Heun: Nothing can take luster off King's homestead

It's not quite the same walking by Merritt King's historic home at Fifth and Campbell streets in Geneva.

When King, a longtime pillar of the Geneva community as an elected city official and member of the American Legion post, passed away in 2012, it left many wondering what might happen to his beautiful historic home at 212 S. Fifth St.

King kept his property in top shape, allowing it to reflect nicely on the city's historic district.

There's a lot of noise and activity on that corner now, as Avondale Custom Homes has been planning for more than a year on the construction of four new homes along Campbell between Fifth and Sixth streets.

Time marches on, and there is nothing wrong with building new homes in what will be a prime location near downtown Geneva. But it is odd to see shells of new homes going up along the side of King's house, which will also undergo a renovation.

City spokesman Kevin Stahr said the house appears to have had at least seven different renovations in the past. It all started as a 12-by-12-foot settlement house, now part of the home's west wing, between 1848 and 1850.

King's house was expanded to its present form around 1890, after additional work was done in 1852-53 and 1867-68.

Current renovation on the house will include relocating a historic carriage barn, or garage, and rearranging the interior floor plan to preserve key architectural features. Rehab and minor remodeling will take place on the outside of the house as well.

The intent is to keep it as an important part of Geneva history.

Don't let them deteriorate

The educational plaques along Batavia's Riverwalk, near the Challenge Dam, provide an interesting glimpse into the city's windmill industry in the last century.

Some of those plaques are looking a bit weather-beaten, so hopefully historic preservation folks or city officials in Batavia won't let those pieces become too damaged in the future.

A Royal time

St. Charles dermatologist Rany Jazayerli has to be in all of his glory these days. After all, he spends most of his spare time studying the Kansas City Royals for podcasts he produces about the team.

The team's first ride through the postseason since 1985 surely has the adrenaline flowing in this doctor.

A fanatical fan of the team, Jazayerli used his obsession about Royals baseball and the game in general to become a co-founder and writer for Baseball Prospectus.

Peak color time?

If you go by what the "Farmer's Almanac" has to say (and who doesn't?) on the matter of fall colors, we only have a couple more days to enjoy the peak season around here.

This, of course, assumes that we didn't have more strong winds since the time I wrote this that knocked all of the leaves to the ground.

Still, it's one of the best excuses we have for living in this part of the country, so make sure you take a walk or ride and enjoy the display.

On display

I was impressed with the art that sculptor Larry Johnson of Geneva created when I visited the LK Johnson Studio on Stevens Street in Geneva more than a year ago.

He expands his skill to the canvas as well in having paintings on display through October at the Batavia Public Library.

Since retiring from his full-time job in 2010, after 31 years as a sales executive with IBM, Johnson sure is letting his creative juices flow in what essentially is his retirement.

By comparison, the most brainpower I intend to use in my retirement is contemplating whether I want sausage or pepperoni on that pizza.

Her happy place

It appears Christy Stevens of Batavia has found her happy place with the Just Food Initiative, a nonprofit organization that helps the less fortunate of the Fox Valley learn about and obtain quality food.

Stevens, who had less fulfilling careers in the legal, financial and medical worlds, found Just Food to be the place to make good use of her degree in sociology.

Stevens recently became the organization's first executive director.

"I wanted to be involved in a profession where I can make a difference in the world around me," Stevens said in a news release announcing her role.

Scarecrow pain points

Some business owners complained about Scarecrow Festival food booths along Third Street in St. Charles blocking their storefronts, leaving us wondering what might be the best way to keep this festival thriving while being visitor and business friendly.

In a Facebook post, Daily Herald reporter Susan Sarkauskas floated the idea that maybe the festival has outgrown Lincoln Park, and organizers could possibly consider the larger Mount St. Mary Park.

Not a bad idea, though I wouldn't be a fan of seeing the Mount trampled by a such a large event, and I am also not sure where music acts could set up there. In addition, Mount St. Mary does not drain well in its middle portions during heavier rains. That spells a potential mess.

I make this next comment totally understanding that maybe this is just me getting older: The Scarecrow Festival last weekend didn't do much for me. The displays don't seem quite as creative, and there were far too many inquiries from the business booths about whether I need new gutter covers or a remodeled house.

It's really an event mostly for young kids and families, but it has always been a favorite in our family, even as empty-nesters.

But something didn't seem quite the same.

The carnival rides and loud music taking place in other parts of town seemed like we're trying too hard to tell people to forget about the original intent of the festival - the scarecrows.

Is this a product of becoming an old fuddy-dud, or is this festival in need of some sort of shot in the arm and return to the basics with a local business flavor?

dheun@sbcglobal.net