St. Charles golf course named bird-friendly

Being designated as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" is a lofty award for a golf course, and Pottawatomie Golf Course in St. Charles has earned that status again.

The course seeks recertification for this honor every three years, and has earned it each time since 1997.

The environmental planning, chemical use safety, water conservation and quality management that goes into earning this honor is heady stuff, but if Pottawatomie grounds superintendent Denise Gillett-Parchert is involved, we know it is being done at a high level.

That's based solely on the best observation I can offer: The golf course has been in great shape every time I have played it since Gillett-Parchert came on the scene in 1999.

Does it mean it has great environmental quality? Probably. But, more importantly to golfers, the tee boxes, fairways, greens and traps are always meticulous for a nine-hole public course.

Gillett-Parchert has to take a broader view than that of a guy who plays at Pottawatomie on occasion.

At golf course management conferences, she hears researchers asking how courses can be justified in areas where water is becoming a difficult commodity.

"A golf course is about maintaining a habitat, it's not just a walk in the park," Gillett-Parchert said.

She said she works on improving the quality of the plants on the course so as to require less water.

"I like to think of Pottawatomie as more than just a golf course," she added. "Let's face it, there are a lot of people who don't play golf who come out on occasion just to enjoy the nice walk of a round.

"They are there more in a socializing capacity, than a golf capacity," Gillett-Parchert said. "If we can provide a well-balanced environment, it is better for them and better for us."

She acknowledges the greens are the most important part of the course, and "everything kind of comes in second to that." But the emphasis on natural habitat and choice of plants "does nothing but enhance the experience here," she added.

New face on the river

If you are keeping a score card regarding the number of restaurants trying to make a go of it in Fox Island Square in St. Charles, you can now add Charleston on the River, which is hoping to open in March.

I will say same thing I said when Erik and Me first opened 30 years ago at that site, then Sage Bistro took over and, most recently, Top Table. Though I have no idea whether the lease is favorable, this just seems like a great location along the Fox River for a restaurant.

The latest one to try will be Marwan Taib, who also operates Spotted Fox Ale House on the east side.

It seemed as if only a popular and well-known brand name pizza or Mexican restaurant might work on that spot, but hopefully Charleston on the River has some answers.

Restaurant deals time

We're coming to the end of January, which is always good news for those of us who would rather get into a fetal position in a corner of a warm house than venture outside when the temperature hovers around zero.

Sure, this winter has been pretty sane so far, which might have restaurant owners smiling a bit more than usual. Still, it has become tradition for cities to stage "restaurant weeks" in late January or early February.

Geneva's starts Monday, Jan. 25, and goes through next Sunday.

It's fairly simple. When dining at a participating restaurant, you just mention the Restaurant Week Special to hear about the deals. The Geneva Chamber website lists the restaurants.

Those crazy rankings

How much stock we want to put into WalletHub's rankings of best and worst cities for raising families in Illinois is certainly open to debate, but they are interesting to contemplate.

But it doesn't do folks in the Tri-Cities any favors. Why? Because regardless of what others say in ranking our towns for safety, affordability, schools, parks and recreation, we all think the one we live in is the best.

So, can you imagine what people in Geneva had to say when Batavia, coming in ranked 10th, represented the highest rated of the three towns? St. Charles was at No. 16, Geneva at No. 37. The same reaction would unfold if those numbers were reversed in any way.

Rather than worry about where WalletHub placed all of us, let's not lose sight of the big picture. This is a nice area in which to live, regardless of any ranking or which city you call home.

For those who may not have seen the list, Deerfield came in at No. 1. But anyone reading this doesn't live there, so do we care? No.

dheun@sbcglobal.net