Wanted: Lonely hen seeks fowl companion

A St. Charles hen is seeking a feathered friend to keep her company. She's into Polish, Silkies and other docile breeds, according to a Tuesday post on craigslist.org. She's ready to share a run with a full-time companion, and her St. Charles owners promise humane and uncrowded conditions in a chicken tractor facility with loving caretakers. Interested? E-mail: sale-vcbc8-1447447371@craigslist.org

"Do you believe in full moons?" Kane County Judge Bruce Lester asked Tuesday in Elgin bond court. After Monday night/Tuesday morning's lunar display, six people appeared in bond court facing a total of 12 battery charges spread among them for alleged acts such as choking, stabbing and pushing. Some researches believe human behavior takes a turn for the worse as a full moon waxes and wanes. So does Judge Lester. Kane County Board members John Fahy and Hollie Lindgren presented the Carpentersville Village Board with a check for $10,000 to complete the canoe launch at McNamee Park at the village board meeting Monday night.

The Carpentersville park is named for Tim McNamee, the attorney killed outside his Carpentersville law office in 1987 in a case of mistaken identity -- not his twin brother, Tom, the area entrepreneur who did of a brain tumor in June. But the money from the Kane County Forest Preserve District Fox River Trust will go to honor the memory of both, Fahy said.

"One of Tom's dreams was to see it finished before he left us, and that didn't happen. But he did leave us his plans, and the plans included a canoe launch for all of Carpentersville and northern Illinois to enjoy," Fahy said.

"Mr. McNamee was kind of an icon in our community. Everybody knew who he was. He lived life to the fullest."

Huntley resident Ron Ricciardi was the starting quarterback Oct. 24 as the Racine Raiders battled the St. Paul Pioneers in Minnesota for the North American Football League North Division championship. But a knee injury suffered during the first half sidelined Ricciardi, and the Raiders lost the game 39-17. Unlike NFL stars who can count their cash in the off season, Ricciardi, 34, returned home to his family and his construction job in Addison. Burlington may not have much development going on. (What town does?) But when it does, it happens in a big way there.

As we have reported, the only major construction project going on in Burlington is a 52-acre estate along McGough Road. It will center around a 10,000-square-foot stone and Drivet mansion, with a three-hole private golf course, bowling alley, swimming pool, tree nursery and six-car garage. The estimated completion date is June 30.

Village Attorney Gary Vanek estimated this week that this one estate alone will increase the village's real estate tax receipts by $4,000 or $5,000 a year, though the new property value probably won't be applied to taxes collected next summer. The entire existing village collected only $109,957 last year. The income to Central School District 301 will go up even more in absolute terms, since schools collect more taxes than villages, though not as much in percentage because the school district covers much more territory.

The developers are still keeping mum about who's buying the glitzy spread. They say only that it's a wealthy Chicago-area man who will use it as a summer retreat.

Professional dog and cat groomer Anja Griess is seeking scruffy-looking animals to make beautiful again.

Griess is the owner of Doggy Has It a grooming business in Elgin and she is searching for local animal rescue groups who need the aid of a professional groomer.

"If you are a rescue organization and have a puppy that does not look at his best, I will be happy to make him look cute again so he finds a new owner quickly," Griess said.

Griess is willing to donate her time and talents to help Shitzu's, poodles and any other furry friends whose chances at adoption would be improved with a good sprucing up. For more information, call 847-668-0559.