Find cottage-style decor and hand-painted signs at The Velvet Butterfly shop in St. Charles

If asked to describe The Velvet Butterfly shop in St. Charles, I'd simply say it's an "artsy sign" place.

But that would be selling short the skills of owner Nancy Mylnski, who brings some 30 years of experience to her retail location at 404 S. Second St.

Mylnski covers it all in her shop, literally. The Velvet Butterfly provides decorative hand painting on signs, furniture, accents and murals, as well as jewelry and vintage-style lampshades.

"I've been a sign painter for a long time and had a small shop in Geneva, where I just did work for other companies," Mylnski said while trying to organize her new work space.

"I've only been in here a couple of months, so it won't be this disorganized for long," she said, pointing to various art pieces and signs amid her art materials.

"I like vintage looks, and you can see that in a lot of my work," she added. "But I do contemporary and traditional art as well."

If pressed to describe her style, Mylnski said she goes for "romantic cottage style, with French flair."

But she's quick to point out she has created "rustic, old fishing lodge signs" as well as commercial business signs or even those personalized for a wedding.

The Velvet Butterfly is just a small shop in an older St. Charles house, but in the short time I visited, two or three others came in to ask questions and check out the art. Something tells me Nancy will be fairly busy in her new digs.

Salvation Army needs: Lt. Betsy Clark, the core officer for the Salvation Army Tri-City Corps, makes a pretty straightforward plea about the financial situation her organization faces.

"We are asking people to donate before Oct. 1 if they can, and to give above and beyond what they normally give," Clark said. "Our fiscal year ends Sept. 30 and without those donations we likely won't be able to provide programs in October and November."

It's those two months, before the Salvation Army holiday kettle fundraising campaign begins, in which the bank simply doesn't have enough money in the organization's account, Clark added.

The local Salvation Army plans to establish a fundraising blitz of some sort to let supporters know things are not as stable as the organization would like.

Those who want to help can donate on the organization website at salarmychicago.org, mail in a donation, or stop by the Tri-Cities office at 1710 S. Seventh Ave. in St. Charles.

Programs in jeopardy include after-school activities, the food pantry, free exercise and educational classes for seniors, and computer training.

"We would maybe be able to sustain them for a short time, but we need donations now or it will be tough," Clark said.

Wearing a new coat: I don't want to take credit for something I didn't do, but let's at least say this: Last January, I mentioned the Pioneer Sholes School in the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles was in dire need of a paint job.

Whether an organization, Scout troop, the Pioneer Sholes School Society, or the forest preserve district took note of that doesn't matter.

The bottom line is that the historic structure now has a fresh new coat of white paint and looks great.

Anyone familiar with the 1872 one-room schoolhouse could tell it was falling into disrepair, mostly from looking like the last time it was painted might have been in the 1870s.

Reunion at the farm: It was a pretty good summer for the Van Bogaert family of St. Charles and those from other parts of the country.

In late July, the family had a reunion at Garfield Farm, where the Van Bogaert family farmhouse was near. More than 60 family members, ages 2 months to 84 years old, made it to the reunion.

"It was really fun and much of the family has stayed in the area," said Joanne Van Bogaert, who at 84 was the oldest to join in the festivities.

This was a reunion of the folks who helped make up the Belgium Town region along Dean Street in St. Charles years ago.

It was a precious moment for Joanne, who was quick to point out that "so many of my cousins and others are dying, so I have to really keep my eyes on the obits."

She currently lives in Carriage Oaks in St. Charles, which is fine with her because, "I am back in St. Charles and you need some family around."

The reunion event was also a reflection of what was the 100-year anniversary for Henry Van Bogaert's marriage to Elovie in Chicago.

"We just tied in that anniversary in memory of Henry and his wife Elovie," Joanne said. "After all, it all started with Henry."