Best of Beth Bales: Time to Hang Up the Cell Phone?

Will a study linking cancer and cell phone usage alter your phone habits?

  Once again reports indicate there could be a link between cell phones and cancer.  And scientists, in calling cell phones possible cancer-causing agents, have put phones in the same category, according to the Associated Press, as DDT, gasoline engine exhaust and coffee. The panel said there was limited evidence that cell phone use was linked to two types of brain tumors, but said evidence was inadequate to draw conclusions for other cancers. The assessment now goes to the World Health Organization and national health agencies, which may issue guidance on use of the phones. OK, how many people out there in Patchland have cell phones? You two who don’t, lower your hands. And—how many of your kids use cell phones the vast majority of the …

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Best of Beth Bales: Time to 'Dance' with Geneva Stars

An experience begins, as my husband and I, with five other couples, embark on the odyssey that is 'Dancing with the Geneva Stars.'

  All I can say is, Laura Rush and Derek Swanson are going to be Homecoming King and Queen of “Dancing with the Geneva Stars.”  They were, and are, both fired up and rarin’ to go, full of wisecracks and jokes, and full of enthusiasm for the “Stars” experience.  They were probably the only ones NOT nervous this past Sunday, as 12 strong, we entered State Street Dance Studio for our first session of “Dancing.”  They were probably the only ones not asking themselves, “What are we all doing here—and why did we ever agree to participate in a dance competition where hundreds of people will be watching?” Linda Cunningham of State Street Dance welcomed us all. And with that, our adventure with “DWTGS” began.  The competition is a fund-raiser for …

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Beth Bales

Beth Bales: A Cornucopia of Thanksgiving Ramblings (From 'Vomit Sauce' to Britney Spears to Dancing With Geneva Stars)

As the holiday nears, some random musings on holiday madness, food prep and thoughts about this day on which we give thanks.

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 people who have suffered heartbreaking loss this past year and are grieving still, a way to get through this first holiday season despite broken hearts.   …

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Inside Geneva: Jeff Ward

Jeff Ward: You've Been Hacked!

And how you might avoid a similar fate!

I want to thank my alert readers who were among the first to let me know my e-mail account had been hacked. I want to assure you I've never even been to London, I’ve (thankfully) never been set upon by armed thugs, and I wouldn’t be caught dead writing anything like “OMG.” As fellow columnist Rick Hollinger said that fateful afternoon, “I bet you didn’t realize how many friends you had!” While it’s nice to be popular, after about the 80th “you’ve been hacked” phone call, I was seriously considering a future as an Amish hermit. That said, it was gratifying to hear so many compatriots say, “We knew it wasn't you because your prose isn't nearly that bad. Who knew being a reasonable writer could come in so handy? I’m glad you all were far too …

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Steve Gibson

8:49 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Congrats to my fellow Geneva Patch blogger Jeff Ward on navigating the complex path to getting his hacked email account back under his control. Here's a link to a list of the top 25 passwords in use for 2011 - http://splashdata.com/splashid/worst-passwords/index.htm - if you see your password on this list, or one very close to yours, you may want to be a little proactive and change your password …   more ›

Beth Bales: Judges Read Bedtime Stories, Not Verdicts

On Wednesday, three Kane County judges will trade in their judicial robes for bathrobes, as they read bedtime stories to children.

For most people, probably, being in a courthouse is not a positive experience. It could be a divorce, it could be a speeding ticket, or a criminal proceeding. With the exception of a wedding or a few other legal matters, a courthouse visit is most likely a stressful one. But not Wednesday evening. From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Kane County Judicial Center will be open for fun, as the Kane County Law Library and Self Help Legal Center once again hosts its annual “Family Reading Night with the Judges.” The event is geared to children in second grade and younger. And they’re urged to come dressed for bed, in their comfy pajamas and/or robes.  This year, Judges Mark Pheanis, Edward Schreiber and Bruce Lester will be reading their …

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Beth Bales: Help, Mr. (or Ms.) Wizard! Schedule Your Parent-Teacher Conference With District's New Website

It's time to schedule Parent-Teacher Conferences. The Geneva School District site has a wizard to help.

