Every so often, you see examples of people stepping up to do something good for their kids and community, just for the sake of doing something good for their kids and community. It happens a lot in Geneva. Here's one example, passed along by a Patch reader: batting cages. A bunch of Geneva parents decided that the Geneva High School baseball team could use some new batting cages for practice. So they talked to varsity baseball coach Matt Hahn and Athletic Director Jim Kafer, got the appropriate permission, held fundraisers, bought the equipment, put it together, improved the field and just …

Geneva Middle School South students in Christina Lindahl’s Spanish classes recently completed a community service project that will send Happy Holiday notes and care packages to military men and women stationed overseas. Students recently studied Three Kings Day, a Latin American and Spanish holiday during which children leave their shoes out on the eve of Jan. 5 in hopes that the Reyes Magos (Three Kings) will leave them gifts in their shoes while they sleep. Geneva students filled cut out paper “shoes” with donated items, such as personal care items, snacks, playing cards and batteries, …

Many people ask what they can do for Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley besides tutoring. Here are some options: A Labor Day Weekend Carnival is planned for Sept. 1-5 to benefit Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley and Fox Valley Troop Support. The carnival will be located at the corner of Route 38 and Randall Road in St. Charles. The hours of operation will be 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. The event is sponsored by Windy City Amusements and Kane County Chronicle. Come out and have some fun! Not a golfer? You can still do dinner only at…

On Saturday, May 21, Geneva resident Ron Roulo, general manager of field operations for Nicor Gas, joined 50 volunteers who helped with framing, siding, and landscaping five Habitat for Humanity homes near Pioneer Prairie Park in West Chicago. He was one of more than 1,200 Nicor employees, family members, and friends who performed a variety of hands-on service activities to benefit 23 local community organizations in 20 cities and towns across Illinois. This was a special Volunteer Day forNicor employees and the organizations served, as it marked the 15th anniversary of this annual day of …

If you're new to Geneva or the Tri-Cities, you've got to go to the St. Peter Barn Sale this year. Mark your calendars now for the weekend of Sept. 17 and 18. I guarantee that your jaw will drop—and I can pretty much guarantee you'll have a good time. It's one of those events you have to see to believe. The Barn Sale has been a big deal (literally) in the Tri-Cities for decades. I remember when I was editor of The Geneva Republican way back in the 1980s and '90s, we knew one of the 52 annual cover stories was a no-brainer, barring a really big breaking news story. Our publisher, Wayne Woltman…

Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks are bringing their Heart & Soul Tour to Chicago, and thanks to a generous donor, the Paul Ruby Foundation is able to auction off two sets of tickets and parking pass to two lucky bidders.  Here are the details:  What: Heart & Soul Tour When: April 9 Where: United Center  Package 1: Section 233,Row 4, Seats 1-2, Parking Pass Package 2: Section 233,  Row 4, Seats 3-4, Parking Pass  Deadline: The auction begins today and ends at 5 p.m. March 24  Please send your bid: to Linda Biesecker at  lbiesecker@yahoo.com. Questions? Call Linda at 630-232-1122 Tickets can be …

Geneva High School senior Ryan Ahern has organized a service project he calls “Kicks for Care.” He is collecting shoes of any kind and will donate them to PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) and Glenwood School for Boys and Girls. “I knew I wanted to do something to help the community,” explained Ahern.  “Being an athlete all four years at GHS, I originally thought about collecting athletic shoes for the underprivileged. Then I realized there is a greater need out there for any type of shoe and it would help more people.” Shoes can be dropped off in large orange bins Ahern placed at the …

There are giving trees everywhere in Geneva this holiday season. But one of the most enduring and effective is the Giving Tree at St. Peter Church in Geneva. On Sunday, volunteers took time from their holiday season to spend a late-morning and afternoon collecting gifts for people who need them most. "It's just a good thing to do," said Dennis Dressel, who sorted gifts with his wife, Dana, and children John, Macy and Carissa. "There are a lot of people in need, and this is a very small way we can help," Dana said. "And it's fun!" Macy chimed in. After Thanksgiving, a small tree in the parish …

Williamsburg Elementary School students are ringing bells and doing giving trees this holiday season to help those less fortunate. Williamsburg kids will be ringing bells for the Salvation Army on Dec. 11 and 18. In addition to bell-ringing, students are making the holidays special for those in need through giving trees. Here's how it works: Each grade has a "Giving Tree" in the cafeteria. Kids bring in a small, new gift to hang on the tree.  Kids bring an item between Nov. 29 and Dec. 10. The Student Council then uses the gifts to create Holiday Hope Chests for children at Lazarus House. …

Rose Antonson, 4, of Geneva has 10q Partial Trisomy, an extremely rare chromosomal disorder that that makes her, in the eyes of her mother Jennifer, a beautiful, one-in-a-billion child. The same can be said of Rosie's older brother, Tommy, 8, who recently raised $1,304.75 so that children like his sister can have a chance to ride a bike. At Monday's City Council  Committee of the Whole meeting, Mayor Kevin Burns began this Geneva story of hope and thanksgiving. "Two (weeks) ago, it was a cold, rainy Saturday in the Tri-Cities, when this young man did something that ordinarily doesn't garner…

It's time to get out the hats, mittens, gloves and heavy coats to prepare for the cold weather. And while you're doing it, you can help some good-hearted students help the needy, as well. During the week of Dec. 6, the Western Avenue School first graders will be collecting donations of new-only hats, mittens, gloves and warm socks (sizes infant to child's extra large) to be delivered to the Batavia Clothes Closet fordistribution to children in need. To add some warmth to a child's winter, please purchase an item (or more) ofyour choice and send it to school with your favorite Western Avenue …