Observant walker finds ring and returns to rightful owner

Living in one of Batavia's oldest homes offers a surprise now and then, especially outside.

We have found medicine bottles, perfume bottles, old pottery and horse shoes in the dirt around the house. Often the bounty is the greatest after a strong rain.

Fred Schroeder knows that the earth can turn up some interesting things. Every day on his early morning walk, Schroeder keeps his eye to the ground and finds a number of different surprises.

In the past, he has found coins and some different things, but this is the first time he actually found a ring.

Schroeder took the ring, caked in mud home and cleaned it up. He realized it was a Batavia High School class ring from the 1980s, and he thought it should go back to the high school. He put the ring in a plastic bag and gave it to his daughter-in-law, Kathi Schroeder, to return to the high school.

Upon further investigation, Kathi noticed that the ring had a name inside. She tracked down the owner and returned the ring.

"It was interesting that the owner lost the ring 25 years ago," Kathi said. "It was found in front of his childhood home which he purchased from his family and lived in as an adult. So he actually lived there twice."

The ring had a football insignia which Kathi missed at first glance.

"I really am not in to football that much," Kathi said. "I usually kept my eyes closed during the games last year."

Kathi Schroeder's son, Alex, was the quarterback for the team that went downstate last year. Alex and his teammate Brandon Holl ended up at Augustana, where they both earned varsity letters this past season.

Coincidentally, the owner of the class ring had quarterbacked for Batavia as well.

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If you didn't make it to any of the area high school madrigal dinners, you missed quite an event.

At this time of year, cafeterias are adorned in splendor. Each year, I am amazed at how the Batavia High School cafeteria can take on the look of a Old English banquet hall. The sounds of the close harmonies of the madrigal music and traditional carols is such a wonderful way to begin the Christmas season.

This year after attending two madrigal dinners at Batavia, I had the good fortune to attend the 30th anniversary of the Kaneland madrigal dinner.

I was taken aback by the beauty of the Kaneland set, a banquet table, complete with multiple candelabras. I sat with the Krasinski family who told me that the backdrop was created by a mom who worked with Kaneland art students to create the large mural of a castle interior.

The costuming of the Kaneland royal court and all of the supporting cast members are made by moms as well.

Kaneland students audition to be a part of the madrigal troupe. Those who make it take a class for madrigals that meets during the school day. The quality of the performance proved that their hard work paid off. Both the Kaneland casts and the Batavia casts are to be commended on a job well done.

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Finally, don't forget to contribute to the Interfaith Food Pantry and the Clothes Closet this holiday season. The food pantry can always use donations of money this time of year as well as food items. Also, the Clothes Closet can use mittens, scarves and hats to keep everyone warm this winter.