KCC-9-30-2013

Kane County

CHRONICLE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 | KCCHRONICLE.COM

COULTRAP HONORED NEW ADMINISTRATION CENTER DEDICATED TO DISTRICT 304’S FIRST SUPERINTENDENT PAGE 3 Jeff Krage for Shaw Media

Paul Coultrap, grandson of Harry Coultrap, speaks during Saturday’s dedication ceremony for the Coultrap Educational Services Center in Geneva.

LOOKING FORWARD Welcome Club of Fox Valley plans next meeting GENEVA – The Welcome Club of the Fox Valley has planned its next general meeting for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Northern Illinois Food Bank, 273 Dearborn Court, Geneva. The club is open to women in surrounding communities. Yearly dues are $25, and a newsletter and directory are provided to members. For information, call Suzanne at 630-406-1637 or visit www.welcomeclubfoxvalley.org.

St. Peter Church to hold pet blessing GENEVA – St. Peter Church in Geneva has planned a pet blessing event at 2:30 p.m. Friday at 1891 Kaneville Road, Geneva. This custom is in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures. Everyone and their pets are welcome. For information, call 630-232-0124.

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Monday, September 30, 2013

| NEWS

2

Pumpkins for a Cure brings fun for a cause Event raised money for Zellmer Childhood Disease Foundation

By BRENDA SCHORY bschory@shawmedia.com GENEVA – Queen Meadowyn was getting her face on in the parking lot of the old Kane County Courthouse in Geneva on Saturday.

The queen – also known as Juliet Devries of Waukegan – was holding still while The Ruby Ruse was painting her face before adjusting her wings for the big Pumpkins for a Cure Festival. Ruby, Ame Morghan of Chicago, already had her wings on.

The two were among many volunteers at the ninth annual event, a fundraiser for the Zellmer Childhood Disease Foundation to support education and research related to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of chronic childhood diseases.

“It’s a good cause,” Morghan said.

The fundraiser and festival, which continued through

Sunday, sold pumpkins, fall mums and gourds with all proceeds going to fund research. One research grant will go to the University of Chicago Kovler Diabetes Center; two education grants will go to the Chicago office of the American Diabetes Association and the University of Illinois Chicago Pediatric Brain Disorders Clinic.

Carla Henault, an event coordinator, and Isaiah Horton, a volunteer and researcher, both with the Kovler Diabetes Center, said they were happy to be part of the effort to raise money for research.

Horton said he was part of a research group looking into the beta cells of genetically engineered mice and their secretion of insulin, in the effort to find better, more effective treatments.

The festive atmosphere filled the downtown area with other related attractions, such as glucose testing, face-paint-

Brenda Schory – bschory@shawmedia.com

Brothers Payton and Kalvin Wolf of Batavia look over some pumpkins for sale Saturday at the Pumpkins for a Cure Festival in Geneva. ing, a petting zoo, juggler and raptors.

Brad and Val Wolf of Bata-

via came with their two sons, Payton, 6, and Kalvin, 5.

“I think it’s important to

support the cause and have fun at an outdoor event,” Val Wolf said.

Batavia hosts annual House Walk

By NICOLE WESKERNA nweskerna@shawmedia.com BATAVIA – Charming curbside appeal, historical homes and clever renovations drew crowds to Batavia for the annual MainStreet House Walk, which offered seven stops on Sunday.

Those who toured a brick colonial home in the 300 block of North Lincoln Street learned that it was built in 1936 by architect Franklin G. Elwood, a Batavia resident who was a teacher and supervisory architect at Mooseheart and also designed the Sugar Grove Community House in Sugar Grove, which was built in 1929. The current residents are the fifth owners of the home, which features an updated kitchen, basement and sun room.

Batavia residents Jessica and Bill McGrail said they’ve attended the house walk for the past four years because

it’s the only time they get a chance to see inside of many original homes in the area.

“I always walk around and wonder what’s inside,” said Jessica McGrail.

“It’s become a yearly tradition,” said Bill McGrail.

The couple’s Batavia home was built in the early 1900s, much like a colonial home they had toured on Sunday.

They said they enjoy doing renovations and picking up ideas along the house walk.

“We’re big into remodeling,” said Bill McGrail.

“We’re constantly doing something.”

Other stops on the tour included a stone cottage built in the 200 block of North Lincoln Street in 1940; a newly built craftsman-style home in the 400 block of Elm Street; an updated early 1900s white clapboard home in the 400 block of Union Avenue; an updated traditional home in the 37W900 block of Tangle-

wood Drive; and a tour of the old city hall at 30 S. Shumway Ave. The seventh annual walk benefited the Batavia MainStreet organization and its efforts to revitalize the downtown.

