- British group
Abraham, Martin and John-- Dion--hadn't been on the charts in a long time, then comes out with something completely different from his "Wanderer" type music.
Cinnamon-- Derek-- Top Ten song a long time before Neil Young had his "Cinnamon Girl."
I Can't Turn You Loose-- Chambers Brothers-- follow up to "Time Has Come Today." (Two of my all-time favorite songs.)
Things I'd Like to Say-- New Colony 6-- "B" side of "Come and Give Your Love to Me." Legend has it that Larry Lujac, dj at WLS, turned the 45 over and played this song. He immediately decided this would be the hit. (The Great Chicago Sound of the 60s. Former member Ronnie Rice still performs solo around the Chicagoland area as the "Human Jukebox." He sure knows a lot of songs.)

Kentucky Woman-- Deep Purple--Neil Diamond song and follow up to "Hush." (How to make a pop song into a heavy metal one.)

Both Sides Now-- Judy Collins-- written by Joni Mitchell
Magic Carpet Ride-- Steppenwolf-- (Nothing takes me back to Senior Lounge at Palatine High, right off the cafeteria, more than this song. Hey, is that a junior trying to sneak in?)

Run to Me-- Montanas-- Second hit after "You've Got to Be Lonely."
Love Child-- Supremes-- The Number 1 Song in Chicago by Cindy, Mary, and Diana. (A socially conscious song.)

Man, Did These Songs Take Me Back a Long, Long, Long Time Ago. --RoadDog

Black Friday

An article in the Nov. 21st Chicago Tribune "Black Friday turning pale" by Sandra M. Jones

Black Friday is typically the busiest shopping day of the year. This year, foot traffic is expected to be 2.5% less than last year. Plus, retail sales for the past two months are disappointing.

Economic pressures like surging gas prices, higher prices in the grocery stores, the fall of home equity will be keeping a lot of people out of the stores.

Stores themselves are not doing themselves a favor as far as Black Friday is concerned. Many have been offering Black Friday promotions for weeks. You can also go online, order, and pick up your purchases. Two stores around here, northeast Illinois, K-Mart and Meijer's were open yesterday. Plus, Value City opened at midnight. Kohl's and JC Penney's had 4 AM openings this morning.

The first time I heard the term Black Friday, I thought it was a term connoting something bad, you know, the stock market fall, or something like that. I didn't know that it marks the day when retailers go from losing money to making a profit.

Let's Hope It's a Good Day for Retailers. --RoadDog

Perhaps the retailers are overdoing it a bit.

Pigeon Problems-- RoadDog's News and Observation

The November 14th Chicago Tribune had an article about the pigeon problem in US cities. Besides rats and squirrels, and now, apparently some coyotes, pigeons have adapted themselves to living in urban areas better than any other non-domesticated animal. The tall buildings are an excellent substitute for the canyons they inhabit in the wild.

Whenever I go into Chicago, they are everywhere. Some won't even move until you almost step on them.

And, there are a LOT of them, and even more all the time. Many cities are trying to control them, even from removing their eggs, birth control, to using birds of prey to swoop down on them. In Brooklyn, NY, city councilman Simcha Felding has proposed an ordinance that would make it illegal to FEED pigeons and punishable by a $1,000 FINE if you break the law.

This proposal has pigeon-lovers up in arms.

But, what are you going to do. Feeding the pigeons only increases their numbers, but I'm sure they can forage for enough food in the garbage. Of course, the very worst thing they do is leave their droppings all over everything, especially statues, which they consider to be their very own private bathroom.

I remember being in a hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland, and right across the road was a statue of Sir Walter Scott, author of Ivanhoe and many other Scottish books. The body was black from all those years of early industry, but the head and shoulders was a striking white from you-know-what. Another time, I was in St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy. Now, if you want to talk pigeons, this has to be the largest concentration of themin the world. I was surprised to see all the open air eateries. I don't know that I'd like to eat out on that square.

Of course, I never had the pleasure of a pigeon dropping on the head, and I'm sure if it ever does happen, I will be a bit more anti-pigeon.

I Don't Mind a FEW Pigeons...But.... --RoadDog

A Great Independent Grocery Store in McHenry

I originally was writing about this when I ended up writing about the newspapers. I DO tend to get off-track.

While Frances was reading the comics and working on the crossword puzzle, I read the Northwest Herald and saw an ad for Angelo's Supermarket. They had some great sales, so decided to stop by on my way home.

The store is located in shopping center west of downtown McHenry on Illinois Highway 120. It is called Elm Street on that stretch.

