Wangler looking forward to 'green' business in Batavia

Tom Wangler is glad he hasn't had to plunge into the ice-cold Fox River lately to save canoeists in peril, like he did in late October of 2007. Even though he'd do that again in a minute if he had to, he's been pretty busy getting ready to move his business, Confident Aire, to a new “green products” retail space and showroom at 416 E. Wilson St. in Batavia.

“We're getting pretty excited about this because it will be a mix between retail and exhibits, where you can go in and see a new furnace or a ‘green' humidifier and see how it works,” Wangler said. “I also want it to be an educational place, like a Museum of Science and Industry, where school kids could come in and learn about products that are better for the environment.”

Wangler's company has an annual giveaway of a new furnace for a needy family, and the winning ticket will be drawn at 4 p.m. Thursday at the current Confident Aire location at 338 McKee St. on the west side of Batavia.

Plans are for the new East Wilson site to open Saturday, but a more general “soft” opening would follow.

“One of the interesting things about the new site is that Mayor Jeff Schielke points out that years ago it was the Bortner's Grocery Store, and I still lease the location from the grandchildren,” Wangler said.

“It's got some history to it as the welcome mat for downtown Batavia, and we want to keep it that way.”

Good news at dinner

It was good to see Beth Kucera working with both arms at the Geneva United Methodist community dinner last week. The previous month, her right arm was in a sling after she had broken it in a fall.

Beth encouraged me to take my mother-in-law to these wonderful community meals, and it has turned out to be her favorite because she sees many people she knows.

There was good news for those who attend, as the experiment with using two lines for food service worked wonders. No one had to wait in a line last week.

Beth, who serves as the church publicist, said the Third Tuesday dinners will start a half-hour earlier at 4:30 p.m. and go until 7 p.m. starting next month.

Fun and safe

The last thing the local media wants to report about on New Year's Day is that a fatal accident occurred on New Year's Eve. The message about using precaution and good judgment on New Year's Eve remains relevant, especially in a world with far stricter drinking-and-driving laws and more roadside police check points. Have fun on New Year's Eve, but do it wisely.

Finally, it's hard to believe “Talk of the Town” is entering its eighth year in the Herald. Many thanks to all of my readers over the years who have sent notes or tips that eventually turned into items in this column. A lot of good things are going on all around us, and it's bound to rub off and translate into a great 2011 and beyond.

• dheun@sbcglobal.net