Docent Helen Thelin said the stone cottage home, which was featured as the first stop on the tour, was originally built by the Prindel family as their retirement home.

“Since then, as other people moved in, they’ve enlarged it without changing the charming curbside appeal,” she said.

As people waited in line to tour the home, Thelin told them that every room in the home has some type of item from present-day Batavia. She also told them that the home’s sun room overlooked a myobi maple tree in the home’s front yard, which she said is believed to be the second-oldest in the Chicago area.

Nicole Weskerna – nweskerna@shawmedia.com

A guest bedroom in a brick colonial on Lincoln Street along the Batavia MainStreet House Walk. The room connects to the home’s master bedroom and includes entry to a large outdoor patio space.

Another home on the tour – the white clapboard from the early 1900s – was originally a servants’ quarters that used to part of a larger home but was moved in 1944. The home was purchased in 1886 by Dr. Richard Patterson, who was a doctor at Bellevue Place during the time Mary Todd Lincoln had stayed there, said one docent. The original

home was built in 1863.

Cathy Dremel of Batavia said she has toured homes during the house walk in previous years and said she often gets from home to home on her bike.

“I just love to see the history of some of these homes. It’s interesting that they’ve done updates but really retain the original flavor,” she said.

Geneva central office renamed for District 304’s first superintendent

By BRENDA SCHORY bschory@shawmedia.com

Jeff Krage for Shaw Media

District 304 Superintendent Kent Mutchler points to the new sign during Saturday’s dedication ceremony for the Coultrap Educational Services Center. would say, ‘This is a nice community.’ ” School board member Kelly Nowak recounted Coultrap’s legacy in the district and the community.

“I really think that it is our community [that] was probably more honored by his service,” Nowak said. “He did so much for the students in this community, and his vision is … really is still present in our academics today.”

Coultrap, Nowak said, was recognized locally for his vision for education. In researching Coultrap’s history, he was honored in 1937 when more than 200 people came to Geneva City Hall to recognize him as the superintendent for 25 years.

One comment noted that, “Geneva has a very high batting average when it comes to citizenship,” and it was attributed to being developed in the schools, Nowak said.

Another comment was that

under Coultrap’s leadership, the district taught both practical and cultural values.

“Education has to advance both needs at one time,” Nowak said. “I think it’s that balance that has stayed with us.”

Nowak said Coultrap was also noted for his devotion to continuing professional development.

“Even then, our mission was to develop lifelong learners, and this is actively modeled by every member of our professional staff,” Nowak said. “He retired in 1950 and from that time until his death in 1963, Mr. Coultrap and his wife Anna lived at 207 Logan Ave. across the street from the old Geneva High School.”

The school named for him was dedicated 55 years ago to the day that the administration center took on his name – as Coultrap Junior High – on Sept. 28, 1958, according to the district’s history. It became a middle school in 1968 and was

burn, sending the motorcyclist to Delnor with non-life threatening injuries, a Kane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman said.

The driver of the car was treated at the scene, released and charged with DUI, Sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Pat Gengler said

in an email.

The car rear-ended the motorcycle as they were westbound on Route 38 between the bridge and Meredith Road, Gengler said. No names or other details were available.

8LOCAL BRIEF Motorcyclist injured in Virgil Township crash VIRGIL TOWNSHIP – A car whose driver was charged with driving under the influence struck a motorcycle late Friday night on Route 38 at Meredith Road in Virgil Township near El-

– Brenda Schory

converted to an elementary school in 1994.

It was closed as an attendance center in 2009. The Coultrap facility was torn down this year as it was determined to be too expensive to maintain. It was the only school in the district to be named after a person rather than a geographic location, officials said.

Paul Coultrap reflected on how his grandfather’s nature served him as the school district’s leader.

“I was 5 when my grandfather died, so I have limited memories of him,” Paul Coultrap said. “The most vivid memory I have involved a can of apricots. My grandmother

• Monday, September 30, 2013

GENEVA – Harry Coultrap, Geneva School District 304’s first superintendent, was honored and remembered Saturday in a ceremony in front of the newly renamed administration center – the Coultrap Educational Services Center – at 227 S. Fourth St., Geneva.

About 50 people attended the ceremony, which included opening a time capsule from the original Coultrap school’s 1923 cornerstone when the 90-year-old building was torn down earlier this year. Some of the bricks from that building were used to build the sign and the walkway to it, officials said.

