New candidate might find connections have a price
Admit it. You all tried to tell me, after living in Cook County for 40 years, that Kane County politicians would bore me. That's simply not the case. Democrats love to embrace their ineptitude -- take 14th District Congressman Bill Foster and some of his staff -- but I find Republicans to be far more entertaining.

Halloween becoming far too sexy and too boozy
What the heck has happened to Halloween? Shelly Kelley, a Geneva resident and mother of two young girls, and I pondered that very question while watching a recent Campton Hills bike race.

When the H1N1 virus battles homecoming
It was 1979. Every Saturday morning, we'd meet in the lower level of Northwestern's Norris Center to play a rousing round of Dungeons and Dragons. One particular fall weekend, an NU sorority was hosting a fundraising event that included a kissing booth.

Civility needs to be added to abortion debate
You can tell it's fall in Geneva by the sea of white crosses temporarily adorning the St. Peter Catholic Church front lawn. Each cross was intended to represent one of the more than 3,000 abortions that take place in this country every day.

It takes a lot for a kid to stand up to a teacher
Geneva School Board Vice President Timothy Moran told me the board agonized over two hours of impassioned debate during the Oct. 13 closed session to determine the fate of Geneva High School teacher David Burk, who used a gay slur in class.

'Populist' billboard message comes from GOP playbook
If you've been down New York Street, you've already seen it. A stark black billboard with a broken yellow line across the top making it appear to be some sort of hazard warning.

Area police moderate when it comes to writing tickets
Here's to the good sense of our western suburban police forces! Well, most of 'em anyway. According to a Sun-Times report, when it comes to pulling the ticket trigger, our local boys (and women) in blue tend to go for the warning pad first.

When the process works at a school board meeting
I will admit to telling my editors I'd rather be locked in a room with Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay than have to attend the Sept. 14 Geneva School Board meeting. Hard to believe as it might be, I could've been wrong.