Northwest Living- June

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Executive Editor/Web Editor

Chris Linden

Senior Editor

Lindsey Lukas

Managing Editor

Jim Taylor

Assistant Editor Steven Bonifazi

Graphics Director

Samantha Behling

Graphic Designer

Ashley Smith

Contributing Writers

Kathy Casstevens, Stephanie N. Grimoldby, Janine Pumilia, Jack Shields, Peggy Werner

General Sales Manager

Brent Hughes

Sales Manager

Brad Hughes

Advertising Sales Representatives

Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky

Administration & Circulation Manager

Lisa Hughes

Director of Corporate Happiness Hana Hughes

Distribution Kelly and Larry Fairbairn

Changing Times

Ferris Bueller was right: Life does move quickly. It seems like the blink of an eye and suddenly we’re in the next month, the next season, the next school year.

I look at my children’s maturing faces, their flooding pants and their missing teeth and ask, “When did you get big on me?”

It’s said that change is the only constant in life, and sometimes I’m not OK with that.

This is yet another season of change, and not only because it’s the close of another school year. Things also are changing for the magazine in your hands. That’s because our latest edition is merging two great publications into one refined product.

You may already be familiar with our Smart Living and all of its insights on living your best life in the Fox Valley and beyond. You may also recognize our Northwest Quarterly title, which has been on a similar mission since 2007. Its distinct flag has long been spotted in small, family-owned businesses near your home. We’re huge advocates for local business.

With Northwest Living, we bring you more family-friendly activities, more insights from our local businesses and more ways you can make the best of life here in the Fox Valley and beyond. You’ll see our familiar compilation of Home & Garden stories, Family Outings, timely Cover Stories and more, but you’ll also see long, colorful pieces that are a hallmark of Northwest Quarterly. It’s the best of both worlds.

This change has us excited. I’m eager to show you all of the stories we have planned for the Midwest’s busiest season. Watch for more weekend gatherings. Look for more insights on home improvement and healthier lifestyles. Prepare to have your heart warmed by people who are serving their neighbors.

Get ready for an experience that’s familiar, yet fresh.

Life is a journey. Let’s enjoy it together, shall we? ❚

Chris Linden Executive Editor

McHenry’s The Vixen Steals the Show

By Steven Bonifazi, assistant editor

One of the region’s newest entertainment venues is quickly becoming a premier destination, and not only because its lineup is full of acts you can’t find elsewhere. What many people enjoy at The Vixen in McHenry is a true variety.

“We’ve done everything from children’s shows to rock concerts, hip-hop concerts and national touring comedians,” says Aaron Dullum, general manager. “We’re trying not to limit ourselves to anything. If we can put it on the stage and it will appeal to someone within the community, we’ll do it.”

The venue formerly known as the McHenry Downtown Indoor Theater delivers a rich set of acts in the coming months, with an emphasis on original musicians, comedians and tribute acts you won’t generally find in the west and northwest suburbs.

Coming on the heels of a tribute to Blink 182 and the ’90s punk scene, rock superstars Powerman 5000 bring a night of headbanging on July 11.

Country singer/songwriter Frank Foster shares his original sound on Aug. 2 before another country act, 7 Summers, plays its tribute to superstar Morgan Wallen.

There’s also a host of comedy acts coming as part of The Vixen’s free Wednesday night comedy series. These seasoned performers often appear in Chicago and Milwaukee.

The Vixen is set inside a former movie theater that still retains its glamor, but it’s all tricked out for live music with four sets of lasers and a video wall. The venue even has four fully operational bars, Thursday night karaoke, a menu of custom cocktails and a VIP section with a dedicated bar and lounge area.

Separate, but still part of the complex, a restaurant offers prime views from its perch above the downtown McHenry Riverwalk.

“We just want to bring people to the area and have them enjoy McHenry,” says Dullum. “If you’re here for the day, check out a great restaurant, walk the riverwalk and come enjoy a show.”

For the latest on events and tickets, go to vixenmchenry.com or call (815) 528-3008. The Vixen is located at 1208 N. Green St., in downtown McHenry. ❚

Thirsty for God

We most yearn to know God during times of personal hardship, yet it’s easy to forget about God when our lives are going well. We may believe we’re “self-made” people who “have it all under control” and pay Him only lip service. When self-important religious leaders asked Jesus what the greatest commandment is, he replied: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22: 37-39). How glad God must be when we come to Him in gratitude and praise, not just in desperation. But when we do cry out for him, He’s there for us. Psalm 42 expresses this beautifully:

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me.

