Meet Alison Bastian, new director of St. Charles Arts Council

Alison Bastian could easily come into her role as the first director of the St. Charles Arts Council and make all sorts of immediate changes based on her ideas and vision.

She's got the professional artist and art history background to do it.

Luckily for the council, she also has plenty of common sense. Her preference at this time is put the "meet-and-greet" concept into overdrive and just listen to others who have been with the council or supported it since its inception seven years ago.

"Being new in this role, I have to spend time trying to get to know others who have been participating in some form, whether it be board members or just the public at large," Bastian said. "I want to get to know what people want to see from the arts in their community."

In that regard, the council certainly serves St. Charles, but it takes the view that it serves the greater Fox Valley area in many ways.

That sort of vision has to have the support of a lot of volunteers - and that's an area Bastian is regarding as a key.

"I know that, from my standpoint, what I would like to do in the coming year is definitely grow our volunteer base," Bastian said. "I am the first director, but it is still just part-time, so we rely heavily on volunteers."

Increasing that base would take pressure off Elizabeth Bellaver, who has been president and, more accurately, the voice of the council since day one. She is now immediate past president, while Peggy Sue Seehafer is the incoming board president.

"Elizabeth has been working quite a lot and my position will help her," Bastian said of Bellaver's commitment to the cause. "But many people still rely on her to get things done and, with volunteers, we can help spread that work around."

Regardless of the type of feedback Bastian obtains and can put to use, she comes into the director's role with a full understanding of what the arts council is trying to do - including the long-term vision of pursuing an arts center in St. Charles that the council would call its home base.

Prior to landing the director's job, she was a resident artist at Water Street Studios in Batavia and was involved in the first pop-up gallery the St. Charles Arts Council offered years ago at Shelby School.

"I've been on their mailing list ever since, and this is an organization that has helped me in the past, and I want to turn that around in any way I can."

With a fine arts degree from Sussolk University in Boston and grad school background from NIU in art history and media studies, Bastian comes to the table with plenty of background and knowledge.

But it's not the only thing on her radar at the moment.

Bastian lives in St. Charles with her husband Jonathan and 1-year-old daughter Vera.

"My other full-time job is my daughter," she said. "That keeps me very busy.

Gordy's still on track:

It's been seven months since I spoke to the folks working on building out the 101 E. Main St. location that will become Gordy's Quick Mart at some point in downtown St. Charles.

At that time, it seemed as if Gordy's, being touted as an upscale convenience store, would be close to up and running by October.

However, to the naked eye, not much has happened since.

"The exterior is pretty much done, and they were going to submit plans this week for the interior build-out," said Bob Vann, the St. Charles building and code enforcement division manager. "They had some plans made, but they changed because of different equipment being part of it and it caused a delay in getting those plans drawn up."

The family continues to move forward with its plans, which is good news for those of us who wonder what is going on when we see a new business owner anxious to open the doors, and then things go dark and quiet for a long period of time.

Small-town sign:

When you see a sign on the front of a small business in Geneva informing customers "Closed because of a family puppy emergency," you know you live in a small town.

It's right out of the playbook of decades ago when business owners put up "Gone Fishing" signs or other personal messages as to why they weren't open.

Most importantly, we hope the puppy is OK.

For animal shelter:

Speaking of pets, if you want to walk or run for their benefit, the Anderson Animal Shelter is taking signups for its St. Patrick's Day 5K walk and run event for all ages and fitness levels - and one in which pets can participate.

Proceeds benefit the shelter from this event, which will take place at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, March 11. at SEBA Park, 50 W. State St., South Elgin.

If the 5K seems too long, the animal shelter is offering a 1K Pet Walk and Parade that starts at 9 a.m.

Registration is available through the Anderson Animal Shelter website by clicking on "events" on the site and going to the 5K link.

On the street:

Hadn't seen this in some time - a driver opening his car door at the stoplight at Fabyan Parkway and Randall Road and emptying an ashtray on the street.

I thought that was vintage 1960s stuff. Maybe not?

dheun@sbcglobal.net