Get these prices!!! $2.99 for a pound of roast beef, same for corned beef, seedless watermelon for $1.49, and local corn for 10 cents an ear. I'll go back to this place, plus it's an independent grocery store struggling against the corporate behemoths. Around here, that's Jewel and Dominick's, although I don't expect the latter to be around much longer judging by lack of business. Then, K-Mart and Wal-Mart have also gotten into the grocery business. It has to be a rough job to combat them.

Jewel and Dominick's might have prices like the roast beef and corned beef when they're on sale, but that will be for a half-pound.

The place was busy, so that's good.

In nearby Johnsburg, we have another great little independent called Val's which is the main place we go to for groceries. They have one of the best delis ever. Most everyone swears by them in this area.

Support Your Local Independent Grocer. --RoadDog

Not Many Farms Left in Lake County, IL-- Now One Less

You always hear about the fact that there are fewer and fewer farmers in the Chicagoland Metropolitan area. In the 1950s, there were 13,000 farms in the Chicago suburbs, By 2000, that number had dropped to less than 3000. Every year, some of the best agricultural land in the whole world, sprouts subdivision after subdivision.

Papers and media try to paint a sad picture and make us feel sorry for these farmers. However, I find it hard to feel sorry for these new millionaires. Had they been forced to sell their farms because of unfortunate events beyond their control, I'd feel sorry for them. But, NOT when the sale is their choice.

In an article by Mike Zawislak titled "The end of an era" in today's Daily Herald, I read about the Titus family selling their 160 acre farm for an undisclosed amount of money. However, back in 2004, the farm was on the market with the asking price of $17.5 million. I'm sure it is considerably higher today.

Tony Titus is the great-grandson of Lorenz Titus who started a dairy farm on the site with 100 acres in 1877. Production has since switched to grain and vegetables. For years, you could buy fresh produce at their farmstand and they also sold at various area farmer markets.

The developer who purchased it will do a land swap with the Lake County Fair Association. This will be the new site of the fair, after 50 years at its current site in Grayslake. The developer will get the old site and will also sweeten the deal with $12.5 million. A 769,000 square foot shopping center will be built.

This Sunday, all the farm machinery will be auctioned off.

I must admit that I am part of the problem when it comes to the loss of farmsteads in the area. We bought our lot and built our house in 1992 out in Orchard Bluff Subdivision in Spring Grove. The the year before, they had been growing corn on out lot and there was an apple orchard on part of the subdivision. If people like me weren't buying the lots, the developers wouldn't be buying the farms.

Plus, you have to remember, this is some of the best land for growing crops anywhere in the world. Now, all it is growing are houses and several million rotten Japanese beetles.

Again, I DON'T Feel Too Sorry for the Titus Family. --RoadDog

How Do You Name a School?

An editorial in the July 20th Northwest Herald was titled "The school name game". It said that the Manhattan Institute had done a study and found that the naming of public schools after US presidents and famous people are on the decline. New "schools now tend to be named after natural features- mountains, rivers and so on."

The Herald finds this "troubling."  Students should have role models, and naming a school after a distinguished public figure whose work generally is regarded as having made life better helps to perform the civic mission of public education."

I agree with the Herald completely. Schools exist to move students on to a higher level, both in knowledge, problem-solving, and giving back to society what has been spent for their education.

I taught for 31 years at John T. Magee Middle School in Round Lake, Illinois. It was named for a school board member. The last two years I taught, I was at Round Lake Middle School in a new building, but, believe me, I wanted to keep the old name. Actually, I would have been very happy to have stayed my whole career at just the one school. But they closed Magee and I had no choice.

Liz taught at Beach School, named for the Village of Round Lake Beach, and at Ellis School, which was named for a school board member as well.

Thinking back to my elementary and high school names, I went to Emma Conn School in Raleigh, NC, first through third grades. I have no idea why it was named that. Fourth grade was spent between a school in Jacksonville, Florida that I don't remember the name, and Fourth Street School in Greenville, NC, named for its location. I also went there for fifth grade.

Sixth grade, I was at Cardinal Drive School in Rolling Meadows, also named for its location. Seventh and eighth grades, I was at Winston Park Junior High School, named for the builders of our subdivision.

High school was at William Fremd in Palatine for freshman year and Palatine High School for the last three years.

That was a lot of moving around as Dad worked for Quaker Oats and whenever he go a promotion, he had to move.

That's a Lot of Schools in My Younger Days. --RoadDog