A piece of St. Charles history for your Christmas tree
The St. Charles History Museum picked a good historic site to illustrate on its first Christmas ornament in three years.
When in doubt, pick yourself.
The new ornament, custom made by Charleston Mint, will feature the museum. In addition to being in a great location at 215 E. Main St. and just having the look of a history museum, this site does have a special place in city lore.
It was the site of the McCornack Oil gas station, built in 1928. Not only that, it sits on land where the home of Ira Minard once stood. He's one of the city's first settlers, so you'd have to think he picked out a good spot to build his home.
The Bentz family turned the site into a Texaco gas station in the 1960s, and eventually the history museum called it home in 2001.
The Christmas ornament costs $18 and is available at the gift shop in the museum or on its website.
Outdoor workouts:
With colder weather surely to take hold soon, it's hard to imagine going through a fitness circuit on outdoor equipment.
But some might go for that. And indoor fitness centers can get quite stuffy.
Either way, the St. Charles Park District has added a circuit of outdoor workout equipment stations at Pottawatomie Park. When warmer weather returns, these stations will stand ready to serve those who enjoy outdoor exercises.
It all comes from a grant from Greenfields Outdoor Fitness, and it will allow those seeking a workout, including those physically or developmentally disabled, to use chin-up bars, leg presses, elliptical machines and other equipment out in the fresh air.
A 'pinning' at Arden:
In addition to the care and attention residents receive at the Arden Courts memory care community in Geneva, they also participate in many meaningful events hosted by staff and their partners.
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns and U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren will attend a 10 a.m. "pinning" ceremony Friday on Veterans Day at the center on Bricher Road to honor residents who have served their country.
Arden Courts has 60 residents on site, with 19 of those - 17 men and two women - being veterans.
"We are hosting this event in coordination with Heartland Hospice, which will be conducting a formal presentation," said Carrie Heck, Arden's marketing director.
Those veterans will receive a service recognition pin, a certificate of service and a photograph from the event.
The photo and certificate will go into a binder album for the family of each veteran to display during funeral services for the veteran, Heck said.
"It is a very moving and meaningful presentation, with an escort by the Geneva American Legion Honor Guard and closed by a bugler playing Taps," she added.
No sharks here:
It may not come off like "Shark Tank," but at least entrepreneurs can make their sales pitch and get some feedback.
That's basically what is in store at the "Pitch and Catch" event from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 15 for members of 25N Coworking in Geneva when they present a business plan, new idea or sales pitch to a group of mentors, advisers, entrepreneurs or any others in attendance with an opinion.
Anyone can attend the sessions, which entail five-minute pitches and 20 minutes of feedback.
It's a good way for the 25N members to get some insight into their work and determine ways to improve their businesses.
The 25N Coworking building at 25 N. Third St. is set up for freelancers and business owners to operate in an office setting that provides more support than one might get in a home office.
Rick has roots here:
Here's something I totally forgot. Current White Sox manager Rick Renteria, also a former Cubs manager, cut his managing teeth here in Kane County.
He was manager of the Kane County Cougars in 1999.
dheun@sbcglobal.net