Coultrap’s grandchildren, Paul and Martha Coultrap, thanked the district for creating a permanent reminder of their grandfather’s contribution to the Geneva community.

Coultrap served as superintendent from 1912 to 1950. He died in 1963.

“It was over 100 years ago that my grandparents first settled in Geneva,” Paul Coultrap said. “Harry Coultrap had a huge impact on the community of Geneva. After having been gone 50 years, his legacy continues within this community.”

Martha Coultrap said she was honored by those who came to the ceremony.

“When my grandfather was wooed by Geneva – they were in Elgin – and Grandma packed a lunch and they came down,” Martha Coultrap said. “He had his interview, and they went over and sat on the courthouse steps and ate their lunch and looked at each other and said, ‘This is a nice community.’ If they had been here today, they would just be so amazed and

was in the hospital and my parents were visiting. I was too young to go to the hospital and stayed with my grandfather at their house in Geneva.”

Coultrap said he cut his finger with the can opener.

“I still have the scar,” Coultrap said. “Being a kind, caring, compassionate man, he demonstrated all of those qualities as he mended my finger. Harry Coultrap served as superintendent of Geneva schools for 38 years. Caring, kind and compassionate are the perfect words to describe a man who put his fingerprint on a school system he would lead for almost four decades.”

Coultrap said under his grandfather’s leadership, kindergarten classes began, a manual arts department was formed, home economics and music classes became part of the curriculum.

“I often wonder what he would think of Geneva schools today,” Coultrap said. “I think he would be truly proud of them. ... I think most of all, he would be proud of what a great school system Geneva has become.”

As the Coultraps opened the time capsule, they removed items such as the district’s records of buying the land to build the school, a copy of the Geneva Republican, a yearbook and some coins. Superintendent Kent Mutchler said the items would be put on display at the administration center for public viewing.

NEWS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

CELEBRATING A LEGACY

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Monday, September 30, 2013

| SPORTS

4

COACH SLY’S CORNER

Jeff Krage for Shaw Media

St. Charles East’s Jordon Moore kicks the ball away from Streamwood’s Nestor Ascencio during Saturday’s game in Saturday.

ST. CHARLES EAST TOURNAMENT: ST. CHARLES EAST 0, STREAMWOOD O

East doesn’t score but nets tournament title

By JAY SCHWAB jschwab@shawmedia.com ST. CHARLES – Expectations have risen so high for the St. Charles East boys soccer team that even a tournament championship isn’t a cause for celebration – at least not how the Saints won this one.

East played Streamwood to a scoreless tie Saturday at Norris Stadium in the championship game of the Saints’ home tournament. The Saints, though, were named tournament champions based on superior victory margins during pool play.

Still, suffice it to say East’s players didn’t drain their energy for Saturday night’s homecoming dance much in the tournament’s aftermath.

“I think you just have to look at the reaction to it to know what we feel this was,” East coach Paul Jennison said.

“We feel as though it was a game dropped rather than a tournament won. … We have high expectations.”

The unbeaten Saints – either 10-0-2 or 10-0-3, depending on the still undetermined handling of a match against Waubonsie Valley that was suspended

– encountered a Streamwood team that played soundly in its own end and pressured the Saints harder than most teams have been able to.

The Saints had a first-half goal disallowed because of an off-sides call but produced far fewer high-end chances than they’re used to. East junior forward Zach Manibog said the Sabres (10-2-2) compare favorably to some of the quality opponents the Saints have encountered.

“They’re definitely up there,” Manibog said. “They’re really good.”

With the second-half wind advantage, the Sabres nearly handed the Saints their first defeat as Streamwood’s Brian Benitez had two prime chances about 20 seconds apart, the first stopped by Saints goalkeeper Chris Lucatorto, the second ricocheting off the crossbar. That sequence came with about 5 minutes to go in the match.

Streamwood coach Matt Polovin was proud of the Sabres’ showing.

“To hold them to zeros, and to have a couple good chances for us to win, that’s phenomenal for these guys,” Polovin said.

Streamwood is due back at Norris Stadium on Thursday for the teams’ Upstate

Eight Conference River match.

“To be honest, I think it’s going to be more difficult for them than us because they’re coming back into our place,” Jennison said. “They’ve already put in a fantastic performance, and I’m sure Matt was extremely happy with the way they defended, but at the same time, I felt we still had the lion’s share of possession and I thought we did have the majority of the game at our disposal, so therefore I think going forward our lads will be recharged and ready to try and get one back for having a draw here.”