For parents of Geneva schoolchildren, it’s time to sing, “We’re off to see the wizard.” The wizard that sets up appointments for parent-teacher conferences, that is. As of Wednesday, parents could begin scheduling conferences, via each school’s customized PTC Wizard website. People can access all school sites from the district website.  Conferences are held during the week-long Thanksgiving break, and are slated for 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m Tuesday, Nov. 22.  As a former parent of Geneva students, I can tell you that at the high school level, particularly, the wizard makes easy work out of scheduling conferences, particularly for those parents who have more than one child at Geneva High School. Parents …

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Beth Bales: Teenagers, Prepare to be Terrified

Enjoy things that go bump in the night this weekend as Peck Farm Park's prairie is transformed into a field, not of dreams, but of terror.

What better way to spend the weekend before Halloween than terrified? That’s what the Geneva Park District is promising with this weekend’s Haunted Hikes, set for 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Peck Farm Park, 4038 Kaneville Road. This hike is not for the faint of heart. “You will be scared,” emphasized Traci Wicks, marketing and public relations supervisor for the district.  The park’s prairie areas will be transformed for the two nights into a field of terror. Wicks said six scenes will be created throughout the natural prairie path (NOT the paved path that encircles the park). Participants will enter through a tunnel, dark, but with special-effects lighting and decorations. Then they’ll be escorted through to experience scenes that…

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Beth Bales: Hey, 99%ers! 100K in College Debt is Many Percentages Too High

Many of the stories coming from the 'Occupy' camps talk about huge college debt and lack of opportunity. Maybe there's nothing to be done about the job market at the moment. But there ARE options when it comes to college debt.

I’m not sure how I feel about Occupy Wall Street and the other “Occupy” camps springing up, protesting ... I’m not sure exactly what, besides income inequities and anger at Wall Street types. But I have seen calls for student loan forgiveness ... Just because. I’ve seen COUNTLESS video messages and photographs that talk about massive student loan debt coupled with an inability to get a job. Here are two: Some of the notes mention $50,000 or $60,000 or even more in student loans. Add to such stories the news that last year, the amount of student loans taken out crossed the $100 billion mark, for the first time, and total loans outstanding will hit the $1 trillion—that’s TRILLION—for the first time. Students are borrowing twice what they did…

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Inside Geneva: Jeff Ward

Jeff Ward Part 2: Why I Think our Downtown Will Disappear

And I will sorely miss it!

  Last Wednesday, we discussed the multitude of reasons Genevans have to fall in love with our unique central business district. In deference to reader Colin Campbell who challenged me to forestall future Geneva disasters, in that same column, I issued a terminal prognosis for our downtown patient. In fact, I may have used the words, “already gone.” And here’s why in ascending order of importance. 1. Vacancies As in, there are already too many of them, and it’s getting worse. And once that number of empty stores hits the tipping point, it becomes a self-perpetuating feedback loop from which there’s no return. There are commercial landlords like Mike Simon who understand our economic woes and work with commercial tenants to keep them in …

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Colin C.

8:12 am on Tuesday, November 1, 2011

A.a. Yes, I understand that but what he realizes from the deduction amounts to a fraction of the actual rent. In most cases cutting the rent would still be more profitable in the long run. So I'm still puzzled.   more ›

Beth Bales

Beth Bales: Cause for 'Glee?' Winning Money to Fix Up GHS Auditorium

A Geneva High School senior filmed a video submission for the 'Glee Give a Note' contest to support music education and the performing arts. Vote early and often, to give the school a chance to win a grant.

Want to help make improvements to Geneva High School’s auditorium—without spending a dime? Vote for GHS senior Luke Totman’s video submission in the “Glee Give a Note” campaign.  Online voting has begun in the contest, which will award 73 schools grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to help fund music education. Schools had to submit videos about why their school deserves the money.  The campaign was created by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment in partnership with the National Association for Music Education to help support music and arts programs in public schools. And what better way than tapping into the popularity of a hit television show–Glee–that’s all about the arts? Making the video was a natural for Totman, who is …

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Beth Bales

10:31 am on Tuesday, October 18, 2011

The link is within the story, but here it is again: http://www.gleegiveanote.com/vote_details.php?id=74 And by the way, voting must be limited by IP address. I tried to vote on my laptop last night and wasn't allowed to. BUT -- you could still vote on a work computer!   more ›