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Talking some turf: Batavia Bulldogs consider upgrading the field

It's hard to imagine anything that would make the Batavia High School football team even better than it is, but you have to think an artificial turf on its field would surely help.

The school district is ready to pony up a share of an estimated $1.1 million project, while looking for some private donations to finance the bulk of it.

All of the schools that have made this conversion - and there are many in the area suburbs, including Geneva, Mooseheart and Aurora Christian locally - knew that it's a long-term investment. It eventually pays for itself in maintenance cost savings.

Having been to nearly every football field in the Fox Valley over the past 30 years, I would have to say this about Batavia's: It seems like it might drain OK, but it's in the lower rungs as far as field conditions and, dare I add this, the stadium lights aren't very good either.

An upgrade to artificial turf helps all outdoor programs, including the school's excellent band. It keeps the football team from using the baseball field's turf for practice all of the time or practicing at Mooseheart when needed.

It's the brand

It's tough for a restaurant owner to move into a place that had some recognition and longevity in a town, then change the name and menu.

That has to at least partly be what the Valley Lodge Tavern in downtown St. Charles encountered when changing what we had all come to know and love as McNally's.

Now Valley Lodge Tavern is no longer, and the owners claim they were too busy with their other location. We couldn't catch a city official or a McNally's owner to confirm it by deadline, but it appears McNally's is going to rise again like the phoenix at this site out of this deal.

Still for jewels

The Goldmine in downtown St. Charles has been converted to The Golden Valley Jewelers, as goldsmith Mauro Guerrero takes over the 213 W. Main St. site.

Jay Montgomery retired at the end of last year, so Guerrero will continue to sell some jewelry and do repairs for customers.

It's just too tall

Plenty of Geneva residents are weighing in on the apartment and retail project proposed for the former Cetron property on Richards Street.

Everything the developer, Marquette Companies of Naperville, is saying about the 219-unit apartment building and retail area sounds pretty solid - except the height.

Nearby residents may have other issues they won't be shy about bringing up, but the most obvious concern is the height at five stories. It doesn't take much imagination to realize that's too high and maybe not the right place for one of the tallest buildings in the city.

The Park Place townhouses near Wheeler Park are a nice fit and a good example to emulate. Three stories, folks. It's plenty.

If apartments have to be five stories for the return on investment to make it worth the effort to build the place, then maybe it's not the right place.

That area of Geneva is in definite need of a new project, but it's a good idea for neighbors and residents to have their say because you never know how a group of elected officials will lean.

But I am having a hard time envisioning plan commissioners and other city officials carrying a far different view on this. I suspect they know they don't need a five-story setup towering over everything else there, but they do have to weigh all factors before deciding.

A wild ride

One of my friends told me she had to avoid watching high-energy concerts or action movies on TV late at night because it always resulted in her having trouble getting to sleep.

I had never experienced that problem, until now.

After watching "Mad Max: Fury Road" late one night, I was thrashing around in bed as if I were one of the so-called "War Boys" engaged in a high-speed chase in one of the movie's armored vehicles.

Simply put, this excellent action movie spikes the adrenaline a bit, so be careful.

• dheun@sbcglobal.net

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