Youth ensemble stages 'High School Musical'

Submitted photo

• The Fox Valley Repertory Youth Ensemble will continue its production of "High School Musical" through Aug. 5 at Pheasant Run in St. Charles. The show is presented at 10:30 a.m. July 27, 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, and at 7 p.m. Aug. 3. Tickets are $15. The show features Mack Rivara as Troy and Carly Stanton as Gabriella. The production is directed by Carly Churchey. For more information, call 630-584-6342.


• Congratulations to the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission and the members of the Midsummer Theater Troupe for staging a fine performance of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" for Shakespeare on the Street, July 21. The partnership staged the production on south Third Street in downtown Geneva. It was the commission's 14th annual presentation of its popular Shakespeare in the Park program, but a renovation project at Geneva's River Park forced this year's show to be relocated to Third Street. Several hundred theater fans attended the production.

The DuPage County Fair opens July 25 and includes animal contests.

Submitted photo

•The annual DuPage County Fair will open July 25 and continue through July 29. This year's fair will include musical entertainment, exhibits, contests, a demo derby, food and many other traditional festival attractions. The fair takes place at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. 


• Overcast skies July 20 through July 22 provided some relief from the hot, dry weather that has dominated the region this summer and attracted visitors to the annual Kane County Fair, according to a report in the Kane County Chronicle. About 73,000 visitors attended the fair, which started July 18 and concluded July 22. About 10,000 more visitors attended the fair in 2012 than in 2011, the report stated. 


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Food writer likes The Elms in Batavia

The Mystery Diner likes the offerings at The Elms in Batavia.

Kane County Chronicle photo

• The Mystery Diner, a staffer at the Kane County Chronicle whose name is kept secret, recently visited The Elms in Batavia and shared this pleasant review. The review noted the fresh burgers and the barbecue pork sandwiches offered at The Elms, and I was pleased to see that the writer also mentioned the eatery's root beer. I enjoy the burgers at The Elms, but I also recommend the steak sandwich. The Elms is family-owned, has operated for 40 years and is located at  912 W. Main St., Batavia. Give it a tumble. I think you'll like what they're serving up. If you go, bring cash, because they don't take credit cards at The Elms, and make sure you order some soft-serve ice cream for dessert. You'll be glad you did.

• The annual Kane County Fair opened today and continues through July 22 at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles. The fair offers a variety of attractions for all ages, including live entertainment, a carnival, a rodeo, exhibitors and livestock displays. And vendors offer all the traditional summertime favorites, such as corn dogs, cotton candy and funnel cakes. I try to make at least one visit to the fair each year, usually on Saturday. This year I might visit on Friday. I particularly enjoy viewing the livestock and attending the rodeo. 

• The annual Waterman Summerfest and Tractor Show will begin at 7 a.m. July 21 and offers visitors a full day of summer fun in the country. The festival is located at Waterman Lions Park, 420 S. Birch St., Waterman. The festival will begin at 7 a.m. with a French toast breakfast and will include musical entertainment, a parade of antique tractors at noon, children's activities, food vendors and a fireworks display at 9 p.m. It might last just one day, but this event packs a lot into one festival.

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RIP Donald Sobol and thank you

 

