Jeff Ward

Technologie Ist Nicht So Schlecht, Nachdem Alle!

That's, technology isn't so bad, after all!

As evidenced by the recent TV commercial where electronic gizmo after electronic gizmo fails including the fridge dispensing ice onto the floor, it’s clear to me that we don’t put too much faith in our modern technology. Perhaps it’s our Luddite and Puritan roots. Oh! We enjoy the convenience alright, but our overarching perspective is that it will all eventually come crashing down to its inevitable culmination in which the robots rise up and, in a Terminator-esque pique, render humanity obsolete. But the truth is, our warp-speed-ahead technology works far more often than it doesn’t. Perhaps the reason a DSL downturn sends us into such a tizzy is because that suddenly necessary network works so much more often than it doesn’t. And when the…

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Jack

9:54 am on Monday, November 26, 2012

Well, I just wasted another precious minute on account of Jeff Ward. I made up for it, though, by checking out the Guido Sarducci "Five Minute University" thing, which was relatively humorous. http://www.templaruniversity.com/guido.html   more ›

Obama's 'You Didn't Build That' Business Comments: Is He Wrong?

The president's small-business comments upset many people and gave Republican Mitt Romney a point of attack. But Barack Obama said the comments were taken out of context. What do you think? Take the Patch Poll.

President Barack Obama's recent comments about small business created a firestorm that could become a focus of the 2012 election — even as Obama and his supporters say his comments were taken out of context.  "Look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own," he said during a July 13 speech in Virginia. "If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help ... If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen." Take the Patch poll below: Who plays the most significant role in creating jobs and economic growth? That's not the entire speech, which you can read on the independent FactCheck.org. According to that post, the comments were taken out of context: "There’s no question …

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Dennis Robaugh

10:34 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Say good night, Gracie.   more ›

Panera Bread Site for Holiday Cookie Decorating

Families can decorate cookies on Dec. 17 at Panera Bread's Orchard Road store.

Family and friends can celebrate the holidays by decorating a freshly baked cookie at Panera Bread, 1330 N. Orchard Rd., in Aurora. Also, from December 5-18, Panera Bread will donate 10¢ for every Gingerbread Man Cookie sold to the Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Illinois.

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When It's Time to Stock Up for Thanksgiving, What are Your Favorite Stores?

If you're feeding a small army on Thanksgiving day, getting the right food at the right price is a big part of the job. Where do you go?

Somehow my wife always pulls it off: Thanksgiving is hands-down the best meal of the year—great food with family, without the stress of gift-giving. It's all about being together to share a great meal. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable casseroles, pies, ice cream—the hot dishes all come out hot and tasting great. Everybody who shows up leaves with leftovers and all that turkey keeps me sleepy for a week. But before the miracle of the meal comes the shopping. And there are many choices, not only the big supermarket chains, but smaller grocers and specialty shops with their own strengths. Who sells the best meat? The freshest veggies? The best deals for dessert? Maybe you've got a Thanksgiving recipe with a hard-to-find …

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Jim Pokin

1:16 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Thanks, Marty. Sounds good.   more ›

Caught in the Act

Top 5 Reasons to Shop Geneva on 'Small Business Saturday' Nov. 26

Celebrate “Small Business Saturday” by visiting your favorite locally owned Geneva businesses on Saturday.

So, first there was Black Friday and then came Cyber Monday. Now, a new day can be added to your shopping lexicon, "Small Business Saturday," which falls this year on Nov. 26. Small Business Saturday is set aside to support local businesses in your community, and Geneva is just the place to do it. With a downtown voted Best Downtown Shopping District in Kane County and more than 140 specialty shops offering clothing, home décor, jewelry, antiques and more, all within walking distance, why wouldn't you shop local?  Still need some convincing, here are the top five reasons to support locally owned businesses. 1. Buying local creates jobs Half of all employees in the U.S. work for small business. Small businesses create 60 percent of all new …

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Marty Kane

7:37 am on Monday, November 21, 2011

Nice article Laura.   more ›

Some Dining Choices for Thanksgiving

Chamber of Commerce offers ideas for before, during and after Thanksgiving.

There are a bunch of wonderful deals and options for those who want to cook on Thanksgiving Day—and for those who might want to let someone else do the work. Here are just a few suggestions, courtesy of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. Atwater’s—15 S. River Lane, Geneva, 630-208-7433 Atwater’s in The Herrington Inn & Spa will be serving traditional fare for Thanksgiving lunch and dinner on Thanksgiving. Reservations for both lunch and dinner are required as space is very limited.  Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m.  Cabooses Bar & Grill—300 Crescent Pl., Geneva, 630-232-9448 Cabooses will be open Thanksgiving.  The Claddagh—1702 Commons Dr., Geneva, 630-208-0337 claddaghirishpubs.com The Claddagh offers a …

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Inside Geneva: Rick Nagel

Inside Geneva: Joe Stanton Is One of Geneva's Gems

Make no mistake, Joe Stanton is on the short list of Geneva's most influential people—and he also has a heart of gold.

When I started this Geneva Patch gig more than a year ago, I met and interviewed a number of community leaders, and I ended most of them with the question every reporter is supposed to ask: Is there anyone else you think I should talk to or might have missed? At least a half dozen times—probably more—the first answer was: "Have you met Joe Stanton?" That's because, as a landlord, business owner, volunteer, community activist, graphic designer, consultant, sponsor, philanthropist, client, Geneva cheerleader or friend, he has touched the lives of countless people who live and work here. Joe is—or was until Tuesday night—simultaneously one of the city's most notable and influential people and one the community's best-kept secrets. One of the …

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Program Could Bring Hands-on Consulting to Local Small Businesses

Two Fox Valley organizations are using grant money to help boost businesses and potentially create jobs.

Entrepreneurs poised for growth now have an opportunity to access critical business advice they otherwise might not be able to afford. Behind the effort are two Fox Valley business specialists for start-ups: the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Waubonsee Community College and the Fox Valley Entrepreneurship Center (FVEC). Companies in the second stage of their business lifecycle are invited to fill out an application by visiting www.fvec.org. The program is funded through a grant from the U.S. SBA Small Business Jobs Act. The program is specially designed to create jobs and sustain long-term growth for companies ready to go to the next level. Here’s how it works. An FVEC panel will review submissions followed by a brief…

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'Hungry Hound' Comes to Chef Roby's All-Chocolate Kitchen

Segment scheduled to air Oct. 28.

Chef Alain Roby's All-Chocolate Kitchen has gotten a lot of well-deserved accolades in recent months. And the chef and his kitchen are about to get another. The  "Hungry Hound" came to Geneva on Thursday, Oct. 6, to shoot a segment for the popular Channel 7 feature starring Steve Dolinsky. Roby was interviewed, and Geneva students were among the samplers of the famous "Avalanche" chocolate creation. The segment is scheduled to air Oct. 28.    

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