Turning a passion into a business
A passion for visiting World War II battle sites and collecting military memorabilia has advanced to another level for Steve Thompson of St. Charles.
Thompson, who recently retired after 33 years as president of Bornquist, Inc. and an induction into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, is ready to debut his new military memorabilia business.
"Dixie Devil Diver" Military Memories will have its grand opening at 10 a.m. Friday at Antique Market I, 11 N. Third Street in St. Charles.
Thompson figured it was a good time to display his "museum quality" military memorabilia as the Pride of the Fox Riverfest is being held this weekend.
Thompson has rented space at the Antique Market for displaying his historic treasures while also conducting a business in which he will be buying and selling memorabilia.
The oldest World War II veterans who stop by the "Dixie Devil Diver" booth during the weekend festival will be awarded two $50 gift certificates.
"I must say that people show genuine interest and excitement in this type of military memorabilia business," Thompson said. "It is unique and has a nice patriotic theme to it that people seem to want to see."
The venture represents a personal challenge of sorts for Thompson as well.
"I chose not to proceed with the formal induction (into the hall of fame) when the realization came to me that the honor was for me alone, when so many others with whom I worked had also contributed to our success in such a significant way," Thompson explained. "I could not in good conscience accept the award personally for that reason.
"I look upon my new venture as a challenge to see if I have what it takes to go it alone and still succeed," he added.
If you would like to buy or sell military memorabilia, contact Thompson via e-mail at ILIKIKE59@aol.com.
Now it's costly: There's another reason to fret about rush hour traffic that clogs up the downtowns and Randall Road in the Tri-Cities region. It has become a costly affair with gas prices reaching ridiculous levels.
A traffic jam in this day and age is a time-waster and money drain.
Worth listening: Chic Williams has devoted most of the past two decades to learning what challenges and dangers face our teens, and parents would be wise to hear what Geneva's prevention/intervention coordinator has to say.
Williams will be one of several speakers at "Summer Break … Geneva Teen Scene Uncovered" from 7 to 9 tonight at the Geneva High School auditorium.
Even if you think you have it all figured out, you might want to hear from experts about which drugs your kids are likely to encounter and where they will encounter them.
Who should attend? Everyone, really. But parents of children from kindergarten through college would surely benefit.
Don't forget lobsters: With other money matters on people's minds, it might be easy to forget that our social service agencies need our donations. So don't forget to order your lobsters at (630) 232-1070 by Monday for TriCity Family Services' annual Lobster Fly In.
dheun@sbcglobal.net