Fall conference addresses domestic violence
It's not a pleasant thought. A woman has been beaten up by her abusive husband or boyfriend - and doesn't have a safe place to go in an attempt to get away from a dangerous relationship.
That's the dilemma facing many women and their children since the shelter at Mutual Ground in Aurora recently shut down because of a lack of funds.
It's a scary message, one that former St. Charles police officer Jim Kintz and others involved in the 16th Judicial Family Violence Coordinating Council are trying to soften by spreading the word that the community has to provide help for victims of domestic violence.
More specifically, the council is trying to get the clergy of area churches on board by educating their congregations about this crime, while also delivering a consistent message and a "safe harbor" for those who have the courage to seek help.
"This is a problem that affects so many people, and these women are losing their safe shelters," Kintz said at a recent meeting of the Tri-Cities Exchange Club, which also has been fighting child abuse in the region for 30 years.
Kintz said it has been a difficult task to get clergy in the area to understand the extent of the problem in the area and come together to help form regional solutions.
The council will conduct its fifth annual conference, "The Faith Community Response to Domestic Abuse Within Its Congregation," on Oct. 26 at the Batavia VFW.
"The committee is bringing in Marie Barlow Martin, a nationally known singer/songwriter and domestic violence survivor," Kintz said. The committee, which is not funded, is attempting to raise $3,000 to reach this goal.
"We are looking for sponsors to help us," Kintz added. "It is extremely important that victims feel safe in their faith community and that clergy, ministers and rabbis respond appropriately."
Anyone interested in donating to this cause or learning more about the conference should call Kintz at (630) 232-7620.
Important gestures: In addition to promoting meal deals, a few of the area's restaurants use their outdoor signs to congratulate high school sports teams or alert residents to a charity event or community festival taking place.
But Orlando's Pizza on the east side of Geneva reminds us always that it is best to keep our smalltown values in place, regardless of how much we have all changed around here in the past few decades.
It is not uncommon for the sign at Orlando's to be used to welcome back a soldier who has been overseas, or a person who has suffered an accident and has returned home from the hospital.
Sometimes I recognize the name on the sign, other times I do not. It doesn't matter. It's a small gesture in a small town, and that tells you all you need to know.
Cook up some wins: The only recipe Cubs fans likely care about is the one for winning baseball. When they have a young pitcher who shows tremendous potential to do just that, he can become an instant celebrity.
That is why when pitcher Randy Wells shows up at the Meijer store in St. Charles from 5 to 6:30 p. m. Thursday, I would think plenty of Cubs fans will be interested in seeing him.
The bonus is that he'll be displaying his cooking skills that night, working on a favorite recipe with one of Meijer's cooking experts.
The Cubs have been so inept so far this season it is hard to find bright spots. Wells is one of those rare bright spots, so let's hope he comes up with a tasty dish at Meijer, but can also concoct some kind of winning recipe on the baseball field for the Cubs.
A special soup recipe: It pays to enjoy your Campbell's Soup.
Many schools have benefited from the Labels for Education program that Campbell's has sponsored for years, as schools collect soup labels that earn points that can be exchanged for supplies and materials at the school.
Mooseheart may have taken the potential of this program to new heights recently when a label-clipping effort by members of the Moose resulted in 193,100 points being earned. It all equated to musical instruments and supplies for the physical education department and classrooms on the Mooseheart campus just south of Batavia.
Moose Charities is involved in facilitating the Campbell's program and others like it for General Mills, Nestle's, Target, Coca-Cola, Food Lion and Tyson Foods.
Last festival note: In closing the 2009 Swedish Days notebook, I feel compelled to say that organizers put together another fine festival, considering the economy was going to affect sponsorship and participation.
I think the key remains the opening night festivities. I loved the Big Band music and dancing that went on for this year's opening, but it didn't draw enough people. I believe that was better suited for a different night.
When the "gates" open for the festival, a big-name act needs to take the stage to bring big crowds and get things started in a big way.
Then, if the weather hurts another night or two, the vendors and businesses on Third Street won't feel as much pain because they've already enjoyed a solid opening night. A well-known band, combined with "Moonlight Madness" at the stores, used to make the opening night something special - no matter what Mother Nature was doing.
The sweet donation: Blood donors rarely need an incentive, but this is a pretty good lure. It's a fairly safe bet that most humans enjoy ice cream. So those who donate blood to the Heartland Blood Centers this month will get a free quart of Oberweis ice cream.
To learn donation times at the location nearest you, call 1 (800) 7-TO GIVE or visit the Web site at heartlandbc.org.