Looking on the Bright Side

At a time in history when citizens are suffering severe disaffection with government at the federal, state and local levels, it has been heartening to watch the citizens of the Lake Geneva Community stand together and fight to have their voices heard and their concerns addressed, so everyone can enjoy a better community and way of life. So, at this time of the year it is important to say thank you to the entire community for coming out to be represented. In the past year many local governments joined forces with outside businesses and developers to threaten neighborhoods, parks, open spaces and the lake itself. The Geneva Lake Communities fought back, and said no to much of that kind of development. The people turned out to minimize uncontrolled growth when it came to the health and future of the communities around the lake. Democracy was unleashed in the form of signed petitions, displayed yard signs, and talks delivered by residents to councils and boards demanding that government serve the people and their neighborhoods, and not abuse them by approving or endorsing unneeded parking lots, dispensaries of fossil fuels or banquet halls.

During 2015 local governments were taken to task by the great numbers of citizens and residents that showed up at meetings all around the lake. The Geneva Lake communities acting together have brought about a realization in city government that citizenry acting together is not powerless, and recognition that it does have the right to self-determination. It cannot be forgotten that corporations and business are essential forces for job creation and the production of the food, clothing, shelter, and amenities a society needs for its existence. These goals, unfortunately, have devolved to the point now where business and corporations no longer seem content to simply serve these social ends, but instead, concentrate energy and inventiveness only in pursuit of maximizing profits and growth. This is the point when the community must again step in to influence local governments. And influencing local government is exactly what the citizens around the lake did in 2015.

Going back four years:

• To saving Charlotte (the deer that thought she was a horse)
• opposing the American Legion in operating its canteen illegally
• revealing Hummel development intent; getting rid of the timeshare crooks
• stopping the downtown parking structure; making certain BigFoot Beach remains what it is
• finally halting a flawed theater redevelopment plan;
• kicking the developer out of Hillmoor were projects that the citizens around Geneva Lake got involved with, and influenced decisions over.
• The Lake Use Committee was re-instituted.
• The Geneva Inn was prevented from adding an addition.

All of these events have been affected positively by community involvement.

Thank you citizens, residents and visitors who have taken the time and trouble, and even some measure of criticism,
for getting involved, caring and affecting such change.

Plus Let’s Share the Grandest Place

Absolutely Home! That name says it all, or most of it. The dog says a little too, although he’s just a statue. Welcome. Nice. Christmas and more. Home decorations and gifts galore. And simply wonderful people running the place. The GSR X-Files investigator (male) who did the story asked the beautiful women running the place for a two hour photo shoot. They threw him out. Properly so.

And the Grandest Person

No, Adam is not breaking into this car to get at the Christmas presents. He’s actually helping out a woman who locked herself out of her Jeep. Adam had a wedge of wood in his pickup and a long piece of wire. He spotted the woman’s keys on the driver’s seat and using the wedge and the wire got her keys out. He would not even leave his last name. Merry Christmas to Adam and other kind souls like him.