St. Charles' Dixon returns to Ukraine

Mike Dixon was true to his word in saying he would return to Ukraine, where he served three years in the Peace Corps.

He had to leave his adopted country with other Peace Corps volunteers earlier this year when unrest with Russia heightened.

The St. Charles architect promised his new friends and colleagues in Ukraine he would come back, considering he left without being able to deliver proper farewells. He made good on that promise more than a month ago.

Dixon said it was an emotional experience to see memorials along the city streets to those who have died in the conflict against Russian aggression.

Bomb threats are a routine part of life there now, Dixon said. His trip from the train to the hotel was rerouted three times because of threats, until he was finally dropped off six blocks from his hotel and had to tow his luggage.

Dixon presented his friends a Petition of Hope for Ukraine signed by several hundred Tri-Cities area residents and others in Illinois.

It's apparent that his time in the Peace Corps has left Dixon with a place he looks at as his home away from home.

He'll be giving presentations on his experiences in Ukraine Wednesday and next Sunday at the Congregational United Church of Christ at Fox Mill Boulevard and LaFox Road, where his "Faces of Ukraine" exhibit is showing in the church's Parlor Art Gallery.

Bells galore at Arcada

Arcada Theatre owner Ron Onesti has welcomed the Salvation Army bell ringers to do their holiday ringing in front of the theater before some shows during the holiday season.

Best of all, my friends at the Tri-Cities Exchange Club arranged this setup with Onesti and will man the bell-ringing slots. Of course, theater patrons can expect to see Onesti ringing the bell at certain times as well, because this guy truly cares about helping out his communities.

In Wheeler's name

Speaking of the Salvation Army, it's a great gesture that this year's toy drive effort is called the Jim Wheeler Toys for Kids program. Wheeler, the former Pottawatomie golf pro who died last April, created and orchestrated this drive, now in its 31st year.

Residents are encouraged to drop off new unwrapped toys at Pottawatomie Golf Course, the community centers, schools, various businesses and the Tri-Cities Salvation Army office through Dec. 14.

A place for Market

Not long ago, there was some talk about World Market possibly relocating from its current east side St. Charles location.

Not sure what came of that, but if the business is still hunting around for any reason, let me suggest a location. It wouldn't be such a bad thing for any business to fill the former Circuit City location at Randall Road and Fabyan Parkway.

That spot gets only seasonal use now, as a Halloween costume and makeup store.

Seeking suitor again

The Main Street Tastee Freeze location in St. Charles, next to the Reber and Foley auto repair shop, once again has the "for lease" sign on it.

It's starting to look like this is a location that time has passed. It had a fairly decent following as Pop's Place for quite a few years, but it has since been in an up and down pattern as a Scooby's Red Hots location and then the Main Street-themed shop.

Construction along Main Street has hurt this spot over time. But so has the traffic that, at many times during the day, makes it nearly impossible to turn left out of that area.

Heroic effort

While watching Geneva play Rockton Hononegah last week in state football playoff action, it was easy to see who deserved a medal afterward.

We were calling offensive lineman Joey Wagner our hero after the 5-foot 11-inch, 280-pound senior gutted out a sprained ankle through most of the game.

Trainers taped up the ankle, and Wagner apparently declared himself good to go. But it was painful watching him try to walk, let alone block big defenders. But he did it - until the game was won.

A lot of high school players are hurting at this time of year. It seems our professional athletes could learn a lesson or two about overcoming pain by watching guys like Wagner at work.

Missing those groceries

When I worked on the east side of St. Charles for about seven years, the Butera grocery store was the go-to place for quick stops on the way home.

My wife even made the trip from our home on the west side of Geneva to that Butera location if she was after a decent sale on meat, which she said was always excellent at Butera.

When you include the Eagle at that location years ago, we've done a fair amount of grocery shopping on that side of town.

My wife, being stubborn about her grocery shopping, says she will now make the trip to Butera in South Elgin if the price is right.

Still on scarecrows

Whether the planners of the annual St. Charles Scarecrow Festival are looking for feedback or not, my readers keep sending suggestions.

The latest says a previous suggestion of maybe moving some or all of the festival to Mount St. Mary Park would ruin what remains one of the few "quiet" parks in the area. This reader wasn't real happy about the park district adding skateboard ramps and a playground on the park's north end, but overall it has remained a pleasant setting.

The park district has been an excellent steward of taxpayer money, especially with the upgraded paths, riverbank restoration and decorative pergolas in that park, the reader said.

"I'd hate to see that trashed," he added. "Might be time to reduce the size of the festival, like Chicago decided to do with the Taste."

dheun@sbcglobal.net