Local museums keep history alive in Tri-Cities

James K. Lewis was the first mayor of St. Charles, elected in 1875.

James Herrington III was the first mayor of Geneva, elected in 1887.

John H. Miller was the first mayor of Batavia, elected in 1891.

It never hurts to take a history lesson to learn things about important people from the past, especially when it has a lot to do with the community you call home.

Sure, you can find that sort of information through a Google search, but new residents, or even those who have been here for many years, can take that history lesson any time in the Tri-Cities simply by stopping in at the St. Charles History Museum, Geneva History Museum or the Depot Museum in Batavia.

They are all fascinating places.

But they all need our help and support in continuing to build collections, research history and provide interesting programs to residents.

The St. Charles History Museum has its one major fundraiser of the year coming up - the fifth annual Pig Roast - on Saturday, June 20.

For $45, a nonmember can have a great meal, listen to live music, visit the museum, and enter a cash-prize raffle. Tickets are available at the museum, 215 E. Main St., from Tuesday through the night of the event.

Since Terry Emma became its executive director, the Geneva History Museum has enjoyed various fundraising events and exhibit openings. Stop in, and something interesting will catch your attention immediately.

The Batavia Depot Museum benefits from its location near the city's popular riverwalk, attracting attention and visitors.

There is much to learn about our communities, and many people devote their lives to telling those stories and coming up with new ways to present them.

Do yourself a favor and visit these places if you have never done so. And, if you are so inclined, take part in a fundraiser for even more fun.

Influencing the lists?

Maybe my recent squawking about places and events in our area not being on enough regional or national "best of" lists had an effect on the creators of these lists.

Either way, the Graham's 318 coffeehouse in Geneva was just named one of the best in the country by People magazine. Geneva was tabbed as one of the best vacation spots within driving distance of Chicago in a recent Thrillist article, which also mentioned Salerno's on the Fox in St. Charles as a place to also stop by while in the area.

As noted in my own "best of list" a few weeks ago, all we really want is for list developers to take notice of what is going on around here.

A good bread move

It took some time to fall into place, but it sure looks like Panera made a good move in taking over the empty Applebee's location along Randall Road in Geneva.

A nice outdoor eating setting and a far more noticeable storefront should bode well for the popular franchise.

Now, of course, the small retail strip it left just to the north of its new location has an empty slot to fill.

Hiding from Hideaway

Wasn't the Hideaway a restaurant on Riverside Drive in St. Charles for years?

So why are residents complaining now that a plan to bring the vacant site back to life as a restaurant would have a negative impact on the neighborhood?

I thought empty structures were more of a potential problem because of kids using drugs, or loiterers taking up residence. Not to mention it would become the "hideaway" for raccoons, skunks, rats and other critters.

The hang-up, as it always is for establishments in this area, is the new owners' notion that video gambling would be a good addition. I've said before that our elected officials are too quick to hit the stop button when they hear the words video gambling.

I don't think it is the boogeyman everyone makes it out to be; this is a fairly remote site, and there is no way of telling what video gambling would mean to how the restaurant and its clientele would evolve.

Despite the poor examples our state and federal government deliver, there is such a thing as a compromise. Let the new owners prove they are correct in their thinking over a three- or four-month period. But one incident of fighting, unruliness, drunken driving or idiotic behavior in the neighborhood results in a warning, and the second violation means the video gambling goes bye-bye.

Those lifesavers

It's pretty easy to take for granted the firefighters in our communities. But if you have ever had an emergency, such as your house going up in flames, you'll be glad these guys are around to try to save it.

It's good to hear them get the recognition they deserve. Such is the case with Batavia Fire Department Chief Randy Deicke, Deputy Chief Randy Banker and Battalion Chief Edward Jancauskas, who all earned certification through the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association.

It sounds sort of routine, but this certification goes to officers who have done outstanding work during their careers. These guys fit that bill.

The mittens collector

Madeline Bozik's effort to collect warm clothing for those in need has netted her a $1,000 scholarship from the Kohl's Cares Scholarship Program.

The 15-year-old North Aurora resident created "Maddie's Mitten March" as a volunteer program to help others.

dheun@sbcglobal.net