Guy and Elizabeth Bellaver left their mark on St. Charles

It's fairly common to sing the praises of community residents who have focused their lives on creating or supporting organizations that improve the quality of life. In doing so, we generally say those people "left their mark."

It's quite easy to say that about Guy and Elizabeth Bellaver. Guy, for his tremendous sculptures and artwork that dot the city streets, and Elizabeth for her tenacious passion for the arts in helping form the St. Charles Arts Council nearly a decade ago.

Friends and well-wishers will be thinking about all of those things and more when gathering at the St. Charles Veterans Center from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30, to say goodbye to this ambitious couple as they prepare to move to Pittsburgh next month.

As far as a "mark" goes, any conversation about Guy Bellaver starts with the eye-catching Ekwabet sculpture on the east side of the Fox River, along the city's Freedom Walk.

The statue, erected in 1988, is a monument to the Potawatomi Indian tribe that called the Fox River and surrounding valley its home for hundreds of years before white settlers made their way west. It also was a rebirth of sorts, considering that a Potawatomi Indian sculpture in Pottawatomie Park was vandalized in the 1960s.

His vast artistic skill set includes Reflections, a stainless steel monument honoring community volunteers Max and Doris Hunt on the east side of the river, and The Key, an interesting mixed-media piece honoring Sharon and Vern Oie's contributions to the city.

For her part, Elizabeth was a steady hand for the arts council and any connections between citywide art and the school arts programs in her role as president of the council.

Both have been members of so many organizations and boards it would take up much of this page.

"Coming to St. Charles in the 1980s, the Bellavers adopted this community as their own, and have worked to make the arts more visible and appreciated because that is what they themselves value," said Alison Bastian, director of the St. Charles Arts Council.

"Beyond just sharing their love for the arts, they've understood that a vibrant arts and culture sector enriches a community, and they've worked hard to both sell that philosophy and nurture it," Bastian added.

It was not surprising, when contacting Elizabeth, that she was quick to give credit to other people, saying Al Patten has been just as active in promoting arts in the city, and citing Guy's friendship with Bill Berg through Rotary Club as the key in ultimately creating the Ekwabet sculpture.

They acknowledge they had plenty of help along the way, but the Bellavers, nonetheless, took an interesting path to their major roles on the St. Charles Arts Council.

"After our kids were in college, we got involved with the Fine Art Show and the River Corridor Foundation," Elizabeth said. "I was on that board and organized some events and wrote the grant for the Frank Gorham Canoe Launch, and then we decided that it would be a good idea to start an organization whose sole purpose was to support and promote the arts in St. Charles.

"Along with other arts advocates, we started the St. Charles Arts Council," she added.

And St. Charles has been much better for that and, even more so for having the Bellavers as friends and neighbors.

East side work:

For those curious about some work unfolding on the east side of Geneva, we'll be bidding farewell to the old Orlando's Pizza building at State Street and East Side Drive.

Aldi grocery store has purchased the Orlando's building and has city permission to demolish it to make way for more parking for the store.

As for the Dunkin' Donuts store scheduled to go in the former gas station property at State Street and Crissey Avenue, the process continues to move along at the city level.

The city's building division is currently reviewing the site plans, and when that's all cleared, a construction permit would be issued.

For those keeping track of such matters, I believe the company has dropped the Donuts part of its name and is simply Dunkin' now.

The place for Scouts:

It's been so long since I was in the Scouting program it makes sense I wouldn't remember there was such a thing as the Scout Shop.

There's one in St. Charles, of course, at the Three Fires Council site at 415 N. Second St.

It's even easier to remember when the marquee sign in front of the building is reminding passersby that, "We sell more than patches here."

Then it goes on to say it is the place for Scouts to buy their hiking boots or fishing gear, among various other supplies.

Those dedication plaques:

For any families, individuals or organizations that take the time to place a plaque in a public place for a loved one, or to honor the work of a citizen, or group of people, be assured that we notice.

We always stop and look at those types of memorials, whether big or small. They could be at the base of a small tree or bench in a local park, attached to a bridge or displayed in a community gathering place.

With that in mind, we note that the scenic walkway through Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles was dedicated in 2012 to former park board commissioner John "Jack" Kerr, officially naming it The John "Jack" Kerr Walkway. That recognition came shortly after Kerr passed away in July of 2012.

It's a nice plaque along the walk, with a picture of Kerr etched on it, plus all of the information about his important work of 25 years for the park district.

He was active in other organizations; so many that it nearly fills up the plaque.

Mostly, this fellow was an advocate for open space, and during his tenure the park district acquired more than 1,000 acres for the community to enjoy.

If you get the chance, glance at the plaque as you enter the park along the river. Otherwise, tuck this thought away as something and someone you should know.

dheun@sbcglobal.net