Editor's note: This is the last of a 10-part countdown of articles looking back at the Geneva newsmakers of 2012. The No. 1 newsmaker is Geneva Patch's 2012 "Person of the Year."
To be Geneva Patch's "Person of the Year" is not necessarily to be a hero or a villain. Like TIME Magazine's Person of the Year—who have ranged from Adolf Hitler to Pope John Paul II—the title goes to the person who has had the biggest impact on the news of the past year. The process starts with identifying the top Geneva stories of the year, and in 2012, the story that far and away captured our attention was the School District 304 teacher contract negotiations. That's why Geneva Education Association President Carol Young was No. 2 on the countdown of 2012 Geneva newsmakers, and it's why the first-ever Geneva Patch Person of the Year is Geneva School Board President Mark Grosso. The School District side of negotiations were directed by…
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Editor's note: This is the seventh of a 10-part countdown of articles looking back at the Geneva newsmakers of 2012. The No. 1 newsmaker will be Geneva Patch's 2012 "Person of the Year."
Yes, Joe Stanton was the Wood Award winner in 2011—but he was a newsmaker in 2012 because of his association with one of the top stories of the year: the possible demolition of the Pure Oil Building. On Feb. 21, Geneva Historic Preservation Commission voted 5-1 to deny a demolition permit for the blue-roofed former gas station that was at the time the home of The Pure Gardener, 502 W. State St. Stanton, who owns the building as well as the one next door to the west, argued alongside commercial architect Jeffrey Lietz and St. Charles Bank & Trust President Tom Hansen that it would cost $360,000 to modernize the interior, an investment Stanton said would prohibit any adaptive reuse of the building. Commission members also heard testimony …
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10:43 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Yeah, thanks a lot, Joe, for desecrating both a great old building and a very appropriate use for it as the "Pure Gardener". That kind of "getting things done" we can do without. What was your second choice, a drive-through liquor store? more ›
Part 6 of a series: Geneva Patch takes a look at 10 people who played roles in the top stories of 2012, culminating with the announcement of Geneva Patch's 2012 "Person of the Year."
Nicole Wiesner's story could carry the subhead, "portrait of a troubled teen." But her story also resonates on the planks of several issues important to Genevans, including public safety, underage drinking, parenting, driving under the influence and law enforcement. It's a sad tale that starts with a headlong crash down the Dodson Street hill on May 4 but also has some backstory and is continuing in the courts today. After a long investigation, Wiesner was charged on July 20 with aggravated driving under the influence for driving her Chevrolet Cavalier through the stop sign, across Bennett Street, where it crashed into trees bordering a driveway of a home, seriously injuring herself and her passenger, then-22-year-old Lindsey …
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11:30 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
This girl is NOTHING but bad news. She has not been taught a lesson and needs to see what she has done and can do. Should she be allowed to drive until someone in killed? Maybe then she will face real jail time. more ›
Part 5 of a series: Geneva Patch takes a look at 10 fascinating people who played roles in the top stories of 2012, culminating with the announcement of Geneva Patch's 2012 "Person of the Year."
"Honestly," you're saying to yourself, "Kevin Burns is only fifth on Patch's list of top Geneva newsmakers in 2012? He doesn't even make the top five?" And to be equally honest, Geneva's mayor could be No. 1 on the newsmaker list every year. He is a fascinating guy, and whether you love him or hate him, he keeps the conversation lively, to say the least. 2012 was no exception. One of Geneva Patch's top stories of 2012 was the GOP primary battle between Burns and former state Sen. Chris Lauzen for the chance to become the next Kane County Board chairman. Burns came out swinging in the early rounds, making an announcement in front of the Kane County Government Center that didn't name Lauzen specifically, but might as well called him out …
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Part 4 of a series: Geneva Patch takes a look at 10 fascinating people who played roles in the top stories of 2012, culminating with the announcement of Geneva Patch's 2012 "Person of the Year."
Whether the identification and conviction of former Geneva Streets & Fleets Superintendent Steve LeMaire was among the city's finest hours or its lowest is a matter of interpretation and point of view. Naysayers contend that it's silly to hand out credit cards to city department heads and not expect some abuse of the privilege. Folks of similar mind suggest that type of trust is emblematic of city government's propensity to let the tail wag the dog, taking city department heads' word as Gospel and advice as public policy. Proponents of the mayor and City Council don't tout it as such, but an argument could be made that the city system works and LeMaire's conviction is an example of honest, good government at work. A top-level employee …
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Fred Cregier
10:01 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The choice of Mark Grosso as the person of the year is appropriate! Mark is exactly as described by Mr. Nagel: calm, even-keeled, concerned that all sides have their say but insisting on civility at the same time, etc, etc. I have grown to admire Mark a lot, because he is honest to the bone, and a very decent leader for our School Board. I sincerely hope our citizens will get behind him and elect… more ›