Jeff Ward

2012 Columns in Review

It's time to look back on the major 2012 Geneva news stories as I saw them.

In the famous but somewhat paraphrased words of the fictional Margo Channing, “Fasten your seatbelts folks, it’s going to be a bumpy Geneva 2012 retrospective ride.” Since we’ve got so much to cover, let’s get right to it! In January, responding to a make-a-prognostication-before-the-fact challenge from eminent readers Colin Campbell and Ken Loebel, this columnist predicted the president would prevail one more time. My theory was that a combination of pandering to far-right lunacy and the contenders’ willingness to tear each other to shreds during the primary would ultimately lead to the GOP nominee’s downfall. And that’s essentially what happened. February brought us the sad revelation that Geneva streets Superintendent Steve LeMaire …

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Geneva Remembers: Janet Safanda, 1940-2012

Part 5 of a multipart series in memoriam of the many amazing people Geneva lost in 2012.

  Janet Safanda's name should be more than a footnote in the Geneva history books. That's because Safanda was instrumental in the movement to preserve Geneva's historic buildings during the fast-growth period of the 1980s, and her legacy lives on in the stories of the day. It's hard not to think of this year's movement to preserve the Pure Oil Building without remembering Janet's similar efforts to preserve the former creamery building that's now a part of the foundation of the Herrington Inn. Back in those halcyon days, the issue of historic preservation popped up a lot in news articles. Developers were building new subdivisions, Tax Increment Financing Districts were new funding mechanisms for development and there were opportunities all…

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Geneva Remembers: John Barton, 1941-2012

Part 4 of a multipart series in memoriam of the many amazing people Geneva lost in 2012.

  It's probably not socially appropriate to consider "the best wake ever," but as I said in an earlier article, John Barton's visitation at Malone Funeral Home earlier this year would be right at the top of my list. It's just the way I think we should remember the lives the people we've lost—with love and affection, joy and reflection, testimonials and funny stories. A good life is something to be celebrated—and John Barton led one worthy of the loudest cheers. There's not much I can add to the excellent stories written about John by my friend, Kurt Wehrmeister: John Barton: The Coach Who Cared So Much and Coach John Barton's Fire Puts Him in GHS Hall of Fame. Read them and enjoy. And I wish I had videotaped all the stories told by family …

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Geneva Remembers Those We Lost in 2012

In Memoriam: In a multi-part series, we pay tribute to the men and women of Geneva who contributed so much to our community and who passed away this year.

2012 was an extraordinarily sad year for Geneva, IL. In that 12-month time period, we lost literally dozens of our city's favorite sons and daughters, folks who who were pillars of our community and who have earned a place in Geneva's history books. We talk a lot about institutional memory in Geneva, but few years have seen the passing of so many people who were institutions in their own right and who carried so many Geneva memories in their heads and in their hearts. The list reads like a Geneva Who's Who: Merritt King, Dick Jaeger, John VanThournout, Mary Bencini, John Anderson, John Barton, Janet Safanda, Joe Radovich, Allen Mead, Roger Morris, Jack Ryan, Paul DesCoteaux. This is the introduction to a series of Geneva Patch articles …

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QuickStory: City of Geneva Holds Tax Levy to .44% Increase

The impact on a $300,000 would be $20—and only if the city's Equalized Assessed Value doesn't go down.

Geneva aldermen voted unanimously Monday night to pass a tax levy that's just .44 percent higher than last year's. For the owner of a $300,000, that translates to less than a $20 increase in the city's portion of the property tax bill—and that's only if the city's Equalized Assessed Value doesn't go down. The .44 percent increase in the levy "represents exclusively the new growth," Mayor Kevin Burns said. "In my opinion, (it is the) most conservative approach of the options available." City staff members had recommended seeking the maximum levy increase: 3 percent based on the Consumer Price Index, as allowed this year under tax-cap legislation, plus the .44 percent EAV represented by new development. The decision to hold the levy in line …

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Sandra Ellis

8:10 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012

That is good news! I only hope the School Board hears the message and votes for a tax increase FREEZE based on the revenues they received this year. They have indicated they want a 1.5% increase which will bring them in over $2million more than this year and they haven't even done the budget yet? The vote will be Monday, Dec. 10, at the regular School Board Meeting at 7pm at Coultrap! The public …   more ›

Geneva's $120K on Adult Halloween Costumes Pales to Our Neighbors' Spending

St. Charles households spent more than average on adult Halloween costumes. American adults spent $512.1 million on costumes in 2011, according to Crain's.