For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him

For the help of His countenance.

O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,

And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar. Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me —

A prayer to the God of my life.

I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. ❚

This Downtown’s a ‘Great Place to Play’

By Chris Linden, executive editor

Visit downtown Crystal Lake on any given day and you’ll see families with children, groups of girlfriends, couples, teens, singles, grandparents – all of them in search of a good time.

What they find is a neighborhood with dining, retailers, services and entertainment in abundance. And, it’s the sort of place people drive to visit, for a night out or a fun day trip.

“Crystal Lake is a good place to live – that’s our town motto. But the downtown is also a great place to visit,” says Joy Neal, executive director of the Downtown Crystal Lake organization. “Between the Metra station and the bike path, there are plenty of ways to get here and there’s lots to explore and experience once you arrive.”

Summertime brings the Downtown Farmers Market every Saturday morning, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It runs

weekly from June 15 through Sept. 28 in Depot Park, located at the end of Williams Street. There’s an emphasis on things that are homemade and homegrown, and there are activities for children, too.

Sidewalk sales pop up from time to time as a testament to the city’s abundance of hometown merchants, like Marvin’s Toy Store, Kalck’s Butcher Shop, Heisler’s Bootery, Wear Did U Get That and The Green Read.

Mixed among these retailers are family-friendly restaurants like Rookie’s Pub & Grill, Georgio’s Chicago Pizzeria and Benedict’s La Strata. Pots & Pies is perfect for snacktime pastries. And you can’t beat date nights at places like Jude’s, Da Baffone and Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen.

Happy-hour specials and food truck nights make a great time out with friends at Crystal Lake Brewing.

With all that activity, the best parking spots fill up fast – although there’s plenty of space if you know where to look.

People who love biking find there’s always easy access, especially considering that the Prairie Trail cuts right through downtown.

“I think downtown is a complete gem,” says Neal. “The lake town vibes and historic downtown make this city really special. Crystal Lake is just a fun place to be.”

Find a full list of fun ideas at DowntownCL.org. ❚

(Downtown Crystal Lake photo)

The Smarter Way to Buy Furniture

By Chris Linden, executive editor

Can you tell if your couch is bench made or built with the eight-way hand-tie method? Do you know if it has performance fabrics, mitered joints or a solid wood frame? Do you know about its warranty and repair procedures? If you’re buying sight unseen from some website, the answer is probably no.

Shoppers sometimes confuse Crystal Lake’s Mayfair Furniture & Carpet with an online shopping hub, but once they’re in the showroom the difference couldn’t be more obvious.

What they find is a family-owned business that seeks to educate shoppers on their purchase, with a promise to support them for the life of that product. This is why many people shop exclusively at their locally owned furniture store.

“We’ll have people come in and say they bought a sofa from us 30 years ago,” says Kris Most, whose family has

owned Mayfair for 56 years. “These people are handing down their furniture to their kids because it’s lasted so well.”

Like many locally owned furniture stores, Mayfair starts the sales process casually, with some basic questions. Your answers narrow down the choices, based on your needs and lifestyle.

If you’re into comfort, cushions come in all varieties. If you have children or pets, performance fabrics have a built-in stain resistance. If you’re into quality, there’s a Flexsteel sample that shows you what quality construction looks like.

There’s a lot to see on the showroom floor, from sofas and end tables to dining room sets, bedroom sets and home decor. Some items, like the decorative lamps, you can take with you.

But if you don’t see quite what you like, brands like Temple are highly customizable, down to the fabric, arm and

foot styles. A sales associate is there to guide you, without any of the highpressure tactics that are common at bigbox competitors.

“It’s an experience to come here, because you’re getting educated,” says Ariel Rosado, who’s been with the company for more than eight years.

“You can feel it, you can touch it, you can even design it. You get everything from start to finish.”

Visit the Mayfair Carpet & Furniture showroom at 661 S. Main St., in Crystal Lake, or call (815) 455-4070. ❚

Asphalt or Stone Drive? For Some, It’s Both

By Chris Linden, executive editor

With choices like decorative asphalt and durable paver stones, it’s easy to dress up a home’s entrance in a hurry.

Perhaps the easiest place to revitalize a home driveway is with a fresh sealcoat. Of course, it restores that slate-black appearance to a driveway, but it has other benefits. Because it smooths the surface of asphalt, sealcoat makes the drive easier to sweep and plow, and it resists things like gas, oil and road salts.

