Satisfying hunger ... three ways
To say Jerry Hanson will be in all her glory at Carroll Tower on Tuesday afternoon might be an understatement.
The 72-year-old resident of the St. Charles retirement living center has organized a presentation on a topic near and dear to her heart.
“I first learned about Heifer International in an article in the Daily Herald a few years ago, and it seemed like such a wonderful organization since 1944, seeking to wipe out world hunger,” said Hanson, who, by the way, claims her parents wanted a boy, thus the spelling of her first name.
For years, Heifer has provided the gift of livestock to poor communities through donations from individuals or organizations, with a key stipulation that the offspring of that animal is passed along to another needy family in that community. The premise being that the livestock can help families start farming to produce their own food and even generate income.
Hanson was so impressed by this type of gesture, she started a Heifer project in a poor community in Poland as a memorial to her grandmother.
“My hope is that many other people can learn about Heifer as well, not just the senior citizens at Carroll Tower,” Hanson said.
To that end, she has arranged a presentation by Barbara Christian of Heifer International that is open to the public from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Carroll Tower.
“It really is a gift that keeps on giving,” Hanson said.
For healthier food:An event last month titled #8220;A to Z Garden Bar,#8221; in which Geneva elementary students learned about healthy food for an entire week, was another signal that many schools are catching on to the fact that it doesn't hurt to teach decent eating habits at an early age.Yes, this sort of thing used to happen in your own home, but that doesn't seem too likely in an era in which getting a family to eat at the same time is hard enough. A recent story in the Daily Herald about the healthy food being offered at schools in Danville, Ill., tells me this trend could pick up momentum.I think back to when my son was in middle school and his buddies would crow about the great lunch they had at school. And what was this great lunch?#8220;Chocolate cake and fries.#8221;See why there may be a need for education about healthy eating? Let's at least train them while they are young, so by the time they are in high school and chow down on Taco Bell, they will at least know a steady diet of that isn't a good idea.Some food education:The Fresh D'Lite restaurant in the Geneva Commons provides an excellent example of what likely is wrong with this country's eating habits.Owner Paul Chaudury sent an email to his patrons, asking them to spread the word that health food does not mean bland or tasteless. His restaurant has been a testament to that fact, yet he expressed concern about keeping the place open.Not enough business, of course. Not enough people interested in far less fat and sodium in their food, it appears. But this place is worth trying simply because the food is quite good.At the sports pub:Now that I've given you all sorts of information about health food, let me tell you about the great Italian beef and fries I recently had at Chelios Pub and Grill at the Fox Valley Ice Arena.Just in case anyone was hunting around for a sports bar after the recent demise of Real Time Sports on Randall Road, this hockey-oriented spot at the ice arena has plenty of space and TVs and a decent menu.Rookies on the west side of St. Charles and East Side Pub on the other side of town also come to mind as places to take in a bite to eat and a drink while watching the Hawks or Bears (no Bulls yet) during the winter.There are other pubs and grills all over the Tri-Cities. I like the setup at the Beehive in St. Charles, but I'm not sure it qualifies as a true sports bar. If any others in the area should be mentioned, drop me a note and I'll pass it along.Isn't it grand?:Will the Electric Christmas Parade in downtown St. Charles become the topic of movie director Nick Smith's next thriller? Who knows what goes through the minds of folks who make movies?Smith, the St. Charles North graduate who has garnered local fame by directing the spooker, #8220;Munger Road,#8221; with his hometown playing a key role, will be the grand marshal of this year's parade at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26.It's a nice honor for Smith to be part of what has become a popular holiday weekend in St. Charles with the lighting of the downtown lights at 5 p.m. at the First Street plaza the night before, sleigh rides through town, and free movies at the Arcada Theatre. But could a sequel to #8220;Munger Road#8221; include some scary occurrences during a city's Christmas parade? And could that city be St. Charles again?dheun@sbcglobal.net