Batavia embraces explosion victims’ kin

Friends and relatives of Sydney Chidester came together Friday morning to help their friend, who was injured Sunday in a house explosion.

They ran a lemonade stand and also sold baked goods near the Batavia Depot Museum and the Fox River Trail, taking donations to help the Chidester family with expenses.

Sydney’s grandparents, Dennis and Carolyn Chidester, were killed by the explosion at a vacation home in Wisconsin. The Juneau County, Wis., sheriff is investigating the blast, and has not released a cause.

Donations of gasoline and credit gift cards are being accepted from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at North Island Deli, 26 N. Island Ave. After 8 p.m., donations will be accepted at an adjoining business, Bulldogs Red Hots, until 9 p.m.

Donations may also be delivered to Michelle Burgwaldt, 1415 Orion Road, Batavia, or the Batavia Overseas Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily at 645 S. River St.