Before then, East will take part in Tuesday’s Tri-Cities doubleheader. The Saints will take on host Geneva in the nightcap, and Jennison looks forward to seeing whether the Burgess Field turf will help rekindle the Saints’ offense.

“The bounce is true and the ball moves quickly, and that’s the way we play,” Jennison said. “I think unfortunately [at East’s field], the first couple weeks our field was beautiful, but now, a couple of football games later, a bit of sunshine, it’s going to catch up. The quicker we get out there and get back out to a flat-top surface, I think it’s going to suit our game to no end.”

Conference season must be here because football season is getting more delicious by the week.

Exhibit 1, Geneva-St. Charles North on Friday at Burgess Field.

Geneva lights the North Stars up for 35 first half points, then the offense goes missing almost entirely after halftime, but the Vikings hang on to a 35-28 W over the late-charging North Stars.

Give credit to the North Stars’ D for dusting itself off at halftime, but the Vikings’ early onslaught carried the day in what was a huge game for both sides.

Geneva isn’t home free to the playoffs, but you figure if the Vikings can beat either St. Charles East or Metea Valley and take care of business against Elgin and Streamwood, and the Vikings will get the 6 Ws they need to be golden.

With North sitting at 2-3 and still having Batavia left on the schedule, it ain’t so rosy for the Stars. Best guess is they wind up 5-4 and needing a favorable shake on the playoff point front.

Halftime adjustments were also the name of the game in Maple Park, where Kaneland was a different team after the break in blowing past Rochelle.

The Knights are playing without two sure-fire college players right now, so for Kaneland to beat a 4-0 Rochelle team like a drum in the second half says it all about just how legit this Knights team is.

Speaking of legit, Montini slapped Marmion around one week after doing the same to St. Francis. The Broncos seem to be even badder than their usual bad selves.

With the playoff history Kaneland and Montini have, football fans around here can only hope these two juggernauts meet once more come playoff time.

As for Batavia and East, move along, nothing to see here … just two teams that will be in the playoffs doing what you’ve got to do against teams that don’t match up.

CHARGER NATION CROSS COUNTRY CLASSIC

By JAKE POWERS jpowers@shawmedia.com

Batavia senior Mitch Zabka finished with a time of 15:08.6 to earn fifth place.

“This course is so flat and it puts the right mindset in your head,” Zabka said. “There’s not a lot of uphills, it’s a lot of downhill, a lot of flat. And I just love running through the woods. I just felt really good today.”

Batavia coach Mike DiDomenico called his team’s performance the best he’s seen out of them this season.

In the girls Blue Division race, St. Francis took first with a score of 63, Westmont finished second with 72, Rock Falls came in third with 102, ACC finished in fourth with 103 and Timothy Christian rounded out the top five with a score of 108.

ACC’s Karina Liz came in sixth place overall with a time of 19:06.1 despite having to run with an injured IT band.

The girls Gold Division was led by Linn-Marr (70), followed

by St. Ignatius (82), Normal University High (87), Metea Valley (104) and West Chicago (134).

PREP ROUNDUP

Wheaton Academy football nabs SCC win KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE WHEATON – The Wheaton Academy football team won its first conference game of the season, defeating Walther Lutheran, 47-25, on Saturday at Wheaton College.

The Warriors (2-3, 1-2 Suburban Christian Conference Gold) got three touchdown passes and a touchdown run from sophomore David Thrasher.

Running back John Gemmel added three rushing touchdowns for the Warriors.

The Warriors rallied from early deficits of 13-0 and 19-7.

Seven different Warriors notched receptions, with Nate Lopez and Marino Costello snaring two catches apiece.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Waubonsie Valley Warrior

Blast: Batavia placed third in the 12-team tournament, going 4-1 in the two-day event.

The Bulldogs (13-10) lost to Neuqua Valley in the semifinals before beating Plainfield Central for third place.

Heather Meyer (41 digs, 35 kills) was named to the all-tournament team for Batavia, while teammates Audrey Faulhaber (92 assists) and Shea Stanley (42 kills) also had big tournaments.

CROSS COUNTRY Rock River Run: Geneva won the 15-team invite in Sterling behind a fourth-place individual performance from Kathryn Adelman (18:41) and a sixth-place showing from Emma McSpadden (18:52).

Brianna Bower (18:58) came in eighth individually for third-place Kaneland.

