Visiting French Friends Bid Geneva Adieu

An American Harvest dinner of pork tenderloin with applewood-smoked bacon and sliced Bourbon red turkey was a delightful way to end a week-long stay by 15 French visitors hosted by the International Cultural Exchange Committee of Geneva. The French group hailed from Croissy-sur-Seine, Geneva's sister city just outside Paris.

Karin DeMarco, the president of the French cultural exchange, presented Aldermen Chuck Brown and Sam Hill with a painting for the city of Geneva.

The farewell dinner was held Thursday at Heritage Prairie Market on Brundige Road, just west of Geneva. An informative tour was led by owner Bronwyn Weaver, who explained the farm's four-season organic growing methods. 

The French visitors danced into the night to music provided by Gibby Monokoski on keyboard and Jeremy Eberhard on fiddle.

The group arrived Monday and the itinerary for the week included visits to Geneva History Center, artists' receptions at two area galleries which showed their artwork,  the Fermilab Prairie, a pioneer cemetery tour, and Garfield Farm.

Numerous host families welcomed the French visitors into their homes to provide accommodations during their stay including Alderman Brown and his wife Mary Kay and Alderman Hill and his wife Carolyn.