“Best of all, properly sealed asphalt will more than double the life of your pavement,” says Megan Miller, marketing manager for Kaplan Paving, in Ingleside.

Once cracks, ruts and damage place a driveway’s condition beyond repair, it’s time to look at replacement. Traditionally, asphalt and concrete were always top-of-mind, but with

recent advancements in asphalt, this product has risen to the top of many families’ preferences.

For one thing, asphalt tends to be one of the most affordable and costeffective options in the long run, says Miller.

It’s durable enough for boats and RVs, and it’s a fairly flexible material. It also adapts well with fluctuations in temperature and moisture, as happens commonly in the Midwest.

Asphalt is by no means the only choice. Durable paver stones, like those produced by Unilock, create attractive surfaces on everything from driveways and walkways to retaining walls, pool decks and outdoor kitchens. A homeowner can use them across the whole drive or create a “ribbon” of bricks to frame an asphalt stretch.

What product is right for your home? Miller believes there are nine

essential factors to selecting the right surface. It starts with budget, durability and design, but it’s also important to consider factors like drainage, timeline and personal preference.

Perhaps the most important factor, though, is whom you hire, because disreputable companies proliferate in this industry. Kaplan Paving has stood by its work since 1979.

“When you hire the right people, you ensure quality workmanship and timely completion on your job,” says Miller.

To schedule a free estimate or learn more about a new driveway, call Kaplan Paving at (847) 949-1500. ❚

Golf: A Sport for the Entire Family

By Chris Linden, executive editor

There’s something special about a day spent on the golf course, but there’s something even more special when it’s shared among multiple generations. Indeed, golf is one of the few sports where children, parents, grandparents, even great-grandparents, compete equally.

“I’m a grandfather and I’m in my late 60s, so I doubt that, at family outings, playing football is going to be high on my list,” says Ron Skubisz, head golf pro at Pottawatomie Golf Course, in St. Charles. “And, basketball is getting tougher, too. But with golf, you can be a grandfather and still play with the kids, or maybe the grandkids, and everyone can reach the same scores.”

The reality is that any member of the family can play together, and there are few age limits. It truly is a family game. Skubisz says the oldest consistent golfer at Pottawatomie is 92, and he’s typically on the links three times a week.

On the other end of the spectrum, Skubisz has seen children as young as 5 get involved with the game, starting with lessons from a golf pro or a parent. Tournament play is typically open by the time they reach 8 years old, and the game only grows from there.

“I’m not a hunter, but friends who are tell me that, from a young age, they’re taught safety and etiquette and all that

stuff before they’re even allowed to go out,” says Skubisz. “I think there’s a bit of a corollary there to golf, where you learn how to conduct yourself on the course, how to protect the greens and sand, tend the flag sticks, obey the rules and be courteous. Those are good for life, let alone good golf.”

There’s no bad age to learn the game, says Skubisz, but there are some smart ways to get children engaged when they’re ready. It can start as simply as chipping balls in the backyard or putting on a practice green.

Dedicated lessons are a good way to further engage children, once they’re interested and ready. Depending on where you live, lessons could be available at your favorite golf course, a park district or a private golf academy. As the resident PGA golf pro and manager of operations, Skubisz leads all lessons at Pottawatomie, and he brings more than 30 years of professional-level experience with the game.

The most important thing in lessons, he says, is to learn the fundamentals.

“Think about the letters PGA: posture, grip and alignment. Those are the basic fundamentals of the game,” says Skubisz. “Certainly at 5 you can learn those.”

Once kids are ready to hit the course, it’s important to encourage and motivate them. This isn’t a time for Mom and

Unlike many high-contact, high-action sports, golf is something that most members of the family can enjoy together, often on equal footing. Courses like Pottawatomie Golf Course, in St. Charles, actively support and encourage young players in their development.

Dad to show off. Rather, it’s a time to review what the child is learning and encourage them to keep trying. It’s not about score. It’s about improvement and development.

“Take the Disney approach, where you look at the world through the eyes of a child,” says Skubisz. “If your child is able to hit the ball maybe 50 yards, then the parent should take out the club they hit 50 yards. If you’re hitting 250 yards and the child’s only able to hit 50 yards, they’re going to think, ‘I’ll never be able to do that.’”

