What we were all talking about this past year

So who and what was mentioned in "Talk of the Town" this past year?

Just about anyone and everyone, from what I can tell in glancing through the past year's columns.

Here's a look back at some of what we were all talking about in this space in which the Daily Herald allows me to spout off twice a week.

A deck, fog and more: As 2008 began, St. Charles residents were mostly buzzing about the new parking deck along First Street, as well as the new home for the Blue Goose supermarket. The overall renovation project remains a point of much interest in town.

Jim and Doretta Kriecha of St. Charles shared their frightening story about being caught in the dense fog in Wisconsin that resulted in a 100-car pileup on Interstate 90, near Route 12.

Elaine Samuelson shared the story of her husband "Putt" and his role in the development of the Riverwoods Christian Center along the Fox River in St. Charles.

Erin McGrath of Geneva shared her story about landing a role in the traveling production of "Hairspray."

Geneva Rotary Club member Frank Mares shared details about the club's charity trip to Guatemala to aid children in poor Mayan villages on how to rebuild their villages. A Fox Valley Presbyterian Church group made a similar mission, this one targeting creation of clean-water wells.

Maggie Zimmerman of St. Charles told me about her mission to Africa as part of an international study group, but also about convincing her family to do volunteer work in Tanzania.

No smoke, tough times: There were plenty of items about the new no-smoking law, and we took a look at what it meant for bowling alleys. Dan Borgie of Geneva, a sales manager for Brunswick, said that the alleys that would market the fact they were now smoke-free would continue to do well.

Don and Eric Wickman of Wickman Properties spoke to me early in the year about the pending real estate troubles and how their business was going to market itself during the downturn.

The winter of 2007-2008 was proving to be a tough one, but area residents said it was nothing compared to the monster known as the 1967 snowstorm.

Birthdays and new places: St. Charles celebrated the 20th birthday of its Potawatomi Indian statue along the Fox River, and preparations and ideas were being floated for the city's 175th anniversary in 2009.

Delnor-Community Hospital was preparing to unveil its west addition, the largest expansion in the hospital's history at three stories and 100,000 square feet.

Batavia started to regroup in the aftermath of the Wilson Street bridge construction and many downtown merchants and city leaders were optimistic about the future, despite the signs of a sluggish economy.

Don't eat candy: West Aurora bus driver James Wilson was honored by the district for saving a young boy who was choking on a piece of candy on the bus. For his part, the young boy told school officials he'd never eat on the bus again.

Family pride: Katie Kibble and Marci Hunt, blood sisters who had never met, finally had a reunion, made possible through Katie's adoptive parents. They met in Arizona in 2007, but got together again for Sisters Weekend in St. Charles this year.

Stephanie Schiller of Geneva was preparing to sing the national anthem at the Northern Illinois University graduation ceremony, one that was sure to be filled with emotion after the tragic Valentine's Day shootings.

The family of Norris Recreation Center employees said goodbye to longtime swim instructors Marie Taylor and Sue Lange, whom both had much to do with teaching literally thousands of local kids how to swim during their long careers.

Those food places: With restaurants closing and opening on a regular basis this year, some of my most popular items had to do with food.

Ray's Evergreen in St. Charles was saved from closing by new owners, but the historic Rolle Bolle game played there moved west to Little Jim's Country Tavern in Virgil.

Bud's Sports Eatery in St. Charles closed, but the site reopened with Real Time Sports.

Geneva's Third Street had a minor facelift with Italian restaurants opening and closing, and Mexican fare was added at Front Street Cantina. With Sergio's Cantina opened in the former Potter's Place location, Geneva suddenly had far more Mexican fare.

We learned more about the illness of Marie Free and the closing of her Frantastic Wings in St. Charles, which resulted in plenty of reader responses.

Close out the year: We'll share some more of the top "Talk of the Town" items in Wednesday's column, as we prepare for the jump into 2009. Hard to believe it's been nine years since the Y2K scare of 2000, isn't it?

dheun@sbcglobal.net