Election makes Good Cents for Geneva business
You're seeing my smiling a face a day early, so as to make room for election news coverage tomorrow morning. But here's an Election Day newsflash: Barack Obama has gained an edge in another important category - the sale of paper doll collectible books.
"It's the first time, in my 18 years of business here, that I have sold something related to the election," said Shirley Stopka, owner of Good Cents Children at 220 W. State St. in Geneva.
Stopka has monitored how paper doll books showcasing the Obama and John McCain families were selling - and the Obama books were clearly ahead.
However, the sale of Democratic and Republican baby bibs showed a neck-and-neck race among toddlers, with only a few Democratic Party bibs remaining.
"We had a grandmother come in and buy a Republican bib, and she went someplace where many others were asking where she got it, so she came in and bought several more," Stopka said.
"It's been a lot of fun for the high school girls on the sales floor, because they said that everybody wants to know who is winning," Stopka said. "This really surprised us, and we were wondering if other stores were doing this kind of thing as well."
Tops in ice cream, too: We've seen other presidential-race promotions, particularly Colonial Café restaurants offering a different ice cream sundae for each candidate.
Tom Anderson of Colonial said Obama, "being the hometown candidate for those in Illinois," was ahead in the sundae contest as well.
Only one vote truly counts, however. Unless you were among the thousands who voted early this year, be sure to vote today. Whether your candidate is an underdog or a front-runner hoping to stay in the lead - they need your ballot.
Catholic school flashbacks: I was afraid it would trigger a few nightmares, but it was actually educational and entertaining.
We joined some friends - most of us former Catholic school alums - at the Saturday matinee of "Late Night Catechism" at the Paramount Theater in Aurora.
My Catholic school years could be titled "Groucho Marx Jr. takes on the meanest nuns in the Western Hemisphere."
Lisa Braatz, portraying "Sister" in the play, actually made me feel sorry for nuns when explaining how tough it was having a room full of clowns in a 100-degree classroom, while inflicted with a sinus headache and 20 pounds of clothing on.
Supporting the Scouts: You might simply call Fred Norris a good Scout.
Congratulations to the former St. Charles mayor for being named this year's distinguished citizen by the Three Fires Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Norris has often talked with fondness about his years in Scouting, and he's been active with it as an adult leader for the past 35 years.
Norris will be honored at the council's award luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Q Center in St. Charles.
Not just candy: Other than candy, another favorite kids food fared well this past Halloween. With the holiday on a Friday, most people stayed home to hand out candy. It kept the carryout pizza places busy.