Keep it up and pretty soon, they’re neck-and-neck with dad or mom. That’s when they’re actually having fun and the “aha moments” begin.

“You’ll have this magic moment where the child hits it by you and they’re saying, ‘Mom, Dad, I hit it farther than you,’” Skubisz says. “And then they move up one club. They can see the advancement.”

With more play time and more guidance, children will start to reach what Skubisz calls “more better shots” – a funny way of saying they’ll experience good, or improving, hits at a higher frequency.

“They’ll start to experience more better shots in a row, maybe five to six in a row, and then there’s that magic time when they hit an entire nine holes with good shots,” he says. “That’s how you measure progress. It isn’t just in score. It’s how well are you executing your shots?”

Golf courses come in all varieties here in the suburbs, but when it comes to an attainable, easy-to-learn course, Pottawatomie ranks high, Skubisz says. The nine-hole layout is just long enough for a young player to get a taste of the game, and its park-like setting with mature, treelined fairways offers just enough obstacles to keep things interesting.

“We have a whole list of people who come here now as grandparents, telling their grandchildren, ‘This is where I learned the game, too,’” says Skubisz. “The course can be

very competitive, but it’s also a fun course. It’s a fun place to walk and to experience the game, and if you play the right tees it can be fun.”

Golf carts make it easy for family members of any age to get around the course, and extra accommodations are always supported. But if mobility is an issue, golf simulators offer yet another way to enjoy the game. The simulator at the Pottawatomie clubhouse provides a low-impact game that families can share together. It’s available year-round by appointment.

“If you’re thinking, ‘I don’t know if I have the patience to do this, or if my body’s going to let me do this, or how long I’m going to be able to this,’ it’s a chance to start out,” says Skubisz.

Many golf courses in our region offer junior-rate season passes for children under 18. Pottawatomie’s season pass costs $150 for residents and $200 for nonresidents. For frequent players, “there’s absolutely no question that is a great deal,” says Skubisz.

He’s seen an increasing number of junior golfers hitting the links in recent years, whether playing with family members or with groups of friends. It’s rewarding to a seasoned pro like Skubisz to see the game move on to a new generation. And parents like it, too.

“A lot of parents will say they really appreciate the fact that the kids can get on the golf course and then they’re not stuck in front a screen,” he says. “How many times do you hear that these days? Golf is an outdoors activity where kids get fresh air, they walk, they play with friends and family. It’s a good thing.”

Pottawatomie Golf Course is located at 845 N. Second Ave., in St. Charles. To book a tee time or schedule lessons, call (630) 584-8356. ❚

Golf lessons with a PGA professional help children to learn the basics of the game, particularly when it comes to posture, alignment and grip.

Ron Skubisz (left), head golf pro at Pottawatomie Golf Course in St. Charles, teaches youths and adults the fundamentals of the sport.

JAX’s Anniversary Bash Helps Food Pantry

By Jack Shields, JAX Auto & Tire

This past April, JAX Auto & Tire quietly celebrated its eighth anniversary, but in the background a wonderful celebration has been brewing. On June 1, from noon to 5 p.m., JAX Auto & Tire is hosting a community-wide food drive.

All donations will support the Crystal Lake Food Pantry’s efforts to feed our neighbors. As the owner of JAX Auto & Tire, this is my way of celebrating our anniversary: by giving back to a community that has helped us grow this business.

This past November, I personally delivered a donation check to the food pantry. I was hit like a ton of bricks when I saw people patiently waiting for their turn to receive the basic necessities to put food on their tables.

I saw young people, old people, couples, grandparents, single parents and people who were down on

their luck. These were our neighbors, our community, our quietly suffering friends, and every single one of them had the look of defeat on their faces.

I cannot begin to explain the amount of emotions that overcame me that day and the feelings I still have. It’s my opinion that no one should have to go hungry.

This is my call to arms to each and every resident of Crystal Lake and its surrounding communities.

On Saturday, June 1, from noon to 5 p.m., bring food, a check or both to

JAX Auto & Tire. The food pantry is asking for non-perishable items, personal health care and hygiene products, and monetary donations. No fresh dairy or frozen products, please.

The celebration includes food trucks, a bounce house for kids, a live broadcast with WYML 99.9 FM, a picnic shelter and a raffle of great

prizes. Top prizes are a pair of Cubs tickets and a Phillips 65-inch RoKu 4K HDTV. Raffle entries are available to those who bring donations. All you need to do is pull in and let us unload your donations.

