Ghoulish tours, busy political candidates and more

Park district to host ‘Ghoulish Homes Tour’

The St. Charles Park District will host its Gallery of Ghoulish Homes Tour nightly from Oct. 18 through Oct. 31. The tour includes homes at various locations in St. Charles. The yard displays are best viewed from dusk to 10 p.m. The tour is free and is one of several activities the park district is offering to celebrate Halloween. For more information about the tour and other events, visit www.stcparks.org.

Bull & Bear prepares for 18th birthday celebration

Our friends a the Bull & Bear Tobacco Shop, 1 W. Illinois St., St. Charles, will celebrate the store’s 18th birthday Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 19. The store will offer sales prices on all cigars, pipes, tobaccos and smoking accessories during the celebration. The shop will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 630-513-9345.

Foreclosures jump in the Tri-Cities region

Foreclosure activity in the Tri-Cities area increased 124 percent in September from August, according to a report published Oct. 12 in the Kane County Chronicle. The report stated RealtyTrac, a home foreclosure tracking company, released data indicating the sharp increase in foreclosure activity followed eight consecutive months of decline. The Chronicle’s report stated year-to-year data indicated local foreclosure activity was unchanged. 

STC library to conduct book sale

The Friends of the St. Charles Public Library will host a book sale from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20 at the library. The library is located at 1 S. Sixth Ave., St. Charles. For more information, call 630-584-0076, ext. 231.

Candidates gearing up for 2014 primary elections

Candidates in the March primary elections are stepping up their campaign activities. Here’s a bit of what we’ve seen in recent days:

• Geneva resident Steve Andersson announced his Republican candidacy for state representative in the 65th District. Andersson, board treasurer for the Geneva Public Library, hopes to replace State Rep. Tim Schmitz, R-Batavia, who recently announced he will not seek re-election in 2014. Andersson is a partner in an Aurora law firm.
• Bill Keck, retired Kane County auditor, announced his candidacy for state representative in the 50th District, hoping to replace State Rep. Kay Hatcher, R-Yorkville, who is not seeking re-election in 2014. Keck, a Republican, served 20 years as county auditor and retired in 2012. Others seeking the GOP nomination are Keith Wheeler and Julie Cosimo, both of Oswego, and Beth Goncher of Aurora.
• Evelyn Sanguinetti, a Wheaton City Council member who is a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, greeted visitors to Scarecrow Fest in St. Charles Oct. 12. Sanguinetti is the running mate of governor candidate Bruce Rauner. Sanguinetti is an attorney and an adjunct professor at John Marshall Law School.
• Marmarie Kostelny, an associate judge in Kane County, announced her candidacy for Kane County Court Circuit judge, seeking to replace Judge Karen Simpson, who recently announced her retirement. Kostenly will be candidate in the Republican primary. She was appointed an associate judge in 2006.

Three home games remain in NIU football schedule

Lori and I enjoyed a visit to NIU for the school’s homecoming football game Oct. 12. We visited with fellow alumni and watched the Huskies top the Akron, 21-20. The NIU Huskies are ranked No. 23 in the country and have three home games remaining on their 2013 schedule. The Huskies are riding a 23-game home winning streak at Huskie Stadium. NIU travels to Central Michigan University Oct. 19, but will return to Huskie Stadium Oct. 26 to play Easter Michigan. NIU is on track to win its third consecutive Mid-American Conference title. Game tickets are available at affordable prices, and DeKalb is a short drive from the Fox Valley. Treat yourself to some live college football and take in one of NIU’s home games.

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