Just look around to find examples of joy in town

Sometimes we can find joy just by being open to seeing it around us. Batavia is filled with joy.

I was driving through town and noticed an adult woman making a snowman. Unlike many of the other snowmen in town this one was facing the house rather than the street. Inside was an elderly member of our community who recently lost her husband. What a joy that someone thought enough of this person to give her the happiness of having a snowman smiling at her right outside the window.

Choir and orchestra students performed at the dock stage of downtown Disney in Orlando last week. It was a joy to witness so many first-timers. Disney World is an amazing place but seeing it again through the eyes of someone who has never been there is really a joy.

What a joy it was to approach a member of the city's street crew and have them be so helpful. At the precinct where I voted there was a large pool of water at the curb. When I asked the two overworked men if they could take a look at it, they immediately left to check it out and try to keep an accident from happening since the temperature was dropping.

David Peebles called and told me that Alise Svoboda, a 2007 graduate of Batavia High School is now playing with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, one of the premier orchestras in southern Illinois. Alise, one of the finest violinists to come out of Batavia, has been playing with the Knox Galesburg Symphony, a fine orchestra I soloed with during my college years.

Shirley Fox, who spent more than 20 years playing the accompaniments for BHS musicals continues to bring joy to others by sharing her talent. You can catch Shirley on Monday afternoons playing piano in the lobby of Delnor Community Hospital.

What a joy to hear that Holy Cross gave a monetary gift to the Congregational Church to help with its roof project. The Congregational Church discovered major structural problems with the roof last year. Under the guise of owing back rent from years ago, Holy Cross showed tremendous community support by trying to help another church going through a difficult time.

What a joy it was for those of us who are fighting colds to see the Bulldogs on BATV. The Geneva game was so exciting and the Night of Hoops was phenomenal. A special thank you to Alan Wolff who desperately tried to get the game back on the air during the double overtimes. on the Night of Hoops. Apologies to my husband who was the recipient of a sock in the arm twice when the game went off the air during the crucial overtime.

Living in a community where small town values and small town traditions still continue is a joy. Just ask my dog who knows when we pull into the drive-up at the Harris Bank. Her tail starts wagging and she puts on her cutest face, all in hopes of bringing joy to the tellers (and getting a dog biscuit, of course.)

You've got to love this town and the joy it brings to live here. If you have some joy to share, let me know. I'll make sure it doesn't go unnoticed.