Wellington to the rescue for Geneva building
If you've never heard of the Wellington Group human resources services before, the owners did something to change that.
Ann and Mike Anastasio, who have operated Wellington Group out of an office on Franklin Street the past five years, have purchased the 317 S. Third St. building in Geneva from Joe Stanton.
The building, which houses offices and the La Maison D'Elodie shops, was a hot topic the past year because Stanton had considered turning the site into Third Street condominiums.
But with this purchase, the Wellington Group will have an office on the second floor and La Maison D'Elodie will stay -- if the economy improves.
"We're just thrilled with this purchase," said Ann, who first learned of the building's potential demise when she stopped in the shop during a sale. "At that time, we just said there is too much history here and it is an important part of Third Street, so we couldn't let that happen."
The sale was completed last Friday, so definite plans for the future of La Maison D'Elodie are not certain.
But the street-level floor of the building will remain retail in the future, Ann said.
A family showdown: When lacrosse becomes an Illinois High School Association sport in 2010, Sean McCaffrey of Geneva will have his fingerprints all over its development in the Tri-Cities.
McCaffrey, who played the sport in Pittsburgh, before moving to Geneva during his sophomore year in high school, was instrumental in getting the sport started as a club during his senior year at Geneva High School.
After he graduated from Geneva in 2005, he went on to play the game at St. Leo University in Florida before recently transferring to Northern Illinois University.
He has coached Geneva teams and is now an assistant coach for the St. Charles lacrosse team, which is ranked fifth in the state and is comprised of athletes from both North and East high schools.
A week ago, the "The McCaffrey Showdown" unfolded when his St. Charles team played his former Geneva team, which featured his brother Colin as a defenseman. St. Charles won that game 13-5, but McCaffrey was quick to give his brother, a senior for the Vikings, a little credit.
"I will say that he played about the best game for them," McCaffrey said. "But you have to remember that we are a Division A team and Geneva is a Division B team."
McCaffrey is anxious for the game to take a stronger hold in the region, which he believes will happen when the IHSA sanctions it.
Lots of service: When someone has been the secretary or business manager of a business or organization for 39 years, one might say that was the person who "ran the place."
If that's true, then Carol Jacklin was the person who apparently kept St. Peter parish in Geneva operating smoothly.
The parish says goodbye to Jacklin today as she makes her complete retirement official. She had cut back to part-time work a few years ago, but she's been the parish business manager for much of her 39 years of service.
dheun@sbcglobal.net