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Batavia organization helps seniors to live independently

If Caroline Olinger encounters someone "a little bit more vulnerable," she admits she is likely to leap into action to help.

Serving nearly 30 years in the Navy and then caring for aging and terminally ill family members can do that to a person. When Olinger returned to the Fox Valley area in 2013, she wanted to do something to help those types of people.

She, her husband Scott and sister-in-law Judy Carlson chose to operate Seniors Helping Seniors of Fox Valley, an organization that provides all sorts of help for seniors still living independently in their homes.

"Providers can do anything from handyman work to simply helping with meals," said Olinger, who is operating the service out of her Batavia home. "We primarily look for those (helpers) who can provide companionship and meal prep."

Many seniors have told Olinger they don't have the energy or desire to cook any more.

"You don't have to be a gourmet cook, but just help them have a nutritious meal, or prep a couple meals for them," she said.

Light housekeeping is part of the mix, but nothing is more important than providing companionship, stimulating the seniors with conversation or card games, Olinger said.

Olinger has been operating Seniors Helping Seniors for about six months and is finding she needs more helpers, or "providers," as she calls them.

"You can grow as big as you have helpers to do so; that is kind of the litmus test," she added. "What I am learning is that I really need to hire two or sometimes three providers per client."

Currently, she has about 20 providers and needs more, she said. Those interested in information about services or employment can call (630) 937-4246.

A Cantina change

At first blush, it simply looked like yet another restaurant had shut its doors.

But the sudden closing of Front Street Cantina in Geneva came about because owner Nick Roberge is undergoing a major rebrand of his restaurant.

It's going from Mexican to a burger joint, but it's too early to say for sure what the menu will look like. No one was answering the phone number at the restaurant last week, but we expect to see the change happen fairly quickly.

The sign in the window says this Third Street restaurant near the Metra parking garage will reopen this fall.

No tricky timing

Jeffery Austin, the St. Charles contestant on "The Voice" who survived his battle round in the show as a member of Gwen Stefani's team, is staging a free concert at the Arcada Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 25.

Because the Cubs lost to the New York Mets, they won't be playing a game tonight. So Austin won't face the dilemma of his concert competing against a key sporting event.

Halloween on the path

Readers Clark and Mim Zeddies pointed out an interesting place to see a "Pirates of Batavia" Halloween decoration theme. It's along the bike trail on the west side of the Fox River, where folks using the trails get nice views of the backyards of homes along Route 31.

If you were heading north on the trail from the Depot Museum, you'll eventually run into the display, about the third house past the pedestrian footbridge. My wife and I have seen great Halloween decorations in this backyard in the past, but Clark and Mim said this year it has a "full ship and figure head jutting out from the top of the gazebo."

Nashville sounds

A few different restaurant/bars have given it a shot at 305 W. Main St. in St. Charles, and the latest, The Finery & Blacksmith Bar, has been offering live music on Tuesday nights.

Nashville recording artist and local native Jon Conover has been providing the music this month, and he'll be playing again Tuesday night.

The Finery & Blacksmith Bar is hoping for an extended stay in the location most recently occupied by The Copper Fox restaurant.

Where's the soup?

A reader informs me that the Autumn squash soup that is advertised on the McAlister's deli website apparently isn't available at the new Geneva site on Randall Road.

I fell for the same bait-and-switch, mentioning in my column how good the soup sounded in the deli's ads and on its website.

I'm hearing some good things about the sandwiches at this new deli, but here's some advice for the folks who operate the place: If Autumn squash soup is good enough to plaster all over your ads and promos, then it has to be good enough to serve in Geneva. Just saying.

• dheun@sbcglobal.net

  Caroline Olinger of Batavia operates Seniors Helping Seniors of Fox Valley, an organization that assists seniors still living independently in their homes. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
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