No north-south conflict in Fox Valley

There is no lack of interesting stories, poems, songs, letters, photos, paintings and other memorabilia when it comes to our nation's Civil War.

And that's a good thing, considering the most tumultuous four years ever experienced on American soil will be reaching its 150th anniversary next spring.

The word was spread earlier this summer that the Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles is planning a four-year retrospective of the Civil War through various art forms at the center and in other venues in the city.

I've also noticed that Waubonsee Community College will be offering lectures, seminars and recreations of historical Civil War figures next spring.

So, will this be another conflict of the north and south of this area competing for the attention of Civil War buffs and area students or residents intrigued by this history?

"I don't see it as a conflict at all," said Mark Smith, treasurer of the Norris Cultural Arts board of directors and a key organizer of the Civil War series. "If anything, it shows that there is plenty of content to go around, and it certainly helps draw attention to the fact that there are a number of good ways in order to bring this thing to life."

It is not likely anyone will be as ambitious as the Norris Cultural Arts Center in making this a four-year project to coincide with the length of the Civil War.

"So far there have been no obstacles for us," Smith said of the early planning. "Everyone we have contacted has been responding positively, and now it's just a matter of scheduling them."

A long volunteer stint: If you've ever sat through a St. Charles Plan Commission meeting, you'd have tremendous respect for a fellow like Jim Spears, who did it as a volunteer on the commission for 40 years. Spears, who passed away suddenly last week, had a say in virtually everything you see in St. Charles from the downtown, business districts, subdivisions and parks.

Thanks, Jim, for caring so much, and putting in so much time.

With the kids: You won't find too many people who were more devoted to helping youngsters than John Rea of Batavia. A St. Charles School District 303 teacher for more than 20 years, he also put in tremendous amounts of time as a Boy Scout leader.

He and his wife raised three boys who became Eagle Scouts, and that's a wonderful trifecta by any measure.

He died last week after a long illness. Those who knew him - or bought a Christmas tree from him at a Boy Scout fundraiser - won't forget his legacy of working with kids of all ages.

A planter project: Congratulations go out to Shaun Berendt, a 2010 Batavia High School graduate who was honored last week by the Geneva City Council and Geneva Beautification Committee for his Eagle Scout project of providing planters on the State Street bridge.

It's easy to overlook the projects that Eagle Scouts have conducted throughout the years in the region. They've built, fixed or painted so many things, we start to take them for granted.

dheun@sbcglobal.net