Soccer tourney in memory of deceased teammate
The things kids do for other kids may be the most impressive acts of kindness we witness. And when done in memoriam, it definitely pulls at the heartstrings.
It's no wonder that Mike and Melinda Kintz of Batavia are so proud of a group of Batavia boys who have created a soccer tournament in honor of their son - Alex Kintz, a Fox Valley Striker teammate who died of osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, a year ago at age 14.
With league support, Strikers teammates Kyle Rakos, John Raucci and Ryan Milligan last year created a 3-on-3 soccer tournament for Alex that benefited the Kane County Relay for Life.
This year, the event in Alex's memory will benefit Bear Necessities and will be called "Kicks for Cancer 56," with the 56 reflecting Alex's jersey number. It will be held June 26 at the East Side Sports Complex in St. Charles.
"They organized the tournament in six weeks last year and raised thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society," Melinda Kintz said of the effort. "We couldn't be prouder of what they have accomplished in Alex's honor.
"There is no replacing what we lost a year ago with Alex's passing," Melinda added. "There is no answer to the question of why, but there is some comfort in knowing that Alex led a life that affected many and will continue to affect many."
Melinda was particularly pleased that this year's event will benefit Bear Necessities, with its work in pediatric cancer research and granting "small miracles" for children undergoing cancer treatment.
"Bear Necessities gave Alex a night at a Bulls game, including meeting players, a trip to the locker room, dinner and limo," Melinda said. "This was a much-needed break in the storm and Alex's younger brother Bryant was included in the entire wish - a memory he will have forever."
Family friend Scott Parker of Colonial Café has joined the effort by providing food for volunteers and giving away the famous "Kitchen Sink" ice cream creations as prizes.
Interested boys and girls teams in age groups 8 to 14 can register at kicksforcancer56.com by June 20. Teams of three to six players who enter before June 14 can get the early-bird rate of $75, rather than the $90 entry fee.
Pledge to purchase: Planners of the 12th Annual St. Charles Fine Art Show are preparing for the Memorial Day weekend show, and the pitch is being made for Purchase Award Sponsors.
Those are individuals and businesses who support the show by pledging to purchase $300 worth of art at the show May 29 and 30 in downtown St. Charles.
Those who make that pledge will be invited to the Friday night preview party at Rx Café, Scotland Yard and the Wine Exchange.
More information about the show and purchase award program is available by contacting the Downtown St. Charles Partnership at (630) 513-5386 or info@dtown.org.
Story of Tincup: What the heck does "Tincup Pass" have to do with anything in St. Charles? A reader recently asked that good question, and my answer was fairly simple: The Tincup Pass strip shopping center on the east side of St. Charles got its name because the original "anchor" of that center in the late 1970s was the Tincup Pass restaurant.
It was likely the first "theme" restaurant (along with Geneva Mining Company) in the Tri-Cities area, with its Old-West motif. A few other establishments - one a disco, the other a barbecue rib joint - made that location their home in the following years. It's been Gino's East for about 20 years now.
But it wasn't as if St. Charles had no connection to the tin cups and covered wagons of the West. The first settlers brought their families here in horse-drawn farm wagons, and St. Charles was a main stop for cattle drives out of DeKalb heading into Chicago.
A letter left out: For those ladies who may have been interested in donating unused jewelry for an upcoming Anderson Animal Shelter fundraiser, my item last week was missing a letter in the e-mail address needed to contact organizer Belynda Hudspeth.
Donations for this fundraiser can be brought to the shelter in a sealed envelope addressed to the attention of Belynda. Questions can also be directed to Belynda at (630) 584-2855 or her correct e-mail address of jhudsp1697@aol.com.
The shelter is located at 1000 S. La Fox (Route 31) in South Elgin.
Those fudge lovers: Thanks to everyone who stopped by my booth at the 60 Men Who Cook event last weekend at the county fairgrounds. It appeared that the fudge I had available for attendees passed most of the taste tests.
It was my first time in the Prairie Events Center at the fairgrounds, and it is an impressive building that has changed the "face and feel" of the fairgrounds. It was the perfect setting for an event that helped many Geneva organizations.
Curves tackles cause: The ladies who work hard at the St. Charles Curves fitness center to lose pounds worked just as hard to add pounds during the organization's annual food drive.
Those "added" pounds resulted in 4,000 pounds of donated food for the Northern Illinois Food Bank and Salvation Army locations in St. Charles.
The St. Charles Curves had a goal of donating 1,500 pounds during the drive, and franchise owner Jeanine Fitzmaurice was thrilled with the final result.
"Our members have generous hearts, so it's no surprise that they rallied behind the food drive," Fitzmaurice said.
Says it all: The sign outside DuKane Corp. in St. Charles last week summed up the state of the economy and the nation's current mindset: "Change is good; Dollars are better."
dheun@sbcglobal.net