Tri-Cities area not immune to forms of hatred

It would be nice if we could sit back in our idyllic Tri-Cities area and simply view the hatred and racial tension spewing out on TV in other parts of the country and say we're glad we don't deal with that here.

To a large extent, we don't. But to think it doesn't exist would be a mistake for all of us - citizens, educators and policymakers.

One need only look at the recent incident of a "Got Love?" sign stolen from the front of a home in St. Charles and replaced by an anti-gay slur on the front window of the home.

Or, look at all of the work that a group of citizens did to clean up the graffiti at the grotto near the Kane County Government Center - only to have it vandalized yet again.

That grotto was a place of prayer when the Sacred Heart seminary operated on those grounds. People with a sense of pride about our history care about things like that. Those who hate, do not.

Sadly, we all have to deal with people who have extreme viewpoints that take into account no sense of decency or common good.

We can watch with concern about what is going on in our country these days, as well we should. It is becoming increasingly clear that our elected officials in Washington, D.C., haven't quite figured out how to deal with some of the rhetoric unfolding on a regular basis over the Twitter rails.

But we certainly don't want to get comfortable or turn the other way in any manner when we see local instances in which hatred is spewed only for hatred's sake. Those, like most similar cases, are simply against the law.

That message of love:

And then there's the message of love and spreading the word of the church through missionary work.

That's what Alondra Herrera of St. Charles will do for the next 18 months, as she left last week for missionary work in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The mixed messages coming out of the political world and the increasing lack of moral values is, in part, driving Herrera to bring a far more optimistic view and the teachings of the gospel to people in South America.

"During this time we live in, it is all very difficult," said Herrera, a 19-year-old graduate of St. Charles North. "The world is losing things like modesty, and we need our morals very high."

In taking part as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints in Geneva, Herrera said it is especially important for young people to "know who we are and be examples to other people, to be Christ-like and have those attributes."

Herrera and her family, which came to St. Charles two years ago from Plainfield, knows how these sort of teachings can change lives. They attend the church as part of the "St. Charles Ward," or congregation, as the church serves three of these geographic wards.

"Twelve years ago, two sister missionaries knocked on our door and told us their views of delivering this type of message," Herrera said. "Our family accepted and took the lessons of the church."

Herrera said she promised, when being baptized at 8, that she would do missionary work when old enough at age 19. She kept that focus, in part, because her older sister did missionary work in Louisville, Kentucky, and wrote letters to the family about how it was changing her life as well.

"I am so happy at the joy in my life of Jesus Christ. And even though I have challenges in life, I want others to find this joy," Herrera said.

That river view:

Residents do have a nice view of the Fox River from these apartments, so it wasn't a big surprise to see "The View" posted as the new name for the complex along Geneva Road in St. Charles.

The new signs replace the Park Shore Apartments signs that had been on the site for decades.

Trinity Property Consultants, the property managers listed for The View, did not return my calls to confirm whether they put the new name on this complex.

It certainly seems so, as Steadfast Management Company managed the property when it operated as Park Shore.

Tasting chocolate:

Now, this is how you get applicants for a job opening.

Graham's Fine Chocolates and Ice Cream, long a favorite along Third Street in Geneva, posted an advertisement when seeking an employee for its Wheaton location with a pitch that would be somewhat impossible to turn down.

It noted that taste-testing products is part of the gig. To that, I would say sign me up immediately.

Fits right in:

Now that the facade of the buildings is taking hold, it is clear that Midwest Custom Homes, builders of the Campbell Row Townhomes at Campbell and Fourth streets in Geneva, had a good sense of how this new construction should fit in with surrounding buildings.

The stone and wood look similar in color and style to the other historic structures next to it.

Ready to reopen:

Fans of the Cotto A Legna pizza restaurant on Third Street, near the Metra train station in Geneva, were happy to hear that the site is about to reopen after a fairly long remodeling project.

This site, featuring wood-fire pizza and other specialties, thrives during the warm weather months with its outdoor seating.

It makes us believe it was certainly wise to undertake an indoor overhaul during the winter.

dheun@sbcglobal.net