Adults in America spent $512.1 million on their Halloween costumes in 2011, according to Crain's Chicago Business. That's $100 million more than was spent on child costumes last year.  While Geneva spent $120,242 last year, St. Charles households spent $180,398 in both the city’s ZIP codes. Batavia spent just $64,065, but Barrington's all the way up to $231,836. Aurora spent $355,739.00 and Elgin spent $249,953, but Big Rock spent only $4,244. ZIP City/town Amount 60010 Barrington $231,836 60102 Algonquin $98,339 60110 Carpentersville $49,345 60118 The Dundees $59,004 60119 Elburn $29,662 60120 Elgin $105,511 60123 Elgin $79,766 60124 Elgin $64,676   Elgin total $249,953 60134 Geneva $120,242 60136 Gilberts $19,241 60140 Hampshire $33,335 …

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Tri-Cities Death Notices Oct. 2, 2012, Include Allen Mead, Former Publisher of The Geneva Republican

Obituaries with memorial services and visitations in Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles.

Geneva lost one of its most prominent citizens this week with the passing of Allen Mead, 95, former editor and publisher of The Geneva Republican. His was one of several posted this week by area funeral homes.  Here is a link to death notices posted Sept. 25.   Yurs Funeral Home, Geneva   Yurs Funeral Home, St. Charles   Moss Funeral Home, Batavia   Are you looking for more information about Tri-Cities funeral homes and services? Would you care to review the services provided by a local funeral home? Click on the funeral home names to see the Patch Places listing for each business to write a review or learn more about the funeral home. Batavia Geneva St. Charles

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GAME DAY: Geneva Vs. St. Charles East—A Rivalry Revisited

A historic rivalry between two neighbor schools takes on special meaning this year as the Vikings struggle to a 1-4 start and the Saints are riding high.

A rivalry game that once was is a rivalry game reborn tonight. The Geneva Vikings haven't missed a playoff berth since 2003. But after a 25-6 loss a week ago at St. Charles North, Geneva is 1-4 overall and needs to win every game through the remainder of the season to have even a chance of sneaking in this year. St. Charles East, meanwhile, is off to a good start in 2012—3-2 overall and 2-0 in the Upstate Eight River Division. Coach Mike Fields, a former Vikings assistant, has every right to talk like Darth Vader did to Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first Star Wars movie: "The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner. Now, I am the master." Decades ago, when Jerry Auchstetter used the Force in Geneva, the Vikings and Saints …

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West Nile Fatality Reported in Cook County

The first human case of West Nile in Kane County was reported a little more than a week ago. Now, the first death of the year due to West Nile is reported in Cook County.

What is believed to be the first fatality in the Chicago area this year has been reported in Cook County The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) confirmed on Wednesday that there has been a fatality due to West Nile disease in suburban Cook County, the first in nearly 60 cases of the disease seen in the communities served by the CCDPH. A CCDPH spokeswoman confirmed that the death occurred in the south region of suburban Cook and that the victim was between 70 and 79 years old. To protect the victim's identity, no further information was released. The first human case of West Nile in Kane County was reported in the first week of September. A Batavia girl was the victim. CCDPH, which serves all of Cook County except the locations…

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On Sept. 11, 2012, Does Your Family Have a Plan If the Unthinkable Happens?

Kane County Health Department offers safety tips for National Preparedness Month.

On Sept. 11, 2012, the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, the Kane County Health Department is joining organizations throughout the country in reminding families to have a plan for any emergency situation.  Now, during September, National Preparedness Month, is a good time to plan in advance so that everybody knows what to do and where to go if unthinkable happens. Emergency experts have four sayings to help families prepare for natural and manmade disasters: Get Informed, Make a Plan, Get a Kit and Get Involved. This week, the Health Department is focusing on making the all-important plan. How will you get to a safe place? How will you contact one another? How will you get back together? And what will you do in …

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