'Dancing with the Heuns' for a worthy cause
When totally exasperated with a predicament, Oliver Hardy summed it up by turning to his pal, Stan Laurel, and proclaiming: "Well, here's another fine mess you've gotten me into."
That would be a good way to describe the fact that my wife and I are participating as a dance team in the "Dancing with Geneva Stars" fundraiser Feb. 7 at Eagle Brook Country Club.
So, you're expecting me to say I got dragged into this, kicking and fighting all of the way? Sorry to disappoint the guys out there, but I actually said yes when Linda Cunningham at State Street Dance Studio in Geneva asked if we would participate - and mentioned it to my wife a week or so later. It left her as the one making the Oliver Hardy statement, rather than vice versa.
Still, we are looking forward to this event. It promises to be a fun night for participants and spectators alike. And in true election-season fashion, I am encouraging everyone to cast as many votes as they would like for their favorite dancers at $1 a vote, as that is how the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission and Geneva Academic Foundation will raise funds at this event - and also how the winning dance couple will be crowned. You'll likely be seeing ballots on the commission Web site and in the newspaper after the holidays.
And how is it that I would agree to the pressure of dancing in front of other people? My mother's side of the family was Italian - and there were a lot of family members. And they all knew how to dance, both men and women. I learned fairly young because you joined in, or were considered odd.
So, for the benefit of two important Geneva organizations, we joined in.
They need sponsors: State Street Dance Studio should receive the first applause in regard to the "Dancing with Geneva Stars" event by providing instructors and the location for all of the lessons for the six celebrity dance teams.
But other sponsors are needed for the event, and there are many things local businesses or individuals could do to help out.
Contact Carolyn Hill at (630) 232-8313 if you are interested in supporting this fundraiser, which takes the popular TV theme and just changes it to a dollars-for-votes concept.
Fat lady singing: As if dance performances and fundraising programs won't keep her busy enough, Linda Cunningham of State Street Dance is also part of the evolving Kane Community Opera group.
I have had quite a few people tell me they enjoyed the opera, after reluctantly making their first visit. Having never been exposed to this art form, I am guessing I too would find it both interesting and enjoyable.
Anyone interested in finding out more about this new nonprofit group, looking to stage "The Pirates of Penzance" in November of 2009, can contact Steve Hanson at (630) 346-1842 to learn more about an informational meeting being held at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at a site to be determined.
Clearing way for pool: Even though most residents knew that a new swimming pool was coming to the west side of St. Charles, some readers expressed disappointment in seeing trees being leveled near the Campton soccer fields at Peck Road and Campton Hills Drive.
The park district is making way for that new aquatics center, with an opening date of spring 2010 in mind.
"There were no real quality trees in that particular area," said Denny Ryan, superintendent of parks and planning. "It was just kind of overgrown with box elders and buckthorn, but we are leaving trees around the aquatics center to buffer it from Lake Charlotte (subdivision) residents."
The two acres where you will notice trees being removed used to be the location of mobile homes where employees of the youth center lived. When those mobile homes were removed, Ryan said, the area became overgrown with thick brush and trees.
"It is the area where we will be building the water slide tower for the center," Ryan added.
Better bailout plan: I always knew there was something I liked about actor Russell Crowe. During a recent appearance on "The Tonight Show," he made a pitch for what he feels is a better financial bailout plan: "Give every person in America a million dollars."
dheun@sbcglobal.net