Retirement should go swimmingly for these instructors

After 31 years of work as an instructor and the aquatics director at the Norris Recreation Center pool, Sue Lange says her skin may actually be drying out, noting "my fingers are finally not wrinkled."

Marie Taylor, who spent 25 years in that St. Charles pool as an instructor, said it boggles her mind when thinking of how many thousands of kids she has taught to enjoy swimming.

Those two have been nothing short of legends at the Norris pool, so it was no surprise so many people turned out for their retirement party three weeks ago.

"I know I have been involved with the pool since it first opened because I was there with my second daughter, getting her in the water as an infant," said Lange, who watched her three girls eventually compete for age-group and high school swim teams.

"It was time to get out and spend time with my husband," Lange said. "There were many times when we would have liked to go someplace on a Saturday, but I couldn't because I had classes.

"I was the director, so I had dual jobs, because I was a sub for everyone else," Lange said. "There were a lot of us there 10, 15 years or longer, and we all covered for each other."

One of those there a long time was Taylor, who handled many of the daytime classes.

"It started as a part-time job for me and just grew from there," Taylor said. "And there were times I would be there all day and then also sub at night."

Taylor also said it was time to see her husband more often because, as a swim instructor, "we were never really off work."

Lange and Taylor will still spend time in the water with their volunteer efforts. Lange and her husband work with Fox Valley Special Recreation Association swimmers and also help Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts with their swimming merit badge tests. Taylor works with children with neurological and orthopedic conditions in the Delnor Ortho Kids Aquatic program.

"It was a great job, a great experience for me," Lange said of her life's work at Norris. "I was able to go to all of my kids' swim meets."

Call it 'Geneva Tonight'

John Callaway of "Chicago Tonight" fame will showcase his interview skills Wednesday night at Niche restaurant in Geneva.

Chef Jeremy Lycan will prepare a three-course menu and sommelier Jody Richardson will provide the wines as Niche welcomes Callaway for another "After Dinner with John Callaway" session.

Callaway will be interviewing economic adviser Brian Wesbury on the topic "The Economy and Your Money."

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call (630) 262-1000.

Confusion set in

Theoretically, it was accurate. And that's not exactly what you want to say about something you wrote in a column.

So, there is some confusion to clear up regarding information I reported last week about new restaurants opening along Third Street in Geneva.

I had noted the Sisto family was going to open Grotto Italian Tapas at 207 S. Third St. but made the connection with Dino Sisto, who operates Za Za Trattoria in St. Charles. Danielle Sisto is handling Grotto, which she hoped to open this weekend, but Dino is not involved in any way. Same family, though as distant relations.

Then, I mentioned Chianti's was opening at 220 Campbell St., at the corner of Third Street, a site in which its carry-out business has taken place since January 2007. While the Campbell Street site will be the location of the expanded kitchen, the expanded dining area fronts Third Street at 207 S. Third, Suite 202, in essentially the same building.

Owner Sherry Woods was nice enough to take some time away from her Swedish Days food booth to show me around the new setup. I also polished off one of the sausage and pepper sandwiches she was peddling at her booth -- and it was out of this world.