BOYS GOLF Hinsdale Invitational: At Prairie Bluff in Lockport, St. Charles North shot a 326 in a middle-of-the-pack finish in the 10-team event. Raghav Cherala led North with a 5-over par 77, while JT Grill (80) and Matt Samuelson (81) were among North’s other contributors. Santino Salamone and Ben Connor each shot 88s.

The North Stars were the top local finisher in a tournament that also included Batavia and Geneva. Nate Desens shot a 79 to lead Geneva (331).

GIRLS TENNIS Oswego Invite: Batavia placed second in the eightteam invite, receiving second-finishes in singles (Nora McClure) and doubles (Jenny Mizikar/Brooke LeFevre).

Coverage of the Tri-City Shootout boys soccer doubleheader, to be contested Tuesday night at Geneva.

The doubleheader begins with Batavia and St. Charles North squaring off before Upstate Eight Conference River favorite St. Charles East faces the host Vikings.

Thursday Coverage of Wednesday’s Upstate Eight Conference River Boys Golf Meet at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in West Chicago.

Geneva holds a slight edge in the conference race heading into the conference tournament considering the Vikings’ dual meet success during the regular season.

Friday Preview package for Week 6 of the high school football season, which features a Tri-Cities showdown between St. Charles East and host Geneva.

Elsewhere Friday night, St. Charles North takes on visiting Streamwood, Kaneland travels to DeKalb and crosstown foes Marmion and Aurora Christian tangle in the Suburban Christian Conference.

Batavia plays its second Saturday game in three weeks, visiting Larkin.

PREP SCHEDULE TODAY Boys soccer: Wheaton Academy at Wheaton North, 6:30 p.m.; Burlington Central at Marengo, 4:30 p.m.; Wheaton Warrenville South at Batavia, 6:30 p.m.

Boys golf: Plainfield East at Aurora Central Catholic at Phillips Golf Course, 4:30 p.m.; Aurora Christian at Walther Lutheran, 4 p.m.

Girls tennis: Aurora Central Catholic at IMSA. 4:45 p.m.; Yorkville at Rosary, 4:30 p.m.

Girls volleyball: Aurora Central Catholic at Guerin, 6:30 p.m.; Rosary at Montini, 6 p.m.; Immaculate Conception at Aurora Christian, 6:30 p.m.; Downers Grove South at St. Charles East, 6 p.m.

Girls Golf: St. Charles East, St. Charles North at Upstate 8 Conference Meet, 9 a.m.

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• Monday, September 30, 2013

AURORA – Aurora Central Catholic had a successful showing at its home course during the Charger Nation Cross Country Classic by finishing second in the boys competition and fourth on the girls side Saturday morning.

The meet, held at Oakhurst Forest Preserve in Aurora, featured 34 teams, including a handful of teams from out of state. The meet was split into two divisions based on an enrollment cutoff of around 800, Aurora Central Catholic coach Troy Kerber said.

“This is our first year of going divisional because the meet’s grown so much that in order to properly facilitate a clean start, we had to go to divisions this year,” Kerber said.

In the Blue Division on the boys side, which consisted of schools with a smaller enrollment, Rockford Christian (51) led the way, with ACC (73), St. Francis (77), Rock Falls (109), and Westmont (166) rounding out the top five.

ACC senior Javier Montelongo finished in third place overall with a time of 15:47.9.

He attributed his familiarity with the course at Oakhurst to his success.

“It feels like it’s familiar so that usually helps,” Montelongo said. “It was pretty much the same old. I’m used to running on the course because I run here five days a week.”

Kerber was impressed with Montelongo’s effort and with the cohesive effort that the team brought to the meet.

“So far their best team race 1-through-5 all year,” Kerber said. “We wanted to narrow the split gaps. But Javier’s been racing well all year. He’s had to shift his mind from being more of a mid-front runner to more of a front-pack runner and he’s starting to get there and believe in himself.”

In the boys Gold Division, Batavia scored a 101 to finish in third place behind Trinity (63) and Linn-Marr (81), and ahead of Normal University High (140) and Oswego East (150). St. Charles East placed six with a tally of 162.

