Geneva board gives funds to 14 groups that help others
Fourteen nonprofit agencies that provide mental health aid to Geneva residents received allocations this week from the Geneva 708 mental health board.
The checks were distributed at the Geneva City Council meeting. Each group was invited to give a short presentation about what it does for residents.
The amounts received:
• TriCity Family Services, $30,900.
• Ecker Center, $27,700.
• Association for Individual Development, $22,800.
• Geneva school district, $11,300.
• Lazarus House, $9,300.
• Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice, $7,750.
• DayOne Network, $6,200.
• Renz Addiction Center, $4,750.
• Suicide Prevention Services, $3,950.
• Elderday Center, $3,900.
• Living Well Cancer Resource Center, $2,250.
• TriCity Health Partners, $1,900.
• Court-Appointed Special Advocates, $1,300.
Stefanie Weber, of Suicide Prevention Services, spoke about the need to focus prevention programs on the increasing number of young women taking their lives. And Lazarus House founder Darlene Marcusson noted that she had just attended a funeral of a young client who couldn't bear up anymore under life's pressures, leaving a wife and children.
A representative from Elderday Center reminded the council many of the center's clients were active in and financially supported their communities in their younger days, and that they deserve these towns' respect and aid now in the sunset of their lives.
The city council doesn't approve the grants, but the mental health board wants to make sure it knows the value of having taxpayers support programs that can help people improve their mental health.
Salute to a hard worker
It's a little belated, but it should be noted Evan Johnson, a 34-year employee in the water and sewer division, retired Nov. 21. His boss praised him to the city council Nov. 19, noting that Johnson could always be counted to come in for emergency work, unless he was sick or out of town.
Johnson, who started with Geneva at age 22, plans to eventually move to southern Illinois.
His favorite part of the job? Sewer cleaning. "You'd be surprised at the different things you find," he said, like coins and jewelry.
Tell us about holiday lights:
The Daily Herald will showcase some of the best light displays in the area in the Dec. 21 Neighbor section.
Nominations are still be accepted. Send an e-mail to foxvalley@dailyherald.com by Wednesday.
You can nominate yourself, a house or a whole neighborhood or street. It need not be in Geneva. Include the exact address, driving directions from a major intersection and a description about what makes the display special.
The more information provided the better chance it will make the list. If you know, tell us how many lights are used, how much it cost, extent of the decorated area and any special features.
In your e-mail provide your name and phone number. Neither will be published.