Swing for a Cause! Drive Change! The Club's Annual Golf Outing will take place on Wednesday, June 17! Scan the QR code or contact Jonelle Bailey to sign up! Her email address is jonelleb@sycparks.org and her phone number is (815) 895-3365.
Terry Hannan, Superintendent of DeKalb County Forest Preserve, provided the latest on the Genoa–Kingston (G2K) Trail project, broader Forest Preserve land acquisition strategy, funding, challenges, and community/historical context.
The long-awaited Genoa-to-Kingston Trail — named the "G2K Trail" by students at Genoa-Kingston High School — is officially taking shape. Of the planned 3.2-mile route, 1.7 miles have already been surfaced with limestone, designed to accommodate biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing. The trail will ultimately connect Russell Woods to the Grove, reducing foot and bike traffic along the busy Route 72 corridor.
The project took years to complete due to land acquisition challenges, but cooperation from Carter Nelson Nurseries, additional private landowners, and partners including the City of Genoa, Village of Kingston, and DeKalb County Highway Department made it possible. All trail parcels were secured by the end of 2024.
The Forest Preserve by the Numbers
DeKalb County Forest Preserve currently stewards just over 2,000 acres, backed by roughly $6 million in grant funding plus donated land — all leveraged from a modest 0.7% share of county property taxes approved by voters in 2006. The long-term goal is to reach approximately 3,000 acres, with a growing emphasis on connecting preserves rather than acquiring isolated parcels.
Looking Ahead
A new trail bridge is planned for this fall, linking the current trail terminus near Union/Pleasant to Old Mill and the Mill School trail. Additional land acquisitions are also in the works, though details are not yet public.
May 31, 1943 – American Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback (who led the New York Jets to a Super Bowl win in 1969) Joe Nameth is born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
June 1, 1926 – 100 years ago on this date Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe is born in Los Angeles (her given name is Norma Jean Mortensen).
June 2, 1904 – Five-time Olympic Gold Medalist in swimming (1924 and 1928) and actor (famous for Tarzan) Johnny Weissmuller is born in Freidorf, Austria-Hungary.
June 4, 1783 – King George III is born in London – he rules England for 60 years from 1760 to 1820, including the time of the American Revolution.
June 3, 1937 – The Duke of Windsor marries twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson (as King Edward VIII he abdicated the British throne the previous December to avoid a constitutional crisis by marrying a divorced woman).
June 4, 1989 – The Chinese government ordered troops to open fire on unarmed protesters in Tienanmen Square, Beijing, with an estimated 3,000 killed and 1,600 arrested.
June 5, 1783 – The first sustained flight occurred as a hot air balloon was launched at Annonay, France, by brothers Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier.
June 6, 1944 – The largest seaborne invasion in history began as Allied troops undertook the D-Day invasion of Normandy during World War II. The operation began the liberation of France from Nazi control and laid the foundations of the Allied victory in Europe.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2026-2027
President – Becky Springer
President Elect – Matt Nelson
Director (President Designee) - To Be Determined
Past President – Jonelle Bailey
Treasurer – Dr. Michele Jurkovic
Secretary – Pat Shafer
Sergeant at Arms – Paulette Renault
Monthly Committees
July: Board of Directors
August: Brandon Diviak, Jeff Keicher, Pat Shafer
September: Dave Hamilton, Jeff Jacobson, Jim Stoddard
October: Paul Callighan, Matt Nelson, Scott Schramer
November: Sue Emberson, Dr. Jeff Frank, Phil Meyers
December: Kristen Campbell, Ray Dembinski, Riley Oncken
January: Joyce Klein, Tim Neubert
February: Jonelle Bailey, Tasha Sims
March: Jim Buck, Becky Springer, Brendan Wilson
April: Bob Hammon, Jeff Petersen
May: Bob Brown, Steve Kuhn, Julie Sgarlata
June: Paul Barnaby, Paulette Renault
Standing Committees
Fellowship: Paulette Renault, Sue Emberson, Dave Hamilton, Pat Shafer
Foundations:Matt Nelson, Jim Stoddard, Sue Emberson, Jim Buck
Membership: Jonelle Bailey, Ray Dembinski, Brandon Diviak, Bob Hammon, Jeff Jacobson, Steve Kuhn, Phil Meyers, Matt Nelson, Riley Oncken, Jeff Petersen, Bob Wildendradt
New Generations: Becky Springer, Julie Sgarlata, Brandon Diviak
Public Image: Bob Brown, Paul Callighan, Jeff Keicher, Joyce Klein, Tasha Sims
Scholarships:Tim Neubert, Ray Dembinski, Phil Meyers, Dr. Michele Jurkovic, Steve Kuhn
Service: Brandon Diviak, Dr. Jeff Frank, Dr. Michele Jurkovic, Tim Neubert, Brendan Wilson