Author Donald J. Sobol

    I was disturbed to learn earlier this week of the death of Donald J. Sobol, author of the "Encyclopedia Brown" series of children's mystery. 
    Sobol was 87 and died of natural causes July 11 in Miami, according to a news report I read, I never met Sobol. Didn't really know him at all and must admit that I hadn't thought about his writings in a long time. But I owe Sobol a great deal.
    Sobol's Leroy "Encyclopedia" Brown sparked my interest in reading fiction. The first Brown book was published in 1963. New additions to the series became popular items in school classrooms and public libraries at the time. 
    The series featured Brown, a boy detective who solved mysteries with the help of a sidekick. The series was so popular with young readers that it was translated into 12 languages and sold millions of copies worldwide, according to a news report about Sobol's passing.
    I was in the fourth grade when I read my first Encyclopedia Brown book and became an immediate fan. I found the stories interesting, and I can recall imagining myself as a boy detective in my own neighborhood in Arlington Heights.
    There are a lot of people I can thank for helping me learn to read, most of them were teachers at Park Elementary School.
    My father, Robert Botterman, sparked my interest in nonfiction, primarily history, when I was in the third grade. He introduced me to the American Heritage History of World War II, an extensive work that featured a wide variety of photographs from the war. I was hooked on the subject right away and remain a student of that era in world history.
     Sobol's "Encyclopedia Brown" series was special in that it was the first fiction work to capture my attention and fuel my imagination. I think fiction's great appeal is that ability to engage our imaginations. 
    From Sobol's series I moved on to the "We Were There" series of historical fiction for young readers. The series also remains one of my favorites. These early readings led me to seek out authors and works intended for adults. Those works, while maybe not age-appropriate for a middle school student, further fueled my reading habit, expanded my vocabulary and gave me a lot to think about.
    My interest in mysteries introduced me to some classic characters and took me to some far away places — if only in my mind. I met Hercule Poirot on the Orient Express, Miss Jane Marple in the English countryside and Capt. Bulldog Drummond, a World War I hero and accomplished detective. 
And I met the great Sherlock Holmes, a lasting favorite of mine. I am fairly certain that I have  read (and reread) all of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
    I remain an avid reader, but today concentrate mostly on nonfiction. But whether I'm enjoying a nonfiction account of an episode in history or a work of fiction, I will try to pause every now and then to give thanks to Donald Sobol and the gift he gave to me so many years ago.

Fermilab to host the Red Stick Ramblers

Fermilab in Batavia will host the Red Stick Ramblers July 14.

Submitted photo

• Fermilab will host a performance by the Red Stick Ramblers at 8 p.m. July 14. Tickets are $25 for adults and $13 for ages 18 and younger.


•  Fermilab Natural Areas will host guided tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 14. Visitors should be prepared for walking over uneven surfaces. Participants are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes and should bring insect repellent and sunscreen. Admission is free, but a $5 per person donation is suggested. Lunch will be available for purchase. Reservations are encouraged. For more information, call 630-840-4845 or go to www.fermilabenaturalareas.org.


• The Geneva Cultural Arts Commission will host a performance by guitarist Dennis O'Brien and the band Avalanche at  6:30 p.m. July 15 at River Park in downtown Geneva. Admission is free. The performance is part of the commission's summer concert series. Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs and blankets to the park. The series will continue July 22 and July 29. For more information about the series, go to www.riverparkofgeneva.com.


• The sixth annual Matt Kenney 3-on-3 basketball tournament will be conducted Saturday, July 21 at Geneva High School. Registration is open to all ages and male and female participants. The team registration fee is $100 and includes T-shirts for all players. For more information, go to http://www.mattkenney3on3.com.


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Sue Sullivan blogs on Surfing Your Enthusiasm

Sue Sullivan, one of my favorite writers.

    I always enjoy sharing recommendations of things that I like and think others will value, which is why I am excited to write about Sue Sullivan's blog, Surfing Your Enthusiasm.
    In the spirit of full disclosure, I need to note that Sue and I are friends and first met as students at Arlington High School. I was a senior when Sue was a sophomore. Sue now resides in New Mexico.
    Sue is a computer programmer and writes with a style that is direct, honest and enthusiastic. I find the combination refreshing and regularly read her postings.
    Sue's latest posting discusses that sense of hesitancy many of us experience just before taking an important decision. Sue writes about how this hesitancy (reluctance in her words) surfaced as she stood at the edge of key decisions in her life. She discusses these episodes with candor and honesty. That requires courage and confidence, and many writers, myself included, frequently fall short in those areas when it comes to the topics they select. 
    Many writers will choose topics they are comfortable with or at least avoid subjects that expose their weaknesses and shortcomings. That's probably attributable to human nature, which makes Sue's honesty all the more valuable.
    Take some time to read Sue's postings. I think you will enjoy them.
    And for the record, the dazzling smile Sue flashes in the picture above is the feature that immediately leaped to the forefront of my memories whenever I thought about Sue over the years. Experts say that nostalgia shapes all memories, and that's true in this case. 
    Sue has many accomplishments to her credit, and I enjoy reading about those in her postings, but I am also fond of my memories of her as a cheerful and popular high school sophomore.


