This year, the fund-raiser for the Matt Kenney Memorial Scholarship Fund has a new look and feel. Instead of a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, there will be an afternoon of good cheer among friends at Old Towne Pub on Saturday, July 21, with appetizers, cash bar and raffle. The fun is from 1 to 4 p.m. at the pub, Second and West State streets, in downtown Geneva. Matt Kenney, a 2002 graduate of Geneva High School, had been in the Air Force and was mulling college plans when he was killed in an automobile accident in the fall of 2004.  His parents, Tom and Melissa, and siblings created a …

By and large, I stay away from opinion pieces here in Patchland. For one thing, my journalism background has instilled a deep sense of providing balance and multiple points of view. For another, when you come down on one side of a question, you risk alienating those on another side. For still another, you can call me wishy-washy, but I can go off on a tear about something and then someone will say, “yes, but ...,” and I find myself acknowledging that the person has a good point. And finally, let’s face it, Jeff Ward has already staked out strong points of view here! But as I write this, on …

OK, all you creative (and not so creative) types: the Geneva Public Library has a festival and contest that sounds like it’s not only tons of fun, but tasty, too. It’s the Edible Book Festival. It’s not until August (Aug. 11, to be precise) but prep time is required, so put on your thinking caps now. Participants are to create a piece of completely edible art that’s book-related. This piece of art can be inspired by a favorite book, involve a pun on a title or be in the shape of a book. Registration already has begun and will be taken through Aug. 4. The festival is open to all. Entries are …

Mary, Mary, quite contraryHow does your garden grow? —Nursery rhyme I think the answer, out at the new Community Gardens at Prairie Green at Peck and Bricher roads, is a resounding “quite well, thank you!” Everywhere you look across the expanse of 124 garden plots, each 20 by 30 feet, plants are growing taller and bearing fruit (and vegetables). Of the total plots, 12 are “organic-only” plots. The garden area is a partnership  between the Geneva Park District, city of Geneva and the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. The plots are available from the third week of April through Oct. 31…

Summer seems in full swing, with many upcoming events to enjoy. “Legally Blonde: The Musical” presented by Rising Star Theatreworks June 29-July 1 at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre. Yes, I know that’s in Batavia, but Rising Star is based in Geneva and there are many young Genevans in the cast.  Shows are at 7:30 p.m. June 29 and 30, and at 2 p.m. July 1.Tickets begin at $14. Not only that, but individuals with special needs are the company’s guests (paying no admission fee) at the final dress rehearsal on June 28. That’s been a policy of Rising Star since 2008.   “Simply the Best,” presented by…

I think my favorite addition to Swedish Days this year doesn’t even involve anything actually at the festival. Well, it IS at the festival, of course, but it’s also on your smart phone. It’s the new Swedish Days mobile “app,” MyFest, bringing Swedish Days and its attractions to Android and Apple mobile devices (including the iPad).  “One of our chamber members, C.G.Tek, donated it to us,” said Laura Rush, communications manager for the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, which puts on Swedish Days (presented by Cadence Health). “It will tell you the schedule, it will let you Google your location …

The community rallied for Ralph Sunday. Family, friends, co-workers, friends and co-workers of family members ... they all gathered at the St. Peter Knights of Columbus hall, Riverview Banquets, to enjoy picture-perfect June weather and a picnic atmosphere and to support Ralph Dantino. All proceeds from the afternoon, which included hot dogs, brats and potato chips, plus games for the kids, a cake walk, more baked goods that you can imagine and a raffle, will help the Dantino family defray medical expenses associated with Ralph’s three-year-plus battle against cancer of the appendix.  It’s a …

On Tuesday, I spent a morning fulfilling my civic duty, though I did not, sadly, get to fulfill a dream of actually sitting on a jury. I’d been notified, several weeks ago, that my (voter registration) number had come up, and I was being summoned to jury duty. I looked at the date and groaned. The timing was terrible, in terms of my job as communications person at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles, with a big conflict in terms of staffing. No matter. Turns out that when you fill out the online paperwork you can request a date change. You have to give a reason—you can’t …

Editor's note: This Beth Bales column originally ran June 11, 2011. The Great Lobster Fly-In returns again in 2012—this time with pickup on June 16 and deadline of June 11 to order your lobster or steak. So we're re-running Beth's column, and we've replaced all the dates to reflect the 2012 Lobster Fly-In. It's a great cause, and a timely "Best of Beth."   For some people, nothing says “luxury” more than a juicy lobster dripping with butter. It’s the height of extravagance and indulgence. For them, well, get ready! It’s time for good eating, while doing good at the same time. (OK for those …

It’s graduation week for Geneva High School.  Yard signs declaring the home is the “Home of a GHS Graduate” are popping up all over town. (For those who’d like to purchase one, the blue and white signs are available in the main office for $5 each.)  Seniors’ last day of school is Wednesday.  The Jazz Concert and Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the cafeteria. The big Senior Breakfast, complete with debut of the class DVD and “most likely to” awards (most likely to be president, to be on Broadway, to be a millionaire and others) is Friday morning in Aurora, with graduation rehearsal to …

