Wildwood Restaurant
June 13, 2009 by Carl H. Martens
Filed under Restaurants & Night Clubs
Wildwood Restaurant in Geneva offers upscale American cuisine including oak-grilled steaks, fresh seafood, poultry, pasta and vegetarian dishes. Dine in the warm ambiance of our dining room, upscale lounge or our spacious courtyard. Extensive wine, specialty beer and martini offerings complement Executive Chef Corby’s dinner, lunch and ala carte Sunday brunch menus.
Wildwood Restaurant
477 S 3rd St
Geneva, IL
(630) 377-8325
Website: http://www.wildwoodsteak.com
60th Annual Midsommar Swedish Days Festival
June 13, 2009 by Carl H. Martens
Filed under Community Events, festivals
| June 23, 2009 | to | June 28, 2009 |
Swedish Days, known as the “Granddaddy” of Illinois Festivals, celebrates Geneva’s Swedish heritage. This year’s theme is “1949 Revisited” and the fest features a host of family-friendly activities: Carnival, Craft Show, Rosemaling (Scandinavian painting), the state’s largest Music Competition, Kids’ Day, a pet parade, top-notch musical entertainment, Green Geneva Eco-Fun Expo and a renowned Grand Parade. Plenty of food booths offer Swedish and American fare as well as treats for your sweet tooth. Don’t forget to shop the sales at over 100 one-of-a-kind stores in Geneva’s historic business district. General admission is free; fee for some activities. Geneva’s train station is located on S. Third Street just blocks from the festivities.
Photo take by: Karla Kaulfuss
When: Tuesday, June 23 – Sunday, June 28, 2009
Where: S. Third & W. State Street (Route 38)
Event type: Fair/Festival
Age Range: All Ages
Contact: chamberinfo@genevachamber.com
The Geneva Board of Education and the Geneva Education Association ratify a three year contract
June 9, 2009 by Carl H. Martens
Filed under Education
The Geneva Board of Education and the Geneva Education Association have formally ratified a three-
year contract. The agreement was approved by the Geneva Education Association on Wednesday, June
3, and by the Geneva Board of Education on Monday, June 8.
Both the Board of Education and the Geneva Education Association are pleased that the settlement was
reached in a short period of time. Negotiating teams for both the Board of Education and the Geneva
Education Association cited a commitment to a process that was focused, positive and realistic in light
of the current economic times and the school district’s resources and budget. The contract is the result
of the continuation of the problem-solving negotiation model adopted in the school district 15 years ago.
The negotiation model is based upon identification of issues by each side and the development of
mutually acceptable solutions. Negotiators from the Board of Education and the Geneva Education
Association firmly believe that the negotiation process has served our students and the community well.
The contract will cover the 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12 academic years. The base salary rate will
increase 0.58% over the course of the three-year contract. The base salary will increase $39 from
$38,968 to $39,007 in the first year, followed by no increase the second year, and an increase of $644 to
$39,651 in the third year. The total percentage increase for salaries and extracurricular stipends is
2.67% in the first year, 2.96% in the second year, and 3.49% in the third year.
The insurance premium will be reduced by raising the deductible while working to preserve quality
health coverage.
Tuition reimbursement will be reduced by $70,000, or 37.5%, over the next three years. In addition, the
school district only will reimburse teachers for one graduate program.
In addition to salary and benefit matters, the Board of Education and the Geneva Education Association
agreed to changes and additions to certain working conditions in the best interest of the students, staff,
school district and community.
Information provided by: Geneva School District 304
Geneva bus and school day schedule changes for 2009-2010 school year
May 29, 2009 by Carl H. Martens
Filed under Education
Effective August 2009, bus pick up and drop off times and school day schedules will be altered to gain
efficiencies in transportation and save money on transportation costs. This plan was approved by the
Board of Education on May 26 is expected to save Geneva School District at least $300,000 in the 2009-
10 school year and additional money in future years due to the reduction in bus routes.
This change will impact all levels of education in Geneva School District. Bus drop off times at the
beginning of the day will be changed: five minutes earlier for elementary and high school students, and
five minutes later for middle school students. The actual school day schedules will also be modified:
15 minutes earlier for elementary students (based on the final/tardy bell, which currently rings at 8:15
a.m. at all schools), five minutes earlier for high school students, and five minutes later for middle
school students. Bus pick-up times at the end of the day, then, will also change: 15 minutes earlier for
elementary students, five minutes earlier for high school students, and five minutes later for middle
school students. In addition, kindergarten timing and routing is also being adjusted, making it possible
to reduce the number of kindergarten routes from 34 to 17.
The new schedules for the 2009-10 school year are as follows:
Elementary
Drop Off: 7:45 a.m.
School Start: 8:00 a.m.
School Dismissal: 2:15 p.m.
Half-Day Dismissal: 11:20 a.m.
Kindergarten
AM Session: 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
PM Session: 11:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Middle School
Drop Off: 8:20 a.m.
School Start: 8:35 a.m.
School Dismissal: 3:24 p.m.
Half-Day Dismissal: 12:00 p.m.
High School
Drop Off: 7:15 a.m.
School Start: 7:40 a.m.
School Dismissal: 2:45 p.m.
Half-Day Dismissal: 11:05 a.m.
Information provided by: Geneva School District 304
