February calendar offers plenty to do

Here's a sampling of area activities scheduled in February:

• The Geneva Public Library will host Murder, Mayhem & The Mob: A Virtual Tour of Chicago’s Beer War, featuring historian and entertainer Clarence Goodman, at noon Feb. 1. Goodman’s presentation will include information about the 18th Amendment, which ushered in the Prohibition Era, and the events leading up to the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. The program is part of the library’s Book & Bag It series, and attendees are encouraged to bring a sack lunch. Coffee and cookies will be provided. The program is free, but registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, call 630-232-0780, ext. 251. The library is located at

• The Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles will present Meeting the Lincolns at 3 p.m. Feb. 5. Actors Michael Krebs and Debra Miller will portray President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. The performance will include a Q&A session. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for ages 12 and younger. The center is located at 1040 Dunham Road, St. Charles.

• Fermilab will present the Three Celli, featuring, Stephen Balderston, Linc Smelser and Brant Taylor, at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Fermilab Art Gallery. The performance will include a variety of music. Tickets are $17. Fermilab is located at Pine Street and Kirk Road in Batavia.

• The St. Olaf College Choir will present a concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at the DeKalb High School, 501 W. Dresser Road, DeKalb. Registration is required.

• Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley will host a guided winter tour of the Fabyan Japanese Gardens at 1 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Fabyan Forest Preserve, 1925 S. Batavia Ave., Geneva. The tour will be conducted only if snow is on the ground, so those interested in the tour are encouraged to call 630-377-6424 the day of the event to confirm the tour. Admission is $5.

• The Batavia Public Library will host a presentation featuring author Susan Croce Kelly at noon Feb. 16. She will discuss her books about the legendary Route 66. The presentation is part of the Books Between Bites program. Admission is free and attendees may bring a lunch to enjoy during the hour-long program. The library is located at 10 S. Batavia Ave. For more information, call 630-879-1393.

Just a thought:

I was a fan of both the "Dick Van Dyke Show" and the "Mary Tyler Moore Show", but I Moore’s best work was her Oscar-nominated performance as Beth Jarret in Robert Redford’s 1980 film adaptation of “OrdinaryPeople”. Moore’s portrayal of the cold and emotionally distant Beth was strikingly different from the comedy work for which she is remembered. I think it remains an impressive performance and it was the first memory I had of Moore when I learned of her passing.

Did you know:

Fleetwood Mac released its ‘Rumours’ album on Feb. 4, 1977, 40 years ago this year. The album included the songs “Don’t Stop”, “Go Your Own Way”, “Second Hand News” and “Songbird”. “Rumours” was named Album of the Year in 1978 and has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide.

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