St. Charles businesses benefit from expansion

When Francesca's by the River initiated plans to expand its banquet room, it also meant a new and bigger location for Valley Lock, which has been behind Francesca's at 202 S. Second St. for many years.

Last Friday, Valley Lock staffers began their move to the shops at 1450 W. Main St. to make way for the bigger restaurant.

"We're very excited about the larger space and better visibility," said Judy Stallman of Valley Lock, a key and lock store.

Stallman pointed out the advantage of not being in the same building as a restaurant during lunch hour.

"There is a stop light at our new corner and a good-sized parking lot, so our customers should have no trouble getting to us," Stallman said. "And that includes finding a parking space even at lunchtime."

She encouraged Nicholas: If you were fond of the freewheeling, boozy music and humor that took Las Vegas by storm in the 1960s, you should head over to Hemmens Auditorium Friday night. We're going to see "The Rat Pack" show as part of my mother-in-law's 80th birthday present.

I saw this trip down memory lane two years ago in Las Vegas, and it helped me understand why my parents found these guys to be so entertaining.

But the singer portraying Sammy Davis Jr. caught my eye, and it was nice to discover it was Nicholas Brooks of Batavia playing the part.

Regina Ferguson can take some credit for Brooks' success, as she was the choir director at Logan Baptist Church and the one who convinced an 8-year-old Nicholas to sing in front of people.

"Nicholas would sit next to me when we were doing programs, and one time we decided to close a Christmas program with 'Come All Ye Faithful' and when they asked me who would lead the song, I said that Nicholas would sing it."

Ferguson said that Nicholas was "terrified" but did the song and "there wasn't a dry eye in the house when he was done."

From that day on, Ferguson said, Brooks used his great gift to become an outstanding singer and receive national acclaim when he was at Northern Illinois University and now on the Vegas circuit.

As Brooks' career soars, Ferguson can take credit for encouraging a shy youngster to unleash his talent.

Salvation conflicts: It was a nice gesture on the part of Salvation Army Major Steve Koehler to send me an invitation to be a "celebrity" bell-ringer on a special day of ringing outside the St. Charles Wal-Mart on Dec. 6.

But I am the "king of time conflicts," mainly because I don't leave too much of my schedule open. In this case, however, it is an ironic conflict.

I am already scheduled to ring for Salvation Army that night in the Charlestowne Mall. So, I have to turn down the chance to be a "celebrity" for the Salvation Army because I have a prior commitment to the Salvation Army.

That sounds a little better than saying I have a conflict because "Grey's Anatomy" is on that night.

dheun@sbcglobal.net