We are on our way to thinking of loosening rigid restrictions forced by COVID-19. With vaccines prevalent, optimism building, and organizations planning events, there is an increase in events through this year. Items this week in The Voice reflect such energy and planning. We have a few items to consider in this space, both as late-breaking items prior to this newspaper’s press run, and in some cases because space dictates using other items in their places.
Consider:
• The Paramount Theatre in Aurora will begin rehearsals in July and will return to the stage for live production August 18. See page 1. The outdoor RiverEdge Park on the Fox River in Aurora, will open for live performances in July. They have been shut down by COVID-19 since March 2020.
• Swedish Days in Geneva, which was canceled last year, will return for four days this year, Thursday, June 24 through Sunday, June 27. Tickets are on sale for the popular and traditional community festival which brings visitors from much of the Midwest.
• However, The Exchange Club of Naperville made the announcement Tuesday this week that it will not bring back Ribfest this year. The dates were July 1-4. The Ribfest is a non-profit organization which donates proceeds to charitable organizations, especially child abuse and domestic violence.
We have learned in the past 15 months that good news must be measured with more than a dose of bad news. Still we move on with hopes of better days ahead. Decisions are weighed carefully by what can be done and what is unlikely to be accomplished.
In a joint statement Tuesday, Bob Black, the 2021 Ribfest chairman and Jerry Kochurka, Exchange Club of Naperville president: “As a not-for-profit organization, the Exchange Club of Naperville donates proceeds from our annual Ribfest event to multiple agencies in the fight against child abuse and domestic violence. We are, of course, greatly disappointed that circumstances have left us unable to responsibly and in good conscience hold Ribfest this year, or, put our funding or any future Ribfest at risk.”
Decisions are an essential part of life. Some organizations will find a way to continue and other organizations will not see the way forward. Each may be correct in assessments with the facts presented to them. The Ribfest and other organizations which will not hold events this year, likely will begin planning for next year with facts to consider.
Those who will hold events this year, still will consider safety and know their reputations and their future events will depend on success in safety this year. It truly is one day at a time and one year at a time.
Clear and Concise, Week 20 Year 2:
If we learn usage of nouns and verbs we can write and speak more clearly and coherently.
Two words which clearly are nouns, however, in recent years receive massages to end up being used more as verbs, incorrectly, than as nouns. Much of it likely is one person mimicking another person’s writing and thinking it is acceptable. Blind leading the blind may apply.
Both access and transition are nouns, however, we read and hear the following, for example: We must access our file; we will transition to different experiences. Instead correct usage, or at least one way of using them correctly is: We must gain (find) access to our file; we will make a transition to different experiences. Small changes lead to smoother expression and correct usages.