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Geneva hosts cycling competition

Racers ride along South Street in Geneva on July 8

Kevin Botterman photo

Geneva hosted the Mill Race Cyclery Classic Criterium on July 8. The event was part of the International Cycling Classic Superweek Pro Tour, which features a competitive cycling race every day between July 6 and July 22 in Illinois and Wisconsin. 

A racer enters a turn during the contest.

Kevin Botterman photo

Geneva's event took place in the city's historic downtown business and the neighboring residential district. The event featured contests in several divisions. The races started at 10:30 a.m. and continued until about 9 p.m.  Read more about the race here.

Lori Botterman, left, and Ann Burnham enjoy Sunday's race.

Kevin Botterman photo

Lori and I watched the race at the home of Anne Burnham, who resides along South Street. Friends gathered in Anne's driveway to cheer on the racers and share a variety of food, including a grilled chicken dinner. 


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Mundt to offer property tax reduction seminar

Gene Mundt

Submitted photo

• Gene Mundt, senior vice president at the Federal Savings Bank, will offer a free property tax reduction seminar from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at 1823 Centre Point Circle in Naperville. Mundt, a veteran of the mortgage industry, will co-host the seminar with attorney Anastasia M. Poulopoulos, a leader in the field of of residential and commercial property tax reduction. Registration is encouraged and can be completed online at www.genemundt.com. For more information, call 815-277-4036. Mundt's website also features his blog and a variety of useful information. Follow Mundt on Twitter @genemundt. 


• The current issue of Kane County Magazine puts the spotlight on three area residents who are living their dreams. The magazine piece features Linda Cunningham, founder of the State Street Dance Studio in Geneva, Scott Piner, a Geneva resident who is active with the Fox Valley Repertory Theatre in St. Charles and Kathryn Siegel, a violinist and Batavia resident. In addition to articles about Kane County residents and businesses, the magazine also regularly features some impressive photos. If you are not familiar with Kane County Magazine, give it a tumble, I think you'll like it.


• Alex Keown at St. Charles Patch reports on new businesses in St. Charles. Keown's article lists 26 shops that opened between April and June. Keown also includes a list of businesses that have either closed or relocated in the same period, including four that once operated in Charlestowne Mall. Sadly, Charlestowne offers 120 retail spaces, but is down to about 12 businesses, according to the report.


• The Kane County Chronicle's Ashley Rhodebeck recently shared news about some positive business developments in St. Charles. Rhodebeck reported July 6 that Szechwan Restaurant is about to reopen its doors in downtown St. Charles after being closed for nearly a year while structural repairs were made to the building. The restaurant is on the second floor of 117 W. Main St. The restaurant's menu is the same, but visitors will find a new bar, a new elevator, new booths and a built-in buffet. The restaurant is owned by Nancy Chen. Rhodebeck also reported that Advance Auto Parts will open a retail store at 1510 E. Main St. Charles, the site of a Baker's Square restaurant that closed about four years ago. The restructured site will include space for a second retail shop, according to the report.


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Local communities plan 4th of July events

• Planit Kane offers a listing of 4th of July fireworks displays in the Fox Valley. Local officials say the annual displays will be presented despite the moderate drought in northern Illinois, so grab some folding chairs, pack some refreshments and go enjoy a local fireworks show.


• The Kane County Forest Preserve District will host a senior stroll from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, July 5 at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W370 Dean St., St. Charles. The event is free and refreshments will be served after the stroll. Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes, insect repellent and sunscreen. For more information, call 847-697-2880. I photographed a few of these events in recent years, and I think the program provides participants a fine tour of the county's forest preserves.


• The Geneva Park District will offer safety classes for children starting the first grade. The week-long classes will be offered from 9 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. July 9 to 13, and from 9 to 11 a.m. from July 16 to 20. The classes will include instruction with the Geneva police and fire departments. The fee for the program is $20 per child. For more information, call 630-232-4736.


• Garfield Farm Museum in LaFox will host a Settlers Eve Picnic Dinner and Sunset Contra Dance starting at 6 p.m.  July 7. Tickets are $75 and proceeds will benefit improvements to the farm museum’s 1906 Wisconsin-style dairy barn. The event celebrates the farm’s settlement and the museum’s founding. Reservations are required. For more information, call 630-584-8485.

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