Wednesday

5

SPORTS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Host ACC cross country holds its own in massive invitational

LOOKING FORWARD: THE WEEK AHEAD IN KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE SPORTS

Arlo & Janis

Garfield

Big Nate

Frank & Earnest

Crankshaft

Soup to Nutz

Stone Soup

The Born Loser

Dilbert

Rose Is Rose

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Monday, September 30, 2013

| COMICS

6

Beetle Bailey

Blondie

Pearls Before Swine

Real Life Adventures

DEAR ABBY Jeanne Phillips but some friends have said it was nervy of her to even ask because it put me in an awkward position. I honestly would prefer she not come, but I feel guilty. Any advice? – Possible Host In New York Dear Possible Host: Yes. Tell your friend you would love to see her, but in light of her revelation, you think it would be better if she stays in a hotel during this visit. And unless you are absolutely sure that her home and clothing are insect-free, entertain her away from your dwelling. Bedbugs can cling to EVERYTHING – suitcases, clothing, you name it. Hostess, protect thyself.

Dear Abby: My husband died three years ago and I’m still grieving deeply. Time hasn’t made it easier; in fact, it’s getting more difficult. No one around me understands or even cares, for that matter.

How do I find a good therapist? I don’t know what questions to ask to see if I can trust him or her with my thoughts, and if we would get along. Any suggestions? – Dying Of A Broken Heart Dear Dying: A way to find a good therapist would be to ask friends and/or your doctor for referrals and explain that since your husband’s death your grief hasn’t lessened.

Your state psychological association can also provide the names of members who specialize in grief counseling.

Interview several prospective therapists. A question you should ask is how many patients with your problem he or she has successfully treated.

However, the bottom line is whether you feel the therapist listens well and has the compassion to help you, which is as important as any diploma hanging on the wall.

You’ll know when you meet someone you are comfortable with.

• Write Dear Abby at www. dearabby.com.

• Monday, September 30, 2013

The Argyle Sweater

Dear Abby: I was divorced 14 years ago. Afterward, my ex, “Tom,” hid from me because he was afraid I’d have him arrested for not paying child support.

Our son is a Marine, and the Red Cross notified him that his father was dying in a hospital on the East Coast.

My ex’s aunt had contacted them to notify my son as next of kin. Tom had remarried, divorced again and had a girlfriend. He died a few days later.

Nobody is willing to pay for his cremation. I asked his sister and aunt if we could split the bill three ways, even though I realize I’m not obligated. They refused, even after being told the remains would be deemed “unclaimed.” The county would dispose of him as an indigent drifter. Their excuse was they hadn’t heard from him in several years. I told them they were preaching to the choir, since I was the one he hid from.

I do not resent my ex because I realize his death was as unpredictable as his life.

But I do feel bitterly taken advantage of. When I accused his relatives of false concern, they got angry at me. How can I demonstrate honor to my son by dishonoring his father that way? – On The Spot In California Dear On The Spot: You are not the next of kin; your son is. Ask him what he thinks would be the appropriate way to handle his deadbeat dad’s remains.

You made the effort to have the family pay for the burial, and that should show your son that you tried to honor his father.

I don’t know how long it has been since your ex passed, but this is a case where the body could have been donated to a medical school. There is nothing dishonorable about that.

Dear Abby: A friend who lives out of town asked me if she can stay with me for a few days. We often host each other. However, she also mentioned that she has a bedbug infestation.

I could take precautions,

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COMICS AND ADVICE | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Family won’t pay deadbeat for dad’s cremation expenses

CROSSWORD

BRIDGE by Phillip Alder

SUDOKU

Answers to Puzzle

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Monday, September 30, 2013

| PUZZLES

8

Counting drives players crazy

SOLUTION

CELEBRITY CIPHER

Niels Bohr, a Danish scientist who won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1922, said, “An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.”

Why does a bridge expert make fewer mistakes than someone lower down the ranks? What makes an expert a better bridge player than someone lower down the ranks?

There are several factors, but card sense (which I believe is innate) and counting are top of the list. The more counting you do, the better you will play.

Count high-card points, not just yours, but those coming from the opponents during the play. Count winners and losers. And, sometimes, you need to count hand distributions – as in this deal.

South is in four hearts. West leads the diamond nine. East overtakes with his 10, cashes the diamond king, and continues with the diamond ace. How should declarer continue after ruffing high? (West discards a club.) North’s two diamonds was a cue-bid raise, showing threeplus hearts and at least game-invitational values. (This allows a jump-raise to three hearts to be played as pre-emptive.)

South, with three minor-suit losers, must find the spade queen.

And when faced with a two-way finesse, ideally one leaves that decision until near the end of the deal. Declarer draws trumps and plays a club to dummy’s king. East wins with his ace and returns a club. After South takes his two tricks in that suit, what has he learned? He knows that East started with three hearts, six diamonds and at least three clubs. Ergo, he has at most one spade.

Declarer cashes his spade ace and confidently finesses through West. Keep counting.