Geneva's Act One Salon closing Saturday
It would be too depressing to count the number of store or restaurant closings I've mentioned in this column in the past three years. So I won't.
It stings more when closings involve longtime businesses — such as Mill Race Inn in Geneva or Rex's Cork 'n Fork in St. Charles.
Those in the hair styling world say goodbye to Act One Salon in Geneva, closing its doors Saturday after 43 years of business. Anne Cheladyn has owned the shop the past 12 years and managed it for six years prior.
She said the hair styling business has changed to where young stylists move on to their own business after building up clientele, and the economy makes it hard to stay profitable.
While Cheladyn ponders her next move, she'll be writing articles for LivingSingleMagazine.com as its beauty editor.
Light on their feet: We have some dancing coming our way again next February.The Geneva Cultural Arts Commission last weekend announced its lineup of six couples competing in the 2012 Dancing with the Geneva Stars fundraiser.Those couples include Geneva Fire Chief Steve Olson and his wife Beth Bales Olson, a freelance writer; Geneva Chamber of Commerce communications manager Laura Rush and Derek Swanson, a past Geneva Academic Foundation member, football player and coach at Geneva High School; Eric Bartel, a surgeon at Fox Valley Orthopaedics and his wife Kari Bartel, a member of the Geneva United Methodist Church board and Friends of TriCity Family Services; former Geneva schools superintendent Mike Jacoby and his wife Heidi Jacoby; Art Wagner, a member of the Knights of Columbus and a past All-Sports Booster, and his wife Connie Wagner, a Geneva school district nurse; and former Geneva alderman Jim Radecki and his wife Maureen Emma, who manages several dental associations.Now that's independent: Being married for more than 60 years is one thing. Being close to, or older than, 90 years old is another. But living independently without special care at that age is something to celebrate.That's what Delnor Glen intends to do at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Garden Room of the assisted living facility in St. Charles.Six couples who have been married for more than 60 years, with five of those individuals at 90 or older, will be honored for those milestones #8212; and the fact that they live in the Delnor Glen townhouses, not in the assisted living center.The couples being honored are Melvin and Ruth Peterson, George and Helen Johnson, Paul and Elizabeth Rodewald, Gilbert and Emily Longfield, Dr. Vern and Vee Guynn, and Hal and Al (Aphro) Christopher.These folks are an inspiration, proving it is possible to reach those milestones #8212; and not rely on someone else to take care of you.Chuck's festival: While enjoying the food and festivities at Festival of the Vine in Geneva last weekend, I took a moment just to say thanks to the late Chuck Lencioni.This popular Geneva festival was built around Chuck's hard work nearly 30 years ago when he first convinced restaurant owners that an event called Geneva Flavor Fare would be a good idea.