JAX Auto & Tire is a full-service automotive and light truck maintenance and repair facility. It’s also home to the $359 Brake Pads & Rotors Special.

JAX Auto & Tire is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It’s located at Ill. Rt. 31 and Ray St., in Crystal Lake, (815) 526-3552. ❚

Timing is Everything for Countertops

By Chris Linden, executive editor

Pop quiz: When is the best time to shop for stone countertops? Answer: When you order your cabinets.

This approach ensures you can speed to the front of the line, says Dave Hammerl, owner of Stonecrafters in Lakemoor.

“The best jobs are organized way in advance,” he says. “We know what the client wants, they’ve put down a deposit, we have their information, and once we take measurements we can perform at a higher level because everything is ready to go.”

Perhaps the best way to shop for a countertop is to bring in a “vision board” with samples of cabinetry, paint, flooring and tile backsplash. Seeing these details together with a stone helps homeowners to narrow down their choices.

Once the stone is chosen and the cabinets are measured – Stonecrafters

uses a high-tech laser for precise dimensions – Hammerl invites clients to take one last look at the material they’ve chosen. This ensures clients get exactly what they want.

Stone comes in many varieties, and while granite, quartz and quartzite are some of the most popular choices, experienced stone dealers can offer many alternatives and ideas through the shopping process. If they don’t have exactly what you’re looking for, they also know how to find something for the right price.

This is why it’s important to find the right stone dealer, says Hammerl, because not all companies place the same emphasis on quality results. Stonecrafters separates itself from competitors by focusing on skilled installers and computer-controlled tools. He backs it up with a commitment to the customer, as reflected in the more

than 200 five-star reviews he’s received online.

“Some firms might tell a customer they’ll get a prize or a gift card, or a percentage off the job with a good rating. You can usually spot those because there’s no verbiage to the review,” says Hammerl. “But our customers are so impressed and pleased that they take the time to write good things about their experience.”

Stonecrafters is located at 430 W. Wegner Road, in Lakemoor. To schedule an appointment, call (815) 363-8730. ▮

Dave Hammerl, owner of Stonecrafters.

A Fresh Experience at Farmers Market+

Crystal Lake’s famous Farmers Market+ at The Dole is back for another summer season, and although it promises to be the best season yet, it won’t necessarily be bigger. A Sunday mainstay since its inception in 2021, Farmers Market+ is getting an upgrade that promises to improve this year’s guest experience.

Longtime fans can look for a new food court setting around the circular lawn, complete with picnic tables and live music on the Ringling Stage. Food options are now concentrated in one place, so there’s even more room for farmers, vendors and shoppers around the circular drive.

“Our new layout should improve the traffic flow inside the market and in our parking areas while encouraging locals to walk instead of drive,” says Jay LeCoque, board president of The Dole.

high-quality local food, and support the historic grounds at The Dole.

Parking on The Dole’s lawn now costs $5, though handicap parking is free. Proceeds help to maintain the grounds.

Meanwhile, there’s free parking aplenty at South Elementary School, Lundahl Middle School and Main Beach, all located a stone’s throw from the market.

“People who have been coming since the market’s inception will recognize an event that’s more like the early days of Farmers Market+ that made so many people vote us the Best Farmers Market in Illinois,” adds LeCoque.

The fun at Farmers Market+ runs every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., May through October. True to its name, the market and its vendors deliver everything from fresh produce and meat to honey, baked goods, local art and children’s activities on the grounds of the Dole Mansion. There’s also an assortment of food trucks and vendors, live music, and a bar that offers custom bloody mary cocktails and other drinks. Admission is always free.

“One of the things we get the most feedback about is that our market has a different vibe from other farmers markets,” says Sharon LeCoque, pro bono interim executive director at The Dole and market co-founder. “There’s a positive energy you can feel in the air. People like to come to relax, listen to live music on the lawn, and have lunch with family or friends after shopping.”

In 2021, the LeCoques launched Farmers Market+ with Linda Wozniak, Director of Farmers Market+, inspired by the idea of hosting a market at the historic property. Jay brought it to the rest of The Dole’s board in the midst of the pandemic, emphasizing how a market could gather people outdoors, sell

“It was important for the local community to have a place to go,” says Jay. “The Dole was saved by the local community from demolition in 2002 and the Lakeside Legacy Foundation, a 501(c)(3), was created to preserve and protect the property for community use. We felt an obligation to do something unique and a way to also support The Dole during COVID, when The Dole could not host the annual Lakeside Festival that year.”

