RJ's adds a little touch of home to downtown Geneva
The sign says RJ's Deli, but the word Deli looks like someone tried to rub it off.
Raul and Silvia Garcia are working on getting a new sign in place at their small restaurant at 113 W. State Street in Geneva. The sign needs replacing because it is now RJ's Restaurant and so much more than the Italian delicatessen it started out as eight years ago.
"We really were just a delicatessen for a long time because my husband has so much experience with sandwiches," Silvia said.
But not long ago, one of their steady customers, Nancy Bell, an employee of the Geneva Library, had a simple idea.
"Nancy said, 'You guys are Mexican, so you must make Mexican food, right?' " Silvia said. "We had always made Mexican food at home, so we thought, why not have homemade Mexican food at our restaurant?
"It was a little bit of an odd combination, Italian and Mexican, but so far, people have really liked it," she added.
The result is that this little location with the hard-to-read sign should no longer be one of Geneva's best-kept secrets.
Bell explains it well in saying, "Raul's excellent Mexican food is more and more in demand, and everything is so fresh."
The plate of three tacos I devoured last week held up to this rave review, and I am anxious to try the Italian beef and fries that some other customers were enjoying when my wife and I visited the Garcias.
The restaurant is open until 7 p.m. most days, but until 8 p.m. on Fridays, and also allows customers to bring their own wine or beer while enjoying their meal (the Wine Time is right next door).
The Garcias are hoping word can spread that they're offering a nice dining experience or catering at reasonable prices.
Volleying with a purpose: It's not likely that a pink volleyball is going to make a powerful spike any easier to block, but it's the message that counts.
St. Charles High School girls' volleyball teams have supplied plenty of excitement for area fans, especially when considering the St. Charles East girls are defending state champions.
But above and beyond the enjoyment of watching student-athletes excel at their activities, it is even better to see them understand that they can use their skills to benefit the community.
The volleyball teams at East and North will do exactly that with the "Volley for the Cure" event when the teams meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Charles North High School for a match that will raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.
"The goal for the night is to 'Pack the House in Pink' and we will be selling pink T-shirts for $10 and that will include free admittance to the game," said Maureen Niski, one of the chairmen of the event. "We will also be selling pink baked goods and raffling off baskets."
The players will don pink jerseys and use that pink ball, but those interested in getting in on the pink action need to contact Niski at (630) 513-6867 or co-chair Lisa Schneider at (630) 587-9373 to buy the T-shirt.
It's no secret: They've been trying to get St. Charles residents excited about the fact the city is celebrating its 175th birthday this year, but those involved with the St. Charles Heritage Center have often said they feel as if the milestone is "the best-kept secret in town."
Maybe we get more excited about these birthdays when they fall on the 50s or 100's, but 175 shouldn't be overlooked.
I've mentioned the history book that is being put together at the history museum in which residents can sponsor a page commemorating a specific year, with information about how or why that year is important to them.
But residents should also know that a very nice birthday party is being planned at the Arcada Theater and the Onesti Dinner Club called "Good Night Gracie." This tribute to George Burns and Gracie Allen and the vaudeville era at the theater will be held at 5 p.m. next Sunday. Cost is $175 per couple, and includes the show and dinner (before or after the show). Information is available at (630) 587-8400.
Another big doggy: Jim Sullivan of Geneva sent along a note that he enjoys my column and was especially fond of the item about Kirby, the 173-pound mastiff that has been mentioned in the past for saving his owner by dragging her home after she had fallen and was injured on an icy path, and also for being named the biggest dog at a pet night at a recent Cougars game.
Sullivan mentioned that his Old English mastiff, Beauregard, was even bigger - a 252-pounder that is the talk of his neighborhood.
Those of us who work for this newspaper will appreciate Beauregard's favorite trick, according to Sullivan.
"This dog loves to get the Daily Herald for us in the morning, and thank goodness they put a plastic wrap on it," Sullivan said. "His drool is something special and I am sure we could bottle it as some sort of industrial strength adhesive."
Just like Hitler?: I have no problem with political activists, lobbyists or others who might stand on a street corner proclaiming political views to passers-by.
But I'm not particularly fond of it during community festivals, as occurred last weekend during Geneva's Festival of the Vine.
A group upset with President Obama's push for health care reform was letting festival visitors along Third Street know they consider the president's health care tactics similar to those of one Adolph Hitler some 70 years ago. In fact, they had a picture of Obama with the recognizable Hitler mustache painted on his face.
Our country provides the freedom to make statements like that, and for others to either listen or ignore. But this particular group of street-corner barkers needs to understand a rather important fact: If Obama, or any of our other presidents, was really like Hitler, a group of fellows in brown shirts would have approached and beat the protesters right on the street corner if even one word against the nation's leader was being muttered.
My message? Make your points about where you stand on an issue. But apply a measure of common sense. And keep it to yourself during a family-oriented festival.
dheun@sbcglobal.net