Geneva's 'Rain Man' sculpture has supporters across the country
Concerns about our downtown art apparently can carry across the country.
Alexa Welch, a resident of northern California, sent a note saying she had come across an article I wrote in 2012 about the "Rain Man" sculpture in downtown Geneva near the Metra station having been vandalized.
The damage left Rain Man without his most important piece of gear - the umbrella that protects him when the water fountain is in operation or, of course, when it rains.
It was a tough fix for those in the Geneva Public Works Department trying to match the metal and how it would fasten to the sculpture. But, eventually it was fixed.
Being out of this area, Welch was concerned that maybe the sculpture was still missing the umbrella. I informed her that a new umbrella was back in place five years ago now. But she had good reason to wonder about it.
She said the Rain Man sculptor, Miles Metzger, had passed away in 2013, or about the time Rain Man was actually fixed. She is currently helping his oldest son, Uleaf Metzger, manage Miles' business and art.
"I would like to know the status of the umbrella and if you need our assistance in acquiring a new umbrella," Welch said. "Rain Man is such a beautiful piece, we would like to know that he is whole."
He is indeed whole, and remains a unique and popular part of downtown Geneva.
But it was nice to know that Rain Man has some close admirers in distance places. And also that Welch and Uleaf Metzger stand ready to help out if something ever happened to this unique piece again in the future.
A bigger Graham's:
This seemed like only a matter of time, considering how many people can be seen inside and, during warm weather, outside of Graham's 318 along Third Street in Geneva.
It came as no surprise when we spotted the fences and work areas on the side and back of the building. The site is in the process of expanding to accommodate more customers.
Owner Bob Untiedt had a different plan in mind for this location all along, as compared to his nearby Graham's Chocolate and Ice Cream shop.
Graham's 318 is more of a coffee shop and bakery setting and, as such, it can become an addictive habit for many people. During the summer and fall it most definitely is a favorite stopping point for those who take long bike rides through the area.
As such, Graham's 318 needed more room. The challenge, of course, is to keep the business operating at a high level even when construction is taking place.
Something tells me that fans of Graham's 318 will tolerate a little noise and dust for far more elbowroom in the future.
For senior care:
Anyone dining at Culver's on the east side of St. Charles can't help but see the new construction unfolding in that area next to the Courtyard by Marriott hotel.
The building taking shape behind Culver's will be a new Silverado senior and memory care center, which hopes to open in late summer or early fall, said Rita Tungare, community and economic development director for the City of St. Charles.
Silverado has facilities operating in Naperville, Lake Zurich, Highland Park and Morton Grove.
The St. Charles site will be a 47,500-square-foot center.
A real stinker:
It might have been one of my more popular columns last year, based on the number of comments it received - and the general feeling that everyone knew exactly what I was talking about.
I wrote about what seemed like an unusually high number of summer evenings in which whole parts of any one of the Tri-Cities would be overcome by the powerful stench of a skunk.
County animal control folks revealed that a mild winter had the skunks mating and pretty much running wild.
So, that was the first thing that crossed my mind the other night when I got a big, old whiff of skunk right in my neighborhood.
And it hasn't even been officially "warm" yet for more than a day or two at a time. Whether this means we're in for another stinky summer, one can only guess.
My guess? Start holding your noses again.
Those wellness walks:
The city of Batavia is promoting "Wednesday Walkabout" events at 11:45 a.m. each Wednesday, with walkers meeting at the park district plaza at the south end of Batavia City Hall.
The free walk is touted simply as a "walk for wellness" in Batavia, with everyone invited. That includes pets or moms with kids in tow via strollers.
Those who may make this a weekly habit can check the city's website at 11 a.m. each Wednesday to make sure the walk is still being held in case weather or other events make it somewhat questionable.
dheun@sbcglobal.net