Farmers Market+ was twice named Illinois’ top farmers market by the American Farmland Trust. It’s twice earned Best Farmers Market in the “Best of the Fox” awards.

Sharon and Linda, along with 35 volunteers, many from Service League of Crystal Lake, keep the weekly market running. A portion of proceeds from the market support the Service League. In fact, all of the $50,000 the Service League has received since 2021 has gone to local families in need.

“We are putting the money right back into the community,” says Sharon. “We are on this planet to help each other. That’s what being part of a community is all about.”

A share of the proceeds also supports the ongoing preservation of the 1865 mansion and its programming.

“The Dole is self-funded, so all of the events we are doing – including the farmers market, Lakeside Festival, NMP’s 4th Friday Art Event at The Dole, and many events for local nonprofits in the area – help us to keep The Dole running,” says Sharon. “This ensures it’s be here 100 years from now.”

The Dole is located at 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake. Farmers Market+ runs every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., May through October. ❚

FVO Marks 50 Years of Independent Care

By Stephanie N. Grimoldby

Fox Valley Orthopedics (FVO) has been physicianowned and operated since its inception in 1974, and its independence has made it a shining example of what hometown medicine can look like in the 21st century.

“We’ve taken where we started, which was this very local, community organization founded in St. Charles with just two doctors, and we’ve grown that,” says Dr. Vishal Mehta, who joined the practice in 2006 has spent the past eight years as its president and managing partner. “We’ve always had this mission to provide the best orthopedic care to our community.”

When Mehta says the practice has grown, he’s not kidding. FVO has more than 40 providers at 10 suburban sites, including a new office in Yorkville, which opened last fall.

“We have over 350 employees,” he says. “We’ve increased the scope of what we do, as well. But as we grow, we always want to provide the best possible care.”

That’s evidenced by things like a new MRI purchased for the Elgin office and top-of-the-line physical therapists, which Mehta says is one of the biggest draws to FVO.

All of this has been possible because of FVO’s commitment to staying independent.

“For me, the most important thing is having respect for the people we take care of,” says Dr. Craig Torosian, a hand and wrist orthopedic surgeon who joined the practice in 1995. “We respect all of our patients, and it has that much more value when you live in the same community.”

Dr. David Morawski, joint orthopedic surgeon, vividly remembers when he first joined FVO in August 1993.

“I was excited because I believed the existing partners were really forward thinking and had a vision of building a place where you can not only see patients and diagnose their problems through X-ray imaging, but you would also have therapy to send them to,” says Morawski.

When Morawski started, he performed total hip and knee replacement surgeries in a hospital. Patients typically stayed overnight and then went to rehab.

its hometown feel, despite its larger size. And that’s been incredibly important to FVO staff.

“At least early on, the first eight, nine surgeons all lived in the Tri-Cities, and we very often saw our patients on the streets at high school games, movie theaters, other places in town,” says Morawski. “So, when we do have a Yorkville office, we like to fill that up with people who are from Yorkville or the southwest side of Naperville and Aurora and live in that community near that office.”

The term “individual practice” has a powerful presence behind it that patients can sense, as well, Mehta says.

“When I walk through my office, if there’s a piece of paper on the floor, I clean it up,” he says. “We close up at 5, but if a patient shows up at 5:01, I take care of that patient. It’s a different sense of pride and ownership and truly caring because each individual is Fox Valley Orthopedics. We are the organization.”

Independence also helps FVO stay on the cutting edge.

“Technology is a large part of what we do,” Mehta says. “That’s why we’ve invested in the latest implants, the latest imaging in the operating room. We purchased robotics for hip and knee replacement because we always want to make the investments to provide the latest surgical technology.”

Today, 95% of Morawski’s cases head home the same day as their surgery – which is performed in FVO’s own outpatient surgery center.

FVO continues to grow, having also added a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, podiatrist, rheumatologist, spine surgeons, hand surgeons and physiatrists.

Staying independent in today’s health care environment has allowed FVO to keep

Staying a step ahead is key, but celebrating 50 years has provided FVO staffers time to sit back and reflect on where it was and what it has become, Mehta says.

“I think it really comes back to that constant,” Mehta says. “The reality is that everything around us will change. The population will grow, technology will change, but the constant is taking care of our community. That commitment will be there 50 years from now. We will continue to change as times change and be on the forefront of orthopedic care. We are really looking forward to what the future brings.”