In 1912, the unsinkable Titanic sank. New Mexico became a state. The Republic of China was established. The discovery of the South Pole was announced. The Girl Guides (now the Girl Scouts) organization was formed. San Francisco (where thousands, perhaps millions would eventually leave their hearts) welcomed its first municipally owned streetcars on its streets. And in another municipality, 2,000 miles away from the city by the bay, Geneva City Hall opened its doors. Geneva is celebrating this centennial from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 19, at City Hall, 22 S. First St. Back in 1912, city …

What a difference a week makes. On Saturday, April 28, there seemed to be only a few plots sporting leafy greens at the new Community Gardens at Prairie Green. “Hardly anyone’s planted anything,” I texted my plot co-owner, Nancy Krueger. “It’s too cold!” she texted in return. And indeed it was. In fact, that following Monday, the thermometer showed a decidedly chilly 29 degrees when I got up. I was quite happy we hadn’t gotten to our planting yet.  But with another week and some more seasonable temperatures and there were distinctly more plots showing evidence of hopeful green thumbs.  The …

Editor's Note: This is the second of a two-part Beth Bales column remembering Mary Bencini, the Geneva second-grade teacher who died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 7. The Geneva History Center will name its Community Center in honor of Bencini, at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the History Center. Visitation is at Malone Funeral Home, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by a service at 1 p.m.   Mary Bencini's influence in Geneva and on Geneva students was widespread. The Geneva second-grade teacher at Western Avenue School and longtime community volunteer impacted so many lives. Emily …

Editor's Note: I actually divided Beth's original article into three parts—but we'll call this the first of a two-part Beth Bales column remembering Mary Bencini, the Geneva second-grade teacher who died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 7. We made a separate story of the announcement that the Geneva History Center will name its Community Center in honor of Bencini, at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the History Center. Visitation is at Malone Funeral Home, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by a service at 1 p.m.   Like so many Genevans, I was shocked on Easter morning (via Facebook!) to …

With the official start of spring just a few weeks away, there’s no better time to think about the beauty about to unfold across Geneva: green plants, green grass, green trees—and green, as in dollars—to bring beautiful flowers to downtown Geneva. Wednesday is “Pasta for Posies” day, the annual (this is the sixth!) Geneva Beautification Committee Spaghetti Supper fundraiser. The supper will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Riverview Banquets, 1117 N. Washington Ave., Batavia (the former Knights of Columbus building on Route 25, just south of Fabyan Parkway, by the Fox River.) Tickets are $10 …

The upcoming eighth annual Geneva History Center Creche Luncheons (Thursday and Saturday, and both sold out) are truly a community affair. Not only do the luncheons take place at the center and museum at 113 S. Third St., they also benefit a community treasure (the 18th century Neapolitan creche that used to grace The Little Traveler and which the center acquired in 1990), feature community celebrity servers and feature table decorations by members of the community. They are sponsored by a Geneva service organization, the Geneva Rotary Club. And Geneva High School culinary students are …

Editor's note: Beth wrote her "Tuesday" column early this week, encouraging folks to take part in the holiday tradition of St. Nicholas Day, which is today (Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011). We published the column on Monday so that people could get a chance to read it before the actual event. Since we don't want you to miss your Tuesday-morning Beth Bales fix, we're running this "Best of Beth" column, which originally ran Jan. 15, 2011. A lot of parents will find that their students are spending their upcoming holiday break studying for exams that take place in January. That's a discussion that …

 It’s not too late! There’s still time to brighten your kids’ Christmas season and perhaps start a new tradition at the same time. Yes, the big event (for those who celebrate, naturally) is a little less than three weeks away. But Tuesday, Dec. 6, is St. Nicholas Day. Have your children put their shoes out Monday evening and, come Tuesday morning, they’ll be surprised by candies, some coins or whatever St. Nick decides to bring. Some purists probably adhere to something that fits inside the shoe. I know plenty of St. Nick recipients who have received everything from calendars, to journals, to…

Before the craziness of the Christmas season begins, before Thanksgiving is overrun by shopping, some random Thanksgiving thoughts ... If a recipe—even one without meat like the delicious-sounding wild rice and mushroom bake I saw earlier this week—calls for chicken broth it is NOT appropriate for vegetarians! Use vegetable broth instead. As we watch the Merra-Lee stores close, a thanks for it being a mainstay of downtown Geneva for 82 years and a hope for hustle and bustle at that corner sometime soon. As the saying goes, a bend in the road is not the end of the road. Holiday wish: For …

The red ribbons are up, all through the downtown. Activities have taken place throughout our schools, and individual red ribbons can be found in public places throughout Geneva. And on Saturday, residents will get the chance to learn about the havoc that even “legal” drugs can make. the rapidly growing “legal”/synthetic drug craze. “These drugs are increasingly becoming the gateway drugs for kids who would never have dared to try 'illegal' drugs,” according to the Geneva Coalition for Youth.  The coalition will host a Red Ribbon Week Celebration and Expo from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Geneva…