St. Charles Charlemagne Award dinner nears century mark

It might be time to clear up some numbers related to St. Charles' annual Charlemagne Award, as we enter the "honors season" just after the holidays.

The St. Charles Chamber of Commerce will host its Charlemagne Award dinner to honor its top citizen from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at the Q Center in St. Charles.

That event is edging toward the century mark, as the 2019 dinner marks the 97th time a chamber dinner has been held. That's not to be confused with the number of Charlemagne Award winners.

The 2018 recipient will be the 52nd to earn the recognition, built on criteria that former Mayor C.V. Amenoff (1969 to 1973) established in his story "Legend of the Four Sons of Charlemagne" to honor a volunteer with a long history engaged in civic, business, industrial, education, religious, cultural or natural recreation improvements in the city.

Amenoff's story was inspired by the fox sculptures on the Main Street bridge. St. Charles student Katherine Bernardi won a chamber of commerce contest in 1969 to name the fox that represents the city with her entry of "Charlemagne."

The top citizen became the recipient of the Charlemagne Award that year, with former Mayor George Neumark (1961 to 1969) earning the honor as the 1968 recipient. But he shared it with Robert MacNeille, who made his mark in St. Charles business through St. Charles Kitchens and his numerous philanthropic efforts. Neumark, a World War II veteran, died in 1992.

MacNeille is not to be confused with his son, Robert Jr., who won the award in 1984 and passed away last spring.

The co-winner result that first year explains why the Charlemagne Award, heading toward its 50th year next year, will go to its 52ndrecipient when the 2018 winner is announced.

Other co-winners were Karl Gartner and Joseph C. Gaffney in 1973, while in 1983 couples William and Mary Barth and Fred and Phyllis Kaiser shared the honor.

Judge Clint Hull was honored earlier this year as the 2017 winner.

While it is tradition to surprise the Charlemagne Award winner at the dinner event each year, not all chambers choose to do it that way.

Batavia takes all of that apprehension and guesswork out of the equation for its top honor.

Georgene Kauth O'Dwyer has earned the 2018 Batavia Citizen of the Year - which means she and the rest of the community already know it.

O'Dwyer's honor and various other business honors will take place at the Inspire Awards 2019 from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 24 at Abbey Farms in Aurora.

The club's 40th:

If there is one thing I haven't liked about working from home for my full-time job (with a media company in New York City), it's that my schedule no longer allows me to meet with my friends at the Tri-Cities Exchange Club on a weekly basis at 7 a.m. Tuesdays.

I was a member for more than 20 years, so it did not surprise me to find out the club is celebrating its 40th anniversary on Sunday, Jan. 6, at the Royal Hawk Country Club in St. Charles.

National Exchange Club President Scot Warren of St. Charles is the scheduled speaker. Scot has followed in the footsteps of his father, the late Harold Warren, who also served as national president.

All former members and the general public are invited to attend to celebrate a club whose mission has been prevention of child abuse, promoting patriotism and supporting various other school and community causes.

Cost per ticket is $35 and those interested in attending can contact club President Brian Henry at (630) 513-3162.

A Blackhawks honor:

Speaking of the Tri-Cities Exchange Club, one of its longtime members is in for a memorable night on Monday, Jan. 7.

Al Centafonte of St. Charles will be on the ice at the United Center before the game to be honored for his time as a World War II veteran.

The Blackhawks honor servicemen prior to games, standing alongside Jim Cornelison as he sings the national anthem.

Folks who know Centafonte will want to be sure to watch pregame ceremonies before the 7:30 p.m. puck drop on NBCSCH.

Club President Brian Henry said he contacted the Blackhawks almost two years ago to inquire about including Centafonte in a pregame ceremony.

He received an email from the Blackhawks about a month ago to inform him about Centafonte being part of the special tribute.

Blame for that ticket:

Let's categorize this as rather dumb. It was dumb on my part, but also, in my opinion, had dumb circumstances that resulted in a $25 parking ticket on my car.

In a hurry to catch a train for a business-related trip into Chicago the day after that late November blizzard, I parked in the lot near the Kane County Government Center.

On this particular day the small numbers on display for each parking spot were covered with snow - like everything else.

I could make out the number next to my spot as 115. So I figured, in a left-to-right sequence, my spot was 114. I didn't have time to, nor did I think about, cleaning the snow off my spot's sign. So, I stuffed my $2 in the 114 slot at the payment box.

When I returned late that afternoon, the ticket was on my windshield and indicated I had not paid for - dang! - spot No. 116. Once again, math logic came back to haunt me.

The small print on the ticket said questions could be emailed to an address it provided. So, I did just that to explain what happened. I don't mind paying for a ticket, except I did pay for parking that day.

Of course, I probably should just let this go as an annoying incident, but it is fun to speculate as to what legal minds would come up with if I were to refuse to pay.

On one hand, the Geneva police could say I did not pay for No. 116 - and that would be correct.

But the Heun defense team could say $2 was paid and also ask, who is responsible for making sure the parking spot signs are clear and easy to read so that most reasonable people would understand which slot to pay?

The ticket offered a place to ask a question and one would think that would mean I would get an answer. Or, in my wishful thinking, someone agreeing the storm made it tough and "we'll tear up the ticket this time because we believe you did pay."

As of this writing, I have not heard back. That part, as much as anything else, makes me not want to pay.

Felt like tacos:

Not everything I do or eat at this time of year has to be holiday-related. And this one isn't.

I finally stopped by the Burrito Parilla Mexicana restaurant at 76 S. Randall Road in Batavia last week. I had a taste for tacos and this turned out to be a pretty good choice.

It seems we have a fair number of places with similar offerings when considering Chipotle, Taco Madre and Salsa Verde and a few others.

But I never walk away from any of these places disappointed.

It's good to have Burrito Parilla in place, considering the alternative for some time had been an empty White Castle location.

dheun@sbcglobal.net