Fox Valley Orthopedics has locations in Algonquin, Barrington, Elgin, Geneva and Yorkville. Call (630) 584-1400 to schedule an appointment. ▮

Dr. David Morawski (left) and Dr. Craig Torosian have watched Fox Valley Orthopedics expand numerous times since they joined in the 1990s.

Dr. Vishal Mehta

Rockford Nephrology Associates

Nephrology is the medical specialty that diagnoses and treats diseases of the kidneys. Kidney disease affects one in seven people (approximately 37 million) in the United States and may result from causes such as diabetes, hypertension, polycystic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, or obstructions of the urinary tract.

The most well-known function of the kidneys is to form urine containing waste from the body, which is the filtration function. Kidneys are also responsible for certain hormone secretion, which can affect the production of red blood cells and promote absorption of calcium. Kidneys also help with fluid and acid-base

RNA Sycamore 2127 Midlands Ct., Ste. 102 Sycamore, Ill.

Dr. Ahmed and Dr. Pavithran

Beloit Dialysis Center

Beloit Memorial Hospital

1969 W. Hart Road Beloit, Wis.

Dr.Ahmad,Dr.Niemiec, Dr. Robertson

Rochelle Specialty Center 900 N. Second St. Rochelle, Ill.

Dr. Ahmed and Dr. Pavithran

RNA Dixon

KSB Hospital Commerce Towers

215 E. First St. Dixon, Ill.

Dr.Maynard,Dr.Murdakes, Dr.Stim,Dr.Sweeney

balance, blood pressure control and glucose production. Therefore, anemia, high blood pressure, Vitamin D deficiency, and fluid and electrolyte imbalances are also monitored and treated by the nephrology team.

At Rockford Nephrology Associates, our boardcertified nephrologists and nurse practitioners provide consultative services and follow-up visits which, along with lab and radiology testing, help to diagnose kidney disease and determine the best-quality treatment options. Education is key to understanding the disease and for preparing to make treatment choices at each stage.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Rockford Nephrology at (815) 227-8300. ❚

Back row: Dr. Michael Robertson, Dr. James Stim, Dr. John Maynard, Dr. Mashood Ahmad, Dr. Syed Ahmed, Dr. Charles Sweeney and Dr. Krishna Sankaran. Front row: Dr. Bindu Pavithran, Dr. Charlene Murdakes and Dr. Joanna Niemiec.

Schedule Summer Fun at Starved Rock

By Kathy Casstevens, marketing manager, Starved Rock Lodge

Warm weather and summer fun are in the forecast this season. So, why not make time to enjoy both at Starved Rock Lodge, in Oglesby? Based in Illinois’ favorite state park, the Lodge is your starting point for summer adventures.

If you’ve always wanted to take on a hiking challenge, join the Take a Hike and Lunch event every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The guided hike takes you through Starved Rock’s canyons, bluffs and seasonal waterfalls on a 3-mile route.

Tour the park in a more leisurely way on the Waterfall & Canyon Tours or the Historic Trolley Tours, both of which depart Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. You’ll learn about Starved Rock’s rich history while touring places like the IL Waterway Visitor Center.

Land & Water Cruises begin with lunch at the Lodge followed by a

narrated trolley tour that’s full of local history. Finish your tour on the Eagle 1 riverboat to see Starved Rock by water.

Join the Visit a Canyon & A Boat Ride to experience a weekend-only tour that starts at Starved Rock’s most scenic canyons. Following a short hike, relax with a boat ride on the picturesque Illinois River. Which one of Starved Rock’s 18 canyons will you tour? That depends on the weather and trail conditions.

For a totally different riverside tour, take a Sunset Cruise aboard the Sainte Genevieve sternwheel boat Thursday evenings and enjoy the shimmering landscape of the Illinois River. All of that adventuring is sure to leave you famished, so Starved Rock Lodge delivers a culinary tour like no other. Enjoy music on the Veranda every Friday and special dining events like Brews with a View & Food on

June 20. The Main Dining Room is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sunday brunch is always a crowdpleaser.

Now, for the real question: is your calendar ready for fun?

Starved Rock Lodge is located off Ill. Rts. 178 and 71 in Oglesby. For reservations, call (815) 220-7386 or book at StarvedRockLodge.com. ❚

(Kathy Casstevens photo)